"Subs by yuizaki_libra Special thanks to furransu, mikilove13 and nomanymore@ourhour" "Welcome to the bar." "Welcome to Lapin." "So it was true." "You really started working at Lapin." "Yes." "Well, he said he wanted to work as an apprentice first and he would try his best, so he was hired by..." "Mihashi-san." "If he wants to earn a living by being a bartender, he must first begin by standing behind the counter." "You're right." "Welcome back." "Huh?" "I think there will be a lot of customers saying that to you." "Thank you very much." "I will start afresh from now on." "Then... to celebrate your fresh start, treat me to something." "Huh?" "I treat?" "Shouldn't it be the other way round?" "(Door's opening)" "Welcome to the bar." "Welcome to the bar." "You are..." "Kuzuhara-san..." "Welcome to the bar." "Welcome to Lapin." "Your order is?" "Gin Fizz please." "Certainly sir." "Why did Kuzuhara-san come here?" "Maybe because he has heard rumors of Sasakura-kun." "Ordering Gin Fizz means... he's observing the skill of another bartender." "When you think of it, the word "Fizz" in Gin Fizz is named after the fizzing sound when carbonated water is poured in," "but we can't hear that "fizz fizz" sound even a little right?" "That idiot." "What's up with his reckless behavior?" "Sasakura-san was in Paris for a long time, so he hasn't heard of Kuzuhara-san." "Sorry for making you wait." "Here is your Gin Fizz." "What on earth?" "This sophisticated flavor..." "Gin, lemon, sugar, soda water..." "Apart from those, what else?" "Rum?" "Not only that, he added some drops of fairly fermented old rum." "It's different from the normal recipe." "This is your original?" "Yes." "For a professional, or perhaps even a first-class bartender, one made according to the normal recipe will be quite boring." "So you realized huh..." "How did you know that Kuzuhara-san was a bartender?" "One thing is that he requested Gin Fizz, but more importantly, on the fingers of his right hand." "those are calluses caused by a shaker aren't they?" "Knowing that I'm from the same profession and serving me an original" "You must have a great deal of self-confidence." "Not at all.Bartending is a job you can't foget even when sitting at the counter as a customer." "Thus, I would like them, even for only an instant while tasting the drink, to enjoy cocktails." "Enjoy?" "Yes." "Like "what did he use to create this taste?"" "or "what did he throw in to make this color?"" "Imagining that is one way you can enjoy in a bar." "That's why you added rum into this Gin Fizz?" "No, it isn't rum." "What?" "It was wasanbon." "Wa..." "Wasanbon?" "(note: wasanbon is fine-grained Japanese sugar)" "Wasanbon.." "You mean that high-grade sugar used to make things like wagashi?" "(note: wagashi = traditional Japanese confectionery often served with tea)" "Yes." "You... used that as a substitute for syrup and caster sugar?" "Interesting." "Mr. Perfect... praised him?" "I will tell you this one thing." "Your cocktail is far from perfect." "What did he mean?" ""Your drink is far from perfect?"" "Because you showed him your original by using wasanbon..." "Who's that person?" "He's Kuzuhara Ryuichi-san, the chief bartender of Bar K owned by my Ojii-chan." "He suddenly appeared around 4-5 years ago and has only been accumulating awards ever since." "Undoubtedly, a genius bartender." "Then, the one who told Kuzuhara-san about Sasakura-san was Ojii-chan?" "Why do that purposely?" "Isn't it interesting?" "Those two have totally opposite sensitivities and techniques." "Don't tell me, you..." "Ultimately, which of them would be the man who can make the Glass of God?" "Sugiyama-san, I finished stocking up the fruits." "Yup." "Don't forget the dried ones too." "I have already prepared them." "How about the equipment?" "I have finished that too." "Pfft..." "What a boring fella." "Eh?" "Can't retort that it's perfect right?" "This...mother of perfection..." "(Referring to his teeth "ha"?" "His sense of humor is weird xD)" "I'm sorry." "Just now you were supposed to laugh, weren't you?" "Really." "You have no sense of humor." "That's why Mr. Perfect said you're not perfect." "Where is his bar?" "You..." "You didn't listen to me did you?" "Huh?" "Never mind!" "Anyway, aren't you being rudely curious?" "About Kuzuhara-san." "Well, yeah..." "But unfortunately, he won't let you enter his bar." "His bar is the so-called place for VIPs who have membership only." "In short, someone like you won't have the chance to drink Kuzuhara-san's cocktails." "Nor will you possibly be able to see him making them." "Is that right..." "Of course you can't say that." "Eh?" "Hotel Cardinal First Anniversary Party." "Kurushima-kaichou is wondering if you can be in charge of the bar booth together with Kuzuhara-san on that day." "Eh?" "Me?" "It's Sasakura-kun." "As I thought." "Bar booth?" "Based on titles, Sasakura-kun, you have a personal record that is not inferior, or even superior to Kuzuhara-san's." "How about accepting it?" "I see, I see!" "You started as a bartender again." "If there's anything you don't understand about alcohols, you can ask me." "Yes!" "Miwa-chan must be pleased right?" "Eh?" "Why?" "Because you're the bartender that Miwa-chan fell for at first..." "Here, yakisoba." "Looks yummy~ Hey I was about to say something important." "Huh?" "I was just serving him a piping hot yakisoba..." "Just now, who cared about yakisoba." "What do you mean who cared?" "You dare?" "Huh?" "Umm." "Excuse me." "Sorry." "Err..." "There you are." "I heard about it." "You accepted Ojii-chan's offer to his hotel party?" "Yeah." "I want to see Kuzuhara make a cocktail." "Do you have confidence to win?" "Eh?" "I think Ojii-chan is testing you and Kuzuhara-san." "Testing?" "Hotel Cardinal has been opened for a year already, but its main bar hasn't been completed yet." "That's why, Ojii-chan has always been searching for a true bartender whom he can entrust the main bar to." "Do you know?" "The Glass of God." "One that helps rescue a broken soul, hurt by loneliness, wandering about and heading nowhere." "The final cup called The Glass of God." "Hmm..." "Lost on what you're eating, hurt because you're eating alone, wondering where you should eat..." "The last meal to save those wandering empty stomachs" "Here, Oji-chan's Donburi." "You dummy!" "It's the Glass of God right?" "What's with "Oji-chan's Donburi"?" "Excuse me." "One Oji-chan's Donburi for me too please." "Certainly." "Hello, Yukari?" "How are you?" "Busy as always?" "Well yeah." "What's up?" "Hey Miwa." "You said you were doing a review on bars right?" "Yeah." "Will you tell me one with a soothing and quite mature atmosphere?" "Why?" "I'm thinking of going there with my boyfriend tonight." "So you're still with that older boyfriend of yours." "I'm still deciding I guess." "Well I'm keeping an eye on many others too." "Yukari, you are really..." "So, what's your top recommended bar?" "Hmm..." "Lapin I guess." "There's no mistake if you're talking about taste." "Isn't the amostphere more important than taste?" "That's why you're an amateur." "In a bar, the most important thing is.." "Yeah yeah." "Then, I'll go to Lapin with my boyfriend." "Miwa too, good luck for Valentine's!" "Hey!" "I see." "The world of Valentine's Day huh." "And in that world, it's our magazine's mission 2 months ago." "Which means, our Valentine's Day is already over." "Henshuuchou, last Christmas you said that too." "And you were at the editorial department right?" "You too okay." "I couldn't go home because my boss was here." "Oh dear." "Can you respect a boss who goes home leaving her subordinates?" "No." "Right?" "Okay, we're going to work hard tonight too!" "Yes." "Yes." "Cheers." "Delicious." "I'm happy." "We can take it easy after a long time." "Today, let's drink until morning." "Really?" "I'm glad." "Sorry, just a moment." "Okay." "What should I make you for the second cup?" "Ah..." "Then what you recommend please." "Certainly, miss." "Sorry." "I have to go." "I see." "Sorry." "No." "Don't worry about it." "I'll call you later." "Okay." "Is this enough for the bill?" "Yes." "Thank you very much." "See you then." "Ok." "Thank you very much." "Thank you very much." "Why did you..." "Henshuuchou..." "You said that and still went home before me." "(Let's drink, once in a while?" "I'm at Lapin." "Yukari)" "Good evening." "Welcome to the bar." "Welcome to the bar." "What's the matter?" "Weren't you on a date?" "I'm thinking, a girls' night out is nice too." "Welcome to the bar." "Let me take your coat." "Please." "I heard already." "You always come here alone?" "No problem." "Really." "Bar is a kind place even for a single customer too." "Right?" "Indeed." "Here you go." "Thank you very much." "What should I make for you?" "Then, Adonis." "Ah!" "Then the same for me too." "Understood." "What kind of cocktail is it?" "Adonis?" "A slightly sweet cocktail made from dry sherries." "Woah~ like a professional." "Stirring is the process of blending quickly so as not to destroy the flavor of each wine, and to prevent the ice from melting." "This time, the most important thing is... where to stop doing this." "Ohh." "Making a cocktail is difficult, isn't it?" "Of course it is." "By the way, Sasakura-san here had won in a cocktail contest in Europe." "Really?" "Amazing!" "Here you go." "This is Adonis." "But somehow, a bartender's fingers are sexy, aren't they?" "Sexy?" "Yeah." "I will have it." "Delicious." "I might become Sasakura-san's fan." "Your pleasure is above everything else." "If it's fine with you, Sasakura-san, would you drink with me?" "When a bartender is behind the counter, he can't drink alcohol except for tasting it." "I shall drink too." "Let's drink, let's drink!" "You can't do that..." "Ah, it's not that I'm following you." "Miwa-san just happens to walk in front of me." "I'm not saying anything." "Why are you mad?" "Mad?" "Who is?" "Miwa-san." "No way!" "I'm just wondering whether you can win agaisnt Kuzuhara-san, with you behaving like that." "Eh?" "Though you're working, you still went with Yukari's invitation and drank with her." "Ohh that is.." "So Sasakura-san is unexpectedly irresponsible." "Also, Yukari is Yukari." "Even though she already has a boyfriend." "She's really fickle." "It didn't seem that way though." "How can men understand!" "Anyway, if you lose to Kuzuhara-san tomorrow," "I won't acknowledge you." "What's up with winning or losing..." "Thank you for the other day." "Kuzuhara, Sasakura." "Today I'm counting on you." "Pleave leave it to us, Owner." "Today, for coming to Hotel Cardinal's" "First Anniversary Party amidst your busy schedule," "Thank you very much." "At the bar booth, Kuzuhara Ryuichi from Bar K, and then, Sasakura Ryu from Bar Lapin will be preparing cocktails for us." "Please enjoy yourselves." "Ah hello." "Welcome." "You used to work at Ratskeller Hotel in Paris right?" "Yes." "You're amazing even at a young age." "Not at all." "Thank you for waiting." "This is an orginal strawberry cocktail." "Well isn't it beautiful?" "Magnificent." "Thank you very much." "Thank you for waiting." "Here is your Bamboo." "Umm it's good." "Thank you very much." "Seems that Sasakura-san's booth is more popular among guests than Kuzuhara-san's booth right?" "You think so?" "Because Kuzuhara-san's booth is rather quiet." "Affinity, is it?" "Understood sir." "Uchida." "Yes?" "What've you been doing since you joined my bar?" "You didn't clean this one glass thoroughly." "Quit." "Sorry?" "You're fired." "Eh?" "Please excuse me." "He didn't have to fire someone at this kind of place." "The guests are drawing back..." "Why?" "Even though such a thing happened, more people are..." "For alcohol's lovers, it's implanted in them that they must have his drink by all means." "That is Kuzuhara's true power." "Thank you for your hard work." "You really fired him?" "For such a trivial thing?" "For such a trivial thing?" "I don't like it." "That way of doing things." "If you don't constantly strive for perfection, you can't be called a professional." "Welcome to the bar." "Good evening." "See here, Miwa-san." "You are alone?" "Sorry, I'm always alone." "Not at all..." "Let me take your coat." "Yes, please." "Oh come to think of it, Today's Valentine's Day right?" "That's right." "Okay." "Here you go." "Thank you." "It's warm~" "Umm..." "Here..." "Welcome to the bar." "Welcome to the bar." "Good evening." "Yukari." "Miwa, it's Valentine's but you're still drinking alone." "Leave me alone." "Meeting with your boyfriend?" "Nope." "I just wanted to come to Lapin." "Here you go." "Thank you very much." "Hah.." "Oh." "Sasakura-san." "If you don't mind, please take this." "This is to thank you for drinking with me the last time." "Or like, this is my feelings." "Thank you very much." "Then, a drink from me as a thank you too." "Really?" "I'm glad." "Miwa-san too." "What shall I make for you?" "Too?" "Sorry, but I remember I have work to do." "Yukari, see you later." "Miwa." "Here you go." "What a beatiful color." "What do you call this cocktail?" "It's Whisper." "Whisper?" "Yes." "Woahh~" "Bars have this saying." "Hah~" "Miwa-chan." "You should stop already." "No probs no probs." "When I get drunk, I can just sleep upstairs." "That's right." "Oji-san, I'll give you.." "Honey..." "Here!" "Oh, Chocolate?" "Somehow this is embarrasing alright." "It's handmade." "Miwa-chan." "I got a Valentine's chocolate." "Isn't that great?" "Yeah?" "Shall we close early today?" "What are you planning to do really?" "I will eat it myself." "Hello, Ojii-chan?" "Tomorrow?" "What is starting?" "You'll know right away." "Excuse me." "Huh?" "Miwa-san..." "Ojii-chan, what's going on?" "Today, I want the two of them to make the same cocktail." "Eh?" "I don't mind." "I decline." "I make cocktails to serve customers, not to be a tool to compete." "If that's the case, I'd like you two to make something for Miwa." "You actually want to drink and compare their cocktails too, right?" "Are you running away?" "It's okay if the category is something you're good at." "Then, Miwa-san." "What would you like to drink?" "Well then, Manhattan please." "Manhattan right?" "Certainly." "Whiskey is black Four Roses." "For sweet vermouth, it's Martini." "Will that be all right?" "Then, shall we begin?" "Amazing..." "They are totally in sync." "For stirring, the back of the spoon must constantly touch the inner surface of the mixing glass." "It must rotate so as not to strike agaisnt the ice." "The most important thing is at what timing you will stop blending." "Here you go." "Your Manhattan." "Then, to be fair, will you drink with your eyes closed?" "Then first, this one." "Delicious." "Even though it is whiskey-based, the flavor is light and refreshing." "Okay." "Next is this." "There is a roundness in its tastiness." "This one is more delicious." "I like this one better." "It's Sasakura-san's." "But why?" "Even though you two did it the completely similar way." "The flavor is so different..." "When the temperature of a human tongue differs the body temperature by 25 to 30 degrees, it will taste something as delicious." "Perhaps, the cocktail I made is higher than Kuzuhara-san's by 1 or 2 degrees." "Eh?" "By making the stirring time shorter than that when making the usual Manhattan," "I tried to make the cocktail to not grow too cold." "Why?" "While I was making this, Miwa-san took off your coat." "So I thought maybe you felt hot." "So that was it?" "That sort of immaturity is, in a way, charming." "Cocktail is something consumed for its taste." "So it's natural that one can like or hate it." "Saying that, you're unwilling to admit defeat?" "In short, I wonder it that can really be called "Manhattan"." "You mean my glass is not a cocktail?" "What's the matter?" "Miwa, you too." "Try drinking it one more time." "Kuzuhara-san's one tastes more delicious." "He shortens the stirring time for Miwa-san." "That's why, with the insufficient time, the balance is destroyed, and the flavor becomes all over the place." "While pleasing your customer, you're not aiming to achieve the perfect taste." "You begin debasing yourself as a bartender." "A bartender should just constantly aim for the perfect taste." "The perfect taste that will make customers submit before us." "As expected, it's a complete defeat this time." "I understand now Why that person is called Mr. Perfect." "His cocktail isn't just a mixture of ingredients." "He made a completely new drink with the name Manhattan." "But..." "With this, you are entrusting the main bar of Hotel Cardinal to me, right?" "Dunno..." "I wonder if that will be the case." "What the..." "Now that he gets all depressed," "I become worried." "Hello, Yukari?" "Yeah." "Hey, right now, can you keep me accompanied at Lapin?" "Huh?" "Good evening." "Welcome to the bar." "Welcome to the bar." "Miwa!" "Here you go." "Thanks." "Sorry for being sudden." "No matter what I wanted to thank Sasakura-san and Miwa." "Actually, today, I broke up with my boyfriend." "Eh?" "Thanks to Sasakura-san." "What do you mean?" ""Whisper."" "Just as Sasakura-san had said," "I tried listening to the most important voice in my heart." "Here you go." "It's Whisper." "There is this saying in bars." "In a bar, talk in a soft voice." "In a soft voice?" "Meaning when you get drunk, don't make noise?" "Yeah." "In a bar, there are times when everyone just talks quietly to themselves." "At those times, if one talks in a loud voice, one will fail to hear that long-awaited important whisper." "Important whisper..." "The most important voice in your heart." "Whisper." "When I drank the "Whisper" that Sasakura-san made that day," "I felt as if I heard it." "The most important whisper in my heart." "All this while, even though it's so hard and painful that I wanted to cry, I'm not sad." "I have been telling myself that while dating him." "Because he has a place that he must return to." "It was hard for me, but it was also painful to hurt his family." "That's why, I told him frankly about those feelings." "I have to put an end to this and get over you." "If we keep on, no one will be happy right?" "Let's end this here." "Wait!" "Yukari!" "Wait for me, Yukari!" "He didn't chase after me." "To him, the most important thing was not me, was it?" "Yukari..." "But I have broken free." "Because Sasakura-san let me hear the most important whispher in my heart." "The voice that said "You must end it now."" "It's as Miwa has said, Bar is such a wonderful place." "When I'm lonely, there's a bartender who will drink with me, and whom I can give Valentine's chocolate to." "So it was because of this..." "Sasakura-san." "Really thank you very much." "Shall I make something for you?" "These are from me." "Please enjoy drinking them." "Thank you very much." "I will have it." "Delicious." "It's not like I'm following you." "It just so happens that you are walking in front of me." "Are you okay?" "You're not drunk?" "I'm not." "Or rather, there's something I thought about this time." "A bartender's technique may come from his experience and effort, but what about his heart?" "I think Sasakura-san, who has a heart that want to satisfy customers, won't lose to anyone." "People can't become bartenders within a day." "And neither can they if they are alone." "They are only bartenders when customers are around." "Miwa-san, you're sure you're not drunk?" "I'm not." "Yes." "Huh?" "What's this?" "At any rate, you must be famished right?" "Thank you!" "Woah." "Looks delicious!" "I'm digging in." "Huh?" "Chocolate flavor?" "Like, it's, sort of, for Valentine's..." "I'm one day late though." "Thanks." "Miwa-san, today you look different from your usual self.." "Isn't your face swollen?" "Huh?" "You sure drank too much." "Hey you..." "Not giving you this!" "Sorry sorry!" "You face's not swollen, it's not swollen!" "It's well-shaped!" "I'm gonna eat this so it can swell some more." "No, that might even shape it up!" "Subs by yuizaki_libra Special thanks to furransu, mikilove13 and nomanymore@ourhour"