Episode 8: But She Said She Wasn’t Drunk
We went into a nearby izakaya.
Saturday night, so it was crowded, but by luck a couple of counter seats were free.
We sat down and ordered.
“Hanamori-san, cassis oolong? That’s your usual, right?”
“Yeah, but I’ll get a beer today.”
“Oh, you can actually drink?”
“I can drink just fine. I only get cassis oolong because it plays better.”
“…Plays better?”
“Girls drinking cassis oolong at parties reads as cute, right?”
Hanamori said it breezily, wiping her hands with the oshibori.
(This girl… calculating doesn’t even begin to cover it.)
I gave a wry laugh. Called the server over and ordered two draft beers.
Hanamori took off her cap, fluffed her hair back into shape, and let out a breath.
“Today’s show was really good, huh.”
“Yeah. Live really is different.”
“Haruto-kun was so cool.”
“…Of course, Haruto.”
The beers arrived while we were talking, and we toasted.
“Good work today.”
“You too.”
We clinked mugs and each took a sip.
The cold beer went down my throat, spreading warmth through my body.
“But I didn’t expect you to be the type to go to shows, Asami-san.”
“Yeah, I go, pretty normally. Though I’m super indoorsy otherwise.”
“Yeah, you did strike me as pretty indoorsy.”
“First time anyone’s said that to my face so bluntly. You’re the surprising one, though. I wouldn’t have guessed you listened to band music.”
“I didn’t used to, much. Guess it’s my ex-boyfriend’s influence.”
“Ah, that explains it.”
Very on-brand for boy-crazy Hanamori, that reason.
Maybe because it was counter seating, the distance between us felt close. Hanamori’s profile was right there.
I picked at the fried chicken and fries, bringing the beer to my mouth.
“…Any progress with Asakura-san?”
The sudden question made my hand pause mid-sip.
“Progress?”
“You know, that kind of thing.”
Hanamori looked at me, faintly probing.
“None.”
“Ehh.”
“I mean, it’s not that kind of relationship.”
“But you like her, right?”
She said it point-blank.
Hanamori gets even more direct than usual once alcohol’s involved.
“…I mean.”
“Then you need to be more proactive about it.”
“I am being, somewhat.”
“Not nearly enough. Someone that gorgeous is gonna get snatched up fast. You need to go after her harder.”
Hanamori slipped into lecture mode.
This girl’s always so full of herself. Honestly.
“What about you, any progress with Tamura-san?”
“Hmm. Progress is iffy, maybe. I’m putting in a ton of effort, though.”
“I know that much.”
“Asked him to lunch yesterday, too.”
“And?”
“Got turned down.”
Hanamori laughed it off breezily.
“…You okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m not giving up.”
“Tough.”
“You shouldn’t give up so easy either, Asami-san.”
The second round of beer arrived.
“Asami-san, what do you actually like about Asakura-san?”
Hanamori leaned in a little.
“Huh?”
My eyes drifted. Saying this kind of thing out loud is embarrassing, no matter what. And honestly, I still don’t fully know if I even like her.
“Hard to say?”
“No, I mean, not really.”
“Then tell me.”
Hanamori pressed, clearly enjoying herself. Resigned, I opened my mouth.
“She’s composed, I guess. Quick to make decisions, good at her job. And… kind.”
“Hm.”
“And, well… there’s something beautiful about her presence, the way she carries herself.”
“So it’s about looks after all.”
Hanamori smirked. I looked away on reflex.
“What about you, then? What do you actually like about Tamura-san?”
“Everything.”
“That was fast.”
“Because it’s true. He’s good-looking, good at his job, kind. Perfect.”
“Hm.”
We talked about all kinds of things for a while after that.
The rhythm of the conversation matched up strangely well, and somewhere in me, I found it comfortable.
Hanamori’s face was getting steadily redder, her eyes starting to look a little unfocused.
“Hanamori-san, are you drunk?”
“I’m not drunk.”
“Your face is completely red.”
“You’re red too, Asami-san.”
“I’m still fine.”
“I’m fine too.”
Hanamori drank her beer stubbornly, getting worked up over it. Weak drinker, putting on a tough front.
Kind of cute, honestly.
“This might be almost the first time I’ve had one-on-one drinks with another woman like this.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I barely have any female friends.”
“Ah, you mentioned that before.”
Hanamori laughed, a little lonely.
“So, right now, it’s pretty new for me.”
“I see.”
“It’s surprisingly fun. I might let you drink with me again sometime.”
There she goes again, talking down to me like—
A flicker of irritation, but I let it go, being the adult here.
A short silence passed after that.
But strangely, it wasn’t an unpleasant one.
“…Eh, is it already this late?”
Hanamori glanced at her phone, eyes going wide.
“…No last train.”
“Whoa, seriously.”
I checked the time too. Just before midnight.
Damn it. The conversation had gotten more into it than expected, and I’d completely lost track of time.
Completely, hopelessly late.
“What do we do?”
“Internet cafe, I guess.”
“Right…”
“There should be one nearby.”
“You know a lot about this, Asami-san.”
“Missed the last train once before.”
“…With who?”
Hanamori looked at me, faintly probing again.
“A friend.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Hmm. …Well, fine then, I guess.”
(What do you mean, “fine then”…?)
Hanamori turned forward abruptly.
Her profile looked, somehow, a little sulky.
We paid the bill (I ended up treating after all) and left the izakaya for a nearby internet cafe.
The automatic doors opened, and we headed to the front desk.
“Excuse me, do you have two private rooms open?”
The clerk checked the terminal.
“I’m very sorry. The private rooms are all full right now…”
“I see…”
“We do have one couple’s seat room available, though.”
the clerk said.
“Eh.”
Both Hanamori and I made the exact same sound, at the exact same time.