Steam rose in gentle bubbles from the oden pot on the kitchen counter, its savory aroma drifting through the air.
Morimoto Chiyoda didn't offer him any white liquor or shochu. Instead, as usual, she placed a can of beer before him.
This low-alcohol beer was hardly distinguishable from a soft drink.
For those who disliked alcohol, a sip might only reveal its bitterness.
Yet, for those who enjoyed it, a hint of malt could be discerned beneath the bitterness.
"Tonight, we drink until we drop!"
Morimoto Chiyoda tilted her head, her long black hair spilling over one shoulder. Her red lips, moist from the drink, curved into a smile, and her eyes seemed to flash with an electric charge that struck Aozawa's heart.
"No problem."
Aozawa nodded, resolving to drink heartily with her and help alleviate the gloom in her heart.
For working people, drinking wasn't so much a hobby as a means to vent their frustrations.
