It was 9:30 P.M., with the tempestuous past week passed and the break
finally just a day away. They would be in dreamless slumber in their
respective rooms at this time on weekdays, having settled their daily
practice, meals and baths, but this particular night every week was
reserved for them to chat about various matters in the shared living room
while drinking tea.
Eugeo picked up his own cup and took a lick of some of the boiling pitchblack
liquid, his face involuntarily turning into a frown. His partner was
fond of this powdered tea only available from the south empire and would
definitely make it when in charge of the tea, but Eugeo felt it to be too bitter
by itself. He poured in plenty of milk from the small pot and stirred it with a
teaspoon while prompting a return to the topic with his sight before Kirito
raised an unexpected question.
"That's right... just for example, what kind of pranks did you play while
schooling during your childhood in Rulid?"
After drinking a mouthful of the kohiru tea that lost its bitterness, leaving
behind only a curious aroma, Eugeo loosened the tension in his shoulders
and replied.
"I'm mainly the one those pranks were played on, though. Look, you
remember, don't you, Kirito, that guard captain called Jink who challenged
Sword Art Online Volume 11 – Alicization Turning
Chapter 5 – Seal of the Right Eye
me to a duel during the festivities before the journey. He harassed me quite
a bit... Hiding my shoes somewhere, putting those annoying bugs in my
meal bag or jeering when I was together with Alice.