“'Excuse me, pardon me,” Tōga repeated, his voice a polite murmur as he navigated through the maze of debris and unconscious patrons. His steps were measured and cautious, deliberately avoiding the unfortunate souls strewn across the floor—victims of the tumult he and his striking date had orchestrated. Reaching a small clearing, he righted a table that lay on its side, dusting off its surface with a few efficient swipes before setting it upright. He then fetched a couple of chairs, arranging them neatly at the table.
“Care to join me?” he called over to Ursula, flashing a charming smile as he gestured invitingly toward one of the chairs. Assuming she accepted, he would wait for her to be comfortably seated before sliding her chair closer to the table. Once she was settled, he took his own seat across from her, just as the bartender arrived with their drinks. The glasses clinked softly as they were set down on the now-clean table.
“Thank you!” Tōga beamed, his hand reaching for his wallet from which he extracted a few jewels, placing them generously on the table. “Sorry for all the trouble we caused,” he added, his apology sincere as he acknowledged the wild turn their date had taken. While the initial annoyance was evident in the bartender's expression, his eyes widened in astonishment at the amount of money laid before him. “S-sir, that’s way too much,” the bartender protested, his voice tinged with a mix of gratitude and surprise.
“No, take it. You deserve it. And hey, just keep the drinks coming!” Tōga insisted, his tone both light-hearted and insistent. His generous tip was as much a peace offering as it was a testament to his character—acknowledging the disruption they’d caused with a grand gesture that went above and beyond the expected.
As the bartender reluctantly accepted the jewels and retreated to prepare more drinks, Tōga's attention returned to Ursula. With the clinks of fresh glasses soon to echo again, the night promised new beginnings, transforming earlier chaos into an opportunity for laughter, conversation, and perhaps, a deepening connection.
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