Akiyama Shin stared at Tachibana Akane's dazed expression. In those eyes, usually covered in frost, a rare, almost imperceptible softness flickered. The force in the hand gripping her face gradually eased, and his fingertips slid across her delicate cheek.
The pad of his thumb brushed over her warm skin, wiping away the tear that had lingered beneath her lashes without falling.
"Go back."
The sharpness in his voice had faded. It was once again as indifferent as usual, without the slightest hint of emotion.
At his words, Tachibana Akane nodded unconsciously, like a puppet whose switch had been flipped.
Even she thought it was absurd. Akiyama Shin's final words had been so arrogant they were almost embarrassingly dramatic, yet paired with his cold, utterly confident eyes and unquestionable tone, they somehow carried an irresistible authority and persuasiveness.
She'd instantly forgotten how to argue. She couldn't even summon the slightest impulse to resist.
"Mm..."
She answered softly, but her body remained frozen in the chair. The conversation replayed over and over in her mind, her thoughts tangled like a knot of thread.
Akiyama Shin didn't rush her. He simply stood there, quietly watching.
Just then, the Terminal on the edge of the bed began vibrating urgently, breaking the silence in the room.
Akiyama Shin walked over and picked it up. As his finger swiped across the screen to unlock it, a message from Kushida Kikyo appeared, its accompanying emoticon radiating excitement.
[Little Kikyo]: Shin-kun~ Are you asleep? I... can I come down and see you? (.-ω-)zzz
Looking at the message, Akiyama Shin curved his lips helplessly, a faint trace of amusement flickering in his eyes.
When he'd opened the door earlier, he'd thought it was her, only for the unexpected Tachibana Akane to show up instead. Now the person he'd expected