When her eyes finally focused, Mochizuki Haruka froze like she'd just realized she'd been caught in a scandal.

"…Eh?"

She looked down, then back at me. Then down again.

That was when she seemed to understand her current situation.

She wasn't standing.

No—she was floating.

To be precise, I was carrying her. One arm behind her back, the other beneath her knees.

The so-called princess carry.

"…Why… why… why am I being carried by Ginjō-san???"

Her flustered voice cracked midway, and she twisted like she was trying to escape from a wild animal.

"Hey—don't move. I'll put you down now," I said, lowering my knees and easing her onto the ground.

The warmth in my arms disappeared, replaced by the cool night air. Strangely enough… I already missed it.

She looked around, eyes darting between the stairwell and the familiar old door in front of her.

Second floor of Matsumoto Apartments, Room 202.

Her place.

"…What's going on? How did I get back? Why is Ginjō-san standing in front of my door?"

Her words stumbled over themselves, the way drunk people often do when trying to sound sober.

"You don't remember anything?" I asked.

"Well… I remember everything before drinking with Rieko at the izakaya."

She frowned, rubbing her temple.

"I remember her teasing me… a lot. Then I got depressed and started drinking… and after that, nothing."

"It was Rieko-san who called me. Said you were drunk and needed help getting home."

"…Ah… I see…" she murmured, looking both relieved and mortified at the same time.

Then, with a voice as small as a cat mewing, "Sorry for making you see me like this, Ginjō-san… and for making you carry me. I'm heavy, right?"

"No, it's fine," I said without thinking.

Her eyes narrowed. "Not bad? So… a little heavy?"

I almost laughed. Drunk or not, a girl's sensitivity about her weight is a formidable force.

"I'm glad you're awake. I didn't have the key, and I didn't know what to do earlier," I told her.

"Then… at least have some tea before you leave!" she blurted out, fumbling for her handbag.

But just as she turned the doorknob, she swayed dangerously.

"Whoa—"

I caught her by the shoulders before she could fall. Her hair brushed my cheek, carrying that faint floral scent I'd noticed earlier.

"Give me the key, Mochizuki-san. You're still not steady."

"…Okay… I'll leave it to you, Ginjō-kun."

I unlocked the door and guided her inside, supporting her until she sat down on the edge of her bed.

"I don't usually get this drunk," she mumbled, avoiding my eyes. "But today…"

"It's not a big deal," I smiled, though her downcast look made my chest tighten a little.

"Um… did I say anything weird when I was drunk?"

"No… not really…" I started, but my hesitation must have been obvious.

"I did! I knew it! What did I say?!"

"…You said you'd learned some moves from Miss Rieko… and you wanted me to 'taste your power' or something."

"…WHAT?!"

Her face turned a deeper red than when she was drinking. I could almost feel the heat radiating off her.

What on earth could make her react like this?

She buried her face in her hands, groaning. "It's all Rieko's fault… she kept saying weird things."

"…Weird things?"

"She heard we'd gone on three dates, and then…" Her voice dropped until I had to lean in to catch it.

"She said people usually… have sex… after three dates…"

My brain momentarily short-circuited.

"…I didn't have any experience, so I couldn't argue back… I just kept drinking… And then she started talking about 'other moves' instead…"

"What kind of moves?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Mochizuki waved her hands vaguely, then placed two fingers gently against her lips.

…Ah.

Married woman, plenty of experience. Of course Rieko would…

The realization hit, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if the warmth in the room came from the heater or from somewhere else entirely.

Mochizuki's face burned as she yanked the quilt over her head like a turtle retreating into its shell.

"…I'm never drinking with Rieko again…"