There were two things that stood out to Nariyuki in the present moment.

It was dark and he was far from tired.

He was usually spending this time of the evening finishing up on homework and by now the fatigue of the day would have begun to settle in, but tonight would require his full attention during the late hours, and his nervousness was doing a good job at making sure that was the case. He still had a few moments to compose himself, but he knew that it wouldn't be long till Fumino would be out of the door and ready to leave for their scheduled event.

Why am I even so nervous in the first place..?

He had a faint idea. The context of the event tonight was likely why.

A college mixer.

A college mixer hosted by Fumino's university, specifically the student head of the astronomy research department. He knew that Fumino didn't particularly enjoy social gatherings such as these, especially mixers and parties, but knowing that it was her upperclassmen that had asked her to come, it made sense that she had given in to their request. The unexpected part however was the fact that the girl had invited him to join her.

"Please?"

"I-I guess...but are you sure you want me to come? I feel like I'd just make things awkward between you and your friends..." He reasoned.

Fumino shook her head. "You wouldn't...I'd rather just spend time talking to you actually...I just...can't really say no to them this time around. I've already turned down so many of their invites to hangout because of homework and exams, but Himiko Senpai managed to get a hold of my exam schedule and confirmed that I was free this weekend. I couldn't come up with an excuse this time..."

Nariyuki chuckled at the explanation. "They must really like you..."

The girl smiled before averting her gaze. "I don't mind them at all really...they're wonderfully nice people. I'm more so just uncomfortable because it's a mixer..." She shifted awkwardly before continuing, "Himiko Senpai told me there'll be a lot of guys there from different schools and that I'll probably be approached by them since it's a social and all."

"So...uhm..." she hesitated, a light blush making its way to her cheeks as she worked up the courage to voice her request.

And she did.

"I would feel a lot better if you were there with me…to show that I'm taken."

"Furuhashi…"

When Fumino had told him this he could no longer refuse. The very thought of the girl being troubled from unwarranted advances had made his heart clench painfully. There was no world where he could consciously let that happen to her.

So of course he had agreed.

But that sure didn't mean he wasn't nervous. He was an introvert, through and through. Much like Fumino, he enjoyed spending his free time alone or with those especially close to him, but unlike the girl however, he was pretty awkward when it came to making small talk with new faces. This would be his first student mixer, his first social gathering in college to boot, and that in itself was unnerving.

At least we'll be together…

At the thought, the front door of the apartment opened behind him, thus concluding his contemplation.

"Sorry for the wait, Nariyuki! I'm ready to leave now." Fumino said, examining herself one last time to make sure she was truly ready to go.

Nariyuki was quiet, and instead of replying like any normal person would, he found himself speechlessly absorbed by an outlining detail in the girl's appearance. His silence didn't go unnoticed, and Fumino blinked curiously, shying away from his stare.

"W-what is it?"

"I-it's nothing. I just...your hair."

The girl visibly panicked and reached up to inspect for any loose strands. "D-does it look bad?! S-should I have just tied it up?"

"N-no it's not that!" He immediately replied, silently cursing himself for the misunderstanding. "It looks perfectly fine. I just...haven't seen you wear it like that in a while..."

He of course was referring to the girl's current hairstyle, in which the ends of her hair were gathered into two symmetrical bundle-like ponytails combined with her signature headband on top. It had been quite a few months since he had last seen her with the particular arrangement, and so it was no surprise that it had caught his eye.

"Oh...that's because I lost one of my hair ties a while back…" She explained. "I've mostly just been wearing it down or putting it up in a ponytail, but I managed to find it under my bed yesterday...so I thought I might as well start wearing it like this again."

"I-I see..."

A silence fell over them, distributed precariously through the already quiet apartment complex. Nariyuki felt his blush persist, wondering if he should have opened up more on how he truly felt about the girl's hairstyle, but it was Fumino who ended up speaking first to bring him out of his thoughts.

"D-do you have a preference?"

"Huh?"

"I-is there a particular hairstyle you like..?" The girl elaborated with a shy voice.

Nariyuki blinked dumbfoundedly before offering a soft smile in reply. "I think you look wonderful in all of them."

Fumino didn't appear to be satisfied with the answer.

"But I want to know which one you like the most."

"I-I really do love all of them…"

The girl pouted, and eventually he caved with a chuckle, knowing full well that he wasn't going to get away with being unspecific.

"I guess...if I had to pick one...I really like it the way it is now...with the twin tails."

He blushed and averted his gaze to the side.

"When you have it down like this…I think you look even more lovely...than you already are."

The embarrassment from saying such words quickly consumed his mind, but it instantly dissipated when his eyes shifted back to meet the girl's. The expression on her face was happy, albeit shy, but noticeably happy nonetheless.

And that was more than enough proof to know that he had been right...to speak his heart.

"I'll wear it like this more often then." The girl said assuringly.

"Y-you don't have to do that…" He said with a shake of his head. "I think you should wear it in whatever way makes you happy."

"Well...looking my very best for you...makes me especially happy."

For the second time in the past minute, a blush creeped onto Nariyuki's face. He cleared his throat, confronting his mutual feelings with a demure expression.

"M-me too…"

Fumino smiled warmly at his reply, and eventually...she extended a hand for him to take.

"Shall we get going then?"

He nodded, accepting her proffer as he smiled back just as earnestly. The familiar warmth of the girl's hand derailed him from his previous nervousness for the night with ease. In fact, he was almost excited for it now.

Student mixer or not...as long as they were together...

How awkward could it be?


Very awkward was the answer.

"Fumi-tan! You really came!"

They had shortly arrived at the bar where the mixer was being held. It was one that they both heard of before, a popular traditional izakaya with floor seating that many students and workers often came to during the evening hours. Standing near the entrance was one of Fumino's upperclassmen, who had apparently been waiting for the two of them to arrive.

"Himiko Senpai...I told you that you didn't have to call me that, didn't I?"

"Aw, you're so cute, getting all flustered by a silly nickname. You know that everyone in our department calls you that too, right?"

"Probably because you tell them to…" Fumino returned with a sulk, and the older girl laughed brightly in reply.

"You're sure right about that!"

From the side, Nariyuki observed the exchange between the two attentively. Himiko was tall, he noted, almost reaching his height. She wore glasses with sleek black hair that fell to shoulder length. The impression she gave off seemed rather familiar; bubbly and gregarious. It reminded him of her mother a bit, or at least the way the woman behaved whenever a topic of romance was brought into the picture. Definitely an upperclassmen vibe.

Suddenly, the girl's gaze fell onto him and he started at the attention.

"Ah, you must be the Nariyuki Yuiga I've heard so much about!"

His eyes went wide at that, and he glanced at Fumino curiously, who appeared to be blushing madly at the information.

"I-I've only mentioned you once! I have no idea what she's talking about!"

"Twice actually." Himiko corrected. "But you should've seen her face when she was talking about you. She was so shy and bashful that I knew it had to be something spe-"

"S-Senpai!"

As Fumino ran up behind the older girl to cover her mouth from speaking any further, Nariyuki couldn't stop the amused smile from forming on his face.

"You two seem pretty close." He said with a chuckle.

"H-hardly...Himiko Senpai is just overly friendly…"

"Aw...don't be like that Fumi... Don't you remember that one time where I treated you to cup ramen? I only do that for particular kouhai that I like."

"That's because I helped you work overtime two weeks in a row…"

"Oh yeah...but still! It's the thought that counts!" Himiko said with an infectious amount of cheerfulness. It was effective, and Fumino shook her head affectionately despite the relentless teasing from the older girl.

"Jeez…"

Nariyuki chuckled again, finding the lighthearted banter between the two all too endearing. Fumino had mentioned a particular upperclassman that she was close to, but this was definitely a pleasant surprise to behold.

"Well come on in! Lots of the schools are already here." Himiko signaled the two of them to follow. "I'm excited to get to know more about you, Nariyuki Yuiga."

"L-Likewise."

Following the older girl into the building, Nariyuki leaned in close to Fumino, keeping his voice to a whisper.

"So you do like her, right?"

"Y-yeah, but please don't tell her…I'll never hear the end of it..."


The first thing Nariyuki noticed was just how many students he actually recognized.

Himiko had booked numerous tables for the occasion, and so the number in attendance was quite astounding; students from all different universities, some from his own university, and even a few Ichinose alumni. He had no idea that student mixers could be so all-encompassing. It was a bit overwhelming if he was perfectly honest, and as he scanned the large group of people, a face in particular caught his eye.

Or rather he wouldn't really have noticed if not for the fact that the person was staring directly at him. He immediately recognized him however. Yamaoka was his name if he remembered correctly. He had a rather lasting impression of the former Ichinose soccer player given that he was the first person that had confessed to Fumino all those years ago.

He was also the guy that had pushed him into a pole after he had stood up for the girl, though that certainly didn't explainas to why a hostile glare was being directed his way. If anything he should have been the one glaring at him.

He wasn't given the chance to dwell on it as the voice sitting across from him interrupted him from his thoughts.

"So how did y'all two meet?" Himiko asked eagerly. Once they had seated themselves at the table earlier, the older girl had stayed by their side, apparently very keen on getting to know more details about their relationship.

"U-uhm…" He started awkwardly, not really knowing where to begin with the question.

"We shared a class in highschool, but Nariyuki was asked by our principal to be my tutor to help me with university entrance exams." Fumino answered for them, turning to look at him with a small smile, in which he returned gratefully. "That's how we really met."

"How romantic! Like a dashing prince rescuing a damsel in distress…" Himiko said dreamily, resting the back of her hand on her forehead in an over dramatic fashion. "You sure know how to woo a woman's heart, don't you Nariyuki?"

"I-it was only for math…Furuhashi was pretty much amazing at every other subject." He answered truthfully.

"Oh I don't doubt it. When it comes to astronomy, Fumi-tan is our star assistant. See what I did there?" The older girl laughed playfully at her own joke. "She's always going the extra mile with providing dications for our projects, though I do seem to notice that she's a little slow on experiments pertaining to physics."

"Th-that's because those were projects that the astrophysics department asked us to help us with! It's not even a part of my major!"

"Yet you still try to help them anyway."

"T-that's…" Fumino trailed off meekly, coming up completely empty with a retort. Himiko bursted into laughter at the girl's speechlessness.

"I guess you really are just a sweetheart, aren't ya? Isn't she Nariyuki?"

He nodded in agreement, smiling all the while.

"She is."

"D-don't agree with her Nariyuki!"

Himiko again broke into warm laughter, clearly enjoying herself at the expense of Fumino's embarrassment who at this point had accepted her fate with a blushful pout. The older girl really did seem to enjoy doting on Fumino in particular, and it was more than a welcomed sight for Nariyuki.

"So what are you studying, Nariyuki?" Himiko asked, changing the subject.

'"Oh...uhm...e-education." He answered somewhat shyly. "I-I'm hoping to apply as a teacher once I graduate."

"Wow, picking up right where you left off with the tutoring, huh? That's quite inspiring! What kind of teacher?"

"G-good question..." He chuckled before breaking eye contact, suddenly feeling awkward for not having a proper answer to the inquiry. "I-I'm not quite sure yet actually…"

From the side, he felt a familiar touch relieve him from his uneasiness. Fumino had reached out to squeeze his hand comfortingly. He briefly shifted his gaze to her and their eyes met.

The girl smiled softly at him.

He stared and after a few moments, he smiled too, squeezing her hand back appreciatively.

"But..." He spoke again, reaffirmed by the loving presence next to him. "Lately...I've been thinking that I want to work at a highschool."

"Oh?" Himiko said curiously. "Do you prefer teaching highschoolers over younger students?"

"Not exactly...I just…I have a dream, and for me...I think being a high school teacher will give me the best chances at reaching it. I'm not sure where it'll take me just yet...but…"

'Even if the finish line is unknown, even if we never know whether we'll make it, it's the steps that we take to discover how far we can go that counts, doesn't it..?'

What matters is that we don't give up.

"As long as I keep going...I think things will be just fine..."

The girl sitting across from him was silent, eyes wide in surprise. Though there was plenty of chatter from the other tables, the lack of reaction from his particular audience caused Nariyuki to visibly panic. "S-sorry! I guess that was a bit unclear!" He exclaimed before looking away in embarrassment. "I don't really know how else to explain it…"

Himiko, however, was immediately shaking her head to reassure him. "It's okay, I get it. To be honest I'm actually quite impressed." His eyes widened at that, and the older girl continued. "Even though you're not completely decided on the specifics of your study, you seem to truly know what you want out of your life, and I think that's very admirable."

"I think so too." Fumino added affectionately.

He smiled with a blush, moved by the heartfelt encouragement, especially from the girl sitting beside him...gazing at him with all the belief in the world.

"Thank you…" He whispered.

"Oh I know, we should have a toast!"

"A toast?" Nariyuki and Fumino asked at the same time.

Himiko nodded. "For the both of you. For the success of each of your guys' dreams. They say a shot of sake is the best for future wishes!"

From the side, Nariyuki could see Fumino shift uncomfortably at the proposal.

"I don't drink, Senpai…"

"Aw don't be like that, Fumi! You can at least have one round, right? We're at a bar for crying out loud! Isn't that right, Nariyuki?"

"H-huh?" The older girl stared at him with wide and anticipating eyes. He swallowed thickly, feeling himself succumb under Himiko's pleading gaze. If he was honest he didn't drink at all either. The only time he had was with his mother during his most recent twentieth birthday, but that was more so just as a commemorative honor for reaching the legal drinking age. If it were any other situation he would've passed, but the way Himiko was looking at him told him that she wasn't going to give in until he agreed.

"I guess...one toast couldn't hurt?"

"That's the spirit!"

Afterwards, he glanced towards Fumino who still appeared to look uneasy.

"Furuhashi…if you're too uncomfortable then you really don't have to. I can always just drink for the both of us." He offered with a chuckle.

"N-no, it's fine! I just...you're right, one drink couldn't hurt…"

"H-have you not drank before?"

"O-of course I have!" She replied almost immediately, though there seemed to be a hint of nervousness barely seeping through her voice as she spoke, and Nariyuki didn't let it slip by him. "I just…"

"Here you guys go!" Himiko returned back to the table holding a tray of three sake-filled glasses. "A shot of sake for each of us. It's Fuji apple flavor!"

"A-actually Himiko Senpai...I think I'll be drinking for Furu-"

"I-it's fine, Nariyuki!" Fumino said to interrupt him, taking one of the glasses for herself. "I'll drink just this once. It's for our toast afterall..."

"A-are you sure?" He asked in concern. "You really don't have to…"

Hesitation briefly clouded the girl's eyes, but moments after she nodded firmly. "I'm sure." She raised her glass up with a smile.

"To us?"

He stared for a few moments, still unsure over the matter, but eventually he acquiesced, returning the girl's offer with a small smile of his own. "To us."

"Yay! Cheers!" Himiko joined in and they clinked their glasses together.


He was a fool...

An absolute utter fool.

How did he not see this coming? It should have been obvious based off the girl's nervous reaction from earlier, but he had stupidly let it go in favor of partaking in festivities. He was careless and now he would have to face the repercussions of his ignorance...

Fumino was a lightweight.

A terrible one at that.

It had only been about fifteen minutes since she had ingested the minimal amount of sake, but by now the girl's face had flushed to an intense shade of red, and from the observations that followed, Nariyuki could tell that she was beginning to feel its undesired effects. It was his first time really drinking together with Fumino, and so of course it was also his first time witnessing just what kind of drunk personality that the girl embodied.

Which was to say he was completely flabbergasted by the result. As far as what he knew about insobriety, he figured that most people exhibited more energetic behavior under intoxication, or at least demonstrated a higher level of talkativeness and sociability.

Fumino had nothing of the such.

In fact, her state of drunkenness was just her normal shy self.

...with the exception of her being especially attached towards him.

"Oh my god! My friend over there goes to Tachibana as well! Are you studying education too?" A girl from Tenka University who had just approached him asked him energetically.

"I am...but I'm in the middle of my third year now, so I'm mostly finished with the education related classes in my degree plan."

"Ah so, you have a lot of free time then?"

"Uhm…" He shifted uncomfortably under the girl's coy stare. "Not exactly, but I guess more so than last year?" He answered honestly.

"Well, if you're interested, my friend over there that I mentioned is single and I'm sure she would be very happy to get to know you since you go to the same school. Would it be okay if I introduce you to her?"

"Ah...uhm...actually, I'm not-"

*pomf*

A weight on his shoulder served as the very interruption he needed in that moment. Fumino had suddenly appeared next to him and was leaning her head onto his shoulder, conveniently saving him from his awkward predicament.

Oh thank god...

"Oh...I'm so sorry! I had no idea you weren't alone tonight! I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that..."

"I-it's okay." He raised his hand in assurance. "I probably should've mentioned it from the start…"

"I'll leave you two alone then. It was nice meeting you."

"N-Nice meeting you too..."

The girl smiled politely before leaving the two of them alone. He turned his head to Fumino, concern written on his face as he rested his hand on top of hers.

"Furuhashi...are you okay?"

The girl nodded slowly against his shoulder.

"I'm okay...I just thought that you needed some help there…"

"Thank you...you really did save me there," he said gratefully before reaching out to move a few stray strands of hair that fell in front of the girl's nose. "But are you sure you're feeling alright? Your face is really red…" Fumino wrapped her arms around his tightly in response, pressing herself close to his body.

"I'm fine." She said softly. "As long as I'm together with you…then I'm fine…"

He blinked in surprise, taken aback by the unexpected amount of emotion in the girl's voice. "I...feel the same way, Furuhashi...but I really am worried about you." His brows furrowed. "You don't look so well..."

Fumino simply giggled, leaning in even closer to him with a dopey smile on her face.

"You're always worrying so much about me..." She said sweetly, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck. "Did I ever tell you just how much that means to me..?"

"Furuhashi…" He said breathlessly, realizing just how close the girl's face was to his. All of the details and the features held there were suddenly so clear and he once again found himself entranced by the pure kindness and earnesty that the girl possessed in her gaze.

"I love you…Nariyuki." She whispered, shutting her eyes and slowly closing the distance between them. Nariyuki's mind was muddled. He was acutely aware of them being in a public area, and there was no doubt that there were a number of eyes watching the two of them being openly intimate like this.

Yet even privy to this fact, his eyes shut instinctively and he slowly found himself leaning forward as well...

But their lips never met.

*pomf*

Again, the same sound, though this time the girl was lying face first against his chest.

"F-Furuhashi?!" He stuttered in a panic. "W-what's wrong..?"

Fumino whimpered.

"My head hurts…"

His eyes softened at the admission, relieved that it was at least a symptom that seemed normal from being inebriated. He ran his hands through her hair gently, trying to bring as much relief as he could to the girl's pain.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner..?"

As he asked this, Fumino's grip tightened against his shirt. Her lip was trembling and Nariyuki wasn't sure if it was from her pain or from her assumable state of guilt.

Probably both.

"I didn't want you to worry…you looked like you were having fun meeting new people...I...just…I...I didn't want you to worry..." She repeated helplessly, signs of tears forming at the corner of her eyes.

"I'm sorry…"

Nariyuki brought his hands up to caress Fumino's face softly.

"I came here for you, remember? Why would I care about anyone else?" He said while wiping away her lone tears.

And then with a heartfelt voice...

"You're what's most important to me..."

With another vulnerable whimper Fumino buried herself deeper into him, holding onto him in an almost desperate manner. He had no idea that a simple shot of sake could turn his girlfriend into such an emotionally distraught state, but now that he knew that this was the result, he was going to make sure that he was by her side the whole way through.

"I'm going to go tell Himiko Senpai that we're leaving. After that we can head home, okay?"

The girl nodded an affirmative against his chest.

"Okay…"


"Ehhhh? Already? But we've barely been able to drink together!"

Nariyuki smiled sadly. He hated to have to put a damper on the older girl's enthusiasm. Of all the faces that he had the pleasure of meeting tonight, Himiko was by far the most entertaining to be around, but now wasn't the time to appreciate such details.

"Furuhashi isn't feeling very well...I think that sake might have been a bit more than she could handle…" He explained with a light chuckle.

"R-really?" The older girl said disbelievingly. "I had no idea she was that much of a lightweight!"

"Me neither…"

"Let me see you two out then."

"I-it's fine, you don't have to do that Senp-"

"Please, it's the least I can do for pressuring you guys to drink earlier. What upper classman would I be if I didn't at least do that much?" She answered with a smile.

"R-right…"

With that settled, Nariyuki made his way back to their original table with Himiko following close behind. As he got closer, he seemed to notice a small crowd gathered around the spot where he had left Fumino, though he assumed that it was simply for another group of guests.

Except it wasn't.

"I just don't get it...I asked you out first! Why would you pick someone like him over me?! I was on the soccer team goddamnit! That guy's nothing but a nerd that only knows how to study!"

When the words reached his ears Nariyuki understood the situation immediately.

The guy who had been glaring at him earlier, Yamaoka, had apparently waited for him to leave Fumino's side to have a chance to speak to the girl, and by the way the tension seemed to be rising, the conversation topic was rather obvious.

"You're completely out of his league! It's not too late for you to break up with him!" Yamaoka continued angrily, and when the boy took a step too close to Fumino, Nariyuki's blood ran cold.

He was moving before he had a chance to think about it, his eyes set on getting between the two of them, but before he could hope to reach the full distance…

*SLAP*

Almost everyone in the bar went silent, and Nariyuki's eyes went wider than they had the entire night as he struggled to comprehend what just happened before him. Judging from Yamaoka's shocked expression, he was on a similar boat as him, though for the latter, a red handmark rested firmly on his face to accompany his silence.

Fumino had truly and resolutely slapped him.

"You don't even know him…" The girl started quietly. "You know nothing about him. You don't even understand in the slightest just how much he's been there for me...just how much Nariyuki cares about me…"

Her eyes were fierce, frighteningly so, and when they rested on Yamaoka coldly, Nariyuki was sure that it was the first time that he had ever seen the girl this angry.

"So why would you possibly think it's okay to talk about him like that?"

The boy in question was at a loss of words. It was clear what his expectations had been when he had decided to confront Fumino, that she was simply a pushover, an easy person to take advantage of.

The regret in his eyes now was palpable.

"Apologize."

"W-what..?"

"Apologize to Nariyuki!" Fumino practically yelled, and it was at this point that Nariyuki was finally able to snap out of his stupor. He stepped between the two of them and brought the girl to the side, away from Yamaoka, and wrapped his arms around her waist protectively.

"Furuhashi..." He whispered. "It's okay…"

Once the girl realized just who it was that was embracing her, the tears made their way to her eyes immediately. She squeezed him tightly, trembling against his chest in an almost violent manner.

"It's not...He said bad things about you…" She choked out tearfully, a hint of anger still seeping through her voice. "He doesn't understand...just how wonderful a person...you are to me..."

"I know...but it's okay…"

He brought her face close to his, and then...with a voice loud enough for Yamaoka to hear him as well...

"He's not worth it for you to get mad over."

Intentional or not, Nariyuki's comment was effective in striking a nerve as Yamaoko rushed forward to confront him. "You little-"

"Oi Yamaoka!" Two students butted in to hold the angry boy back. "Cut it out! How much are you going to embarrass yourself you idiot!"

Yamaoko looked around him, and he slowly seemed to come to terms with the scornful eyes being directed his way. Everyone was staring, and not a single soul showed any signs of empathy towards him.

It was a well deserved reception, and when the former Ichinose student's head fell in shame, Nariyuki took that as a sign for them to take their leave.

"Let's go home..."


"Sorry for all the trouble back there, Nariyuki...you shouldn't have had to go through that…"

"It's okay, Senpai. It wasn't your fault or anything."

Nariyuki stood at the entrance with Fumino lying half asleep against his shoulder. After the girl's heated outburst, the effects of the alcohol had gotten to the point where she was apparently still conscious enough to walk with his aid, but much too indisposed to participate in conversation anymore. Himiko smiled at the image, finding it rare to see her usual ladylike underclassman so out of sorts.

"Are you sure you can take her yourself? I can always come with you guys."

Nariyuki smiled softly before shaking his head. "It's fine. She doesn't live far from here. I doubt it'll be too much of a hassle." Which was true. Fumino's apartment was thankfully only one train stop away from the bar, and the complex itself was a simple walking distance afterwards. He would manage...hopefully.

"But if you could…could you...make sure that no one thinks badly of Furuhashi for tonight..?" He added tentatively as a request.

Himiko chuckled lightly, finding his hesitance all too unwarranted. "What are you talking about? Did you not see everybody's reaction earlier? Anyone with a brain knows that that jerk was in the wrong for behaving that way. If anything, I think that Fumi-tan probably earned a couple of fans tonight."

"R-right…"

"Don't worry...if anyone talks bad about her, they'll have to go through me!" She boasted pridefully. "No one messes with my favorite Fumi-tan."

He smiled appreciatively at that.

"Thank you, Himiko Senpai..."

The older girl nodded, returning his sentiment with a smile of her own.

"It's beautiful, you know?"

"W-what is?"

"Your two's relationship." She answered matter-of-factly. "I've...never really seen anything like it. You two are very lucky to have each other."

Nariyuki chuckled softly. "I can only speak for myself...but I certainly am so lucky to have her..."

"Jeez...always with the modesty I see. I guess that's why you two work so well, huh?"

His eyes went wide at the older girl's words, silent as he took a moment to assess its meaning, but before he could come up with an honest reply, Himiko walked over to pat him on the shoulder firmly.

She smiled.

"Take care of her, Nariyuki."

For tonight's sake. That would be the normal interpretation, but Nariyuki could tell from the girl's smile that the words had a much more interminable implication.

I want to always be there to support you…

An everlasting promise.

"I will."


After finally reaching proximity to the apartment complex, Nariyuki let out a sigh of relief. He had severely underestimated the effort required of him to half carry, half support the girl through their journey back here, and it was even more embarrassing remembering how much confidence he had exuded when speaking to Himiko earlier regarding the task. Even if he had been aware of his current fatigue however, it wasn't like he was going to accept the older girl's assistance.

He nudged Fumino gently, attempting to stir the girl into a more functioning level of consciousness.

"Furuhashi...we're back. Can you walk up the stairs?"

Fumino whimpered in response. He could tell she was trying. But the girl could barely keep her body propped up long enough to put any real weight into her step. It was as if her body had decided to fall asleep long before her mind could possibly hope to.

This won't do...

"Furuhashi...I'm going to try to carry you up, okay? C-can you try to get onto my back?"

Fumino gave him what looked like half a nod and Nariyuki bent down onto his knees. Shortly after he felt the girl's slim figure rest limply onto his back as he wrapped both arms behind the girl's legs to support her.

"Hold onto me, okay?"

She followed his instructions, reaching out to rest her arms over his shoulders, gripping him firmly. He smiled, silently thanking the girl for being so docile even in her drunken state. With this he was able to make it up the stairs without much trouble.

Once they reached the top Nariyuki reached into his pocket for the keys that he had retrieved from Fumino's bag earlier and unlocked the apartment door. While entering, the girl was muttering something incoherent. Nariyuki dipped his head close to her mouth. "Did you say something, Furuhashi?"

"I'm sorry..." she cried quietly, words tumbling out as slurs, as tears started pouring from her eyes again. "I'm sorry, Nariyuki...I didn't mean to make a scene back there...and I'm sorry for getting drunk so easily...I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry." Fumino's arms were gripping desperately around his neck, and he could feel her tears seeping into the back of his shirt. "Please don't leave me..."

"Shhh..." Nariyuki whispered comfortingly, "You have nothing to be sorry about. I'm here...and I'm never...ever...going to leave you, Fumino...I promise." The girl's grip tightened at his words and her tears seemed to flow even more intensely. He smiled fondly, making a mental note to keep the girl away from any alcohol in the future, or at least in public settings.

He carried her to her room, and gently lowered himself so the girl could make it onto her bed. She struggled, but eventually fell onto her back with a plop. Nariyuki sat on the edge of the bed with a smile, and dipped his head to press a calming kiss to the girl's lips.

He had meant it to be a quick peck, chaste. And so he didn't expect Fumino's arms to lock firmly around his neck.

So surprised that he almost fell on top of the girl, Nariyuki's eyes went wide as he felt Fumino's lips move desperately against his. Even more shocking was when he felt an unyielding tongue pressed against his lower lip, forcing its way into his mouth. He could taste the alcohol and tears on the girl's tongue, and a part of him told him to stop, but to no avail. His heart was racing and he was fighting a powerful desire to deepen the kiss, to press his own tongue against Fumino's soft lips.

And so he did.

Or at least he would have...if Fumino didn't suddenly pull away and wriggle weakly in his arms.

"I feel sick," she slurred groggily, which immediately shook Nariyuki from his daze.

'W-What are you doing?! This is hardly the time and place! You need to make sure that you help her get better first, you idiot!'

"I-I'll be right back! I'm going to get you some water!"

In an almost frantic manner, Nariyuki made his way to the kitchen to fetch a glass cup. His heart was still pounding, but he had managed to calm himself down to the point where he could at least focus on the task before him.

R-relax...just get a cup of water and act normal...I should get her some painkillers while I'm at it too.

He hesitated at that. He vaguely recalled his mother mentioning something regarding painkillers and alcohol not going well together, but he failed to fully grasp the memory. He groaned in frustration. He was much too unsophisticated with these sorts of matters.

If only I knew someone that has experience with drinking...or even better, someone who's also a lightwei-

He froze, a particular face coming to mind at the thought.

He did know someone like that.

Nariyuki reached for his phone, and scrolled through his contact list. He rarely ever called this number even when he was still at Ichinose, but he still remembered the few occasions where he had witnessed this person with a similar tolerance to alcohol as Fumino.

It was late however, and when the dial rang past four times he sighed. The prospect of receiving advice at this hour was just way too unlikely.

But on the fifth dial...

*CLICK*

"Hello?"

"Kirisu Sensei?!" He said surprised. "Y-you're awake?"

"Affirmative. If I was not then I would be unable to receive your phone call, correct?" The woman replied coolly.

"R-right…I'm sorry for bothering you so late."

"Unnecessary. I am simply finishing up on grading today's homework assignments. What can I do for you, Yuiga-san?"

"Well...I was hoping to get some advice for something."

"Advice...for what exactly?"

He hesitated, wondering if it was truly appropriate to ask a teacher for help regarding the matter.

In the end, he decided to just say it.

"H-hangovers…"

"H-Hangovers?! R-ridiculous! W-why are you asking me?" Kirisu protested, though from the noticeable embarassment held in her voice, it was quite obvious that the woman knew exactly why.

"I-I thought that you might have a lot of experience when it comes to dealing with it since you're an adult and everything...and I do remember you getting drunk quite a few times-"

"R-ridiculous! I have no recollection of such memories!" She interrupted him frantically. "And why are you drinking that much to be that intoxicated in the first place?! I expected better of you, Yuiga-san!"

"I-it's not for me actually…it's for Furuhashi…"

Though there was no way he could tell for sure, Nariyuki could feel the entire conversational mood shift at the mention of the girl's name.

"Furuhashi? I-is she okay? Did something happen?" The woman asked with discernible worry.

Nariyuki smiled somewhat amusedly at the change in demeanour. He was fully aware just how close Fumino and the current history teacher had become since their summer trip a year back. The woman almost sounded like a clingy older sister asking for updates regarding her younger sibling.

"N-nothing happened...she had a glass of sake...but it turns out she has a pretty weak tolerance….so she's not feeling too well right now…"

There was a brief silence on the other end, but it didn't take long for him to earn a response. "Understood. First, make sure that she's drinking plenty of water, and whatever you do, do not give her any painkillers until the morning, as you risk her chances of getting stomach ulcers if you take it alongside alcohol."

Oh...

It was a good thing he decided to make the call before relying on his own judgement.

"Second, make sure she gets plenty of rest. When she wakes, she should eat plenty of carbohydrates for breakfast. If she wakes up with a headache then feel free to rest some ice on her head to help alleviate the pain. She should be feeling fine by the afternoon's time."

"I thought that you said that you didn't have any memories regarding the matter, Sensei..." He said with a chuckle.

"Hmph. If it's for Furuhashi's sake then I have no choice but to admit my humiliating experiences."

"Thank you, Sensei..."

Again, he was met by more silence, but just like before the woman eventually spoke up.

Though much more shyly this time.

"Tell Furuhashi I said hello...Yuiga-san..."

Nariyuki smiled warmly.

"Of course."


Fumino turned over to avoid the single ray of light shining through the gap in the curtains. Her head was killing her, and she felt somewhat lightheaded. Bringing her hands up to cover her face and block out the spinning room, she tried to recall the events of last night.

Unfortuantely...it didn't take long for her to do so.

She remembered everything. From the first sip she took of her sake to the moment she had finally passed out. Everything was there, and all of it contributed to the overlying blush that burned impactfully onto her face. She even remembered the exact words that she had used to yell at Yamaoka.

And of course...the moments she had shared with Nariyuki when they finally got back to the apartment.

The way Nariyuki had held her so tenderly, his soothing words that had comforted her so assuredly, and the ridiculous unexpected amount of passion she had forced into their open-mouthed kiss-

Oh my god…

If it was possible her blush deepened to a shade that no longer appeared to be red. How could she possibly face Nariyuki now? Was he uncomfortable? Not to mention the fact that she had legitimately gotten drunk off of a single glass of sake. That notion alone was already embarrassing enough.

The creak of the door interrupted her attempts at recollection and her heart froze in the process. Hiding under the covers in a panic, she made out Nariyuki's silhouette in the darkness. As the boy neared, Fumino caught the alluring scent of butter mixed in with what smelled like fresh toast.

"Furuhashi...are you awake?" Nariyuki asked softly, sitting on the bed.

The room was still dark, and Fumino couldn't tell what kind of expression the boy had on, but she felt ridiculous for trying to hide from him, and so tentatively she peaked over the covers. "Hi," she replied meekly. "G-good morning..."

The boy laughed softly. How Fumino relished that sound, like joy personified in a single tone. "Good morning to you too, but really it's a bit past noon. I made sure to put up the curtains so that the light doesn't bother you."

She took notice of the clock in her room for the first time, and realized that it was indeed past noon already. Hiding her face under the covers in embarrassment, she murmured, "Oh."

That earned her another chuckle. "How are you feeling?"

Nariyuki's kindness surprised her. Not that it should have. The boy was only ever kind towards her, but it was really her memories from last night that prolonged her uneasiness. She had already prepared herself for whatever reaction Nariyuki could've presented to her, but the fact that the boy was only and solely focused on her state of health left her quite in disarray. "I have a headache," she admitted.

"Drink this."

A hand was coaxing her out from under the covers. In Nariyuki's other hand was a glass of water. She sat up slowly, obediently accepting the offer, and drained the glass, not realizing how thirsty she was until the cool liquid touched her dry lips. She snuck a glance from behind the glass. The room was a bit brighter now, and she could make out the delicate features of Nariyuki's face. The boy's complexion still betrayed no signs of anything but care and warmth.

Her empty stomach chose that moment to growl loudly. Her face turned red and she slowly sank back under the covers, wishing the bed would just swallow her.

Nariyuki did his best to hide his amusement, but a laugh escaped his lips despite his efforts. "I made breakfast for you." He reached over for the plate that had been the source of the pleasant smell from earlier. "Kirisu Sensei told me to make sure you eat as many carbohydrates as you can when you wake up so I made you some eggs and toast."

"K-Kirisu Sensei?"

He nodded. "I gave her a call last night for advice regarding hangovers. She also wanted me to tell you that she misses you." He said with a playful smile.

"S-she said that..?"

"Not word for word, but I'm sure that's how she felt."

"I-I see…"

She stared silently at the breakfast assembled in front of her. It was hardly a complicated dish, a sunny side up egg with a slice of toast, but somehow the simplicity of it all made it seem that much more thoughtful to her.

"Do you remember everything?"

The sudden question startled Fumino despite it being one that she should've expected. She considered lying, but that was something she just couldn't bring herself to do. It was embarrassing. Everything about last night was just all out embarrassing, but that still didn't give her any reason to be untruthful.

"I do..."

Nariyuki nodded at her answer but offered nothing more after that. Anxiousness filled Fumino as she fidgeted awkwardly underneath the blankets. She wanted to say more, and her initial instinct was to apologize again for all the troubles she had caused last night, but that just didn't seem right to her. The boy had already comforted her regarding the matter, and doing so again would just come across as forgetful.

So instead, she decided to say what she had wanted to say from the very start.

"Thank you, Nariyuki..."

"Hm? Oh! It's nothing. It's just eggs and toast."

"N-not the breakfast!" She exclaimed with a blush. "I mean yes...thank you...but I just meant...for everything…"

"For being there for me last night…" She finished quietly.

The boy stared for a few moments before smiling softly in response.

"I should be the one thanking you. You're the one who stood up for me in front of Yamaoka." He said earnestly. "I guess this goes without saying...but...when you said all those things in front of all those people yesterday..."

...

"It made me really happy…" He whispered.

Fumino blinked in surprise, taken aback by the unexpected emotion in Nariyuki's voice, but before she knew it, she was smiling happily in return, gratefully accepting his feelings.

"You stood up for me first, remember? All those years ago when he kept trying to ask me out…so really I should be the one thanking you…"

"Is this supposed to be a competition?"

"Of course." She replied almost immediately, and Nariyuki cracked into laughter at the comedic timing of it all. Not long after she burst into her own giggling mess, finding the boy's delight to be way too contagious for her to resist. Neither of them knew why, but no matter how awkward or tense of situations they found themselves in, they would always seem to be smiling like this by the end of it.

Eventually, their mirth died down, and Fumino, still remembering a certain topic needing to be addressed, averted her gaze shyly.

"A-about later last night...uhm...I'm sorry if I...made you uncomfortable..."

"Uncomfortable?" Nariyuki repeated. "From what?"

"Y-you know…" She trailed off timorously, fully aware of her own bashfulness.

"The kiss…"

"Oh…"

Her face burned again. Just thinking about it was more than enough to trigger her humiliation, but saying it out loud was just about ten times worse.

"I really am sorry about that…"

"I-it's okay...I mean you were drunk…I would never ever blame you for that," he assured her. "A-and besides..."

In the next moment, a soft blush creeped onto Nariyuki's face.

"I...didn't say I didn't enjoy it…"

Shock.

Stupefaction.

The number of ways to describe her speechlessness was endless, and from the panic that slowly settled into the boy's expression, Nariyuki too seemed to realize just how ridiculously bold his claim had just been.

"A-ah! I mean uhm...w-what I meant by that w-was…" He failed to finish his thought coherently and he shot up away from the bed frantically. "N-never mind! J-just f-forget I said that! The food's probably going to get cold soon so I'll let you eat now! If you need anything j-just call for me!"

"U-uhm...ok-"

In a blink of an eye, the bedroom door shut close. Nariyuki was gone, now taking refuge in her living room to apparently escape his blushfulness. Fumino's lips curled into a bright smile, and surely enough, another series of laughter found its way afterwards.

It wasn't completely rare to see the boy so embarrassed, but it was mostly herself who embodied the chagrin in their exchanges. Seeing Nariyuki run away first for once was somehow both hilarious and heartwarming at the same time.

She took a bite out of the egg and toast and giggled to herself.

The toast was a bit burnt, and the eggs were salty.

Without a doubt, it was Nariyuki's cooking.

And truth be told...

It was the most comforting breakfast she had ever eaten.


A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter! Special thanks to Teng-Kun for the prompt idea.

I was sick for a couple of days so it took me a while to get this out. Thanks for y'alls patience. If you have any thoughts to share, feel free to leave a review as I'm always happy to read them.

Until Next Time!