The Story of Becoming a Drinking Friend When I Saved the Cutest Senpai in University - Vol 1 Chapter 3

“…Yes?”

“Itomori-kun, I have fallen in love with you.”

She repeated the same words, but my head refused to understand.

The universe spreads through my brain, and consciousness flutters away.

A silence of several tens of seconds.

Perhaps she noticed something, but she began to correct it, saying, “Ah, no. That’s not what I meant.”

“When I say love, I mean like, it’s not love.”

“L-like?”

“Yes, as a person, I mean… that kind of feeling. Anyway, there’s no deep meaning to it.”

Whether it’s like or love, they both mean the same thing—liking someone.

Moreover, it is definitely coming from the most beautiful person I have ever seen. It’s a situation that makes me so happy that I can’t think straight, but suddenly I became calm and tilted my head.

“W-wait… Have I done anything to make senpai like me?”

When I asked her that question, she rolled her eyes to see if I was serious.

“You helped me out of danger and accepted me for who I really am. I don’t think it’s possible that this won’t raise your favorability.”

“Y-yes.”

“I’ve never been there myself, even though I’ve been approached by people to get along with me… but I really wanted to get along with Itomori-kun, so I came here today.”

She is a picture-perfect girl in front of everyone.

But in fact, she’s just a normal girl.

…I now realize that it is a mistake to say that.

The moment they want to get along, they don’t call a person who goes straight to their house normally.

She is the most beautiful girl in the world and also wealthy. It was a mistake to expect her to share the same sensibilities as an average person like me.

“I’m glad you’re giving me such high praise, but even if it wasn’t me, someone else would’ve stepped in to help senpai. There are other people who could accept your act—”

“But it was Itomori-kun who helped me.”

Senpai’s voice interrupted me.

Her expression was as expressionless as usual, but somehow there was a gentle atmosphere in her voice.

“Itomori-kun accepted my act for the first time.”

“Even so…”

Just as I was at a loss for words, she tugged strongly on my sleeve.

The jewel-like glitters and reflects me straight. Her beauty and intensity overwhelmed me, and my muddled thoughts were completely consumed by her presence.

“I don’t care about hypothetical stories like ‘if’. It has nothing to do with it. Itomori-kun was the coolest to me than anyone else.”

Cool.

It was a simple compliment, but it was the first time since elementary school that someone else had said such a thing, and it was a tremendous shock to me.

What’s more, it was coming from Tennouji Akebi.

Heat circulates all over my face, and I cough repeatedly as if to let it escape.

“So… I was wondering if you would, uh, be my friend.”

She looked at me with feeble eyes.

It’s just a different dimension of action, and this kind of thing seems just like anyone else.

When I first entered university, I remembered myself struggling desperately to fit in. Senpai had likely gathered all the courage she could muster to come here today. There is no way I can ignore that feeling.

“…I understand how senpai feels. But I have never made any friends since elementary school. Is that all right?”

I wasn’t trying to reject her.

However, my social skills are at the bottom.

There is no guarantee that we can be together and have a fun and interesting time. Rather, there is a possibility that it will make her feel uncomfortable.

“What’s the problem with that?”

When I answered the question with a question, senpai frowned as if she wanted to say that she didn’t really understand the meaning.

“I think it’s good for me that I’m the only friend of Itomori-kun. It means I get to spend all my time with you.”

It was neither a lie nor a compliment, but a serious eye.

It was the first time I had been so strongly asked, and I had a slight dizziness due to excessive blood circulation on my face. Still, I managed to remain calm and squeezed out my voice, “E-eh.”

“So, does that mean we’re already friends?”

“I guess… that’s what it means…?”

When I answered in a questionable way, senpai bowed and said, “Thank you.”

“Well, let’s make a toast to our friendship.”

“Is that okay? You said that you show your true self when you get drunk.”

“It is all right in front of Itomori-kun. And I’ve been wanting to let loose a little. This act is too much for me to solve on my own initiative.”

“My face is stiff and I can’t move at all,” she said, rubbing her cheek and raising her eyebrows a little in a troubled expression.

It’s a pretty surreal sight, but there are actors in the movie and stage world who get into too many roles that they can’t break free. It seemed like something similar to that.

“Alright, I’ll get the drinks ready. Is a highball okay?”

“Yes. Please.”

I prepared cups for senpais and poured whiskey and cola to make a highball.

I put it in front of her and I returned to where I used to sit. Then she patted the sofa next to her as if to sit beside her.

I’ve been using this sofa alone for a long time.

I sat nervously next to her. The space was a bit tight, but the warmth radiating from her body was oddly comforting.

“Well, then, cheers.”

“Cheers!”

With a clink, our glasses made a high-pitched sound, and we both took a sip.

Maybe because of the situation, I couldn’t really taste the drink.

“It’s my first time drinking this and it’s delicious. It’s so sweet and sizzling.”

She was like a princess holding a glass in both hands and drinking it slowly, and I couldn’t help myself from staring.

The first drink was over in less than a minute. Perhaps it must’ve suited her taste, so I immediately made a second cup and served it, and in one sip she took nearly half of it.

…But is this all right?

Highballs typically have an alcohol content of about 10%. It contains nearly twice as much alcohol as a typical beer. She was drinking it at a pretty fast pace.

Her cheeks were already slightly reddish, and her eyes were beginning to lose strength.

I peep into her face and she smiles sweetly like a melting ice cream.

Oh no.

I thought my heart would stop beating. She’s way too cute…

Senpai puts her mouth on the cup without paying attention to my anguish and makes a soft gulping sound.

“By the way, what kind of movie is this?”

“This? It’s a B-rated movie called ‘Alien VS Giant Octopus’.”

“A-aliens…? Is it any good?”

“It’s not. But watching it while drinking makes it weirdly funny.”

“Ehh… is there a movie like that?”

Senpai stared at the screen with eyes as if she were seeing animal droppings.

This kind of movie is basically not popular with the public.

What’s more, it’s an entertainment genre that has nothing to do with a girl like senpai.

I understand that… but look at it a little more gently.

It’s a very interesting piece for me.

“Shall we switch to another movie? There are anime, dramas, and variety shows.”

“No, no. I want to know what Itomori-kun likes. We’re friends after all.”

Even though it was clear she wasn’t enjoying it, she tried to cover it up by drinking more.

I have a feeling she might be disappointed that our tastes don’t align with me.

If she doesn’t like it here or thinks it’s different, I can’t help it anymore.

Forcing our interests to align wouldn’t be good for either of us, and I doubt she’d want that anyway.

“Alright then. I don’t want to watch it in the middle, so I’ll play it from the beginning.”

When I checked, senpai made a subtle expression, but she didn’t refuse and nodded reluctantly.

◆◆◆

Two hours later.

“Haha, ahahaha! That’s insane, what even is that?!”

“W-wait a minute! Whoo! My stomach hurts, I can’t take it anymore…!”

“Wow senpai, the Octopus won! Yay!”

“No, no, no, no!! Don’t make me laugh anymore… Phew, hahaha!!”

Senpai got drunk and her refined appearance was released, and I was just as drunk and my face was red.

When we found out that we were close enough, we pointed to the screen with alcohol in our hands and laughed together.