Chapter 117: Drink In Moderation

Chapter 117: Drink In Moderation

Initially, I thought I’d just have about one can.

But as I drank, one can turned into two, and two cans turned into three like magic.

In the past, such a small amount wouldn’t have affected me, but maybe because it was my first time drinking in this body, I felt quite tipsy.

And Mei Ling, drinking at an incomparable speed, was already on her fifth can.

Considering that it had been only about 30 minutes since we started eating, it was an impressively fast pace.

“Aren’t you overdoing it?”

When I asked with concern, Mei Ling tilted her head and said,

“I’m not drunk.”

“Your face is quite red for that.”

“Really! Look!”

Saying so, Mei Ling abruptly stood up and spun around once.

It was a risky move, considering there was a table of food right in front of her.

“How is it?”

“Okay, sit down quickly before you hurt yourself!”

I quickly made her sit down to prevent any accidents.

Then Mei Ling sat down again, laughing merrily.

Her demeanor had seemed somewhat stiff before, but drinking seemed to have loosened her up.

After drinking her beer, she dipped a piece of sashimi in soy sauce and asked me,

“So, do you have a girlfriend?”

“What? Me?”

“Yes.”

It was a bit out of the blue, but I answered honestly,

“No, I don’t have one.”

I had been confessed to by a junior recently, but I politely declined, so that didn’t count.

“Why not?”

Even if you ask why...

Honestly, I didn’t have much to say.

I was busy with studies and exercise, and I wondered if I really needed a girlfriend.

Of course, I was open to it if the conditions were right.

“Hmm...”

Seemingly hitting a sore spot, she hummed and looked me up and down, then suddenly placed her hand on her chest and said,

“How about calling me your older sister?”

“What? You?”

Taken aback by the unexpected address, I blinked in surprise.

“Well, I’m five years older than you. It’s not a weird term, right?”

“That’s... true.”

After becoming excessively muscular, I hadn’t called anyone ‘older sister,’ so it felt quite novel.

“Want to try calling me that?”

“Uh... Mei Ling noona (older sister)?”

When I muttered awkwardly, she rested her chin on the table and smiled broadly.

“Being called ‘noona’ isn’t as bad as I thought.”

Her dazzling smile caught my eye for a moment, but I casually continued eating without showing it.

“So, aren’t you going to answer my earlier question?”

I swallowed the food in my mouth and replied,

“You were joking anyway, weren’t you?”

Seeing me lie down, Mei Ling also lay down on the futon next to mine.

“Aren’t you going to take another hot spring bath?”

Mei Ling replied with a slight smile in her voice,

“I told you the other day. I don’t like staying in hot water for too long.”

Come to think of it, she did.

“Since we’re not just here for today, we can always go in the morning.”

Since that was her preference, I had nothing more to say.

I wanted to sleep quickly as I felt tipsy, but once I laid down, I couldn’t fall asleep.

In fact, my mind became as clear as if I had taken a stimulant.

I had tried not to think about it, but now the reality has struck me.

I was about to spend the night in the same room, alone with a woman.

Naturally, I felt tense.

In the dark room, staring at the ceiling with wide eyes, Mei Ling asked,

“Are you asleep?”

“...No.”

“If I said something inappropriate while drinking, don’t worry about it. I was just speaking freely because I was in a good mood.”

She said that and then fell silent for a moment.

“Did you come to Mount Fuji today just because you were concerned about me?”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s no need to pretend. If training were the only purpose, there would have been quieter places than this tourist spot.”

After saying that, she swallowed hard.

“Nevertheless, I had a great day today. It’s my first time in Japan, but I think it will be a very good memory.”

I realized she had a big misunderstanding, but I didn’t want to correct her in such a warm atmosphere.

So, I kept my mouth shut and acted as if that was my original intention.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Yeah. If we get the chance, let’s come again.”

After saying that, she didn’t speak anymore.

The sound of even breathing suggested she had probably fallen asleep due to the alcohol.

I glanced in her direction once, then slowly closed my eyes.

Tweet! Tweet!

“......”

I woke up to the faint sound of sparrows chirping.

An unfamiliar ceiling.

And the unfamiliar feel of the blanket.

Blinking my dry eyes to adjust to the light, I belatedly remembered that I had slept in the inn last night.

Normally, I would have gone jogging at dawn, but it seemed I overslept due to last night’s drinking.

Not wanting to leave the warmth of the blanket heated by my body heat, I turned slightly to the side, still wrapped in the blanket.

And I was startled.

“Sigh!”

“Eh...?”

The reason was that Mei Ling, in a nearly half-naked state due to her yukata belt coming undone, was right in front of my face.

I immediately closed my eyes, pretending to sleep, but Mei Ling, like the professional fighter she was, sensed my movement and opened her eyes.

Our eyes met, and I was frozen in a rigid expression. She softly smiled, still half-asleep, and asked if I had slept well. Then, realizing her revealing attire, she quickly glanced down and then playfully looked at me and said,

“Pervert♡”