>>5607655Before long the three of you finds yourself in a wide karaoke booth.
The lightning is somewhat subdued, but the ceiling is filled with various lights that’ll likely start to swing and flicker in tune with the music once it starts.
A small flatscreen TV hangs from the ceiling with the words “Pick a song!” softly swaying up and down in the center of the screen.
Four microphones rest in their holders, clamped to a large table with rounded corners.
Lining all walls save for the one with the entrance is a massive, cushioned, u-shape booth.
Finally there’s a small speaker attached to the table with a button.
It buzzes noisily when pressed, which it immediately does because Kitabayashi presses it.
<span class="mu-g">“Three beers!”</span> she shouts into the receiver.
The voice on the other side acknowledges the order and says they’re on their way.
Kitabayashi seems determined to start out strong.
You turn to Matsui, <span class="mu-g">“Are you okay with beer, Matsui-san?”</span> you ask, <span class="mu-g">“I can ask them to change the order?”</span>
Matsui waves your concerns aside, <span class="mu-g">“Beer is fine,”</span> she says, <span class="mu-g">“Feel free to relax. We’re not at the office right now. We’re celebrating, right?”</span>
You nod, but you can’t help but be somewhat on guard when it comes to Kitabayashi and drinking.
<span class="mu-g">“Don’t chicken out, Miho!”</span> shouts Kitabayashi while she uses some kind of remote to flick through the karaoke numbers on the screen, <span class="mu-g">“We’re drinking today!”</span>
You sit down on one of the large benches, tilting your head back as Kitabayashi rants in the distance about the song selection on the karaoke machine.
The door opens to reveal a man in his late twenties with what will be generously called the man’s best attempt at a goatee.
He’s carrying a large tray with three glass mugs filled with beer, <span class="mu-g">“Three beers?”</span> the man announces carefully.
<span class="mu-g">“Yes!”</span> cries Kitabayashi in confirmation.
The man nods, puts down the beers on the able, and departs.
<span class="mu-g">“Uwaaa,”</span> cries Kitabayashi, <span class="mu-g">“They’re massive.”</span>
There’s probably at least half a litre of beer in each of these.
<span class="mu-g">“Gather up, gather up,”</span> shouts Kitabayashi.
You, Matsui, and Kitabayashi stand around the table and Kitabayashi slides a beer to both you and Matsui.
