2026-01-22: Saxophone Green
- Log: 2026-01-22 Saxophone Green
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto
- Where: Jazz Jin, Kichijoji, Tokyo
- OOC Date: January 22, 2026
- IC Date: Friday, September 14, 2012
- Summary: Ren takes Ryuji to Jazz Jin to listen to some saxophone-centric jazz music as part of their practice of that same instrument--and to get a taste of the Omni-Fizz.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Friday night is here, and the start of what's sure to prove to be a fun and active weekend (the half-day of school on Saturday notwithstanding). Ren had, after going home and changing into their casual street clothes, spent the afternoon in Inokashira Park practicing the saxophone with the help of e-lessons followed on their phone. It was kind of awkward to do that in an open area when they don't actually know how to play yet, but they got through it. They might've even improved their Guts in the process to play badly in a public area. Maybe once they actually get good, they'll raise their Charm instead...
Right now, though, they're in Kichijoji, which is more or less right next to Inokashira Park. After an afternoon of learning with a tutor they couldn't actually ask questions because it was a video recording, they'd like to listen to some actual good saxophone playing and hear the difference. That means Jazz Jin.
That means the Friday night drink special that Akechi claimed is his favorite. Or, at least, that he likes better than the others drinks. Ren called up Ryuji to see if he'd be up to meet them there--with fair warning about the ¥3000 cover charge--and the two agreed to meet up.
"On Wednesdays they've got a live singer," Ren remarks as the two of them descend the stairs into the basement bar. "I was here for that last week. It's real good."
Once they're inside--well, it's a beautiful place, and one that isn't totally bereft of other teenagers. There's dim, cozy lighting, wooden tables, a bar where the owner Muhen mixes cocktails and mocktails alike, a stage that is empty tonight, and seats near listening stations. Ren heads for one of those.
"Thanks for coming with me, by the way," he adds over his shoulder. "I know it's pricy, but I really wanted company tonight."
Never mind that they'll see each other tomorrow at school, and then after school, at Ebisu Beach. Friendship is just like that.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
The entry fee did make Ryuji's smile twitch. He had the money but...man did he need that job he's been talking about. Maybe when school wasn't kicking his ass on so many fronts.
Or there wasn't some weird body snatcher demon making him feel like he has to watch his back during Japanese Lit.
Ryuji has been in the nurses office -a lot- this week btw. It was becoming a real thing for people to talk about re: the delinquent skipping class.
"Oh whats tonight? Just an open stage?" Ryuji looks around the Jazz club, taking it all in. He felt underdressed in his street clothes, noting the classy exterior. "Is it like one of those sexy ladies like in those old detective movies?" Ryuji grins.
"Oh no problem dude! I need to go out after the time I've been having." Ryuji sighs as he sits down. "I'm always here for ya, dude." He laughs nervously at the mention of money. He really needs that job.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The body snatcher thing definitely can't be helping Ryuji concentrate during class, but realistically...
"It kinda is, yeah," Ren replies, smiling slightly at their best friend. They'd wonder if that's part of why Akechi likes it here--but they already know the real reason why. "I'm not sure about tonight--this is only my second time here." They look back at the empty stage, wondering if Ryuji's right. "I was just planning on listening to the records and getting a drink."
The two of them sit together, and the cadence of Ryuji's nervous laugh is not lost on Ren. "Drinks are on me. The cover fee's already a beast, huh?" they remark. "But the ambiance is something else, and the music's really good too."
They pick up one of the headphone sets, turning one around so they can listen one-eared--but before they pick something to play, they meet Ryuji's eyes. "Actually, I've started saxophone lessons. Minako loves music, and I want to impress her," they add. At least if they're going to drag him out here, they ought to explain the rationale.
...the part of the rationale they can explain, anyway.
"Is there something going on besides Motojima-san?" they ask. "Haru said she talked to her the other day, on that note. She agrees there's something really weird about her."
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji is a stellar student...of avoiding anything academic.
"Huh. It feels weird...like we're waiting for something." Ryuji says of the empty stage. Look at him getting all poetic!
"Records huh? I assume it's all Jazz and classical? I wouldn't even know how to find what I'd like so I'll defer to your judgement heh." He holds up a hand and grins.
"Oh than---Thank you." Ryuji can't hide his relief of having some of his money safe. "Yeah, this place really reminds me of detective movies. Like I feel weird being here but I like it." Ryuji grins as he meets their eyes. "Oh ho...Didn't think you'd pick up an instrument to impress a girl" He teases. "Nah, that's cool man..." Then it all clicks into place. "OH! So this is you doing some research on your new vocation. I see! Kick ass!" Ryuji nods, reevaluating the whole scene and thinking.
"With me? Been seeing Ichika a lot...She even met my mom which was admittedly stressful. Other than that, I need to get back to searching for a job but..." Ryuji pauses as he hasn't admitted this to anyone yet. He braces and continues."... I'm starting a food blog I think."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Me neither," Ren admits sheepishly. Still, at least they know generally what they want to hear, and that's something. "We'll figure it out."
As they set the headphones down and flip through record labels, looking for something that seems like it'd be sax-heavy.
"Exactly," they say when Ryuji puts it all together. "Practice earlier today, uh... didn't go so great." They shrug a bit with a smile. "I was kind of interested in the saxophone anyway. Minako just gave me a good reason to go for it." It helped that So-young had put the thought in their head at the start of summer anyway. If not for that, they might not have gone for it. It's just as well--the post-summer connections gave them a chance to find something very cheap as far as both an instrument and lessons go.
Speaking of instruments, Ren's shoulder bag is unusually lumpy today... Fortunately, Morgana didn't insist on trying to share room with it.
"Oh yeah?" Ren nods Ryuji on as he talks about Ichika and having her meet his mom. That's quite a jump already--though maybe Ren has a bad perspective on the matter, considering his and Minako's respective mom situations. Still, that's cool--as is the food blog, unexpected as that is.
"Sounds cool," they reply, nodding once. Yeah, Hibari's definitely going to want to meet him now. "About ramen? Or in general?"
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji watches Ren search for his music, smirking when its all confirmed. Maybe he should be a detective...Then again, Ryuji doesn't like the one detective he "knows" so maybe not.
"I mean dude, it takes a lot to learn one of those things." Ryuji nods. "Like I used to want to play guitar but my mom didn't want to commit the money. She sent me to study with one of her friends who played and boy could I not hack it." Ryuji laughs.
"Like those things have to become -your- thing, get me? So like you can't like one practice stop you."
"I mean I do eat a lot of ramen haha...Nah I imagine I'd eat at other places too. I don't think it will turn into anything but like it might give me some justification for all that ramen I eat." Ryuji grins, nodding as if he has it all figured out.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Besides, being a detective is only one step removed from being a cop, and fuck the police.
"Yeah? I could see you shredding an electric guitar," Ren remarks. It turns out Ryuji wasn't any good at it though, and Ren gives him a rueful smile--that soon is accented with light reflected off the lenses of their glasses. "Maybe drums are more your beat?"
Despite the terrible joke, they nod. "Yeah. It's already turning out to be a lot of hard work, but I want to do it." They turn their gaze over to the stage. There's only a piano there right now, and it's a tiny one, all considered, but still... "...I like the idea of performing on a stage like that one day."
Maybe it'd even be able to take the place of the other spotlight they once performed under.
Not just ramen but all sorts of places. Ren gives him another thoughtful nod. "It sounds fun either way. Shoot me the link once you start it up."
Muhen approaches then--a tall, dark-skinned bald man with a hat and shades, despite the low-lit interior, and a moustache and goatee. He's got a pad of paper and a pen in hand, so it's clear what he's there for. "Evening, gentlemen," he says, with a nod of greeting towards Ren. "What'll it be tonight?"
"The Friday night special. For each of us," Ren replies.
"Two Omni-Fizzes, coming right up," he says, jotting that down, then sauntering off.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
It's true. Fuck Da Police.
Ryuji admittedly laughs at Ren's joke. He hates himself for it but he does laugh. Just that kind of humor with be INSTRUMENTAL in Ryuji's downfall.
"Then do it dude! Fuck it....I mean not lit---you know what I mean!" Ryuji laughs. "You never struck me as a musician though...then again you did ditch Morgana to haul your instrument to a club soooo maybe I was wrong about ya." He grins.
Ryuji watches Muhen, nodding respectfully. Cool guy to be wearing shades in doors.
Ryuji waits until Muhen is out of earshot. "Omni-whatsits? What kinda drink is that?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Just as long as he doesn't end up tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down...
"Hey, I dropped him off at Leblanc," Ren argues mildly. "I don't think he wants to share space with a big metal club, anyway." They shrug a bit. "Honestly, I never saw myself as a musician either. I like listening, but I never thought about playing before."
But their life in Tokyo has, to a large extent, been about trying new things and going places they've never been before. Learning to play an instrument is definitely part of that--and even if they never go pro, the saxophone does feel right in their hands. Like maybe they'd play it if they were in a big bang.
The order is taken; Muhen leaves, after returning Ryuji's nod of course. Ren watches him go, then shrugs again.
"No idea," he admits. "When I was here before, I had... what was it called... a Soultini. Really pretty. Sort of a citrusy, blue and yellow drink, with a pink flower on top. Kind of a tropical vibe. Delicious. Felt like my mind was expanding while I had it. Oh, it wasn't alcoholic or anything, I don't mean like that."
In other words, whatever the Omni-Fizz is like, it's sure to be a hell of an experience.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
"I mean that's not how he's gonna see it...I also don't see you using that instrument as a club considering how much they cost." Ryuji smirks and shakes his head. "Still, it's nice just hanging with ya man."
Ryuji blinks at Ren's description of what they were about to drink. "Uhh..." He looks about and then back at Ren. "Is it some kind of drug?" He isn't against the idea but it felt weird to invite your bro to a bar to do a drug.
"So how is it back at Leblanc? I haven't popped in in a bit."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren chuckles. "Nah, I'm aiming for a different kind of clubbing if I keep this up."
It is nice spending time with Ryuji, though. They nod, smiling slightly, as if to say 'right back at you.'
"What? No. I just said it wasn't," Ren replies, laughter on their breath. (Technically they said it wasn't alcoholic, not that it wasn't some kind of drug, but same difference in their head.) "It's just a really good drink. If tonight's special is anything like that one--well, you'll see."
And indeed, Muhen is back with a pair of drinks for them: a tall, V-shaped glass filled with ice and a brilliantly green liquid, garnished with a kiwi slice and struck through with a black straw. Ren accepts theirs with gratitude and takes a sip.
It is fizzy, as advertised, and there are notes of kiwi, but also of melon, avocado, green apple, green grapes, cucumber, kale, and more... It doesn't just look green, it tastes green--but in a good way. It's a clean, expansive, well-rounded flavor, one that feels like it helps one grow just a little bit in every way that counts.
(In other words: +1 to all stats, +10 to HP and +5 to SP! ...just kidding. This isn't a video game.)
"The Soultini was prettier," Ren remarks, leaning back in their seat. "But wow. Wow. This flavor is out of this world." They look back at Ryuji. "It's been good. Pretty quiet--which isn't a bad thing." Quiet means Sojiro isn't likely to vanish without warning again. "I've been using the kitchen more lately--been learning to cook." They smile slightly. "Another good reason to keep up with your blog once you start it."
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji laughs and nods. "Yeah, yeah. I'll give anything a shot once." Kinda why he was considering a blog.
After gratefully receiving his drink, Ryuji stares at the very green drink, taking a moment to really take in the ambience of the beverage's presentation. He finally takes a sip, letting his eyes widen with delight. "Woah!"
"That is a very textured flavor...I like how you find something new the more you really take that in." Ryuji takes another sip before letting the fizz pops pop over his face a little. Enjoying the sensation.
He looks up after a moment, nodding. "Yeah that's good..." He blinks when he mentions learning how to cook. "Huh. I would've thought you knew how to cook...I mean I know somethings but nothing fancy. I'm more of a nutrition guy so my meals tend to fit very precise things."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Same here," Ren agrees of the Omni-Fizz before taking another sip. No wonder Akechi likes it in particular. The fizz makes it like a soda, too--a plus in their book (even if their palate is refined enough to appreciate coffee too (no shade, Ryuji)). His commentary is pretty on point. He'll probably do well with a food blog.
"Better keep this one off your future blog, though. It's the kind of thing you want to keep to yourself," they add. They quirk another small smile. "Or to just very close friends."
Ryuji comments that he thought they already knew how to cook, and they blink, a little surprised. "Why d'you say that?" The obvious answer occurs to them, and they add, "I'm actually only just starting to learn how to make Leblanc's curry. The Boss only taught me the coffee up 'til recently."
It makes sense that Ryuji's a nutrition guy, though. Ren never really cooked before this year, but they were a lot more careful about what they ate while they were training. That's that athlete life... Though Ryuji seems to have fallen off way less than they did. Ren's eyelashes dip.
"Who's the better cook? You or Ichika?" they wonder to change the topic in their head. "Or Tsubasa," they add, because they're also part of that romance.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji grins. "Yeah I guess I wouldn't want just everybody to know our style like that." He nods knowingly.
"I dunno...you seem to have your shit together. Guess I just assumed man. Like if I can do it, Ren surely can way better." Ryuji shuts his eyes, nodding once again. "..Also we're talking about Boss here, a world class chef would still have to impress him to even consider touching Leblanc's curry, ya know? "
"Hmmm...Ichika probably. Tsubasa I don't know if they cook and my cooking looks terrible. So probably Ichika for sure." Ryuji pauses before clarifying. "My food looks bad but I tried to make it with my nutritional needs in mind? Taste was also kinda... secondary." He laughs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Like Ichika has gotta be better than that!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Exactly," Ren replies, just as knowingly.
When you find a treasure, you don't give it away so easily. That's the basics of the basics when it comes to being a phantom thief.
...And if it also keeps Akechi's special place special, well, that's just a nice courtesy bonus.
They fall into a considering silence, punctuated by another sip of their Omni-Fizz when Ryuji tells them they seem to have it together. They guess they do give off that vibe... It's easy to seem that way when you stay calm and quiet. They keep busy too, and that probably also contributes to that image--but more importantly... They give Ryuji a searching look for a moment. Ryuji doesn't seem like he's at all resentful or jealous, though. They chuckle a little. "I kept myself alive and fed and in one piece while he was gone for a month. Apparently as long as you impress him about something, he's willing to start to share the secrets. I'm still definitely apprentice level, though."
Would Tsubasa cook? When Ryuji puts it like that, Ren isn't sure. They suspect Tsubasa would prefer not to, though. "Sounds like you haven't tried her cooking yet," they note, based on how Ryuji's phrased it so far. They lean over to nudge him playfully with one elbow. "Even though you introduced her to your mom?"
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji takes another sip of his drink, smiling at the flavor. He is obvious of Akechi's relation to this place. He probably could figure it out if he bothered to think on how Ren found a Jazz club like this. Maybe. He was too busy enjoying the drink to really care one way or another.
Ryuji blinks at the look. "Heh...That's what I mean. Your cooking skills has nothing to do with learning to cook the fabled Leblanc curry. Like again, I just assumed...if you need any help learning, I'll do what I can."
Ryuji turns red under Ren's prodding, grinning. "I mean yeah I guess we did it out of order but when you consider what we've been through---I think we both wanted some structure...I still gotta meet her folks. And while my mom is pretty chill, Ichika has successful parents who want some successful type for their daughter. Admittedly that has been on my mind."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
And hey, why upend a chill outing and delicious drinks with a friend by bringing up that smarmy Detective Prince Goro Akechi was the one who introduced Ren to this place? Maybe one day Ren will mention it. Right now, no need.
Ren rubs the back of their neck. When he puts it like that... yeah, they see what he means. It really is a good thing Ryuji seems so chill with that too. "Thanks, but don't worry about it. I got another friend helping me out with that," Ren reassures him, setting their hand down. He'll be meeting her tomorrow, in fact--Hibari Aoki, another member of Ichika's gang, in other words--but they decide to save that as an icebreaker once they're all at the beach.
Ryuji blushes and admits that he and Ichika want structure--and that he's worried about meeting her parents. Ren's of the opinion that her parents ought to know better by now than to think a "successful type" is what's best for their daughter, but they doubt saying so would make Ryuji feel better.
"Hmm... Then how about something to take your mind off it?" they suggest instead. They tick a few vinyls past until finally they reach out that mentions saxophone on it. Ren crooks a smile at Ryuji. "Let's listen to this one."
Both of them will be able to enjoy smooth jazz and a smoother drink for a while...