They were still smiling at me, the smug, annoying faces that made me want to flip the whole table.
I groaned.
"Why is it that no matter what, you guys always get the good stuff? Even the boss treats you like royalty. Meanwhile, I can't even get a smile from her!"
Kenji touched my shoulder with a grin.
"What can we say, Hazekaya? Some people are just born lucky."
"Yeah, lucky my ass," I muttered, slumping in my chair.
"I'm here praying the cafeteria lady notices me, and you guys are treated like celebrities."
They laughed, enjoying my misery a little too much.
After finishing my so‑called "meal," I leaned back and sighed.
"Hey, tomorrow's our day off. Want to hang out tonight? Just us guys, have a few drinks?"
They looked at each other, and my stomach dropped.
Kenji cleared his throat, looking too innocent. "Well, Hazekaya… the thing is…"
I narrowed my eyes. "The thing is what?"
Ishikawa rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze. "Thing is… we're all going to be busy… hanging out with our boss."
I froze, blinking at them. "Huh?! What do you mean?!"
They didn't answer. They just smiled at me with those smug, dream-luxury grins that make me want to throw something.
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "Damn you ikemen… seriously, what kind of life are you guys living?!"
Kenji shrugged with a grin. "A good one."
"Yeah, no kidding," I muttered.
My thoughts turned to the boss lady. I can't deny it. She's hot, sexy, the kind of woman who could stop traffic just by walking past. And now? She's basically their personal goddess.
I shook my head with a sigh. We really do live in different worlds, huh? Damn ikemen.
That evening, as I walked home, the truth hit me harder.
A sleek, black luxury car pulled up near the office, the kind that screams rich and powerful. And who stepped out? Kenji, Ishikawa, Seiji, and Kazama, smirking like they owned the night.
The boss lady was behind the wheel, giving them a sultry smile before they all disappeared inside like it was the most natural thing in the world.
My stomach grumbled, dragging me back to reality. "Guess I'll drink alone again tonight… damn."
With that, I headed into the night, the shadow of the ikemen squad looming over my lonely life.
While I wandered around, I found a small booth tucked away on a quiet side street—a roadside izakaya with a canvas roof, a few wooden stools, and a counter where a middle-aged man kept a tiny grill.
The smoky smell of grilled meat was in the air, along with the soft clinking of sake cups. A paper lantern glowed warmly, making the place feel cozy and welcoming.
I stopped and stared.
Hmm… having a drink first wouldn't hurt. I might as well enjoy myself a little before going home.
I slid onto one of the stools and let out a long sigh. The owner gave me a nod.
"Evening. What'll it be?" he asked, sounding gruff but friendly.
I looked at the wooden board above the counter. Not fancy, yakitori, oden, and sake. Exactly what I needed.
"Sake, please. And some skewers," I said, rubbing my temples. "The strongest you've got."
The owner chuckled and poured me a cup. "Rough day?"
I drank it in one go, the sharp burn slicing through me.
"You don't know the half of it."
He slid a plate of skewers over, still steaming. "Take it slow. This place is for forgetting your worries, not drowning in them."
I nodded, chewing a skewer. Salty, smoky, simple, exactly the comfort I needed.
"Yeah… maybe this isn't so bad," I muttered, taking another sip. For a moment, I almost forgot about the ikemen squad and their perfect lives. Almost.
Then the alcohol hit harder, loosening my tongue. I slammed the cup down and groaned.
"You know, old man! Those damn ikemen, those lucky guys!" I slurred, waving my cup around. "The boss spoils them like kings while I can't even get a smile! Damn those bastards! At least share a little luck with me, huh?!"
The old man chuckled softly as he poured me another cup of sake, nodding like a therapist.
By then, I wasn't sure how much I'd had. Maybe I was tipsy.
Okay, fine.I was definitely drunk. A little. …Alright, a lot. But hey, who's keeping track?
"And you know what else?" I leaned forward, poking my chopsticks at him like they were weapons. "This isn't the first time they've stolen the spotlight! Back in college, girls lined up for them like it was some amusement park ride!"
The old man just hummed, flipping skewers on the grill. The smell made my stomach growl, so I grabbed another one without thinking.
"And another thing! Why am I always the side character in someone else's story?! Is it my face? My vibe? What is it, old man?!"
He slid me another cup quietly. I drank it in one go, even though the room started to spin a little.
From there, my rant went all over the place. I complained about the ikemen, then about college days, then about overpriced brothels, and somehow started to question the meaning of life.
Through it all, the old man didn't miss a beat. Grill. Pour. Nod. Repeat.
"You're a good listener, old man," I slurred, swaying on my stool. "Why can't girls be like you? Huh? Huuuh?!"
He chuckled and gave me another skewer. "Eat. You'll feel better."
"If only life was as simple as yakitori and sake," I muttered, chewing miserably.
I kept drinking, words spilling out as fast as the sake in my cup. The old man just kept listening, patient as ever.
"You're a saint, old man," I declared, waving my chopsticks like I was making a toast. "If the world had more people like you, maybe I'd finally have a girlfriend!"
As I rambled, the stool a couple seats down creaked. A younger man sat there, probably in his mid-twenties, wearing glasses and a hoodie. After ordering sake and grilled meat, he pulled out his phone and started scrolling.
At first, I ignored him. But then I heard something.
"Wait… is that anime music?" I asked, squinting at him.
The guy looked up, surprised, and nodded. "Yeah, from this new isekai anime. Do you watch anime?"
I hesitated, taking another sip of sake. "Honestly? Not really."
His smile faded a little, but I wasn't done. "Well… sometimes. Mostly just to keep up with work talks. Everyone's always talking about the latest shows."
The guy laughed. "I get it. But man, you're missing out! Isekai's the best. Imagine getting hit by a truck and waking up in a whole new world. Magic, adventures, girls—"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," I cut him off, waving my hand. "Sounds great, but let's be real, that kind of stuff doesn't happen in real life."
He grinned, leaning closer. "But what if it did?"
I rolled my eyes and grabbed another skewer. "If it did, I'd probably still end up as a background character. Just my luck."
The old man chuckled, pouring sake for both of us. The guy smiled, his phone still playing that anime tune.
Well… whatever… tonight… I've got some company and I can at least enjoy my drinks.
( End Of Chapter )