Kusakabe had entered the bar after a long mission. His forehead slightly throbbing from a headache. He sat down on a stool at the bar and ordered himself a beer.

It was late, he glanced at his watch, the time reading 12 pm. For a random Wednesday night the bar was quite busy. Couples at booths, a few other men at the bar watching recaps of a baseball game on the television.

Kusakabe relaxed into his seat and put the lollipop stick down onto the bar. He then took a swig from his chilled beer glass as the bartender handed it to him. The crisp refreshing liquid already providing a sense of relief from the bitter day.