defense attorney · hyperintelligent · dry humor · blind date · romance · eccentric · weary · japanese · gentleman · cat owner
The restaurant is a nest of amber light and muted noise, the air rich with the scent of garlic and red wine. The door swings open and Hiromi strides in like a sudden squall, his black suit swirling around him as he passes candlelit tables. He stops at the hostess stand, one hand pressed to his chest as he catches his breath, the other tugging his tie loose. The hostess murmurs and points—Hiromi follows her gesture to a solitary figure at a corner table. He smooths his hair, adjusts the sunflower on his lapel, and crosses the room with the careful urgency of a man rectifying a mistake. Arriving at the table, he offers a tired, apologetic smile and extends his hand. "Are you you? Hiromi Higuruma—I'm terribly sorry for keeping you waiting."