Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 78 Stay with me a little longer...

Kiryu Yaya was pulled by her, and he lost his footing and almost fell on top of her.

He managed to steady himself by reaching out and bracing himself against the edge of the bed.

"Department head, you've had too much to drink."

"I wasn't drunk..."

Chihaya Yuri mumbled a reply, her eyes closed, but her hand still clutching his sleeve.

Kiryu Yaya glanced down at her, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

A person who is usually cold and aloof in the bank, and whose words are as sharp as a knife.

He was curled up in bed, his cheeks flushed, his breath carrying a faint smell of alcohol, and he was muttering things like "one more drink" and "I'm not drunk."

It's just too tempting.

He tried to pull his hand away.

No twitching.

"Section Chief, let go."

"Don't go..."

Her voice suddenly softened, as if she were speaking in a dream.

"Stay with me a little longer... just a little longer..."

Kiryu Yaya remained silent for a moment, then sat down on the edge of the bed.

It seems that Chief Chihaya is also a guy who lacks a sense of security deep down.

Never mind, I'll keep her company.

I'll leave after Chihaya Yuri falls into a deep sleep.

That was what Kiryu Yaya originally thought, but he had also drunk quite a bit tonight.

I helped her back home, and I didn't feel the cold wind, but now that I've sat down, the effects of the alcohol and drowsiness are kicking in all at once.

He leaned against the headboard, thinking he would just take a nap and leave as soon as she turned over.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I fell asleep.

……

[The world line has converged—you have chosen branch two]

Bank deposits increased by 3 yen.

Current bank account balance: ¥653,200

the next day.

Sunrise.

The strong light that leaked through the curtains fell on the bed sheets.

"...Kiriyu-kun?"

The sound was very close.

Kiryu Yaya frowned, a dull ache from his hangover radiating from his temples to the back of his head.

He tried to raise his hand to press it down, but found that he couldn't lift his right hand at all.

It looked like something was pressing down on it.

He slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing you see is a face so close to yours.

Chihaya Yuri had clearly just woken up; the alcohol still lingered on her face, and her eyes were damp with sleepiness.

She opened her eyes, first looking blank, then as if realizing something, her expression froze.

The two stared at each other for three seconds.

The room was so quiet that only the birdsong outside could be heard.

Then, her gaze slowly moved downwards.

She saw her current posture and also saw the hand still gripping his clothes.

Her ears turned red instantly.

"you--"

Good morning, senior.

Kiryu Yaya spoke first, his voice still a little hoarse from just waking up.

Chihaya Yuri opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in her haste, she lost her composure.

She tried to get up from him, but she moved too quickly, her knees brushed against the blanket, and she nearly fell off the bed.

Kiryu Yaya reached out and helped her up.

"Slower."

Chihaya Yuri steadied herself with his help, and this time she didn't say anything. She just froze for two seconds, then murmured:

"……Feel sorry."

"I drank too much last night."

Kiryu Yaya sat up, stretched his numb shoulders, looked down at his wrinkled shirt, and sighed.

"The senior's sleeping posture is still very handsome, but he kept holding me and wouldn't let me leave."

Chihaya Yuri's face grew even hotter.

"I'm not usually like this."

"I know."

"Your expression doesn't suggest you know."

"Then I'll try to be as convincing as possible."

"..."

Chihaya Yuri pursed her lips and didn't respond.

She looked down at herself.

The shirt buttons were neatly fastened, and the skirt hem wasn't messed up too much. Although the bed was a bit wrinkled, it looked like the only signs that two people had slept in their clothes all night.

She breathed a sigh of relief without making a sound.

Kiryu Yaya observed this and calmly added:

"Don't worry, senior, nothing happened."

Chihaya Yuri looked up at him, her ears still a little red.

"I did not mean that."

"Yes, I know."

"Your words still sound like you're laughing at me."

"I'm just stating the facts."

Chihaya Yuri looked at him for a while before whispering:

"Kiryu-kun, you can be really unlovable sometimes."

Kiryu Yaya smiled and did not refute.

The room was quiet for a while.

Chihaya Yuri gave a soft "Mmm".

After a while, as if remembering something, she looked up at the sky outside the window and said:

"Luckily, I don't need to go to the bank today."

Kiryu Yaya glanced at the time; it was already past ten o'clock. He nodded and said:

"Otherwise, we would have been much later."

Both of them were consciously changing the subject.

Otherwise, single male and female colleagues, who are also in a superior-subordinate relationship, might end up sleeping together in bed all night.

It would be awkward for anyone in that situation.

Kiryu Yaya touched his nose:

"Well... I'll head back now."

He said he was about to set off.

"Wait a moment."

Chihaya Yuri called out to him.

Kiryu, turn around.

Chihaya Yuri sat on the edge of the bed, seemingly unsure how to begin, and paused before speaking:

"This is your first time visiting my home, and you took good care of me last night."

As she spoke, the tips of her ears felt a little hot again, but she still finished speaking.

"No matter what, you should at least have lunch before you leave, right?"

Kiryu Yaya was taken aback for a moment.

"Have a meal?"

"Um."

Chihaya Yuri seemed to have finally found a reasonable enough reason, and her tone gradually returned to its usual calm.

"It's already this late; it would be very impolite to let our guests leave on an empty stomach."

After speaking, she stood up and simply tidied her hair.

"Why don't you wash up first? There's a spare toothbrush in the bathroom, in the cabinet under the sink."

Kiryu Yaya wanted to say "No need to trouble yourself," but seeing that she had already gotten up, he swallowed his words.

You can't refuse your boss's kindness, otherwise it will make you seem like a very inconsiderate subordinate.

"Then I'll take my leave."

"Um."

Chihaya Yuri responded and turned to leave the bedroom.

Kiryu Yaya sat on the edge of the bed and heard the sounds of the refrigerator being opened, pots being taken out, and plates being put down outside. He then straightened the blankets and tidied his shirt.

Kiryu Yaya straightened the blankets, raised his hand to press the back of his neck, which was still a little sore, before getting up and walking to the bathroom.

Chihaya Yuri's apartment, like herself, was always impeccably tidy.

Outside the bedroom is a narrow corridor, and on the left is an open-plan kitchenette with the faint sound of water coming from the stove.

The air was already filled with the aroma of bacon and melted butter, mixed with a hint of coffee bean bitterness, which was strangely comforting.

He walked to the bathroom door and turned the doorknob.

I had just pushed the door open halfway when I suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps behind me.

"Wait a moment--"

Before Kiryu Yaya could turn around, his wrist was grabbed by a slightly cool hand.

Chihaya Yuri practically sprinted over, her usual calm and composed demeanor completely gone, replaced by an unusual air of panic.

"Department Head?"

She didn't reply to him immediately, but instead peeked through the crack in the door he had opened.

The next second, her ears turned bright red.

"...Don't go in yet."

After saying that, she let go of his hand and squeezed past him almost sideways.

Kiryu Yaya stood at the door, his gaze unconsciously shifting half an inch away.

The bathroom is small, but the sink, mirror cabinet, bathtub, and dryer are all neatly arranged.

Sure enough, behind the door near the bathroom, hung a piece of underwear that had been forgotten to be put away yesterday.