The Story of Becoming a Drinking Friend When I Saved the Cutest Senpai in University

Itomori’s POV

“Um… s-senpai? Senpai.”

“Well… well…”

“Hey senpai, please wake up.”

“Huh!? …Eh, what? What about the movie?”

“It just ended.”

I turned on the movie right after that, but this time it was definitely a dud.

Even with the help of alcohol, I don’t find it funny or interesting.

It’s not a bad movie, it was just plain awful.

Still, we kept at it until the end, but the similarity between me and senpai caused her to put her head on my shoulder and softly snore.

Honestly, I’m really sleepy.

“Let’s call it a day. I’m a little sleepy, too.”

“Oh, no! I want to be with you more!”

“Your eyelids are only half open. It’s time to go home and go to bed.”

When I pointed it out, senpai snorted and peeled her eyes wide.

But after a few seconds, her eyelids fell, and she smiled wryly.

“Look, you’re already at your limit. If you sleep in a man’s house, who knows what might happen.”

I meant it as a joke. It was a remark of no particular significance.

Nevertheless, senpai’s eyes, which peeped faintly at me, looked at me with a solemn expression.

“…What will happen?”

“Eh?”

“…What would you do to me if I slept here?”

“No, no, I won’t do anything! It’s just a joke, a joke!”

“…why?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you doing nothing?”

What’s wrong with that disappointed face?

What do you want me to do?

“Anyway, that’s it for today. You’re coming tomorrow, aren’t you? Then let’s keep the fun till tomorrow.”

“Hmm… I see. I’ll do that.”

She seemed to agree with me, so she pulled out her phone to call for a ride as usual.

It’s too late, but I wonder what that driver thinks of me.

A lady of a well-established family would drink with a man who lives in such a shabby apartment every day… if I were a driver, I might be worried. If I have a chance next time, I’ll ask quietly.

“Can I do this a little more until my ride comes?”

She put her head on my shoulder again.

She looked up at me and peeped into her mischievous smile.

“It’s okay… but…”

“Thank you♡”

Like a cat, she rubbed her head spoiledly and let out a scent of drunkenness.

“I’m so happy. I’d rather have one of you at home.”

“Am I being bought as a headrest? I’d really rather not, you know.”

“Then where should I put my head when I’m at home?”

“Even if you ask me that… why don’t you get a boyfriend and have him do it for you?”

After saying it myself, my heart ached a little.

If Senpai has a boyfriend, I’m sure she won’t be able to see me like she is now. Of course, if Senpai is happy, that’s fine, but I don’t realize enough that I can wish for the happiness of others.

“I’m fine without a boyfriend. I don’t want to go out with someone and make it difficult to meet Itomori-kun.”

I turned my eyes to her at her remark.

Her eyes melted with alcohol and were just staring straight ahead.

“…Then, isn’t Itomori-kun going to get a girlfriend or something?”

“I don’t mind, either. Right now… It’s more important to spend time with senpai.”

The TV with a pitch-dark screen.

It reflects me and senpai like a mirror, and our eyes meet through the mirror image.

“…If that is how you feel.”

Senpai’s hand started to move slightly.

She moved aimlessly like a bird out of her flock and eventually ended up on my thigh.

“If that’s the case, then since we’re already here, maybe you and I could—”

She cut herself off mid-sentence and bit down on her next words.

She clenched my pants and put more weight over here.

As I looked into her face wondering what was going on, she said, “Oh, that’s right!” and gave a cheerful voice as if to refresh the atmosphere.

“Oh, do you have class tomorrow, Itomori-kun? If you’re going to be at university, could I make you a bento and bring it?”

“I have classes, but… I’m sorry, I won’t. I mean, I’m fine with my lunch now.”

“…Huh?”

When I saw Senpai’s face frozen, I realized that I had misrepresented it.

“No! It’s not like it tasted bad or something like that! It was really delicious!”

“…Why, then?”

“Well, you know… There were already rumors going around. People say I’m your boyfriend. If I’m seen eating a homemade bento from you again, the rumor will spread even more and it will be out of control.”

“I don’t mind that much. I don’t care what people think. Does Itomori-kun not like being seen as my boyfriend?”

“N-no, I don’t hate it! I don’t mind it, but…”

I remember today’s incident with Ichijou-senpai.

I managed to smooth things over somehow… No, smooth? Well, it’s settled for the time being, but there may be other people who do extreme things.

“Senpai is very popular. If such a person finds out that you have a boyfriend, there may be people who commit violent acts.”

“What’s that? Isn’t it exaggerating?”

“There is nothing better than caution. …but, of course, if that happens, I’ll do my best to protect senpai, but there’s a chance. It’s enough for me to be together at home like this, so let’s keep our distance at university. If something happens to senpai, I don’t think I could bear it…”

I could probably handle most troublemakers unless someone showed up with a machine gun, but that only happened when I was there. I can’t always be by senpai’s side, no matter how worried I am.

“Um, all right. I should try not to talk to you too much.”

“Yes, please. But if you are approached or attacked by someone, please call me at once.”

“Why? I don’t like it.”

“…Huh?”

If I were to give my best advantage, as sad as it sounds, it would be my ability to use violence.

I was offering to use that ability to protect her, and yet senpai turned me down as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I couldn’t understand any sense at all, and a question mark came over my head.

“Because Itomori-kun, you told me when we first met. You don’t like fighting.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“I don’t want my friends to do something they don’t like. I don’t want to see Itomori-kun hurt either.”

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

I’ve never been told such a thing in my life.

In the past, many people asked me to use violent devices, and it was natural to get hurt. I myself accepted it, and I didn’t stop thinking I didn’t want to.

“It’s all I need to do to be strong. So tell me what techniques I can use next time?”

…I suddenly remembered a night in Okinawa.

‘I don’t care about that! Take it off quickly!’

Seeing my complex—old wounds that have destroyed many of my relationships—senpai didn’t care and dismissed them with “I don’t care.”

And she is still here.

She is by my side without knowing the reason behind those old scars.

No one has ever cared so much about me as much as she does.

“…Yes, alight. As long as it’s something I’m able to teach you.”

To be honest, I don’t know exactly what my feelings for senpai were.

One thing is certain, I must absolutely protect her.

I hate fighting, but I hate it when she gets hurt.

If senpai keeps smiling peacefully, I don’t need anything else, and I’ll do anything.

“Yay! I’ll be strong enough to knock Itomori-kun out!”

She puffed up her nose and made a fist with her little hands.

…You’re already strong, senpai.

That’s enough, much more than I am.

◆◆◆

About a week after that, the temperature gradually rose and the signs of summer began to show.

As for me, while working part-time as a day worker, I look for a place where I can stay for a long time. I have more money in my wallet than for a while, but I still don’t have any money, so I still have udon noodles for lunch today.

“I was worried when you were sipping miso soup, but would you like to go back to udon noodles? Why not have your girlfriend make something for you?”

“She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just friends.”

I take my meal to the table while taking care of Obachan in the cafeteria.

The rumor dies out in seventy-five days. There is no one else to talk about my relationship with senpai except Obachan. It seems that the bento scandal was treated as “Tennouji Akebi’s little whim.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

Just as I put my hands together to start eating, senpai came in at the right time.

Ichijou-senpai and other friends are together, and everyone here looks at them at least once.

“Oh, Itomori-kun! Long time no see!”

Uh oh, I made eye contact with Ichijou-senpai.

She walks up like a dog that finds food.

From that incident, I didn’t know how to deal with her, so I tried to hide myself when I saw her in the university. But now I can’t hide anywhere, and I reply with a wry smile, “Oh, hey.”

“Whoa, what’s that? Is that really enough for you? Aren’t you a guy?”

“Uh… Well, I don’t have any money.”

“Then I’ll treat you! What do you want? You can eat as much as you want?”

“Oh, it’s okay! That’s really okay!”

“Oh, you said you didn’t want money to solve it. Then I’ll give you my bento!”

“…Yes?”

“It’s homemade, and it won’t be solved with money. Here, eat it. I guarantee the taste!”

No, no, I can’t do that.

How could I turn down senpai’s bento and then eat Ichijou-senpai’s homemade? If I were in a senpai’s position, I would feel pretty upset.

“I-I’m sorry. I just… It feels a bit much since I don’t really know Ichijou-senpai that well.”

I explained to the best of my ability that I was scared because I didn’t know what was in it.

Perhaps she understood, but she pointed to her lips regretfully and said “I see.”