Level 9-3

„KANPAI!“

„Wait, why are we saying that, we’re not Japanese.“

„It’s for the vibe.“

After my successful rebranding, Val, Nadeshiko, Crush and I decided to go for an actual V-Tuber meetup. Crush and I still haven’t done our friendship date, but I was sure, we’d get there some time soon.

Val was the first to speak, after putting down her pitcher.

„Wait a sec, this isn’t some elaborate ploy to keep you two from having an actual conversation again, right?“ She accused me and Crush.

„That would be redundant at this point,“ I answered.

„We’ve gone through enough forced drama already, we can’t be kept apart at this point,“ Crush added.

„I hope so,“ was Val’s response to this. „What happened to that plotline with your Ex though?“ She then asked Crush.

Surprisingly, Nadeshiko was the one to answer this question.

„Well, that is exactly why we are getting drunk in the Otokonoko Cafe. To witness all that awkwardness firsthand.“ With the grace of a royal lady putting down her teacup, Nadeshiko placed her pitcher on the table and reached for a bell next to it. She called for a maid, using it.

„Yes Ma’am,“ Erika materialized out of nowhere

„Woah, what the heck?“ Val jolted to the side like a cat.

„Hi Erika.“

„Hi Crush.“

„How ... disappointing,“ Nadeshiko responded to this lackluster exchange, filling the pause by drinking a sip from her pitcher, as if it were a teacup.

„Is there anything I can do for you?“ Erika asked politely, almost robotic.

„No, I am afraid there isn’t. Sorry from keeping you from working.“

„Serving you is my work, Master Nadeshiko. If you don’t mind, I shall return now.“

„Of course.“

And just like that, she vanished into thin air.

„She used to do that all the time,“ Crush whispered to me. „Was one of the reasons I broke up with her, because what the hell.“

„Understandable.“

„Gluck, gluck, gluck, gluck, gluck, HELL YEAH!“ Val slammed her empty pitcher on the table.

„Um, aren’t you overdoing it a bit?“ Crush asked, in a concerned manner.

„Not. At. All!“ Val responded.

„Since when does this cafe serve alcohol anyway?“ I asked Nadeshiko.

„Since I had the idea for a drinking contest between you and Val, after seeing you two get plastered at that party.“

„That’s an idea, that would get all of us banned from Twitch immediately!“

„Well, I first had that idea, when there was still that rival thing going on between the two of you, but who knows what happened to that.“ With all of her grace, she lifted the pitcher once more. I wonder how much muscle she packed in her thumb and index finger ...

„We kinda uhhh ...“

„Forgot about that,“ I finished Val’s sentence.

„Figures,“ said Crush.

„Well, that’s what happens when you live a lie. I hope you learn from it, dear friend.“ As she said this, a sagely aura surrounded Nadeshiko, that was undeserved, but befitting her character.

„Are you trying to shove a hamfisted attempt at a moral lesson into this story?“ I questioned her.

„I’ve been trying to make sense of the chaos of the last couple weeks. But I decided it’s best to just put an end to it. Most good stories end with a moral lesson, do they not?“

„They do,“ I agreed.

„Then now, that I’ve hamfisted a moral lesson into this story, I can say it has ended, and it is good.“

„Can’t argue with that logic. I like it,“ I agreed.

„It’s a good end,“ everyone agreed.

„A good end indeed.“