The three of them stood close together under the streetlight. Hope was still in Andrey’s arms after almost falling, her face flushed and her blue eyes slightly unfocused.

Before Andrey could answer Hope’s suggestion about stopping at a hotel, Lisa who was still leaning against his other side spoke up in a soft, drunken voice.

"Hotel is also good..." Lisa mumbled, her words slow and a little slurred. "We can rest comfortably... and it’s already very late at night..."

She looked up at Andrey with hazy eyes, her usual gentle expression now mixed with a touch of childish stubbornness.

Hope, still being held by Andrey, nodded in agreement. She looked up at him from up close, her cheeks red and her lips slightly pursed.

"Andrey... you drove so much today too, right? You must be tired..." she said softly. "Let’s stop by a hotel first... just for a bit..."

Andrey felt his heart skip.

’Shit... this is dangerous.’

His mind was clear despite the alcohol he had drunk. He could feel Lisa’s body pressed against one side and Hope’s warmth against the other. Both of them were drunk, vulnerable, and looking at him with hazy, trusting eyes.

’If I accept this... something might happen that I’ll regret later. I don’t want to take advantage of them while they’re like this.’

He took a quiet breath and gently steadied both girls before slowly letting go of Hope.

"...It’s better if we just go back to the apartment," Andrey said calmly, though his voice was a little firm. "Hope, you can stay over tonight. It’s safer that way."

Hope’s expression immediately changed. She puffed up her cheeks and looked at him with an exaggerated pout, her blue eyes narrowing in a cute, childish way.

"I don’t want to..." she said, shaking her head. "I want to go to the hotel..."

Andrey sighed and gently took her hand, trying to guide her toward the van.

"You’re drunk, Hope. Come on, let’s go to the van first."

"No no no~" Hope pulled her hand back slightly, still pouting. "I want to go to the hotel! Andrey is being mean..."

’...Is she a child?’ Andrey thought, feeling a headache forming.

Before he could say anything else, Lisa tugged on his sleeve from the other side. She looked up at him with a soft, almost pleading expression, her voice sweet and a little whiny.

"Andrey..." she said cutely, "let’s go to the hotel... please?"

Both girls were now looking at him with drunk, insistent eyes—one pouting cutely, the other being gentle but stubborn. The night air felt strangely heavy around them.

Andrey stood there between the two drunk girls, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

This was going to be much harder than dealing with any demon.

Andrey let out a long sigh. He could already feel the headache forming behind his eyes.

"...Fine," he finally said, giving up. "Alright. Let’s go to the hotel."

Hope’s expression instantly brightened. Her blue eyes sparkled despite being drunk, and a big, happy smile appeared on her face.

"Really?! Yay~!" she cheered, almost jumping in place.

Lisa also smiled softly, her cheeks still flushed as she leaned closer to him. "Thank you, Andrey..."

Andrey shook his head slightly, already regretting his decision.

’I hope I can hold myself back...’

He carefully guided both girls toward the van. Hope was still a little unsteady, so he had to keep one arm around her waist to support her, while Lisa clung to his other arm. After making sure both of them were safely seated in the back, he closed the door and got into the driver’s seat.

The drive to the nearest hotel was quiet. Hope kept humming softly to herself in the back seat, while Lisa leaned her head against the window with a dreamy expression. Andrey gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to stay focused.

When they arrived, Andrey helped Hope and Lisa out of the van and walked them into the hotel lobby. Both girls were still clinging lightly to his arms as they approached the front desk.

Behind the counter stood a male receptionist in his mid-twenties. He looked up with a polite smile, ready to greet them but the moment he saw Andrey walking in with two beautiful women on each arm, his expression froze for a split second.

One had bright golden hair and a cheerful, flushed face. The other had a gentle, delicate appearance with slightly messy hair and a soft, drunken smile. Both were clearly intoxicated and leaning on the man between them.

The male receptionist’s eyes widened slightly.

’...No way. This guy is walking in with two gorgeous drunk girls? What kind of luck is this...?’

He quickly composed himself and put on a professional smile, though a hint of envy still lingered in his eyes as he processed the booking.

"Good evening, sir. How may I help you?"

"One room," Andrey replied calmly. "Two beds if possible."

The receptionist nodded and typed on the computer, occasionally glancing up at the three of them. His gaze lingered especially on Hope and Lisa, who were still lightly holding onto Andrey’s arms.

After handing over the key card, the receptionist watched them walk toward the elevator. Once they were out of sight, he let out a quiet sigh and muttered under his breath.

"...Some guys really live different lives."

Meanwhile, Andrey stood in front of the hotel room door with Hope and Lisa beside him. Hope was still humming softly to herself, while Lisa leaned her head lightly against his shoulder.

He took a quiet breath, swiped the key card, and opened the door.

The room was clean and spacious enough, with two single beds and a small sofa near the window. The lighting was warm and dim.

Andrey gently guided both girls inside.

The door clicked shut behind them as Andrey locked it.

"Alright... we’re here. You two can rest now."

Hope walked ahead with wobbly steps, her golden hair swaying slightly. Instead of throwing herself down immediately, she sat on the edge of one bed first, then slowly leaned back until she was lying down. She let out a long, content sigh and stretched her arms above her head, her cheeks still flushed from the alcohol.

"Mmm... finally lying down feels so nice~" she mumbled with a lazy smile, staring at the ceiling while lightly kicking her feet in the air.

Lisa, who had been standing close to Andrey, didn’t move right away. She stayed by his side for a few seconds, looking up at him with hazy, unfocused eyes. Then, without saying anything, she slowly walked toward him again. Her steps were unsteady, and when she reached him, she gently grabbed the front of his shirt with both hands.

Her body swayed a little as she stood in front of him, close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her. Lisa looked up, her usual gentle expression now softened and vulnerable from the alcohol.

"...Andrey," she said softly, her voice carrying a drunk, almost pleading tone. "Can I... stay close to you tonight?"

Andrey felt his throat tighten.

Lisa wasn’t usually this forward. The alcohol had clearly lowered her usual gentle and reserved walls. She was looking up at him with those unfocused eyes, her body leaning slightly forward so that her chest lightly pressed against his.

Hope, who was still lying on the bed, turned her head to look at them. A mischievous little smile appeared on her flushed face.

"Lisa is being so bold tonight..." she said with a small giggle. "Usually she’s so shy~"

Andrey let out a quiet sigh and gently placed his hands on Lisa’s shoulders, trying to create some distance between them without pushing her away too hard.

"Lisa," he said calmly, "you’re drunk. You should lie down and rest."

But Lisa didn’t let go of his shirt. Instead, she leaned in even closer, resting her forehead against his chest.

"I know I’m drunk..." she mumbled. "But right now... I just want to be close to you. Is that... bad?"

Andrey’s mind was racing.

He could feel the warmth of her body, smell the faint scent of her shampoo mixed with the alcohol on her breath, and hear the soft, vulnerable tone in her voice. On the bed behind them, Hope was watching with a lazy, amused smile, clearly enjoying the scene even in her drunken state.

This situation was dangerous.

Andrey closed his eyes for a brief moment and took a deep breath.

’Stay calm. They’re both drunk. I can’t let anything happen tonight.’

He gently pried Lisa’s hands off his shirt and guided her back toward the bed.

"Both of you need to sleep," he said, his voice steady but firm. "I’ll sleep on the sofa. You two take the beds."

Hope let out a small whine from where she was lying.

"Ehh? But the sofa looks uncomfortable... You can sleep here with us~ There’s enough space if we squeeze a little."

Lisa, who had been guided back to sit on the bed, looked up at him again with those same hazy, pleading eyes.

"...Andrey, stay close," she said quietly. "Please?"

Andrey stood there between the two beds, looking at the two drunk girls who were both looking back at him with different but equally dangerous expressions.

He ran a hand through his hair and let out another long sigh.

’Please.... let me stay sane tonight.’