I set out two glasses and some snacks, then sat across from Sieg-san at the desk in our room. The fruit liquor had a clear, pale golden hue and a sweet aroma that immediately put me at ease.
"Come to think of it, Sieg-san, I don't really see you drink very often."
"I only drink fruit liquor. Beyond that... I made it a point to act as if I didn't care for alcohol at all."
"You did?"
"Yes. Before my body was fully healed, I was a wreck. My doctor strictly forbade alcohol, so I stayed away from it entirely. That time we drank together in Rigforresia was the first time I’d touched it in years."
"I see..."
I recalled her mentioning how her body had been in a terrible state until she recovered using the Fruit of the World Tree. She had masked the pain by constantly maintaining Physical Enhancement magic, keeping her condition hidden from Lilia-san and the others to spare them any guilt. If she had been that badly hurt, it was no wonder she had been under a doctor's orders to stay dry.
"But after such a long hiatus, the alcohol goes to my head easily. Even back then, it hit me much faster than I expected, which is why I was sipping so slowly. I haven't really had an opportunity since then, so tonight is a bit of a rare occasion."
"In that case, we should probably take it slow. I've got water here, so make sure to drink some between glasses..."
"...Well, as for tonight, I'm looking for a bit of momentum. Actually... I'd rather get drunk."
"Hmm?"
"Oh! No, it's nothing!"
Her voice had been soft, but she definitely said she wanted to get drunk. Sieg-san didn't seem like the type to want others to see her intoxicated, yet here she was. Looking back, she had been acting slightly off all day. She seemed restless, almost as if she weren't quite grounded. I’d chalked it up to her being excited about the Interaction Event, but that alone didn't explain everything.
After all, we both possessed teleportation magic tools. She hadn't mentioned staying over before we left, yet she had booked a high-end inn without a word of prior consultation. Usually, she would have asked me first. Today, she seemed to be pushing through everything on pure momentum.
It was as if she had a specific goal in mind but had been too shy to voice it until now. Now that the opportunity was here, she was forcing herself to follow through with the preparations she'd made. Between her behavior, her slip of the tongue, her wandering eyes, and the complex swirl of emotions I felt through Sympathy Magic... the answer was clear. Was she... hoping for that?
"Sieg-san, your pace is a little too fast. Have some water first."
"Ah... right. Yes."
"And, uh... you don't need to force yourself to get drunk. It's okay."
"Wait... what? Um..."
It was just a guess, but I was fairly certain I was right. She was clearly hesitating; between booking a twin room and trying to build her courage with alcohol, the signs were everywhere. I could have played dumb, but letting her do all the heavy lifting felt wrong.
"This is a special occasion. I'd rather we just relax and enjoy ourselves while we talk."
"Kaito-san... did you realize I was trying to use the alcohol for courage?"
"Sorry. I caught what you whispered a moment ago."
"Oh... Um, well..."
"Sieg-san, since you went to the effort of booking this room for us... why don't we sleep the same way we did when we stayed in Rigforresia?"
"!? ...A-Ah, yes."
My own heart was hammering. If I had been wrong, the embarrassment would have been fatal, but my proposal hit the mark. Sieg-san blushed a deep crimson all the way to her ears and nodded. Seeing her react like that made me nervous too, and unlike her, I didn't have the option of hiding behind a bottle.
"A-Anyway, let's just enjoy the drinks for now!"
"R-Right! Let's do that!"
We both began drinking in a bit of a fluster. It goes without saying that it took quite some time for either of us to calm down.
Serious-senpai: "Stop it right there! You were supposed to stay Dense/Hard-of-hearing like that first time in Rigforresia! Don't you dare start showing off your perceptiveness and acting like you've got a protagonist vibe now!"