Chapter Text
“Hi! It's good to see you again!” Maika cheerfully announced as she opened the door to her apartment.
It wasn't the first time me and Sendai-san were invited to Maika's place. But, as she said, it had been a while since we last saw each other.
“Good to see you too, Maika.” I said.
“It's been a while. I kind of missed you, Utsunomiya.” Sendai-san said similarly, as we entered Maika’s home and she escorted us to her room.
“How was your trip?” Sendai-san asked.
Before she left, Maika had told me she’d be going out on vacation outside the prefecture. It wasn't surprising – she often visited home and friends every couple of months, but this was the first time she traveled for an actual vacation. We were both interested in hearing her stories. Though, Sendai-san was more enthusiastic than I was.
Maika started recalling the details of her trip. The fancy inn she stayed at, the food she had, the beaches and locales she saw throughout, the people she met.
I was honestly kind of jealous.
Midway through her speech, Maika added, as she suddenly recalled it,
“Oh, right! There's something I've been meaning to give you.” She said as she got up to grab something in the room, and returned with a small paper bag.
“Oh, what is this?” Sendai-san asked in a surprised tone.
“It's a gift for the both of you,” Maika said, smiling, before adding, “I tried to find something specific for each of you but… I couldn't think of anything. So you two can share it.”
“A shared gift, huh.” I muttered, my head propped up on my hands.
I couldn't really think of anything that Maika would get for both of us to share. But, the skinny package inside the paper bag gave me a few ideas.
Sendai-san asked if she could open it, and, after hearing Maika's approval, ripped the cardboard paper packaging. She stared at the object in her hand for a few seconds. It was a skinny, white-colored bottle. I could instantly tell what it was, and my eyes widened involuntarily.
“This is—”
“It's Umeshu. Plum liqueur.” Sendai-san was going to say something, but Maika interrupted, before adding,
“Like I said, I didn't really know what to give you two. But, since you're both twenty now, I thought you might like it.” Maika finished, and I stared at Sendai-san for a moment.
She must've clearly understood the meaning of my stare, as she smiled back at Maika and said, “We will, thank you. You shouldn't have.”
The last time we had drank together was on my twentieth birthday, and Sendai-san had gotten drunk from a few sips of her uncarbonated apple cider. Seeing her in that bubbly, vulnerable state made me afraid of anyone else seeing it. So, I made her promise me she wouldn't go to drinking parties, or drink with others without me.
Nothing stopped us from drinking together. Although... just thinking about seeing her and having to deal with her in that state gave me a migraine, and made me want to return the gift immediately.
Before I could, however, Maika said with an uneasy tone,
“Sendai-san… I–I heard from Mio you're not good with alcohol, so… be careful, alright? That stuff is pretty strong.”
“Mio told you, huh…” Sendai-san said with a disappointed sigh, before finishing, “Well, it's okay. I'll be careful, don't worry,” with a polite smile.
After that, Maika continued talking about her vacation. I tried to pay attention, but my mind was too busy on the gift we just received. Before I realized it, we had left her apartment and were on our way home. Sendai-san held the paper bag with the liqueur inside in her left hand, as I walked beside her.
“So,” Sendai-san started.
“Absolutely not.” I immediately cut in.
“Hey, come on. I didn't even say anything.” She pouted.
“You were thinking of having it tonight, weren't you? Absolutely not.”
“You're so stingy, Miyagi. What's the big deal?”
“I don't want a repeat of last time.” I spoke firmly.
“I'll be careful, I promise.” She spoke almost pleadingly.
I don't remember how much she drank last time, but it was clearly enough to leave her in a haze and almost unconscious. I was seriously worried about her health, and even Maika said that drink would be stronger than the apple cider she had. If she were to drink it, I'd have to be on guard the whole time.
That is to say, it had to be a day where I was ready to take care of her.
“... We'll have it some other time.”
“When?”
“I don't know. On a special occasion.”
“Special occasion...” Sendai-san repeated, and let out a long sigh, before adding, “fine.”