While Haruto was thinking, Yukino heard a painful groan.
When he regained consciousness, he saw Yukino standing unsteadily, but there was an expression of pain on her face, and without realizing it, her hand was placed on her right leg.
An injury to her leg?
Haruto's eyes fell on her calves wrapped in black stockings. The curve of her calves was graceful. If he sold pictures of her legs, they would surely sell, right?
Haruto didn't look for long. He quickly noticed the broken wine bottle next to him and roughly understood what had happened.
"Can you still walk?"
"Sorry."
Yukino looked at him, a forced smile on her face, and said, "Kuromori-kun, can you help me?"
Haruto thought for a moment, turned around, squatted down, and said, "If you don't mind, I'll carry you back."
Although a princess carry was fine, he always felt their relationship was a bit too close for that.
"I've caused you trouble."
Yukino whispered and leaned against his back. At this moment, her leg hurt so much that reality didn't allow her to refuse.
Haruto picked up phone from the ground, carried Yukino on his back, and then walked toward the apartment where Yukino lived.
"Yukinoshita, I think you're a bit underweight. You should eat more during the week."
"You're too strong."
Yukino lay quietly on his back, feeling the pain in her leg slowly subside. She sighed, and her tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
'Luckily, I called him by accident, and he rushed over just in time. If he hadn't come on time, I might have died, right?'
'Once again, he saved me.'
Yukino couldn't help but rest her face against Haruto's back.
It was so warm.
It was also very reassuring.
Haruto felt her movement but didn't say anything.
Even though Yukino was always strong during the weekdays, in the end, she was just an ordinary girl. It was impossible not to feel scared when she suddenly encountered the supernatural and almost had her soul taken.
In fact, it was good to learn about these things early on so that if anything happened in the future, she could face it calmly.
The night was dark, and the streetlights were dim.
The streets were quiet, with only the soft sound of Haruto's footsteps echoing.
After a long time, Yukino calmed down. Realizing that she was lying on his back, she couldn't help but feel a blush spread across her cheeks.
Her heartbeat also sped up.
To prevent Haruto from noticing anything strange about her, Yukino slightly adjusted her position. Maybe this affected the injury on her leg. She groaned and bumped into his back without hesitation.
Haruto's expression was calm, and he immediately said, "I didn't do anything."
Turns out, Yukino was indeed a girl!
Although her chest looked small visually, in reality, with her extra slender figure, her clothes might just fit perfectly!
"…Don't talk."
Yukino blushed, bit her soft pink lips silently, her eyes filled with embarrassment, and her breath quickened.
Haruto completely ruined the atmosphere the moment he opened his mouth.
Did he think she was a casual person?
The entire journey was silent.
Soon, Haruto carried Yukino on his back to the bottom of her apartment building, which was a relatively upscale apartment complex.
It was clear that Yukino's family was quite well-off.
"We've arrived."
Yukino came to her senses and realized she had unknowingly returned to the bottom of her apartment.
That was quick.
Yukino suddenly realized she seemed to have forgotten to tell him where she lived. But Haruto had brought her directly?
A wave of confusion washed over her heart. She pretended to be calm and said, "Kuromori-kun, please escort me inside."
Now that they were here, she naturally couldn't just let Haruto leave. No matter what, she had to let him come up and rest for a bit, maybe even have some tea.
Although boys at this age are like wild animals...
But Yukino wasn't afraid.
Because, in her eyes, Haruto wasn't an impulsive person.
"All right."
Haruto didn't refuse. It was only a few more steps, nothing much.
Moreover, he had just received help from Yukino. If he didn't help now, he would feel a bit guilty.
After taking the elevator upstairs, Haruto supported Yukino as they walked into the apartment.
"Kuromori-kun, the floor is very clean. Just keep your socks on and come in."
As Yukino's only apartment here, there would naturally be no men's slippers.
In fact, she hadn't expected to bring a man into her apartment one day.
Especially not this late at night.
"Yeah."
Haruto took off his shoes and entered. At a glance, he saw the entire living room was very clean and tidy. Compared to Mafuyu's apartment, it was like night and day!
Yukino sat on the sofa, sighed, and said softly, "Kuromori-kun, there are drinks in the fridge."
"Leave the drinks for now."
Haruto walked over to Yukino and sat beside her. "Yukinoshita, give me your foot, and I'll help you treat it."
"…Sorry for the trouble."
Haruto had treated Shouko before, and the results were great.
Yukino had no reason to refuse, but she certainly felt a bit embarrassed. She gently bit her pink lips and looked at him. "Do I need to take off my stockings?"
Haruto was silent for a moment and said seriously, "Of course, you need to take off your stockings to treat your leg injury. If you can't move, I can help."
Yukino took a breath, glared at him, then bent down and folded her legs, lifting the end of her stockings with one hand before taking them off.
Haruto's gaze paused for a moment. Because Yukino was bent over, from his angle, he could clearly see her snow-white skin through her collar.
So white.
Moreover, Yukino's flexibility was surprisingly good!
Stop it!
Don't let your imagination run wild!
Noticing Haruto's gaze, Yukino's eyes grew embarrassed. "...Turn around."
What's there to be embarrassed about!
It's just taking off a pair of stockings, nothing else.
Seeing Haruto turn around, Yukino suppressed her embarrassment and slowly removed her stockings.
However, when it came to her injury, the stockings couldn't be removed without pain.
Her face paled slightly, and her brows furrowed from the pain.
"Kuromori-kun…"
"Huh?"
"Help me."
"…"