by Twisted Eternal Wolvetta

Karma

Precisely what did karma mean? Takeda knew his luck was terrible, but there was only so much a man could take. In his case, it always seemed he was in the right place at the wrong time.

Ever since leaving Fuuka Academy, events had become dull. He had gotten himself a job he wasn't all that interested in. Then there was the fact all of his previous friends had all but disappeared. Where had they even gone? Fuuka wasn't exactly gigantic, but there were so many faces he didn't recognize.

Who were these people? Or more rightly, where was everyone? Though it was the early hours of the morning, he had expected to see someone at least. Yet the only company he had was this bar's bartender.

Since leaving that decade ago, things had become so...

He wasn't even sure how to describe it. Sat atop a stool by the bar, he grumbled. Bringing his phone from out of his pocket, he absentmindedly checked the time. 2:47am. He had been here for an hour and fourty-seven minutes already? How had he managed to lose track of the time?

His clothes consisting of a suit, and his feet propped to the stool, he sighed.

"You haven't touched that drink for nearly an hour." The bartender abruptly reminded him. The bartender appeared bored, and had long, and straight evergreen hair. It was tied back neatly, and reached the small of his back.

Staring at the bartender for a few moments, Takeda was sure he recognised him. "S-sorry." He acknowledged him, picking up the glass quickly. "It's been a long day."

"Masashi." The bartender frowned, forcing Takeda's eyes back to him. "You sure got grumpy over the years."

Staring awkwardly, Takeda's brows knitted. "...Akira?" He spoke in disbelief, his eyes widening. Why was-

"Come on." Akira rolled his eyes. "Everyone knows I wasn't the most feminine of people." He gruffly muttered, reorganising a few glasses.

"B-but not this-"

"-not so male?" Akira supplied, cocking his head. The elder male nodded in response, and he laughed softly. "Let's just say after school, I had a change of heart." Picking up an empty glass, he absently cleaned it with a cloth. "I'm surprised you disappeared. The group is still together- well, except for that Fujino. No idea why, but she up and went a few months after graduation."

"Fujino Shizuru?"

"Hmm hm." Akira hummed, studying the glass he had finished wiping. Setting it aside, he propped his forearms to the bar. "Mai dragged Takumi off to America and got his heart sorted out. Sanoh and Harada are finally dating-"

"Sonoh and Harada?" Takeda frowned, Akira nodding.

"Aoi and Chie."

Oh, those two? Takeda arched a brow. "I had thought they had been… dating already?"

"Apparently not until recently." Akira uttered. "Yuuichi got chased out by Mai." He snickered mostly to himself. "But wouldn't it be best for you to meet everybody instead?"

"But it's been a de-" "Kuga, come in here!"

Wait, what?

Karma. Truthfully, what was it? This was what disturbed Takeda's mind the most as Natsuki entered. The fully mature woman regarded him, and Takeda did much the same in return. Yet there was no bickering, nor did Natsuki yell at him.

Would this meeting be his beginning or end?

"Masashi Takeda. Now here's a face I thought I'd never see again."

AUTHOR'S NOTES

I should make a full Takeda/Natsuki story one of these days.

Anyway, I played along with trans-Akira for this one. Since reading Sombereye's stuff I can't get enough of the concept.