Ming, who loved drinking

Bai Yu stared at the boy, a little dumbfounded.

The boy was holding a bottle of liquor, one of the system's random rewards that day. It was a pretty decent bottle, and Bai Yu had been planning to enjoy it as a treat.

"Um, could I have some?"

The boy looked at Bai Yu and spoke in an ethereal voice that was strangely soothing.

"Oh, if you want it, you can have it."

The boy nodded gently.

"Thank you."

Then he opened the bottle and took a small sip, his eyes lighting up at once.

He clearly loved this liquor, which gave Bai Yu an easy way to strike up a conversation.

Bai Yu sat down beside him, casually brushing the dust off his clothes.

"Do you really like drinking?"

"Yes, very much."

There wasn't much emotion in the boy's voice, but it had an innocent, tranquil quality. Bai Yu liked that voice and found himself growing fond of the boy before him, even though they looked about the same age, and the boy might even have been a little older.

But that didn't stop Bai Yu from liking certain things about him.

"At your age, don't you find liquor a little too strong?"

"It's different. Liquor... I really like it."

Bai Yu watched his wine-red eyes gaze happily at the bottle. He seemed to like drinking purely for its own sake, a little differently from other people who enjoyed alcohol.

"What's your name?"

"Mm, my name is Ming."

"Ming? Just one syllable?"

"Yes. I don't have a surname."

This...

That way of naming someone felt familiar. A little... a little like my previous life?

But as Bai Yu thought, he smiled and extended his hand for a handshake.

"My name is Bai Yu Doyle. You can just call me Bai Yu."

Ming looked at his outstretched hand, hesitated, then reached out and gently shook it.

Watching Ming drink in silence, Bai Yu felt puzzled. Ming hadn't appeared in the story he knew from his previous life, or there was no way Bai Yu would have forgotten him. Had he died before he could appear? Or had he simply never been shown?

But judging by his talent, Bai Yu felt Ming was at least not much worse than Mikasa had been at the beginning of the story.

"Oh, right."

Only then did Bai Yu ask the question that, though a little rude, had been weighing on his mind.

"Are you a boy or a girl?"

"A boy."

Ming's answer immediately made Bai Yu close the distance between them. He leaned right up to him, staring intently at his face and studying it for a long time before finally nodding as though giving up.

Mm, it wasn't easy to tell, but he really was a boy.

"Have you thought about which regiment you want to join?"

"I don't know, but they say the Military Police Brigade is better..."

Before he could finish, Bai Yu interrupted him.

"No, no, no. The Military Police Brigade? The people there don't have dreams. Isn't our Survey Corps much better?"

"But I don't have any dreams."

That left Bai Yu choking on his words, unsure what to say for a moment. It was true that persuading someone to join the Survey Corps was like sending them to their death, which seemed rather unethical. But Bai Yu decided he didn't care about that and lightly rubbed his chin.

A gleam flashed through his eyes, as though he were plotting something.

"Do you drink often?"

"Rarely. I don't have the money."

"I see... How about joining our Survey Corps? If you serve under me, I can supply all your liquor."

Ming's hand froze at those words. He turned to look at Bai Yu beside him. His face remained calm, but his eyes gave him away, sparkling brightly.

Seeing his reaction, Bai Yu rejoiced inwardly.

Got him.

"Ahem, don't get excited just yet. There are conditions if you want to serve under me."

"What conditions?"

"I want you to rank in the top three among the recruits."

As he spoke, he held up three fingers.

"The top three..."

"That's right. As long as you agree, I'll come here every evening and bring you liquor. But on one condition: drinking absolutely must not affect your awareness or your training. If you can't manage that, our agreement is off. How does that sound?"

"Okay. I won't let it."

There was nothing wrong with enjoying a drink, but Bai Yu wouldn't like it if drinking dulled his mind.

Bai Yu's reason for wanting to recruit Ming was simple.

He just liked certain qualities about him, but he still knew what mattered most.

Come to think of it, that smells pretty good.

Bai Yu sniffed lightly and caught a faint aroma of liquor lingering around them. It was rich and mellow, the kind of scent one could lose oneself in, though he simply enjoyed the smell.

"Pinky promise."

Ming's ethereal voice rang out. He held out his little finger toward Bai Yu, watching him with a serious expression. The happiness in his pure eyes was unmistakable, like a child who had received his favorite toy.

Bai Yu held out his hand to him too.

"Come again tomorrow."

"Of course. Oh, right, I might not be able to come when our Survey Corps goes on an expedition beyond the walls. If it's very late one night and I still haven't shown up, go back. I'll give you twice as much afterward."

But Ming fell silent for a long while before speaking, his tone as calm as ever.

"I'll wait for you."

"Do you have to take it so seriously?"

"Yes."

"Tsk, I see. Nothing for it, then. I'll try to get back early."

"Okay."

"You'll be fine, Bai Yu."

"Hm? Why do you think that?"

Bai Yu looked puzzled. This was their first meeting, wasn't it? Otherwise, with Ming's distinctive qualities, Bai Yu would never have forgotten him. He stood out so brightly.

At least, that was how Bai Yu saw him.

"You're very strong, Bai Yu. I can feel it."

"You can even sense that?"

"Yes."

Bai Yu simply lay down beside him, looking up at the starry sky with a smile tugging at his lips.

"Ming, I'm starting to wish those three years would hurry up and pass."

So innocent. Innocent to an almost unbelievable degree. What an extraordinary guy.

Ming gently cradled the bottle and drank in little sips without really responding. Perhaps he could tell that Bai Yu hadn't wanted an answer.

Bai Yu slowly closed his eyes and waved a hand.

"Do your best."

Come to think of it, it's so late. I might as well not go back and just sleep here. Ming sat beside him, looking at the bright moon above. His wine-red eyes were like the purest gemstones in the world, reflecting the soft moonlight. They were beautiful.