Drunk on Life

I put in the passcode to Taiyori's dorm and walked in. I don't easily get surprised, but I couldn't help but stop and stare when I saw all three of them in random positions all over the living room.

Sakuno was sitting on the couch... only he wasn't. His legs were on the cushion while his upper body rested on the floor. Shiro was just smacked dead in the center of the floor with her arms and legs fully out. Taiyori was lying down on the other couch with an arm covering her eyes.

"Um... I'm back?" I said with uncertainty.

Sakuno and Shiro immediately perked and glared at me like an eagle that just spotted its prey.

"Finally!" they both shouted as they rushed over.

The next second, I was left empty-handed while they were already at the dining table, unpacking the takeout bag.

Taiyori stumbled over with drowsy eyes, a hand scratching the back of her head.

"I was only gone for like... forty-five minutes," I said. "What happened?"

"The anticipation got the better of us," she sighed. "One minute, we were working diligently and efficiently, and the next, we gave up. Hunger got the best of us."

"Is that so...?"

She gently grabbed my arm with a smile. "Come. Let's eat."

We sat down at the dinner table, where Shiro had already brought out the plates and filled each one with fried chicken. Sakuno grabbed four cups from the cabinet and poured the plum wine for us.

After saying their thanks, they dug in like they hadn't eaten anything all day. Taiyori was the only one who kept her elegant posture, taking small bites at a time, unlike those two monsters. They tore through their whole plates and went for seconds before Taiyori had a chance to get through half of hers.

I looked over at the three wine bottles I bought and crossed my brows when I noticed that two of them were already empty. Perhaps I should've only bought one. No... I definitely should've only bought one.

"Come on, Tsuki!" Sakuno grinned as he tugged on my shoulders. "Dance with me! We didn't have that many chances to have fun for the last decade."

"No, thanks," I sighed as I took a sip of water.

"Aw, don't be a selfish no-fun having ass prick, bro. Get up!"

"Get your dirty hands off me, Sakuno..."

"Yeesh, fine. Be like that!"

Shiro suddenly slammed her cup on the table and let out a huge gasp.

"I'll dance with you, Sakuno!" she declared.

"Really?! Let's go!" he cheered.

They took each other's hands and ran into the living room, positioning themselves to mimic a waltz.

"Alright!" Shiro shouted. "Just follow my lead. I got this. Ready?"

"For sure," Sakuno smiled.

"And, step... ah..."

The moment they tried to sway their bodies, Shiro stumbled on her own foot and fell, pulling Sakuno down with her. I waited for a minute, but they didn't get back up.

"Hah, did the alcohol finally get to them?" I chuckled.

"I think so," Taiyori giggled as she took another sip of her wine. "More for me, I guess."

"Ah, no."

I took the last bottle and set it just out of her reach.

"Hey~..." she mumbled.

"Look at you," I said. "Your cheeks are practically glowing."

"I'm fine, now give me the bottle."

I quickly lifted my hand and sprung out three fingers. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Eh... Uh... Four."

"... Yeah, I think you've had enough."

"Tch... What about you? Did you even take a sip?"

"I don't drink."

"Aw, come on. Just a little bit."

She took her glass and gently twirled it in front of my face, bouncing around the little wine she had left.

"I said, no," I sighed as I pushed her hand away. "I don't want to end up like you."

"What do you mean?" she smiled. "I'm totally fine."

She then drank the rest of the glass and slammed it down on the table, her head slowly bobbing to the side.

"...Taiyori?" I muttered.

"Mmm...?" she mumbled.

"Look at me."

The effort was there, but she couldn't manage to lift her head more than a couple of inches. Suddenly, her entire body began listing heavily. I quickly reached out to grab her right as she was about to fall. Looks like she's a certified lightweight. My mind was swarmed by the feeling of instant regret. I should've taken the glass away when I had the chance.

Gently, I picked her up and held her in my arms. I then carried her to her room and rested her on the bed. As carefully as I could, I tucked her underneath the sheets. This is quite similar to a certain situation that happened not too long ago.

After I adjusted her sheets, I stood up to leave. However, her arms suddenly reached up to wrap around my neck, and she pulled me in. It took every ounce in my body to stop myself before our faces touched.

Taiyori slowly opened her eyes to look at me, a dangerously alluring smile adorning her drowsy face.

"Tsuki..." she whispered. "I want you."

"...W-what...?" I gulped.

"You deaf or something? I said 'I... Want... You.' Stay with me... just for tonight."

What's going on...? What is happening right now? My body won't move. My eyes wouldn't leave her. She's not... insinuating what I think she's insinuating... right?

"Taiyori... W-what do you... mean?" I muttered.

"I wonder," she smirked. "Is it not obvious? Should I spell it out word for word so that a hermit like you can understand?"

A small strand of sweat trailed down the left side of my head. Even though the room was cool, my body felt extremely hot. For a moment, my eyes trailed over to Taiyori's body, but I immediately forced them close and erased those indecent thoughts from my head.

"L-listen..." I stuttered nervously. "You're drunk. You're not thinking straight."

"Hmmm... Maybe I'm not," she hummed. "I don't really care. All I know is that you're the only person I'm thinking about right now. Come here, Tsuki. Come closer..."

She began pulling my neck down, her lips puckered. Right as mine were about to touch hers, I quickly pulled myself away, letting out heavy breaths. Taiyori merely stared at me before putting on a gentle smile.

"Only you could resist me like that," she scoffed.

"It... doesn't take that much effort..." I mumbled. "You should rest now. Clear your head a bit. Hopefully, you'll forget about this while you're at it."

I quickly turned around to get out of there as soon as possible, but Taiyori's soft giggle stopped me in my tracks.

"Hehe... You know, Tsuki... I'm not as drunk as you think I am."

My head turned to see her looking at me with those curled eyes and a seductive smile. Without saying another word, I left and quietly shut the door behind me while her words danced around in my head.

She wasn't as drunk as I thought... Does that mean everything she just said and did... was completely by her own choice?

No, that can't be it. She's definitely drunk out of her mind. She only said that to mess with me. That has to be it.