The cavern’s entrance crumbles the moment the curse beast lunges. You leap back, but your foot slips on wet stone. Noritoshi reaches out to catch you—too slow, too off-balance—and the two of you tumble together through the narrow opening, rolling down a slope of moss and dust.

You land first, breath knocked out of you, and he lands right on top of you—chest pressed to chest, one hand braced beside your head, the other still gripping your sleeve as if he almost saved you.

Noritoshi goes completely still. His ears flush red before the rest of him does.

“…I had that under control.” He mutters stiffly, refusing to meet your eyes.

A beat of silence. His weight is still on you. He realizes it a second too late.

He clears his throat, the sound echoing sharply in the cavern.

“…This never happened.”