Keto, Part 1

Lynn's pov

After a few days of rest, I was able to get back on my feet again. Though it was unfortunate that I had to spend the rest of my days planning on how I'll quit the gang. And the beginning of a new school year is nearing too, I got to do something about this.

"Fetch me some snacks and a good drink. Do it on the double."

"Yes, boss!" I replied.

Keto is extremely bossy for today. I don't know what happened but he was already in that mood when I got here. He made me do all the littlest things that he could do for himself, like tying up his shoe, picking up his phone, and picking other stuff he intentionally drops on the ground.

I just do as he says because he might end up beating me, even though I feel like I want to strangle him for making things too hard for me. When I got back with the finest snacks he can feast on, Keto was already venting out by scaring some younger thug.

"The fuck are 'ya lookin' at, kid? Got a problem with me?"

"N-No sir, I-I—"

"What!? You got a problem!?"

Before it escalates to another level, I made my way between them just in time. "Boss, here's your snacks!"

His attention switches to me and his grumpy face immediately turned delighted. "Woah~ don't mind if I do." Keto let goes of the poor guy and runs away from us.

I sighed as he leaves me watching him eat at a corner. When he happens to drop a glance at me, he pulls all the snacks to his back like a bratty kid being selfish about his toys. "You can't have some, this is all mine." What a jerk, I used my own money to buy those damn snacks for him.

Keto really seems to be a different person when he's in different moods. Is he seriously the same guy from the first time I met him?

While waiting by his side for another ridiculous order, I spotted Ash walking by. As he noticed me and Keto, he approached us looking like he's in a better mood than Keto. "Keto! Lyde! What are you guys up to?"

"Hmph." Keto turns his back on his pal and just kept munching on his snacks. Turning to Ash, he's ticked off by Keto's attitude.

"What's gotten into him?"

"I don't know, he's already acting like a jerk when I got here."

"I see… it must be one of those days!" Eh? What does Ash mean?

"One of those days??… can you elaborate?" I asked.

"You see, Keto gets really agitated when some of his family comes home from abroad after lots of months. He doesn't like them so that explains why his attitude is way worse than it usually is." So Keto is just acting up like a brat because his family got home? What a brat for his age. "Hey Keto! Want to go for a drink?" Ash suddenly asked.

That caught Keto's attention as he looks back at Ash and seems to like the idea. "Hell yeah!"

By drink, do they mean to get drunk?

"How about you, Lyde?"

"He's with me so he's coming whether he likes it or not." EHH! SO THEY REALLY ARE DRINKING!?

"B-But aren't we a little too young for that… sort of… thing?"

The two laughed at me as if I said something ridiculous. "What's so funny?!"

"—too young, you say? Do I look like I give a damn about age? Who cares!" I knew he would say that. Of course they wouldn't care about age limits! They're delinquents!!

Since it was already too late to decline, I was dragged by Keto like a personal slave. "Don't get too drunk on me, alright? I'll be assigning you as my guide when I'm done."

"But boss, when do you think you'll finish??" I still have a lot to do when I get back. Gramps probably won't make dinner again by tonight, he only cooks when uncle Dan visits. That lazy old man… I'll get scolded if it gets late for me to come home.

"Dunno." Damn it. I got a bad feeling about this.

The two argued where they want to drink. They even bugged me to take them to my house so they could get their asses drunk there, but thankfully they understood when I lied about having visitors at home. In the end, we went to Ash's place after buying the booze.

"Ah! This goes well with the snacks Lyde bought me!" Keto chortled. When he began to eat, I can tell that his mood really improved with food and drinks. Maybe that's a good strategy to use; if he ever gets mad, I can just buy him that so he won't threaten me with his fists.

"Dude, do you even drink?" Ash asked.

I never tried to drink stuff like these before when I got to taste it one time. And it always made me wonder why people like the ugly bitter taste of booze. "No, you can have this." I pushed the small drink to him and let him have it.

As they kept drinking, I can see the alcohol's progress on their behavior. I would only laugh along with their funny conversations and get scared of their will in violence. Delinquents are really something else. But it was fun listening since I got to know more about them.

"…I know it's been a while since you joined us, but here's a late toast for 'ya! Welcome to the gang, Lyde!" Keto lifted his glass with a very flushed face.

"Raise to our new pal!" Ash also seems drunk, but was sober enough to catch up with Keto's impulse.

"Thanks! I appreciate it." I just raised an empty glass to go along with them. Though it was really nice to have them treating me well.