Seoul Kitchen: Side Dish # 6

Late Night Stroll

Despite all its flaws, Night City was a breathtaking sight to behold once the sun had gone and truly set. From the towering skyscrapers, the dazzling neon lights, and the clash of colors and styles all blended into one vibrant mess, it was a dynamic city of endless wonders. It was almost hard to believe that this city was once almost razed to the ground by a nuclear blast.

With his hands on the wheel, he cruised down the winding roads of the city to unwind and relax from all the worries in his life. Away from work, away from his family, away from it all, it was here in the road where he found solace. He only wished he could get away far enough from the city to avoid the eye sore that dominated Corporate Plaza.

Arasaka Tower was a blight in this city. Its ugly, monolithic, and dull presence clashed heavily with the city. Like some cancer, it grew, spreading its roots in the surrounding districts and sapped away at everything that made this city great. The chaos of the streets slowly gave way to the all encompassing uniformity of the corporate.

Glaring tower, he muttered, "One day…" It will burn down, all of it, but it won't be today. The time wasn't right and he still had a role to play. While he waited, might as well enjoy himself. Wasting time on the company dime was something he knew anyone could enjoy.

Rolling to a stop at his usual stop, a lot by the Marina overlooking the Space Port built on Morro rock, he grabbed the folding chair cooler in the backseat, before getting out to enjoy the sight. Just as he sat down, ignoring the call from his sister, and reached inside the cooler, his hands grabbed nothing but lukewarm water. Frowning, he looked down before he groaned; He forgot to stock up on beer.

Sighing, he leaned back and watched a spaceplane rocket up to space. He could stay here, but without drinks? How else was he going to enjoy this night? He wasn't going to spend his time here sober, that's for certain; Not when his phone was ringing nonstop. Staring at his inbox as the message as the messages piled up, he threw his hands up, before getting off his seat.

"Can't even enjoy my night out," He muttered as he left the cooler and seat and got back to his car. He needed a cold one right now.

-x-x-x-

Making his way to Japantown, he headed straight for the Cherry Blossom Market. He could have stopped by Watson, but he wasn't feeling like dealing with the crowd. He already had his fill of ass kissers in the office.

Grabbing the jacket he kept on the trunk, he headed inside before wandering around for a place to stop by. Looking around the new stalls and all the people around, he grimaced. He didn't remember this place being as crowded, but it has been sometime since he last visited the Market. He had been far too busy dealing with his father's shit recently.

"Damn old bastard won't keel over," He muttered as he slipped his hands inside his jacket. At least it was livelier. He'd probably find a place where he could just sit down and not worry about anything sooner or later. However, it was easier said than done.

Left and right, he'd find stalls filled with people. Worst of all, he knew some of them. "What the hell…" He whispered in mild disbelief. This place wasn't exactly run down, but still. He expected executives to dine in some restaurant near the plaza, not here of all places.

Shaking his head in disbelief, he walked away, increasingly frustrated at the crowd. He was all but ready to give up when he smelt something familiar, something delicious. Turning, he found the half closed shutter of a store.

The sign outside said close, but he could still smell something good cooking inside. It was weird that they closed earlier, especially with the crowd gathered around the amateur guitarist, but he merely shrugged. Maybe they just wanted to close down early.

Ducking under the shutters, he found himself in a familiar place; A hole in the wall shop that was more kitchen than stall. With the limited seating and the lovely scent of broth simmering in the background, he almost felt like he was in Tokyo all over again.

Plopping himself down on one of the worn seats, he greeted, "You got some beer in this joint?" As the man turned to him with a confused look, he excused himself, "Crowd's not really my thing. I'll pay triple for the trouble."

Giving him a strange look, the man shrugged before walking over to the freezer. Stopping by the pot, the giant of a man came back with a bowl of udon, some peanuts, and several bottles of beer that got his brow rising. "Yebisu Premium huh?" He asked as a ghost of a smile graced his lips, "Haven't seen these in a while."

"Want something else?" The man asked as he grabbed one of the bottles before he stopped him from taking away the rare treat.

"Nah, I rather like them," He replied as he placed the bottle down. "Just wondering why this of all things?" He did offer to pay triple so maybe that.

Shrugging, the man replied, "Just the first one that came to mind." As he went back to cleaning his station, he added, "Besides. If a certain fruitcake from a show I know thinks its good and you looked like someone who could use a good drink."

He felt laughter bubble up his chest as he cracked one open. "Her name is Misato Katsuragi and she's the finest woman in the show and you know it!" He chuckled before tipping his head back and letting the malty brew down the hatch.

"An Evangelion fan huh?" The man chuckled as well before shaking their head. Gazing up, the man replied, "I've been meaning to watch it, but haven't found the time. Is it really that good?"

"Where do I even begin…," He sighed as he reminisced on a show long since buried in the past. He would lose himself to the discussion as their talk soon spiraled out of control. It was childish, but it brought a smile to his face. Perhaps forgetting to pack some beer was a good thing.;

-x-x-x-

Letting out a satisfied fine, he laid down on the counter. "You know what the best thing about anime is, Chef?" He asked his new friend as a goofy smile stretched across his lips, "It absolutely drives my old man up the walls."

"Seriously?" Chef asked, "Even Ghibli?"

"Especially Ghibli," He scoffed as old memories came rushing back. Sneering, he added, "He thinks it's a waste of time, that I should spend more time studying than watching." He could still remember their argument and how stupid it was and how it infuriated him as well.

"He confiscated my manga and had all my tapes destroyed," He recalled before he grinned, "But it only made me like it more. It even helped me learn how to hide things from him." The only thing that punishing him did was make him better at hiding things and how to lie through his teeth.

"You liked anime out of spite?" His companion chuckled as he took a sip from his own bottle.

"Spite is one hell of a drug!" He fired back before he shook his head and clarified, "I got really into the stuff out of spite, but I stayed for the story." Gazing ahead with unseeing eyes, he mused, "There's just something magical about it. It feels like a whole new world in the palm of my hands."

As a particular memory came to mind, he told him, "Would you believe I tried to draw my own?" While he spent much of his time rebelling as a youth, Anime became a refuge, a pass time even when he grew up as a man. "I got decently good at it, but it never went anywhere." He could have published it, but it just fell into the wayside.

"Think you still got it?" Chef asked, making him frown.

"Of course I…" Trailing off, he paused, before shrugging, "Maybe? It's been a long while." Gesturing at himself, he admitted, "I might not look like it but I'm older than I look." A combination of good genetics and the best health care in the world could do that to anyone. Scratching his beard, he mused, "Maybe if I got a pen and something to draw on, I could try my hands on it?"

"Wait here," His friend excused himself as he went to the backroom before coming back with a piece of cardboard and marker. Handing it over, he asked, "Think you can make your magic one last time?"

Staring down at the blank canvas, he shrugged as he took the market and started drawing. "Eh, might as well pass the time," He muttered as he cracked his neck, "Got something in mind?" He asked as he cleared the table.

"Well there is this early 2000's anime that was canceled about a young man looking to become the pirate king," Chef replied, "It's a shame that they never got past Marineford. I think you've heard of it?" This brought a smile to his face.

"One Piece huh?" He chuckled as his hands started to draw, the line flowing beneath his pen, "Let's see what I can do." He was rusty from the lack of practice, but the scene came to life; of a group of friends fighting the world even if it meant going against the world. Eventually, time would come for him to finish his work as the night drew to a close.

As he applied his signature on the peace and bid his goodbye, he smiled, wondering what could have been if he had taken another path in life. Maybe he could have actually taken this up and made his own story; Who knows.

Shaking his head at his musing, he slipped back in his ride and rode back home. Perhaps forgetting to pack some beer was a good thing. If it wasn't for that one chance, maybe he wouldn't have found his favorite stop. He definitely came back one of these days, even if only to continue that unfinished work. Until then, he'd have to deal with the fall out of ignoring all those texts. There was no rest for the wicked after all.

A/N:

Was supposed to be writing something else, but got sucked into writing for this. Just needed to get the brain flowing. Heh... guess that canon character's POV this is about? Here's a hint, he's corpo. Also, one more thing, all side story's moving forward would be called Side Dishes. Enjoy~