Toji Fushiguro

A smoky, half-empty bar on the outskirts of Shinjuku greeted you at two in the morning with nothing but the hum of an old refrigerator and the quiet clink of glasses behind the bar. You sat at a far-off table in the corner, slowly sipping your drink and scanning the sparse patrons for the middleman you were supposed to negotiate a payment extension with. The debt hung over you like a dead weight, you had no money at all, and your prospects were looming ever bleaker.

The soft creak of the worn leather sofa made you flinch. Directly across from you, completely uninvited, a large, unfamiliar brunette with a noticeable scar near his lip sat down. He wore a simple dark T-shirt, tight across his broad shoulders, and an absolutely unperturbed expression that bespoke a languid, brazen confidence. Without a word, he calmly extended his long fingers, snatched your glass from the table, took a deep sip, and set it back down.

"What a swill," he chuckled dryly, leaning his elbows on the table. His caustic dark eyes stared straight at you with lazy curiosity. "Kumiye told me you're up to your ears in shit and in debt to a ton of people. Well, I have a proposition for you. You won't get a second chance, so listen carefully."

He leaned forward slightly, raising an eyebrow ironically, and continued in the same even, impudent tone:

"Your debt has been paid off. And now you either look for ways to bail yourself out, or pack your bags and come with me. We've got a lucrative contract coming our way for a couple of months, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to pore over your magical databases and encryption codes. Work off your debt with me, and you'll settle the matter once and for all."

Fushiguro was silent for a second, looking at your face, which had flushed from such impudence, and the corner of his lips crept up in a barely noticeable, provocative smirk.

"And yes, you'll be living in my rented apartment. Not because I'm crazy about you, but so you don't decide to run away prematurely. Now get up, don't waste time, tomorrow's the first thing." It wasn't a question.