Exchanging Birthdays

Akasaka carried the already half-asleep Asuna through the streets at night.

Drool trickled from the corner of Asuna's mouth and dripped onto Akasaka's shoulder.

Akasaka looked disgusted and wanted to throw Asuna onto the ground, but after thinking it over, he decided against it. He obediently carried her home...

Now that all three of them had money, each of them stayed in a separate inn room...

Early the next morning.

Asuna groggily threw back the covers, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

"Did I get drunk last night?"

Asuna rubbed her slightly swollen forehead.

Just then, a familiar voice came from inside the room.

"Oh, you're awake. I just brought back some hangover soup and millet porridge. Want to eat a little first to settle your stomach?"

Carrying a tray, Akasaka came to Asuna's bedside and sat down. He placed the tray on the nightstand, picked up a bowl of millet porridge and a spoon, and prepared to feed her.

Asuna took the bowl and spoon with both hands, thanked him, and said she could eat by herself without being fed.

Asuna kept blowing on the millet porridge in her spoon to cool it down, then slowly began eating, chewing carefully.

Only after drinking another bowl of hangover soup did she feel somewhat better.

Asuna asked Akasaka whether anything had happened last night—such as whether she had done anything embarrassing.

Asuna said she had no memory of last night at all, afraid that she might have done something shameful and unseemly.

Akasaka stroked his chin, tilted his head up, crossed his arms, and turned his back to Asuna, pretending to think. Then, with a straight face, he began spouting nonsense.

"Last night, you got completely wasted. Then you squatted by the roadside, started unfastening your belt, and was about to relieve yourself