The stairs were pitch-black, especially with two girls draped over my shoulders.

I had to prioritize their safety. Though pressed for time, I maintained a steady rhythm—quickening my pace but not quite running. Still, it felt like lightning in motion.

Our private room was on the third floor; the underground parking sat at B1. That meant four flights down, then back up—eight total per trip. Minimum four trips, maybe five. Thirty-two floors at least. Forty at most.

*God, just thinking about it was exhausting. Don’t dwell. The more you think, the heavier it gets. Headache incoming.*

Somehow, I crossed mountains and seas to reach the parking lot. Arriving, I didn’t even pant. No backache. Felt like I’d chugged a Blue Bottle of Calcium—zero fatigue. Weird.

The lot was dark, only a few dim bulbs casting faint light, softening the shadows.

*Perfect. No one could tell whether I was carrying people or packages. Twisted reality? Nice.*

But finding the car? Naive. Even with the license plate, hunting through this sea of vehicles would take a monkey year and horse month.

*Yet fortune favors the stubborn.* Just as frustration peaked, my fingers brushed my pocket. *The keys.* I’d forgotten the most obvious thing: pressing the fob would make the car *beep-beep* and flash its lights. *Not my fault. Blame the hour. Wait—blame who? Why’d I say that?*

Carefully sliding my hands from under their shoulders, I kept them steady. Their bodies trembled slightly. Pulling out the keys, relief washed over my face.

*Time for magic.*

I pressed the button.

*Beep-beep!*

Northeast of the stairwell exit—a flash of light, the answering chirp. *There.*

Hoisting them again, I reached Tsurumi Mirei’s car.

Seeing it, the day’s chaos crashed over me.

A quick glance: seven seats. Nine people total. No "nine-nine-return-to-one" magic to make anyone vanish.

I opened the rear door, settling the two girls inside. Then I studied the interior. *Ah.* The seats folded flat, expanding the space. *Perfect. Lie them down—more comfortable than sitting. Evolution of napping!*

After securing them, I locked the car. Then paused. *Sealed cars kill people. CO2 buildup.* The spot was secluded, tucked in a corner. I slipped back in, cracking the rear window a sliver for airflow.

*Progress bar: +10%. Next step.*

...

Up and down. Down and up. I ferried everyone to the car until only Tsurumi Mirei and Shimatani Chiyo remained in the room. During my trips, Kurokawa Sara sat quietly on the sofa, reading the same book I’d seen at the front desk earlier. Scholarly grace radiated from her—gentle yet untouchable.

On my fourth return, only the two difficult cases were left: one I hesitated to move too soon, the other simply hard to carry.

Kurokawa Sara set down her book. A spark lit her eyes as she bounced up.

“Only two left! Let me help—*I’ll* carry your teacher!”

Time was slipping away. Tsurumi Mirei was easier to move than Shimatani Chiyo. One last trip, and freedom. I nodded.

“Alright. Be careful.”

“Daijōbu! Moe da nai!”