{Drinking Together 2}

“Do you like the wine?” I asked.

Miyu put her glass down before answering, “It’s delicious, and it goes well with the food.”

“That’s good. Since it’s our first time drinking together, I wasn’t sure what would be best.”

“Yeah, it really is our first time,” she nodded, smiling softly.

“We’re both not really the drinking type, huh?”

“We don’t have the habit of drinking, both you and I.”

When I was a kid, I always thought it was normal for adults to drink.

My parents often drank with colleagues from work, and sometimes they’d have drinks together at home. When it was for work, they seemed like they had no choice, but when they drank at home, they both looked like they really enjoyed it.

Since I entered university, I’ve been to countless drinking parties. There was this atmosphere that it was natural to connect through alcohol, and everyone would chug beer like there was no tomorrow. I participated in that kind of socializing here and there, always thinking I’d eventually understand why people enjoyed alcohol. But—

I’m almost 21 now, and I still don’t get it.

However, I do understand the joy of sharing a meal with her.

“Atsushi, look! Cheese!”

Just as Miyu whispered to me, the waiter appeared from the kitchen with a half-moon-shaped cheese on a cart. The whole wheel must’ve been as big as a car tire.

Eventually, the cheese cart arrived at our table, and the waiter began finishing off the risotto. Skillfully, he stirred the steaming risotto, scraping cheese from the cut surface as he went.

“Wow, that’s amazing! So this is how it’s made!” Miyu’s eyes sparkled as she watched, and seeing her so excited made it fun for me too.

Not only wine, but perhaps Italian food was new to her as well. She was amazed by everything—the spinning pizza dough, the paper-thin crust, the flames swirling in the stone oven visible from our seats—and every time I saw her face light up, I couldn’t help but smile.

I was glad I had splurged a little and brought her here.

In the end, being with Miyu is enjoyable whether we have alcohol or not.

We don’t need the influence of alcohol to have a good time together—just spending time with her is enough to make me happy.

Of course, delicious food and drinks make it even better.

“This risotto is great, Atsushi,” Miyu said, showing me her happy face.

I smiled back, then suddenly noticed her glass was nearly empty.

“Miyu, your glass is almost empty.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

“Should we order something else? What would you like for your second drink?”

She thought about it for a moment and then said, “Can I have another glass of wine?”

“Of course.”

Surprised she liked it that much, I nodded in agreement, and she enthusiastically nodded back.

“It was really good! It goes well with the food, and I feel a bit… good, too.”

Wait. Is she getting a little tipsy?

After calling the waiter and ordering more wine, I quietly observed her.

She took a small sip from her newly poured glass and smiled a little, looking pleased. Then, realizing I was watching her, she glanced up at me with an upward gaze.

My heart skipped a beat at that look.

“The food and the wine are both so good. Thank you so much, Atsushi,” she said, her smile looking just a bit softer than usual. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she got a little more drunk.

Tonight was the first time we had ever shared a drink together.