Matsuo leaned back. The soft leather of the black couch gave way beneath him. He closed his eyes, rolled his neck, and breathed in the air of the club, a mixture of perfume, sweat, and alcohol. The dull thump of the bass vibrated through his chest, and for a moment everything dissolved into that rhythm. He enjoyed the anonymity of the crowd.

Then again, he wasn't really part of the crowd. He was sitting in the VIP section, slightly elevated above the dance floor, sipping a chilled drink. Below him, the lights flickered over the dancing bodies, illuminating them in brief, dazzling flashes, a sea of movement, laughter, and fleeting touches. Friday night in Shibuya. It hardly got any better than this. People cast aside the burdens of everyday life and celebrated as though there were no tomorrow.

As he watched them, the waitress approached him. It was the same one who had been attentively serving him all evening. In her hand was another drink from the menu. A Saketini.

She carefully placed the glass in front of him and looked up at him, her eyes wide and shimmering. Matsuo recognized that look immediately. He had seen it countless times before.

What she saw was a man in his early thirties, dressed in a black shirt and well-fitted trousers, with almost white, shoulder-length hair. One side was tucked neatly behind his ear, while a loose strand on the other rested casually over his shoulder. He knew what effect his appearance had on people, and he was more than willing to make use of it.

"Here you are, Matsuo-san. Your drink," the waitress said shyly, giving a slight bow before looking at him expectantly.

"Thank you, Hana-chan. You always know how to make me happy," he replied with an easy smile, giving her a wink.

She remained standing for a moment longer than necessary, as though she were waiting for something. Matsuo returned her smile only briefly. As much as he enjoyed flirting and the admiration that came with it, he could tell that there was more in Hana-chan's eyes. A spark of feelings he had no intention of returning. Flirting, yes. Breaking hearts, no.

He turned his attention to the glass. Slowly, he swirled it, watching the nearly transparent liquid inside. The martini and sake had blended together remarkably well, and even a single olive floated on the surface. He took a sip, letting the taste linger on his tongue. Full-bodied, with delicate notes of rice and juniper.

He would always prefer pure sake, but he had to give humans credit. They knew how to be creative, how to discover new flavors, blend old traditions with new ideas, and dare to try something different. They had his blessing. And this Saketini certainly wouldn't be his last.

The night was still young, and the mood around him continued to rise. By now, the club was packed. Everywhere people danced and laughed, their faces blurring beneath the lights and music. Matsuo wondered whether he should lose himself in the crowd once more or try another bar instead. There was always something new to discover in Shibuya.

Just as he was about to stand, he heard a murmur nearby. Turning around, he saw a group of young women pointing excitedly at a small blue butterfly that had apparently wandered into the club.

Against the dim, smoky light, the butterfly shimmered in a vivid, almost supernatural shade of blue. Although it should have been barely visible, its glow reached several meters through the room. Very unusual. The end of March was far too early for butterflies, especially for one visiting a nightclub at night.

Matsuo frowned. His leg began to bounce restlessly. That was not a good sign. Something inside him tightened, and his instincts told him, without the slightest doubt, that he needed to leave.

Now.

He rose to his feet and was about to hurry toward the stairs when the music around him became muffled. The bass lost its depth, as though someone had quietly turned down the volume. The colorful lights faded. People, movement, colors—everything dissolved until only a gray flicker remained.

He blinked.

Time seemed to stand still.

Even Hana-chan had frozen in place, caught in the middle of a step with a tray of drinks balanced in her hands.

Too late, he thought.

The blue butterfly, however, remained untouched by the stillness. It fluttered through the silent room without a care, its wings now glowing almost brilliantly in the leaden gray twilight. Then Matsuo noticed it, a small, completely white snake slithering between the motionless legs of the dancers. Its body glided smoothly across the floor as though it were made of light.

"Ah," he murmured with a faint smile. "I suppose you're here for me."

Naturally, neither the butterfly nor the snake replied. The butterfly circled him in playful loops, always close, yet never close enough to touch him.

"So," Matsuo said, half joking, "if this could perhaps wait until later, I'd be happy to postpone this conversation for a few days."

He was just about to slip away with a quiet laugh when, before he could even reach the first step, the white snake grew. With a speed that was difficult to comprehend, even for him, it shot in front of the staircase and blocked his path.

It was now five times its previous size.

Matsuo came to a halt and carefully stepped back. The butterfly continued circling him while the snake remained perfectly still. Then it opened its mouth, and a clear, powerful voice echoed through the frozen room.

"Matsuo. We have a message for you. Come to our gathering immediately."

As soon as the snake closed its mouth, it shrank back to its original size and turned away. Without a sound, it slithered down the stairs, the butterfly following behind. A single breath later, both of them had disappeared, and life returned all at once.

The music crashed back into his ears. Lights flashed. Voices filled the room. The club was alive again.

Well, Matsuo thought, I guess dancing is out of the question now.

When the messengers of the Creator Gods appeared, there was no choice but to follow them.

"Damn," he sighed as he searched for the nearest mirror.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading!

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See you in the next chapter!