Chapter 26: ⚠️ Caution: Do Not Give Alcohol

The shopping spree continued for Ruah, Juju, Himari, and Suah, who had joined them.

Juju bought a hat and hairpins to match her new clothes.

Himari bought a new strap for her katana scabbard at a Hunter equipment store.

Suah chose a small ornament for Ruah’s room.

And Ruah… exhausted, slept on Suah’s back the whole time.

After wandering around the mall for hours, it was almost evening.

“Mmm….”

Ruah woke up on Suah’s back at the sound of her stomach rumbling.

“……?”

After looking around in a daze, Ruah suddenly came to her senses and struggled. It took her a few seconds to remember where she was and why she was there.

“Wh-What, put me down!”

“Oh. Sis, you’re awake?”

Ruah hopped off Suah’s back, her face flushed.

“Y-You should wake someone up when they fall asleep!”

“You could have slept more.”

“I apologize for not being able to lay you down somewhere more comfortable.”

“Hehe, your cheeks were so soft.”

Suah, Himari, and Juju each replied.

“Ugh….”

It seemed they had even touched her cheeks while she was sleeping soundly.

‘They’re really treating me like a child!’

“Tsk, whatever. If we’re done shopping, let’s go home.”

Ruah said curtly, crossing her arms. As the mall was starting to empty, her courage seemed to be returning.

“Aren’t you rushing? It’s Sunday tomorrow.”

Suah said, and the other two students agreed.

“That’s right. Let’s have dinner before we go.”

“It’s my first time eating out since entering the academy. Please, teacher.”

“Hmm….”

Although she wanted to return to her room as soon as possible, she couldn’t refuse when the other three asked so earnestly. Plus, Ruah didn’t think she could hold out until they got home either.

“Okay. Let’s have dinner. What do you want to eat?”

“How about letting Himari choose?”

Suah suggested.

“She said she wanted to try a lot of new things since she came here.”

It seemed the three had become quite close while Ruah was sleeping.

‘Well, it’s not a bad thing for them to become friends….’

“Would that be alright with you, teacher?”

Himari asked Ruah first. Ruah readily nodded.

“Yeah, what do you want to eat? Japanese food?”

“No, I’d rather have Korean food.”

Himari’s eyes sparkled as she clenched her fists.

“I want to try… fried… chicken…!”

“Here’s your chicken.”

A steaming plate of fried chicken was placed on the table where the four were sitting. Himari looked at the chicken curiously.

“I heard it’s chicken… how is it cooked?”

“It’s coated in batter and deep-fried.”

Ruah, still sleepy, yawned and took a piece with tongs.

“There’s karaage in Japan, right? It’s similar to that.”

“Ah, you mean that dish. I know it exists, but I’ve never tried it.”

“Huh? But it’s Japanese food.”

“My father forbade me from eating unhealthy food.”

“Really? Here, try it.”

Ruah used the tongs to place a piece of chicken on Himari’s plate. The golden, glistening chicken went into Himari’s small mouth.

Himari chewed. Then, her eyes widened.

“……!”

“How is it? Delicious?”

“Oh my…!”

Himari began devouring the chicken as if possessed. The irresistible magic of K-fried chicken.

Their drinks arrived, and the four began their meal in earnest.

“Thank you so much for choosing clothes for me earlier.”

“Anything looks good on you, Juju, you have a great sense of style.”

“Right, right.”

—Crunch, crunch.

“I still don’t think she looks any different….”

“What?”

“Are you sure you’re the older sister, teacher?”

“I told you! Want to see my ID?”

“Ah, ahaha, I-I believe you.”

—Crunch, crunch, crunch.

“Himari, try talking while you eat….”

Ruah tilted her glass and looked at the three students enjoying their meal.

‘This is fun….’

Although she had seen them in the game, it was different from interacting with them in person. The thoughtful Suah, the straightforward Himari, and the energetic Juju, they were all adorable.

‘Maybe I should thank the person who trapped me in the game.’

“Huh? Who gave the teacher beer?”

“You ordered it yourself earlier.”

A subtly sweet and warm feeling spread through Ruah’s body. She started swaying slightly in her seat.

‘Huh, why am I doing this?’

“Himari, you shouldn’t give alcohol to a child!”

“So you didn’t believe me after all, Juju.”

“That’s not the point.”

Juju and Himari turned their heads at Suah’s words.

“My sister’s drinking habits…!”

Ruah felt happy and excited. Her true nature, usually suppressed by her social anxiety, began to surface.

“Hehehe.”

Ruah giggled foolishly. Her face was already flushed, and her eyes were unfocused after just one glass of beer.

“See, this is why I told you to only drink at home.”

Suah facepalmed.

“Wh-What are her drinking habits like?”

“Teacher? You should stop now.”

Himari, sitting next to Ruah, reached out to take away Ruah’s glass, feeling uneasy.

—Grab!

Ruah snatched her wrist.

“Teacher?”

“Himari.”

“Yes, teacher.”

Although she answered as usual, Himari’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Am I pretty?”

“?!?!”

Ruah took Himari’s hand and stroked her own face with it. Himari froze in shock.

“Am I not… pretty?”

Dissatisfied with the lack of response, Ruah shuffled closer to Himari.

“Hehe, I think you’re very pretty, Himari.”

“……?!”

Ruah reached out her small hand and stroked Himari’s hair. Himari and Juju gaped at her unexpected actions.

“My sister’s personality does a 180 when she drinks….”

Suah sighed deeply, but Ruah didn’t notice her sister’s reaction.

“You have long eyelashes and a high nose… who do you take after to be so pretty?”

“T-Teacher… what are you saying….”

Ruah’s flushed face drew closer, and she caressed Himari’s cheek. Himari tried to act nonchalant, but couldn’t stop herself from blushing.

“You know how much I like you… right? Both your skills and your looks….”

“……!”

She even rubbed her flushed face against Himari’s cheek. Himari gasped involuntarily and covered her mouth with her hand.

“L-Like…?”

“T-Teacher! Snap out of it!”

“Huh? Juju, you were here too!”

As if changing targets, Ruah moved towards Juju, who was sitting on the other side. She wriggled under the table.

“Juju, thank you so much for last time.”

Ruah climbed between Juju’s legs, wrapped her arms around her firm waist, and buried her face in her stomach, like a puppy starved for affection.

“Eek! T-Teacher, this is… so unfamiliar…!”

“Sniff, sniff.”

“Kyaa!”

People at nearby tables turned to look. Juju desperately pulled Ruah out from under the table and sat her down.

“Teacher, snap out of it!”

“Mmm.”

But Ruah pulled Juju’s head down and hugged her.

“Juju, you’re our party’s dependable tank… and in charge of cuteness….”

“Cuteness?”

“Yeah, Juju is cute.”

“……!”

Juju’s face turned bright red.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough.”

Finally, Suah grabbed Ruah under her arms, lifted her, and sat her on her lap.

“Drink some water, sis.”

“No.”

“Now.”

At Suah’s stern tone, Ruah, though whining, took the glass of water.

—Gulp, gulp.

“Phew.”

“Feeling better?”

“…….”

Unfortunately, no.

“Hehe, Suah, Suah.”

“Oh dear….”

Ruah turned in Suah’s lap and hugged her, facing her. Like a puppy, she nuzzled her sister’s neck and sniffed.

“Ah, sis, th-there.”

“Sorry… that I’m not your real sister….”

No one understood Ruah’s mumbling. As she rubbed her forehead against Suah’s neck, she noticed a drop of salad dressing on her sister’s lips.

“Honestly, you’re so messy.”

—Lick.

“?!?!”

Suah, like the other two before her, was finally defeated.

Ruah, having turned the three girls’ faces beet red, crawled back to her seat under the table.

In her spinning world, she could only see the embarrassed faces of her students.

“Thank you… guys. Hehe.”

“Teacher?”

“Teacher.”

“Sis….”

Struggling to maintain consciousness, Ruah blurted out what she had been keeping inside.

“You know I love you all, right?”

—Thud!

With those words, Ruah slumped forward, hitting her forehead on the table, and passed out.

“…….”

“It seems she was very tired.”

“Yeah, I think she overdid it.”

“We should lay her down.”

Suah, Himari, and Juju helped Ruah lie down on a long bench. The three looked down silently at Ruah, who was sleeping soundly.

“I think it might be okay to let her drink sometimes.”

“…Right?”