[3-Minute Novel] Half-Price Beer to Melt the Cold Night Air | Amber City, Morning of Shanghai Crab - Quruli

“You’ve never thought you wanted to drink with me, have you? You were just asking me out because you wanted to drink alcohol.”
“Whenever I asked you out, it was because I wanted to drink with you. It wasn’t just anyone.”

“I thought you were the same as me, but I guess I was wrong.”

“……”

“Hmph. Hit the nail on the head, did I?”

Saying that, I grabbed my smartphone, stood up, and headed for the entrance.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going out for a drink. I can’t deal with this unless I have a drink.”

I spat that out lethargically and slammed the door shut.

Wrapped in the cold night air, I hurried down the apartment stairs. I felt like crying out of frustration, but I wanted to blame even that on the alcohol.

“Hey, wait!”

Heavy footsteps chased after me from behind, and my arm was pulled forcefully. When I turned around, he was there in just a T-shirt, no jacket, his shoulders heaving as he caught his breath.

“What? You should just stay in your room and drink your canned beer alone.”

“Idiot. I shouldn’t.”

He kept holding my arm, his gaze wandering awkwardly. Then, he squeezed out a raspy voice, the kind he never used.

“Do you really think I’m some kind of alcoholic who just loves booze?”

“……Huh?”

“Honestly, any drink tastes good no matter who I’m with. But when you’re having a good drink and feeling great, there’s only one face you want to see next to you, right?”

He looked uncomfortable as he scratched his head vigorously with his other hand.

“I said you were easy to ask out because you always drink like you’re enjoying it. The drinks I have with you are the best, so I was desperate not to be turned down. It wasn’t just anyone.”

Under the streetlamp, I could see his ears were bright red.

I felt like my own line from earlier, “Hit the nail on the head, did I?”, had been returned to me with interest.

“……Then you should have said so from the start. Idiot.”
“My bad. Here, take my jacket. It’s cold outside, right?”

He clumsily draped the hoodie he was holding over my shoulders. A soft scent, the one I always smelled when I was next to him, drifted over—a scent that always calmed me down.

“……So, where are we going?”

When I asked quietly, he smiled with that usual look, like he was up to some mischief.

“That izakaya in front of the station. Draft beer is half-price today. ……I want to go have a toast with you.”

I gripped his arm tighter and gave a small nod. Tonight’s drinks would surely be the best I’d ever had.