“God Just A Little Longer”

Kaoru raises his drink towards me. There’s a strong floral aroma to it.

Is that shiso?

God, I hope he got me a flavoured shochu too…

Doubt it.

I tentatively lift my glass to the rousing cheers of our enrapt audience.

Pantomime season comes early in Japan, huh?

“Let’s go Logistics! You got this!”

“Come on Comms! Down in one!”

“Battle of the Business School!”

I nod at each chorus, raising my glass in salute.

The stench of something truly heinous assaults my senses. My eyes - watering already - dart to the glass.

Without breathing, I register the petroleum slick scent of baijiu, or whatever the Japanese equivalent is. Do they even have one?

“You didn’t?!.”

A new intensity enters Kaoru’s face.

His features sharpen with mocking cruelty, veiled behind his usual serious expression. It’s even scarier than Toshi’s faux polite professionalism.

He drains his shot in one, to the whoops and hollers of the crowd.

“Your turn TAI-ler. Keep up!”

Is that what’s bothering him?

That I didn’t tell him my real name.

Tyler’s so boring, though. I wanted to be more… me!

My family call me TJ, and that’s even less cool. Tai just felt… right!

Pearlescent fumes waver before my eyes, blurring my vision even before the alcohol gets inside me. I don’t want to die… Not like this!!!

Maybe I should draft a brief email to mother outlining my will?

“Come on Gosu-jin!”

“Hey, that’s a good one!”

“Don’t let Communications beat you!”

“FAITO!!!”

Putting on a brave face, I knock back my drink, nearly retching from the noxious smell alone.

Yup, it’s baijiu, or something just as foul.

My skin crawls, but I force myself not to grimace, and slam the glass down on the table. Keeping my expression one of stony determination.

I cannot let Kaoru win!

“Ooooooooooh!”

“We got a drinker!”

“Iron Stomach!”

“Another!”

The choir goes on and on in high spirits, as the on inside me does its damage.

Kaoru, just stays smiling by my side.

He doesn’t laugh or mock, tease or cajole. His features having softened into something more… sincere.

Like he simply approves of my stepping up to his challenge.

I finally notice the little glass bottle in his hand, hidden from the view of everyone else, just below the table’s edge.

“Ha-na-za-ke?”

He looks down at the label and back to me.

“For special occasions only.”

He scans the room to check that everyone is too busy to notice him top up both our glasses.

“This is the first time we’ve drank together. Think of it as a bonding ceremony. They do them all the time in business, it’s tradition. I wanted to share this with someone. You just happened to be it.”

I totally get it.

I remember a yakuza movie my brother put on once, they did a sake ceremony to show their dedication to the gang and the boss. You share a cup and pour for each other.

“I’ll pour the next round. Gotta show respect to my senpai!”

Kaoru stops short of choking on his drink, the glass already pressed to his lips.

His pause only lasts a moment, concluded by a positively toned snort, a sideways smile, and him purposefully drinking in time with me.

“KARAOKE!!!”

“Yeah, karaoke!”

“Time to show your spirit, everyone!”

“Didn’t we just drink those?”

“Haa haa… very funny…”

I pocket the bottle to be able to serve Kaoru at the next place, and offer him my hand after standing.

He goes to take it, as we have done a few times over the last week. It’s natural to help up a friend.

“Heh-hey! Get a load of Gosu-jin and the Snow Queen!”

“You’re right! Everyone! They’re a couple!”

“They have been awfully close all night, so that explains it!”

“Not like anyone else was gonna talk to 'em!”

“Don’t be mean, even if it’s true!”

We freeze.

Wait, that’s more incriminating, isn’t it?

We’ve nothing to hide. We’re just friends. I mean, there was that weird mood change earlier?!. Shh… no, that’s just the drink talkin-

My thoughts are knocked off track as Kaoru bats my hand away.

“Thanks.”

He shoots me that the one word as he walks away.

“Oh, no. Shot down!”

“He made his move and missed!”

“Another kill for the Yuki-onna!”

“Obviously not cool enough!”

They really have it in for him.

I get Kaoru can be stern, and not everyone digs his style, but I didn’t realise there’d be so much open bullying. I need to think of a way for him to regain some standing with his peers... I don’t want him being alienated more because of our friendship.

We file out of the izakaya and down the street to an all night karaoke. The kind you’d find just about anywhere.

As the last one in, security nearly bars my entry, not believing I’m part of the group. Kaoru was about to step in and say something, but I wave him back, so they can’t say he’s saving his boyfriend or whatever.

“Hey, Toshi-senpai! Oh, Great Leader of Logistics! Mr. Double Major! Come save your poor kouhai from the evil clutches of this bouncer!”

I affect the pose of a helpless maiden and bat my eyelashes at him.

“Oh Toshi! Your princess is calling!”

“Gotta go look after the baby bat!”

“Of course, they stopped him dressed like that!”

Getting to call out one of the worst offenders and make him help me publicly is a good start, but I gotta do more.

“Toshi-senpai you’re my hero!”

“Uh… sure. You’re welcome.”

“Look at the lover boys!”

“Should we book them a private booth together?”

Twisting the knife.

I throw an arm over his shoulder and march us through the group, grabbing the other guy Kaoru had a word with earlier. Some Communications senior, I think his name was Ryu? Ryo?

“Come on, RuRu, you’re coming with us! Let’s do a duet!”

“Someone’s gotten fired up!”

“Lead the way, Gosu-jin!”

“RuRu… pfffftt, hahaha!”

It’s working.

Focus on me and the second hand embarrassment I can inflict on others.

Leave my friend alone.

I end up somehow gathering the most popular students in my booth, along with the kidnapped Ryu and Toshi. Kaoru got caught in the flow and found himself in the room next door.

It sucks my first karaoke won’t be us together, but I got more work to do.

I fill up the queue with love songs, ballads, and cutesy pop. Nominate myself and either of my two victims for each one. It’s nearly an hour’s worth of cringe before anyone else can get a song in.

The popular kids record the whole thing. Howling away at my over the top performances and the miserable expressions of RuRu and Toshi.

I expected it to be uncomfortable for everyone, but I’m drunk enough to be having fun with this. The mood of the mob can be swayed with a little confidence and commitment to a bit. They’ll eat their own.

I do feel bad for publicly humiliating these guys - an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind - but it’s not like I’m having fun playing some cruel caricature either.

But… actions have consequences.

Half an hour in and they’re broken.

By the end of our set, RuRu has excused himself to go home. Toshi is still hanging in there - he can’t leave due to being an organiser - but only because he got so drunk he passed out with his head in his hands.

“I gotta go leak. Look after my lover for me.”

My captive audience break into another round of hysterics and promise to keep him warm until I return. Most action he’ll get this year after all that.

Passing the other booth, it sounds like they’re putting an order in for more drinks. I stick my head in.

“Two more beers please! I’ll pay for the round. Get whatever you want. Toshi and me are next door, if you could bring them over for us pweez! I’ll be back in a minute.”

After the confusion of the interruption passes, they recognise who spoke in the dark, and give me an approving cheer.

“Oh Gosu-jin! Thanks for the offer!”

“Someone’s feeling generous!”

“Not gonna say no to a free drink!”

“Oooooo… should we get snacks too?”

Their comments carry on in much the same vein as I duck my head back out the door. That’ll keep my mischief in their minds a bit longer.

“Did Kaoru leave?”

He didn’t seem to be in the booth with the others. I hope he’s ok.

As I pass some vending machines on the way to the bathrooms, a hand shoots out and grabs me by the ankle. My legs give out.

I’m that tipsy, I fall on my ass.

There, giggling to himself in the alcove, is Kaoru.

“I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE!!1!!”