After the president of Kyoni Animation Co., Ltd. finished announcing the news, he briefly explained the reasons for the company's dissolution and offered his blessings for the employees' future careers. Finally, he raised a glass of orange juice, smiled, and said, "Cheers," bringing the speech to an end.
"Cheers~!"
"Cheers!"
All the employees raised their glasses together. The atmosphere on the rooftop shifted from heavy back to lively, though compared to the beginning, there was now an undertone of relief mixed with lingering gloom.
Kamiyā Yuu still had some attachment to the company he had spent nearly two years at. After the president announced the dissolution, he felt a strange sensation similar to graduating from school. However, he didn't show it as dramatically as the female employees around him. For him, this party wasn't particularly interesting. The social circle of key animators was already quite narrow, and here he was basically just a background figure the entire time. Aside from occasionally chatting with members of the key animation department, he spent most of the time quietly eating the fruit and grilled meat prepared for the event.
As it approached nine o'clock, employees began leaving one after another. Thinking there was no point in staying any longer, Kamiyā Yuu was about to leave when Morishita Aoi, not far away, called out to him.
Dressed in a gray-black women's business suit, she looked nothing like her usual serious and capable self. The buttons of her fitted gray blazer were messily undone, and combined with the flushed excitement on her face and her hazy eyes, it was clear this workplace beauty was drunk. At that moment, Kamiyā Yuu saw in her the same silly, dazed air as Ruby Rose.
"Ah~ found you, Kamiyā-kun! Why do you look so bored all by yourself?" Morishita Aoi grinned foolishly, patting Kamiyā Yuu on the shoulder. In her other hand, she held a cup of Japanese sake, swaying so much that he worried she might drop it.
Kamiyā Yuu smiled. "Bored is true. I was just about to head back. Senpai, you shouldn't drink so much either."
Morishita Aoi waved her hand and said proudly with a grin, "It's fine~ it's fine~ Etsuki will take me home. But what's this about you going back now? It's rare for you to attend a company party, Ka—uh—Kamiyā-kun. Staying a bit longer is no problem, right?" She let out a small burp as she spoke, and a faint smell of alcohol drifted toward him.
"Didn't I say before I'd treat you to a meal? And I'm not done drinking yet! Come with us to HANA Skewers—it's really fun! Hehe~~!" Seeing Morishita Aoi's carefree smile, Kamiyā Yuu felt his impression of her rapidly collapsing.
—Alcohol really is a magical thing.
A few months ago, Kamiyā Yuu had indeed agreed to Uehara Etsuki's offer to treat him. Thinking it might be hard to find another opportunity like this, he didn't refuse outright and instead asked, "Senpai, are you sure you're okay in this state?"
"No worries~ no worries, I always keep my word! Just wait a bit—once Etsuki finishes talking over there, we'll set off! GO! GO! GO!" Morishita Aoi wrapped an arm around Kamiyā Yuu's neck and excitedly raised her paper cup. The remaining members of the key animation department nearby seemed completely used to this side of her.
In Japanese workplace culture, company drinking parties are an important component. While there may be subtle hierarchies within the company, at drinking gatherings, people can usually speak freely, strengthening relationships between superiors and subordinates.
Even if an employee isn't particularly capable, being socially adept at these gatherings can still earn them recognition. As a result, in Japanese society, a husband coming home drunk late at night is sometimes seen as a sign of competence. There's even a saying that if a husband goes straight home every day, his wife might get angry and push him out to attend more drinking parties.
After waiting for a while, Uehara Etsuki considered Morishita Aoi's suggestion and nodded in agreement. After exchanging a few polite words with the company executives, she walked over to Kamiyā Yuu and gave a slight bow. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Kamiyā Yuu noticed that Uehara Etsuki had also drunk quite a bit during the party, yet to his surprise, her fair and beautiful face showed not the slightest trace of intoxication or flush.
"Sensei, is it really okay for you to leave like this?" Kamiyā Yuu hesitated as he looked at the people still at the venue. So far, none of the company's upper management had left.
"Kamiyā-kun, want a drink?" The clearly intoxicated Morishita Aoi handed him a cup of sake with a giggle. He accepted it helplessly and nodded in thanks. Japanese sake wasn't very strong, roughly comparable to beer, but Kamiyā Yuu personally didn't like drinking much.
Uehara Etsuki shook her head and explained, "The formal resignation procedures will only be handled tomorrow. Tonight, as you can see, everyone is simply enjoying themselves. I'm not particularly fond of the lively atmosphere of parties, so going to an izakaya is a good alternative."
"Let's go first! Let's head to HANA Skewers! The reasons don't matter!" Morishita Aoi clung to Uehara Etsuki's arm, laughing as she headed toward the exit.
And so, the three of them arrived at a well-known izakaya called HANA Skewers, not far from the company venue. The interior was decorated in a traditional Japanese style. Under the soft lighting, it appeared both unique and elegant. The private rooms each had different themes. Morishita Aoi skillfully requested a standard room, and as soon as they entered, she expertly called over a waiter and ordered a large number of dishes and drinks.
"Three plates of grilled skewers! One plate of grilled mentaiko!"
"One pork cutlet rice! One saury sushi!"
"As for drinks—beer, beer is fine! Six bottles! Long live beer!" Watching Morishita Aoi noisily place the order from her seat, Kamiyā Yuu couldn't help but awkwardly turn his face away. Fortunately, the waiter in traditional Japanese attire was clearly experienced in dealing with drunk customers.
"Certainly. What kind of dipping sauce would you like for the skewers?" the waiter calmly asked while noting down the order.
"Wasabi mixed sauce!" Morishita Aoi giggled, completely different from her usual self.
"Understood. And what would the other two guests like?" the waiter asked calmly, turning to Kamiyā Yuu and Uehara Etsuki.
Uehara Etsuki ordered some delicate small dishes and what looked like rather expensive sake, while Kamiyā Yuu chose the very ordinary omurice paired with a refreshing plum wine.
"Very well, please wait a moment," the waiter said before leaving the private room.
"Beep beep beep—!"
While waiting for the food, Kamiyā Yuu's flip phone rang. After glancing at the number, he smiled apologetically at the two of them. "I'll take this call."
He jogged over to the izakaya's restroom corridor and opened his phone. There was a brief silence before Kamiyā Sora's indifferent voice came through.
"Yuu, what time is it now?"
—Nine-thirty.
Kamiyā Yuu didn't say the number and instead apologized, "Sorry. The company party is over, but I'm having a gathering with some coworkers now."
"What time?"
"It just started, so I probably won't be back anytime soon. Go to sleep first—you still have school tomorrow, right? Remember to lock the door."
Another moment of silence, then Kamiyā Sora's calm reply came through, "Got it."
"Beep beep beep—!"
The call ended.