Chapter 90
In Japan, minors are strictly forbidden from going to bars to consume alcohol. Establishments that sell liquor to minors are held legally accountable. Because of this, Mineo was quite surprised after hearing Mai-senpai's plan.
"I'm pretty sure minors aren't allowed to drink alcohol in Japan."
Mai-senpai shot him a sideways glance.
"I didn't expect you to actually know that. That's exactly why I chose an Izakaya."
"Do you really think anyone is going to take me for a minor?"
"Besides, they can't even see me anyway... even if I drink, no one will ever know!"
Hearing her words, Mineo immediately understood what she meant. It was true that Japan wouldn't sell alcohol or cigarettes to minors, but right now, Mai-senpai was dressed in very stylish, mature clothes. Even if people could see her, they wouldn't assume she was underage. More importantly, the current situation was that people had begun to ignore her very existence. Since no one could see her, why should she care about the rules?
But in that sentence—"besides, no one can see me anyway"—Mineo could feel a thin layer of sadness and despair hidden in her heart. Because of that, he didn't try to stop her choice for now.
The Izakaya was like a typical roadside eatery, found on many street corners. Before long, Mai-senpai led Mineo into one that didn't have many customers.
Mai-senpai waved her hand right in front of the owner's face. Sure enough, the man didn't see her at all. She went straight to a seat and sat down, with Mineo following suit and sitting right beside her.
(When Mai-senpai isn't being noticed by others, the person with her isn't noticed either.)
Mai-senpai reached out and grabbed two bottles of Sake. After pouring the liquid into a glass, she intended to take a drink. But at that exact moment, Mineo reached out and caught her wrist.
"You've never had alcohol before, have you, Senpai? Are you trying to vent just because you're in a bad mood?"
"I only came out with you to get some fresh air. You're still a student, Senpai. It's better if you don't drink."
"I told you, other people can't see me! Even if I drink, no one will care!"
"That still doesn't make it okay! Other people can't see you, but I can! Other people don't care, but I do!"
"Let go!"
"No!"
"I'm telling you one more time, let go!"
"And I'm telling you one more time, I'm not letting go!"
Mai-senpai bit her lip hard. Her bright eyes glared sharply at Mineo. However, no matter how piercing her gaze was, Mineo held onto her smooth, white wrist firmly.
After a moment's thought, Mineo straight-up snatched the glass from her hand! Along with the other glass on the table, he quickly downed the alcohol Mai-senpai had brought.
Seeing his actions, Sakurajima Mai bit her lip and stared at him with burning anger.
"Why are you drinking my alcohol?"
"Didn't you just say minors aren't allowed to drink? Then why are you—"
"I'm Chinese, not Japanese. Japanese regulations don't apply to me!"
"Now the drinks are gone. If you dare take another bottle, I'll just keep drinking it! Basically, I'm sitting right here today, and I won't let you have a single drop of alcohol!"
"Mineo, what exactly are you trying to do!?"
"I asked you out to accompany me for a drink, not to annoy me!"
"If you're going to keep being like this, then just leave! I can live perfectly fine on my own..."
"I'm not trying to annoy you, Senpai. I just don't want you drinking!"
Mineo suddenly placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to stay seated, and looked into her eyes with total seriousness.
"Honestly, I didn't intend to ask about your private affairs from the start, because I felt that if you wanted to talk, you would tell me eventually."
"After all, you always say that I'm your only friend."
"But now, I feel like I've been a bit too slow to act."
"That was your manager on the phone earlier, wasn't it? When the phone rang, your expression turned incredibly painful to look at!"
"You're feeling worried and anxious right now, and all of it is related to your manager, isn't it?"
"Let me guess... is there some kind of trouble between you and your manager?"
"My business doesn't need your... mmm..."
Mai-senpai wanted to tell him that her business didn't need his interference. But before the last word could leave her lips, she felt her mouth being blocked!
Yes, it was Mineo. He was kissing her!
Without having even a second to react, the girl's first kiss had been stolen by Mineo!
Instantly, Sakurajima Mai's body went rigid! Her pupils shrank in a sudden shock. She had never imagined, not even in her wildest dreams, that Mineo would just lean in and kiss her like that.
After giving her a firm kiss, Mineo finally pulled back.
"I wanted to communicate properly with you, but you just wouldn't listen! I was forced to use a more assertive method!"
"Mai-senpai, are you satisfied now!?"
"Didn't you say I was just a 'friend' and didn't need to care about you, and that I had no right to tell you what to do? Well, now I've kissed you and confessed my love! Whether you agree or not, in my heart, you're already part of the Takamine family."
"Back at the house, didn't you say I came here to take advantage of the situation?"
"Yeah, you're absolutely right. My reason for coming all this way this time was exactly to take advantage!"
"I told you once before—if I can see you, I'm definitely going to pursue you! The bottle is right there; if you want to hit me, Senpai, go ahead and do it!"
Sakurajima Mai sat in her chair with a completely blank stare. After a few minutes of silence, her lips finally moved ever so slightly.
"My manager... is my own mother."
"Mineo-kun, do you find it strange that I immediately cut the call when I saw her name?"
"It's because I don't like her! I really, truly don't like her!"
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