Some old friends, and an enemy.

Shuichi continued sitting there quietly in his convertible, his eyes doing his best to focus on the clear night sky above his head rather than the world around him. As much as he wished that he was out alone in the middle of the desert with buzzards circling overhead, preparing to pick his idiotic corpse clean, there was simply no ignoring the hum of the neon signs, the sound of blaring horns, nor the scent of fresh sex. He also failed to adequately hide his face, though the high-end car he was sitting in would have been clue enough to who he was to every sex worker who passed by. Most that did recognize him either just blew a kiss his way or were too busy to stop. But eventually, Shuichi’s worst fears were realized when someone stopped by to chat.

“Oh, hey! Is that… it is!” Komaru Naegi, wearing a short red mini-skirt and a ‘sailor’ shirt that looked like it was torn directly out of a costume store, waved happily as she approached Shuichi’s car. Behind him were a few other familiar faces, including a scared-looking Lisa from the strip club, an always ready-for-a-fight Artemis, an ever-bouncy Hina, and a bored-looking Koko carrying a wooden staff she had decorated with blue paint and golden stars. “Hey there, Shuichi! It’s nice to see you again!”

“Hello, Komaru. I, uh, didn’t see you there,” Shuichi lied as he sat up. “What are you up to?”

“Tch! It should be pretty obvious, even to an idiotic man like you,” said Artemis. “We are out on the streets to do good, honest, noble work! Struggling in a world that was designed to be against us!”

“She means getting sex for cash,” said Hina. “So, you know, the usual.”

“Hey Koko, it’s been a little while, hasn’t it?” Shuichi asked, turning to the mage of the group, who had thus far refused to look him in the eye. “How have you been? Have the streets been kind to you?”

“Yes, I’d say so. I’ve started making quite a bit now, and my regulars aren’t even mad that I’ve started raising my prices,” Koko replied, still not looking at Shuichi. “In fact, I’ve made more money being a sex mage than I ever made being a mage performing magic at parties.”

“Really? That’s great!” Shuichi smiled half-heartedly. “You, uh, didn’t sound too happy about that.”

“Yeah, he’s got a point; you should be proud, Koko!” Hina said, hugging the shorter redhead from behind. “You’ve only just started out, and you’re already more talented than half the girls I know! So you should turn that frown upside-down!”

“Nyeh… sorry… just not in the mood lately,” Koko replied.

“... what if I bought you some of that boba tea you really like?” asked Artemis.

“... maybe that would help,” said Koko.

“Yes!” Artemis pumped her fist in the air. “And I can get one too, and we can drink them together, and-”

“Don’t push it,” said Koko.

“Oh, by the way, I don’t believe you’ve met one of the newest members of our friend group!” Hina grabbed Lisa, who had been hiding at the back of the group, and pushed her to the forefront. “This is Lisa, a.k.a., the Ultimate Nurse!”

“Actually, I do think we met once before,” said Shuichi, recognition alighting his eyes. “You dance at the Titty Typhoon, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do,” Lisa replied, twiddling her fingers and avoiding looking Shuichi directly in the eye. “Actually, it’d be more accurate to say that I… did work there. I, uh, lost my job not too long after I met you at your birthday party.”

“What!?” Shuichi gasped and almost stood up from his car seat. “Why?”

“Well, my boss didn’t exactly like my performance, and I was already on thin ice,” the ex-stripper explained. “So don’t blame yourself, it was probably inevitable that I’d fail eventually.”

“Hey! I told you to stop talking like that, Lisa!” said Komaru. “There’s nothing wrong with leaving a job that isn’t right for you, and from what you told me about that place, it definitely was not for you.”

“Exactly my thought!” said Artemis. “Besides, you’re off doing something you actually like now, right?”

“Y-yeah, I suppose being Seiko’s assistant is pretty nice…” said Lisa. “I get to help her make new ****, sell and deliver them, calm down angry customers… it feels like all my medical training is actually being put to use!”

“You’re working for her now? That’s good, but… why are you out on the streets now that you have that?” asked Shuichi.

“W-well, she’s kind. But her budget is a little tight… and my student loans aren’t exactly going to pay for themselves,” Lisa explained.

“I see… at least you’ve made some good friends to help support you through this,” said Shuichi. “And if it means anything to you, I really don’t think they should have fired you. Your dance was actually really good.”

“W-what!?” Lisa blushed so red, the others all thought she might pass out. “Even the part where I tripped? I know we all said it was part of the show, but… that was a pretty blatant lie. I ruined your expensive cake and your champagne…”

“I mean it, you were great!” Shuichi insisted. “So much so, that even your accidents are graceful and… beautiful, in a way.”

“... sniff… sniff sniff…”

“Eh? Lisa, are you… crying?” asked Koko.

“N-no! I just… got something in my eye again!” Lisa insisted, wiping her eyes. “Y-you know, just another accident…”

“Tch… normally I’d beat you up for making a girl cry, but I think this one time I can forgive you,” Artemis said, crossing her arms.

“Heh, I think we can more than just forgive him,” said Hina, leaning over the driver’s side door of Shuichi’s car so he’d have a good look at her breasts and the tight swimsuit that she had underneath. “How about instead, we offer you a special discount? We know you’re a good customer, so we’ll let you have all five of us! How does that sound?”

“Er… that’s a generous offer, but… I’m afraid that even my pockets don’t run that deep,” Shuichi said, giving a **** laugh.

“Ah, that’s a shame… then you can at least sleep with at least one of us, right?” said Hina.

“Heck, it doesn’t even have to be in a hotel room or anything!” Komaru spoke up. “I’ll suck your cock right here in your car if you want to! Kae told me that some people really like that!”

“I’m flattered, honestly, it’s just…” Shuichi paused, his mind turning itself upside down in search of a plausible lie as he felt his metaphorical influence gauge drain down to 0. “I’m waiting for someone.”

“Waiting for someone? Who?” asked Lisa. “This isn’t exactly a normal place for a meetup.”

“Yeah, plus if you’re waiting for another lady of the night, and you’ve been waiting this long, then she’s probably stood you up,” said Hina. “Well, I say, you ‘snooze you lose’! Fuck her by fucking us!”

“It’s not like any of that, really. It’s, erm… something else…” Shuichi trailed off.

“You’re not waiting for a… date, are you?” Koko lowered the brim of her witch’s hat over her eyes as she spoke.

“I doubt it – even I heard about his rather disastrous ‘relationship’ with everyone’s favorite confectioner. Not even the most reckless man would jump right back into the dating pool after that,” said Artemis. “Regardless of his reason, it’s not really any of our business, now is it? If he wants us to leave him sitting by his lonesome, then I say we oblige him. I’m sure we can find someone with looser pockets out there easily enough.”

“Yeah, I suppose badgering him like this is pretty rude… oh my gosh! We were… sexually harassing him just now!?” Komaru gasped. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Shuichi! Please, forgive us!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine; I know you have to be just a bit insistent to get customers,” Shuichi said apologetically. “Though I’m afraid my answer is going to have to remain ‘no’. Perhaps we could do something together some other time?”

“Of course! If you ever come looking for us, we won’t hesitate to put aside some time for you!” Hina struck a cute pose and winked at Shuichi. “Just don’t forget about us, okay? We’re going to hold you to that promise!”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be forgetting about any of you anytime soon.” Shuichi smiled nervously and waved the girls goodbye. “Happy hunting out there!”

The girls all nodded and returned to walking the streets, leaving Shuichi alone, but no less nervous about his regular situation. He was still alone with lots of prying, judging eyes passing by him every second, and he was once again reminded of how brutally cold the desert nights could be. He could have turned on his heater, but he didn’t want to risk draining his battery before Peko got back.

“Sigh… well, at least I have one thing to be proud of. I finally turned down a sex worker’s offer,” Shuichi said to himself. “That’s got to mean something, right?”

“Yes, but will you be able to turn down mine?” A voice asked behind him.

Shuichi was grateful for once that he was in a convertible, because he jumped out of his seat so fast that he would have undoubtedly given himself a concussion by hitting his head on the ceiling otherwise. Looking to his left, he could see that another car - a rather fancy black limousine by the looks of it - had stopped beside his own on the road. Fortunately, the street of the Red Light District was wide enough for other cars to drive past, but it was still slowing traffic quite a bit. A few cars honked their horns at the limo in frustration, but that quickly melded into the always-chaotic atmosphere of the city. Shuichi would have told them to move along, but the person he saw inside the car left him completely speechless.

Sitting across from Shuichi through a rolled-down black window was none other than Byakuya Togami, the woman who was trying to buy out his company.

“Oh, uh… hello there, Ms. Togami! It is an honor to meet you again!” Shuichi said hastily. “I know what this looks like, but it isn’t–”

“Let me guess… you ran out of fuel trying to take a shortcut, and now you’re stranded in the most embarrassing part of town.” Byakuya adjusted her glasses smugly. “How accurate is that assessment?”

“Uh… pretty accurate, actually,” said Shuichi. “I guess this is exactly what it looks like, then.”

“Indeed, you are nothing if not easy to read,” said Byakuya. “Though, you should not be mistaken; I know all about your dalliances with the… working women of this city.”

“Y-you do?!” Shuichi tried to swallow, but he was so nervous that his throat and mouth were both dry. “I mean… I have no idea what you’re talking abo–”

“Don’t pretend to be naive. You’re an employee at a company that I wish to acquire. And I run background checks on my employees that make prostate exams seem un-invasive,” Byakuya interjected. “The files that I have on you and your coworkers spared no detail. Would you like to know which of your coworkers wet his bed until the 5th grade?”

“Er, no thank you,” said Shuichi. “So, uh… are you going to **** me, or…?”

“Please. **** is reserved for people who have power, and that would imply that you have any,” said Byakuya. “Plus, the dirt I have on you is embarrassing, but… not illegal. Therefore, breaking the law to **** you myself would be far too risky.”

“I see…” Shuichi shifted uncomfortably in his seat. In spite of Byakuya’s reassurances that she meant him no harm, he still could not help but feel like a buck in a hunter’s crosshairs. “I suppose that means we’ll be parting ways then. I’ll, uh, see you back at the office if you ever come for another visit.”

“Actually, I have more business with you than just holding your dirty secrets above your head,” said Byakuya. “I’m here because I want to hire you.”

“Me!?” Shuichi gasped. “I’m… quite flattered, Ma’am, but I seem to recall you saying that my position at CO Inc. was superfluous, and you didn’t seem that impressed by my presentation earlier. And to offer me a job here of all places…”

“I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood me, Mr. Saihara,” Byakuya interjected. “I’m not here to hire you for my company. I’m here to hire you for the same reason most people on this street are hired every night.”

“...” Shuichi blinked a few times as gears turned inside of his head. “W-what!? You want to hire me to… to… to…”

“Have sex with me in exchange for monetary compensation, yes,” concluded Byakuya. “That is the gist of how things usually go here.”

“But… why me? I’ve never done this sort of thing before, and… well, you’re a beautiful, rich woman! You could probably get almost any guy to sleep with you, and completely for free, too!” Shuichi pointed out.

“I chose you because you’re handsome, you’re available, you’re good at following orders, and you’re ****. In other words, exactly my type,” Byakuya explained. “Plus, I know all about your reputation as the ‘Ultimate John’. You might usually be on the other side of this transaction, but you wouldn’t gain that title without at least some sexual prowess. And as to why I’m hiring you and not going to a bar or club… I’m afraid what I do with my money is my business and not yours. So, what do you say? Shall we negotiate a price?”

“I, um… I’m afraid that I can’t do that. I’m waiting for someone,” Shuichi answered.

“To get you more gas, I assume? I know that model; they can fill up the tank whether you’re here or not,” said Byakuya. “But don’t you want to pay whoever it is back? Or to perhaps not have to worry about this month’s rent? Or maybe even the next year’s rent?”

“That… would be nice…” Shuichi said, looking away as he trailed off.

“Plus, you’d get it doing something that you already delight in; having sex with someone you just met.” Byakuya’s smile glimmered like gold as she leaned out of her window towards Shuichi. “It’d only take one short hour. Two max, and then you’re on your way. What do you say?”

“I… appreciate the offer, but I’m going to have to decline,” Shuichi ultimately said. “It’s tempting, but debasing myself for you like that… I’m not sure I can forgive myself if I did that.”

“Oh? I didn’t take you for the prideful type,” Byakuya said with a scowl.

“I’m not… or at least I wasn’t, until recently.” Shuichi turned to look Byakuya in the eye. “The truth is, I didn’t really like myself until fairly recently. I had basically no self-confidence, no social life… I didn’t really even feel like a person. But, even if my monetary situation isn’t great right now, I’ve been doing better right now than I have in a very long time. And… I’d like to keep things this way.”

“You think that doing this will **** you in some way? Hypocrite… if that’s true, then what have you been doing with all your ‘partners’ here in the Red Light District? Giving them pep talks? Braiding their hair?” Byakuya scoffed. “Or are you going to say it’s ‘different’ because you ‘respect’ them? Because I assure you that means less to them than you think it does.”

Shuichi winced, her words stinging a lot worse than he thought they would. Guilt surged within him as he wondered if he really was degrading Kaede, Maki, and the others… but even still, he wasn’t about to let her walk over him like this.

“... I’ve made my decision, Ms. Togami,” said Shuichi. “I suggest that you get going. You might catch a cold this time of night.”

“I see…” Byakuya adjusted her glasses again. “Very well then. I’ll respect your decision.”

Shuichi let out a deep sigh and sank into his seat as relief washed over him. That was quickly interrupted, however, as he felt something suddenly slap into his face. “H-hey! What the-?” He opened his eyes and found a stack of bills sitting in his lap. Looking through it, there had to be at least 1 million yen packed inside. “Why did you just…?”

“Payment for reconsidering, of course,” said Byakuya. “Consider that a small preview of what you’ll get if you accept. Though, I won’t ask again… what do you say now?”

“...”