I had idly imagined that I would lead a solitary life in university as well.
I don't go out of my way to interact with others, and besides, people who seek out those quietly trying to stay in the shadows are rare.
"I'm so excited, Hikigaya!"
…Yes, rare, but not nonexistent.
The izakaya, our mixer venue. It was Golden Week.
Nikaido, the organizer of this mixer, was far from the cool, handsome type his name might suggest; he was rather boisterous.
We often took the same lectures, and he struck up a conversation with me. Surprisingly, he was a big reader and we got along, so we ended up hanging out a lot.
"The photos you got, aren't they insane? I mean, sending them in advance shows confidence, but they're genuinely cute."
The man who was grinning while looking at his phone was named Tsuneshi.
His speech was flighty, and his hair was blonde. When I first saw him, I thought we'd never get along, but he, too, was an avid reader and movie lover, and he forcefully joined in when Nikaido and I were talking. Simply put, he was a former otaku who had tried to reinvent himself in college. Given that he's hanging out with me, his debut seems to have been a failure…
"Sorry to keep you waiting~"
While we were having such lighthearted conversation, the appointed time seemed to have arrived. The shoji screen of the private room slid open, and a girl peeked out… or rather, I couldn't tell her age, but she was certainly cute. Her flowing long hair gave her a somewhat clean and innocent aura.
Next came a girl with a short bob, her round eyes suggesting liveliness. And finally, a girl with flaxen hair that reached just below her shoulders… Wait. What in the world—?
"Yo. We weren't waiting at all. Alright, let's order drinks first."
Even as Nikaido, the male organizer, spoke, I couldn't tear my eyes away. It was the same for Isshiki; she was frozen, our eyes locked.
Um, Isshiki-san. Why are you here? Oh, right, you said you were going to a mixer, didn't you…?
But she wasn't going to stay like that forever. Isshiki took the seat directly opposite me and began choosing a drink as if nothing had happened.
"Alright, let's introduce ourselves."
After our ordered drinks arrived and we toasted, the self-introduction time began with that single phrase. By the way, the guys were forced to start with draft beer. The ages in the story may differ from actual ages, what am I saying?
After the guys' introductions, it was the girls' turn. Isshiki was the last to introduce herself.
"I'm Iroha Isshiki. Nice to meet you."
It was a surprisingly curt introduction, yet the smile she gave was top-notch. The beaming smile directed at me brought an indescribable dread.
Ah, um, excuse me, Isshiki-san? This looks like you're really pissed off, doesn't it?
"Let's spread out the seats so it's easier to talk."
Tsuneshi, perhaps used to these situations, immediately suggested changing seats. And without any hesitation, the person who came to sit next to me was…
"Is this seat okay? Hikigaya-san…?"
Before I could answer, she sat down. As expected, or rather, as predicted, it was Isshiki, who still seemed simmering with anger. The fact that her smile hadn't changed at all since earlier was truly terrifying.
"O-Oh, hello…"
"Yes, hello."
After clinking glasses, Isshiki drank her drink at an alarming speed. Wait, that's orange juice, right? …Well, whatever. I need to drink too, or I can't handle this.
"What a coincidence to see you here?"
"Y-Yes, it is."
Isshiki, who had a simmering rage in her eyes, seemed to be cornering me wherever I turned. I had no choice but to give mechanical responses, and with every silence, I gulped down the golden liquid.
Watching me, Isshiki leaned closer, almost pressing her body against mine.
"…More importantly, what exactly is going on? I wasn't told about this?"
"You left before I could tell you…"
Finally being able to explain the events that had transpired since the other day, I felt a slight burden lift from my shoulders. For some reason, I had felt reluctant to participate in this kind of gathering in silence.
"When you put it like that… Well, I understand why Senpai said what you did."
Gradually, the forced smile on Isshiki's face faded, and the venom drained away with it. Seeing her seemingly blaming herself for leaving emotionally, I thought that, after all, she was a serious person.
"But still, cheating is not allowed, you know?"
However, that thought was fleeting. Isshiki puffed out her cheeks and poked her index finger at the tip of my nose. That gesture, I knew perfectly well, was incredibly cutesy.
"Cheating, you…!"
"Oh, your beer's empty. Let me pour you some~"
Interrupting my words, Isshiki prepared an empty glass and tilted the bottle of beer. The all-you-can-drink beer was only draft at the beginning. After that, it was served by the bottle.
To think the day would come when she would pour me a drink… As I slowly drank, she poked my back with her elbow.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey. What's up with you? You know… Isshiki-chan?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah…"
I whispered back to Nikaido, who had spoken to me in a low voice. What did he mean by "that Isshiki"?
"You know Isshiki?"
"Know her? She's rumored to be the cutest freshman this year. I'm more shocked that you don't know her."
No, on the contrary, since I already knew her, there's no reason for you to be shocked that I don't know about her, I wanted to say, but I decided against it since it was pointless.
"Senpai~? Who are you looking at?"
Besides, I knew she was cute, but was she popular enough to be rumored about? When I turned towards Isshiki's somewhat feigned voice, Nikaido roughly leaned on my shoulder.
"Nice. Isshiki-chan. I want you to pour me a drink too."
"—Huh?"
Instantly, all conversation ceased. Everyone blinked and froze at the cold voice, as if it would freeze everything in its path.
"Um, Iroha-chan?"
The girl with the silky long hair, who seemed to be Isshiki's friend, called out hesitantly. It seemed this was the first time she had seen this Isshiki.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Pouring a drink, right? Wouldn't it be better if you did it yourself?"
Even I was utterly taken aback by that remark.
Seriously, this girl. Not just cold, but spicy cold.
"Isshiki, you…"
"Oh, Senpai, your glass is empty~"
Saying that, Isshiki filled my glass to the brim with a pour she had just refused to give.
This girl is hopeless… I need to do something fast…
"Well, it's really hot today, and I'm thirsty."
Isshiki, oblivious to my anguish, nonchalantly said that and tilted the glass in her hand, taking a gulp of the golden liquid. Wait, isn't that my beer…?
"Oops, I made a mistake ♪"
ZEKKU.
Everyone was speechless. The two girls were frozen with their mouths agape, and the remaining guys were the same. No, seriously, that was way too deliberate…
"Ah, ahaha… Iroha-chan, you have a natural clumsiness, don't you~"
"Right, right. She's pretty spacey, you could say."
"Ahahaha. I am, aren't I~"
But seriously, guys, are you for real? Does female solidarity work even in times like this? Are they going to form a ziptie bond or something?
…No, on second thought, this is different. This… is a warning to Isshiki, telling her, "I'll yield this one to you, so don't lay a hand on anyone else." Female maneuvering is terrifying.
"By the way, you're underage."
"Did you say something?"
She cut me off with an incredibly sharp tone. Well, perhaps it was tactless in this situation.
Before I knew it, the gazes that had been directed at us had scattered, and everyone was engrossed in their own conversations.
"I heard it was bitter, but it's surprisingly drinkable, this."
Saying that, Isshiki tilted my glass as if it were her own drink.
Mmm, she took a mouthful, tasting it. She swallowed with a kokun and took another sip.
"Um, Isshiki-san?"
"Huh?"
In a matter of minutes, Isshiki's cheeks were flushed.
Naturally, I felt nothing but a sense of crisis.
"Hey, stop now."
"Ehh, why~?"
Avoiding my hand with a swift move, Isshiki poured herself more beer and chugged it. Her demeanor was like that of a single office lady drinking alone.
"No, hey, seriously, don't drink anymore."
"It's fine, isn't it? If I get drunk, Senpai will take care of me, right~?"
Ah, damn it. This is no good.
As my panic grew, Isshiki's drinking pace accelerated, and then—
"Ugh… I feel sick…"
I was left carrying a light but heavy, soft burden on my back…
================
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