NOVEL NEXT “…Seriously, why did you pick that kind of movie?”
“Haha…”
“Seriously… you chose a horror movie…”
I never thought we’d end up watching something like that.
Thanks to that, I spent the time burying my head in the commander’s chest, and finally, the movie ended.
I was definitely a little tipsy, feeling all fuzzy, but how did we get here?
Honestly, it was quite exhausting, and I was tired.
We did wander around quite a bit starting from the arcade, but aside from that, it was just a tough situation.
No matter how I thought about it, that movie was too intense.
The commander seemed completely unfazed, though.
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t know it would be that kind of movie.”
“…That’s true.”
“Next week when we work, I’ll help you out a bit.”
“…You don’t need to do that.”
That’s a bit too much.
I was just a little shocked by the whole thing.
There was really no need for the commander to feel that sorry about it.
Of course, I was quite surprised.
“So, are you feeling a bit better now? You were shaking a bit earlier.”
“…I’m fine. What do you take me for?”
“A girl who jumps in fright at the first appearance of a ghost in a horror movie?”
“…….”
I couldn’t really argue with that.
Hmm.
“So what are we going to do now? Stay outside longer?”
“Umm… Are we going in?”
“I’ll go by what you say.”
“Uh…”
To be honest, I hadn’t really thought that far ahead either.
I hadn’t come out with some perfect plan.
I was just planning to have some fun and go back, but somehow it had turned into night.
When we left the wine bar, it was still evening, but now it was already night.
“Hmm…”
Actually, with this level of wandering around, it was sufficient, but something felt a bit lacking.
What should I do?
I wouldn’t mind just going back with the commander right away, but for some reason, I felt a bit sad about just going back.
I wanted to play a little more with the commander before heading back.
Of course, it wasn’t a huge problem if we went back right now.
Two hours ago, I definitely wasn’t thinking straight due to the alcohol, but this time, my head was spinning for a different reason.
What would be a good idea?
“Hmm…”
“If you’re not planning to go back right away… how about we find a shop and relax?”
“Is that okay?”
I thought the commander would want to go back quickly, but contrary to that, the situation was turning around.
The commander even said it was fine if we stayed out longer.
“Well, if that’s what you want, there’s no need to keep insisting on going back, is there?”
“Then… let’s do that.”
I wasn’t sure what kind of place to go into.
But what mattered was staying outside a bit longer, rather than going inside.
After all, I wanted to be outside with the commander a bit more.
“Hmm… I can’t quite remember what bars are in the area…”
“Bars?”
“Do you dislike it? I thought you liked alcohol, so I was thinking of that kind of place.”
“Um… I’m not really that fond of it, to be honest…”
I honestly didn’t expect the commander to think that way.
I didn’t particularly love alcohol, but I did enjoy it occasionally… it wasn’t a huge deal.
Since I had been drinking often while hanging out with the commander.
Still, it felt kind of interesting that the commander was aware of that.
“Then let’s go drinking.”
“Al…right…”
The commander started walking ahead, and I slowly followed behind them.
Suddenly, I felt that we had been together for a long time, and it seemed like we knew each other better than I thought.
I don’t know how to put it… but thinking this way, the commander’s back looked a bit more dependable than before.
It was clear that the commander seemed like a better person than in the past.
Of course, that was probably because I had misunderstood so many things before.
“…….”
This felt a bit awkward.
My heart.
*
“Commander, do you visit bars often?”
“Me? Do I look like the type?”
“No… it’s just that you casually suggested coming here.”
I never thought the commander would suggest going to a bar.
Of course, we had just been to a wine bar a moment ago, but that was a bit different from an ordinary bar.
The bar we entered now was lively and bustling, unlike the wine bar.
A variety of people having different conversations, a completely ordinary scene.
It was quite far from what you would call upscale.
“Well… I just thought it might be nice to hang out a bit more out here.”
“Is that so…”
“It’s just having some drinks and snacks, it’s not that hard. Although I can’t drink much.”
“Pfft…”
Well, that was true.
Hearing what the commander said made me laugh involuntarily.
That really made sense.
It was definitely true that the commander wouldn’t have often visited bars.
Someone who couldn’t drink much wouldn’t often go to a bar.
If they went too often, it would definitely lead to trouble.
“Yeah, staying in a room is nice…”
“But?”
“But I think it’s nice to be out here with you.”
“Is that so…?”
It was a sudden comment, but it didn’t feel that strange.
I was thinking the same way, after all.
Staying in a private room would be nice, but being out with the commander was actually more fun than I expected.
We hadn’t often gone out together like this.
“Am I the only one thinking this?”
“…No, I think it’s enjoyable too.”
“That’s good to hear. I would feel bad if I was the only one having fun.”
“Not at all. It’s fine to go in, isn’t it? I’m the one keeping you here.”
It felt a bit strange, but I decided to ignore that feeling and continue the conversation.
What was it?
“That’s true. We’ve only been having fun since this afternoon. At first, it was about exploring or trying things out. But essentially, we’ve just been having fun.”
“That’s…”
“You’re not very expressive, and I’m not the type to ask easily… so it was just that.”
“…Is that so.”
Well, spending time with the commander was definitely fun.
I didn’t deny that in any way.
If it hadn’t been fun, I wouldn’t have ended up here with the commander at a bar at night.
We went to the wine bar to set up new facilities for the ship, but this time wasn’t about that.
We came here just to drink.
“So, what snacks should we order?”
“Um… soup?”
“Be a bit more specific. I don’t go to bars that often, you know.”
“Let’s go with fish cake soup. And maybe some fries or mildly spicy meat…”
“Got it. As for drinks… just get yours. I won’t be drinking.”
“You really won’t take a single sip?”
Even though this is a bar.
Not drinking at all seemed a bit off, right?
Of course, I knew the commander didn’t drink much normally, but saying they wouldn’t drink at all seemed a bit too much.
“I felt a little dizzy after just a few glasses of wine, how could I drink?”
“Uh… um… that makes sense.”
It couldn’t be helped.
It wasn’t like they drank a lot, only about three glasses at most.
To think they would feel dizzy at that level.
Even though I knew the commander couldn’t drink, that was still a bit surprising.
As we chatted and waited for our order to arrive, the food soon came.
And so did the drinks.
“Okay then… I’ll just take a sip now.”
“You really don’t need to turn your head away. Just drink comfortably.”
“Um… if you say so, commander.”
I had been deliberately turning my head to drink, out of respect, but if the commander said it was okay… then it should be fine.
Even though they were my superior, I hadn’t been treating them like that during our time together.
“But do you think I like alcohol?”
“Don’t you?”
“Um… it’s not that I don’t, but I’m just a bit surprised you thought that. I didn’t expect you to remember my preferences.”
“Well, didn’t you remember mine?”
“What?”
“Your coffee preference. And I remember other details too.”
Is that so…?
Well, we’ve spent a lot of time together, so I guess it’s not that surprising.
I’ve remembered the commander’s coffee preference and various other things.
So it wasn’t really strange for the commander to know about my preferences either.
Still, it was a bit… odd.
It wasn’t something to be shocked about, just something regular that could be brushed off.
“I’m not really a big drinker.”
“?”
“I just drink what’s given to me. I’ve never gone out of my way to drink.”
“Seems like you’re drinking with me more than anyone else.”
“……..”
That was… something I couldn’t really argue against.
Thinking back, the most I had drunk was indeed with the commander.
Sure, I had drunk with others too, but only with the commander had I drunk the most.
No, just with the commander.
“That does seem to be the case.”
“So I just thought that was how it is. Do you dislike it?”
“It’s not that it’s not tasty… I just kinda like the feeling of getting a bit dizzy.”
“Sounds like you enjoy it.”
Not to the point of loving it.
But, I wouldn’t say I hated it either.
I was still sipping fruit soju from my glass.
Since it was fruit soju, I wouldn’t get wasted right away, but the taste wasn’t bad either.
Not amazing, but it was fine.
“Commander.”
“What is it?”
“…I had fun today.”
“I did too. That’s why we ended up coming to this bar.”
Aside from that.
It was just nice to spend time wandering around with the commander.
“Ha.”
“What’s with that?”
“It’s nothing.”
Well, the commander was a fool.
I wouldn’t be surprised at this point, and since I had often had such thoughts before, I decided to let it slide.
It was probably better to just drink some more.