“Names, Hangovers, and a Very Bad Drinking Decision”
“Then let me name myself!”
“What kind of world has swords naming themselves?
CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP”
The argument over the sword’s name dragged on, but Tasuke was far too busy eating to care.
“What kind of idiot names a blade Kanikichi?!”
“Right here.”
MUNCH MUNCH
“LISTEN TO ME!”
“I am listening—
GLUG GLUG—ahhh!”
Kōgyū watched with a strained smile.
Kana pretended they didn’t exist.
Omitsu’s temple vein twitched dangerously.
And then—
“Gelukkig nieuwjaar, Kōgyū-san!”
A booming Dutch New Year’s greeting echoed from the back of the room as a massive foreigner entered.
“Happy New Year, Doctor!”
Kōgyū immediately rushed over and shook his hand.
“Oh! Mr. Tasuke—just as I suspected, you’re here as well.”
“Huh? Oh, Siebold. Still huge, I see.”
Dr. Siebold, a close associate of Kōgyū, had also been invited to the Dutch New Year celebration.
“Until last year I came on the second day, but this time I was invited for New Year’s Day itself.
I’ve brought my family as well.”
“Oh? Didn’t know you had a family. And yet you still went to Kagetsurō—”
“HAHAHAHA! Mr. Tasuke, I believe you’ve had too much to drink!”
“Wait—hold on—if you put me in a headlock with arms like that—”
And thus, Tasuke entered a brief coma.
While he slept foaming gently at the mouth, Siebold greeted Kana, Omitsu, and Kanikichi before taking his seat.
His wife Taki and daughter Ine joined as well.
“Don’t be scared, Ine-chan,” Omitsu said gently.
“I’m fine! Father told me there are many… interesting people in the world.”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
She answered clearly and without fear.
This girl, one day, would follow in her father’s footsteps.
Seating was arranged thus:
Siebold sat beside Kōgyū
Taki and Ine sat on either side of Omitsu
And Tasuke—still dreaming—sat directly across from Kōgyū
“Everyone, Happy New Year.
Let us begin—a toast!”
“Cheers!”
Six glasses clinked.
Tasuke remained unconscious.
Taki and Omitsu quickly fell into quiet girl talk.
“I worry about the future… everywhere I go, it’s always like this…”
“Yes… I’m afraid you’ll have to be the responsible one, Omitsu…”
Meanwhile, Siebold and Kōgyū dove into work discussion.
“About that compound ratio—”
“Indeed, Kōgyū-san. I also find that proportion questionable.”
Ine watched the adults with wide eyes.
“…What are they talking about, I wonder…”
A peaceful New Year atmosphere settled in—
—or it would have—
If that thing hadn’t awakened.
Tasuke suddenly bolted upright.
“Huh?! What happened?!”
“You slept very well, Mr. Tasuke,” Siebold smiled.
“Oh… Siebold… feels like we met earlier…”
“Now now—let us drink!”
“O-oh… sure…”
Something felt off.
Then it hit him.
“WAIT—
I CAME HERE TO EAT!
WHY WAS I SLEEPING?!”
Beside him, Kanikichi sighed deeply.
“This year already feels doomed…”
Tasuke proceeded to pile food onto his plate like a man preparing for famine.
“Tasuke! Leave some for everyone else!”
“Don’t be soft! This is like grilled meat—first come, first served!”
“…That’s survival of the fittest, not grilled meat…”
Words failed.
Ine stared at Tasuke with intense curiosity.
“…This person… is fascinating…”
Not funny fascinating.
Biologically fascinating.
Now—
One person had been suspiciously quiet.
Kana.
Morisugi Kana.
Yes, that name should raise eyebrows—but we’ll ignore that for now.
Seated in the perfect spot beside Kōgyū, she drank steadily.
She loved alcohol to begin with—but since Siebold arrived, Kōgyū’s attention was fully elsewhere.
Which only accelerated Kana’s drinking.
She’d started gently—coffee with a drop or two of brandy.
Now she was chugging sake straight from the bottle, eyes unfocused.
Then—
With bottles in both hands—
She staggered toward Tasuke.
“HEY! You there, ronin!
You haven’t been drinking at all!”
Secret Technique: Drunken Harassment — ACTIVATED.
“Munch… huh? What?”
“I’m going to tell you something AMAZING…”
She leaned in.
“I am…
actually…
Kōgyū-sama’s fiancée!!
KYAAAA!! I SAID IT! I SAID IT!!”
Kōgyū turned, mildly startled.
“…Excuse me? Since when?”
Kana didn’t even see him anymore.
“Drink more, ronin!
This is Kōgyū-sama’s feast!”
“WAIT—hold it—
COUGH!
Don’t shove the bottle in my mouth, you lunatic!”
“Drink it! A beautiful woman is pouring for you!”
“That’s not pouring—that’s assault!”
Omitsu rushed in.
“Kana-chan, please calm down—”
“Oh, Omitsu-san isn’t drinking either—here!”
“W-wait—
COUGH COUGH!”
Omitsu collapsed.
“I… can’t handle alcohol…”
Some people in Kyushu are weak drinkers.
It happens.
And finally—
Kanikichi whispered:
“Master… perhaps it is time… for us to drink as well.”
“Huh? Yeah… I’m full enough now.
Let’s drink!”
Tasuke grabbed a bottle and downed it.
“AAAH! That’s good sake!
You can only get this stuff here!”
“Master… me too…”
“Yeah yeah.”
He pulled Kanikichi free, poured sake into the scabbard, and slid him back in.
“…Oh! Incredible! Such a refined flavor!
I’ve only ever had cloudy liquor!”
“Shut up! Be grateful I let you drink!
Cleaning up after you is a pain! Want to rust?!”
“Yes yes… my apologies…”
“No more booze for you!”
And so—
With drunken Kana now in full swing,
the familiar storm clouds gathered over yet another banquet.
What will happen next?
Well…
You probably already know.
End of Episode 3.
Whether this New Year ends peacefully…
is entirely up to fate.
