"Um, Lord En, don’t you need my help? Carrying one in each arm like that must be exhausting! Shouldn’t I help you?"

Kurokawa Saro stepped forward without waiting for an answer. She flexed her arms dramatically—a gesture that usually looked tough, but on her, it was oddly cute. Then she marched straight to Shimatani Chiyo, the tallest girl in the row, bent down, and hoisted the towering girl onto her shoulders.

"See? I’m… super… strong! This is… nothing… for me, yaaay~!"

But before her words faded, Saro stumbled after just two steps. Her balance gave way with a shudder—and down she went, dragging Chiyo toward the carpeted floor.

*Three seconds of coolness, shattered instantly. Seriously? Picking the hardest challenge first? If you wanted to show off, why not start with tiny Uehara Eri?*

My feet moved before my thoughts caught up. "Careful!" I yelled.

The carpet would cushion the fall, but gentlemanly duty kicked in. I lunged to shield her—

Only to get slammed flat onto the rug by Saro’s momentum.

Now I lay sprawled: Chiyo draped sideways across my waist, Saro pinned on top of me, her lips brushing my cheek.

Saro froze. Three seconds ticked by before she jolted awake, face flushing crimson as she scrambled off me.

"I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!" Her apologies tumbled out while she frantically tried to escape my proximity.

"You okay? The carpet’s soft—I’m fine. Just glad you’re alright."

*Jackpot. A free kiss from a cute girl. Must. Stay. Calm. Don’t grin. Pretend nothing happened.*

Chiyo still hadn’t stirred. *Man, she’s out cold.*

Saro finally stood, wobbling slightly like a nation reborn. She kept her eyes glued to her toes, cheeks burning.

I gently shifted Chiyo onto the carpet and rose slowly. "Really, I’m fine. Thick carpet—no injuries. Don’t worry."

Her gaze stayed stubbornly downward. *Embarrassed. Need to break the tension.*

"It’s getting late. I’ll carry them to the car first. Could you watch the others? Thanks, Miss Saro."

"You can… just call me Saro," she murmured, head still bowed, voice barely above a whisper. I barely caught it.

"Right then, Saro—I’ll head out!" *Better vanish before this awkwardness curdles.*

I scanned the eight girls. *Definitely not Chiyo first—she’ll drag on the floor. And no way am I carrying that demon Tsurumi Misato early.*

My eyes landed on the nearest pair: petite Uehara Eri and Takagi Megumi. *Perfect.*

I lifted them both—and nearly blinked in surprise. No strain. No weight. Like carrying pillows. I shifted them on my shoulders, testing my balance. *Featherlight? Or am I secretly a superhero?*

Then I felt Takagi’s soft curves pressing against my back. *Okay, she’s got substance. But Eri? Flat as a board. No wonder she’s light.*

As I took practice steps, a stare prickled my neck. Saro.

Her eyes widened like I’d grown a second head.

"I work out daily. This? Child’s play." I forced nonchalance. "Just… normal guy stuff."

She still looked skeptical. I puffed my chest. "I’m one of those ‘skinny but shredded’ types. Eight-pack abs, legit!"

*Smooth. I’d give that lie 82/100. The extra 18? Pure confidence. She’ll never check anyway. Hah!*

But Saro’s gaze sharpened—hungry, almost predatory. My spine tingled.

"Really?!" she breathed. "I’ve never seen real eight-pack abs! Only in games! Show me! Show me!"

*Wait—what?!*

*Coach! This wasn’t in the script!*

*Director! She’s improvising! Get a new actress!*

"Y-you really want to see? It’s… inappropriate. Men and women shouldn’t—"

*I’ll appeal to her decency. Awaken her inner angel. So noble of me—*

"You weren’t shy when *my* lips touched *your* face," she muttered, then challenged, "Unless you’re lying? No abs at all?"

*Questioning my manhood?! Unforgivable! …But retreat first.*

"I’m sparing you trauma. Seeing this," I gestured vaguely at my torso, "is like staring into menthol rub. Your eyes will burn. It’s late—I should go."

I turned to leave with the girls—but froze. Saro’s stare had shifted. *Daring me.*

*She’s really serious.*

"Fine! Fine! I warned you. Don’t blame me when you’re blinded by glory."

I sucked in my gut, closed my eyes, set Eri and Megumi down, and grabbed the hem of my shirt.