Nohara downed her wine like there was no tomorrow. "Puah!" The girl laughed softly with satisfaction. "Nice to come back to Tokyo again!" she exclaimed.
She then put her glass on the table and walked off to the club dance floor. Her tall body and smooth legs attract the attention of many people, moreover, when she dances relying on her perfect curves. The rocking of her hips and the pounding of her shoulders looks exciting and sensual, made men rush toward her, like moths approaching the light.
"Oops!" Nohara quickly realized she was in trouble. She raised one hand and said to the men who approached her. "Sorry, boys. I'm gay," said the girl. "I'm not interested in boys."
"Hey, come on," said one of them, laughing at each other. "If you come with us and trust us, we can turn you into a perfect, straight girl."
Nohara looked at the men in quirky clothes typical of Tokyo clubs with a sneer. She regretted she didn't just go to a gay club. But she wasn't here to find a partner—she just wanted to have fun, so she went to the nearest club.
Suddenly, a tall man appeared from behind the men and put his arm around their shoulders. "Oi, oi, women are no fun. Instead of going with her, why don't you guys go with me? Trust me, I can definitely turn you guys into perfect gays," the man said flatly.
The men got goosebumps and immediately walked away with disgusted faces.
The tall man, who chased away the men was Shimizu Ohta, which took Nohara completely by surprise. "Shimizu-san," she said quietly.
"Let's get some fresh air for a moment," Ohta said by making a gesture while pointing at the exit.
The two of them walked side by side with some distance to the exit. As they walked, there were no words between them. Yet they didn't feel awkward. Maybe because the club music had faded a bit, but still sounded energetic.
"Shimizu-san," said Nohara. "Are you a bi?"
Ohta choked on his own spit. "What?! No, no! I'm not…" Ohta took a deep breath, calming himself. "…I'm just annoyed at their words. Can sexuality be changed that easily?"
Nohara smiled, feeling her cheeks heat up for a moment. "Shimizu-san, sometimes young people still have doubts about their sexuality, so it's actually not that simple," said Nohara quietly.
Ohta raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is that so? I don't really understand this, considering that from the start, I was only interested in women, and that has never changed," Ohta said guiltily.
"Mm, me too. I've never been attracted to any gender other than women, and that hasn't changed," said Nohara.
Like being stabbed by a small needle, for some reason, Ohta felt a sting in his chest. It's a small, sore and annoying pain.
"But I guess, among all the women I know, only Momo-chan can really make me… you know…? She is like a goddess to me," explained Nohara. Her face was getting red.
Ohta just silently listened. His eyes stared blankly into the distance, but his face showed a hint of sadness.
Arai Momoka.
She was also his first serious love.
They both sighed at the same time.
Then when they heard each other's sighs, they both looked at each other, then laughed. They laugh at each other's misfortune. Two years is a short time, but also a long time. They felt like everything that happened just happened yesterday, but on the other hand, they were healed enough to think it was a long time ago.
Ohta suddenly stepped aside near the trash can and threw up.
Nohara looked at Ohta in shock and narrowed her eyes. She'd also been drinking heavily herself, so she didn't notice the strong smell of alcohol coming from Ohta. Did this guy come here too to drink to the point of being sick?
The Tokyo effect that attacked Nohara is indeed to blame for Nohara. But what made Ohta want to drink to vomit like this?
Nohara approached Ohta and stroked his back gently. "Shimizu-san, let's just go home, ok?"
"Glulruruhuruhrlurh!" Ohta was still vomiting the contents of his empty stomach—almost only alcohol.
"Shimizu-san, could it be that you haven't eaten at all?" Nohara asked.
Ohta leaned against the electric pole. "I haven't eaten since morning—"
"Are you tryna die?" Nohara asked, a little annoyed. "Wait here, okay? I'll buy some sober medicine for both of us," she said. After helping Ohta sit leaning against the power pole, Nohara was about to stand up, but Ohta held her hand.
Nohara's heart skipped a beat. She looked at her hand, which was held by Ohta's big hand. The man lowered his head, whispering something.
Nohara decided to crouch down in front of the man to better listen to whatever the man was trying to say.
"Arai-san... she called me," Ohta said.
"Eh?" Nohara was surprised.
.
The next morning, Nohara wakes up in an unfamiliar bed. Her head hurts.
When she got completely conscious, she heard the sound of snoring right at her side. She turned her head and saw Shimizu Ohta fast asleep by her side.
Damn.
She thought.
Nohara dug into her memory which disappeared after one specific point last night.
Ohta said that Momoka contacted him. And then Ohta fell asleep. Nohara then worked hard to guide and carry the burden of Ohta's body to bring him home. And arriving at Ohta's room, Nohara felt her own head was so dizzy, that she herself fell asleep on the same bed.
See, their clothes haven't changed since last night either.
"Shimizu-san," Nohara called softly. She knew her voice was so low that she was sure the man beside her wouldn't be able to hear her, but unexpectedly, the man suddenly sat up.
But with eyes still closed.
"Inoue-san?" asked Ohta. "Thanks for bringing me home," he said.
Bad hangover.
Ohta's voice sounded very nasal, but his demeanour and voice were very formal, like a robot.
Nohara chuckled. A sweet little laugh made Ohta fully awake. His eyes saw Nohara change position with her back to him and closed her eyes again. "As a thank, may I borrow your bed for a few more hours of sleep?" she asked.
Ohta and Nohara turned out to be the type to remember what happened when they were drunk. Ohta looked at the back of Nohara, who was still wearing the same sexy dress as last night. Her perfect curves, her long messy but fragrant hair, and her long white legs laid seductively on his bed.
If he hadn't been so drunk—or maybe if he hadn't had his last glass of drink last night, he might have pinned over this woman and eaten her.
This woman is very seductive—
But what is he thinking about? Last night, just because of one call from Momoka in the morning, he became a mess.
Momoka. Momoka. Momoka.
The effect of that woman had on both of them was lethal.
"Don't you want to ask about Arai-san?" Ohta asked the woman, who seemed to have fallen asleep again.
After a while of no answer, Nohara finally asked, "...I have no right to ask, do I?"
Ohta smiled. Nohara is a nice woman.
Ohta got up and got out of bed, then was about to open his bedroom door when he realized something odd. His brows furrowed deeply.
"Inoue-san, did you close the door of my room last night?" asked Ohta. He himself, although drunk, also had a vague feeling that after putting him on the bed, Nohara couldn't move anymore and fell asleep on the bed. Then who closed the door?
Nohara looked at Ohta with her tired confused eyes, then slowly got up. "I... didn't close..."
Ohta gulped, then opened the door to his room and saw three men sitting on the living room sofa staring straight at him.
Critical.
"Oh! You're a traitor! You never said you had a girlfriend!"
"Shut the door, you bastard! You're showing off on purpose, aren't you?!"
Two of his coworkers came.
"Heee, so who is that woman you brought home, Shimizu-san?" asked his roommate, Moriou.
When Moriou asked that, from behind Ohta, appeared Nohara, who looked awkward, while Ohta was still frozen in place with his head still loading.
Two of Ohta's other co-workers were surprised to see a beautiful woman appear from behind Ohta. Where did Ohta get such a beautiful woman?! Ohta is handsome, but isn't this too unfair?
But, then Moriou managed to stammer his mouth open. "I-I-Inoue-san?! You—and Shimizu-san?! What is this?!"
Silence.
"Are you guys experimenting with your sexuality?" asked Moriou quietly.
"Alright, Moriou, that's enough. This is a misunderstanding," with a super calm face, Ohta raised one hand and stopped Moriou's imagination.
Stop.
"Eeeeh..." Moriou looked disappointed.
"Why are you disappointed?!"