After that, carried along by the buzz of the alcohol, the two of them drifted into more random, scattered conversations.
They complained about teachers, griped about classes—ordinary student talk. Since Kan Yuyu had taken a year off from school, Rin Amane filled her in on all the changes that had happened while she was away.
After a few bottles of beer, Rin was already starting to feel tipsy.
This was really good beer—the kind that made his head spin pleasantly.
Rin was never much of a drinker. Normally, two strong ones were his limit. With cheap supermarket beer like this, five or six cans were usually the most he could handle.
But when he looked at Kan Yuyu…
Surprisingly, she was still full of energy.
She didn't look like someone who had ever drunk before, yet she kept downing bottle after bottle, with no signs of stopping.
It was as though she had discovered some brand-new world. She'd take a few sips, peer curiously at the ingredients list, drink again, then study the nutrition chart—eyes sparkling with wonder, as if she were trying to unravel the mystery of how such a delicious thing was even made.
Whoever invented beer must have been a genius!
Watching from the side, Rin was beginning to feel overwhelmed.
So this was what they meant by natural talent?
A man being outdrunk by a woman… that was pretty humiliating.
Still, it was her first time drinking.
And though Yuyu was throwing back one bottle after another without pause, it wasn't long before she began to look a little dazed.
How could Rin tell?
Because Kan Yuyu had slipped off her shoes and propped her feet right up on the sofa. Thankfully, her skirt was long enough to keep her modesty intact.
She hadn't even asked Rin if it was okay!
He suddenly found himself missing the more reserved version of her from when they first met—the girl who asked permission before even stepping inside, who politely inquired if she could sit.
That was only half an hour ago.
Now, Rin knew he didn't need to force anything. All he had to do was keep her here until it got late enough. If she was still around by then, she wouldn't have time—or the chance—to go through with her plan tonight.
Once tonight was over, he'd have more opportunities to learn about her situation.
"Rin… what year are you?"
The sudden question caught him off guard. Her voice had gone sticky, slurred with drunkenness.
"What do you mean, what year? School year or age?"
"When were you born?"
"Two-thousand five."
"Which month?"
"June."
"Damn it… I'm December. That makes me younger."
What's so damnable about that??
Of course he'd be older—completely normal!
Rin couldn't help but grumble inwardly. Clearly, she was already pretty drunk.
"You have school tomorrow, don't you?"
"Yeah. Don't you?"
"I asked for a week off."
Asking for leave before planning to die—how… meticulous.
No doubt it was another way of "not troubling the teachers." After all, in schools here, once you took official leave, your life or death was no longer the school's responsibility.
"Then you've got to get up early tomorrow. I shouldn't stay here and bother you."
With visible effort, Yuyu tried to shake some clarity into her mind, rising from the sofa.
"It's fine. You're this drunk—where could you even go?" Rin stood up too.
"Yeah… where could I go?"
Yuyu suddenly stopped in her tracks and stared out the window.
The vast night sky stretched overhead, neon lights of the city flickering below.
That was when Rin finally realized something was wrong.
In truth, he'd felt uneasy ever since he came back to the café earlier and found its doors firmly shut.
When she hadn't picked up his calls, and despite her grandfather's home being right next door, she still hadn't chosen to return there…
Could it be that her grandfather…?
Rin didn't dare finish the thought. But he had already prepared himself for the worst.
And yet, all this time, he hadn't dared ask her directly.
He was afraid of pushing her too far.
"Rin… thank you."
"For what?"
"Even though today was the first time we met, I truly feel you're a good person. You kept me here because you were worried about me, right?"
Yuyu clutched her beer can tightly, her gaze locked onto Rin's with utter seriousness.
"Grandpa liked you, and Grandpa wouldn't like someone bad. You're kind—even to someone like me, a stranger. You have your own way of understanding classical music. If we ever meet again, I think we'd be great friends. But right now… I really can't stay here any longer."
…
The living room sank into a heavy, suffocating silence.
A bitter smile tugged at Rin's lips.
The truly kind one…
…was her.
Why was it, then?
He had only wanted to fulfill a system task. Or, at most, repay the debt he owed her grandfather.
And yet, somehow, he was already in too deep.
He had done enough. He could walk away with a clear conscience.
Even if Yuyu left now, he could always bind with someone else. It wouldn't affect the system.
And still…
Looking at this earnest girl, smiling faintly yet with resignation in her eyes, Rin found he simply could not let her die.
He'd wasted the first half of his life drifting aimlessly. Doing one good thing—maybe that would be enough to balance the scales.
Tonight, no one was going to take her away.
Not while Rin Amane was here.
"Alright. If you really want to go, then at least finish drinking with me first."
Rin's voice grew firm, unyielding.
"I'm not satisfied yet. You can't just walk off in the middle of a drinking session and leave me here alone."
"But… we already finished them all, didn't we?"
Yuyu glanced at the table. In barely an hour, the two of them had demolished seven or eight bottles. Only empty cans remained.
"Nope."
Rin strode to the fridge, smirking.
When he pulled open the lower compartment—
It was completely packed, a whole bag stuffed with beer.
Never underestimate a man who treats beer like soda.
"Wh—what…"
Yuyu bit her lip, a torn expression crossing her face. She began mumbling under her breath.
"N-no way… If I drink more, I'll pass out here…"
"This is craft beer. Totally different from the cheap stuff. Flavor's on another level."
Rin set a bottle down in front of her.
The ingredients list and nutrition chart were covered in dense text, like some unreadable spell.
She stared blankly at it, but her eyes shone with a hungry gleam.
"…Then maybe… just a little more."
[Binding Task:
Have the partner stay overnight at your home.
Extract a bodily fluid for intelligent health analysis.——Completed.]
[Partner Binding Successful – Kan Yuyu][Loading interface…]
As the system screen flickered before his eyes, Rin turned his head toward the sofa—where Yuyu had already fallen asleep. He let out a long sigh of relief.
A man's pride… was preserved!
By secretly slowing down his own pace, Rin had managed to drink less and let Yuyu knock herself out first.
Her drinking talent was terrifying. Next time, he might not be so lucky.
But now, gazing at her peaceful, beautiful sleeping face, Rin felt a sense of release.
Everything he'd done tonight… was worth it.
He gently lifted her small feet, setting them properly on the sofa. They felt like delicate little figurines in his hands.
Then he carefully slid an arm around her waist, adjusting her posture so she could rest more comfortably. Pulling a blanket over her, he tucked her in.
"…Grandpa."
Her soft murmur made Rin freeze. He looked down at her.
Talking in her sleep?
Then he remembered. Yuyu suffered from severe mental illness. Dream-talking shouldn't surprise him.
"…Don't…"
Her brows furrowed in pain, her voice trembling.
"I still want to play… please…"
"As long as you let me keep performing… I'll do anything…"
"Why… why, when I haven't done anything wrong…"