"Her? Why is she here?"
With a flash of understanding and apprehension in his heart, Higashino Kanade did not head toward Orochimaru. Instead, he changed direction and arrived at the door of what appeared to be a bedroom.
The door was not closed, only half open. Higashino Kanade slowly pushed it open and, under the dim yellow light, saw a slender figure.
"Aozaki Touko..."
Higashino Kanade fixed his gaze on her, a long-lost look of nostalgia appearing on his face. Then he noticed the three red Command Spells on the back of her hand.
"So it really was you? If you're Orochimaru's Master, then everything makes sense."
Higashino Kanade relaxed slightly. Aozaki Touko looked at the tall figure in the doorway and smiled from the bottom of her heart.
"It's been four years, Higashino Kanade."
Aozaki Touko pointed to a small table beside the bed. On it sat an unopened bottle of red wine and two glasses, as though she had long expected Higashino Kanade to come.
"Would you like a drink?"
Higashino Kanade breathed out a hint of alcohol. He had already drunk more than enough tonight, and his dizzy head had yet to recover. If he drank any more, his body might not be able to take it.
"Then let's have one."
Higashino Kanade calmly pulled out a chair and sat down. He had always had a good relationship with Aozaki Touko. Not only had she been his teacher in magecraft, teaching him puppetcraft and basic magecraft, she had also been his secretary, keeping his schedule in perfect order during the years he was busy with his manga career.
After so many years apart, he ought to share a drink with her, both out of sentiment and propriety.
Aozaki Touko deftly opened the wine and poured a glass