"10:10!"
"13:13!"
"17:17!"
Thanks to Kamishiro's godlike maneuvering, the score had somehow crawled all the way up to 17:17.
Only four more points until the final victor would be decided!
At this point, however, neither contestant was in good shape…
Originally, Kamishiro and Kohei had planned to sober up gradually by dragging the match out.
Instead, the extra time only made their heads even foggier.
Now both of them looked like complete drunks.
They were swaying so badly they had to cling to the table just to stand.
"Tch… miscalculated…"
Kamishiro gritted his teeth.
He had thought this would be a simple ping-pong match. Who knew it would turn out this brutal?
These rules were way too harsh on someone with actual skill like him!
He couldn't drag it out anymore.
Even if they had not reached 20 cups yet he had no intention of holding back from here on out.
That idiot had already suffered enough. No need to keep playing with him.
Looking at Kohei's miserable state, Kamishiro's alcohol-dampened mood brightened considerably.
Compared to Kamishiro, Kohei looked infinitely worse.
He could barely stand, and not a single inch of his face was intact.
Blue, purple, red—his face was a palette of bruises.
Each one a symbol of his "victories."
It was honestly impressive he had lasted this long.
When the score reached 15:15, Kohei had finally realized Kamishiro was doing this on purpose.
He wanted payback but his skills just weren't there.
Even Kamishiro's "holding-back" serves were hard for him to receive, let alone the follow-ups.
He had considered copying Kamishiro by ignoring the score and just aiming for that infuriating face.
The problem was, it did not work.
Every single shot he sent was returned. To him, Kamishiro now felt like a spiky turtle shell.
Utterly unassailable. What a…
"Lucky bastard!"
Rage filled Kohei's swollen eyes. And confusion.
They were the same level so why was this guy so lucky?!
He must have used up all his life's luck! There was no way Kamishiro was actually better.
And since they had drunk about the same amount, Kohei also refused to admit he was losing because he was drunk.
He definitely was not worse at drinking either!
The two locked eyes.
Each saw murderous intent in the other.
This one cannot be allowed to live! ×2
Kamishiro inhaled deeply.
At this point, victory would have to come through the question.
Because serve technique?
You expect high-level spin from a slipper?!
"Past and Present!"
Still a straight ball—but this time, faster.
"My underwear color! Black!"
Kohei: ???
"Who the hell knows your underwear color?! White!"
Kohei barely managed to receive the ball by twisting sideways.
Thankfully, the slipper softened the impact. Ironically, switching to slippers had improved his technique.
That was true dog luck.
But luck couldn't overcome skill.
Kohei returned it—but the ball popped high into the air.
A golden opportunity.
Another chance to stamp his mark onto Kohei's pig-face.
Wait—wasn't he supposed to stop holding back and just win?
Oh, he already had.
"Wrong!!!"
BAM!!!
Like a war god descending, Kamishiro leapt and smashed the slipper down.
A spike!
Thanks to pre-aiming, Kohei's face gained yet another swelling.
But—
Kamishiro didn't fare much better.
With that much alcohol in him, jumping was a bad idea.
He collapsed flat on the floor. For a moment, he lay there dazed.
Yet thanks to the alcohol, he did not even feel the giant bump forming on his forehead.
Grinning foolishly, he dragged himself up and staggered over to taunt Kohei.
"Hah! I do not wear the kind that stains easily!"
He lifted his chin proudly as if not wearing white underwear was a badge of honor.
Silence fell over the room.
What exactly are you proud of?
Only Azusa seemed to understand his logic, nodding seriously.
"Exactly! White stains too easily. If you're not careful, it turns yellow."
Everyone stared at them in horror.
What are you people doing in daily life?!
They're talking about underwear!
"18:17!"
Tokita-senpai announced the score.
Next round.
But—
Kohei had already been at his limit.
After that smash, he could not get up anymore.
Watching him struggle, the NPCs' eyes reddened.
Look!
Wasn't this just like a hot-blooded anime scene?!
"Stand up!"
"Get up, pig-headed youth!"
"Don't let Water of Life stop you!"
"Pighead, you can do it!"
"Pighead!"
"Pighead!"
The chants echoed.
Kohei looked like a hero rising to challenge the Demon King.
Unfortunately—
In anime, heroes rise through the power of bonds and friendship.
Kohei?
Powered by people yelling "pighead"?
Pathetic.
"Give up. You have already lost."
Kamishiro grinned like a villain.
He turned to the senpai.
"I win by default, right? By the way, shouldn't the winner get a reward? Or at least the loser gets punished?"
As a self-proclaimed representative of the "steady type," Kamishiro only brought up rewards and punishments once he was certain of victory.
Either give him a benefit—
Or deliver a fatal blow to the enemy.
"Oh, punishment? Of course we prepared one."
Tokita scratched his head.
They were serious about games.
They would nto forget the final punishment.
"As for rewards…"
They hesitated.
Rewarding the winner?
Wasn't seeing the loser punished reward enough?
Kamishiro immediately waved it off.
"Forget rewards. Let's focus on the punishment."
Absolutely not because he feared they would reward him with more Water of Life.
He had zero doubt they would.
The senpai grinned.
"Don't worry. This punishment is perfect."
Kotobuki stepped aside.
Revealing a table they had all ignored.
At that moment—
Kamishiro saw hell.
The previously empty table was now stacked with alcohol.
Water of Life. Whiskey. Vodka. Gin. Rum…
It looked like a villain organization's secret stash.
And in the center—
A massive wooden barrel.Inside sloshed a murky liquid, the water level was visibly dropping.
How had that thing even survived this long?!
Seeing Kamishiro's expression, Tokita cheerfully added "a little more" Water of Life to it.
"It's good the match ends now. We already wasted a whole bottle earlier."
Kamishiro: ???
You are the reason it got wasted!!!
In his eyes, devil horns sprouted from their heads. The barrel became a bubbling green death potion. He was suddenly extremely grateful to be the winner.
Otherwise…
He might not live to attend his benefactor's wedding tomorrow.
Wait.
He was the winner.
He grinned.
"Senpai! I have an idea!"
"Oh?"
"As the winner, can I personally feed Kohei the punishment?"
Not just brotherly love. Preparation for tomorrow's wedding.
How could the groom not drink?
"No problem!"
Tokita agreed readily.
(Meanwhile, he mentally upgraded the idea for future parties. Maybe use a funnel next time…)
Kamishiro walked toward Kohei, smiling warmly.
"Kohei~ time to take your medicine… I mean, drink~"
He helped Kohei up.
Time to savor victory.
But—
"Get lost! I'm not a pighead!!!"
Smack—
Kohei slapped his hand away, slamming his back against the table.
He stood, swaying.
"I'm not a pighead…"
Kamishiro twitched.
Bro.
Your anime arc is lagging.
The NPCs already stopped chanting.
It's the drinking phase now!
But suddenly—
The crowd erupted again.
"Charge, pighead!"
"It's not over yet!"
Kamishiro's face darkened.
"There's no need to waste time. The result's the same."
He really did look like a villain now.
"Ha… the match isn't over! This is the power of bonds!"
Kohei stood straighter, forcing a chuunibyou grin.
Bonds my ass!
You have zero bonds with these NPCs!
This is reality, not anime!
Kamishiro scoffed.
If this were anime, maybe he'd lose.
But reality?
No chance.
He tossed the ball.
"Catch this first."
Bonds?
Not enough. Unless you summon friendship too.
Kohei stared at the four overlapping balls in his drunken vision.
How was he supposed to choose?!
Just as he reached randomly—
A hand shot out from the side and caught the ball labeled "war."
A familiar voice rang out.
"Leave the rest to me."
Kamishiro: ???
What the hell?! Friendship actually showed up?!
The hero makes his entrance!!!
What hero, my foot!!!
"Iori?!"
Chisa and the others stared in shock at the suddenly appearing figure!
They had been watching Kohei so intensely that they had not even noticed when Iori showed up.
Did he recover from his debuff state?
Hearing the gasps around him Iori felt extremely pleased. His carefully planned entrance had not been in vain!
He had gone to great lengths to stir up the NPCs' emotions just now!
Otherwise, how could an otaku like Kohei possibly have that much charisma?
Fortunately, so far, everything was unfolding exactly as he had imagined!
The way everyone looked at him like a hero was intoxicating.
Everything was proceeding according to his plan, except—
"Why is a weakling like you here?!"
Hearing that irritating voice beside him, the flames in Iori's heart flared up again!
Especially when he heard the word "weak."
"Shut up! At least let me enjoy this moment a little longer!"
His ferocious expression instantly snapped everyone out of their idealized image.
The NPCs began scrutinizing this newly appeared figure.
After a while, they smiled and nodded, their eyes full of approval.
Yes!
Finally, someone with a relatively ordinary face has arrived. Let us support this one!
The crowd began shouting again:
"Hero! Hero!"
"Avenge our pig-head!"
"Defeat the Demon King!"
"Get the Demon King drunk!"
"And then the Demon King will be mine!"
Hearing the unrestrained cheers, Iori quickly restrained his earlier ugly expression.
He waved smugly toward the NPCs.
As a hero, one should be a little kinder to one's fans
Even if their motivation for wanting him to defeat the Demon King was far from pure!
Jealousy!
Especially when he saw that the one shouting about taking the Demon King away was a girl.
His jealousy reached its peak!
Kamishiro, that scumbag, really deserves to die!!!
…
Meeting Kitahara's malicious glare, Kamishiro looked back with a faintly mocking expression.
The slight curl of his lips carried a trace of disdain.
He did not say a single word, yet it made Iori feel utterly humiliated!
In an instant—
Iori snapped!
"Ping-pong! We are playing ping-pong right now!"
"Now!!!"
As he spoke, Iori kicked off his slippers and glared viciously at Kamishiro in the distance.
Even though he knew this would ruin the heroic image he had worked so hard to build, he simply could not hold back!!!
His carefully crafted persona was shattered by a single glance and a single smile from Kamishiro.
But honestly…
What man could endure that?
That look, that smile—it was like a nightmare!
Even while unconscious earlier, that expression of Kamishiro's had filled Iori's mind.
Truly worthy of being called a scumbag.
Just one simple expression had left an indelible psychological shadow on a twenty-year-old man!
At that moment, Iori felt like a student who had studied hard for ages, only to discover upon receiving his exam results that he was still inferior to the naturally gifted genius who played around every day.
Worse still—
That genius looked at you with contempt and said, "An ant is still an ant."
Infuriating!
But it was the truth!
And reality was even harsher than the metaphor.
After all, with studying, effort can eventually close the gap.
But with physical differences…
There were only two paths: technology or mutation!!!
Damn Kamishiro!
You have gone too far!!!
Consumed by jealousy and rage, Iori no longer cared about his image.
All he wanted now was to teach that scumbag Kamishiro a harsh lesson!
Of course, direct violence was not an option.
The senpai had already forbidden that "method" of deepening their friendship.
So…
They would settle it through a game.
A sinister smile curled at the corner of Iori's lips as he stared at Kamishiro.
Do not blame me for being despicable, Kamishiro.
After all—
My current role is the hero!!!
…
Kamishiro: ???
"Wait, what?! You can actually do that?!"
Kamishiro looked at Kitahara in disbelief, unable to comprehend how someone could be this shameless.
Everyone had already paid, and now you suddenly want to step in?
That is some thick skin!
"Senpai! This is way too unfair!"
Kamishiro immediately turned to the senpai in protest. He was extremely glad he was still holding the ping-pong ball.
Otherwise, with how shameless that guy was, he would have served already!
No matter how confident Kamishiro was, he did not believe he could defeat the "Land War God" in his current state.
And even if he could—
He definitely did not think he could handle another twenty-one drinks afterward.
Referee!
Someone is breaking the game balance!
"That is indeed not very fair, Iori," Tokita said awkwardly.
They truly had not considered the possibility that Iori would wake up midway.
Hearing that, Iori panicked.
"Senpai! I am doing this for Kohei—"
He had sacrificed countless brain cells for this entrance!
He absolutely could not fail here!
Smack!
Before he could finish speaking, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Iori turned around in confusion—
And was greeted by Kohei's tearful, deeply moved, and extremely ugly face.
Actually, that swollen pig-head face was already ugly enough!
Kohei beamed at him with utmost tenderness in his eyes.
"Kitahara… my best friend!!!"
Before Iori could react, Kohei threw himself into his arms and burst into tears.
Let go!
Let go of me!
I just changed my clothes—do not wipe your snot on me!
And no drool either!!!
Iori wanted to push him away, but under Kamishiro's and everyone else's watchful eyes, he forced himself to endure the discomfort.
After all—
He was playing the role of Kohei's hero.
The crying protagonist embracing his savior hero… yes, that was a classic hot-blooded anime trope.
For the sake of successfully taking over the stage, Iori decided to endure it for now!
Even if this idiot smeared snot and saliva all over him, he would endure it!!!
He silently swore that once he dealt with Kamishiro he would repay all of this tenfold!!!
So disgusting, especially after drinking!
Even more disgusting!
"Kohei, you should—"
Before he could say "go rest," Kohei suddenly sprang up from his arms.
It was obvious Kohei was trying very hard to stand straight.
Unfortunately, his condition did not allow it.
He swayed like a bamboo shoot in a storm.
"B-best friend, do not shake!"
Drunk as he was, Kohei thought Iori was playing with him.
He grabbed Iori's head and grinned like a husky.
"Hehe, now it is not shaking!"
Yes.
From your perspective, it is not shaking.
Because you dragged me into swaying at the same frequency!
Iori's face darkened terribly, yet he could not show it. He only wished this idiot would just lie down quietly.
Drunk people should just stay drunk!
After letting out a belch reeking of alcohol, Kohei staggered toward the ping-pong table, eyes misty with tears again.
"Did'nt expect my best friend to be you, Kitahara! Is this the unique bond between us…"
No! It is just a conspiracy!
"Do not worry, best friend! I am not as fragile as you think!"
Please, be fragile for once. Looking at Kohei's staggering back, Iori felt an ominous premonition.
Sure enough, the next moment—
"This is my battlefield,
That enemy is one I must face myself,
Do not worry, best friend,
In the next match… I will definitely win,
Just cheer for me from the sidelines,
Once everything is over, we will drink together and watch Rarako's movie!"
Standing before the ping-pong table, Kohei had completely immersed himself in the role of a hot-blooded anime protagonist.
He even turned around, flashed a classic passionate grin, and gave a thumbs-up.
A perfect reenactment!
The problem was—
Who on earth agreed to watch that movie with you?!
Iori felt like he was going insane.
Especially when—
"OOOOOOH!!!"
After Kohei's chuunibyou speech, the NPCs erupted into cheers.
Some middle-aged men were even secretly wiping away tears.
In that moment, they seemed to see their lost youth.
"Go, pig-head boy!"
"Defeat the Demon King!!!"
"We all support you!"
Kohei smiled lightly at the cheers.
This time, he did not correct their nickname.
He simply raised his thumb silently.
The atmosphere reached its peak!!!
Even the senpai were moved.
"So touching!"
"Good job, Kohei!"
"Be a real man! Go for it!"
"Everyone, do your best~"
Kamishiro: …
Are you all insane?!
When you act cool, can you stop writing me into the villain role?!
For a moment, the dizzy Kamishiro actually felt like he really was the villain.
Wealth.
Looks.
Girls.
Wait—
No way!!!
I am supposed to be the protagonist!
Someone control this situation!
Hold on… is there not a mastermind behind all this?
Kamishiro turned and glared furiously at Iori.
Everything is this guy's fault!!!
Yet Iori did not dare meet his eyes.
He was too stunned.
The grand stage he painstakingly prepared had been hijacked by Kohei?!
He only stirred up the NPCs to shape himself into a hero!
Who told you to steal the spotlight and act like the main character?!
Watching Kohei sway proudly, Iori's nerves twitched painfully.
As the planner, he felt he had to do something to steer things back on track.
…
"Kamishiro! Our battle is not over yet!!!"
Having basked in the cheers, Kohei roared.
He felt sober!
With the power of friendship and bonds, he felt invincible!
According to the script in his head, the Demon King should collapse at his feet after a single effortless strike!
Of course—
For that script to come true, he first had to face the right direction.
Watching Kohei threaten the referee instead of Kamishiro, the NPCs fell into dead silence.
They might have been a bit too hasty just now…
This idiot was so drunk he could not even tell directions apart.
Seeing this A cruel villainous smile appeared on Kamishiro's face again.
Though he was also at his limit he could still hit a few balls and drink a few more cups!
He tossed the ball high and gripped his slipper tightly, veins bulging.
If you choose to continue, prepare to be crushed again!
"Kohei!"
Kamishiro roared as he smashed the ball toward Kohei's swollen face.
Fall!
The audience closed their eyes, unable to watch.
Thud—
The sound of a body hitting the floor rang out.
Just when everyone thought it was over—
A furious voice echoed:
"Kitahara!!!"
Huh?
A twist?!
…