Both things at once.

Akari was scanned through by one of the other bouncers, but before she headed inside, she walked straight up to me, as I knew she would.

“Could I please have the access codes?” Akari asked in a heavily accented voice. To me, she sounded like what the most stereotypical Japanese teen on TV or in the cinema was supposed to be.

It was called a password, but ok. “Here, I’ll type it into your phone for you,” I said. I went into the Wi-Fi settings on her phone and started to tap in the alphanumeric jumble the club owners had set up for today. “You know it would be easier if I put my number in here, too. You could message me, and we could chat…” It was my attempt at a pick-up on the Japanese cutie that so intrigued me.

Akari’s heavily shadowed eyes went wide for a split second before she dropped them to the floor and snatched the phone back off me. I thought I’d seen the barest hint of a smile on her face, but it could have just been wishful thinking. I took the lack of response as a rejection.

I passed it off as a missed opportunity, nothing ventured, nothing gained after all, and went on with the rest of my work for the evening. It was only half an hour later, though, that one of the security guards from inside came and grabbed me.

“Hey, you might want to come and deal with this,” he told me.

“What is it?” I asked. I was working at the front entrance outside. It was his job to look after things inside.

“Your little Jap cyber-chick is causing a scene.”

That was really weird. Akari had never been a problem in the entire time she’d been coming here. She normally just sat herself down with a bottle of beer and worked on her laptop. I think she only came here because she liked the super loud electronica we played. I don’t know how someone can concentrate and get anything done like that with music blaring, but it seemed to work for Akari.

I followed my co-worker to where Akari liked to hang out. She was standing up with her laptop open on the table in front of her. For the first time I’ve ever seen her like this, she is shaking with anger. Even over the music, I could hear her swearing. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Shit! That fecking Gronk. I’m gonna frag him!”

“Hey, hey, hey. What’s going on? You’ve got to chill out,” I have to yell over the music to Akari. I hold my arms out nice and wide nonthreateningly. I didn’t for a second think she’d be any sort of danger, but there were a lot of people standing around and watching, taking in the scene.

I’m standing right in front of her face and have to touch her shoulders softly before she snaps back to her surroundings and notices me.

“You,” Akair says, tapping my chest urgently with her finger.

Me? What the hell have I done other than give her the club's Wi-Fi password like I always did?

“Can you fight? I need a Solo right now and don’t have time for a Fixer,” Akari adds further.

A what and a what now?

“Help me out and I’ll give you my number so you can Holocall me.”

I have no idea what is going on right now. This shit is too strange.