-----
-----
"Did you get soup in your eye?"
Blake's voice dropped.
Seeing Yanami rubbing her eye nonstop, face scrunched in pain, he quickly stood up and grabbed her wrist.
"Don't rub it. Come on, to the restroom."
Everyone knows the basic tastes are sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Spicy isn't really a flavor, it's pain.
If it had been plain seafood flavor or something mild, it wouldn't be a big deal. But Yanami had chosen spicy tomato Cup Noodles. Getting that kind of broth in your eye? Yeah, that was going to hurt.
It was already late at night, so the restroom was empty. Not bothering about gender differences, Blake pulled her straight into the women's restroom and turned on the tap.
"Rinse your eye. Hurry."
"O-Okay…"
Anna Yanami nodded quickly and bent down to splash water on her face.
Blake suddenly remembered an emergency method he'd read before. Without hesitation, he turned and headed out.
"Where are you going?" Yanami asked, one eye squeezed shut, glancing over anxiously like a puppy afraid of being abandoned.
"To borrow something," he said without turning back. "Keep rinsing. I'll be right back."
"Okaaay…"
At the counter, the convenience store clerk immediately asked if he needed help—she'd clearly seen what happened. Blake didn't hold back and borrowed a plastic basin, then hurried back.
"I'm back. Move a bit, Yanami."
He stepped up to the sink and began filling the basin.
Water splashed loudly as it poured in.
Covering her eye, Yanami asked pitifully, "What are you doing?"
"I remembered something from a home health guide," Blake said, glancing at her. "How does it feel now?"
She sniffled. "Still… really hurts."
"If you hadn't drunk that sip of broth…"
"B-But if you eat cup noodles without drinking the soup, doesn't that make life incomplete?"
She still had the energy to complain. Guess it didn't hurt that much.
Once the basin was mostly full, Blake turned off the tap and pulled her over.
"Take a deep breath, put your face in the water, and blink while moving your head."
"Okay…"
Yanami trusted him completely. She took a deep breath and dunked her face straight into the basin.
Glub glub—
Watching her little head shake side to side, splashing water everywhere, Blake couldn't help but twitch his lips.
…She kind of looks like a piglet fighting over food.
Splash.
She soon ran out of breath and lifted her head, lips slightly parted as she panted softly. But her voice was full of surprise.
"It actually works… It doesn't hurt as much anymore."
"Good. Keep going."
In everyday life, liquids that get into your eyes usually fall into two categories. One is things like soap, shampoo, body wash, vinegar, or oil—irritating, but not too dangerous.
The other is strong acids or alkalis from construction sites or labs. Those are serious. Even after rinsing, you need to go to the hospital as soon as possible. Hydrofluoric acid in particular can destroy flesh and even bone.
Fortunately, what Yanami got in her eye was just noodle broth. Once rinsed clean, it wouldn't be a problem.
After a while, a satisfied sigh echoed in the restroom.
"Blake, you're amazing… I seriously thought I was going to die just now…"
That's enough. Stop saying things that ruin my reputation.
Looking at her damp face, with even her sideburns soaked, Blake silently handed her a tissue.
"Wipe your face."
"Thanks, Blake~"
Her voice had already returned to its usual bright, cheerful tone as she dried off.
"My eye still feels a tiny bit weird, but it's manageable now."
"Let's head back to the inn," Blake said, turning to leave. "It's the middle of the night."
"Wait for me~"
She quickly followed.
They returned the basin and tissues to the clerk, said their thanks, and left together.
It was deep into the night.
The streets were quiet, completely empty.
"So cold…"
A gust of wind blew past, and Yanami clutched her yukata, shivering lightly.
"Your clothes got wet. Of course it's cold when the wind hits," Blake said casually. "Walk a bit and you'll warm up."
"In movies, this is where you take off your clothes and give them to me, right?"
"Sorry. I'm only wearing one yukata. If I take it off, I'll get arrested."
"Ugh…"
Her eyes shifted, and suddenly she reached out and tugged at the edge of his clothes, looking pitiful.
"My eye hurts again."
"Hm?"
"Cold wind got into it and caused a mysterious chemical reaction," she said with a straight face. "Anyway, it hurts a lot."
"…Should we go back and rinse it again?"
"No, that would bother the clerk," she said quickly, shaking her head. "And I can't see clearly. I might fall while walking, so…"
"So?"
Blake had a bad feeling about this.
"So…" She looked up at him, eyes full of expectation. "Carry me on your back?"
"No."
"W-Why?!"
"I'm worried I won't be able to carry you."
"Ugh—!"
Her cheeks puffed up instantly. She clenched her fist and punched his chest.
"That's so mean! I'm not that heavy!"
Blake staggered back, clutching his chest. "That punch had thirty years of training behind it."
"I do not! I'm only sixteen!"
"So how much do you weigh?"
"Not telling!" She turned her face away and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "A girl's weight is top-secret information!"
"Then walk back yourself."
"Nooo, please Blake, I'm begging you…"
After a long session of whining, pleading, and shameless acting cute, Blake finally gave in.
"…Fine. Get on."
He crouched down helplessly.
"Hehe~"
Yanami instantly broke into a triumphant smile, spread her arms, and hopped onto his back.
"Mm… ah—!"
The next second, a soft, trembling sound slipped from her lips, tinting the cool night air with a faint blush.
"I-I forgot…"
Going out for food had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, and since it was already late, Yanami hadn't put on any underwear. Now, pressed tightly against his back, the sudden closeness and friction sent a jolt through her body like electricity.
"....."