Uh...
Seated at Yuriko's desk, Chiba gently rubbed his arm twice to ease the lingering pain in it. His face was plainly awkward.
"I'm telling you, Sister Yuriko, I really am myself..."
At this moment, Yuriko stood before him with her eyes wide, still looking at him with utter disbelief.
Ever since she had confirmed that he was indeed Taki Chiba and let him into the office, she had said nothing, simply staring at Chiba like this.
Honestly, Chiba did not know how to react. Being silently stared at with such wide eyes, even someone who had faced plenty of dangerous situations found himself sweating all over under her gaze.
The look in her eyes, as if she were looking at some rare creature, made his skin crawl.
That's wonderful... it really is Chiba...
Beside him, Yukina sat quietly, her face and hands covered in medicinal ointment. As she listened to Chiba, an irrepressible smile curved her lips.
"Ah!"
But upon hearing Chiba's words, Yuriko suddenly seemed to recall something. She abruptly straightened up, the slight disbelief and growing sense of wonder on her face instantly transforming into the expression of someone who had remembered something important. She let out an involuntary cry of realization.
"Chiba, you came to pick up Yukina, right?"
Then, after that cry, Yuriko suddenly asked Chiba.
"Uh... yeah!"
Taken aback by Yuriko's huge reaction, Chiba answered instinctively.
"Good. Then Yukina is in your care. I have something urgent to deal with, so I'll be leaving first."
After receiving Chiba's affirmative reply, Yuriko immediately turned around. Tossing out those words, she rushed out in a whirlwind.
Uh...
Chiba was left standing there in a daze again.
What was going on?
What urgent matter was there?
Watching Yuriko's hurried figure vanish behind the door with a bang