Character Story 12: The End of Prohibition!
Yuuki arrived at the Mercurius Foundation guild house, where his presence had been requested.
Mifuyu
I'm sorry for calling you here on such short notice.
Mifuyu
It's... about Yukari. She said she was going... dry? I think you know about that.
Yukari
Ah! These calculations are wrong, too! I'll have to do it all over again! Let's get it right this time!
Mifuyu
The fact that she quit drinking seems to be having some kind of effect on her...
Yukari
Ugh, I said we needed to mail out these forms as soon as possible! Why do these things always come down to the wire!?
Mifuyu
The work of the Mercurius Foundation, um... I don't really want to say this, but she's been... making extraordinarily rapid progress on it, let's say.
Yukari
A new startup? Aren't these projections a little too optimistic!? All of these things need to go through me from now on!
Mifuyu
... Yukari's started getting involved in absolutely everything.
Yuuki
1. "Isn't that a good thing?"
Mifuyu
Well, sure. I don't want to say anything strange. It's just, well, we need to strike a balance with all things in this world, right...?
Mifuyu
The more Yukari handles everything herself, the more our other employees will feel free to slack off... And the more people will feel free to push their work onto her...
Yukari
Ahh, Tamaki, again with the eating taiyaki while walking through the hallways! And Akino, there are still some documents I need to you go over, so don't think about trying to escape!
Mifuyu
... Ahem. Anyway. I don't want to see Yukari spreading herself so thin like this. Isn't there anything you can do about it?
Yuuki
1. "I'll see what I can do."
Mifuyu
Please do. If you're the one talking, then I'm sure that she'll feel free to relax some more.
Later.
Yukari
It's certainly rare for you to be the one to invite me to dinner.
Yukari
The truth is, there's still some work I need to take care of, but... Mifuyu practically chased me out of the guild house to come here.
Yukari
Ugh. What was she even talking about? I don't have the time to take it easy...
Yuuki
1. "Let's get some beers!"
Yukari
Huh, what!? N-No! You're still too young... Wait, for me? You're saying you want me to drink?
Yukari
... No, I can't.
Yukari
I've already... quit drinking. I'll just have some water...
Yukari
W-What's that look for? I mean it, okay? I'm not drinking a single sip tonight!
Yukari
I don't even want to look at beer anymore!
Manager
Okay, here's your beer!
Yukari
...... Gulp.
Yukari
N-No, I can't, I can't...! Sir, I can't drink this, so could you please take it back?
Manager
Okay, here's one more beer!
Yukari
Why!?
Manager
It's my treat.
Yukari
But I said I wouldn't drink it!
Manager
Um, to be honest, I'm in a bit of a pinch. Ever since you went dry, sales at our restaurant have really gone down.
Yukari
Did I really drink that much...? B-But that's unrelated! I said I'm not drinking!
Yukari
Whenever I drink, I only cause trouble for everyone around me...!
Man
Yukari, here's a treat from me! Cheers!
Yukari
Huh!? Aren't you one of the regulars here!?
Woman
Whenever I see you drinking, I have even more fun myself!
Yukari
Wha... You, too!?
Man
You're not yourself when you don't drink, Yukari!
Woman
Yeah, yeah! So, let's just have a round as usual!
Yukari
B-But I'm not drinking anymore...!
Deliveryman
Um, I have a delivery addressed to this restaurant for Yukari from the Mercurius Foundation...
Yukari
What is it this time!?
Deliveryman
Um, they said it was a gift in return for defending their freight wagon from monsters! Here it is, an entire barrel of beer!
Yukari
Why is this happening!?
Yukari
I-I can't give in... I can't give in to beer...!
Yuuki
1. "Bottoms up!"
Yukari
Yeah, bottoms up -- wait, no! Ugh, I can't show any weakness!
Yukari
Like I said, I can't! There's no way I'll drink any beer!
Yukari
I... I... I don't want to cause you any more trouble, Yuuki!
Yukari
I know you always forgive me, but I can't count on you tolerating it forever.
Yukari
I don't want you to hate me... And if drinking beer is going to make you hate me, then I don't need it!
Yukari
I want you to see me as someone to look up to... More of a role model... Like a grown-up, sisterly figure!
Yuuki
1. "I'd never hate you."
2. "I've always looked up to you."
Option 1.
Yukari
You don't need to humor me. I've only ever allowed you to see my shortcomings... I couldn't even cook a decent meal for you when I was trying to play host.
Yukari
No one would ever want a sister like me, would they...?
Option 2.
Yukari
Don't lie... There's no way you could. A woman like me who gets drunk snacking on berries during work?
Yukari
Nobody could look up to someone like that...
End of branches.
Yukari
It's fine. You don't need to flatter me.
Yukari
I'm no grown-up sister...
Yuuki
1. "Those are things that I think are cute about you."
Yukari
Huh...!?
Yukari
What are you saying all of a sudden...!? With such a serious expression...!
Yukari
C-Come on, don't tease your older sister...!
Yukari
M-My cheeks feel so hot...!
Yukari
I-I need something cold to drink...
Yukari
Ah, this is great, whatever it is! It's cold, fragrant, refreshing, and suuuper bubbly... Wait.
Yukari
... Whaa?
Yukari
Yahoo! Beer really ish the best, after all!
Yukari
Yuuki, you wanna drink? Heh heh, but yer not allowed, eh?
Yukari
Once ya get a li'l older, we oughta drink together shometime!
Yukari
More beeeer!
Manager
Wait, ma'am, are you sure?
Yukari
What're ya shayin'? Din't ya tell me to drink?
Man
Yeah, it really isn't the same without her! More beer for me, too, please!
Woman
One for me, too! I can't hold back when she looks like she's loving it so much.
Yukari
We're gonna open up this entire barrel tonight!
Yuuki
1. "Maybe you should slow down, though..."
Yukari
Nooope! 'Cuz you shaid thish wash cute, right?
Yukari
Drinkin' with you really ish da besht, Yuuki!
Yukari
I'm not muchuva big shishter like thish, but you shaid you'd never hate me, right?
Yuuki
1. Nod.
Yukari
... 'Kay.
Yukari
And, thanksh.
That day, the beer that Yukari drank tasted better than any she'd had before.