Takezawa's Ghost - Episode 25

I quickly looked away, but it was already too late.

　Hirose Rin recognized me.

……….

　Hirose smiled and said something to Maron-chan before leaving.

　With a stern look on his face, the complete opposite of his smile, he approached me.

　However, when Hirose reached me, her voice sounded weak.

“…Um, that’s not it. It’s not that I’ve forgotten about Naoya or anything. I just wanted to talk to a cute girl.”

　Even though I didn’t say anything, they started making excuses.

“No. It’s fine.”

“That’s not good. Let me have a proper discussion.”

　Hirose’s expression as he said this was serious, and I was a little intimidated.

“I get it, I get it.”

“Yeah. Well, we’re causing trouble here, so let’s go to the cafe.”

　With that, Hirose pays the bill.

“Since I’ve had to make Takezawa put up with my selfishness this time, I’ll treat him.”

　I don’t know the average price at a cabaret club, but it’s not 1,000 or 2,000 yen.

　When I showed it to him, he readily agreed, and I was reminded that he was indeed a successful adult, different from me.

　Hirose quickly paid the bill, then grabbed me by the arm and led me outside.

Thus, before he could accomplish his goal of gathering information about Kato Mei, he was forced to leave the cabaret club by a completely unrelated friend.

………

“Okay? There are various theories about what a cabaret club is, but it’s said to be a culture that dates back to the Meiji period.”

　I went to a nearby coffee shop where my only real friend explained to me the definition of a cabaret club.

　I wasn’t listening, but I feel bad about butting in. I’ll just listen quietly here.

……

“The definition of a cabaret club is a combination of cabaret and club. Cabaret is, simply put, a place where women perform shows. It seems to have been popular among the common people. Clubs are the opposite, being more like social gatherings frequented by the wealthy. Unlike cabarets, they are characterized by a more relaxed service. Both are services aimed at pleasing men, but there is a clear difference between them. Then, in 1990, the first cabaret club appeared. The women who worked there were called waitresses. At the time, most of their earnings came from tips, and many of them were paid by tips. They also provided sexual services to receive favors. Then, World War II brought the trend to a temporary end. The reason given was that they were too extravagant during wartime. It wasn’t a matter of self-restraint; it was because they were too extravagant that they were not allowed. You guys were the ones who started the war and spent all your money. But once World War II ended, there was another boom. It turns out they were something that society needed after all. The fusion of cabarets and clubs continued to progress even further. This was backed by the rapid economic growth. And in 1976, establishments properly calling themselves cabaret clubs were established. It was around this time that services like escort services started to appear. There were also events like this. This new playground for men became increasingly popular, and in 1985 it won the annual buzzword award. It’s not the time for companies to win just because they’re trending these days. It was trendy in the truest sense of the word. Its popularity didn’t wane, and in 2000, the term cabaret girls came to refer to women who worked in cabaret clubs. Because of its pop sound, it was picked up by TV and other media, further increasing awareness. It was around this time that cabaret girls began to act like celebrities. There’s a strong theory that their popularity was sparked by cabaret girls appearing in gyaru magazines. They were Sales of accessories and cosmetics for the ladies exploded. Some ladies even went so far as to become presidents of their own cosmetics and accessories production companies. Many aspiring to become such glittering ladies appeared. It was around this time that TV dramas set in cabaret clubs began to air. The cabaret club industry is such a wonderful place, but the problem is that there are so many of them that rip-offs are starting to appear. However, there are also many places like the one I just mentioned that offer good value for money. I want to support the ladies who are fighting in such places. I have no guilty feelings whatsoever. Do you understand?

“Yeah. I know, I know.”

　I’ve encountered many strange things in my life, but the scariest is my friend who talks about cabaret clubs almost without pausing for breath.

　So, even though I didn’t get it, I agreed.

　I was especially scared when he spoke without blinking.

　However, if you know this much, you might also know Kato Mei around here.

“Um, I’m looking for a hostess named Kato Mei.”

“Hmm? If you’re using your real name as your stage name, then I can think of one person.”

　Okay.

　It connected ahead.

　What you should have is a friend who loves cabaret clubs.