Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan - Volume Zero - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Shizuku and Her First Drink 

Part 1 

On the night after the battle between the Worst One and the Hunter, Nagi Arisuin brought Shizuku Kurogane to the entertainment district a number of train stations away from the academy, as a modest celebration of their first victories in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative selection battles. Shizuku, like Stella, wanted to care for Ikki who had collapsed from the exertion of the day's match, but she held back to give Ikki and Stella time alone together, and since Shizuku had free time, Arisuin invited her here. 

"I'm a little nervous…." 

Standing before a mix of commercial and residential buildings where their destination awaited, Shizuku, who was wrapped in a gothic-lolita style dress, muttered so with a stiff voice. She was the one who requested a place with tasty alcohol, but apparently she had never drunk alcohol before. It was also her first time entering a shop for serving it, and she seemed a little tense. 

"You don't have to be so high-strung. It's not like we're going to a host club[1]." 

"If you took me to a place like that, I wouldn't forgive you, Alice." 

"Oh my, are you that much against the idea?" 

"I can't stand any man other than Onii-sama being so overly familiar." 

"No worries. I thought that would be true, so today we're just going to an ordinary bar for drinks." 

Arisuin led Shizuku forward through the buildings. Ascending narrow stairs, they headed to the highest floor of one, to the front door of the shop where Arisuin had often gone with his female fans. Turning the brass doorknob and pushing the door open, he gestured for Shizuku to enter. 

Amidst the dimly lit space inside, furniture of calming colors was arrayed and sleepy jazz tunes were flowing. To speak less favorably, there was an air that smelled of age, but this was the best choice given Shizuku's aversion to liveliness. Aruisin and Shizuku stepped onto the deep blue carpet, and a waiter immediately approached. 

"Oh, if it's not Arisuin. Welcome back." 

"Good evening. A spot at the bar next to the window would be nice, but is one available?" 

"Yes, indeed. Ah, but before that, isn't this your companion's first visit? May I please have verification of her age?" 

"Hmm, is student identification acceptable?" 

"Certainly." 

At the request, Shizuku took out her Hagun student datapad from her purse, but with her nervousness at doing this for the first time, her handling was strangely clumsy. 

"W-Wawawa…." 

Fumbling with the datapad, Shizuku finally opened the identification screen, and handed it to the waiter. 

"Ah, Arisuin-san's classmate? Yes, this will do. Please sit as you like by the window." 

Normally those of Arisuin and Shizuku's age would not be allowed to drink, but Blazers were formally recognized as having come of age at fifteen years old, and able to not only drink but to marry and vote as adults. These were rights that Blazers held in consideration for their duty to fight without regard for their lives. The waiter, recognizing that Shizuku was old enough to enter, withdrew half a step. Arisuin strode past and sat at the counter, and behind him, Shizuku looked around the shop nervously before following. It was an unfamiliar kind of place for her, so that could not be helped. But after sitting down at the counter, Shizuku said…. 

"Wow…." 

Though still nervous, her green eyes lit up, and a gasp leaked out at the view before her. What stole her gaze was many bottles of liquor, lined up behind the bar and a silent bartender using a shaker. Bottles from many countries glimmered like stained glass. 

"They're lit up from behind. Aren't they pretty?" 

The bartender here was taciturn and not very hospitable, but he had good taste. Even the room's slightly too-dim lighting was to create this rainbow display. In spite of herself, Shizuku was also intrigued by this shop. 

"They're like jewels." 

That's great. 

Arisuin patted his chest a bit in relief at choosing the place well. Today's trip was supposedly for celebrating their first victories, but he had set aside this time for the gentle Shizuku and put his best effort into letting her have a good time. Part of that was with good alcohol, and another part was with the shop's atmosphere. 

"Then shall we go ahead and order? What would you like, Shizuku?" 

"Umm…." 

Shizuku picked up a menu on the countertop. 

"My my, I thought you wouldn't know just from looking." 

After all, the menu only listed the various names of liquors and cocktails. Shizuku, who was not knowledgeable about these things, would not be able to make a selection just by seeing them. But did Arisuin's tone make him seem like he was treating her as a child? 

"H-How rude. I know the names of one or two of these!" 

Making a somewhat peevish expression, Shizuku chose. 

"A dry martini, please." 

*Cough cough…* 

Arisuin choked, not expecting such an overly-strong choice. 

"W-Wait a second! I don't think that's a good drink for your first time!" 

Certainly the martini, a cocktail made of gin and vermouth, was well known from various movies. But despite its fame, it was not the kind of drink that a novice could take easily. This was even more true for the dry martini, which was almost entirely gin. 

"Shizuku, I know it's new for you, so you don't have to put up that act? Don't go overboard. Just start with something easier. Okay?" 

With a tone like an older sister soothing a misbehaving younger one, Arisuin tried to stop Shizuku's rampage. Hearing that tone, Shizuku also recognized how stubborn she was being. 

"O…Okay. I get it. But I don't know any of the other names here…." 

"That's fine. If you tell me what kind of taste you want, I'll find something that matches." 

"Really?" 

"Yes." 

"…Then, I want something sweet." 

"There's quite a few sweet ones, but they're based on fruits." 

"I see. They do seem like fruit, but are they actually alcohol?" 

"They're pretty much just juice." 

"Then won't that just be drinking juice? You went to the trouble of bringing me to a shop like this. I want to take more of a risk." 

"That's understandable." 

Knowing what Shizuku wanted, Arisuin gave his order to the bartender. After a small wait, a cocktail glass filled with fresh orange-colored liquid was placed before them, with a polite explanation from the bartender who had not spoken a word until now. 

"This is called a Valencia. It's made of orange juice and apricot brandy shaken together, sweet enough to easily drink even for people who aren't used to alcohol." 

"Th-Thank you." 

Shizuku's gaze held quite a bit of suspicion, probably because someone unfamiliar had suddenly addressed her, and brought back a little of her nervousness. The change from her usually prim impression made Arisuin smile a little in his heart. 

How cute…. 

Back to when they first started rooming together, Shizuku was also unsteady in this way. When they went to the shopping center to watch a movie with Ikki and Stella, the embarrassment she showed from Ikki cleaning the cream from her cheek was something of her real self. 

"On first appearance, it's somewhat like murky orange juice, I guess?" 

Shizuku gazed at the cocktail glass with great interest as Arisuin took the whisky tumbler and chaser he himself ordered from the bartender. 

"This is more than half orange juice. But we definitely can't call it orange juice, don't drink it all at once, okay?" 

"I-I know that." 

Shizuku puffed out her cheeks a little in annoyance. Was she upset at being told such an obvious thing? 

"Hehe, sorry. Then to everyone's wins so far—cheers!" 

"Cheers." 

Raising their glasses together, the two of them celebrated alone. Shizuku held the thin bottom of her cocktail glass with the fingertips of both hands, and much like a hamster nibbling on sunflower seeds, put a bit of the Valencia into her mouth. Her thin pale neck trembled as she swallowed the alcohol. 

"Phew…." 

A mesmerized breath escaped from her lips. 

"…Sweet and tasty." 

"Ahh, that's good to hear." 

"The airiness of alcohol together with the fragrance of fruit is splendid, isn't it?" 

"That's true. Juice will give sweetness, but you can't enjoy fragrance without the alcohol. If you like that, then it'll have the right effect." 

Watching Shizuku take a second, more enthusiastic sip, Arisuin sighed in relief and drank from his own tumbler. 

"Alice, you're drinking whiskey?" 

When he did so, Shizuku stared at his beverage with great interest as well. 

"Yes, that's right. I like this very much." 

"Can I have a sip of that too?" 

"Err…." 

He was a little hesitant. Not because it would be an indirect kiss, but because his order of whiskey was a bit of a personal choice. 

"Umm, Shizuku, this particular whiskey is rather tricky, something people tend to either love or hate, so I can't recommend it as one of the first kinds of alcohol you should try. If you're not good with it, it can be traumatic. Instead, something like a Macallan[2] would be…." 

"It's fine. I'm not that interested in whiskey itself, but because you like it." 

"Ah…." 

Once he heard that, he could not come up with a reason to refuse her. 

"Well, in that case." 

Everything was experience. It was not like she would die from drinking it. Thinking this, Arisuin slid his tumbler to Shizuku and gave a warning. 

"Before you drink it, you should take a whiff first. If you don't like it, you can stop." 

"I got it." 

Shizuku picked up the tumbler with both hands like she did with the other, brought it close to her nose. 

*sniff sniff* 

At that moment— 

"Fmhhh!?" 

Shock! With every hair on her body standing straight up, Shizuku yanked her disbelieving face back. 

"Eh, ah, what is this!? Iodine tincture!?" 

"Ahaha, well, that's not an unreasonable reaction. During the American Prohibition era, it was openly sold as medicine." 

"…I-Is it safe? It doesn't smell like something drinkable." 

"That's why I said I can't recommend it. You don't have to push yourself, okay?" 

"…N-No. I said I would." 

With that, Shizuku brought the end of the tumbler to her mouth, and sipped enough to taste it. 

"I'm doing better than I thought I would." 

"Don't say that with tears in your eyes. Here, some water." 

Arisuin held out out his chaser, and Shizuku cleansed her throat with a regretful expression. 

"Ooh… I can't get rid of the medicine smell…." 

"I told you so. It's not for beginners." 

"…There sure are many kinds of alcohol." 

"It's humanity's faithful companion, with a history just as long. There are as many varieties of alcohol as people. I'd say finding one that fits you is something to look forward to with shops like these. But today's my treat, so just have fun the way you like." 

"Are you sure?" 

"Yes, because you're such a good girl today." 

At Arisuin speaking his true reason for bringing her here, Shizuku's eyes widened—and a small smile appeared. 

"…I guess so. Then I'll take you up on the offer. It's unfair for only Stella-san to make good memories today. I have to have fun too, right?" 

Muttering this, Shizuku spoke to the bartender. 

"Excuse me, a dry martini please." 

So in the end you're still getting one…. 

Well, if she collapses he could carry her back, so it should be fine. 

Part 2 

One hour later…. 

"And then, Onii-sama dove into a river during winter to save me from almost drowning, swimming to me frantically. He hugged my freezing body, saying 'Thank goodness.' We were both soaking wet, so we should've froze, but Onii-sama was so warm. That's when I realized that such a wonderful boy was with me, and I could never like the boys in class. Since compared to Onii-sama, they were so vulgar, not gentlemen at all. Like monkeys, monkeys. Anyway, Onii-sama's gentle tears were the second most wonderful sight. The most wonderful is seeing him again after so many years, since he grew so tall and his arms were so sturdy… but I still like the cute young Onii-sama with those kind eyes too… though the sturdy and cool Onii-sama is the best… hey, Alice, are you listening?" 

"I hear you, I hear you. Because it's the third time you're telling me." 

Shizuku was thoroughly drunk. Her original paleness was now rosy red to her ears, and for quite some time now she had been praising Ikki over and over. As one could expect, even Arisuin would get his fill of that. 

https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:Rakudai_V0_045.jpg 

"Uuu~ then try guessing what story I'm going to tell." 

"The one on Ikki saving you from drowning in a river, right?" 

"Mmu~…huh? What was I talking about again?" 

Err…. 

"Hey Shizuku, how many do you see?" 

Arisuin held up three fingers, and Shizuku made a complaining face. 

"What, you're suggesting I'm drunk~" 

"No matter how I look at it, that's exactly what you are." 

"There's no way. Don't make fun of meee…. There's six, right~?" 

Ah, she's hopeless. 

The dry martini was the fatal blow after all. Since gin was not something an alcohol novice could drink straight, this could only be called the natural result. 

"And then there's the time Onii-sama was a Jedi…." 

Are we in Star ?ars now!?"[3] 

She was already blending reality and fantasy. Maybe they should go back to the dormitory? Arisuin brought Shizuku here today to take her mind off of Stella and Ikki spending time together alone. Though Shizuku was the one who chose to let them, the decision must have pained her. Arisuin, knowing that Shizuku truly loved Ikki, understood this. Surely if they had stayed in the dormitory, the sadness would be crushing her. Everyone had nights they wanted to waste away without thinking, and seeing Shizuku now, he could say he had provided that. Shizuku seemed to have had a lot of fun narrating her memories of Ikki. With his success assured, Arisuin decided to propose that they return home. 

But at that moment, he saw cream from the mille-feuille they also ordered stuck on her cheek. 

Oh my, didn't this happened before? 

Back when they went out with Stella and Ikki together, cream had been on Shizuku's cheek then too, probably because her mouth was so small. 

"Hey, Shizuku, there's something on your face, you know." 

Of course Arisuin did not lick that cream the way Ikki had done. Arisuin was not the type who could disregard personal distance like that. Taking a napkin, he gently wiped the cream from Shizuku's soft cheek. 

"Nnn…." 

"Okay, got it. …Your face is soft like a baby's, Shizuku. I'm jealous." 

"…You're like a big sister, Alice." 

"Big sister? Me?" 

"Yep. I was thinking that I want a big sister like you." 

"My goodness, is that a request for me to marry Ikki and be your sister-in-law?" 

"Huh?" 

"Sorry. I went too far." 

Knowing that he had stepped on a landmine, Arisuin reflected on how Shizuku would not take any jokes about Ikki. 

"Even if it's you, Alice, Onii-sama is off limits." 

"That's right, because Ikki belongs to you." 

"…Not really. I don't think so." 

In that instant, Shizuku's face darkened, and those timid words came out. 

"Shizuku?" 

In concern, Arisuin tried to guess what had happened. At his gaze, Shizuku closed her eyes. 

"Hey Alice, there's something I want to ask." 

Part 3 

Shizuku spoke her honest feelings. 

"Alice… you know, I was very happy today. Stella-san acknowledged Onii-sama in front of everyone. Nobody's ever done that before. No one has looked at him straight on, and recognized how wonderful he is…." 

Shizuku was referring the fight between the Worst One and the Hunter. During that official match, the Worst One had fallen to his lowest depths, and from the spectator stands Stella had made one loud rebuke to everyone else's jeers, bringing him back to life. Without fear over public opinion, Stella had affirmed Ikki Kurogane's convictions. That had never happened before to Ikki, who was disavowed by his own blood relatives. Shizuku recognized her brother's worth more than anyone and wanted others to appreciate it as well, so she was glad. 

But…. 

"I think… Onii-sama was very happy hearing Stella's words." 

Shizuku remembered Ikki's face. She had never seen him like that before. No matter how much she praised him, she had never given him the same joy. She was glad for him, but she also realized the limits of a little sister. No matter how much she thought of him, he only saw her as a relative. …She could not become the girl he loved. 

"Onii-sama has always, always had bitter memories, and was raised without love from anyone, so… I want to love him a lot. I want to give him happiness. That's what I've always thought. The most important thing is Onii-sama's happiness. So… so, you know? If Onii-sama is happy, if Stella-san would make Onii-sama happier than I could, I… I…." 

She would have to step aside. 

Before those lethal words could escape Shizuku's lips… 

"Shizuku." 

…Arisuin's long and slender index finger touched them. 

"Alice…." 

"You don't have to force yourself to say it. I know how you feel." 

Saying so, Arisuin moved his index finger to the corner of her eye, and gently wiped away the small droplet that was there. 

"…You've been thinking over this for a while, haven't you?" 

Shizuku nodded heavily. If Stella could make her brother happier, would she have to step aside? Would she have to give up on her brother's romantic love? After seeing that match, this question sat in the back of her heart. Yes, there were many conflicting feelings inside of her. Happiness that someone else appreciates her brother, and complicated feelings about a girl who would be Ikki's one and only. She loved Ikki as his blood relative and as someone of the opposite sex, and so it was a dilemma. Now Shizuku was confused about what path she must take, but— 

At Shizuku's question, Arisuin did not give a definite answer. 

"Quite a very difficult question, isn't it? Honestly, this depends on your feelings. The correct path isn't something anyone else can lead you to." 

"….I guess so." 

Suddenly, Arisuin's tone changed. 

"But there are two things I can definitely say." 

"…Two things?" 

"Yes." 

What were they? Seeing Shizuku's questioning expression, Arisuin smiled gently. 

"That in this world, the one who loves Ikki the most and the most deeply is you. And a woman who won't spend all her strength to steal Ikki away from you doesn't deserve to have him. What path you choose is up to you. But your feelings, your love, are no doubt real and you don't have to give that up. Instead, be more honest with your feelings, and act on your love as you know it and want to. Every girl has that right." 

Arisuin's words pierced Shizuku's heart. 

Ahh… that's true. 

Her heart gave a single answer, that there was no reason to give up. There was no need to sacrifice her romantic feelings for her brother's happiness. It was obvious that Shizuku could not entrust her brother to any woman with lesser devotion. So… there was no need to yield. Were Stella's feelings strong enough to brush Shizuku's aside and take Ikki for herself? Shizuku's sincerity gleamed like a gemstone. Was Stella's bright enough to outshine it? The only one who could test that was Shizuku herself. 

I'll find out. I'll go as deep as I have to. Whether Stella-san can make Onii-sama happier than I can…. 

In reaching that conclusion, Shizuku's heart became unchained. 

Part 4 

"Alice, thanks…." 

Shizuku's face was beaming, and Arisuin smiled slightly… inwardly marveling at the thought that she had found some answer. 

…How amazing, to love someone so deeply. 

She could love her brother to the point of giving up her own precious feelings. Arisuin… could no longer do such a thing. To love other people—to love any human… that was something beyond him now. 

All I can do is keep up appearances. 

A crow among swans. He could neither feel goodwill nor open his heart. And so he considered her feelings precious. He did not want to see them disappear— 

…I'm needlessly sentimental, aren't I? 

Maybe it was the alcohol. A tiny self-ridiculing smile appeared, and Arisuin swallowed the last remaining mouthful from his tumbler. 

"Okay, it's about time for us to get going, I think." 

But there was no response. When he looked toward Shizuku at his side— 

*thump* 

She fell gently on his right arm. 

"Zzz… zzz…." 

"My oh my." 

She had finally fallen. The tension she had fretted over disappeared once she found her conclusion. With no other choice, Arisuin settled the bill, put Shizuku's small body on his back, and left the shop. Shizuku was as light as a feather, so she was no burden at all. 

"O…nii-sama…." 

Perhaps in her dreams it was her brother carrying her. Murmuring so, she clung tighter. 

"Sheesh… what a terrible man you are, Ikki." 

Arisuin suddenly looked up at the stars shining in the sky, and made a single wish. He wished that this gentle girl's hopes would conclude in the happiest way. 

References 

1 Host club: A night-time entertainment club with primarily male staff catering to female customers. 

2 Macallan: Macallan whiskey, a single-malt Scotch whiskey. 

3 Star ●ars: Star Wars, a science fiction series created by George Lucas. The Jedi are a fellowship of knights with mystical powers.