Kazama Tatsuya criticized again, telling Watanabe Shun to be proper, then turned to warn Fushimi Roku that premarital behavior was indecent and that he should restrain himself.
Watanabe Shun shrugged it off, saying, "What’s the big deal? Nowadays when people date, they go straight to sleep together. Finding a virgin to marry is rare!"
"Are you questioning the Kujo family’s upbringing?" Kazama Tatsuya retorted.
Watanabe Shun froze for a moment, then showed a sympathetic expression, patting Fushimi Roku on the shoulder. "Now I understand why you want to turn down Minamoto Tamako."
Fushimi Roku, intent on saving face, continued to argue, looking nonchalant as he said, "It’s not that I can’t do it, it’s just that I don’t want to... I’m not that kind of guy, and I respect Tamako’s personal wishes."
Watanabe Shun laughed, slapping his thigh, mimicking Fushimi Roku, " ’I’m not that kind of guy’... Hahaha! ’I just don’t want to’... Hahaha!"
He laughed for a while, seeing neither Fushimi Roku nor Kazama Tatsuya laugh, feeling awkward for some reason, and stopped, asking, "Why aren’t you guys laughing?"
"Is it funny?" Fushimi Roku retorted, "Does Senior Watanabe often have sex with his girlfriend?"
Watanabe Shun wanted to say that adults go to the bathhouse, who plays house and dates? It’s troublesome and time-consuming, and you have to watch the woman’s moods every day; that’s stuff only broke high schoolers do.
But he looked at the leader’s face and felt it wise not to mention the bathhouse.
Kazama Tatsuya didn’t agree, instead telling Fushimi Roku, "You better be serious."
Fushimi Roku, having spoken his mind, naturally wouldn’t contradict himself, saying it was the truth from his heart; he is a pure, kind, and respectful gentleman.
Watanabe Shun laughed again, "Haha, you’re hilarious!"
Fushimi Roku didn’t want to discuss this matter further, so he changed the topic, talking about the hypnosis tapes.
Kazama Tatsuya and Watanabe Shun both confirmed the tape was effective and praised Doctor Arima’s skills, suggesting Fushimi Roku visit whether he’s sick or not.
"I went as well, and Doctor Arima said I was psychologically healthy." Watanabe Shun said proudly.
Kazama Tatsuya remembered Fushimi Roku said he’d try, asked now, forcing Fushimi Roku to change the subject again.
The three chatted while drinking, and at Watanabe Shun’s strong urging, they played a baseball game for another couple of hours, getting more and more into it.
Under the influence of alcohol, Fushimi Roku forgot Tamako’s instructions entirely.
By midnight, as darkness fell and office workers scattered, they finally stumbled out of the izakaya, supporting each other.
Watanabe Shun held a bottle of shochu, staggering along, singing "Brother’s Ship" loudly with a duck-like voice; Kazama Tatsuya was drunk too, gripping his prosthetic limb with one hand, waving it around, doing who knows what; Fushimi Roku, thinking he wasn’t drunk, couldn’t walk straight... Being able to hang with two drunks was quite impressive.
The three drunks used what little consciousness remained to walk and vomit, dance with lampposts, chase stray dogs with the prosthetic limb, and crawl on the ground to find their way, taking an hour to get back to Sugamo Apartment.
Kazama Tatsuya opened the door with the key, his hand trembling for a long time before managing to insert it into the lock.
Fushimi Roku saw them home safely, then turned to go to sleep. Unexpectedly, Watanabe Shun grabbed his arm, saying things like "Going home now will definitely get you scolded by your wife" and "You’ll get kicked out with that drunken look"... suggesting they stay at Kazama Family’s place for the night and deal with it tomorrow.
Fushimi Roku, his head addled with alcohol, even found sense in Watanabe Shun’s words, and dizzily followed him inside.
They went into the living room without turning on the lights and fell onto the sofa.
Kazama Tatsuya suddenly raised his prosthetic limb and said loudly, "Don’t sleep yet! There’s still something to do!"
Fushimi Roku forced himself to keep his eyes open, shaking his head to try clearing up; Watanabe Shun rolled over, falling onto the ground, hitting his head on the sofa leg, and asked while rubbing his head, "What’s it?"
"Haven’t played the tape yet..."
Kazama Tatsuya got up in the dark, using the wall to support himself, took out the hypnosis tape borrowed from Doctor Arima.
Using the moonlight, he could see the labels on the tape: ’Smoking,’ ’Depression,’ ’PTSD,’ ’Insomnia,’ ’Deep Sleep’... Unable to think, he instinctively chose ’Deep Sleep,’ inserted it into the recorder, and pressed play.
A melodious music sounded.
The night wind blew in from the window, caressing Kazama Tatsuya’s face.
His vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground, falling asleep next to Watanabe Shun.
Seeing this, Fushimi Roku lay on the sofa, closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep.
Fushimi Roku heard a calling, instinctively opened his eyes, and found himself lying on a soft big bed, clouds below without end, the sun shining with a pinkish, ambiguous light.
A familiar, sweet call came to his ears.
It was Minamoto Tamako’s voice, but softer than usual, like a girl in love, wanting to refuse yet welcoming.
Fushimi Roku turned his head, seeing two antenna-like hairs springing from the blanket’s crack, feeling the blanket below was scorching, waves of longing mist emanating from it.
Minamoto Tamako pleaded sweetly.
Fushimi Roku’s throat moved slightly, unable to resist his feelings as he slowly crawled under the blanket.