Drinking And Being Drunk
Year 2007 is already beginning in two weeks. As I'm doing the finishing touches on the album, something swooped down on me. It was a misfortune that made all the hairs on my body stand on end...

Feeling light in body and mind after accomplishing last year's big project, I left the studio and jumped straight into a taxi, because I had to hurry to a tavern where my seniors were waiting with their New Year greetings. The seniors always had good stories for us. Although I'm vicious when I'm drunk, I can talk with my seniors about various things without hesitation. It was a while since I met those seniors and my heart was dancing.
"Excuse me. Please tell me where to go."
When I informed him of the destination, the driver departed in silence.
'What... I have a bad feeling about this...'
I was feeling a little angry that he put a damper on my good mood, but in order to endure and not mind it so much, I concentrated on gazing at the neon lights of the city from the car window.

About ten minutes later, the recklessly driven car arrived at the destination place with a jolt. Feeling young-spirited, my pleasant footsteps resounded as I descended the staircase into the underground. When I opened the store's door at the end of the aisle, my seniors were all there, waiting with smiling faces. They were already getting a little drunk and offering me alcohol along with their greetings.

When I was also vigorously drinking, I didn't quite understand my current condition and so I couldn't keep track of time. While the seniors and I engaged in lively conversation about songs and music, we were all at a loss as arguments heaped up. I was saying "Yes that's right~" continuously when the party was in full swing. When we finally glanced at the clock we still seemed to be in time for the last train, so with a cry of "Let this year also treat us kindly!!" we left the store.

Hurrying along to the station, we were running fast, and it was like an avalanche of people, people, people.
"Damn it! Today was Friday..."
Outside the ticket gates, we were wrapped up in the scent of alcohol all around. Here and there, drunk people who had collapsed to the floor were curled up... It was dreadfully unpleasant, but at this late hour we didn't think we would find a taxi, so we reluctantly bought our tickets and as we descended to the platform the train appeared exactly at that moment. Without delay, we took our positions behind the yellow line to wait for the last train. To put on airs for the people around me, I pulled my hat lower over my eyes and waited for the train's arrival.

When the train stopped a little while later, and after all of the people came out of it, I was luckily able to grab a seat. I took out a book from my bag and started reading, but since the alcohol was still remaining in my brain tissue, the print seemed to flow together as I glanced over it.

Before I was aware of it, people were being packed in like sushi all around me, bodies bending left and right, their red faces warped in pain. I regretted my choice to return home via train when the doors shut. The train started running sluggishly, but not long after departure the stench around me nearly destroyed me, and I closed my book. Looking up and down, suddenly a couple of office ladies were hanging on to the straps right in front of me, and spouting out words without articulation.

In my mind I was thinking, 'Women are out so late... And on top of that, they're so drunk, it's deplorable...' But when the local train passed two or three stations, one of those females started some odd behavior. The woman, despite being in a crowded train, seemed to do a stretching exercise many times, and wouldn't stay still. I looked nearby, and a host-style male was emitting a strong scent of perfume that was becoming sickening. While scowling at that guy, I held my hand over my mouth.
'Ahhh~ It's really the end of society...' I thought.

The worst-case scenario happened almost instantaneously. Somehow that young female vigorously vomited beneath the seat I was sitting in. I momentarily panicked about the current condition of the train carriage, thinking 'where is there such space for that?' and I spread out in a semicircle in the center, as though I was catching the tide.

The two females left me behind when the train arrived at the next station, and I blinked my eyes, not quite understanding why it was okay for them to do that. I couldn't believe what happened next, but those two females stumbled off the train in a hurry, without cleaning up or even without an apology for that. I was left there alone. This state of affairs is typically not something that I had seen anywhere else.

The surrounding people were sending inquisitive glances my way, seeming to say "How is that person?" Although for a little while I seemed dumbfounded, I sat back, starting to resolve myself. Then I casually opened the plastic bag I was holding and took out all the tissues that I received from the tavern. With a feeling that I could burst into tears, I cleaned it all up. Some people began to help me in silence, and I thanked them from the depths of my heart, but an old lady amongst those people said words to me that would have to curse my fate. She said, "This isn't any good! Drinking until you become like this!! Good grief, everyone is bothered because of it!!!"

The old lady had just come into the train from the station, and as anyone would, without the facts of the situation she seemed to think it was something I did...
"I'm very sorry..." I apologized instinctively.

Around when I had almost finished tidying up, the train arrived at my station and I stepped out. Carrying the awfully heavy plastic bag in my hand, I dashed through that ticket gate like a startled hare, to dispose of it in the trash bin at a convenience store. Even mingled with the stench of night, that odor was still strong... I hadn't noticed it at all, but stuff that the female had vomited up had landed on my jacket. Then I understood. I couldn't help but think what I had to do when I looked at it... I vigorously threw that jacket into the garbage bin too, and under the winter night sky I walked through the wind in only a T-shirt. Unable to stand it, after I went home I was still influenced by the beer.

Since I noticed I didn't have my wallet with me, that was something for the next day...

Make a free website with Yola