Bloom

The smell of antiseptic and tattoo ink hung heavy in the air as Daison “Daigo” Harrison stepped into the shop. The low hum of a tattoo gun buzzed from the back, a familiar soundtrack to his visits here.

He spotted Asa, his usual artist, hunched over a client he didn’t recognize—a rarity, since Daigo knew most of Asa’s regulars by face if not by name. The girl in the chair had pale skin, pink-tinted hair tied loosely back, and an easy stillness that made her stand out even under the harsh studio lights.

When Asa finally noticed him, she blinked out of her trance.

“Sorry, Daigo. Got in the zone again.”

Daigo chuckled. “All good. Take your time.”

Asa smiled, wiping down her gloves. “Almost done anyway.”

The girl she was working on stretched, shifting as Asa pulled back. She slid off the chair—topless, unfazed, her bare skin gleaming under the studio lights. Daigo instinctively averted his eyes, but when she turned to face him, he found himself looking straight into her gaze instead.

“Wow,” she said, tilting her head. “You’re tall.”

“Not really,” Daigo replied, keeping his eyes locked on hers. “Sorry for interrupting.”

She grinned, clearly amused. “You know, you’re the first guy not to sneak a look.”

Daigo shrugged, deadpan. “You’ve got a cute face. Figured that was more interesting.”

Her grin widened. “Smooth. Give me your number.”

Before he could even react, she handed him her phone. While she talked to Asa about her next appointment, Daigo typed in his number—and, on a whim, attached a picture of a Valstrax from her gallery. One of his favorite monsters from Monster Hunter.

When she turned back, she accepted the phone with a satisfied smirk. “See you later, Daigo.” Then she sauntered out toward the parking lot, still shirtless, as if the world itself was her runway.

Asa let out a low whistle. “Damn. Sakura must really like you. She’s never that open.”

Daigo blinked. “That was Sakura?”

“Yeah. As in that Sakura.” Asa grinned.

A moment later, the door chimed again. Sakura popped her head back in, pretending to pout. “Oops—I forgot my top.”

She sauntered past him, retrieved it from the chair, and—to make sure he noticed—slowly pulled it back on while keeping eye contact.

“See you later, Daigo,” she said again, her smile impossibly bright. Then she disappeared out the door for good this time.

Daigo exhaled, shaking his head. “Okay,” he muttered to Asa, “yeah… I see it now.”

Asa wiped her hands on a towel, glancing back at Daison with a knowing grin.

“Come on, big guy. You’re up next.”

Daison stood, rolling his shoulders as he walked over. “So,” he asked, settling into the chair, “how did you end up meeting the Sakura Miyawaki?”

Asa laughed under her breath. “Instagram, of all places. She messaged me out of nowhere—said she wanted a Monster Hunter tattoo.”

Daison raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? What’d she pick—and where?”