Lion !!SyL2DlMTMv 2009/05/20 (Wed) 06:12 No. 10536 [x] Accept.
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?? I guess," you frowned, rubbing the back of your neck. Ugh, with Miss Aya involved, you weren't going to be able to back out of this one until you've really drunk a lot. She was highly competitive when it came to drinking. Actually, that applied to most of the tengu. They'd always rope you into drinking with them when they had a chance, and you'd end up waking up in the morning feeling like your head was being pressed down by a boulder. Definitely not a pleasant experience. It was all fine a dandy for them, since they didn't have nearly enough trouble with hangovers, but?
"Alright, then!" Miss Aya grinned, slapping you on the back playfully. "Hey, hey. Come on, look a little lively. We're definitely going to win. None of them can match us tengu when it comes to drinking."
You wished you could share her enthusiasm, but the mere thought of just how nauseous you were going to feel the next morning already had your stomach churning a little. Bleh.
Pretty soon, everyone willing to participate had gathered up at the main table, where the apparently high-grade sake had been placed by Miss Yukari's group. It consisted of you, Miss Aya, Miss Yukari, Miss Yuyuko, Marisa, and some of the other humans and youkai that you weren't familiar with. In the background, you could still hear the Prismriver? perform. A different song. More lively than the slow one that was played before it.
"Alright, alright, let's start already!" Marisa said, excitedly slamming her cup on the table. Even though the real drinking hadn't even started, you thought she looked a little drunk already. There was no way she could last very long, right?
As you looked over the participants, Miss Yuyuko caught your glance. She was a ghost, right? Can ghosts even get drunk? She giggled, as though she had heard what you were thinking, as she concealed her face with her fan.
"Well then, everyone," Miss Yukari raised her voice, catching the attention of everyone present. "The rules for this competition are simple. Drink as much as you can without stopping. You lose if you forfeit or pass out, or can't keep up with everyone else's pace. The last one standing is the winner. Is all that clear?"
You nodded along with everyone else, holding onto your sake dish, which was already brimming with the stuff.
"Then, let's begin."
You raised the sake dish to your lips. The aroma of the drink nearly overwhelmed you, even before you had a chance to taste it. Nevertheless, you held your breath and gulped it all down in a single go. Your throat felt like it was on fire, and you had to suppress a cough as you set the dish back down, pouring more of the drink into it.
"B-bitter?" you coughed. "And cold."
"Well now, this really is high-grade stuff!" Miss Aya remarked, holding up her own dish of sake. ?it's got the right aroma and flavors. Pure, clear dry sake. it's a lot stronger than an ordinary drink. Closer to stuff the oni would drink."
Huh. it's definitely more bitter than anything else you've had. But maybe you just don't appreciate the finer etiquettes of drinking. Well, that didn't matter now. You had to keep drinking at the same pace, or you'll be disqualified.
?
It only took about fifteen minutes for some of the other humans to start giving up. They weren't too tolerant, were they? You wonder if all humans were like that, or if they were simply weak to alcohol. But if they were, they shouldn't have participated in the first place.
Marisa was especially stubborn, though. Even as her face grew more and more red, she kept pouring herself a drink. She looked like she was really at her limit, though. You were starting to get worried. But, finally, with a bitter look on her face, she forfeited. She must really hate losing, because she looked really sulky afterwards.
Soon enough, the only ones still in the competition was you, Miss Aya, Miss Yukari, and Miss Yuyuko. Miss Yukari seemed to be waning a little, as she looked somewhat tipsy, but you couldn't tell if the drink was affecting Miss Yuyuko or not. You yourself felt fine so far, but even so, you were beginning to think you wouldn't last. This was really strong stuff, after all.
Thirty minutes later, and I had finally started feeling a little uncomfortably aware of my shakiness. Miss Aya, on the other hand, was getting smashed. Thoroughly drunk, although you knew it would still take a lot more to knock her out. Miss Yukari had conceded defeat some minutes ago, but Miss Yuyuko was still going strong. Just? just how much more could she take? Urgh? getting kind of sleepy?
"I give up."
Oh? finally! Miss Yuyuko raised her hand after setting down her dish of sake. She still didn't look drunk at all, but right now, you didn't really care about that. Ugh, too much water in your stomach. You felt so uncomfortable.
"Yyyeeaaaah! We woon, Mikiooo!" Miss Aya slurred excitedly, practically draping herself over your back, accidentally knocking over her dish over the table as she gave you what could only be loosely called a hug, especially since she nearly fell down. Oddly enough, you never heard the dish hit the ground.
"Well, I guess this means you win," Miss Yukari walked over to you, her face slightly flushed. "She certainly doesn't seem to be able to continue," she said, looking at Miss Aya, barely able to stand by leaning on your back, burying her face on your shoulder.
"Ahaha," you laughed, staggering around a little from her weight. "I'm sure she could keep going if she really wanted to," you said. She was particularly stubborn as well, when it came to drinking.
"You're certainly impressive. It doesn't look like the alcohol's affecting you at all."
"Ah? um? it doesn't look like it now, but it'll really show later. We? should probably get going before that," you said, shaking your head to clear it a bit. Ugh, you'll probably be in urgent need of the bathroom when you get back as well.
"It certainly is time to wrap up this party, isn't it?" Miss Yukari smiled, looking over the shrine grounds. Most of the crowds had left during the contest, and the ones that were left were getting ready to leave. You? also noticed that all the tables were already clean. When did that happen? It was full of sake dishes just seconds ago?
"it's a shame, though, isn't it?" Hakurei invited herself into the conversation. "The first, and only flower viewing this year. I think it's a little sad that we didn't get to do this more."
"Oh? And here I thought you hated festivals like this?" Miss Yukari grinned.
"I don't hate them," Hakurei frowned, placing her hands at her waste. "it's just that nobody ever bothers to help me clean up afterwards. Fortunately, it looks like I had some help this year."
"Hey, hey, Reimu!" Marisa interjected, placing her arm around her friend's shoulder, much to her visible annoyance. "Then, let's have another party later!" She said. She was still very intoxicated, wasn't she?
"Let go. Your breath smells like alcohol," Hakurei gently shoved Marisa away, who nearly stumbled and fell. ?" And if you want to hold a party, then organize it yourself."
"Will do!" Marisa answered eagerly. "And everyone who were here today will be invited! Bring your drinks, and we'll do this again! I won't lose next time!"
"My, that sounds delightful," Miss Yukari said, looking amused. "Do tell me when you've scheduled it, won't you?" Saying that, she turned around, as another gap opened up in the air, which she stepped through.
?" But nobody knows where she lives," the shrine maiden sighed, shaking her head.
Well, no point in sticking around now. You said your farewells to Marisa and Hakurei, and bid goodbye to Youmu and Miss Yuyuko, and flew off, supporting Miss Aya.
? But something bothers you.
Where did all this mist come from?
