"I told you Kuwabara-san, the project ish a pieeece of cake!- hik", Eiji said with a goofy smile on his face. He had gotten drunk after drinking a jug of beer. His co-workers snickered over this rare amusing moment. Who would have thought that the reason Eiji didn't drink was because he acted this way when drunk. They took pictures and some even recorded video as evidence.

"Bahhh... it's so hot. Hey, waiter... why ish it so hot? I need to take this clothes off.. but it won't come off-hik", Eiji  tried to unbutton his suit but failed somehow. It got him annoyed and soon enough, he wandered and complained to the waiter nearby. The department head wasn't in any better condition while he kept giggling on his own.

"Sir, you're drunk. You should stop drinking now.", the waiter politely said.

"No! How dare you? Do you know what I've been through? My wife... she left me!-hik", Eiji started crying at this point and just like a child, he sat on the floor and threw tantrums. "Why are you stopping me? Will you take reshponsibility if... I get lonely?".

"Kuwabara-san, Takahashi-san is really drunk. He's disturbing the waiter.", Wataru Toyama, a close friend of Eiji said out of concern. The way Eiji was acting surprised him. He knew Eiji's past history. He was worried Eiji might do something he'd regret when he sobered up.

"Find a taxi and send him home, Toyama-kun", the department head said.

"But, I don't know his home address sir.", Wataru replied. Regardless, he pulled Wataru up from the floor and assisted him to stand.

"Just ask him.", Kuwabara-san said while he gulped another glass of beer.

Wataru sighed and walked Eiji out of the restaurant. After finding a taxi, he helped Eiji to get into the car. 

"Eiji-san, what's your address? Can you go home on your own?", Wataru asked. He wanted to come with Eiji out of worry, but he himself had to get going too. His wife will beat him if he stayed out too late.

"Wataru-san-hik. You're so nice. Soooo nice. Don't worry, I'm not a kid.", Eiji ruffled Wataru's hair and started laughing out of nowhere. Seeing this, Wataru sighed and doubted if Eiji could really go home like this.

"Go. I'm fine!", Eiji closed the door. The taxi began to move after Eiji told the driver his address. Wataru worriedly stood still until the taxi was out of sight. He prayed that Eiji would get home safely.

Thankfully, Eiji arrived at his neighborhood without causing trouble. It had been a pain for the driver to get Eiji out of the taxi though. But once out, the driver sped away before Eiji could pester him again.

Eiji felt light, free and happy for some reasons. It's been a while since the last time he felt this way. For a long time, he immersed himself with work. He didn't want to go home and sleep just yet. As the department head said, he had to enjoy the night.

Eiji went to a nearby convenience store and bought a few cans of beer. He wanted to be free as much as he could, knowing that the day later, he wouldn't be able to do again. He opened a can  and drank as he walked the dark alley of his neighborhood. 

He was feeling lonely. It's not that Eiji particularly miss his ex-wife. He had gotten over her a long time ago. He wanted company, someone he can talk his troubles to... someone who'd always be there for him. He even considered finding someone to marry. But will someone even marry him? he's once married and got divorced for cheating. No one would want a man like him. He's not even young anymore. Most people his age are already married.

Feeling annoyed, Eiji threw his half consumed can of beer. 

"Hey! Don't go throwing beer out of nowhere. Now I'm soaked!", a young man complained.