[Ding! Host had late-night supper with Akira Mado and got her drunk. Reward: 30 Fusion Points!]
"..."
Hearing this system notification, Amaha Byakuya was instantly speechless.
At a time like this, the system seemed to be mocking him.
It wasn't him who got Akira Mado drunk at all—she'd gotten drunk on her own.
Still, the Fusion Points reward was pretty generous, so whatever.
Afterward, Byakuya called out to her for a while, trying to wake her up.
"Mmn... I can't drink anymore..."
But the only response he got was from the barely conscious Akira.
"I know you can't drink anymore..."
Byakuya sighed softly. Looking at Akira's condition, there was basically no hope of her getting home on her own normally.
[Ding! Host has activated a Choice Mission!]
[Choice 1: Take Akira Mado back to her home, but her home is in Ward 1. Reward: 20 Fusion Points!]
[Choice 2: Take Akira Mado directly to your own home, but you will be interrogated by Rize Kamishiro and the others. Reward: 30 Fusion Points!]
[Choice 3: Take Akira Mado to a hotel and get a room, but the next day, the reputation of "perverted superior" will spread throughout all of CCG. Reward: 50 Fusion Points!]
Seeing the system starting to mess around again, Byakuya directly ignored it.
This didn't even need thinking—it was definitely the first option.
As for the other two options, the extra Fusion Points weren't worth it. Once chosen, each would bring more trouble than the last.
By comparison, it was better not to be greedy for those few extra points.
Byakuya sighed softly at this moment and said to Akira, "I'll take you home."
He helped Akira stand, then had her drape her arm over his shoulder, planning to support her back this way.
But the high heels Akira was wearing were too much of a hindrance. After just a few steps, she'd trip, constantly at risk of twisting her ankle.
"Those high heels of yours... Can't be helped, I'll have to be forward."
Byakuya changed his approach, deciding to carry Akira on his back instead. There was no better option.
"Hold on tight. You still have some awareness, don't you?"
Byakuya reminded her.
"Mm..."
Akira responded drowsily, but she still had enough consciousness to wrap her arms around Byakuya's neck.
Since Akira hadn't rented a place nearby yet, Byakuya had no choice but to carry her on the subway to Ward 1.
After boarding the subway, Byakuya set the still-unconscious Akira down on a seat.
At this hour, the subway wasn't packed, but it wasn't empty either.
For the other passengers, seeing a couple riding the subway home with one of them drunk was nothing new.
But what really caught their attention was the pair of white briefcases at the couple's feet. They'd seen things like those on television before—weren't those the weapons of ghoul investigators?
They'd seen plenty of drunk couples, but investigators? That was a first.
The passengers who originally hadn't intended to pay attention to that side were now quite curious about what would happen next.
At this moment, after setting Akira down on the seat, Byakuya sat down beside her.
Akira's drowsy state wouldn't clear up without a proper night's rest.
Just then, Akira's head swayed back and forth before gradually tilting onto Byakuya's shoulder beside her.
"Let me... sleep for a bit..."
Akira clearly still had some consciousness, but only just barely.
Then, as if treating Byakuya's shoulder as a pillow, she wrapped both arms directly around his arm, hugging it like a body pillow.
"Mm..."
Byakuya sat there with a calm yet somewhat helpless expression. He checked the time—if he could get Akira home before 10 PM and return to his own place, that would be about right.
"Mama..."
Before long, Byakuya heard Akira talking in her sleep, calling out for her mother.
She probably missed her mother deeply—the one who had left her ten years ago. And the one who killed her mother was the "One-Eyed Owl."
Of course, not Yoshimura's "Owl," but Eto Yoshimura's "One-Eyed Owl."
...
During the subway ride.
Akira suddenly opened her eyes slightly, seeming to have regained consciousness for a moment, but her unfocused gaze didn't look like she was truly awake.
She saw herself leaning against Byakuya's shoulder, still holding onto his arm, but still didn't fully register what was happening.
"You... can accomplish what my father couldn't. Defeat the 'One-Eye' we've always wanted revenge against..."
Akira mumbled drowsily, "And... that time at the 'Ghoul Restaurant'... You really are amazing. If only I could have that kind of power..."
Having finished that sentence, as if it had used up Akira's last bit of energy, she fell asleep again, still not releasing her hold on Byakuya's arm.
But at this moment, Byakuya had no mind to think about the sensation on his arm. What Akira had just said stirred his thoughts.
After all, the "One-Eyed Owl" that Akira and Kureo Mado hated most was currently in a cooperative relationship with him...
Byakuya turned his head to look out the window, falling into deep thought.
...
Around 9 PM, the subway arrived at Ward 1.
"Akira, Mado-san should still be awake, right? Or at least you should have your house keys."
As they approached her building with Akira on his back, Byakuya asked her.
After a moment, he finally heard her response.
"...Dad isn't... asleep..."
Byakuya then carried Akira upstairs and pressed the doorbell in front of the "Mado" residence.
[Ding! Host completed Choice 1. Reward: 20 Fusion Points!]
[Ding! Host carried his drunk female subordinate and escorted her home. Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]
A moment later, Kureo Mado came to open the door.
The instant he opened it and saw Byakuya carrying his daughter on his back, Kureo froze slightly, clearly not having expected the scene before him.
"Tonight, a colleague invited us out for a late-night meal. Akira ended up drinking herself into this state."
Byakuya offered a simple explanation.
He figured Mado-san wasn't the type to get worked up before understanding the situation, so he remained calm, not worried about being misunderstood.
"I see. That gave me quite a fright—I thought your relationship had progressed this quickly."
Kureo chuckled. "Sorry for the trouble, First Class Amaha. This is also my first time learning that Akira's alcohol tolerance is this poor."
Clearly, the image of Byakuya carrying a drunk Akira had sparked quite a few thoughts in Kureo's mind just now.
...
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