Yor had asked if they could talk somewhere quiet, away from the crowds. So In the end, Akifumi brought her to a local ramen shop not far from their apartment in Chiba.
The place was called Ichiryu.
Compared to most ramen joints in Tokyo, it was surprisingly spacious—a rarity, considering how brutally expensive rent was in the city.
Akifumi often wondered how they managed to stay in business.
Then again, Ichiryu wasn't just a ramen shop.
They also served takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and a variety of other small dishes that went well with alcohol. In truth, it felt more like an old-fashioned izakaya than a proper ramen place.
He first heard about Ichiryu from Hiratsuka-sensei, who had once recommended it to him, saying it was a great spot for single people looking for a quiet meal.
The place had small private rooms—perfect for someone wanting to eat alone without enduring the sight of noisy couples on the weekends.
"You don't have to worry about sitting near all those lovey-dovey couples when you come here on a Saturday," Hiratsuka had said with unusual excitement.
Akifumi could still remember how her expression darkened the moment she said the word couple.
Right after that, she gave him a sharp karate chop on the head, blaming him for reminding her of her single status.
Someone really needs to marry that woman… or else I might just have to take responsibility myself, Akifumi thought with a sigh.
Jokes aside, the ramen here really was excellent. So good, in fact, that he ended up ordering a second bowl—tonkotsu shoyu with extra-tender pork.
If it weren't for the serious situation hanging over him right now, he might've boldly declared that Ichiryu's ramen could easily rival the famous Nakiryu ramen in Otsuka—the one that had earned a Michelin star.
After finishing the last sip of broth from his bowl, Akifumi gently set it down with a quiet sigh of satisfaction. But the moment he looked across the table, his stomach twisted into a painful knot.
Slumped over the table, completely knocked out, was none other than Yor.
Her head rested on her folded arms, her breath soft and steady—clearly fast asleep.
In one hand, she still clutched a half-empty bottle of sake. Scattered across the table were several other empty bottles, forming a silent testament to the drinking spree she'd embarked on tonight.
From the moment they sat down, Yor hadn't bothered to order any food. Instead, she went straight for the alcohol, asking for a bottle of sake without hesitation.
Akifumi didn't even dare to wake her. He simply adjusted his seat as quietly as possible, trying to shrink his presence—like some harmless background character—praying she wouldn't suddenly spring to life.
He remembered clearly: Yor couldn't hold her liquor. Not at all. And when she drank too much... she'd sometimes go completely berserk. This right here was the textbook definition of "too much."
Akifumi shivered as he recalled in the original that even an agent as skilled as Twilight in the original story had been knocked out cold by Yor's drunken rampages. His own body? Nowhere near strong enough to take a direct hit from her at full force.
Sure, they trained together sometimes—but he knew she always held back during their sparring sessions. If she ever let loose for real... he'd be sent straight to the hospital. Or the grave.
In his defense, he had tried to stop her from drinking so much tonight. But for some mysterious reason, she insisted that she needed "the power of alcohol" to get through this conversation.
Hiratsuka-sensei... why on earth did you recommend an izakaya to your underage student?!
If I die here tonight, this is all because of you! I swear I'll haunt you for the rest of your life! I'll curse you remain single forever! Akifumi screamed silently in his heart.
Akifumi carefully assessed the situation in his head.
'What should I do now...?'
'Ask for help? From Eriri and the others?'
'Wait for Yor to wake up on her own? Impossible. This shop wasn't open 24 hours, and still 7 pm.'
With no better options, Akifumi resigned himself to the most dangerous choice of all: trying to wake up the sleeping lion.
He stood from his seat, quietly creeping closer to Yor, every step taken as if the floor were made of thin ice.
Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yor-san... Yor-san? Wake up. It's time to go home," he coaxed softly while giving her a gentle shake.
"Mnn... need... something... Mugi-sama..." Yor mumbled sleepily, her words slurred and broken.
"What was that, Yor-san?" Akifumi leaned in, trying to catch her barely audible whisper.
"I... neeeed..." she mumbled again, softer than before—impossible to hear clearly.
Akifumi leaned in even closer hoping to make out her words, an move he immediately regretted.
Without warning, Yor's head suddenly shot up like a spring-loaded trap, almost smashing into his face.
Akifumi jerked back just in time, watching his life flash before his eyes.
'Fuck that's so close...! I almost become protagonist of Final Destination' Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Eh...? Mugi-hic-sama? Thish... where ish...?" Yor slurred, blinking in confusion.
"Is this home...?" she mumbled, looking around the small room with glazed, unfocused eyes.
"We're still outside, Yor-san. Let's go home now before it gets too late," Akifumi said gently, moving to support her by slipping her arm over his shoulder.
"Ehh hic... No, Mugi-sama... I need to talk with you..." Yor struggled to stand on her own, but her legs gave out beneath her.
"Eh...? Legs...?" she muttered, staring at them as if they had personally betrayed her.
"You're drunk, Yor-san. Let's get you home first," Akifumi insisted, steadying her.
"W-Wait... thish ish serious... hic..." Yor protested weakly.
"Yes, yes... I'll listen. After we get home, okay?" Akifumi coaxed, sighing as he prepared for the difficult task of escorting this drunken assassin safely back to the apartment.
With Yor leaning heavily against him, Akifumi guided her toward the counter to settle the bill.
"That'll be 13,000 yen," the waitress said politely.
"Alright, just a moment." Akifumi pulled out his wallet and took out two crisp Yukichi bills.
"Thank you. I've received 20,000 yen," the waitress confirmed as she pressed the buttons on the register. "Here's your change—7,000 yen."
"Thanks," Akifumi replied, slipping the change back into his wallet. "Um... could you call a taxi for us, please?"
"Of course! Um... if I may ask... are you Akifumi Mugiho? The author of the Clannad?" the waitress asked, her eyes glancing curiously at Yor, who clung drunkenly to his side.
"Yes," Akifumi answered simply.
The moment he replied, the waitress's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Akifumi-sensei! I'm a huge fan!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. "I've read all your novels and manga! I can't believe I get to meet you in person—it's such a pleasure!"
"Ah... thank you for your support," Akifumi replied politely, trying to keep his composure as she eagerly shook his hand.
"Um... is this the girlfriend you mentioned in your last interview, Akifumi-sensei?" she asked, glancing meaningfully at Yor hanging off him.
"No, no... she's not my girlfriend," he replied quickly.
"Eh...?" The waitress tilted her head, visibly confused.
Her eyes shifted between Akifumi's youthful, handsome face and Yor's delicate, flushed features—her cheeks glowing red from too much sake.
Suspicion flickered in the waitress's gaze.
Akifumi immediately caught the wary look in her eyes and sighed inwardly.
Great... she's imagining something weird, isn't she?
"Um, Miss, it's not what you think—" he began, trying to explain, but before he could finish, Yor stirred on his shoulder.
"Mugi-hic-sama... d-don't leave me... Mahiru-san... Eriri-san... Mashiro-chan..." Yor mumbled softly, her voice thick with drink.
She tightened her grip around his neck, pulling herself closer as she whispered drunkenly, "I'll be a good girl... d-don't leave me, Master..."
"Master!?" the waitress gasped, her mind spiraling into dangerous territory.
All the forbidden, steamy master-servant manga she'd secretly read flashed vividly in her mind. And hearing the string of other girls' names slip from Yor's lips only fueled her imagination further.
With that thought the waitress face turning bright red.
"N-no miss! It's not like that at all!" Akifumi stammered in panic.
"I-It's fine! Akifumi-sensei! Love have a lot of shape! W-wait just a minute, I'll call a taxi right away!" the waitress squeaked, blushing fiercely as she hurried away like her life depended on it.
Akifumi sighed in quiet defeat, feeling the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders.
Hahh... guess I won't be coming back to this place anytime soon...