27
Small Loud Steps

The land taxi sped through the suburban landscape. Kevin picked out a dinner jacket for himself, Luna staring out the window.

“When is this— twenty hundred?” Luna studied the film that glowed in her face. “We could be late.”

“They can wait.” Kevin’s smile at her seemed to be flagrantly missed. “Even then, we won’t be.”

Luna giggled.

“Okay, um, yeah. Sure.” Back to the window she went.

The wide wheels floated a little as it moved onto the bridge as the river moved below them, that separated the homes from the small city that has grown out of the old downtown area. Buildings stood at their side, people walking, lights firing into the air.

“I’m sorry.” Luna smiled and shook her head. “I shouldn’t have forgotten about you. I’m just— fascinated.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he purred, almost like the old cat he used to have before it could pounce at an animal half its size. “Life for you back then must have been, you know, hard.”

Luna looked at him. She might have realized that a look without much emotion on her face must have looked too impolite, and out came a smile that she was taught from day one in that trainee program.

“It isn’t that hard. I was lucky to be accepted, and you know, the paying—“ Her voice trailed off into the night.

“Oh right, you were the—“ He pulled his jacket taut. “How dumb of me.”

The cab moved through restaurants, stadiums, squares, until it pulled in front of a closed door. The faux wooden door was guarded by a bouncer at least a foot taller than Kevin. The guard held out a rectangular print collector. He gestured Luna to give the man their digits.

The device flashed, the man inspected it, and he looked at his guests. Kevin gulped. The bouncer gave the device a few taps, and the door moved open. He stepped aside to let the pair in.

Neon lights flushed the long hall that arched into the ceiling. An aquarium was built over it and catches were made with robotic and human divers above the catering area. Sakura leaves held onto nylon strings that hung down from the gaps of the glass that was infused into the adhesive.

The entire dining place floor was inlaid with oak bricks that raised the floor in front of them by half a foot. The sunken fiber floor that was level with the surface, which they are currently stepping on, was in front of a row of Geta slippers. 

One female staffer smiled and nodded toward Luna’s sneakers. 

“Hello, welcome. Your name is Luna, correct?” A similar device was spotted in the personnel’s hand.

“Yes.”

“I’m gonna need you to take those shoes off. Don’t worry about them, we’ll pick that up for you. You’ll need to change. It’s okay. We have your belongings under lock and key.”

“Sure.” Luna smiled and lowered her head.

The butler herself took them off, and slipped into a pair of the provided slippers in her socks. The staffer led Luna away to a hall to the left.

“Mr Chase?” Her male counterpart took a role call with his small device.

“Yep. I’m here.”

“Looks like you’re bringing your um… girlfriend?”

“Um, well.” 

“I know.” He configured the machine. “Check your film.”

“Yep.”

The green bar descended onto the interface. He took off his shoes.

“The tenth to the right. This way please.” 

He was led to a small room to the right of the strip with a square table and cushions next to it as the robots rolled up to it to serve the prerecorded set of food. The oriental slide doors was left open when the female waitress returned Luna to him.

She can’t hold in her smile in a pink kimono. The clacking from the slippers was uneven. It only subsidized once she entered and the doors were closed.

“How was it?” Kevin smiled and maintained his Western jacket.

“You didn’t tell me that they will make me wear a kimono here.” The dam broke into a small laugh and a facepalm. “Thank you.”

“I just asked around.”

“I think you knew.” Luna’s eyes zeroed in on him almost accusingly, as the flowers on her dress flew. She dragged on the fabric in both awe and intrigue. “I can take this home, can I?”

“I already paid for it. They give new ones away for every new customer, I think.” Kevin stared at the mini shabu pot in the middle as the flame forced the soup to bubble. “I know you would like it. You look adorable in that.”

Luna’s eyes shift to the table and her eyelids were pushed up in mild surprise.

“Just um, should we?” The chopsticks were already in her hand.

The table had an assortment of sashimi, tempura, cold noodles, and the odd egg in a cup thing that surrounded a central pot that serviced the raw oysters and beef that carried in one of the plates encircling the boil.

Luna quickly indulged herself in the plates. Kevin sat and looked.

“So um, you like the place around here? I know I was a bother.”

Luna’s mind raced as she ate and nodded and smiled. She clutched her kimono and looked at him.

“What’s wrong?” The smile.

Luna has seen a few of that before. She had never seen one like it from him. 

“You’re a fan of Japanese food, too?” Luna asked, her voice slowly enervating itself.

“As long as you like it.” A look at the setting around her.

He tried to lean across the table, they exchange a glance, Luna bolted up.

“I’ll give you the half. I’m really sorry.” Luna disappeared through the door, located the waitress that served her, and gave her an ear-to-ear before she was led to the far hallway away from the other patrons who also had what she had been wearing.

And the wood clacking faded into the distance.