"Cough, cough!"
Choking on his drink, Hakushi immediately opened his eyes and started coughing.
Upon opening his eyes, he realized that the atmosphere at the dining table was a bit off.
He observed Ruri and Ayane glaring at each other fiercely, several bottles already empty beside them, their faces flushed with drunkenness.
"If you can't handle your liquor, don't drink so much. We still have to continue at the festival later."
Hakushi watched the two silently competing, initially thinking he could spend the day uneventfully, but it seemed he had thought too much.
How could these two women possibly coexist peacefully?
Sparks erupted in the air where their gazes met.
"Oh, don't worry, Hakushi-kun, I'm fine. Not like someone, I can hold my drink exceedingly well, never falling even after a thousand cups."
Ayane raised her glass and downed her drink in one go.
"I've heard that women burdened with certain assets have poor drinking etiquette."
"Oh, are you so jealous you've lost your composure?"
Ayane puffed out her chest, something inside the thin fabric trembling slightly.
"Aren't you the jealous one? I've completely won after all. Your ugliness is written all over your face."
Ruri showed a contemptuous smile, quietly and elegantly raising her glass to drink.
Ayane took a deep breath, her chest heaving, one could imagine the turmoil of her emotions.
Then, she spat out three words:
"...Teapot lid."
A '井' character appeared on her forehead, these words stabbed at Ruri's sore spot.
"Who's lying beside Hakushi now? Can't your Byakugan see it?"
"Teapot lid."
"...Wench."
"Teapot lid."
A white flash streaked across the air.
A fork and knife collided, sparking fiercely.
"Um, I think you both might be drunk, maybe you should take a dip in the hot spring to calm down?"
Hakushi feared the two would start a fight at this point.
"Hakushi-kun, you just sit there."
"That's right, isn't it your fault for not managing your lower half?"
"I've always found it strange. Clearly, I'm the one who first opened up to Hakushi-kun, and I'm the first to kiss him, so why would a teapot lid like you shamelessly seduce Hakushi-kun?"
Ayane vented her anger on Ruri.
The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became.
She took a heavy swig of her drink.
"What practical meaning do your words have? You, the shameless one."
"Weren't you the one who first intervened in my love life?"
"Even if I did intervene, it doesn't change the fact that you're weaker than me. The resentful face of a loser is truly ugly."
"Using strength to determine superiority, no wonder Hakushi-kun still clings to gentle me. Being with you must be very stressful for Hakushi-kun."
Watching the two verbally spar and glare at each other with unwavering eyes, the sparks collided in the air. It seemed the commotion might last all night.
Hakushi sighed softly.
Forget it, drink up.
The sound of flutes drifted into their ears, the bustling festival was still ongoing.
This year, it might just be a peaceful one.
◎
At noon, the sun was shining brightly.
It was a beautiful day.
With the lively festival over, Shion City appeared tranquil and empty during the day.
Something was moving in the bed, and Ruri got out, her long hair trailing behind her as she began to put on clothes from the floor.
"Ruri, what time is it now?"
Hakushi asked drowsily.
Having drunk too much with Ruri and Ayane at the hot spring inn last night, his head was still a bit dazed.
The bed was warm, and he didn't feel like getting out.
After all, it was the New Year, allowing him to rest for a few more days without having to worry about work.
Ruri didn't answer but instead said, "I'm going out to buy a house."
"Buy a house? Why buy a house?"
Hakushi was taken aback; wasn't the house they lived in just bought a few days ago?
How come they're buying another one so soon?
"This house isn't clean, buying a new one to live joyfully."
Expressionless, Ruri left, her demeanor as cold as ever.
"Hakushi-kun, what's wrong? Still want more? No way, I was already worn out last night..."
A voice came from the other side, a pale arm draped over Hakushi's neck, Ayane's eyes struggled to open, her face still flushed with drunkenness, emitting playful laughter.
"Ayane? You..."
Hakushi only then realized Ayane was also lying beside him, and his head began to ache again.
Upon careful recollection, because the three of them got terribly drunk last night, then...
Hakushi's face turned pale instantly.
"Ayane, get up quickly!"
"Hmm? What's happening?"
Hearing Hakushi's panicked shout, Ayane half propped herself up on the bed, dressed in a half-opened nightgown, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"No time to explain, hurry—"
Boom!
The foundation collapsed, the entire villa tilted thirty degrees due to a massive force, and the walls cracked visibly.
Hakushi and Ayane tumbled off the bed in a panic as large stones fell from above.
Ruri stood on the snow-covered road, looking at the house turned into ruins, expressionless.