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The village of Konoha was bathed in the warm, golden glow of countless lanterns strung up from the branches of the trees for the annual festival. The once quiet streets came alive with music and laughter, transforming into a vibrant celebration of the festival. Boruto, Sarada, and Himawari decided to wander into a part of the village they rarely visited, lured by the captivating sounds and sights. They had just come from a long week of mission, and the promise of relaxation was too tempting to resist.
As they walk, vendors call out to passersby, offering everything from freshly grilled yakitori to sweet dango. Performers entertain the crowds with traditional dances and acrobatics, their colorful costumes shimmering under the lantern light, adding to the enchantment of the night. Their eyes darted from side to side, and everywhere they looked, there was something to admire at.
Stumbling upon one dine-in sake shop nestled between tall buildings. Boruto had suggested they grab a quick drink before heading home, and the girls, tired and in need of unwinding, eagerly agreed.
The interior was warm and inviting, with a low murmur of conversation and clinking glasses from the other customers. The staff, a muscular man with a friendly smile, greeted them with a nod, recognizing the group.
They found a table in the corner, the red vinyl seats sticking slightly to their clothes as they slid in. Boruto ordered a round of drinks, his eyes scanning the menu for something alcoholic. Sarada's eyes lit up at the sight of the drink she chose, already imagining the sweet taste on her tongue.
Sarada and Himawari ordered sake, while Boruto chose to drink beer.
After some time, their drinks arrived in a tray along with a platter of assorted snacks. The server settled the small ceramic cups down, a bottle of sake, and a big, tall glass of beer, its bubbles racing to the surface and popping with a satisfying sound. Settling the dray down on the table with a loud thud, the server winked at them, making Himawari's cheeks grow bright at the attention. Boruto couldn't help but furrowed his brow slightly.
The three of them raised their drink in a toast. "To a night of fun and relaxation," Sarada said with a smile, clinking her cup against theirs.
Sarada and Himawari took their first sips, and Boruto followed. The beer was cold and refreshing as it slipped down his throat, and the fizz tickled his nose. As he sipped his drink, Boruto couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the two girls eagerly tasting their first sips of sake. Their reactions were priceless; Sarada's eyes widened with delight while Himawari's nose scrunched up in surprise.
"I can see why people enjoy this so much!!" Himawari exclaimed, her fluffy cheeks turning bright red already, considering this was her first time drinking alcohol.
As the night wore on, the alcohol began to take effect. After three bottles of sake, Sarada and Himawari were both super drunk. Their cheeks grew rosier, their words slightly, their giggles grew louder with each passing moment, and their balance had shifted from graceful to precarious.
Boruto pulled out his wristwatch to check the time, noticing it was already late. "We should get going," he said, standing up with a bit of difficulty. The floor seemed to wobble under his feet. He's tipsy, but compared to the two, his condition is better.
Sarada and Himawari looked at him with glazed eyes, still giggling over a joke that had long lost its humor.
"W-What do you... say, Boruto?" Sarada stuttered between hiccups and held up the shot glass filled with a shimmering white liquid.
Boruto rolled his eyes before meeting hers, his own vision slightly blurred by the alcohol. "We really need to go," he said firmly, placing a hand over her shaking one to keep the sake from spilling. "It's already late."
"Come on, Boruto," Himawari slurred, her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink. "Just one more?"
Boruto sighed, his head spinning slightly from the beer. He looked at her, then at Sarada, whose both eyes had glazed over and were swaying slightly in their seat. With a sigh, he replied firmly, "No. We really need to go."
"But why not?" Himawari whined, her speech incoherent.
He leaned over and gently took the shot glass from her hand, setting it down. She pouted, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment before she leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder.
Boruto felt his patience wearing thin as he groaned inwardly. "Because if Mother and Uncle Sasuke see you two like this, they'll have my head," he whispered.
Himawari's eyes went wide at the mention of their mother and giggled nervously. "Condolence to you then," she whispered back and put her palms together as if she were praying. Sarada quickly followed, her laughter bubbling over.
Boruto sighed, completely done with the two. He gently tugged at their arms, trying to get them to stand up, but they were too tipsy to cooperate. Their giggles grew into full-blown laughter as they leaned into him, their legs giving way. Boruto couldn't shake a growing concern as he tried to steady them.
"Come on, you two. On your feet," he said, his voice mixed with convincing and pleading. With a sigh, he slid an arm around each of them, supporting their waists to prevent them from toppling over. "Guys, seriously," he said, taking a firm grip on their bodies. "We can't stay here all night."
"You know," Sarada slurred, her words slightly muddled, "you're hotter when you're serious," she complimented while her eyes squinting as she tried to focus on the floor.
Himawari giggled again, her arm tightening around Boruto's arm as she leaned over and drank the remaining sake from her cup.
"Himawari!" he yelled, pulling her. "Please cooperate, you two!" he pleaded, now almost crying.
With great effort, Boruto managed to get them both standing. They swayed and giggled, seemingly oblivious to his dilemma, which only made him more frustrated. The sake had hit them harder than he expected.
"Alright, let's go," Boruto muttered to himself, taking a deep breath. He bent down and scooped Himawari into a piggyback carry, her protests turning into laughter as she bounced on his back.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she leaned in, her breath carrying the faint scent of sake. "You're a good big brother, Onii-chan," she murmured softly before her eyes fluttered closed, soon followed by the gentle sound of her snoring.
"Uhm, thanks," he replied with a weary smile as he adjusted her weight.
The cool air from the air conditioner somewhat helped to clear Boruto's head a bit. He shifted his grip, making sure she was secure before turning to Sarada. She had already flopped onto the floor, her eyes half-closed and laughing uncontrollably.
"Sarada, come on," he said in despair, trying to keep his balance with Himawari on his back.
Her eyes snapped open at the call of her name, and she looked up at him with a silly, drunken smile. "N-No," she giggled, "you carry me, too, Boruto."
He sighed deeply. "Alright. Now, come on,"
"What's the magic word?" she teased playfully.
"Please," Boruto muttered. He carefully wrapped her arms around his neck, and with a grunt, he bent down and hoisted her up onto his front. Her legs instinctively looped around his waist, adding to the weight he was already carrying.
He groaned inwardly at the combined weight of Sarada and Himawari, feeling them both leaning heavily against him. He stumbles slightly, but Boruto manages to maintain his balance, adjusting his hold to ensure they are secure.
"Hold on tight," he murmured to them as his hands rested on Sarada's and Himawari's behind for support.
With Sarada clinging to his front and Himawari on his back, the trio stumbled out of the shop. The music and chatter of the festival outside grew louder, and the lights danced and swirled before their eyes, making his head spin more. The cool night air did little to sober them up.
"Boruto, I think we should take a shortcut through the alley," Sarada suggested, her voice giggly and her eyes half-lidded.
Boruto raised an eyebrow at her. "Why?" he asked curiously.
"It's romantic," she giggled, her cheeks flushing even darker. Then he heard Himawari's little "Yeahhh," as if agreeing.
Boruto rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile at her drunken reasoning. "Fine," he said, knowing that she'd probably pass out on the way home.
Despite his own condition, Boruto focused on keeping them balanced as they weaved through the narrow paths. The dimly lit alleyways twisted and turned, occasionally leading them past groups of festival-goers or stray vendors packing up for the night.
The girls' laughter grew louder with each step, echoing through the narrow streets of the festival. Boruto felt his face flush with the attention they were attracting, especially from the villagers who knew their families well.
Finally, they reached the apartment building where Boruto and Sarada had made their home. Boruto's shoulder relaxed as he sighed with relief. Himawari mumbled something in her sleep, her head resting against his back, while Sarada hummed a tune under her breath, her grip around his neck loosening slightly.
"Almost there," Boruto murmured quietly to himself more than to them.
He carefully climbed the steps to their apartment, each movement calculated to ensure they would not fall. At the apartment door, Boruto fumbled with the keys.
"Boruto," Sarada whispered into his ear, her breath hot and tickling his neck. "Why do we have locks?"
"Because, Sarada," he replied through gritted teeth, trying to remember which key was for which lock. His own drunkenness was making it difficult to focus. "We don't want strangers coming in," he continued, his voice strained as he tried to fit the key into the lock." After a brief moment, he finally managed to unlock the door with a quiet click, pushing it open slowly.
Boruto stepped inside the dark and quiet apartment, carefully carrying the now-sleeping pair, ensuring he didn't trip. With a soft grunt, he managed to kick the door shut with his foot.
"Home sweet home," he murmured in exhaustion.
Removing his outside shoes, Boruto carefully made his way to the bedroom. He gently laid the girls on the bed, their bodies limp as they continued to sleep. He then removed their jackets and dirty shoes before tucking them in with the blankets. Their cheeks were still flushed from the alcohol, and their breathing was deep and even. Himawari turned to the side and embraced Sarada, her mouth slightly open. Boruto couldn't help but smile at the sight of them.
"You two owe me big time," he whispered with a tired smile, brushing a stray lock of hair from Sarada's face before quietly exiting the room.
Closing the door behind him, he walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water, taking a long drink to relieve the dryness in his mouth. With a sigh, Boruto removed his own jacket and slumped onto the sofa in the living room, the cushions enveloping him with welcoming comfort. The apartment was quiet except for the occasional snore from Himawari and the soft murmur of Sarada's sleep-talk. He glanced at the clock; it was well past midnight.
Taking another sip of water, Boruto leaned back against the cushions, closing his eyes for just a moment to rest. And without realizing it, he drifted off into a peaceful sleep. The sound of the clock was the last thing he heard before the darkness took over.