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It was late in the evening on a Friday. Karma was currently in his apartment with his boyfriend, Nagisa. They were sitting by the side in front of the kitchen bench.
In his hand Karma loosely held a glass cup, half empty with whiskey. He swirled the liquid around as he looked over at Nagisa.
Nagisa was also drinking something, but unlike Karma, he was just having a glass of water.
As Karma stared at Nagisa, he became curious about something.
“Nagisa, have you ever gotten drunk before? I was just thinking about it, and for as long as I've known you, I don't think I've ever even seen you drink alcohol.”
Not once had Karma ever seen or even heard of Nagisa drinking something with alcohol in it. It’s not like Nagisa doesn't ever go out either. There's been plenty of times where they've gone out together and Nagisa is one of the few sober people there.
“That’s because I never have. I've seen enough of what drunk people are like to decide that it's probably not for me. I don't exactly feel like embarrassing myself in public.”
Karma couldn't help but let out a laugh at that.
“I suppose you make a good point, but wow, Nagisa, isn't that a bit rude of you? A lot of our friends like to get drunk together, and your boyfriend over here is currently getting drunk right now. Are you saying we're all public embarrassments~?”
“Well… that's different. I wasn't saying all people who drink alcohol are bad, just that it does lead to people acting like idiots in public. It would be embarrassing if I got drunk and ended up acting like an idiot. That's all.”
“Hm? So… what if it wasn't somewhere public?”
Nagisa looked to be considering Karma's words quite seriously. Karma couldn't help but find it cute.
“Well, even if it's not in public, I still don't think I'd want to make a fool of myself in front of others.”
“Ok, what about if it's just in front of your boyfriend then~?” Karma teased.
“Karma, you're drunk. See? I told you alcohol makes people act like idiots.”
“Hey, first of all, I'm not drunk, I'm tipsy, and second of all, even if I was sober I’d still be acting like this and you know it.”
Karma took another sip from his glass, when suddenly his eyes lit up with mischievous glint.
“Say Nagisa, are you sure you don't want to give it a try? Find out what being drunk is like? It's just us two, after all. No need to be worried about embarrassing yourself in front of me, I've already seen you do that to yourself plenty of times while you're sober. We could even have some fun with it, see who can handle more alcohol. Been a while since we've had a competition against each other."
“That hardly seems like a fair competition. You've clearly got a massive advantage.”
Karma looked Nagisa up and down before letting out a laugh.
“Good point, good point. With how much shorter you are than me, it would hardly be fair. The body-mass-to-alcohol ratio is totally skewed in my favour”
“I wasn't referring to my height, I was referring to how I've never even had alcohol before!”
Yep, cute. Even when he's trying to sound upset.
“How about this then. If you can out drink me, I'll do whatever you want.” Karma suggested with a smug grin.
Nagisa froze, clearly processing the proposal.
“Anything at all?”
“Yep, anything.”
“And what if I lose? Do I have to do whatever you want?” Nagisa asked cautiously.
“Dont worry, I’ll be nice. If I win, nothing happens. I'll be content just getting to finally see what you look like drunk.”
Nagisa thought it over a bit longer before speaking back up.
“Ok, you've got a deal.”
“That's the spirit.”
Karma got up and retrieved two shot glasses from the cupboard and placed one down in front of Nagisa, and the other in front of himself.
“Oh I'm looking forward to this. We'll go one shot at a time. If you feel like tapping out just say the word, and I promise I'll only make fun of you a little bit.”
Shot 1
Karma poured them both a shot of Whiskey.
“Ready to lose your life long sobriety, Mr model citizen?”
“You're way too excited about this, Karma.”
Karma quickly downed the shot and turned his attention back towards Nagisa. He had an eager grin on his face.
“C’mon, what are you waiting for.”
Nagisa let out a sigh as he lifted the shot glass up to his lips, and tilted the liquid into his mouth.
Immediately his composed expression fell apart as his face scrunched up in disgust and he started coughing.
“Cough, cough, …burns, wow that burns, ugh…”
“Are you ok there, Nagisa? I hope you aren't thinking of tapping out already. The fun’s only just begun, so finish the rest of your shot.”
With great effort, Nagisa forced himself to down the rest of the shot.
He slammed the now empty shot glass down onto the counter.
“Ugh… that was awful. And people do this for fun?”
“Well, alcohol does take some getting used to. Really it's your fault for holding off from drinking for so long. Ready for shot number two?”
“I… I think so.”
Shot 2
Karma had poured them both another shot.
“Just giving you a heads up, my personal record is 11 shots. It was back at some house party during my university years.”
“What were you doing going to parties? Shouldn't you have been focusing on your degree?”
“Some of us like to live a little, Nagisa. And hey, I got my degree in the end, didn't I? As for what I was doing going to parties, well, what can I say? Not to brag, but I was quite popular back in University. People would invite me left and right.”
“Right.” Nagisa frowned at Karma as he forced himself to swallow the contents of his shot glass.
Nagisa's face scrunched up in discomfort yet again, still not used to the feeling that alcohol has on the throat.
Karma was watching Nagisa quite blatantly, and enjoying every second of it. Yet there was something else that caught Karma's attention.
Is Nagisa… pouting? Why would he be… oh, oh!
This will be fun.
There was a teasing glint in Karma's eyes as he locked eye contact with Nagisa.
“What's this? Nagisa, could it be that you're… upset? Jealous?”
Karma watched with barely concealed glee as Nagisa broke eye contact.
He's actually jealous?! About people inviting me to parties back in University?! That's actually adorable!
“Oh my god Nagisa, you're way too sober to be getting jealous over something like that. Relax, they were only interested in getting on my good side so they could mooch off my grades. I was just taking advantage of their ulterior motives for some free alcohol. I'll even be up front with you before you start to overthink yourself to death, yes some of them even tried hitting on me, but I would always turn them down since they weren't really my type.”
Karma downed his shot.
“I'm more into short, cute guys, preferably ones with blue hair. A shame it took me so long to figure that out though.”
Karma watched as a blush spread on Nagisa's face, and it definitely wasn't because of the alcohol.
“So, how's the burning feeling? Getting used to it yet?”
Nagisa seemed thankful for the change of topic, relief written on his face.
“It doesn't burn as much as it did the first time. I'm also feeling a bit warm now.”
Shot 3
Karma and Nagisa had just finished their third shot of whiskey. They were both beginning to show signs of being drunk.
“At least it doesn't burn as much anymore.”
“See? You're getting used to it now.”
Shot 4
“Karma? Are you ok?” Nagisa asked, his speech beginning to slur.
“Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. The whiskey’s just finally fighting back. What about you? How are you holding up?”
“Hmm… I think I feel fine, actually? I feel a bit… floaty, for lack of a better word.” Nagisa let out a giggle.
“Congratulations, Nagisa, you're drunk.”
“Really? But we've drunk so little?”
“Little? We've both just finished our 4th shot and it's only been- oh, right, this is your first time drinking, you don't actually have a baseline. You've definitely had enough to get drunk.”
Shot 7
They had each just finished their seventh shot of the evening. Karma was well and truly drunk at this point. Yet somehow, Nagisa didn't appear any more drunk now than he did after his third shot.
“Fuck, Nagisa, I was kinda betting on you being more of a lightweight than this. Are you even drunk? Have you been swapping your alcohol out for something else while I wasn't looking?”
Nagisa had already poured himself up his next shot, and was swirling the liquid around in the shot glass.
If the alcohol had done anything to Nagisa, it most certainly made him more confident.
“You're the one who challenged me to this game, Karma. You aren't thinking of giving up already, are you?” Nagisa asked with a smile on his face.
“Ugh… you little… talking down to me with that look on your face… that's dangerous, Nagisa, I feel like you're going to awaken something inside of me.” Karma said as he rested his head in his hand.
“Hm? Awaken something? What do you mean?” Nagisa asked with faux innocence.
Nagisa's dangerous.
“D-don’t worry about it, let's go for another shot.”
Shot 9
Karma was feeling dizzy. He expected to get drunk, but not this drunk.
He looked down at the empty shot glass, and then looked up at Nagisa.
“What number are we up to now?”
“This is our ninth shot.”
“Ninth? Are you sure? I thought we were up to our eighth. Did you miscount?”
“No, I'm certain. This is number nine. Maybe you're losing count because you're drunk?.” Nagisa replied flatly.
Karma could only stare at Nagisa with a dumbfounded expression.
“We've literally had the same amount of alcohol!”
How on earth is he less drunk than me?!
Karma was pouting.
“Hm? Karma… are you… pouting right now?” Nagisa let out a drunken giggle.
“...No.” Karma lied.
Nagisa poked Karma's face.
“Is that so? Because, to me, it really looks like you're pouting right now.”
“Ok, fine, yes, I'm pouting. There? Happy? I was hoping that I'd get to see you acting all drunk and helpless and that you'd turn to me to help you get through your first time being drunk, maybe I’d get to see you act all clingy and honest, but no, you are just… immune to alcohol, apparently!”
Karma immediately regretted his drunken outburst.
“Karma… that's… kind of messed up.”
“Wait! Wait wait wait! I didn't mean it like that! I just meant that, like, it would be cute, maybe you'd end up leaning against me, or I’d have to help walk you to bed! I swear! Ugh… screw you, I'm too drunk for this.”
Nagisa moved his seat closer to Karma's and reached his arm across Karma's shoulder so he could pull him closer.
“There, there, Karma, maybe next time you'll be able to get me all vulnerable so you can take care of me.” Nagisa condescendingly reassured him.
“Well, ok, so you aren't completely immune to alcohol at least.”
Karma tried desperately to suppress the blush that was spreading on his face as Nagisa continued to condescendingly pat him on the shoulder.
“You are totally drunk right now, Nagisa.” Karma sighed.
“Mhm, but not as drunk as you. Now, I believe this game doesn't end until one of us taps out, soooo, ready for another shot?” Nagisa giggled to himself as he already began pouring out another shot for each of them.
“Sure, whatever, you've gotta hit a tipping point eventually. I can still win this.”
Shot 11
Karma was not winning this.
His hand was shaky as he lifted up the glass containing what would be his 11th shot. It was like his body was actively trying to stop him. Sure, this wasn't the first time he had 11 shots in a night, but he felt like hell the day after. Cursed with the experience of what the day after might feel like, he was a lot more hesitant about taking this next shot.
Each time he tried to bring the glass to his lips, he could feel his stomach twist and his body about to hurl.
It was checkmate, even if he managed to drink this shot, there was no way he would be able to handle the next. And him being able to drink this current shot? That already was a massive if.
The last ten shots were catching up with him, and the whole room felt like it was spinning.
It was over.
He had no choice but to resign.
Defeated, Karma set the still full shot glass down on the counter.
He didn't even need to look up to tell that Nagisa had already downed his 11th shot as if it was nothing. This was a blessing as Karma wasn't sure if he could handle looking up right now.
“Karma? Are you giving up?”
“Yep, I'm throwing in the towel before I start throwing up something else. Nagisa. Would you be a dear and help me get to the bedroom?”
Karma felt incredibly nauseous as Nagisa helped him up. It was the first time since they started drinking that he had stood up. He was so much more drunk than he thought.
“Actually, scratch that, get me to the bathroom. Quick.”
He felt like he was about to vomit.
Karma's memories after that were vague and disconnected.
He remembered just barely making it to the toilet in time. Nagisa had crouched down beside him with his hand against his back as he… decided to not recall the rest of that memory.
He didn't remember much after that.
The Day After
When Karma slowly opened his eyes, it looked like he had slept in until about midday.
Somehow he had ended up sleeping on the couch with a blanket thrown on top of him and a pillow under his head.
“Huh…?”
He felt like absolute shit.
“How did I…?”
As if to answer his question, Nagisa entered the living room from the hallway.
“Oh, good afternoon Karma. How's your hangover treating you?”
“My… hangover? My hangover!? What about you, where's your hangover!?”
“I woke up with a bit of a headache I guess? Oh, but after a warm shower I felt good as new.” Nagisa explained as if it was totally normal.
“I… I don't even know what to say to that. Whatever, my head is killing me, could you fetch me an ice pack or something?”
Nagisa gave a nod, and returned a moment later with an ice pack and handed it to Karma.
“Thanks. Hey, after I stopped drinking, did we end up doing… anything? Last night's memories cut out a bit after you helped me up.”
“Well I helped guide you to the toilet where you vomite-”
“Besides that, anything else?”
“Not really. I didn't want you vomiting on the bed so I decided to set you up on the couch. You were too out of it to protest.”
“...and then I must have fallen asleep sometime after that. Ok, I think I'm all caught up now. You are terrifying, Nagisa. You were barely even drunk, and then the next morning you're barely even hungover. And the worst part is you have no idea how abnormal that is. I mean, you even managed to match my record, and I was a seasoned drinker back then.”
Nagisa cleared his throat with a somewhat bashful cough.
“Actually, I beat your record.”
“...Huh?”
“W-well, your unfinished shot was just sitting there, so I decided to finish it off, meaning I had 12 shots last night.”
“Ok, wow. So you beat my record, and on your first time drinking too. I don't know how to feel about that. Scared, maybe? You'd think I would know better than to assume things based on appearance, especially when it's about you of all people. Not only are you a deadly killer, but, apparently, a deadly drinker as well."
Nagisa couldn't help but giggle at that.
“Soooo, I believe this means that I won, right? That means you'll have to do any one thing I tell you to, right Karma?”
Oh, that's right, this was a competition.
“I suppose it does mean that. Ah, but could you at least give me until this hangover goes away? That'll even give you time to think about what you'll ask for. This is a rare opportunity, you know? Make sure to properly think it over.”
"Ok. If you need me, just let me know and I'll be there right away. Otehrwise, let me know when you're feeling better."
Karma watched as Nagisa left the living room.
I wonder if I can convince him to get drunk with us at the next reunion party. The looks on everyone's face would be priceless.