Man, a beer after work and a soak in the bath is just irresistible! I worked hard today! This is my reward for doing my best! A cold Ebisu beer!!
"You really make that look delicious when you drink it~"
Ratz says that to me while she leisurely sips her own beer. We're both fresh out of the bath, dressed in nothing but bath towels wrapped around our bodies.
"I'm not really a fan of that fizzy sensation." Riel remarks.
"...I prefer Japanese sake myself." Kaya added.
"I think wine is best. Especially white." Eris declares.
"I'm on team wine too. Red for me, then." Tori chimes in.
"Hey, I hear what you're all saying, okay? All alcohol is delicious. But after a bath, it's beer! Beer!!"
This is the one thing I won't back down on.
"I suppose that falls under personal preference. Surely even you don't drink whiskey, Milly?"
"Well, that's because the last time I had whiskey, I got knocked out instantly."
Yeah, whiskey and other high-proof spirits are great, but when your body is warm, the alcohol hits you faster. I fell into a deep sleep after just a little bit. To my frustration, I heard Yuki-san had to carry me all the way to my futon. I don't remember a thing...
"Speaking of which, where is Yuki-san?"
"He isn't so lacking in common sense that he'd just show his face in the women's bath, you know?"
Eris snaps back quickly.
"Well, I know that, but is there anyone in this group who'd actually mind him seeing them naked?"
Ratz throws the question out, and nobody answers.
I mean, if anything, we want him to look? We'd be happy if he just gave in to his desires then and there.
"No, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant, I wonder what he's doing right now."
"Ah, in that case... once dinner was over, he was cleaning up with Aslin and the others. And looking at the time..."
Eris glances at the clock. It's 11:00 PM.
"It's already time for bed, then."
"Right. Labyris aside, Aslin and Filia must be at their limit for staying awake."
"Onii-san really cherishes those two. Well, he cherishes us too."
Exactly. In these busy days at the dungeon, the smiles of those two are a true blessing. And we want to make sure they never have to go through the same misfortune we did. May they stay happy forever.
No, that's not it... Yuki-san gave us the heavy burden of being 'Representatives.' Aslin and Filia will likely have to deal with various things as representatives too, whether in the near or distant future.
Is this Yuki-san's way of making amends? Though for his sake, those two would probably do it gladly.
A brief silence follows. Just the time spent sipping the alcohol in our glasses. This is a nice moment in its own way.
"But, you know... the alcohol is delicious, but it would be different if we had some snacks to go with it," Ratz says, suddenly breaking the silence.
"You're right~ Especially at a time like this, food that pairs well with good drinks would be even better."
"But we already ate dinner?"
"That goes into the 'dessert stomach,' Eris," I agree, while Riel adds that it's not a problem. Well, for me, snacks for alcohol definitely go into a separate stomach.
"Oii~ Is everyone out of the bath?"
Yuki-san's voice echoes from outside the changing room of the women's bath.
"Ye~es! We're out, Onii-san. What's up? If you want to join us, we'll hop back in with you?"
"No, no. You guys just haven't come out for a while, so I came to check on you."
"Ah, sorry. We're just having a drink here."
"I see. Just as I expected. Everyone's dressed, right?"
"Yes, we're all fine."
"Then, I'm coming in."
With those words, Yuki-san enters.
Accompanied by a savory, mouth-watering aroma.
Guh!? What is this amazing smell!?
A scent that perfectly matches a good drink!!!
"Fufufu. In my hometown, Japan, there's a classic staple to go with alcohol. And this is it!"
Several square ceramic plates are placed on the small table in the changing room.
On top of them are... what are these? Pieces of meat on skewers, giving off an incredible fragrance. But they aren't big. They're just the right size to eat in one bite.
"This is called 'Yakitori'! These ones are chicken skin! And these are thigh meat!"
He pushes two plates forward. Both have a strange sauce drizzled over half of them.
"This is the tare sauce. Well, the basic way to have it with alcohol is salt, but try these flavors too."
Without a shadow of a doubt, everyone reaches for the yakitori.
"""...!!?"""
D-Delicious!? No, normally the flavor would be too strong. But it's that very richness that makes it perfect for alcohol! The drinks go down so smoothly. We gulp down our drinks, throats clicking. Everyone devours four skewers in the blink of an eye.
"Next is gizzard. It's got a nice crunchy texture. These are only salted, so bear with me."
This is delicious too!!
"Tenderloin, liver, meatballs, chicken and leek, grilled squid, and shishamo smelt!!"
I feel like some non-chicken items are mixed in there, but they're delicious, so it doesn't matter. Before anyone can voice a question, we're already stuffing the yakitori into our mouths.
Munch, gulp, snack, chomp!
The yakitori is great, and so is the alcohol!!
"Pwah... that was delicious."
"It really is wonderful stuff."
Everyone stares at the empty plates and pours more alcohol down their throats.
"Hahaha. Yakitori really hits the spot with alcohol, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
"It's a wonderful food culture. Your hometown, Onii-san."
"Well, I'm going to clean up and head to bed. Don't drink so much you get beer bellies, you hear?"
With those parting words, Yuki-san leaves.
""""""......""""""
Everyone looks at each other's stomachs. Come to think of it, ever since we came here, we haven't had any trouble finding food—in fact, we eat our fill every day, drink, and go to sleep.
"...It's fine. I exercise," Riel says, taking another sip of sake.
"In that case, I should be fine too."
"...Me too."
Tori and Kaya, the roadwork enthusiasts, continue drinking.
"...I don't gain weight even when I eat, anyway."
"Hey!? You traitor!!"
Eris said the forbidden words, so I pounce on her to deliver some "punishment".
"Well, I plan on doing plenty of 'exercise' on the bed from now on, so no problem for me," Ratz says as she takes a drink.
And so, in the end, everyone just kept on drinking.
