"We're back!"
In an empty classroom, two upperclassmen led the trio inside. The other members of PaB were already waiting.
"You guys took way too long!"
"Hurry up and start drinking already!"
"..."
The senior members urged them impatiently—they had been waiting for quite a while.
At the Door
Shiro looked at Iori, who was crouching suspiciously, with a deadpan expression.
"Iori, what are you doing? Cosplaying as a thief? I don't think a thief would sneak into a room full of burly men to steal things."
"Shhh!!!"
Iori frantically gestured for Shiro to stay quiet.
"Chisa got really mad! I need to lay low for a bit!"
Tokita and Kotobuki, who had just noticed Iori hiding, overheard their conversation.
"Oh yeah, about that whole beauty contest thing where you lifted her skirt."
"Well, as a man, you should take responsibility for your actions. Be prepared."
Iori shot them a deadpan look.
"…So, you guys really don't feel even a shred of guilt for setting me up?"
He glanced back into the room again and, realizing that Chisa wasn't there, sighed in relief.
"Alright then, I'll be making my escape! You guys handle things for me here!"
"Sure, we don't mind covering for you, but… I'd suggest you check behind you first."
Shiro gave him a strange look and pointed behind him.
Iori turned around, confused, only to be met with an extremely cute face right in front of him.
!!!
The atmosphere instantly became unbearably awkward…
"You've got the wrong person…"
"I haven't even said anything yet."
Chisa looked at Iori calmly. A case of mistaken identity? Even if he turned to ashes, she wouldn't mistake him!
"Let me explain, Chisa! That was all part of a plan to bring out your charm! In other words, it was to let more people see how adorable you are—"
Iori started rambling in panic. If he didn't explain himself properly, he might end up in a box tonight!
Chisa, watching him struggle to defend himself, let out a deep sigh.
"…Forget it."
"Eh?"
Iori was stunned. What did that mean?
"Does that mean you forgive me?"
"You owe me a favor."
"Seriously?!"
Iori's face instantly lit up with excitement. He couldn't believe it! He actually got through this life-or-death crisis so easily!
Chisa is the best!
"Thank you, Chisa! Next time, I'll definitely buy you an even sexier set of lingerie!"
"..."
Chisa suddenly felt like she had made a very bad decision. But it was fine, there would be other opportunities later.
"He barely got forgiven, and he's already dancing on the edge of death again."
"I mean, he already saw everything, right?"
"This pervy bastard."
"Hey, what do you think will happen if Nanaka finds out about this?"
Shiro's lips curled into a terrifying smile. Looks like he'd be adding another favor to his list!
"Alright, alright, since he's been forgiven, let's move on."
The other upperclassmen said. After all, this was a party!
"Chisa, what do you want to drink?"
Tokita looked at Chisa—their champion, their MVP!
"I'll take something with a lower alcohol content."
Chisa answered. As a member of PaB, she was used to drinking, though not to the ridiculous extent of the three lunatics over there.
"And you guys?"
Tokita turned to the trio.
"Oolong tea."
"Same here."
"I… whatever, oolong tea works."
Shiro and the other two didn't have any expectations. At this point, it was bound to be hard liquor. Even oolong tea was considered "low alcohol" for them.
They had tried choosing other drinks before, but aside from the color, nothing about them was ever what it seemed!
Oolong tea was fine. At least… it was something they were familiar with.
The three of them took their oolong tea and drank it without a second thought. By now, they didn't even need a lighter, they had already proven through experience that PaB never served normal oolong—
!!!
What was this?!
This texture!
This taste!
The three of them looked like they had just discovered a new continent!
"No way?!"
"It's actual, real oolong tea?!"
"Mom… I think I'm dreaming!"
Shiro, trembling, pulled out a lighter.
Click—
It didn't ignite!!!!
Tears streamed down Shiro's face. Oolong tea! Real oolong tea!
He couldn't even remember the last time he had real oolong tea!
Even though he lived alone, for some reason, he never even considered buying anything besides alcohol at the convenience store. It had been so long since he last had oolong tea!
The two upperclassmen who handed them the drinks looked utterly confused.
"What's wrong with you guys? Of course, it's oolong tea."
"We were just messing with you before. We can't serve you guys that stuff every time. Sometimes, we drink normal things too."
Looking at the oolong tea bottles in their upperclassmen's hands, the three of them felt like they were melting with happiness.
"Eh(?￣?д￣??) It's real oolong teatea"
"PaB actually has some restraint!"
"Even the wildest beasts have their limits!"
"..."
Tokita and Kotobuki stared at them blankly. Did these three misunderstand something?
Shiro looked at the smiling faces of the upperclassmen and the table full of low- and non-alcoholic drinks.
His heart felt healed.
So PaB could have normal drinking parties too!
This atmosphere—aside from the lack of young, beautiful college girls—was exactly like the university drinking parties he had imagined!
Maybe a normal life was finally about to begin!
Ding dong, ding dong—
A sudden chime shattered Shiro's fantasy. He looked up. Before he knew it, it was already 6 PM. By this time, the school festival should be ending.
["The time is now 6 PM. The school is now closed to the public."]
As expected, the announcement signaled the festival's end.
Shiro lazily sipped his oolong tea. His first university festival, though filled with bizarre encounters (zombie cosplayers, CEO Kudou, the rugby club), was overall pretty great!
It wasn't much different from what he had imagined a university festival would be like.
At this moment, he suddenly felt like drinking some beer.
However, something about the atmosphere felt off.
The smiles of his upperclassmen sent a chill down his spine…
The next second, Shiro witnessed something he would never forget for the rest of his life!
"LIMIT RELEASE!!!"
The upperclassmen exploded out of their clothes!!!
In an instant, every upperclassman (except the freshmen) transformed into their most comfortable state!
At the same time, all the low-alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks on the table vanished!
Replacing them were bottles of hardcore liquor—nothing below 40% alcohol content!!!
Even the "oolong tea" in Shiro's hand had somehow been swapped for PaB's special version!
"..."
Shiro stared blankly at the scene, feeling nothing in his heart.
As expected… these wild beasts could never truly change!!!
Oh well… this was normal.
Shiro sighed. Whatever. A drinking party was fine. Let's just celebrate Chisa's victory!
Speaking of which, where was their champion?
BANG!
A loud thud drew Shiro's attention. Their champion had just slammed a 4-liter bottle of raw shochu in front of Iori!
Her eyes were devoid of emotion…
Shiro silently looked away. He didn't need to watch to know what was going to happen next.
He knew it, there was no way the beauty pageant incident would just be let go so easily…
Hope you survive drinking that 4 liters!
"Drink it!"