I ran as fast as I possibly could, but couldn't keep up with Ceres.
"If that's as fast as you can go, you might as well ride on my back!" Ceres yelled back at me, as I was falling further and further behind.
"No piggybacking! Out of the question!"
"You sure? Do you think you can handle those on your own?"
She cocked her head back, toward the mob of Inugami rapidly pursuing us on all fours, their elongated necks wildly flailing around as they did.
"W-well...maybe this once. But oy because it-s an emergen—WOAH!"
Before I could finish talking, Ceres stopped short and turned her back to me as I bumped into her. Then, hopped on without thinking—wrapping my arms around her neck, and legs around her waist—feeling as awkward as can be, it should go without saying.
"Wow! You're light as a feather, Hotaru-chan!" Ceres teased.
"Sh-shut up and start running."
"Not just yet—I have a trap to trigger, first."
A trap…?
