Shangri La Pt. 1

76: Tipsy

"T-Then..." 

"Hm?"

"W-Would it be alright if I took him from your hands and allowed him to sleep at my place for the night?"

Gin batted his eye at the greenette, as he didn't think it would be this easy for him, as he actually thought he would have to spell it out. Apparently not. 

"Ah– Are you sure you wanna take him with you to... your place?" Gin questioned, just to make sure the greenette was up for it. 

"Mn. Not to worry, I do not live far from here and take him off your shoulders." Izumi answered. And though Gin knew she'd answer like this, he was still gonna act like a gentleman to her. 

"Ah– Got it, then show the way, I'll carry my friend until we get there." 

"Mn. Right this way." 

So Izumi turned back to the direction where her shed was located and took the lead. 

'I didn't think Katsuki would still be in the palace, but maybe he just returned from going out in the city with his friends and just got back with the Vice Captain. Maybe I shouldn't worry about how he ended up getting drunk.' Izumi thought.

"Ah– So this... is where you live?" Gin politely asked as he'd never gone to the greenette's shed before. 

"Yes, as to tell you the truth, I am actually Izumi, and I serve the Great Pisces." Izumi whispered. And the second she introduced herself, Katsuki flinched as he heard her name and bobbed his head upwards. 

"Izu– mmmh..." he muttered. 

"Ah– Oh–" 

"Don't worry about him, he's been a little worried about you recently." Gin noted, catching her attention. 

"Hm? Worried about me?" 

"Yeah, but you didn't hear it from me. Anyway, let's get him inside before someone sees us." 

"O-Oh yes, b-but why don't I just take him and you can go back to the festivities." Izumi offered as she tried to take Katsuki's hand. 

"Hm? You sure? He's nothing but deadweight when he's drunk." 

"It's alright, i-it's not the first time I've carried a man with deadweight... I-I can handle it!" Izumi stuttered as she realized what she said and tried to hurry to carry the disguised Captain into the shed. 

"T-Thank you for the help." 

"Nah, I should be saying thanks for being generous with your help. Anyway, there's somewhere I need to be, so excuse me." 

"Mn."

As she carried the drunk Captain into the shed, Izumi tried to kneel down and carefully set him down on the floor as he'd already passed out. 

'I can't believe I said I would help Katsuki and bring him here when he's drunk and passed out. Well, at least he's passed out, so that means I won't have to worry about him looking at me while I change out of these clothes. Goodbye Jade Goddess.' she thought as she started to undo the first set of outer robes. 

And the second she undid the last belt holding her robes together, Izumi let out a deep sigh as if it felt like she had to hold in her tiny stomach for how tight everything felt on her. 

'Phew~ Thank goodness I won't have to dress like this anymore, acting like a consort isn't fun.' she thought. 

And right as she started to undo all the hair ornaments in her hair, she was least expecting something to wrap around her waist and something warm to rest on her back.