The current time was 12:09 A.M.

The streets that were so lively during the day transformed into a lonely sight covered by the midnight sky. The few establishments that remained open painted the road with their colorful lights - like another side to a coin, the average road became like a door to a new avenue. And despite the time, people were still walking around, wearing haggard expressions on their faces.

I was one of them.

Truly the correct action that anyone should be doing right now would be sleeping in their bed, resting their fatigued bodies after a day of productive activities. I would like to say that it applies double for me, who had been awake since dawn and had traveled from Tokyo back to Chiba.

Indeed, the logical thing for me to do would be go straight to my apartment and rest. The late streets could be dangerous and despite the low crime rates that Chiba boasted, I'm not a fan of leaving my safety to statistics.

Yet I find myself standing in front of a shabby looking bar.

The quiet streets allowed the noisy music inside to escape and provide a sense of liveliness to anyone hearing it. Unfortunately, I was too exhausted to enjoy the sudden feeling of not being alone. The scent of smoke and liquor inside made me hesitate for a moment, but I mustered my courage and pushed the doors open.

With heavy steps, I made my way inside, immediately noticing that the place still had a more than few people in its premise. Scanning the surrounding with my tired eyes, I searched the area for my target. The people inside were what you would expect on a late Friday night; there were people clad in corporate attires complaining about their jobs and a bunch of rowdy youths enjoying their time, trying to impress anyone they could.

But they were none of my concern.

It was not that difficult to find who I was looking for. Since most of the people here were on large groups, I only need to look for a spot occupied a number of two people. Considering that this place caters to a crowd and encourages bringing company, it only took me a few seconds for me to find them.

Located in the furthermost corner of the place, away from the noisy group were two people who were occupying a single table. One of them was a woman with long black hair, wearing a suit that certainly drew eyes on her figure, and the other was a casually dressed man slumped on the table, hardly paying attention to the woman speaking or the people around.

I feel my brows twitch in irritation as I made my way towards them. My patience thinning on the short walk as I evaded a few hot blooded youths that tried to talk to me. As I grew near, I picked up the woman's voice loudly complaining about something that I did not bother to pay attention to. The noisy music from the speakers seems to be draining away my strength and control.

I stopped behind them and coughed. I waited a few seconds, but it was clear I was ignored. The woman continued to spout off how her choice of career had a negative effect in her love life. I considered raising my voice but decided against making a scene. Instead, I placed a hand on her shoulder. I might have grabbed harder than I intended since she made an ugly yelp.

As expected only the woman was coherent enough to notice me, completely stopping her tirade. She turned away from her drink and faced me, her eyes widening with recognition.

"Y-Yukinoshita?!"

My high school teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka let out a yell of surprise. I winced at the volume of her voice and did nothing but glare at her and the person in front of her.

"Good evening Hiratsuka-san. You two seem to be enjoying the night."

My former teacher winced at the tone of my voice; it seems that she was still fully functional, unlike her companion. Her wide eyes switched frantically between the person in front her and then back to me all while her mouth kept opening and closing like a fish. Any other time and I would have been amused to incite such a reaction, but right now, I only felt annoyance bubbling.

Finally, after a few seconds she regained her control.

"W-what are you doing here? I thought that you were in Tokyo!"

My face stiffened at her response. She sounded like a woman who had been caught playing around with a married man, which wasn't true but still was somewhat close to the current situation. Maybe it was the alcohol making her speak like she was in a noontime drama, but it only added to my already terrible mood.

Taking a deep breath, I controlled my raging emotions. Making a scene here was the last thing I wanted. Although I will admit that I wanted to shout at my former teacher.

"I decided to come back early. Is there any problem with that?"

Earlier this week I went to Tokyo along with my family to visit my grandparents. I was supposed to come back next Monday but decided to return so that I could spend the weekend back here in Chiba. Because it was already late when I left, it should be obvious that I would arrive here at an even later time.

With a tone of voice I never thought I'd use; I stared down at my former teacher straight through the eyes and made my ire known.

"Now imagine my surprise when I arrived in my apartment, empty. Without even a single call, the person that should have been waiting for me was not there. On the dead of the night, no less."

I tried to smile politely, but I was pretty sure that it did not go as I intended, my stiff face preventing me from doing so.

"Not only that, but after checking with his sister, I find that he's drinking somewhere with another woman. Now Hiratsuka-san, if you find yourself in my place. How would you feel?"

Finding herself at the receiving end of my ire, Hiratsuka-sensei frantically waved her arms in front of her in some futile effort of calming me down.

"W-wait Yukinoshita, this isn't what it looks like! I swear I'm not trying to do anything! We were just drinking ahahaha! Go tell her, Hikigaya!"

In an effort to push the blame, she tapped the person sitting before her.

But as expected, Hikigaya Hachiman, the sole reason why I'm here, and the person I'm currently dating was out cold.

-o-

The time was 01:40 A.M.

Because Hiratsuka-san was intoxicated could not drive she instead called a cab to deliver us back to my apartment. The modern literature teacher with no hopes of making a relationship, helped me take my boyfriend inside the cab and sat beside the cab driver. Meanwhile, I was behind and nursing the pitiful form of Hikigaya-kun.

By the time we got off the vehicle, he was somewhat awake. He wasn't unconscious but was still very unaware of his surroundings. The two of us held him and went to the floor where my room was located. On the way, Hiratsuka-sensei kept grumbling about how Hikigaya-kun could not keep up with his drink. A part of me wanted to voice that he wasn't a good drinker in the first place and she still made him partake, but held myself with the knowledge that I had already berated the poor teacher.

As I opened the door and guided him into the bedroom, Hiratsuka-san said her goodbye. Although I offered that she could stay the night, she refused and said that she had already caused enough trouble, and took off with a lonely smile.

That woman really needs to find herself a partner.

The sound of the closing door returned me to my current situation. Namely this person in my bed, who was in such a pitiful state of inebriation. I approached his form and cringed at the putrid smell of alcohol clinging on his body and onto my bed sheets. I only hoped that he wouldn't vomit, or else
I might just leave him sleeping on the floor.

Placing a hand on his cheek, I pinched the side of his face to signify my anger, making him groan in protest. I know that he didn't expect me to come until Monday, and while I'm not the type of girlfriend who wants to know what my boyfriend is doing every minute. At the very least, I still want to be notified if he were to go out and get drunk with another woman. I have the complete trust on him but I can't help but feel worried.

After all, there are a lot of girls out there who wouldn't mind taking him for themselves.

I sighed and made a quick trip to the bathroom, returning with a bowl of warm water and a towel. Setting them aside, I went to his form and removed his jacket. As expected, the smell of alcohol was coming from his clothes. It seems that some were spilled on his shirt and pants at some point. I sighed, thinking that I could not possibly allow him to sleep at this state.

I tugged his shirt off revealing his naked torso, it's nothing that I haven't seen before but the knowledge that he was unaware while I'm taking off his clothes made my heartbeat rise. My eyes were then drawn to the sight of a steel colored watch on his left wrist. It was the same watch that I had given him on his birthday years ago. My lips formed a smile at the memory. I'm happy that he took such good care of my gift and that he still uses it even now.

Removing the accessory, I then went for his pants. I was unbuckling his belt when his hand suddenly and grabbed my wrist, making me exclaim in surprise. I thought he was already asleep. I tried to continue what I was doing but he continued to struggle.

"Stop… in a… rayshift."

Did he mean to say relationship? Is he so drunk that he can't even talk coherently? He continued to mumble off as I removed his pants. Even when drunk this person is still saying nonsensical things. I then reached for the bowl of water and started to wipe his body. And since he was still mouthing off, I decided to humor him.

"I has… a grill friend…"

"To think that there's a girl that will bear with you, she must be quite a fool."

"Sheeza… za warudo…ful"

"Oh? In what ways exactly?"

"Very beauty… such smart… kinda like ya."

"Is that so? Tell me more about her."

"Zzz…"

Ara it seems that he's finally out. It turns out my boyfriend turns into an honest kid when he's drunk. I can use that later. When I finally finished wiping him, I involuntarily let out a yawn, reminding me that I had been functioning for more than 20 hours and that I desperately need to rest.

I put away the cleaning tools and made a quick trip to the bathroom. Already exhausted from everything that happened, I stripped down to my undergarments and donned one of his shirts, and finally lied down beside my partner. This was the only reason why I went through such troubles, why I went back early and searched for him instead of waiting. It was for the simple desire to spend more time with my boyfriend.

I hugged his body and buried my face on his neck, his breath stank of liquor but I think I can bear for one night. Finally, the strength keeping my eyes open left. I am still miffed at him and I will make sure to make him understand tomorrow. But for now we shall rest.

The time was 03:20 A.M.

Maybe we will sleep late until the next day