After walking for a while, their pace began to slow. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly through the quiet streets, but beside Sayaka, Yae was growing more and more unsteady. Her heels wobbled on the pavement, and every few steps she stumbled lightly, relying on Sayaka's arm for balance.
"Ahh... Sayaka-chaan~ the stars are spinning..." Yae murmured, her words slurred and dreamy. Her head tilted to one side, the red ribbon in her hair slipping slightly as she giggled to herself.
Sayaka sighed, struggling to keep her upright. "You're hopeless when you drink, Yae. I told you not to go all out tonight..."
Watching from the side, Rito frowned slightly. Though Yae's drunken mumbling was almost cute in its own way, Sayaka looked like she was about to collapse herself. The girl wasn't exactly light, and her constant swaying wasn't helping.
"Sayaka-san," Rito said suddenly, stepping closer. "Let me carry her on my back. That way, we can move faster—and she won't fall."
Sayaka blinked, pausing to glance at him. Her eyes narrowed just a little—not out of mistrust, but something close to suspicion.
"You?" she asked, arching a brow. "You're sure about that?"
Rito nodded. "Yeah. It'll be easier for you too."
But Sayaka didn't answer right away. Her gaze flicked from Rito's face to Yae—the drunk beauty leaning heavily on her side—and back to Rito again. Her lips twitched as if fighting a smirk. After all, Yae wasn't just drunk—she was gorgeously drunk. Her black hair shimmered under the streetlight, her flushed cheeks framed by loose strands, and... well, there was no denying the generous curves pressing against Sayaka's shoulder.
If Rito carried her, her chest would naturally press against his back.
Sayaka crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly. "...You sure this is purely out of goodwill, Rito?"
He blinked, realizing instantly what she was thinking. "Eh? Oi, come on, that's not—!"
Her skeptical look didn't change, and Rito felt his jaw tighten. It wasn't that she didn't trust him—it was the kind of look an older sister might give a mischievous younger brother. Still, it stung.
"Alright, alright," Sayaka said finally, giving a dramatic sigh. "Fine, I don't think a brat like you would take advantage of Yae's condition anyway."
That word—brat—hit him harder than he expected.
"Brat?" he muttered, his brow twitching. "You know, I am a guy too, Sayaka-san. You can't just downgrade me like that. Though yes, I won't take advantage of her—I'm saying this to help."
Sayaka couldn't help but grin at his flustered tone. "Heh, well said. Then I suppose I can relax, Mr. Gentleman."
Rito sighed, knowing he'd walked right into her teasing. Arguing would only make things worse—it'd just reinforce her point that he was acting like a kid.
"Alright," Sayaka said at last, shifting Yae's weight. "Help me out then."
Rito crouched slightly, lowering himself so Sayaka could guide Yae onto his back. "Yae-san, can you hold on for a bit?" he asked gently.
Yae blinked, her half-lidded eyes fluttering open just enough to see his face. "Mmm... Rito-kun?" she whispered with a sleepy smile. Then, without hesitation, she draped her arms around his neck and leaned forward—pressing her full weight onto him with an affectionate, almost childlike hug.
Her cheek brushed against his, and the faint scent of floral perfume filled the air—sweet, soft, and warm. Rito froze for a brief second, heat rising to his face despite his best efforts to stay composed.
'She's… definitely closer than expected…'
With a quiet grunt, he adjusted his balance and rose to his feet. Surprisingly, Yae wasn't as heavy as he thought she'd be. In fact, she felt light—warm even, her breath brushing softly against his ear as she murmured incoherent words.
Sayaka smirked, walking beside him. "Not bad, huh? You sure you can handle her all the way?"
Rito shot her a sideways glance. "She's fine. And don't even think about teasing me for walking too slow—I know exactly what you're planning to say."
Sayaka chuckled under her breath. "You're learning."
Rito exhaled softly, adjusting Yae's position slightly as they moved down the quiet street together. Her head rested against his shoulder, the gentle rhythm of her breathing matching the steady pace of his steps.
He didn't say it aloud, but a faint smile tugged at his lips as he thought —
'Though… it does feel kind of nice.'
The cool night wind brushed against them, the sound of crickets whispering from somewhere nearby, and the faint glow of the streetlights followed them home—a quiet little moment suspended between calm, warmth, and the awkward heartbeat of youth.
Rito walked quietly beside Sayaka, the faint sound of cicadas echoing in the distance while Yae rested peacefully on his back. Her soft breathing brushed against his neck, warm and rhythmic, almost like a lullaby under the night sky.
The streetlights grew fewer as they moved deeper into the residential lanes, and soon enough, the paved road gave way to a stone path that sloped gently upward.
He glanced around, noting the faint shimmer of paper lanterns strung along the road. Each flickered lightly in the evening breeze, their glow soft and almost nostalgic.
He might not have known the area, but he could already tell where they were heading. The faint scent of incense, the old stone steps ahead, and the tall torii gate in the distance—this was unmistakably a shrine.
'A shrine, huh…' he thought, shifting Yae's weight slightly on his back. 'If I remember right… Yae Amanaka—no, wait… Yae Amagami. That's right. She's just like that character from Tying the Knot with Amagami Sisters. The airheaded big-sister type, gentle and warm…'
It was almost strange—walking through this world and seeing faces that overlapped with characters from a manga he'd once read. Life had a funny way of weaving fiction and reality together.
"So," Rito said after a while, breaking the quiet. "How far is it? I should probably head back soon. My sister's alone at home—she'll start worrying if I stay out too long."
Sayaka, walking slightly ahead, turned her head at that. Her hair swayed softly under the lantern light, and she blinked at him as if remembering something. "Oh, right! That's what I wanted to ask you earlier."
Rito raised a brow. "Hmm?"
She crossed her arms, looking at him with mock seriousness. "What exactly were you doing out here so late at night, student?"
There was that teasing edge again, though her tone carried genuine curiosity this time.
Rito glanced at his watch. "It's only around eight. Hardly that late," he said calmly. "I went out for a jog after dinner—it helps with digestion, and it's good for maintaining stamina. Healthy routine, you know?"
Sayaka stopped mid-step, turning slightly with a faint look of surprise. His straightforward tone wasn't defensive or playful—just plain and serious.
"Huh…" she murmured, her lips curving faintly. "You actually sound like you mean that. Most guys your age are glued to their screens after dinner."
He chuckled softly. "Guess I'm not most guys."
"Apparently not." She smiled—a small, sincere one this time—before turning back toward the path. "Well, good for you. And don't worry, it's not far. Yae lives in a kind of… special place. You'll see soon enough. It's beautiful at night."
As they continued walking, the stone path grew steeper. Rito eyed the incline with mild amusement. If this had been the old him—the untrained, out-of-shape version from his previous life—he would've been gasping for breath by now.
But now, with the [Kenichi Template] active, his body handled the slope like a light jog. His muscles felt firm and responsive—his breathing even.
He almost wanted to test how much farther he could push himself. 'I bet I could run a few more kilometers easily,' he thought, a small smirk forming on his lips.
Meanwhile, Sayaka had started glancing back at him every so often. The more they climbed, the more curious she became. The boy was carrying her full-grown friend—a girl who, though delicate in appearance, definitely wasn't light—yet he didn't even look winded.
No strained breathing. No sweat. No complaint. Just calm steps and steady focus.
'This boy…' Sayaka thought, her eyes narrowing slightly in intrigue. 'He's… tougher than he looks. Way too composed for someone his age.'
For a moment, her expression softened—a quiet, genuine respect flashing in her eyes. But she quickly turned away, hiding it behind her usual calm mask.
"Alright, almost there," she said briskly, suddenly picking up her pace.
Rito blinked, watching her quicken her steps out of nowhere. "Eh? She's speeding up all of a sudden?"
He adjusted Yae slightly, the girl mumbling something incoherent in her sleep-like state, then followed Sayaka with a small grin.
The faint glow of the shrine's lanterns drew closer as they climbed, painting the scene with warm gold light—three silhouettes walking together in rhythm under the stars: one teasing woman leading the way, one sleeping beauty on the boy's back, and one quietly evolving soul following behind, unaware of how much this night would begin to change everything for him.