“““Cheers!!”””
Maki, Aki, and I put our glasses together.
We’re all having a victory party in Aki’s favorite izakaya with private booths. Apparently this place is frequented a lot by adventurers or people of the association who want to talk in private. And apparently there are a lot of places like this next to associations.
The idea for this victory party came about when I took down a hobgoblin, but then I defeated a murder rabbit and made Maki my exclusive. Things keep happening, so Aki said ‘let’s celebrate everything at the same time!’.
Well, I’m happy that so many things are going well, and I’m not good at setting up this sort of thing, so it’s great for me. By the way, Aki ordered a beer like it was her usual, and I ordered a sweet cocktail. Maki is nineteen, so she’s having a non-alcoholic drink.
“By the way, why did you two sit next to me?”
It’s a table for four, so it’s weird for three people to be sitting on one side.
“Well, you know.”
“Aki and I have an equal relationship.”
“Then sit on one side, and I’ll sit on the other.”
“But you know, we’re here and everything.”
“We should be together.”
They say.
We should’ve gotten a table for six then, but we’re here already, so it’s too late. It’s a little cramped though, so let’s keep that in mind for next time.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
The conversation is very lively.
We talk about the first two floors of the dungeon, popular adventurers in other dungeons, other items put up for auction, and other stuff.
And we talk about things outside of dungeons, such as future dates and shopping. We never run out of topics.
We keep eating and drinking, as it gets late.
“Hey, Shouta…”
“What is it, Aki?”
“So stiff… We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“…You want me to talk like I do with Maki?”
“Yes… I get lonely you know?”
“…I’ll do what I can.”
“Ehihi.”
Aki gets more assertive with every drink.
She’s leaning on me, and pushing her softness onto me. And sometimes she’ll cry, laugh, get upset, and look to be pampered. The way her emotions change is making me dizzy. I’m kind of drunk too, but I’m not as bad as her.
Maki is the opposite, she’s been very quiet. Although she’s also leaning her head on me as if to counter Aki.
And just as I’m thinking that, Maki pulls my arm.
“Shouta…”
“Hn? What, Maki?”
“How many kids do you want?”
“Buho!”
That sudden question makes me do a spit-take.
It’s like someone just dumped cold water on my head, and it sobers me up.
“I want three…”
And the drunk jumps in from the other side to answer.
Ah, that settles it, they aren’t teasing or joking, they really do think that way about me.
…Then I should make up my mind too and confess.
But not now. Those words shouldn’t be said in a place like this.
For now, I should check how sober she is.
I look at her face closely, and it’s clearly flushed. She’s staring into my eyes too.
“I guess there’s a lot of alcohol in the air in this room… But you actually got drunk from that!?”
“Shouta, I’m not drunk.”
Maki, that’s what all drunks say.
“I’m… All… Sober… Too…”
“You’re drunk.”
It’s a little annoying, so I say it flatly and without holding back.
But Aki just starts cackling.
“Let’s get a better ventilated room next time.”
“Shouta… I’m not done talking…”
“Kids!”
“…All right, let’s wrap it up.”
This is no good. They’re not even listening to me anymore.
I just sort of half pay attention to them as I deal with the bill.
Thankfully, they live nearby, in a building that belongs to the association.
Aki is drunkenly staggering, so I put my arm around her waist, and I take Maki’s hand, since her steps are light, but it feels like she might fall.
That’s how I take them to their room.
“Hehe, taking us to go, are you?”
“Go on and take me home plaeshe.”
“Well, it’s your home though.”
I open the door with the key, and Aki dives into her bed, falling asleep in seconds.
Maki is still holding on to my arm, and shows no sign of letting go.
“Shouta, do you want a bath? Or dinner? Or…”
“We just ate, right?”
“Did we…?”
I think she’s kind of seriously gone.
“Just go to sleep.”
I take Maki to her bed, but she’s still not letting go of my arm.
“Maki?”
“No… Don’t go.”
“…”
Maki holds on even more strongly, with tears in her eyes.
She looks so frail, like she’d shatter if I let go of her…
“That’s not fair here. You can’t run away…”
Is this what being a captive of love is like? I can’t go home and leave her like this.
The branch manager would kill me if she found out.
“…Oh all right.”
“Yes… Always, together.”
She clings to me like a child, and I hold her gently.
We lie on her bed together, and as I pat her head, she slowly starts to loosen up.
“I’ll do this until you fall asleep.”
“Yes…”
…Is this okay or not, when I haven’t gotten approval from both parents?
As I think that, I start hearing her sleeping sounds on my chest.
“…Zzz…”
“…I didn’t touch her, so it’s okay. At least I want to think so. I’ll just sleep too.”
I start to fall into a slumber, surrounded by a sweet, and comfortable smell.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Blink.
I open my eyes.
My head hurts a little, but I feel like I slept well.
I turn to the side, and the brightness hurts my eyes.
Ah, I forgot to turn off the light.
But since when do I have a bulb like this in my room…
“…!”
Then I remember where I am, and what situation I’m in.
I fearfully look down into my arms, and my breathing gets faster, as my eyes meet the eyes of the girl that’s turning as hot as a hot-water bottle.
“Good morning…”
“G-good… Morning…”
Her voice sounds like she’s disappearing.
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You don’t have a light in your room? Do you sleep in a shed or something?
Could be meant as he does not have a lamp that could blind him when he looked sideways, his normal room just has a gentle ceiling light, while this one has a desk lamp or something similar. Did sound a bit strange though 😀