CHAPTER 2: HOW CAN YOU DISLIKE SAKE?!

"Mira!"

"Mm?"

I turned towards the person who had called me. She immediately ran towards me and hugged me.

"Mira, how are you doing? Wait, did you lose some weight?" She scanned my body, which made my cheeks burn a bit.

"Stop that, Eisha!" I warned.

She just laughed and smirked at me.

"By the way, do you have anything to do today? Why don't you come with me? Let's eat lunch together!" She said, as she wrapped her arms around my left arm and smiled widely.

"Uh... I don't think I'm fr--"

"Naaa, I know you're not going to do anything today. I already asked Captain Zeid about it. "

My eyes widen as I look at her.

"W-What?"

"Nothing! But you will go with me today. We will have lunch together! Didn't you miss me? I was on a difficult mission a few days ago, so it is only natural for you to comfort and accompany me today. " She said and then pulled me along with her. I don't have a choice but to let her drag me somewhere.

The truth is, I have something to do. Every first day of the month, I need to offer spiritual energy to maintain the barrier surrounding the Chen Clan's territory. Today is the first day of the month, so I was planning to offer some of my spiritual energy to the white house. But this Eisha... Argh, nevermind. There's still some time later, so I don't need to worry too much.

"Where are we going to eat then?" I asked.

"In Taidan! But let's go fetch Captain Xu and Lieutenant Leigh. I think they both want to join us. " She answered happily, then walked faster. almost leaving me behind.

"Eisha, you--!" I sighed and followed her.

So that means this has already been planned. That Eisha... I guess I know what the next scene here will be.

---

"Mira! It's been a long time! " Captain Xu greeted me and smiled at me. She's so elegant as always.

"Being a member of the Chen Clan seems pretty stressful. It must be hard for you." Lieutenant Leigh said, " She looked at me with concern, but I smiled widely.

"No. I'm fine. It's not about the clan itself... " I almost whispered my last words.

"Hao haoo! Let's not be down today! Let's all celebrate! " Eisha shouted and put her hands on Lieutenant Leigh and I's shoulders.

"Seems like we will all be happy, especially if it's Eisha's treat. Hahahaha! " Captain Xu jokingly said and started to walk ahead first. And because of what Captain Xu said, Eisha's jaw dropped, and she immediately ran after the captain, begging for the bill to be split.

She's crazy.

The Lieutenant and I are both chatting while walking. While Eisha and Captain Xu are having a serious conversation in front of us, I heard a couple of words like "mission," "beware," etc. It must be about Eisha's recent mission. She just left without telling me anything about it. I just heard the news about what happened to her team. According to the news, out of ten members, only three survived.

I know Eisha is always cheerful. But this time, deep inside, I know that she's sad about her team. Her eyes say it all.

"Oh, we're here!" She said cheerfully and came inside with the captain. We followed them to the table that is in the corner of the eatery. I guess that is their V.I.P area. It's a little far from the other tables.

This room is big and surprisingly has privacy because of the Japanese-style wood and paper wall. Other people won't be able to see us here.

They both stopped in front of the door.

"I didn't have any idea that you also invited them, Eisha." Captain Xu says.

I heard a loud voice from inside.

"You don't want us here, don't you?" a familiar voice says. I think that was Lieutenant Ren's.

Wait, wait, wait...

"Come in, come in, come in!" Eisha invited us in. I saw the other captains and lieutenants inside.

My eyes wandered around the area, and they landed on Zeid. I swallowed hard.

"Just as I expected," I whispered to myself, and sighed.

I look away.

"You guys did not wait for us!" Eisha complained and pulled Captain Xu beside her. The table inside is also traditional, so they don't have chairs. They are all just sitting down on the floor on the pillow.

"Is it our fault that you're late?" Captain Kiro asked with an unpleasant tone in his voice.

For Sake's Sake,

Sake?!

"Oi Mira, sit down already." Lieutenant Ren said. Their attention turned to me. I blinked and looked at them, then looked around to find a space. There are only two left. Next to Captain Masashi and next to Zeid.

"Just sit beside--" I did not let Eisha finish her sentence when I sat beside Captain Masashi.

"Hahaha! I guess you're ready to get drunk today, Mira! " Captain Masashi cheerfully said and poured sake into my glass.

I swallow hard and look at the glass.

Captain Masashi is one of the kindest people I've ever met. He likes to read a lot of books, and he's attractive. Although he's a bit lazy, his intelligence helps the organization a lot. But!

a major but...

I must say that he also likes to drink a lot. Whether it's morning, afternoon, or evening, Sake is almost like water for him! Unbelievable. He's a certified drunkard.

"Take a swig!" He said, urging me to drink.

I did not have a choice but to drink it. It's also a rude thing to turn him down, I think.

And then we all began to talk to each other. But they mostly talk about their work and the current situation here in the city.

While they are talking, I slowly peek at Zeid. Lieutenant Ren is in between us, which is on my left side.

He is eating and talking with Captain Kei about something that I don't understand since Captain Masashi and Eisha are talking with each other in their loud voices. They are seriously noisy.

I stare at Zeid. He's not drinking sake.

"Mmm?"

I immediately lean back when Lieutenant Ren leans close to me.

"Lieutenant!" I exclaimed, my eyes wide open. If he moves even closer as he did a while ago, we'll probably bump our foreheads.

"Why don't we switch?" He asked and smiled.

"Huh? Switch? "

"Yes, switch seats. I know you want to sit beside Captain Zeid. " He teasingly said and was about to get up when I pulled him back down.

"J-Just wait a moment!" I almost panicked.

"Don't go! Stay here. " I shyly said. I don't want to sit beside Zeid! Because maybe there will be a world war or rejection even though I'm not yet sitting down beside him.

"Captain Zeid, Eisha is sh----." I did not let him finish when I shoved food into his mouth to shut him up.

"Ha-ha-ha! He's asking if you're shy about drinking, Captain Chen! " I said. Zeid's brows furrowed.

"Oh, that's also my question, Captain Chen." Eisha said in a teasing manner, emphasizing "CAPTAIN CHEN".

"Drink already, Zeid! Don't worry, we will carry you to your house if you get drunk. Hahaha! " Capt. Masashi added.

Oh well...

Zeid looked at me with a calm expression.

"I hate sake." He simply said and diverted his eyes away from me.

Why was he only looking at me a while ago?!

"EH?! How can you dislike sake?! Captain Zeid, you can't drink, can't you?" Eisha asked in complete shock.

He didn't answer. Instead, he stood up and looked at his lieutenant, who was coughing because of the food that I shoved into his mouth a while ago.

"Ren, let's go. We have to finish the report, and I have to send you on a mission. " He said and walked out without saying anything.

"Yes---*cough*" Lieutenant Ren stood up and smirked at me. "We'll get going now. See you all! " He then followed Zeid.

Captain Xu shakes her head while suppressing her laugh.

"He's always so serious."

"I agree." Captain Kiro agreed and took a sip of his sake.

He's cold. As always,

Maybe he's not in the mood to talk or have fun because I'm here. Of course... because he hates me.