"That was surprise," Hayashi Shuichi explained. "I just didn't expect her to dispatch Orihara so cleanly."
As he spoke, the izakaya door was already open. Hibari Eri shot her childhood friend a glare, said nothing more, and walked inside.
Hayashi Shuichi ushered the Osaka University group in. The once-quiet pub instantly burst into life.
Mouri Kogoro and Reiko were still nowhere in sight, so Orihara Midori took over as waitress—pouring tea, setting out dishes, bustling around to serve everyone.
"To celebrate today's victories," the faculty advisor pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat, "everyone may have a moderate amount of beer. But be careful—absolutely no getting drunk!"
The team roared their agreement loud enough to lift the roof.
Orihara brought over ice-cold beers while Hayashi Shuichi pulled out small plates from the fridge: pickled cucumbers, edamame, sliced octopus—perfect drinking snacks.
Among the Osaka University members, Ikenami Shizuka was the only girl. After one can, while the others kept noisily challenging each other, she excused herself and slipped over to the counter.
"Does Miss Orihara work here?" Ikenami asked, watching Hayashi Shuichi prep ingredients.
"No," Hayashi Shuichi shook his head. "Strictly speaking, she's just helping out. She comes here to learn cooking from me."
"Girls really should learn to cook," Ikenami nodded approvingly. "It's a huge plus."
"Does Miss Ikenami cook too?" Orihara, now a full-fledged fangirl, piped up eagerly.
"I—"
Before Ikenami could answer, Morizono Katsuo strolled over with his two friends and cut in with a grin. "Ikenami's not just good—she's a master. On our last camping trip, everyone raved about her food."
"Don't just praise me," Ikenami teased, glancing at the quiet girl beside Morizono. "I've heard you brag plenty of times that Kazumi-san's sweets are incredible."
"M-My cooking's only average…" the girl hurriedly waved her hands, cheeks flushing shyly.
"To me," Morizono took her hand, eyes full of affection, "anything Kazumi makes is the best in the world."
"R-Really…?" She forced a thin smile, quickly pulling her hand back into her sleeve. Her gaze flicked to the silent young man beside her; seeing no reaction, disappointment flashed across her face.
Morizono didn't notice. Ikenami did—and swiftly changed the subject. "Why'd you three come over here?"
"Kazumi and Akio aren't on the team, so they felt a little out of place over there," Morizono explained with a laugh. "It's more relaxed here."
Ikenami mentally shook her head. That wasn't the reason they felt uncomfortable.
The whole kendo team assumed the girl named Kazumi was Morizono's girlfriend.
Morizono had never denied it, yet from her reaction just now, she clearly didn't see herself that way.
The teasing from the team must be what was making her uneasy.
After a bit more small talk, Morizono returned to the drinking crowd. His tall, straight back stood out amid the laughter.
Ikenami wasn't close with his two friends, so after a few polite words she propped her chin on one hand, elbow on the counter, watching Hayashi Shuichi cook. They occasionally traded cooking tips—conversation flowing easily.
Perhaps crushed by the young man's earlier indifference, once Morizono left, Kazumi suddenly ordered several cans of beer.
She stared blankly ahead, downing them without snacks. With every gulp her loneliness deepened; beer trickled from the corner of her mouth, staining her clothes dark.
"Kazumi, slow down," Akio finally spoke up.
She ignored him and kept drinking. When he repeated himself, she slammed the can down with a loud bang.
"This is my business—stay out of it!" Tears glistened in her eyes.
Every head in the pub turned.
"I—"
Pain crossed Akio's face. He lowered his head, voice barely audible. "Sorry. I overstepped."
"Kazumi, what's wrong?" Morizono hurried over.
"Nothing," she shook her head. After glancing at Akio, she bit her lip and turned to Morizono. "I'm in a bad mood. Walk with me?"
"Of course." Morizono gently helped the already-tipsy, unsteady girl to her feet and carefully led her outside.
Once they were gone, Akio sighed heavily, raked his fingers through his hair, and rasped, "Boss—shōchū. One glass."
First the girl drowned her sorrows; now him. Anyone halfway perceptive could tell something was wrong among the three.
Conversation in the pub resumed, but quieter now, with frequent furtive glances their way.
"Senpai…?" Orihara looked at Hayashi Shuichi uncertainly.
"Pour what he asked for," Hayashi Shuichi nodded.
Shōchū was far stronger than beer. One glass down, Akio's face flushed crimson.
"Another!"
"Sir, you're drinking too fast," Orihara tried to warn him. "You'll get drunk."
"That's the point," Akio gave a bleak, hazy smile. "I wish I could stay drunk forever."
"Pour it," Hayashi Shuichi said without looking up.
Orihara opened her mouth again. "Sir—"
"Pour," Hayashi Shuichi repeated flatly, finally meeting her eyes. "For cowards, escaping into drunken dreams is a mercy."
"Coward… yeah, that's me." Akio laughed bitterly, drained the fresh glass, and immediately started coughing from the burn, sweat beading on his forehead.
He stared blankly at the countertop, muttering, "The three of us grew up together. Katsuo's family is better off, he's smarter, more capable… Of course Kazumi would fall for him."
"Compared to him, I'm a complete failure."
Hayashi Shuichi and Ikenami both shook their heads.
Young Orihara, thinking back to the earlier scene, couldn't help saying, "But… I got the feeling Kazumi-san doesn't actually like Morizono-senpai?"
"That's your imagination. If she doesn't like Katsuo, who would she like—me?" Akio scoffed at himself. "I kindly told her to slow down and she snapped. Obviously she's looked down on me for ages."
Ikenami swirled her beer gently. "I heard Morizono-senpai is already preparing to propose."
"Is he? That's… good for them." Akio's expression darkened further. "As long as Kazumi's happy, I—"
Hibari Eri, who had walked over unnoticed, cut in with a cold snort. "Stop wallowing in self-pity. If Kazumi-san marries Morizono and finds happiness, it will have exactly zero to do with you."
"How can you say it has nothing to do with me?" Akio's eyes reddened, fists clenching. "If I—if I hadn't given up—"
"You said it yourself—you're a failure," Hayashi Shuichi mocked. "A coward who can't even voice his own feelings. To Kazumi-san, you might not even rank as a stray dog on the street. Her happiness has nothing to do with you."
"You—" Akio shot to his feet, chair scraping harshly. "What gives you the right to insult me?"
"Because if I liked a girl, I wouldn't hide and cower like a coward," Hayashi Shuichi set down his knife and met Akio's eyes squarely. "You think staying silent will make this all go away?"
"Better to speak up and risk embarrassment than hide forever and regret it for life."
"Or," Hibari Eri sneered, "are you scared of offending your rich, powerful friend and ruining your future?"
"That's nonsense!" Veins bulged on Akio's forehead. "Katsuo's my friend—I've never cared about his family!"
"Heh, you expect us to believe that?" Hayashi Shuichi smirked.
"You—"
Akio's face flushed and paled in turns, as if struck in his sorest spot. Between their contempt and the alcohol, he finally snapped—he slammed his fist on the counter.
"Watch me—I'm going to confess to Kazumi right now!"
With that, he stormed out of the pub.
"Senpai, Hibari-senpai…" Orihara stared at them. "Wasn't that a bit too harsh? He—"
"If we hadn't pushed him like that, would he ever have found the courage?" Ikenami tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear with a faint smile. "You two were actually helping him."
"Eh?" Orihara's eyes went wide. "Reverse psychology?"
"Mm," Hayashi Shuichi nodded, pouring egg mixture into the pan. "Whether it works is still up to him. If he chickens out the moment he sees them, then no one can save him."
"If that happens, Kazumi-san is better off never marrying him," Hibari Eri huffed, heading back to the register.
"If he actually succeeds, Morizono-senpai is going to be devastated," Ikenami said sympathetically, tracing water droplets on her can. "He really loves her."
"One person hurting is still better than all three suffering," Hayashi Shuichi said offhandedly. "If Kazumi marries him but her heart's elsewhere, what's the point?"
"You're pretty young to be so insightful about love, Hayashi-san," Ikenami teased, eyes playful. "If you ever fell for a girl whose heart belonged to someone else, would you let her go?"
"Why would I let go?" Hayashi Shuichi answered as if it were obvious. "I'd keep chasing until she loved only me—body and soul."
"Senpai?" Orihara looked baffled—this didn't match what he'd just preached.
"People are selfish," Hayashi Shuichi flexed his fist. "I can give that advice to others, but if anyone tried to use it on me, I'd punch them."
"That's such a double standard…" Orihara muttered.
"Only saints treat everyone perfectly equally," Hayashi Shuichi said irritably. "I'm just a regular guy—no saint here."
Orihara, never good with words, puffed her cheeks like a pufferfish and fell silent.
Ikenami laughed softly. "He's right. Giving up someone you love that easily—what kind of love is that? It's like kendo: if you abandon the sword the moment something else comes up, did you ever truly love it?"
"Oh… I get it," Orihara nodded slowly.
Hold on—Morizono Katsuo… Why does that name feel familiar?
Hayashi Shuichi frowned, trying to place it, his hands slowing.
"Senpai, the egg's burning!" Orihara noticed him spacing out and pointed at the pan.
Hayashi Shuichi snapped out of it, turned off the heat, plated the golden tamagoyaki, and slid it to Ikenami. "Your tamagoyaki, Ikenami-san."
The fragrant roll glistened invitingly.
"Thank you," Ikenami said, taking a bite. "It's sweet—sugar?"
"Yep," Hayashi Shuichi confirmed.
"In Kansai we usually use dashi, so it's more savory," Ikenami said, trying another piece. "Not used to sweet, but once in a while it's nice."
Sweet faction vs. savory faction—Japan's eternal tamagoyaki war, Hayashi Shuichi thought with amusement.
"By the way, Ikenami-san," Orihara asked curiously, "this morning's match against Kyoto University must've been amazing, right? They're last year's champions!"
(End of chapter)
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