Time just flew. A month later, Filia and I were sitting across from one another at a table in our room at the inn, sharing a drink. Filia was still reeling from saying goodbye to Ashley and Loli Loli, so I was trying to console her, even if just a little bit. It was heartbreaking to see her sniffle and cry each night. I thought it would be better if I just let her get it all out, but…
“Hey, I grilled up some chicken breast to have as a snack. Eat up.”
“Breast?! Why did you bring up breasts?! Men are always talking about breasts!”
“You’re already drunk.”
She always got drunk way too fast, every time. It wasn’t just that she couldn’t handle her liquor—this was two sips in! Despite my caution Filia was already chugging her next beer, taking big gulps.
“Whew! I’m shtill not drunk yet, y’know?! Theresh no way I’d get drunk that quick. Whose do you think I am, anyway, huh? I’m the transhcendentally beautiful elf, Filia!” She hiccupped.
Okay, come on…she was clearly drunk.
Another ten minutes later, and Filia was sprawled on the table, groaning, still sipping her beer little by little. She was totally smashed.
“Hey, you okay? This, uh, doesn’t look too good…”
“Ashley…Loli Loli…” Filia sniffed.
And now she was a sad drunk, too…
Filia looked at me and her eyes got wide. Then she slammed her hand on the table.
“Yuri, you didn’t drink at all! You’re only making me drink…” She hiccupped. “You’re getting me allllll drunk, and then what, you’re going to do something totally indecent, eh? Ehh? Aren’t you a human being, Yuri?! You’re so awful…”
There was no getting through to her now. She was the personification of a victimhood complex. There wasn’t even the faintest hint of Filia’s usual dignity in the teary-eyed glare she was shooting me. For the time being, I’d just deal with it.
“I wasn’t thinkin’ about that at all.”
“That’s a big lie! Because I happen! To have! Clairvoyaaaance! I can read your mind!”
Come on, did she really have to point her finger at me? If she bothered to read my thoughts with her Clairvoyance, she’d see I wasn’t thinking about that stuff at all! Then again, if I went out of my way to deny it, she’d just get more ticked off.
Being the mature adult I am, I decided I’d just agree with her. “Okay, sure, I was thinking that. There, you happy?”
“Seeeeee?! I knew it! I’m just too cute and adorable, so it makes me a target. Oh, what a sinful girl I am…” For some reason, Filia was giving me a cold look. I just couldn’t keep up with her.
“Don’t just go off the rails.”
“Shut up, shut up! I’m lonely! Listen to me, Yuri!”
“Okay, okay!”
She was way too drunk, so she started running her mouth all over the place. And since she was laying on the table with her legs flapping around like that, I could see her chest. Jeez, she really needed to be more careful about these things. And what was with all those cold looks she was giving me?
“Yuuuuuuri? Is something the matter?”
“Nothing, really.”
“Then let’s keep talking. Oh, those girls were so near and dear to my heart. Not that you aren’t, of course, Yuri! It’s like, well, it’s just different. Yeah, it’s sort of like…they’re little sisters?” Filia nodded, apparently to herself. “Yeah, little sisters. So, it feels like my two sweet little sisters left me. In other words…simply put…I miss then, I miss theeeeeem!”
“That’s rough.” I was on the same wavelength, so I nodded with a serious look on my face.
But even after all that, Filia couldn’t stop talking about them. I listened to her lament until daybreak. When the yellow morning sunlight poured in through the curtains and lit up the room, I decided to move the completely drunk Filia, who was lying prostrate on the table, over to the bed. Her soft body melted on my back. It was completely different from a guy’s. She wriggled a bit as I carried her.
“Ugh, Yuri, you peeeeerv.”
“Don’t make a fuss, or I’ll drop ya,” I said, ignoring her grumbling.
Soon after, I heard gentle breathing against my neck. She was asleep. When I looked at her face, she seemed less troubled. Her mouth was moving slightly as she sleepily mumbled.
“Jeez…” I hope this is the last time I ever drink with Filia.
The next day came all too soon.
“Oooof! Yuri, good…morning?” Filia sat up in her bed, rubbed her drowsy eyes, and fixed her disheveled silver hair. “Huh? What? Hm?”
Her eyes scanned the room, then suddenly stopped moving. She winced suddenly, and hard. The muscles in her face were twitching.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Well, it’s just, I feel like I have some rather mortifying memories floating around in my head. I want very much to cover my eyes. Um…that…was a dream, wasn’t it?”
She’d been pretty darn drunk, but I guess she still remembered. Flustered as she was, I still told her the truth.
“Unfortunately, that was real.”
“N-no way…”
“Well, I understand how you feel, Filia, so I’ll let it slide.” Everybody wants to forget their sorrows now and then.
“Ugh…and just when I solidified my reputation as a flawless beauty!” she huffed.
“Relax, you’ve never had that.”
Filia’s face flushed red as she slipped back into bed and kicked her legs. I’d say she was more of a flaw-ful beauty than a flawless one.
“I’m so embarrassed. Do not look at me!”
“Okay, okay!”
I turned toward the wall. The sound of Filia’s legs kicking echoed throughout the room. While Filia was still throwing her embarrassment tantrum, an unexpected knock came at the door. The thumping of Filia’s kicking legs prevented her from noticing, but my well-trained ears clearly detected the sound. I left Filia there, still blissfully ignorant, and headed toward the door. When I opened it, I balked.
“Hey. Filia?”
“What is it, Yuri? I’m so embarrassed right now that I feel like I’m going to faint, so please just leave it for later unless it’s a matter of utmost importance.”
“Well, yeah, it is pretty important.”
I headed over to Filia with our two guests in tow. Said guests approached Filia to properly greet her.
“Long time no see, Big Sis! Ah, I just don’t know what to do with myself after seeing you be so cute, hee hee!”
“It’s been a long time! I came to see you too! You’re welcome!”
Yep. Ashley and Loli Loli had come by.
“While I was training in the mountains, I saw Loli Loli flying through the sky.”
“I was feeling lonely,” said Loli Loli, “so I went to find everyone!”
We sat across from one another in the living room, catching up and sorting out how we’d all come to be together in the same room again.