Chapter 15: Alcohol Is Dangerous

Not long after we started talking, splendid dishes began to be set on the table.

It was all sorts of seafood dishes, like sashimi.

I didn’t know there were so many types of seafood dishes…

It made me think that this world is indeed different.

Anyway, we started eating the dishes that filled the table.

“Alright, alright, it’s all on me today, so eat a lot!”

The CEO’s declaration of treating us echoed along with the meal.

Thanks to that, my heart felt at ease.

“Hehe, Yua-ssi, try… try this too.”

Noa-unni handed me a dish that was far away.

The memory of before came to mind, and I was a little scared, but I just took it.

Refusing would also look strange.

And honestly, I also wanted to try the dish that Noa-unni offered.

Because my arms were short, I couldn’t eat the food on that side by myself.

“Nom.”

Hmm, it’s a subtly luxurious taste.

A taste that was exactly as I had expected; I nodded my head.

Right, this kind of food is good too, but I like sweet food more.

After finishing all the food on my plate.

I picked out and put on my plate the foods that looked sweet at a glance.

“Om nom nom.”

Mmm, what an incredible taste!

The combination of the luxurious sweet taste and the ingredients was fantastic.

It made me think that this is why people spend money.

Mmm… but why does it feel like everyone is looking at me…?

I put down my chopsticks and lifted my head.

They all quickly turned their heads away.

It wasn’t an unfamiliar situation, so I just let it be.

The members seemed to have felt it too and continued their conversation.

And I just naturally joined in that conversation.

“Since we’ve met like this, shall we have a drink?”

When everyone had eaten their fill, the CEO threw out a suggestion.

Then, with sparkling eyes, she opened the liquor catalog.

The distance was a bit far, so I couldn’t see it in detail.

But I could tell just by a glance that there were an incredible number of types of alcohol.

“It’s a bit much to order soju and beer when we’ve come all this way… want to try what I recommend?”

“Oh my, if it’s what the one paying wants, anything is fine.”

Garam-unni agreed with a beaming smile.

Just from her expression, it seemed like she really liked alcohol.

“Then shall we try this one.”

In response, the CEO called an employee and ordered the alcohol.

Then, not even a minute after ordering, we could see the alcohol being served.

And it wasn’t just the alcohol that came out; it came with luxurious plating and glasses.

“Ooh…! CEO-nim, what’s this! Aren’t you overdoing it today?”

Sua said in surprise.

And it was understandable, because the appearance of the alcohol was unusual.

The appearance of that alcohol was a jet-black base, with gold and red lines drawing the shape of a cherry blossom tree.

It was a design that anyone would think was expensive.

And it was indeed expensive alcohol.

[Akasakura]

A sake with a refreshing and bright fruit aroma that is exquisite.

I couldn’t drink it often because of the price of 20,000 yen per bottle.

But it was a drink I had favored for a long time.

Thud.

And so, that drink went around and arrived in front of me.

“But Yua? Alcohol… it’s okay for you to drink, right?”

Gyeoul-unni, who was next to me, asked.

Honestly, it’s not that I hadn’t thought about it.

But that drink was so tempting that I decided to just try it.

“I’ll give it a try.”

The alcohol being poured quietly.

Its faint glow was quite brilliant.

“Shall we have a toast?”

Everyone raised their arms holding their glasses in unison.

It was a sight I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Alright, everyone, let’s do our best and get along from now on!”

Clink

There was the comical incident where my glass couldn’t reach the cluster of glasses because my arm was short.

But I just gave a hollow laugh and drank the alcohol.

Since it was a naturally sweet alcohol, it wasn’t burdensome even for my changed body.

Though it feels like the slightly bitter taste is stronger than before…

It’s just my imashunashun, wight…?

“…aya, are you okay…?”

Hweh… did someone call me…?

I’m a wittle tipsy, but I’m not dwunk…

Anyway, what’s thaat?

There’s a big dumpling…

Ooh… but wasn’t this a Japanese restaurant?

Well, whatevwer, I wike dumplings!

Squish

“Hehe, squishy squishy!”

“…in, you can’t…!”

Woah… the dumpling is sho squishy!

Should I take a bite?

“Haum…”

“Kyaaat…!”

Heeheehee, what, the dumpling can talk too?

This is fun…

“Chew chew…”

“…aya, stop iit…!”

The dumpling is saying something… but I can’t hear it well…

And, I don’t know why I’m so sweepy…

Ooh, if I fall asleep, someone will take care of me, wight…

Huh? Where am I?

I sat up and looked around.

“Ugh… my head…”

Along with a splitting headache, an unfamiliar place came into view.

But, really, where is this?

As far as I remember, I went to some Japanese restaurant for a company dinner.

I only remember exchanging a word or two and eating.

I had no idea what had happened from then until now.

Could it be… I was kidnapped?

Was I… kidnapped by a pervert aiming for my… body?

It… hasn’t already happened, has it…?

I carefully lifted my pants and checked my lower half.

Seeing that it was fine, it seems it hasn’t happened yet.

Phew, I’ve passed one hurdle at least…

I held my throbbing head and got up from my seat.

Because I have to escape before that pervert appears and XXes me.

Right… something like that must never happen…

Clunk

As I opened the door, a bright sunlight and a living room came into view.

Ah, there’s the front door over there.

I can escape through there, right?

I lowered my body and began to tiptoe towards the front door.

“Oh, you’re up…”

“Heeik! I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me just this once…!”

I’ve been discovered!

A-and by a man who looks at least 50cm taller than me…!

I carefully lifted my head and glanced at his lower body.

No, no, I can’t handle something like that… I’ll die!

I cowered in fear.

Tears welled up at the shocking future I had to face.

“Hey, Yoon Seongjun! Why are you making our Yua cry?”

“Uh… huh?”

At the familiar voice coming from somewhere, I turned my head.

Where I turned my head, Gyeoul-unni was standing with her arms crossed.

Ah… is this Gyeoul-unni’s house?

I don’t know why I’m at Gyeoul-unni’s house, but I think I misunderstood something.

“Yua, are you okay?”

“Uh… yes. But who is this person…?”

“Ah, you were surprised, right? This is my younger brother, Yoon Seongjun. He’s 18.”

Eh? That’s an 18-year-old?

He looks like he’s at least in his 30s.

Whatever he looks like, I should apologize first.

Because even if it was a misunderstanding, what I did was clearly rude.

“I-I’m sorry for the misunderstanding!”

“It-it’s okay, this kind of thing happens often.”

He scratched the back of his head and told me to talk comfortably, then went into his room.

Honestly, it was a bit burdensome, so I was grateful.

“Um… unni? I can’t remember, so could you tell me what happened yesterday?”

“Huh? You really don’t remember anything?”

“No…”

Gyeoul-unni, with a somewhat troubled expression, began to explain what happened yesterday.

Yeon-a, while thinking it was expensive.

Decided to order a high-class sake, thinking it would be better to drink something good.

“Your ordered liquor is here.”

Yeon-a smiled and passed the bottle around.

On such a special day, she wanted to let the members experience the taste of her favorite drink.

“Alright, everyone, let’s do our best and get along from now on!”

Except for Gyeoul, who was holding a glass of juice because of the car, all the members toasted and sipped their drinks.

Perhaps because it was expensive alcohol, everyone seemed to feel a pleasant sensation as it went down.

…It was good up to that point.

As the alcohol went in, the atmosphere became harmonious, and it felt like everyone had become closer than before.

But, there was one person.

Only Yua couldn’t join in that atmosphere.

It wasn’t a communication problem.

It was just that her face had turned bright red.

And that was after just one drink.

Yeon-a had been worried because of Yua’s small frame.

But she remembered that she had work experience and passed her the drink.

Because she thought she would know her own tolerance and control it herself.

But from Yeon-a’s perspective, that was, by all accounts, a state of complete intoxication.

‘Is she… okay?’

Nevertheless, because Yua was sitting there quietly smiling, Yeon-a was unsure.

“Gyeoul? Um… I think Yua’s condition is a bit strange, can you check on her?”

Hearing Yeon-a’s words, Gyeoul looked at Yua and opened her mouth.

“Yua, are you okay?”

“Ehehehe…”

Even at Gyeoul’s question, Yua didn’t react much.

She just kept smiling foolishly.

‘Hmm… as the CEO said, it seems this kid is really drunk. But can you get drunk after just one drink?’

Gyeoul, with such thoughts, just looked at Yua.

But at that moment, an incident occurred.

Squish

“Hehe, squishy squishy!”

“Y-Yua! Not there…!”

Yua’s small, fern-like hand began to grope Gyeoul’s chest.

And what’s more, it didn’t stop at groping.

It means that along with some mumbling, the next action appeared.

“Haum…”

“Kyaaat…!”

The next action was from the mouth.

She began to mumble over the clothes on the upper part of Gyeoul’s C-cup-sized chest.

“Chew chew…”

Despite wearing a thin bra, Gyeoul felt a ticklish sensation.

“Ugh… Yua, stop iit…!”

But Yua’s mouth didn’t stop.

It meant she just kept mumbling endlessly.

“Hut…”

Thinking it would be bad to leave her alone any longer, Gyeoul pushed Yua away.

At that, Yua tilted her head with the cutest expression in the world.

“Hweh… the dumpling is moving…!”

Not long after saying that, Yua buried her head in the table and fell asleep.

It was something that happened in just 10 minutes after drinking.

“CEO-nim… what should I do about this…”

Gyeoul looked at Yeon-a with a bewildered expression.

However, Yeon-a was in the same state as Gyeoul.

Because the unthinkable had happened.

“Um… does anyone know where Yua lives?”

“Ah, I do, but…”

Gyeoul opened her mouth timidly.

Seeing that, Yeon-a made a relieved expression.

After somehow finishing the company dinner, Gyeoul put Yua in the car and took her home.

She thought it was a really good thing she didn’t drink.

Because if something like this happened and she couldn’t even use her car, it would be a disaster.

The fact that she knew Yua’s home address was good news for her.

Click

They soon arrived at Yua’s house.

Gyeoul held onto the staggering Yua and headed to her house.

“Yua? We’re at your house, can you please enter the password?”

“Hwaeeng…? Yua doesn’t know thaaat…”

However, Yua was not in her right mind.

She didn’t even have the mental capacity to enter the password for the front door.

“What should I do about this…”

While agonizing, Gyeoul brought Yua back to the car.

Because the weather was too cold for early winter.

“I have no choice…”

As if she had decided something, Gyeoul moved the car.

The destination she set was her own home.

Since it had come to this, she thought she would let her sleep at her house for today.

And then take her home the next day.

Gyeoul’s younger brother also lived with her.

But it was an idea that came from thinking it would be better than getting a motel room and letting Yua sleep there.

Ding-a-ling

They soon arrived at her house.

Gyeoul carefully opened the front door.

‘Nothing will happen, right…?’

Gyeoul, with all sorts of worries, entered the house.

Without knowing what would happen from now on…