Chapter 10 Having a Drinking Party With Friends After a Long Time
#OtokotomodachiHaving a Drinking Party With Friends After a Long Time
A few nights later.
At a tatami room in an izakaya near campus.
“So yeah, I broke up with my girlfriend! That’s why you guys better cheer me up today! Cheers!!”
““Haha! Cheers to the king of the unlucky in love!””
I had invited some friends to a drinking party. Besides me and Nagi, there were two other friends from university: Uejima Haruki 上島 春樹 and Murase Shun 村瀬 駿, making it a group of four.
I was honestly so grateful they came, especially on such short notice.
“Hey, what’s with that awful toast? Are you guys even trying to cheer me up? Puhaha!”
“Haha, what else can we do but laugh and drink about it? Just accept it and let us roast you all night! Puhaha!”
“Exactly! It’s your fault for hosting such a hilarious party. Right, Nagi, you think so too, right?”
“Fufu, I agree. Taiki, this is on you for planning such a funny gathering. So, you might as well let us tease you the whole time.”
“Ugh, all of you are just making fun of me! Fine, laugh all you want! Puhaha!”
And so, we bantered lightheartedly while enjoying our drinks.
“Haha, we’re not really mocking you. It’s just been a while since we hung out, so we’re a little excited. Give us this one, alright?”
“Exactly. You’ve seemed super busy lately, Taiki. We’ve barely gotten to hang out with you, and honestly, we missed it. So we’re really happy to be drinking with you tonight!”
“H-Haruki… S-Shun…”
Both Haruki and Shun, still laughing, said those heartfelt words to me.
Looking back, for the past couple of months, Nanami’s endless demands had consumed my time. I was at her place nearly every day, cooking, doing laundry, shopping, and cleaning.
After breaking up, I’d only spent time with Nagi. I hadn’t seen my other friends at all.
(That’s why drinking with them like this after so long feels so refreshing…)
Feeling genuinely happy, I made sure to thank Haruki and Shun for their kindness.
“Thanks a lot, guys. I’m really happy we’re drinking together again. Let’s do this more often, alright? You better show up every time!”
“Ah, that might be tough. Unlike you, I have a girlfriend now. Haha!”
“Yeah, same here. I just started dating someone, so I might not make it every time. Haha!”
“Wha… Wait, what!? You both have girlfriends now!? Since when!?”
“Well, Shun and I went to a group dating event a while back. We hit it off with some university girls, and after a few double dates, things got serious.”
“Wha… That’s so unfair! Everyone’s suddenly coupled up while I wasn’t looking!?”
“Haha, don’t worry, Taiki. I don’t have a girlfriend either, so you’ve still got me in the single squad. Not everyone’s coupled up, you know.”
“Nagi… Thank you for not leaving me behind… You’re my only ally now… Let’s stick together, alright?”
“Haha, as if a super handsome ‘Prince Charming’ like Nagi-sama and a regular guy like you could ever be in the same league! Nagi could probably get a girlfriend in an hour if he wanted to.”
“Exactly! Comparing Nagi and Taiki is like night and day. Nagi, don’t baby him too much!”
“Hey, knock it off! This is supposed to be a cheer-up party for me! You guys should pamper me like Nagi does! Cheers!!”
““Haha, no chance! Cheers!!””
Laughing loudly, we refilled our glasses and raised another toast.
“Gulp, gulp… Ahh! Drinking with you again after so long is the best. Honestly, when you suddenly invited us to this party, I was surprised. But hearing the reason was your breakup? That was even more shocking!”
“Totally! I mean, your ex was your childhood friend from elementary school, right? In romantic comedies and fiction, childhood friends usually end up getting married. Reality doesn’t work like that, huh?”
“Don’t remind me! We were together for almost seven years, and then she cheats on me and we break up. Can you believe it?”
“Yeah, that’s rough. But honestly, seven years is incredible. You’re loyal, serious, and kind—that’s probably why it lasted so long.”
“Exactly! Taiki, you’re a great guy. But still, to have it end up because she cheated on you… It’s heartbreaking. Want me to lend you some AVs? I’ve got some childhood-friend-themed ones!”
“Oh, or I could order some of ‘those toys’ for you. There’s even a childhood-friend series. Want me to hook you up?”
“Puhaha! What’s with that? I don’t need any of that! At least pick a different genre if you’re offering!”
“““Hahaha!”””
By that point, the a🬀cohol had gotten to us, and we couldn’t stop laughing at the ridiculous jokes.
Honestly, when you’re heartbroken, nothing beats hanging out with your guy friends, sharing dumb jokes, and laughing your heart out.