Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 38. Short Story: Someone Far Away
Author Note: This is just a quick little story.
It has absolutely no connection to the previous story!!
My remaining money tonight is 112 yen.
Well then.
I start thinking; mulling over things inside the storage.
Originally, I should be increasing my stockpile of food, or buying things like a blue tarp or a thin silver emergency blanket—what was that called again? Emergency blanket? No, wait… was it called “Emanjenshī”?— I should buy something like that.
But I want to drink sake.
For some reason, I really feel like drinking today.
I’m not usually much of a drinker. I just enjoy a little, that’s all.
But sometimes, I get the sudden urge to drink.
Let’s think about what kind of alcohol I can buy with 112 yen.
Well, if I just want a drink, I remember buying a chu-hi for 98 yen, so I can just buy that. But I am not in the mood for chu-hai today.
What cheap alcohol comes to mind—like I◯en’s Top◯ri whisky. I’ve read some excellent reviews and was very curious about the taste, but I’ve never bought it.
I’ve bought cheap alcohol from I◯en before. Very cheap liquor .
Was it Zub□ka? Or Zub□kka? Whatever.
I don’t know what it costs now, but I have a record of buying it for 943 yen. Probably one of those old bottles with a rounded shoulder. If that was 500ml for 943 yen, then it’ll be about 60ml for around 112 yen. That’s a good amount for a quick sip before going to bed.
But, it’s hard to drink if it’s not chilled. Honestly, I’d really like to put it in the freezer.
So, I bought two yen worth of ice and 110 yen worth of Zub□kka to fill the cups I had prepared.
What should I snack on?
I bought this rye bread the other day. Black bread is good because it can be stored for a long time.
The rye bread, sliced as thinly as possible, has a sour taste and becomes more flavorful the more you chew it.
I don’t dislike tough bread. My jaw might hurt, but I like it. When I toast it with cheese on top, it’s delicious. This kind of bread is perfect for that.
I swirl the cup around, hoping it will cool faster. I think it’s ready now.
When I take a sip, the faint aroma of sakura mochi wafts through my mouth. Along with that,bthere was a strong smell of alcohol.
Ah, this taste brings back memories. It’s the kind of drink I used to enjoy at a bar I frequented long ago.
At that bar, a single sprig of fragrant grass was stuck in a bottle, and each time the bottle was emptied, it was transferred to another bottle. Before they knew it, a bunch of herb-filled empty bottles lined the shelf. Was it bison grass? Or some kind of herb? It was the kind that makes you feel like you want to hold it in your mouth like a toothpick. I really wanted to chew on it.
The bottles still containing the herbs were stored in the freezer, and when they poured it, the drink was ice-cold with a smooth, almost velvety texture.
While recalling that texture, I drink, but just chilling it with ice isn’t quite the same. The alcohol feels more intense—more pungent.
Still, the alcohol pairs well with the sourness of the black bread. It’s delicious.
Come to think of it, I think that the Zub□kka was mixed with grapefruit juice and something added to it—somehow, it tasted a bit like Pocari ◯eat.
What exactly did they add to it?
I can picture my friend’s face as we drank together and laughed at the resemblance.
I don’t have much attachment to Japan anymore, but being separated from my friends is still quite lonely.
However, for me, distance doesn’t matter much—friends are still friends, and the people who have passed away are simply far away, I just can’t see them.
I’m sad that we can’t see each other, but I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything.
Grandpa, Grandma, my parents, friends who passed away early—my former teacher I just heard passed away recently—all of them are just far away; I simply can’t meet them.
I raise my glass in toast to someone I can’t see, then take a small sip.
The alcohol burns my throat as it slides down into my stomach. As it went down, I feel a warmth spreading inside my body, filling me with a sense of strength.
Today, I think I’ll sleep very well.
Tl note:
Chūhai (チューハイ or 酎ハイ), an abbreviation of “shōchū highball” (焼酎ハイボール), is an alcoholic drink originating from Japan