A serial web novel

After the First Hostess Shift The apartment above the club was silent except for the furious scrape of Rei’s sponge against the countertop. She scrubbed at an impossible stain, an old burn mark in the…

Reporting back Streetlights entering the club’s back office painted Karasu’s face in neon streaks. As he poured himself a drink, the ice clinked like a warning. Rei leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, the rooftop’s…

At the Sakura Avenue Restaurant The restaurant’s entrance was a waterfall of holographic cherry blossoms, their pink glow washing over Rei as she adjusted the high collar of her borrowed dress; one of the hostess…

Debriefs & Boredom Rei scraped the last of the curry from her plate, her chopsticks clicking against ceramic. Across the table, Karasu sipped his beer, eyes scanning the evening’s crime reports flickering across his corneal…

First Assignment The scent of simmered dashi and grilled mackerel filled Karasu’s apartment, a welcome respite from the club’s perpetual haze of smoke and perfume. Rei placed a lacquered bowl of steaming rice and a…

Lessons The air in the make-up room was thick with the scent of powder, perfume and old smoke. It was a sanctuary of illusion, tucked behind the throbbing bass of the Den’s hostess floor. Glass-topped…