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

“Would you like a bag?”

“Oh, it’s all right.”

I invited senpai to my house, but the only drink I could serve was tap water, so I left home again and went to the convenience store.

“…But senpai is too careless.”

After finishing the bill, I left the shop and let out a small sigh.

On the way home, I asked her how she had ended up in the situation with those two men.

It turned out senpai had never drunk alcohol before, and she went to a cafeteria where her friends praised her for trying things out. Then the men spoke to her, she was forced to drink, and she found herself outside.

“I’ve heard rumors that she’s from a wealthy family… She’s probably sheltered from the world.”

I’ve heard somewhere that her family is a well-established family that works well for the political and business circles.

In fact, everything she wears is obviously expensive, and it is undeniable that she is wealthy.

“…And it was surprising. She usually gives off a mature appearance. That’s what happens when she gets drunk.”

Today is the first time I’ve talked to senpai in person, but I’ve never had an opportunity to communicate with her.

Regardless of age or relationship, she has a polite tone to everyone.

Her expression was almost expressionless.

It doesn’t feel strange because of her appearance and aura, but it’s safe to think that her character act probably comes across as trying too hard.

“Well, whatever… Anyway, I’ll find a good time to send her home.”

I muttered to myself as I unlocked my front door.

“…Huh?”

As I opened the door, I let out a startled noise.

Hundreds of thousands of yen worth of bills piled up at the front door.

As if to ask me to accept it, senpai sat on her knees, with her golden hair spread lavishly across the floor.

◆◆◆

Tennouji’s POV

When he left me alone for he went to a convenience store, I was finally sobering up and recovering to the point where I could think calmly.

“Whaaaaaaa!! I-I’ve messed up soooo badly…!!”

While sitting on the sofa, I hold my head and sweat like a waterfall from my forehead.

“I-I cried like such a child, and then I went into the house!! This is not good!! If everyone knew this, my image would be…!”

The Tennouji family has a history of hundreds of years.

Born into such a family, I have been educated since I was a child to become a dignified and respectful person.

Because of my appearance, people around me have expected me to act like a sheltered young lady.

I used ridiculously polite language, limited my expression as much as possible, and walked quietly as though I were floating on water, and everyone would be pleased.

But burying my face in someone’s chest, crying, and clinging to his clothes like a child? That’s totally inconsistent with how I’m supposed to act.

“But I can’t help it! I was drunk! I was super drunk!”

The reason I had never drunk alcohol until today was because I was worried about what would happen when I was drunk.

As far as I know, there is no such thing as a drunken disturbance among relatives.

So I thought I’d be fine too.

It was a mistake to use the cafeteria instead of drinking at home for the first time.

I didn’t expect anyone to get involved and drink, and I can’t believe I won’t be able to keep my act when I get drunk.

“Besides, I was really happy he saved me, and he looked so cool…!”

I recalled his appearance in an action movie-like drop-kick. It is a batting technique that even laymen can recognize as a skilled person.

My face turned red while remembering his back as he took down those large men in an instant, and I slapped the sofa repeatedly. I managed to let the burning emotions out of my heart.

‘How long have you been touching senpai with your dirty hands!!’

Suddenly his words passed through my mind.

In an instant, the blood drained from my face.

“He… He called me senpai, didn’t he…? Does that mean he’s from the same university…?”

If he were a stranger, the risk of information leakage was still low.

But as long as we were in the same university, he definitely knew that I was Tennouji Akebi. And by now, I’m sure he’s disappointed that I’m actually like that.

“If he talks about this in university, I’m done for!? Everyone is going to hate me!! It’s over!! My university life is over!!”

My heart pounded.

My breathing is rough, and my gaze is not fixed on a single point.

“C-calm down, Tennouji Akebi. You’ve been playing the perfect girl for a long time! There’s no way you can’t overcome a little bump in the road like this…!”

As I clenched my fist tightly.

Someone walks down the hallway in front of the house, making a tapping noise.

I’m sure it’s him.

I turn on the young lady switch, which was turned off due to alcohol, and has the usual composed expression.　

With all the bills in my wallet in my hand, I hurried to the front door and kneeled, showing my skidding like a skater.

“…Huh?”

I heard his voice as he opened the door.

I looked up for a moment to see his face, and immediately put my forehead on the floor.

“Please forget everything you saw today.”

◆◆◆

Itomori’s POV

As soon as I got home, I was greeted by the sight of the university’s Madonna kneeling while I was shown a lot of money, and my brain was on the verge of shortening.

I had absolutely no idea what was going on.

What happened during the ten minutes I was at the convenience store?

“W-why don’t we sit down and talk in the room? This is the entrance, after all…”

I mustered what little composure I had left and made the suggestion.

Senpai raised her head and pushed a bundle of bills towards me. Telling me to pick it up quickly.

“No, no, I can’t take it.”

“Do you mean it’s not enough?”

“That’s not it…”

“Then here, take my necklace and watch. You can sell them for a few hundred thousand yen.”

“I-I can’t accept that kind of money!!”

“Then what should I do…?”

“First of all, please tell me exactly what you mean to do!”

Perhaps because my voice was so loud, the neighbor opened their door and glanced at me.

This is not good. I bowed lightly and hurriedly stepped into the door. Then, I collect a bundle of bills, pull senpai by the arm, and rush into the room.

“…So, what do you mean by forget everything?”

I sat down on the sofa and put the tea I had bought at the convenience store and a bunch of collected bills on the table.

I sat down on the floor and let out a sigh.

“I don’t want you to tell anyone that I got drunk and acted like my true self, crying and clinging to you like a child… It would ruin me if people knew about that disgraceful behavior.”

“..Y-your true self? You mean you’ve been acting this whole time?”

“That’s right! Is that so bad!?”

While I was at the convenience store, the act that I managed to discover somehow burst into tears, and senpai suddenly widened her eyes and slowly dropped her gaze on the floor.

“You must be disappointed, right? That the so-called perfect girl is just a normal person inside… How disappointing that must be..”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke in a toneless voice and her face remained impassive.

The thought of betraying someone’s expectations frightened her so much that it made her cry.

I honestly feel sorry for senpais who feel that way.

“I thought it was surprising. But I’m not disappointed or anything like that.”

The impact of appearance is indeed tremendous, but I don’t have the habit of judging someone’s character solely based on their looks.

But senpai didn’t seem convinced as she was rubbing her eyes, and she muttered, “That’s a lie…” in an almost crumbling voice.

I let out a small sigh and smiled so that I could give her as much peace of mind as possible.

“I understand how you feel. When I was in elementary school, I was afraid to disappoint everyone.”

“…What do you mean?”

“My family runs a famous Karatedo in my hometown. Since I was the son of a sensei there, I was forced to fight and was confronted by bullies. I don’t like fighting at all, but I thought that if I didn’t actively stick my nose into such things, everyone would hate me. I was always beat up to keep up with their expectations.”

I let out a dry laugh.

I don’t think it was the worst day.

It was fun in its own way, and everyone admired me as a hero. But I don’t want to go back to my daily life.

“Don’t worry. Even if you don’t pay anything, I won’t tell anyone about this…. Also, though it might sound like I’m meddling, you don’t have to push yourself too hard. Even if you’re not a perfect girl, there are people who will accept you.”

“…No, there aren’t.”

“Well, for what it’s worth, I think senpai’s true self is great too.”

As soon as I said that, I realized my mistake and shut my mouth.

I’d just let out a line that only a guy could get away with, all because I saw my past self in her and wanted to make her feel better. My cheeks burned with embarrassment and cracked open the seal of water I had bought to cool the heat and drink it.

“Really?”

I took my mouth off the plastic bottle when I heard her voice that might disappear.

Senpai slowly sat up from the sofa and kneeled on the floor.

She crawled like a baby and approached me.

“Do you really think so…?”

There was a film of tears over her golden eyes, where expectations and anxieties were wavering.

Her face was so beautiful that it was just inches away from mine.

Her ample chest hung down as it was accentuating her cleavage.

Her breath echoed in the small six-tatami room, and I gulped nervously.

“I-I do think so…!”

I stammered as I leaned back slightly to put some distance between us.

As I did, she closed the gap even more. Her jewel-like eyes stared into me, making my face grow even hotter than when I’d said that embarrassing line.

“…I see.”

Perhaps she knew that my words were true because she finally smiled.

“…Thank you. That really makes me happy.”

As she said that, she flashed her white teeth.

It was a boyish innocent smile completely different from her usual gentle smile.

Her expression was as bright and yellow as a sunflower.

I felt as if I had gotten a little glimpse of her nature, and somehow I was so happy that my lips curled into a smile.

“Come to think of it, what’s your name?”

“Oh. I’m sorry for being late in introducing myself. I’m Itomori Kaname, a second-year student.”

“Itomori Kaname? Got it. And I’m—oh wait, you already knew that.”

She said a little embarrassed, before standing.

“I apologize for staying so late. I think it’s time I head home.”

“If that’s the case, let me call a taxi for you. The last train’s already gone.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already called for a ride.”

I decided to take her outside just in case.

There is a car in front of the apartment.

It’s my first time seeing that car. I’m not familiar with cars, but I could tell that it’s a limousine.

The driver, dressed in all his clothes, slammed the door open for senpai. When she gets inside, she waves her hand to me.

“…You’re really wealthy, senpai.”

I saw the limousine disappearing into the darkness of the night and breathed a little.

It was the last day of Golden Week.

It was a hectic conclusion, but at least it was more fun than drinking alone.

But I had to remind myself not to get the wrong idea.

If I think that I can get along well with senpais, I’ll get a terrible slap on the wrist.

Senpai and I live in a different world.

What happened today was a miracle, like being hit by a meteor. Normally, our paths would never have crossed.

I’m sure today will be the first and last time we’ll talk in person.

That’s what I thought at this time.

◆◆◆

The next day.

Even after Golden Week, there is no change in my night.

The time is eight o’clock in the night.

Using the contracted video distribution service, I selected a B-rated movie.

On the table were whiskey, cola, and potato chips.

Hehehe. This is the ultimate and flawless setup.

“Well then…”

I pressed play on the movie and reached for a bottle of whiskey.

At that moment.

A doorbell rang, and I turned my attention to the front door.

“Who could that be at this hour…?”

I could’ve just ignored it, but considering how loud things got yesterday, there was a chance it might be a complaint from a neighbor. If so, I thought it would be reasonable to deal with it. So I headed to the front door, though it would be quite troublesome.

“Yes, yes, I’ll open it now.”

The moment I opened the door, a great deal of question marks filled my head.

Standing there was a beautiful girl with blond hair and eyes. Tennouji Akebi.

She greeted me with “Good evening” with an expression on her face, which was always as noble as she had seen at university.

“May I come in?”

“Uh, wha—uh, yeah, sure, come in.”

Why is she here?

…Oh, I see. She must’ve forgotten something.

“If you forgot something, feel free to look around. I’ll help you, too.”

“No, that’s not the case…”

She sat on the sofa and took a deep breath while somehow acting uneasy.

A sweet and refreshing smell fluttered throughout the room.