Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Nekoyashiki Haru took the Demon Slayer Sake.

"You seem a little strange... I mean, your mood. Are you in a bad mood?"

"I haven't been in a good mood lately—I mean before I got drunk."

Hiroi Kikuri grinned and opened her mouth, revealing a mouthful of teeth.

"Although... *hiccup* Although I didn't really want you to recognize me, I'm actually quite happy that you did~"

"Being recognized because of your body odor would make a normal person feel ashamed, right?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru said."

"Haha~ But I'm not a normal person either~"

Kikuri Hiroi shook her head.

"I'm a shameless drunkard~"

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru didn't say anything, but simply inserted the straw into the Demon Slayer Sake.

As the cheap liquor entered his mouth, Nekoyashiki Haru let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Strange... I should be in a pretty lighthearted mood today..."

Nekoyashiki Haru turned her head to face Hiroi Kikusato.

"But after meeting you, I suddenly felt a little heavy."

I'm so sorry!

Kikuri Hiroi apologized.

"But what can I do? I'm just the kind of person who's a nuisance, hahaha!"

Kikuri Hiroi sat up from the bench.

"Why is Xiaoqing out so late?"

"Something happened."

"Hmm? Are you accompanying someone?"

"Not necessarily."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

Kikuri Hiroi pursed her lips.

"I see..."

Kikuri Hiroi lowered her head and fell silent.

"Honestly, I sense you're in a really bad mood. What happened?"

"...Nothing happened..."

Hiroi Kikuri raised her head.

"Life's trajectory remains the same... nothing beyond my expectations, just bleak prospects."

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru frowned.

"Why are you suddenly so depressed again? Isn't the reason you drink to avoid thinking about these gloomy things?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm not drinking enough..."

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru opened her mouth.

Do you have any more wine?

"Of course there are..."

Hiroi Kikuri smiled and took a new bottle out of her bosom.

Bo~

The bottle cap flew into the grass behind them.

"You know what? Alcohol is really... really, really important to me. It's my only way to escape my miserable life."

"But, because of alcohol, your life has been filled with sorrow, hasn't it?"

"Hehe~ What you said isn't wrong."

"...You're worrying too much about your future...Kikuri."

Nekoyashiki Haru put down the Demon Slayer Sake.

"Your life won't hit rock bottom; you still have many friends."

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri didn't say anything, she just tilted her head back and drank her wine.

"Xiao Qing".

"Ok?"

"Can you come drinking with me? Right now, let's drink until we're drunk, preferably unconscious."

"...Sorry, no."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

"...I know that's how it is..."

Hiroi Kikuri raised her head.

"My best [wine] is the one I've never dared to drink."

"Very expensive?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru asked."

"It's not expensive... I just don't dare to drink it."

Hiroi Kikuri's eyes widened, and within them, black spirals quietly spun.

Chapter 266 Unfortunate Physique (Return)

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru got up from the bench.

Hiroi Kikuri looked at Nekoyashiki Haru with a smile.

"What's wrong? Are you leaving?"

"Yes, it's time to leave."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded, then tapped Hiroi Kikuri's knee with her cane.

"Let's go, let's go back to my house."

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri tilted her head.

"I?"

"Well, you need a place to take a shower, don't you?"

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri didn't speak, but just lowered her head and remained silent.

Nekoyashiki Haru frowned.

"what happened?"

"...Isn't this inappropriate?"

Why didn't you say it wasn't suitable before?

"Because now..."

Kikuri Hiroi wanted to say something different.

It's completely different now.

The current Nekoyashiki Haru is not the same person he used to be. Many things have changed as he had predicted, although the changes have been somewhat drastic, but... things are different now...

But these words were completely unspeakable.

Whose feelings are we trying to take care of?

"...I'm very, very drunk..."

"I know, okay, let's go."

"Nekoyashiki Haru said."

"Why don't you take a nap after you shower?"

"... "

Kikuri Hiroi nodded slightly.

"...Thank you, Qing."

Your thanks sounded so weak and listless…

Haruto Nekoyashiki could sense that Kikuri Hiroi's emotions were not quite right.

But he didn't know how to comfort her.

Let's take it back first; it wouldn't be good if something happened to it outside.

...

……