An hour later, the morning sun was fully up, filtering through the heavy blinds of Satomi's living room. Rina was asleep in the guest bedroom, wrapped in blankets and slowly regenerating from Akira's essence. Meanwhile, Ayaka was in the kitchen brewing a pot of strong coffee.
In the center of the living room, Ayame was tied securely to a heavy wooden chair.
Akira sat on the sofa directly across from her, watching her breathe.
Ayame groaned, her head rolling to the side. Her eyes fluttered open, blinking against the harsh light. She pulled against her restraints automatically, the thick nylon ropes biting into her wrists.
"Where..." Ayame muttered, her vision focusing on Akira. "Kanzaki?"
"Morning, Shinomiya," Akira said calmly, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
Ayame looked wildly around the room. She saw the furniture, the stacks of graded papers on the table, and then she saw Satomi walking out of the hallway.
