"Thorn Princess."
Her true selfthe assassin who lived in the shadows, who knew nothing but blood... and death.
Maybe it's better this way, she thought bitterly. Better if everyone stayed away from me... just like they would from a thorn.
She shook her head, steeling herself, then met Akifumi's gaze with newfound determination.
"Mugiho-sama... do you have time today?" she asked firmly.
Akifumi blinked, surprised by the sudden request.
"Right now?"
"Yes. Right now. There's something... important I need to talk to you about."
Akifumi pull out his phone and glanced at the time.
5 o'clock in the afternoon.
Eriri had taken Mahiru and Mashiro out for the day, and Akifumi was too tired to bother cooking dinner tonight. There was no dinner waiting for him at the apartment.
Akifumi gave a small nod.
"Alright then. Let's eat outside today."
He slipped his phone back into his pocket and added, "Eriri and the others said they'll be out for a while, so we might as well get dinner on our own."
"Y-Yes!" Yor replied.
She quickly gathered all her shopping bags in one handa ridiculous feat considering how many there wereand straightened up.
"L-Let's go, Mugiho-sama!" she said in a rushed tone.
Before Akifumi could even open his mouth to respond, Yor suddenly bolted toward the exit like a startled rabbit.
Akifumi stood there, scratching the back of his head in confusion as he watched her hurried figure.
'What's gotten into her...? Is she really okay?' he wondered silently.
[255] Hiratsuka sensei!
Yor had asked if they could talk somewhere quiet, away from the crowds. So In the end, Akifumi brought her to a local ramen shop not far from their apartment in Chiba.
The place was called Ichiryu.
Compared to most ramen joints in Tokyo, it was surprisingly spaciousa rarity, considering how brutally expensive rent was in the city.
Akifumi often wondered how they managed to stay in business.
Then again, Ichiryu wasn't just a ramen shop.
They also served takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and a variety of other small dishes that went well with alcohol. In truth, it felt more like an old-fashioned izakaya than a proper ramen place.
He first heard about Ichiryu from Hiratsuka-sensei, who had once recommended it to him, saying it was a great spot for single people looking for a quiet meal.
The place had small private roomsperfect for someone wanting to eat alone without enduring the sight of noisy couples on the weekends.
"You don't have to worry about sitting near all those lovey-dovey couples when you come here on a Saturday," Hiratsuka had said with unusual excitement.
Akifumi could still remember how her expression darkened the moment she said the word couple.
Right after that, she gave him a sharp karate chop on the head, blaming him for reminding her of her single status.
Someone really needs to marry that woman or else I might just have to take responsibility myself, Akifumi thought with a sigh.
Jokes aside, the ramen here really was excellent. So good, in fact, that he ended up ordering a second bowltonkotsu shoyu with extra-tender pork.
If it weren't for the serious situation hanging over him right now, he might've boldly declared that Ichiryu's ramen could easily rival the famous Nakiryu ramen in Otsukathe one that had earned a Michelin star.
After finishing the last sip of broth from his bowl, Akifumi gently set it down with a quiet sigh of satisfaction. But the moment he looked across the table, his stomach twisted into a painful knot.
Slumped over the table, completely knocked out, was none other than Yor.
Her head rested on her folded arms, her breath soft and steadyclearly fast asleep.
In one hand, she still clutched a half-empty bottle of sake. Scattered across the table were several other empty bottles, forming a silent testament to the drinking spree she'd embarked on tonight.
From the moment they sat down, Yor hadn't bothered to order any food. Instead, she went straight for the alcohol, asking for a bottle of sake without hesitation.
Akifumi didn't even dare to wake her. He simply adjusted his seat as quietly as possible, trying to shrink his presencelike some harmless background characterpraying she wouldn't suddenly spring to life.
He remembered clearly: Yor couldn't hold her liquor. Not at all. And when she drank too much... she'd sometimes go completely berserk. This right here was the textbook definition of "too much."
Akifumi shivered as he recalled in the original that even an agent as skilled as Twilight in the original story had been knocked out cold by Yor's drunken rampages. His own body? Nowhere near strong enough to take a direct hit from her at full force.
Sure, they trained together sometimesbut he knew she always held back during their sparring sessions. If she ever let loose for real... he'd be sent straight to the hospital. Or the grave.
In his defense, he had tried to stop her from drinking so much tonight. But for some mysterious reason, she insisted that she needed "the power of alcohol" to get through this conversation.
Hiratsuka-sensei... why on earth did you recommend an izakaya to your underage student?!
If I die here tonight, this is all because of you! I swear I'll haunt you for the rest of your life! I'll curse you remain single forever! Akifumi screamed silently in his heart.
Akifumi carefully assessed the situation in his head.
'What should I do now...?'
'Ask for help? From Eriri and the others?'
'Wait for Yor to wake up on her own? Impossible. This shop wasn't open 24 hours, and still 7 pm.'
With no better options, Akifumi resigned himself to the most dangerous choice of all: trying to wake up the sleeping lion.
He stood from his seat, quietly creeping closer to Yor, every step taken as if the floor were made of thin ice.
Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yor-san... Yor-san? Wake up. It's time to go home," he coaxed softly while giving her a gentle shake.
"Mnn... need... something... Mugi-sama..." Yor mumbled sleepily, her words slurred and broken.
"What was that, Yor-san?" Akifumi leaned in, trying to catch her barely audible whisper.
"I... neeeed..." she mumbled again, softer than beforeimpossible to hear clearly.
Akifumi leaned in even closer hoping to make out her words, an move he immediately regretted.
Without warning, Yor's head suddenly shot up like a spring-loaded trap, almost smashing into his face.
Akifumi jerked back just in time, watching his life flash before his eyes.
'Fuck that's so close...! I almost become protagonist of Final Destination' Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Eh...? Mugi-hic-sama? Thish... where ish...?" Yor slurred, blinking in confusion.
"Is this home...?" she mumbled, looking around the small room with glazed, unfocused eyes.
"We're still outside, Yor-san. Let's go home now before it gets too late," Akifumi said gently, moving to support her by slipping her arm over his shoulder.
"Ehh hic... No, Mugi-sama... I need to talk with you..." Yor struggled to stand on her own, but her legs gave out beneath her.
"Eh...? Legs...?" she muttered, staring at them as if they had personally betrayed her.
"You're drunk, Yor-san. Let's get you home first," Akifumi insisted, steadying her.
"W-Wait... thish ish serious... hic..." Yor protested weakly.
"Yes, yes... I'll listen. After we get home, okay?" Akifumi coaxed, sighing as he prepared for the difficult task of escorting this drunken assassin safely back to the apartment.
With Yor leaning heavily against him, Akifumi guided her toward the counter to settle the bill.
"That'll be 13,000 yen," the waitress said politely.
"Alright, just a moment." Akifumi pulled out his wallet and took out two crisp Yukichi bills.
"Thank you. I've received 20,000 yen," the waitress confirmed as she pressed the buttons on the register. "Here's your change7,000 yen."
"Thanks," Akifumi replied, slipping the change back into his wallet. "Um... could you call a taxi for us, please?"
"Of course! Um... if I may ask... are you Akifumi Mugiho? The author of the Clannad?" the waitress asked, her eyes glancing curiously at Yor, who clung drunkenly to his side.
"Yes," Akifumi answered simply.
The moment he replied, the waitress's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Akifumi-sensei! I'm a huge fan!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. "I've read all your novels and manga! I can't believe I get to meet you in personit's such a pleasure!"
"Ah... thank you for your support," Akifumi replied politely, trying to keep his composure as she eagerly shook his hand.
"Um... is this the girlfriend you mentioned in your last interview, Akifumi-sensei?" she asked, glancing meaningfully at Yor hanging off him.
"No, no... she's not my girlfriend," he replied quickly.
"Eh...?" The waitress tilted her head, visibly confused.
Her eyes shifted between Akifumi's youthful, handsome face and Yor's delicate, flushed featuresher cheeks glowing red from too much sake.
Suspicion flickered in the waitress's gaze.
Akifumi immediately caught the wary look in her eyes and sighed inwardly.
Great... she's imagining something weird, isn't she?
"Um, Miss, it's not what you think" he began, trying to explain, but before he could finish, Yor stirred on his shoulder.
"Mugi-hic-sama... d-don't leave me... Mahiru-san... Eriri-san... Mashiro-chan..." Yor mumbled softly, her voice thick with drink.
She tightened her grip around his neck, pulling herself closer as she whispered drunkenly, "I'll be a good girl... d-don't leave me, Master..."
"Master!?" the waitress gasped, her mind spiraling into dangerous territory.
All the forbidden, steamy master-servant manga she'd secretly read flashed vividly in her mind. And hearing the string of other girls' names slip from Yor's lips only fueled her imagination further.
With that thought the waitress face turning bright red.
"N-no miss! It's not like that at all!" Akifumi stammered in panic.
"I-It's fine! Akifumi-sensei! Love have a lot of shape! W-wait just a minute, I'll call a taxi right away!" the waitress squeaked, blushing fiercely as she hurried away like her life depended on it.
Akifumi sighed in quiet defeat, feeling the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders.
Hahh... guess I won't be coming back to this place anytime soon...
[256] A New Neighbor?
After what felt like an eternity, Akifumi finally arrived at their apartment building.
Thankfully, not many people were coming home from work yetotherwise, he was certain some strange rumors would start spreading.
'Ding.'
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
Still carrying Yor in a princess carry, the same way he had brought her from the taxiAkifumi carefully stepped out.
He had tried giving her a piggyback ride earlier, but that had nearly ended with Yor accidentally choking him half to death.
He sighed as he made his way toward Yor's apartment, which was on the left side of his own.
Just as he passed his own door, he noticed something unusual in front of the apartment on the rightflattened cardboard boxes from a moving company were stacked neatly by the door.
'If I remember correctly hasn't that place been empty for over a year?'
'Is there a new tenant?' Akifumi wondered in surprise.
The usual tenants in this building were either students or foreign tourists.
In a country like Japan especially Tokyo where efficiency was king, most young working adults in Tokyo didn't even bother renting full apartments unless absolutely necessary.
With the sky-high rent in the city, many people would rather stay in internet cafs, capsule hotels, or share house to save money for their futures.
'Well I hope they're a friendly neighbor,' he thought. 'But knowing my family, I'd better check with my parents first in case this turns out to be another 'Yor situation'...'
If this was yet another "bodyguard" his parents had secretly sent, he needed to prepare his heart for it now that he knows about Alan a little.
Standing in front of Yor's apartment door, Akifumi gently shook the sleeping woman in his arms.
"Yor-san, we're here. Can you tell me your PIN?" he asked softly.
Yor's eyelids fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, rubbing them clumsily with the back of her hand.
"Eh? PIN?" she mumbled, her voice gentle but still dazed.
The lingering effects of too much alcohol were obviousbut to Akifumi, she seemed at least a little more sober now. Or so he thought.
"Wha' are you shayin', *hic* Mugi-sama? You open m-mister door by turning the handle~!" she slurred, grinning like a fool.
"You don' need any magic PIN to open a door, hic, tha's so silly," Yor said, giggling as she swayed in his arms with a goofy smile.
'Never mind. She's still totally drunk,' Akifumi sighed inwardly.
"Looook~! Like this, Mugiho-sama!" Yor chirped proudly, reaching for the door handle.
"Wait, Yo!"
Before Akifumi could finish, Yor gave the sleek black handle a sharp yank and promptly tore it clean off the door.
"Eh? hic Mister door handle is...?" Yor blinked in confusion as she stared at the handle now sitting in her hands.
"I broke mister door handle" she mumbled.
"Wh-wh-wh-what should I do, Mugiho-sama!?" she cried, her voice rising in panic.
Like a child who just shattered her favorite toy, she grabbed onto Akifumi's shoulders and shook him violently.
"I broke someone's hand again~!!"
'Why does she act like a little kid when she's drunk?! Don't tell me that sake was actually poisoned or something' Akifumi groaned silently.
"Yor-san, please calm down! It's the middle of the nightyou're going to wake our neighbors!" he urged in a low voice.
"I killed mister door, hic, Mugi-sama! I killed it!!" she wailed dramatically.
"As I thought I'm just a good-for-nuthin' woman anyway I should just quit life!"
"GODDAMN" Yor whimpered as she tightened her iron grip on his shoulders.
"Yor-san! My shoulders! My shoulders! You're going to break my shoulders!!" Akifumi gasped, wincing as her crushing strength bore down on him.
Seeing that reasoning with her was impossible, Akifumi let out a quiet sigh.
"Yor, Yor, it's okay. Calm down, alright?" he said gently, rocking her body up and down in his arms like he was soothing a child. "It's fine. We can call someone to fix Mister Door, okay?"
He forced a smile, trying his best to ignore the dull pain growing in his shoulders.
"Sniff... sniff... r-really?" Yor whimpered, her teary eyes staring up at him like a lost puppy.
"Yes," Akifumi nodded quickly. "I'll call someone to fix it in the morning, okay? So please... stop crying, alright?"
