"We've arrived. Phew, walking with an injury is really painful," he said.
Akito wiped the sweat from his temple.
Hana released Akito's hand, glancing at Michael who was smiling while reading a comic book.
'This man is a bit... strange. I don't think he's an otaku,' Hana thought to herself, walking with her hands behind her back and looking at Michael.
Akito pointed to his apartment building, which looked ordinary, with peeling paint in some parts.
The three of them were already in front.
"Oh, by the way, are you guys college students?" Michael asked.
"Something like that, but we're just in our first semester," Akito replied while climbing the stairs.
"Mister, are you a successful businessman? It looks like you're quite rich from your brand-name watch," Hana chimed in.
"Not really, I'm actually just unemployed, haha," Michael replied.
He rubbed the back of his head, lying to them.
Crack! The door opened.
Michael was a little surprised by the cleanliness of the room.
He was used to interacting with people who always expected a reward, not this kind of selfless kindness.
The three of them went inside.
"Mister, just relax, think of us as hobby friends," Akito said.
"Hana, prepare drinks for us. When will the drinks arrive, Mister?" he asked while walking to get a bench that was leaning against the wall.
"Any minute now, I think. I've already set the delivery for this place."
Not long after, the doorbell rang. Ting!
"It's here! Let me get it, Mister. Just relax for a bit," Hana said, walking to the door.
Michael, who was engrossed in reading with Akito, was startled when he heard, "Aaa!" Hana screamed.
"What's wrong, Hana? What happened?" Akito rushed to her.
Michael just narrowed his eyes, glanced briefly, then went back to reading.
Akito walked back to the room.
"Mister, are you serious about buying this high-class wine? It looks really expensive. I feel bad for troubling you," Akito said, carrying a box containing five bottles of high-class wine.
"It's nothing, let's just enjoy it. You don't need to think about it, haha," Michael laughed innocently.
'Who is this person we brought here? I feel guilty for inviting him to my plain place,' Akito thought, glancing at the panicking Hana.
He tried to stay calm. "Okay then, thank you. I don't have fancy glasses for sipping it, is a regular glass okay?"
"It's fine, go ahead, go ahead!"
Michael didn't look at him.
His eyes swept over the shelves filled with books.
He was busy sorting through the comic books with colorful covers neatly arranged from the newest to the oldest.
"Akito, this book of yours looks interesting," Michael said.
He took a comic book titled The Elf Kingdom and showed it to Akito who was preparing the glasses.
"..."
"Well, that's a good one, why did you have to choose that?" Akito's expression was a bit strange, and he brought the glasses with a slight panic.
Then Michael opened it. "Wow, it turns out this is an adult comic, haha. You have good taste, Akito."
He opened the book, looking at a scene of a naked Elf having sex with a human.
"Akito!" Hana pouted, glaring at Akito who was panicking.
"Why do you keep such an indecent book?"
"Eh, it's normal, I'm a man too," Akito replied.
He closed his eyes, not daring to look at Hana's eyes who was sitting in front of him, then scratched the back of his head.
Hana kept glaring at Akito.
"It's normal. You guys are adults. Why don't you just get married?" Michael said, looking at the two of them.
The two of them were surprised.
Hana's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, then Akito replied, "We're still college students, so we haven't thought that far yet, hehe."
He crossed his legs, placing both hands between his legs while sitting on the floor.
"Hmm..."
Michael narrowed his eyes. 'This country has a strange culture,' he thought.
"Ah, whatever, Akito, come here. Let's read it together. Pour one for me too."
Michael lay down while looking at the comic's pictures.
"Oh, okay, hehe," Akito poured wine into a glass, then placed it near Michael.
He got up and also read. "Here's the wine. How is it, Mister, isn't the comic interesting?"
"It is interesting. Only, what does 'loved by mana' mean? Is that a power?" Michael asked.
"Oh, it's a type of energy from their magic capacity. So, if an Elf uses magic, it will drain their mana. Think of it like a car that needs fuel," Akito explained.
"Oh, I see. Hana, why are you so quiet?" Michael said.
He turned his head back, seeing Hana drinking silently while glancing.
"No, Mister, it's just that I don't know men's tastes, hehe. So I don't have anything to talk about. Just continue, Mister. I want to enjoy this delicious wine," Hana replied.
She held her cheek after sipping the wine that tasted good to her.
Then Michael read again.
"Akito, do you believe that? I met a girl like this yesterday," he said.
His index finger pointed at the picture of an Elf girl who was combing her long hair with a cheerful smile.
"Eh, really? Are you not lying, Mister? Elves don't exist in the real world, they're just fiction," Akito replied.
"Ah! I feel that way too, but what I saw was real."
"Imagine if you met her, what would you do?"
Michael glanced at Akito who was beside him.
Akito's face had a slightly lewd smile, then he replied after snapping out of his daze, "Well, that would be good."
"Oh, what time is it now?" Michael said.
Then he looked at his wristwatch, which showed ten past ten at night.
"Akito, I think I'm going home now."
"I have some work to do."
"You guys just continue drinking that wine as a gift."
"I'll stop by again sometime," he said.
He stood up, put the comic book back on the shelf, then walked towards the exit door.
"Okay, Mister, be careful! Thank you for stopping by and thank you for the gift," the two of them replied.
They stood up to see Michael off.
Then Michael waved his hand.
He turned around, the cheerful smile he had just now returned to being flat.
Both of his hands went into his pockets, walking back home.