Reigen Arataka kicked open the door, triggering the automatic lights to flash on, and not long after that, the buzz of the air conditioner filled the room.

"Well, here it is," he leaned against the water-cooler and made a vague gesture with his hand. "This is where all the magic happens."

Sachi stood at the door, hands clenched at her sides, perfect teeth sinking into her bottom lip. The room looked reasonable enough, if she were honest, nothing overtly creepy as one would expect from such a place.

For all intents and purposes, it was just a regular-degular workspace with a desk, a few chairs, potted plants, and a bookcase.

When she'd gone out that night, the last place she thought she'd end up was Spirits and Such Consultation, given all of its recent bad press. But for some reason, Sachi couldn't deny Reigen's offer to take their conversation somewhere quieter. Truth be told, in a mere five-minute conversation, she grew curious about him.

Without another thought, she briskly crossed over the threshold. Her heels clicked loudly against the linoleum floor. Ah, that's right, she was still wearing her club outfit. A glitzy bodycon dress and a pair of four-inch heels never looked so out of place.

All the while, Reigen's gaze never left her. Not that he was ogling her like some creep, but he seemed almost thoughtful, almost like he too had no idea why they were here or why he had invited her so spontaneously.

"S-So what kind of things do you do here...other than exorcisms, Arataka-san?"

"My team and I specialize in many spirit-related procedures, seances, charms, salt purifications, and even massages. You name it. We've got it!" He offered a charming smile.

"Massages?" Sachi murmured. That was... different.

"That's right, nothing relieves the burden of a curse more than a good massage," he replied with about as much finesse as a used car salesman. He motioned for her to sit. "Want some tea?"

How could she refuse when he offered up such a dinky smile like that? It struck her all of a sudden that Reigen was quite good-looking, in the funny, charming little way. Testing her luck, she answered with, "Got anything stronger?"

He scratched his chin and squinted comically as he thought. "I might have something," ducking underneath his desk, he pulled out a slightly dusty bottle of sake.

"I think the last time I had sake was at my sister's wedding." she giggled.

"Hey, don't tease," he laughed, "It's all I have right now," he grabbed two mugs and sat down across from her.

"Cheers," he said, and they clicked glasses. The two went silent, a momentary lull in conversation as they both savored the taste of the alcohol. The more she drank, the more she felt herself relax. Reigen made it easy for her to be comfortable, and for the second time that night, she wondered what exactly he was thinking.

"So, you said you were a hotel concierge?" he inquired.

She grinned and nodded. "That's right! I know every restaurant, attraction, and landmark in the city!"

Reigen seemed impressed as he eyed her over the rim on his cup, causing her breath to hitch in her throat. Never had she met someone so comfortable in staring directly in her eyes, she tried not to squirm.

"Okay then, let's put that to the test," Reigen's dark eyes glimmered with mischief and something else Sachi couldn't place. His cheeks held a healthy glow underneath the sheen of sweat that layered his skin. Oddly, she found it endearing.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Alright, so let's say I'm stranded near Nakano bridge at four in the morning, my phone's dead, it's raining heavily, and my hotel is across town. What should I do?"

As Sachi thought for a moment, Reigen was left to consider the woman sitting in front of him.

Going out had been an impulsive move, hidden under the guise of advertising his business to the local club scene. Truth be told, he was just lonely. Approaching her had been just as ballsy since her college friends surrounded her like bees on honey. But she was a few years younger than him, with kind eyes and a rich laugh. He thought maybe she'd humor him a little.

They had a great conversation, and Reigen was glad to see that they had the same sense of humor. Her laughter was charming, and dare he admit, beautiful. Sachi was easy to talk to, and he didn't feel the pressure to be somebody else or put on some false bravado.

Maybe that's why he didn't want this thing—whatever it was—to end in one night.

"Aha! I've got it!" she said with a grin. "First you go to Riko's laundromat just down the street from the intersection at Nakano bridge. The facility is open twenty-four hours so you can stay out of the rain. And they also have a payphone. I'd recommend calling Speedy Taxi. I'm sure you know the one, their advertisements are always on TV."

The jingle played in his mind, "Stuck in a bind, stuck at a stop, call Speedy Taxi, and we'll be there on the dot!" Reigen sang.

Sachi almost spilled her drink as she doubled over in amusement, "Yup, that's the one! The song can get pretty annoying, but they are indeed reliable," she placed her empty mug on the table. "Just call them, and you'll be on your way home, although, I don't even wanna know what your bill would look like after a taxi ride across town at that hour. "

"So, where would you recommend a guy take a woman he's interested in. Especially if he really wants to impress her?" Reigen knew the minute he opened his mouth it was the alcohol talking.

"L-Like on a date?" her cheeks flushed as she fiddled with the hem of her dress. He nodded, not trusting his voice.

"Well, the thing is, Seasoning City has a lot of nice restaurants perfect for dates, any one of them will do," He accepted her answer simply, too afraid to seal the deal just yet.

"Want a refill?"

"Oh no! I've got work in the morning," she replied quickly. Suddenly aware of how that sounded, she raised her hands in defense. "Not that I just go out on Tuesday nights for the heck of it," she paused and stared into her lap. "Guess I was just a bit lonely."

Reigen hummed. "I can totally relate; sometimes, you just need the company."

Sachi smiled warmly, "Exactly."