Actually, it wasn't midnight—or morning.
It was noon.
At twelve noon, Shizuma Mafuyu's home was still dark and chaotic.
Empty beer bottles and cans were scattered everywhere. Black-and-white office-lady clothes and ties hung haphazardly over the edges of the sofa and coffee table.
On the tatami-covered living room floor, Nanjō Emi, awakened by the phone alarm that tugged at her heartstrings, rubbed her eyes, flipped the phone facedown, and moved away the plump, snow-white leg resting over her head.
She sat up and saw Shizuma Mafuyu, disheveled and sleeping in a spread-eagle position, occupying nearly half the living room.
"Shizuma, this woman... She always looks so quiet, but does she really sleep this wildly?"
Yawning, Nanjō Emi pulled the purple camisole strap that had slipped down to her arm back onto her shoulder. Then she heard some indistinct sleep-muttering from nearby.
"Nanjō-sama... I can't drink anymore. I really can't."
Then came—
"Open another one! You're already down? Sister Nanjō, your alcohol tolerance isn't much either!"
Nanjō Emi burst out laughing.
She still remembered the ridiculous way Shizuma Mafuyu had staggered around in circles while saying that last night.
That was the nice thing about dreams: they could effortlessly turn past failures around. Even someone with neither talent, effort, nor connections could become an undefeated champion.
Nanjō Emi brought the phone screen close and stared at the date and numbers for a while. "The appointment is today..."
"Little Wet, go wake Shizuma up, then bring her to the bathroom for a wash. I'll come over after I finish this."
As soon as she spoke, Wet Oni, who had guarded the doorway all night, slowly floated over. Nanjō Emi wrinkled her nose and asked in a rising tone,
"Little Wet, did you sneak a drink?"
Wet Oni immediately turned her head away.