The Professor|| Sylus

Drunk Chase

The evening settled in as Mei and Ayako arrived at the cozy izakaya near the station, where their old classmates were already gathered. The small, dimly lit venue buzzed with the sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, and lively conversation. It was the perfect spot for a reunion—a place where the stresses of university life could be forgotten, if only for a few hours.

Mei and Ayako were greeted with warm smiles and cheers as they joined the group. The table was already filled with a variety of dishes—grilled skewers, sashimi, and bowls of edamame—all accompanied by pitchers of beer and other drinks. Mei felt a wave of nostalgia as they all fell into easy conversation, reminiscing about the past year and catching up on what everyone had been up to.

As the drinks flowed, so did the stories and laughter. Mei found herself loosening up, enjoying the company of friends she hadn't seen in months. They talked about old classes, shared inside jokes, and remembered the challenges they'd faced together, all with the ease of familiarity that time apart hadn't diminished.

"So,"  one of their classmates, Yuki leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin, "what do you all think about the new professor, Sylus? He's basically been the talk of the school all day."

Ayako laughed, raising her glass. "Oh, you mean the professor who's turned half the campus into a fan club overnight? Yeah, I've heard a few things."

"Just a few?" Mei teased, though she couldn't deny that the entire university seemed to be buzzing with excitement about Professor Sylus. From the moment he'd been introduced that morning, his name had been on everyone's lips.

"I mean, come on," Yuki continued, "he's like something out of a drama—tall, white hair, that suit. And did you see the way he carries himself? It's like he walked straight out of a movie."

Another classmate, Hana, chimed in, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. "I heard some girls in my class saying they're planning to switch majors just to be in one of his classes!"

Mei tilts her head a little, it was true he had captivated everyone's attention. "It's like the whole school has a crush on him,".

Ayako nodded. "Yeah, I've never seen anything like it. Even some of the guys were talking about him, saying he's too cool for a professor."

The group burst into laughter, the absurdity of it all adding to the fun of the evening. The conversation shifted between playful jokes about the campus obsession with Sylus and more serious discussions about how he might shake up the Cultural Studies department.

"But honestly," Yuki said, her tone becoming a bit more serious, "I wonder what he's really like as a teacher. I mean, it's one thing to look good, but does he have the skills to back it up?"

Ayako shrugged. "I guess we'll find out soon enough. Mei and I actually have one of his classes, and the looks of it he looks really professional with etiquette."

After a while, Mei noticed Ayako reaching for another glass of sake. She leaned in, her voice tinged with concern. "Ayako, maybe you should slow down a bit. We still have classes tomorrow, remember?"

Ayako laughed, waving her hand dismissively but with a smile. "Don't worry, Mei-mei~! It's just a little fun. But you're right—I'll take it easy."

Mei nodded, satisfied with Ayako's response. But as the night wore on, Mei began to realize that she wasn't as steady as she'd thought. She'd had a few glasses herself, and the alcohol was slowly creeping up on her. Though she was still in control, she could feel the warm, fuzzy edges of intoxication settling in.

As the evening continued, the conversations around the table grew more relaxed, fueled by the warmth of the drinks and the comfort of familiar faces. Laughter filled the air as old classmates reminisced about shared experiences, but soon, the topic shifted to more personal matters.