"If you're sleepy, go back to your room to sleep."
Aki took a sip of the frothy, ice-cold beer in his glass and said casually without turning his head.
Denji stood up, yawned widely and lazily, and slowly walked towards his room, dragging his somewhat heavy steps.
Renji took advantage of Power being busy gorging herself opposite him, unable to pay him any attention. He picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a few meatballs from the table, put them into his mouth, and asked indistinctly, "Hey, Power. Who told you that… it's just an organ and can't talk?"
Power's mouth was full of meat, and she chewed her food like a little hamster.
She had always been uninterested in vegetables. When they first lived together, every time she saw vegetables at mealtime, she would directly grab them and throw them away on the spot, truly like a basketball throw. Because of this, she had even fought with Aki. Now the situation had improved. Although she still didn't like vegetables, at least she didn't throw them around anymore. Instead, she threw them directly into Aki's bowl, since he sat next to her.
"Aki told me," Power swallowed the food in her mouth and answered, then quickly continued to stuff meat into her mouth.
Hearing her say that, Renji subconsciously turned his head to look at Aki, only to find that Aki was also looking at him at that moment.
Their gazes briefly met in the air. Then Aki shifted his gaze, nonchalantly raising his beer glass again and taking a large gulp. He remained silent.
Feeling a bit strange, Renji thought that Aki's state was very off. Since he had returned, Aki had barely spoken.
It was the same throughout the dinner party. Himeno was always the one enlivening the atmosphere, singing and harmonizing with Denji.
A notification chimed in Renji's mind.
"What, what? Aki? You're acting strange" Himeno, beside Renji, caught a whiff of something unusual. She rested one hand on her head, looked at Aki, and said in a sweet voice. "Do you have some opinion about Renji with that look? Just say it directly"
Aki placed the empty glass on the table, tidied his utensils, and responded calmly. "That's not it at all. How could I have any opinion about Renji? All of this was Renji's own choice. There's nothing I can do."
After saying that, Aki stood up and straightened his clothes.
"Hmm... I'm pretty much full and a bit sleepy, so I'll go rest first. You all should go rest quickly after you're done eating. Don't worry about the dishes. I'll clean them up tomorrow. Himeno can sleep with me. I'll save you a spot."
After speaking, Aki turned and walked towards his room. His figure disappeared, and with a soft click of the door, he was back in his room.
Seeing this, Himeno put her hand on her forehead and shook her head helplessly. She sighed deeply.
"Ugh... Seriously... It's obvious there's something on his mind. His complaints are so clear, yet he still keeps them bottled up." She glared at Renji, who was still engrossed in eating. "Hey, Renji, this is all related to you. It's all because of you."
Although Renji's mouth was still mechanically chewing food, his mind was thinking about Aki.
According to the system's prompt, Aki's current emotions were exactly the same as Himeno's before, all triggered by the Reze incident.
To say that the two of them were jealous didn't seem entirely accurate. It was more likely an inexplicable lack of understanding.
However, from their perspective, it was indeed like this. One moment she was trying to kill you, the next you were on such good terms with her. It was like not caring about your own life, simply like schizophrenia.
It was normal for people who cared about you to not understand and feel angry.
This matter was also simple to resolve: just clarify what happened with Reze.
Renji stopped what he was doing and was about to go find Aki, just like he had with Himeno, to explain everything clearly and thoroughly at once.
Then came a muffled thud.
Power, who had been sitting opposite him, suddenly stood up.
Her movements when she got up were large and loud, and the table shook a few times with her.
This sudden action startled both Renji and Himeno. They both instinctively looked up at Power.
Power had drunk a lot of ice-cold beer. Her face was flushed red, and her eyes had become hazy and blurry. She looked completely dazed.
"I'm full!"
Power shouted this sentence at the top of her lungs, her voice deafening, echoing in the small space.
Renji was stunned for a moment, then reacted and responded, "Oh… hmm… you're full. And then what?"
Power burped, chuckled, and said drunkenly, "Then! I've also decided where I want you to lick!"
Renji recalled what happened in the gang building earlier. At that time, he and Power had agreed that as long as Power helped look after Himeno, he could specify a place or object for him to lick afterward.
But seeing Power's drunken state, Renji couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
"You've decided…? Are you going to let me lick it now? But let's be clear, don't make it anything too outrageous. If it's something like a toilet seat, I absolutely won't lick it."
Upon hearing this, Power's lips curved slightly upwards, revealing a mischievous smile.
She extended her finger, slowly pointing behind her body.
"I want you to lick my as—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Power's already swaying body finally gave out, and she fell backward.
With a bang, Power fell onto the tatami mat and immediately fell asleep.
"This guy… scared me. I really thought she was going to make me lick a toilet seat. Hehe."
Renji breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, gently picked up Power, and walked to her room.
Upon entering the room, Renji gently placed Power on the bed, carefully covered her with the blanket, and then exited the room, closing the door behind him.
After doing all this, Renji returned to the living room.
"So gentle Renji"
In the living room, Himeno held an open can of beer. Seeing Renji return, she raised her eyebrows up and down. Renji chuckled.
Himeno then scanned her gaze around, slowly put down the beer can in her hand, and said, "It seems there are only two of us left here."
Renji nodded, not thinking much, and walked straight to the dining table, sat down cross-legged, and began to enjoy the food in front of him.
At the same time, he thought to himself, I'll eat first, and then I'll go explain what happened today to Aki, and make it clear to him.
Himeno looked at Renji, seeing that he was only focused on eating and didn't react to her suggestive words. She pouted and stopped talking, tilting her head back and downing the beer.
The bitter liquid slid down her throat into her stomach, but it had the opposite effect.
Her body grew even hotter.
Time passed by second by second. Renji was almost finished eating, while Himeno, who had drunk glass after glass, can after can of beer, had also reached her limit.
She casually placed the glass on the table, took off her uniform, leaving only her undershirt and shorts, and leaned back, supporting herself with her hands on the tatami mat.
"Hoo hoo"
Himeno panted heavily, a strong scent of alcohol emanating from her. Her face was flushed with the effects of the drink, looking exceptionally charming.
Himeno suddenly extended a hand, grabbed Renji, who had just stood up to leave, and pulled him down forcefully, making him sit back down.
Immediately after, she used that hand to support Renji's head, while her other hand supported his chin, twisting his head towards her.
And then she kissed him.
"Mm…~"
Her nimble tongue was not new to this. It was skilled and easily pried open Renji's teeth.
Renji felt a warm and moist sensation in his mouth. As their tongues intertwined, a large amount of Himeno's saliva was transferred to him.
Most of it flowed into Renji's mouth, and a small portion dripped from the corners of their mouths onto the tatami below, forming distinct long, thin strings.