The air was thick with the scent of grass and the earthy tang of damp soil.
For Haramura Makoto, this kind of weather was as comfortable as it gets, but for Shokuhou Misaki, it was anything but.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
While he seemed relaxed, Misaki stood on the steps leading down the hill, her right hand clinging to the railing installed to help pedestrians climb. Her face looked completely wrecked, and she was panting heavily.
Haramura Makoto pulled out his phone, glanced at the push notification, and sighed helplessly.
"It's about to rain. If we keep dawdling, we'll get soaked like drowned rats."
As mentioned before, Academy City's weather was mechanically controlled.
Rain, snow, even tsunamis and hurricanes—all within technological control.
Hearing this, Misaki's face flushed slightly red.
But the next moment, her previously lowered head snapped up, and she put on a fierce expression.
With starry eyes that would be rare even in manga, she glared at Haramura Makoto and ground her silver teeth.
"Shut up! I'm just not good at physical activities."
"This goes beyond 'not good at it.'"
"It's a downhill path, and it's only about a kilometer. You already rested once."
"Your stamina is completely below average."
"No, wait."
"Saying 'below average' is actually being generous."
Haramura Makoto's words were full of disdain.
He'd been so patient just moments ago, but now he was getting impatient over such a small thing.
Misaki's anger flared up—or rather, was ignited.
"What do you mean?"
"No matter how bad I am, it's a downhill path! My stamina isn't that terrible."
"I just used up a lot of energy escaping earlier and haven't fully recovered yet."
Her right hand still didn't dare let go of the railing, while her free left hand waved up and down with her emotional outburst.
At the same time, a wave of grievance washed over her.
Silver teardrops began sliding down from Misaki's eyes.
The saying "as long as you're beautiful, even crying is attractive" couldn't be more accurate.
It wasn't full-blown sobbing, but the silver pearls tracing down her delicate, pale cheeks left two wet trails.
If captured on paper, this would be a masterpiece for the ages.
"Really, you were so gentle with me earlier. Why can't you continue showing that gentleness now?"
Yes, this was exactly what made Misaki angry and hurt.
Haramura Makoto had given her such a sense of security earlier—every word made her heart race as if it might leap out.
His image in her mind had reached an insurmountable height.
But it shattered too quickly.
She hadn't even started being willful, yet this man was already bullying and picking on her.
"I'm not bullying you."
"Besides, your stamina really is a problem that can't be ignored."
"Judging by your condition, you probably use your ability to fool your PE teachers, don't you?"
"Eh?"
One second she was crying silver tears, the next Misaki was laughing sheepishly.
Gone was any trace of her sobbing—no choice, since Haramura's words hit her right in the artery.
"Forget it."
Another obvious sigh.
Haramura Makoto walked to the step in front of Misaki and crouched down.
"Come on, I'll carry you back. At this rate, who knows how long it'll take you to reach the dorm."
"Really?"
Misaki seemed somewhat surprised, her questioning tone making it clear.
"What could be fake about it?"
His hands positioned behind him made a supporting gesture.
"If we keep dawdling, it really will start raining."
"Ah..."
Misaki was stunned again, but her next actions were decisive—she found strength from somewhere.
Removing her hand from the railing, jumping up—two disconnected motions flowed seamlessly as she leaped onto Haramura Makoto's back.
His large hands supported her weight while her pale lotus arms somehow found their way around his neck, clasping at his chest.
"Well then, let's go."
"Let's go, let's go!"
The surrounding scenery flew backward rapidly, and she could feel strong winds hitting her face.
However, the speed sensation couldn't compare to when Haramura had carried her through the sky with grappling hooks, so she could keep her eyes open.
From her angle, she couldn't see all of Haramura Makoto.
She could only see about fifty percent of his profile, but it kept the blush on Misaki's face from fading.
A perfect facial outline as if carved with precision, a high-bridged nose, thin pink lips.
And her arms wrapped around his solid, firm chest muscles.
Honestly, she wasn't particularly looks-focused.
Her standards for a partner weren't that high—she valued feelings more.
But if her partner was handsome, looking at him every day at home would certainly be more pleasing to the eye.
"Hey, are you asleep?"
"Your drool is about to come out."
Feeling the damp, sticky sensation on his shoulder, Haramura Makoto had to slow his pace.
"I'm not asleep!"
"I was just thinking about something."
A rebuttal immediately sounded by his ear.
"If you're not asleep, why is there a wet spot on my shoulder?"
Haramura Makoto picked up his pace carrying Misaki.
"It's raining! It's rainwater."
"Even if I were asleep, I wouldn't drool."
Misaki's face was redder than ever, her agitated voice making her words completely unconvincing.
"Is that so? Well, let's go with that. Can you loosen your arms a bit?"
"You're holding me really tight."
"No!"
"Just stay like this. This way you won't look around randomly."
"Otherwise, I'll just cover your eyes directly."
Misaki's small face was so red it seemed ready to drip blood. Having Haramura Makoto turn around now was absolutely impossible—if he did, wouldn't the marks pressed into her face be exposed?
"Alright then, I'll stay like this."