My eyes reluctantly open when I feel the morning sun on my feet. Our sheets smell of the love-making session last night. Elma is drooling and her eyes are closed. She's probably having her usual food dreams. It's 6:15.

I lighty give her shoulder a shake to wake her. "Wake up. It's 6:15. We will miss the train if we delay any further."

She turns to the other side and drearily says "But I don't want to."

"Fine." I know we will be in trouble if we reach the station after 7:15. I get up from the bed and pull the sheets with her on it. She tosses and turns and then opens her eyes.

"Naiiii" she cries out which is my intended reaction from her because she needs to get out of bed ASAP or we'll both regret it.

"What? I need to change the sheets. Come on now, wakey wakey"

"But-but I don't feel like going to the company today" she says as she gazes at the ceiling. There's a hint of worry in her tone.

"Why?"

"The supervisor's been on my ass lately. After an intern made a mistake in Java for a long-time client, he wouldn't stop being a jerk about it. He's the idiot that approved the project in the first place" That's right. Elma was in charge of the interns so if they screw up, it looks bad on her part too. Handling her work and supervising them must be tough, considering her humongous work-load.

"Don't worry about him. You just keep encouraging your subordinates to do their best and recheck their work. He'll get over it eventually and start on another person's case. I hear that's how he is" I say to reassure her.

"Is that so?" she asks, while still lying in bed.

I hop on the bed and plant a light kiss on her luscious lips. It's a fast kiss. I bring my nose to her hair and take a whiff. Smelling her hair is intoxicating. It always smell like peaches for some reason.

"Does that answer your question?" I ask her.

"I was worrying what he would tell me today but now I don't feel so worried after all. Thanks Nai"

"What do you say we go for drinks tonight with your senpais? We both need some unwinding."

She perks up. "Yes. That sounds like a plan."

"Well you need to get ready now or else we'll be late" I say.

"Alright!" With one swoosh she climbs out of bed.

xxx

The atmosphere at this particular bar is like any other. I glance to my right. A woman is crying in the corner while on the phone with someone.

"I can't believe that asshole dumped me" she says.

There are men and women who look older than they are on the bar stools while the bartender takes their order. Couples huddle in secluded bays, groups laughing, back slapping, drinking games, cute servers wiping tables- need I say more?

Over the jangle of voices and loud pop music, a college-aged redhead with a pixie cut takes our orders.

"I'll have a lite beer" Kobayashi tells her.

"Same for me too" Takiya says.

"What will you order Nai?"

"A Free Cuba" I reply.

"Ooh that sounds very foreign" Elma comments.

"Yes it's a Spanish rum and coke. It's mellow smoothness will melt you."

"I trust your judgement. I'll have what you're having then. Two Free Cubas" Elma tells the server.

"We'll also have a round of takowasabi" Kobayashi tells her.

She scribbles quickly on her notepad. "Coming right up" she says then leaves.

"You two are so lovey-dovey" Kobayashi says looking at us.

"Well I heard that couples are usually ike that in their honeymoon stage" Takiya adds.

"Ah hah. Well it's not like we're always like this. I mean, sometimes we do fight" I say.

"Yeah yeah but mostly over small things like who ate whose favourite pudding or who forgot the keys" Elma adds.

"I think that even when we do come out of our 'honeymoon stage' as you say, I would still continue loving her" I tell them.

"Well you two have certainly grown closer" the redhead says. The server brings our order to the table. We all happily indulge ourselves after a tiring day.

"Mmmm this beverage is delicious. It feels very warm inside of me" Elma says as she sips the rum and coke.

Three rounds of beers later

"I mean why the hell you can't take some damn responsibility for your section and stop being an ass!" Elma says guping her lite beer.

"And why dump all your backlog of work on me when you're on your smartphone during the day?" I say. I playfully slap her arm. We share a drunken giggle after.

"HAHA Welcome to corporate slavery Elma!" Kobayashi shouts. The way they're both speaking reminds me that people's voice is louder when they're drunk.

"I think they should have cute maids to liven up the dreary work environment" Takiya adds, his voice much louder and faster. I have never seen this side of him. His eyes are very different- they're swirling and his buck teeth are out. He looks like the textbook definition of an otaku or nerd. Not that I mind any of it. As a matter of fact, I am really enjoying this. I feel so relaxed.

"EHHH? Not the frickin cosplay kind like Tohru!" the redhead downs her beer in one gulp and reaches for another mug.

"I think those are cute though!" I say, surprised that my own voice sounds so loud and raspy.

"You can't BE SERIOUS! A traditional maid is different from the cosplay type!" Kobayashi scream and slams down her jug on the table.

"You're never going to win this" Elma says in a low whisper to me.

"I'll take this one for you Nai. Kobayashi-senpai, I challenge you to a chugging contest." I assume Elma is accustomed to this. I wouldn't say she's a heavy drinker but in the company of Kobayashi and Takiya, she consumes a lot of alcohol. It's interesting that even dragons get intoxicated from alcohol.

"YEAH! Letsgo! I'm going to win this time. Hey waitress we need another round here!" Kobayashi screams, her cheeks flushes.

I look around to notice most of the patrons have left. Only 4 tables are occupied now. The server brings a fifth or sixth round of beer (I lost count due to my own drunkenness).The two grab jugs and look each other in the eye.

"May the best stomach win!" Ellma says at the top of her lungs.

"YEAH!" the redhead puts her jug in the air.

The first glass goes down without a hitch, as does the second. By the fifth, I note a slight flush creeping up the maid otaku's neck as she tips the back of her jug.

'Another round!"

Elma burps. It is loud and stretched out and draws the attention of the other patrons. Kobayashi lets out a burp. Takiya and I are observing everything but we both know who will emerge victor in this contest.

"I jest can't *hiccup* shtop" Elma says resting her head on my shoulder as we wait for another round of beer.

"Wat issit Elma? Giving up *achoo* already?" Kobayashi asks, her voice aggressive and raspy.

"I nev-var back down from a fight" Elma responds een more aggressively.

The server brings another round at the table.

"Enjoy guys" she says and leaves, proceeding to wipe the table in front of us.

They both grab jugs and down the hatch it goes.

"Go Elma. You can beat her!' I say gulping a jug down.

"Team Maids for life, Kobayashi-san!" Takiya adds, drinking a shot of whiskey he ordered directly from the bar.

This continues for about three more rounds. Kobayashi is unconscious.

Takiya coaxes her to wake up but she doesn't.

"Let's call Tohru" I suggest.

"I sink zats a good idea, my smart Nai. You alwaysh know what to zoo" Elma says rubbing her body against mine. Her face is flushed and her skin feels warmer than usual.

Kobayashi's head is resting on the table passed out from the chugging contest. I don't know what she was thinking by challenging Elma of all people to a chugging contest.

I pull out my phone to call Tohru. Elma snatches it from my hand.

"I'll call *hiccup* her."

"Wait Elma, are you sure *buurp*? I ask her.

"Yesh. Lemme do it" she squeaks. I see her dial the number and put the phone to her ear.

"AH HALLOOOO TOOOOHRUUUU Come get yar woman. She lost to me *buuurrppp* in a chugging contesht"

I can't hear what Tohru says but Elma ends the call hands me my cell phone. Takiya looks like he's about to fall asleep. They are both truly wasted.

"I'll be righ back" Elma gets up from her seat and begins stumbling to the washroom. Nearly losing her balance, she clutches a stool.

I decide to follow her to the washroom in case she might fall. The door of the stall closes and I hear the loudest piss I have ever heard coming from hers. It sounded like water and urine splashed everywhere.

I enter a stall myself and let out a huge drunken piss.

When we return to our table, Kobayashi is not there.

"Tohru picked up Kobayashi and left" Takiya tells us.

"Oh? That was fast." I comment. Well we did take a while in the toilet.

After paying the bill, we watch Takiya head off and the two of us head for our apartment complex.

*Achoo* she sneezes again. By now, our shirts are no longer tucked in our skirts and our ties are hanging very loosely around our collars. I hear a nealy trips on a bump but i grab her hand just in time before she falls.

"Sank you" she tells me. She beguns giggling like a mad lady and I join her and together we giggle like two crazy people on the street.

My right hand rests on her shoulder while her left hand on mine and we both stumble home.

NoteL Please leave a comment. Thanks for following. Also this chapter was inspired by a recent chapter in Volume 7 of the manga. I don't want to spoil volume 7 for you guys because as of May 2018, Seven Seas have not released Vol 7 as yet.