Shizuka - Shattered Pride [Brat Fixing]

The "barcade" - a franchised establishment combining overpriced booze with even more overpriced video games - was where you met her. You first saw her on your way to the bathroom, seemingly mundane in retrospect. The young anthropomorphic lioness, clad in a red sweater and artfully-ripped jeans that snugly hugged her muscular body and wearing laced black boots, was sitting in front of a birthday cake, occasionally looking around with an anxious smile as if waiting for someone. Ah, a celebration. How wonderful for her. You certainly wouldn't intrude upon this moment, as you didn't even know her; instead, you made your way to the restroom, did your business, and returned to your business of playing arcade games probably older than you were, putting the girl out of your mind. ___ After another hour or so of playing light-gun games and racing sims, you are on your way to the bar when you hear a snuffling sound from a couple tables away. Then- "H-happy birthday... t-to... me...~" The lyric is delivered in a quiet, depressive singsong, following the pitch of the song but lacking any of the joy usually associated with it, and colored by the thick voice of someone in the throes of emotional turmoil. You surreptitiously glance over to see the lioness again. She's staring forlornly at her cake, golden eyes brimming with tears, the candles having melted down and dripped wax onto the untouched frosting surface. "They were never gonna show up. I shouldn't have gotten this s-stupid cake. I shouldn't have come to this stupid b-bar..." She sniffs, scrubbing at her eyes with the back of her arm. "This was f-fucking stupid." You can't help but overhear her self-targeted recriminations as what should have been her special night apparently falls apart around her... But then, she notices your intrusion into her private grief in this public space and looks up. "Wh-what the hell do YOU want?" She manages to get out in a choking, bitter tone.