Asahi Shimbun 朝日新聞 ⋮ Nanami Kento

Chapter 19

The heaviness of a headache wraps around your temples. One that rips through the forehead. The kind of headache that's accompanied by explosive pain anytime you lean over. Or the type that has increasing pressure with each step you take. It wakes you. At once, you're struck with a familiar incoherence. Your thoughts are inconsistent.

Well, this feels different. You reach out, expecting the coolness of your sheets. There's nothing but emptiness. Maybe you're at the edge of the bed. Your hand waves messily through the air to feel for something—anything. There's nothing. You groan. You don't recall falling asleep on your stomach. It's hard to open the eyes. You manage a sliver. The room is too dark to make anything out. You shut them again and your consciousness begins to ebb away. Guess you're still drunk.

For a moment, you were fine with going back to sleep this way. But the extended period in this position left you rather stiff and your back sore. Something you'll likely regret tomorrow if you don't adjust. There's a sticky heat that presses against your skin. So, you use a hand to push yourself up. Your face literally peels off like adhesive. Slowly. What is that?

Your fumbling body rolls off of Nanami and the couch. Something you had yet to realize. Your body hits the floor. It makes you mumble some colorful words. It takes you a minute. You manage to sit up. The heels of your hands go to rub the sleep off your eyes. But it doesn't work. Because it's intoxication.

There's a chill down your spine from the sting of the cool air. The moisture along your skin evaporates. It's unusually cold. Your eyes sift through the area. Empty glasses. Empty bottle. Wine rack. Couch. Nanami. Counter stools. Three to be exact. Kitchen. Wait. Your gaze floats back to the couch.

He has an arm dangling off the edge and his other crossed over his eyes. His upper body is bare. His pants unzipped. It also looked like it had been yanked down slightly. Nanami's chest rises and falls with each heavy sleeping breath he took.

You immediately look down at yourself and realize your breasts are out. It wasn't a damn dream. It wasn't a damn dream at all. Oh god, how will you face Nanami Kento at work? It didn't matter right now. The only thing that mattered is trying to figure a way out of here without waking the guy. The rest, you'll deal with later.

The time on your phone says 4:30 AM. The train station opens in half an hour. There's still enough time to go home, shower and get ready for the brutal day ahead. You quickly bring yourself to your feet. Flashlight! Flashlight! Come on! You hurry yourself until your thumb finally presses the correct button on the screen of your phone. Clothes go on. You button your shirt from bottom-up. You stumble and hit the edge of the coffee table. It hurts. Despite all this noise you were making, Nanami remains asleep. All the liquor from the previous night has turned him temporarily into a heavy sleeper. He'll likely stay down for the next couple of hours. It doesn't take you long to reach the front door. Footwear goes on (with some trouble). Phone light turns off. Then you're out the door.