Chapter 4

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TL: Single TL Translations

Chapter 4

Once we arrived at the stylish restaurant, we were led to a private room and sat across one another. This is the western restaurant Aoi wanted to try because their dishes are said to be delicious. It seems their raclette is popular. As expected of being a girl, I was excited from trying out food I’ve never eaten.

“Well then, I’ll start with a highball, how about you, Aoi?”

“Ah, I’ll have cassis orange.”

“The standard, huh. Then let’s order our drinks first.”

After we rang the bell and ordered our drinks, we browsed through the menu and decided until the drinks came. We then ordered what we just decided and then did a ‘cheers’ with our drinks.

“Alright, thanks for your hard work. And long time no see.”

“Yeah, thanks for your hard work.”

I’ve been reducing the amount I drink since I met Aoi, so the alcohol tasted really good. Oh yeah, I have to be careful to not drink too much today. Aoi said she’s very weak to alcohol and I also don’t want to show that kind of state to her again.

“Yuki, didn’t you say you come around here frequently?”

“Hm, well, maybe somewhat. There’s a bar I often go to. Do you want to try going later? It’s a gay bar, so it’s pretty fun.”

“Gay bar? I’ve never been to one, but I might want to try.”

“Then let’s go later. There’s a shot bar too, but, well, let’s decide after drinking.”

“Okay.”

It’s a stylish bar my friend told me about, so it should be fine. It’s at the place where I go barhopping, so my friends might be there too. But before that, I’ll enjoy this valuable meal. After thinking that there’s something to look forward too later, the meal was brought to the table.

We talked more about the messages from when we contacted each other. Where we went, what we ate, what we did… our stories never ran out and Aoi looking happy gave me a peace of mind. And I was surprised by the raclette main dish since it looked like something a girl would take a picture of and put on Instagram. The meal was delicious, and the alcohol was great.

“We should go soon.”

I finished 4 drinks by the time Aoi finished 2. When I saw Aoi’s red face, it made me realize that she really is a light drinker. None of my friends are light drinkers, so I became worried. For now, let’s go to the bar we already decided on and just leave it at that.

“Okay, where are we going next?”

“Next is, let’s go to the bar we talked about.”

“Uh huh… okay.”

After paying for the food, I held Aoi’s arm since she was slightly staggering and headed towards the bar. I was worried and kept glancing at Aoi whose face was red.

“Aoi, are you okay?”

“Yeah…I don’t usually drink… that might be why I got tipsy a little quickly.”

“The bar has drinks other than alcohol, so when we reach it, let’s take a little break. We’re almost there, okay?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

It’s the reverse of what happened last time and this time, Aoi was the one who had an apologetic expression, but I didn’t consider this troublesome and instead laughed. Even if someone were to be levelheaded and dependable, anyone would become like this with alcohol.

“We’re here, Aoi. I hope it’s not too busy today.”

I opened the suspicious looking door for the building, which would be hard for people coming for the first time. As someone who frequents such places, I don’t think much about it anymore and it looks rather normal on the inside anyway.

“Welcome, ah, Yuki, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? Looks like you brought a friend I’ve never seen before too.”

The short black-haired bartender with a beard, Shouta, greeted us. Although his appearance is that of a playboy, he’s a bona fide gay. It looks like today it’s Shouta and Yume-chan* who’s serving the other customers. Yume-chan is a college music student and without exception, she always performs the piano. She has a part time job here and is what you would consider a young lady. This bar has 2 counter seats on both the left and right, and there are darts and a piano in the back as well. The master always wants to do what he likes, and although the concepts haven’t been decided on, there are often piano lives.

*-chan. An honorific used in Japanese for girls. Commonly used for children but can be used for girls in general. It’s a cute/childish honorific.

“Good morning*, yeah. She helped me when I was drunk last time! She’s a really good girl, I was moved.”

*good morning, honestly not sure why it’s good morning here but this is what she says

When I put my hand around Aoi’s shoulder, rubbed them, and said this strongly, he had a disgusted expression.

“You drank until you were smashed again? I don’t know what to say, I’m sorry. Yuki has bad drinking habits and it’s a little extreme, it’s okay to ignore her next time, okay?”

“Huh, o-okay.”

I had Aoi who was confused with how the conversation turned to her sit down and take the luggage from her and hand it to Shouta.

“Well, well, I’ll reduce the amount from now on, so it’ll be fine! Here, look after our stuff.”

Even though I confidently said that he still looked at me with disgust. Why. Even while putting our luggage away, Shouta looked at me with cold eyes.

“I can’t believe it when you say that.”

“Shouta, aren’t you a bit cold? Why, what is it?”

“Whatever, and what are you drinking?”

“Huh, you’re ignoring me?”

This was when Aoi who was next to me started giggling, causing her shoulders to shake, and said it was funny. I replied to her shrugging and then saying that this is usually how it is before introducing Shouta to her.

“Oh yeah, I’ll introduce you, Shouta is a bartender and I think he’s the same age as you, Aoi. He’s gay and is harsh, but we’ve already known each other for a long time now, so even when I’m drunk, he’ll still look after me and he’s someone I can talk too. He’s a good guy.”

“Nice to meet you~”

Shouta lowered his head and Aoi said nice to meet you and then lowered her head too. After thinking about how she’s very proper, this time, I put my arms around her shoulders.

“So, this super beautiful and cute girl is Aoi. She’s a super duper good girl. She saved me when I slept through the last train and threw up. No matter how many times I thank her, it’s not enough…”

When I started patting her head and thanking her once again, she shyly said you’ve said that already it’s fine. Shouta eyes were still as cold. Can he stop that already.

“Yuki, you should really stop over drinking, you know? I swear, won’t it be on the news one day? Rather, Aoi-chan is too pitiful. Saving someone like her… wait, don’t tell me you let her stay over your house?”

“Huh? Yes. She said she was going to sleep on the road until the first train, so…”

His expression turned even worse after hearing that. I thought back on how bad of an idea that was, but at that time it was difficult for a lot of reasons, thought it was mainly because I was too tired. But it was fine in the past.*

*TL Note: Yuki is talking about how the idea of sleeping till the first train was a bad idea

“Whaaat? Yuki’s statement is already ridiculous, but I’m surprised you let some stupid stranger like her stay over, Aoi.”

“That’s because, she was throwing up on the roadside and she was drunk and it was dangerous to leave her alone like that, so I…”

“I see, this girl… she really is a good girl.”

As Aoi was nervously explaining, Shouta said while impressed. I really understand what he’s thinking right now. She’s a person raised well in this day and age.

“Right? That’s what I’ve been saying, well, let’s stop talking about something so embarrassing, I’ll have what I always get! Aoi, why don’t you get something non-alcoholic? Do you feel okay?”

I didn’t want Shouta to continue talking about it, so I ordered drinks. Aoi said she was fine since she walked and ordered a cute cocktail.

Shouta skillfully mixed a highball with cassis liquor as well as what I always drink, a fuzzy navel.

“Ahh, I haven’t been drinking recently, it’s tastes so good. Aoi, you’re a light drinker so don’t force yourself, okay?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine. You worry too much.”

“Of course, I will! Aoi, when you drink, your face immediately turns red. I can’t let such a cute and good girl have any bad experiences like that.”

Even now her face is red, it’s only natural I would worry about her. Shouta also took advantage of this opportunity.

“Yeah, that’s right, you’ll only die if you force yourself to go along with this girl who only has alcohol in her mind. Ah, just in case, I’ll put some water here, okay?”

“Ah, thank you very much.”

Shouta is the sensible type so he quickly left some water on the table. If he wasn’t gay, he would definitely be popular with girls.

“Um, Shouta-san*, have you been friends with Yuki for a long time?”

*-san an honorific: a polite way of calling someone

Aoi made eye-contact with Shouta and asked him after drinking some water. There were too many things that happened, so I don’t exactly when, but I started the conversation first after thinking about it.

“I wouldn’t say it’s long, about 3 years? When I noticed, he was just there, so I can’t exactly remember.”

“Yeah, I’d say 3 years? Or rather, you’re always drunk, making a racket, or crying. My memories of it being a pain are more prominent.”

“Can you not say that? Seriously.”

I already admitted that I have a bad drinking habit, and even though me and Aoi’s friendship just started, I’m scared she’ll be put-off by this, though what Shouta is saying is accurate. While thinking this, Aoi started laughing, surprising me.

“Yuki really is a drinker.”

“Rather than a drinker, she’s usually the one who’s engulfed, this one especially.”

“Stop it already, I’ll be careful from now on! I really messed up this time, so I’ll be careful now! Really.”

Shouta was muttering something along the lines of how I drink to get drunk and not for the taste, but I ignored him. When talking about that, it seemed like Yume-chan was going to play the piano live and started talking through the microphone. It seems to be jazz today. Shouta also started preparing for the performance.

“They also do live piano performances. Amazing, it’s my first time.”

Aoi who looked at the piano with sparkling eyes and a breath of admiration seemed happy. I thought ‘that’s great’ and whispered in her ears about Yume-chan.

“That girl, her name’s Yume-chan, and she’s currently a college music student. She’s good at the piano and cute, she usually plays the piano when she’s here so there aren’t many opportunities to talk to her, but let’s talk to her when we get the chance, okay?”

“I see, okay. …Yuki, you’re really close with everyone, huh.”

“Huh? You think? Well, I barhop a lot, so I guess it’s easier for me to make friends…”

Her smiling face changed, and she suddenly lowered her gaze, I wonder what happened, does she feel unwell? When I lightly grasped her hand on her own lap, she finally raised her gaze showing a sad, angry, or unfamiliar expression. What exactly happened.

“Aoi, what happened?”

“…Um…I…”

“Oh! Yuki! It’s been a super long time, you should’ve told me if you were here!!”

At the moment Aoi was going to say something, I head a familiar voice behind me and turned around, it was the voice of a tall, well-built, brown haired man. His name is Tooru, a friend of Shouta, and I got to know him when I was drinking with Shouta one day. He’s really strong with alcohol. He’s a refreshing, handsome guy, but is also an idiot. However, we talk a lot and he’s a fun person, he’s a good friend of mine I frequently drink with.

“Ah, Tooru!! It’s been a long time, sorry, my bad, I came with a friend today.”

“Oh, that’s why, Shoutaaa, alcohol, give me some alcohol.”

He sat on the chair with a thud and started lightly waving his hands towards Shouta to call him, when I hurriedly faced Aoi, she no longer had her previous expression and instead slightly giggled.

“You really do have a lot of friends, I’m a bit jealous.”

I cheerfully smiled and after I slightly gripped her hand and then released it, I went back to drinking the alcohol. I don’t really get it, but I guess she feels fine? At least it seems like it. Seriously, I wonder what happened, I’m pretty sure that wasn’t what she wanted to say, I was going to say something about what she just tried to gloss over, but once again, Tooru interrupted it.

“Nevertheless, Yuki, I’m surprised you brought such a beautiful girl. What did you do this time?”

“Whaaat? She just helped me out when I was drunk.”

“Again? Yuki, if she was a guy, you would’ve been assaulted, you know?”

“I’m careful about that point. Rather, Tooru, I’m going to leave early today. I’m afraid to say I won’t be drinking with you until the morning.”

Tooru disappointedly drank a glass of alcohol Shouta brought over. Whether or not I would actually drink until the morning, either way I would be smashed, and I should play it safe since Aoi is here today anyways.

“Ehh, even though it’s been while since we last mettt.”

“C’mon now, it’s not like I can always go barhopping with you, next time, alright?”

“No, but at least drink a glass. I’ll treat you.”

“No, I don’t need it, it’s fine. In any case its tequila isn’t it?”

“Well, well, it’s fine, it’s fine. Shouta, prepare tequila.”

A Tooru who doesn’t back down. Seriously, a drinker is of bad character. It was even meaningless in sighing loudly.

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