Kazuo was also stunned. Miss Hayakawa had taken off her bright green professional attire and changed into a sheer nightgown, instantly accentuating her figure perfectly. Although she had a jacket draped over her, this hazy, half-revealed look was the most captivating!
Coupled with her long, dark hair now unbound and flowing freely, the sight was simply too intense for Kazuo.
"Ah, I think I forgot to tell you earlier, but I live right next door to you."
"What?!"
Kazuo's voice instinctively rose an octave—
Such good news!!
Having such an older sister as a neighbor was truly amazing.
"Oh, um, ugh…"
It's just—
If it weren't for the man passed out in front of him, Kazuo might have been able to chat with her more happily… "Oh no, why did Kouji-kun drink so much… Seriously! Didn't you just return to the country today?"
Looking at the man retching on the floor, Miss Hayakawa also squatted down with some concern, but in doing so, she inadvertently revealed a glimpse of her charms.
See no evil—
Kazuo quickly averted his gaze, but upon reflection, he noticed something was amiss.
"Wait! Miss Hayakawa, this drunk man, is… Mr. Okino Kouji!????"
Looking at this guy, who was drunk into a puddle of mud… "Huh? Didn't I tell you? Kouji-kun used to live in 412."
"Hiss—"
Kazuo couldn't help but gasp, looking at the guy who was so drunk. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, fortunate that his Trainer wasn't such a frivolous and unreliable Senior.
But now that he knew his identity, Kazuo couldn't just let his Senior and roommate sleep in the hallway. Enduring the smell of alcohol on him, Kazuo squatted down and put his arm around him, trying to pull him up.
"Do you want me to help?"
Seeing this, Miss Hayakawa was also very thoughtful and offered to help.
"No—"
Before he could finish speaking, Kouji, slightly more sober, squinted at Miss Hayakawa's chest.
"Mmm… Grilled cheese sandwich!"
Bang—
"Oh no, I slipped! Mr. Okino, are you alright!? Your head hitting the doorframe isn't serious, is it!!"
Kazuo exclaimed dramatically, giving Miss Hayakawa no chance to reply, and said to her with a smile:
"Miss Hayakawa must be very tired too. I'll take care of Senior. Thank you for your hard work, see you tomorrow!!!!"
With a snap, he closed the door without further ado.
Leaving behind Miss Hayakawa, who was still processing, tilting her head, looking a little dazed and cute.
"Phew…"
Closing the door, Kazuo couldn't help but let out a long breath. If he let this guy keep spouting nonsense, who knew what kind of trouble he'd stir up… However,
Kazuo had clearly relaxed too soon.
"Ugh oh eh eh eh—"
"Damn it!!!!!!!!"
Having changed into a fresh shirt, Kazuo had no choice but to soak the vomit-stained clothes in water first.
Returning to the room, which had been tidied, he cleaned it again. Kouji, who had thrown up, was now slightly more sober, leaning against the bed and lightly snoring.
"Senior Okino, wake up? Senior Okino? Can you hear me?"
"Mmm… Mmm…"
Shaken awake by Kazuo, he lifted his head and stared at Kazuo for a long time, then let out an alcohol-laden burp: "Who… who are you, and why are you in my room…?"
"I am Asama Kazutomi, the new recruit starting today for the training lessons, and also your roommate, Senior Okino. Please take care of me."
"Mmm… Asama, Asama Kazutomi… Mmm… Mmm, you are, you are the person he spoke of…"
He?
Kazuo was momentarily stunned. Just as he was about to ask for clarification, his head dropped again, and he fell back asleep.
Kazuo helplessly shook him awake. Just as he was about to ask, the other man suddenly perked up, raising his hand and shouting loudly: "Hi!! Okino Kouji! 26 years old, a Trainer, desu!!"
"No, I wasn't asking you about that…"
"Mmm… What did you say!? Can't hear you!!!"
Hiss—
My ears hurt from the ringing… "I said, Senior Okino, do you want some water!?"
"Can't hear! No spirit!!! At Tracen Academy, if a Senior says they can't hear, they can't hear!!!!!"
—
Well,
What kind of naval academy is this… "Senior Okino!! I'll pour you a glass of water to sober up!!!"
Saying that, without waiting for his reply, Kazuo had already gotten up and poured him a glass of ice water.
He brought it to him as if serving a grand master.
"Hmm… why does your plain water have no taste…?"
"No, I didn't prepare any barley tea either…"
For some reason, Kazuo could already foresee the many difficulties in his future cohabitation.
After downing a glass of ice water, Koji finally quieted down a lot. However, he sat there for a while before mumbling again.
"So hungry… I want omurice!"
—Kazuo's head was pounding. It was almost midnight; where was he going to find omurice for him? And if he let him carry on like this, disturbing the rest of neighbors like Hayakawa, that would be a big problem.
After careful consideration, Kazuo decided to indulge this troublesome Senior Okino once more.
He remembered he still had a box of instant noodles by his bed. He had been busy all day and had just fallen asleep in a daze, and now he was starving.
"Senior Okino, there's no omurice, but do you want instant noodles?"
"…"
"Senior Okino?"
"…Curry flavored."
"…Heh heh (chuckles)… Alright, alright, I get it."
Two bowls of instant noodles were prepared and placed on the table. Following the three-minute rule, once the time was up, Kazuo, sitting opposite Koji, eagerly unwrapped his chopsticks.
He was starving too. He picked up his chopsticks, uttered a "I'll eat now," and then slurped his noodles.
Drinking the noodle soup, a warmth spread through his stomach, and he felt as if he had come alive again, unable to help but show a happy expression.
Koji also held his chopsticks, somewhat mechanically slurping the noodles. However, he was much quieter now compared to before.
Seeing him like this, Kazuo finally relaxed.
But in the very next second—
Clatter—
The chopsticks fell to the ground, and the table began to shake violently. The instant noodles in front of Koji were about to spill out. Thankfully, Kazuo was quick to stabilize the table, otherwise, he would have to clean it all up again.
"I'm telling you, you…!!!"
Even as a junior, no matter how good-tempered he was, he was now infuriated.
Just as Kazuo was about to vent his frustrations on this guy, he couldn't help but freeze in place.
Koji,
was currently slumped over the table, violently twitching.
"Wuwu… Guwu… I'm sorry, I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I couldn't wuwu… fulfill your wish, I couldn't help you win the championship… wuwu… The, the last championship… I, I'm sorry…"
Sobs… The man, drunk to this extent, had completely broken down in tears.
To be honest, Kazuo didn't like seeing grown men cry, but looking at Koji like this,
his thoughts couldn't help but become complicated.
An adult's emotional breakdown often happens in an instant.
And for the next ten minutes, Koji just kept repeating "I'm sorry" over and over again. His knuckles, gripping his clothes, turned white from the intensity… "Are you… feeling stable now?"
"…Yes, sorry."
His eyes were red, but he couldn't think of anything to say.
Kazuo sat beside him, thought for a moment, then stood up again:
"I saw some barley tea in the fridge earlier… it's like flavored plain water. Do you want some?"
"Yes, thank you."
"These noodles are cold. Let's make another bowl. I still have some. What flavor do you want?"
"…Curry."
.