Ch.176IF Side Story: Galactic Love (1)

# This is a story from when I was briefly staying at Pang Pang’s house.

That period was both short and long in its own way, so naturally we had plenty of time for various conversations.

Usually I was the one listening, but even Pang Pang occasionally ran out of things to talk about.

“…Thank you for letting me stay here.”

Perhaps I was intoxicated by the atmosphere despite having no alcohol, but during a moment when Pang Pang paused speaking, I blurted that out rather randomly.

Living in someone else’s home was awkward in many ways.

Even if that person was someone you were close with.

If someone asked whether I actually considered Pang Pang a super close friend, that would be a separate question altogether.

But despite my comment—

“Oh come on, I told you it’s fine.”

Pang Pang waved her hand with a smile. She was always like that. Somehow, she had a way of taking people’s words lightly. Even when those words were somewhat dark.

Despite the somewhat somber mood, in front of us were sweet snacks, several cans of sugar-free coffee, and a few bottles of energy drinks.

After finishing work at the construction site, we always bought drinks and snacks on our way home.

To be honest, they didn’t look like proper drinking snacks to me. What I considered proper snacks were typically spicy foods that complemented bitter alcohol.

Well, if we’re talking about bitterness, both coffee and alcohol are bitter, but you could say they’re different kinds of bitterness.

Even I think cake goes better with Americano than hangover soup.

Unfortunately for Pang Pang, I don’t drink coffee at night. While I’m not extremely sensitive to caffeine, I’m not completely immune either, so I’d definitely have trouble falling asleep if I drank it late.

Still, feeling like I should drink something in this situation, instead of buying canned coffee, I stopped by a cafe on the way and bought just one cup of decaf.

I used a disposable fork to take a small bite of cake.

The reason sweets taste so good is probably because we exerted ourselves so much during the day. Even when using circuits, it still required some effort.

Pang Pang had been living here, doing this kind of work every day.

“…No, I should make this clear. You’re not staying here for free.”

“Having one more person… no, even two more people wouldn’t make much difference. You’re earning your own food money anyway.”

Though even that job was something Pang Pang had introduced me to.

By the way, James was sleeping in the corner of the room. He must have been overworked at the company, as he occasionally fell into such comfortable sleep.

It must be nice being small. Just put down a shoebox and you’ve got yourself a studio apartment. Though it would certainly be cold. Housing prices in the Squeakean motherland probably weren’t that expensive.

“The danger—”

“That doesn’t matter. The work we usually do isn’t exactly safe either, you know.”

Pang Pang interrupted me again.

I lost my words and silently took another bite of chocolate cake. It was a bit too sweet for my taste. Even though it was decaf, I was glad I’d bought coffee without sugar or milk.

I rinsed my mouth with the bitter coffee, and we silently continued eating dessert and drinking coffee.

I remained largely unchanged, but Pang Pang’s face was gradually turning red. People from her planet get drunk on caffeine. Since caffeine wasn’t regulated on Earth, Pang Pang drank it whenever she had the chance.

I’d taken her home so many times when she used cafes like bars.

Despite being only a high school student in this world, I had strangely experienced “taking a drunk friend home” several times, something I’d never done in my past life.

Come to think of it, we must have been closer friends than I thought. I wouldn’t have done that if we weren’t close.

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Pang Pang said.

“You’re the only one who would do that for me…”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

Pang Pang opened another can of coffee. There were already no snacks left in front of her.

I wondered if aliens who get drunk on caffeine get stomachaches after drinking it. Thinking they might, I pushed my cake toward her.

I was fine with just coffee. I wasn’t going to get drunk anyway.

“Wow, thanks.”

Pang Pang replied with slightly slurred speech, then slowly savored the cake I’d given her while sipping her coffee.

“Are you addicted to caffeine?”

Humans can get addicted to caffeine too. Though usually it just results in a mild headache.

“No, no. We don’t get addicted to things…”

Honestly, that was hard to believe. Getting drunk makes you feel good, and gradually you become addicted to that good feeling, right?

Getting drunk itself is basically overworking your body to the point where you can’t maintain your senses.

“Finish that one and stop drinking.”

I sighed deeply and put down my coffee, then started gathering the trash in front of us.

“Heh, hehe…”

“What are you laughing at?”

When I responded with disbelief, Pang Pang looked up at me and said:

“That’s a first for you too.”

“Huh?”

“Worrying about me.”

“…”

I really know nothing about Pang Pang’s past.

While working there, we had an unspoken rule: don’t pry too much into each other’s business.

To begin with, people who work as combatants are those who either have no normal way to earn money or can’t maintain their livelihood even if they do other work.

For all I know, there might be criminals among them. That company was the kind that boldly hired and used criminals too.

We were somewhat friendly with each other, but at the same time, we didn’t know much about each other. I didn’t know much detail about that rock species uncle either. Well, he was rather loose-lipped and shared quite a bit about his situation.

“You’re the only one who takes me home when I drink coffee, and the only one who sits across from me at cafes.”

“That’s because you drink until you’re too drunk.”

I let out a light sigh.

But, well.

Yeah.

To be honest, I didn’t mind it that much. Pang Pang was an alien with blue skin unlike ours, but she was still quite pretty on the outside.

I wouldn’t go so far as to think of it as dating, but she didn’t cause me any major inconvenience either.

Besides, there was something somewhat pitiful about her.

Like now.

“No one ever asked me what I liked, and no one laughed at me when I told them what I liked.”

“Well, there are quite a few aliens like you who love Earth.”

“No… still. Still, there are far more people who look down on us.”

She was even sniffling a bit, which seemed dangerous. This could easily turn into complete self-deprecation.

“…You’re drunk. Let’s save this and drink it tomorrow.”

“Don’t wanna.”

Her speech was really starting to slur now.

Thinking she hadn’t drunk that much compared to usual, I picked up a can without thinking and was shocked to see it contained 200mg of caffeine.

And she had two of those.

In this country, energy drinks rarely exceed 100mg of caffeine. Coffee often contains more than that, but strangely, many people are particular about this, so caffeine content is always written prominently in a visible place.

…Yet I bought it without checking, so that was my carelessness.

“Hey, you drank more than usual.”

“Oh, reaally?”

“From now on, let’s properly check new cans before buying them.”

I sighed deeply and grabbed Pang Pang, dragging her along. She came along with a silly grin.

I placed Pang Pang on the folding mattress I’d prepared earlier and was about to go clean up the trash when—

“Mmm.”

Pang Pang grabbed my leg and pulled on my clothes.

“Whoa!?”

I let out an undignified yelp as I fell backward. Somehow I ended up lying right next to Pang Pang.

Pang Pang wrapped her arms around me mercilessly.

She wasn’t as curvy as me, but Pang Pang was definitely a woman. It was embarrassing in many ways when she suddenly clung to me like this—

“Thank you.”

For some reason, Pang Pang said that, and then.

Smooch.

She kissed me on the cheek.

“Hey, what—”

Before I could respond—

“Zzzz.”

Pang Pang fell asleep just like that.

“…”

I was too dumbfounded to say anything.