Seeing Red [PMMM x LoR]

Ask Kazuko for help

Yuki's head tilts faintly, but she does not argue. Even though she told herself that she will help, her mind drifts off.

By what she sees and overhears, Oriko and Kirika will both be taken to the hospital for a checkup. They will stay there for the rest of the night, at least.

And the anger bubbles higher and higher in Yuki's gut.

"Kyubey," she says, almost spits. A trickle of acid runs down her lip, hissing at it comes in contact with the air.

But even though her voice is barely audible, the Incubator appears by her side, pink eyes eyes gleaming just like her red ones.

"You know who did this."

"I do."

"Tell me. And lead me to them."

"Very well. Follow me."

Yuki looks back one more time; Oriko is talking calmly to a paramedic, Kirika basically shadowing her. A crowd of gawkers formed by now as people vacate their homes, but she can not see their expressions. Just a faceless crowd, casting long shadows in the light of the blaze.

Then she turns away to follow Kyubey, who quickly leads her over the rooftops. Nobody spots them, all eyes on the spectacle below. They leave the district at a rapid pace, then descend into the back alleys a scant few minutes later.

Kyubey wordlessly points to a group of four rough-looking men. Their clothes are well-worn, threadbare in places, and all of them are unshaven. Yet they talk excitedly, one of them waving an envelope around.

No more explanations are needed.

Yuki clears her throat, immediately squashing their jubilant mood. The four jump and turn her way, but relax when she steps into the light of a half-smashed neon sign.

"'s just some kid," one guy says, heaving a sigh of relief. Then he addresses her: "What're you doing out here this late, kiddo? You should go back home."

Yuki ignores the question and the misunderstanding. She is half tempted to just draw her mallet, but leaves it be. For now.

"You four set fire to a house not long ago," she says. Accuses, really. "And by the way you just stiffened, I know I have the right people."

"Wha-, the hell you saying?!" another man pipes up angrily. "We didn't do nothing! Now scram!"

He makes some threatening motions, mostly just waving his arms around. Being the tallest and strongest-looking of the group, it may even have worked on an ordinary person.

"Why did you do it?" Yuki asks simply. "What did the people living there do to you?"

Her voice cracks halfway through her second question, giving away that this is personal. The men watch her warily, trying to communicate with looks and barely hidden gestures. But the one who called out to her first stands rooted in place. His gaze lowers to the ground, looking surprisingly ashamed.

"You gonna call the police?" he asks faintly.

"No. Now tell me."

That clearly surprises the group. The two who stayed quiet so far argue in hushed whispers; Yuki only catches something about her having no proof. She waits impatiently, one foot tapping onto the pavement.

After some arguing, the big man heaves a sigh and turns back to her. "Look, kid. Life's not easy for folks like us. We gotta do what we gotta do. It was nothing personal, some guy came and offered us a load of cash."

Something deep within Yuki resonates with that statement. Caring for strangers is useless, after all; everyone only looks after themselves and their own. And even without Sweepers to dispose of evidence every night, they likely will get off scot-free. So why not accept the windfall, lest someone else be bought for the job instead?

Yuki resists that fatalistic thought. Homeless or not, dire straits or not, they crossed a line.

"That's a weak justification for robbing an orphan girl of her home," she answers curtly. Her voice is cold as ice, making one of the men shiver.

"Bah, like you'd understand," one of the two quiet ones snaps back. "We're not spoiled for choice. And besides, that brat living there's Mikuni's spawn. We're probably doing the city a favour if we got her, too."

The other three turn to stare at him in shock. And then... they shrug, slowly nodding their agreement.

"Guess she had it coming," another murmured. "No good, the Mikunis."

And beyond that thin veneer of a justification, Yuki can see the greed in their eyes. Money beckoned, and so they threw away what morals they had.

Yuki sees red.

A digital clock above a boarded-up storefront flips to 3:13. Night in the Backstreets.

They barely have time to react when emerald chains break from the ground. Cold steel wraps around the four arsonists, their shouts of surprise muffled by another spell. They are tied up and forced to their knees, heads mere inches above the cold stone.

The tallest one fights the most, but even he is unable to break out. Once he slackens, he becomes aware of the feet right in front of him. Something like a white cat winds around slender legs, staring into the depths of his soul.

Looking up, he wishes he were literally anywhere else. Yuki's eyes glow red and her presence begins to weigh down on him. This is not a child or an ordinary woman, he understands that instinctually.

After staring down at him and his partners in crime for a minute, she takes a single step. Then she swipes up the envelope with their reward, silently counting the bills. Nobody dares interrupt her; in fact, two of them hope she will just take the money and leave them be. The cold chains biting into their flesh are like magic.

Once she is done counting, Yuki stuffs the money into her pocket. They will not need it where they are going.

"Who sent you to do this?" she asks, her voice deceptively soft.

"Dunno," their de-facto leader whispers, then squeaks in fright when her gaze focusses on him. "We really don't," he begged. "Please, they only ever send some guy to do business with us!"

The monster in human skin does not outwardly react. She looks down at her cat thoughtfully, though.

"I'm not in the mood for games, you knew exactly what I actually wanted. Once I'm done here, you will take me to the one behind this plot."

They hear no response, but they all see the cat nod. And then this spell circle they all saw coalesces, forming into a mallet. It could be a squeaky toy from looks alone, but something tells them this is anything but.

"W-Wait, please," the tall man begs. His name is Masayoshi, and he finally realised that he is about to die. "We didn't mean to hurt anyone. Please, call the cops, or anything, just...."

He trails off as Yuki stops before him, wordless sounds all that escapes his throat under her cold stare. Tears roll down his cheeks, and he keeps begging her for mercy with his eyes.

Yuki raises her mallet with both hands. He closes his eyes, just before she splatters his head over the pavement. Blood, bone, and grey matter fly every which way as his body falls slack in the chains.

The other three took to calling for help, but their voices fail to penetrate her magical barrier. No one will come.

What is a human, if not a miserable little pile of greed?

What is Yuki, if not judge, jury, and executioner?

Her expression never moves, her hand never wavers, as she snuffs them out one by one. A singular splatter of blood hits her cheek, the crimson rolling down her skin. She has more of it on her bare shins, and quite a lot on her shoes.

Kyubey skirts around the slowly pooling blood, taking in her actions without any response.

Once the deed is done, she douses the entire area in acid. There will be a visible mark from it dissolving the pavement, but she does not care. It may not be as spotless as the Sweepers' work, but she can take care of the evidence just fine. Yuki also makes sure to spray some acid on her legs to clean off the blood.

"Why did you do this?" Kyubey asks. There is no judgement in their voice, only curiousity.

"If a tree grows wrong, it must be pruned," Yuki answers blankly, flicking some leftover acid off her shoe. "The Japanese penal code lists the death penalty among possible punishments for arson of inhabited buildings. Not only did they deserve it, I merely carried out the local laws."

"You already destroyed all evidence, and there is nobody who will search for these individuals. The same is not true of the person who hired them."

"Lead me to them."

Kyubey stares at Yuki for the moment, but she is past caring. Her burning anger turned cold, leaving her in a tranquil state of mind.

Yuki does not care for repercussions. She wants retribution.

Her next target actually lives in the same neighbourhood as Oriko, and was indeed in the gawking crowd. Yuki is not surprised; in fact, she feels little of anything still.

She teleports into the house and disables the security equipment, which Kyubey helpfully points out when she asks. Then Yuki enters the master bedroom and takes a hold of her target; not the middle-aged man slumbering peacefully, but his wife. She does not even wake up when Yuki teleports away.

They arrive in front of the abandoned warehouse where Kirsten lived in her final hours. Yuki carries her catch inside, the woman only just waking up. But Yuki does not pay her confused and fearful questions any mind.

She asks no questions of her own, either.

She just brings down the hammer a fifth time this night.

"Incitement of a crime is not punished with death under Japanese law," Kyubey notes while Yuki bathes the remains in acid again.

"I don't care."

"Why did you bother justifying your actions in that way before? I see the logic in cutting off the instigator as well, but not the need to refer to local law."

Yuki has no answer to that. Her anger slowly simmers away, leaving her drained. The law is the law, even if she disagrees with some of it. But in the end, when her friends are concerned, Yuki knows no laws.

It was always this way. And her ignoring due conduct and law as penned by her own hand was what led her home world to fall.

But she can not help it.

In lieu of an answer, Yuki returns to Kazuko's place and goes to sleep. She only has a few hours, but even a little nap will help her frayed nerves.

Kazuko, yet oblivious of what happened, shakes her awake at the usual time. She cooks breakfast while Yuki stumbles into the bathroom with bleary eyes, smiling to herself how even the usually unflappable magical girl from another world can have a bad morning.

Her mirth does not stay when Yuki tells her about the fire while they eat. She is visibly horrified, her coffee forgotten as she begins to grill Yuki on the damages; if anyone was hurt. And so genuinely relieved to hear that nobody came to harm.

"The problem is that Oriko doesn't have a place to stay, now," Yuki explains, a little haltingly. She never liked asking others for anything. "Kirika can stay with her parents, but I doubt she likes it much at home. Oriko has nowhere to go. Can you help?"

"Of course!" she shoots back immediately, her agreement almost sounding indignant. "Just bring her here, I can host one more until she gets back on her feet. What about her parents?"

Yuki just shakes her head, making Kazuko's expression dim further.

"Oh, the poor girl," she murmurs, but there are no tears. Determination graces her features instead when she meets Yuki's gaze again. "I mean it: I'll help in any way I can."

Yuki slowly begins to smile as it sinks in that this is actually happening. She had hoped for something useful, maybe a pointer to someone else who could help out. Perhaps a reference to Junko. Kazuko surprised her there, but she is only happier for it.

"Thank you, Kazuko. This means a lot."

"It's the least I can do. As a teacher, and as a human being. And if it finally gets a smile out of you, that's just a bonus on top."

There is a warmth fluttering between them, accepting and understanding. Yuki appreciates the gesture more than Kazuko may know. She never likes asking for things, nor does she care about receiving anything for herself. But this is not for herself.

After giving the other woman a quick hug when she heads out, Yuki orders Kyubey to tell her when Oriko and Kirika are let out of the hospital. Then she asks for directions to wherever Kyoko and Yuma are.

On her way, Yuki encounters Mami on her way to school. The blonde's appearance is immaculate, not a hair out of place on her gently waving ringlets. Her gaze rests entirely on Yuki, expression unreadable. Only once does it flick to Kyubey, the bunnycat balancing on Yuki's shoulder.

They did not part gracefully. There are questions to be asked. But the middle of a busy street is not the time nor place. Mami has to get to school, and Yuki is not here for her.

So they pass each other without stopping, exchanging a nod of acknowledgement and no more.

Kyubey leads her to a nearby apartment building afterward, but no further. Kyoko and Yuma find her on their own.

The moment the elevator door opens in the lobby, a verdant green missile slams into Yuki and hugs her tight.

"Miss Yuki, you're back!" Yuma cheers, hopping up and down without letting go.

Yuki can not help but smile, softened up by her good morning so far. To have Yuma so happy to see her is a balm for her fraying self. She squeezes the younger girl gently and strokes her back for a moment, then lets go.

"I'm back, and I'm sorry it took so long. Hello, Kyoko."

"Yo."

The girl herself waves by way of greeting. She stands just behind Yuma, a little amused but overall without any tension. Yuki can not help but notice her change in wardrobe, though; gone are the short shorts and ratty jacket, replaced with a pleated skirt that swishes around Kyoko's ankles and a cream-coloured blouse. A necklace with a cross flips up and down with each step, unlike Yuki's pair that never jostles. Her hair is freshly washed and silky, bound into a much neater ponytail.

Yuma herself is different, too; she replaced her dress with a nicer looking set of jeans and a green jumper. She also wears a yellow hat and a backpack.

"You made it just in time," Kyoko adds. "Yuma's just about ready to go to school."

"Aww, five more minutes, big sis? I wanna talk to miss Yuki!"

"Your schooling is important," Yuki interrupts before Kyoko can say it. "We can talk later."

Yuma pouts at them, but does not argue. Her mood flips back to cheerful just a moment later, the girl herself beaming at them.

"Alright, then I'm going now!"

"Take care," Kyoko answers softly, smiling as she returns Yuma's wave.

They watch the elementary schooler dash away and join the strongs of students outside. Only when Yuma is out of sight do they look at each other.

"What about you?" Yuki asks, more curious than anything.

Kyoko shrugs. "I tried looking at Mami's notes, but I didn't understand anything. I've been out of school for too long to bother now. Not like I'd find any normal work, with my dad and all."

Yuki makes a face at that. She really did not need the reminder how people here are discriminated against for something their parents did.

"...you're not going to ask what happened?" Kyoko asks into the silence, only a little uncomfortable.

"Do you want to tell?" Yuki asks back.

"Not really, no."

"Then I won't."

Kyoko's expression morphs through a number of emotions, but finally settles on relief. "Thanks," she mutters, then waves her to the elevator. "C'mon. I already had to tell the story to Yuma a few days ago. It still hurts so damn bad, I have to fight not to cry. Can't let her see that."

Yuki nods. Kyoko is trying to be Yuma's rock, after all.

"I think you underestimate her, but I understand."

The doors close around them. Kyoko does not acknowledge Yuki's comment with more than a grunt. Then she changes the subject.

"Did anyone tell you that you feel even stronger now?"

"Yes. It's because another Abnormality hides in my shadow."

Said shadow waves, weirding out the human girl. Kyoko stares at it, then slowly slides her feet out of Yuki's shadow.

"How'd that happen?"

This time Yuki shrugs. "At some point after we parted the last time. Maybe before then, but I only noticed them later."

"About that, what actually happened? What was that light? And where did you go afterward?"

"I had some thinking to do," is all Yuki says. "As for the light, I'd rather wait until we have everyone together. Then I only need to explain it once."

"Sure."

Kyoko quietly leads her through a hallway, then slots a key into one particular door. "Mami might not be happy I let you in, but she'll deal," she explains, then throws a glance at Yuki. "In case you didn't hear, Yuma and I stay with her now."

"I remember you talking about that."

"Cool. Have a seat. We've got some snacks, do you want a cup of tea or something?"

"Yes, please."

To some surprise for Yuki, Kyoko makes for quite the competent hostess when she has a proper place to host people. She brews tea and pours for her, then brings two platters with strawberry shortcake. She even eats it with a fork and appears like a civilised person.

They eat in silence, though. Kyoko is unsure what to say at this point, and Yuki focusses on the taste of cake.

"Give my compliments to Mami," she finally says. "I like it a lot."

A fanged grin is the answer. Kyoko relaxes some more, leaning sideways on one hand. She can easily keep looking at Yuki over the low glass table, the two girls sitting on pillows opposite of each other.

"If there's anything you need to talk about, I can at least listen," she offers. "I didn't do it much back in the day, but my mom said I'm good at that. That girl Mikuni, she said you got a lot on your plate. Anything I can help with?"

She does not hesitate or falter under Yuki's blank stare. The offer is genuine and does warm Yuki's heart, too.

And despite herself, Yuki speaks.

"I'm falling apart. Mentally."

Kyoko startles, quickly sitting straight again to peer at her. Yuki looks back stoically.

"Okay, you're pretty good at hiding it," the redhead says, her tone growing a touch softer. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Yuki shakes her head. "I appreciate it, but I already talked to someone. You don't have the frame of reference to really understand; they had it. And it helped make me understand that I'm falling apart in the first place. It's not a bad thing, necessarily."

"How isn't it?"

Kyoko peers at her with worry, but Yuki smiles back.

"Technically, I already broke. That I'm still me, that means a lot more than you can imagine."

"Then explain it to me? Of course I can't imagine it if you don't say anything."

"It hurts to say out loud," Yuki admits, a little more softly now. "I know what's going to happen. I know it will be bad, for everyone involved. But I still hope that you won't get dragged into it. None of you. So I'd prefer if you never have to know the details."

Unlike her previous attempts to be sympathetic, this time Kyoko rolls her eyes. She leans forward and flicks Yuki's forehead, causing the other magical girl to blink at her in wonder.

"Stop being a dumbass," Kyoko demands gruffly. "You're my friend. Yuma and Nagisa look up to you. Mami doesn't like you much, but she still respects you. If something big's going to happen with you, I'll be there. That's what friends are for."

Friends.

Yuki's entire existence twitches. Her physical body flickers, warps, and distorts for just a moment. Kyoko sees it too, leaning back in surprise.

But then Yuki returns to normal, expression unreadable once more.

"I know. I'm thankful. But it still hurts. I don't want to say."

Who could just speak of their own failings, inadequacies, and inabilities without that sting of disappointment? That existential pain and dread at the prospect of being found wanting. The deck is stacked against Yuki, far more so than Kyoko could comprehend.

She still has half a mind to go somewhere far away, so that the inevitable eruption will not hurt those she holds dear. But her nature keeps her here, near where Oriko is.

She has no free will.

Kyoko stares at her for a long moment, utterly silent and full of sympathy. Then she wordlessly gets up and gets Yuki a slice of a spongey chocolate cake.

She proceeds to feed her guest until the entire cake is gone. Yuki is stuffed full of sugar, and then given a firm hug.

"Just remember that I'm here for you," Kyoko whispers, barely loud enough to be heard. "Not because I have to, or because I owe you. But because I want to be there for you."

Yuki nods against Kyoko's collarbone, arms loosely hanging around her waist.

"Thank you."

They separate. Kyoko grins at her and gives a thumbs up. "Heh. Don't mention it."

"Yuki," Kyubey interrupts. "Oriko and Kirika are being discharged at the moment. I already let Oriko know that you will be by."

At first Kyoko seemed annoyed at their presence, but her expression quickly morphs into confusion. "Wait, discharged? Why, did her condition get worse?"

"No, someone set fire to her house."

"...what?!"

Yuki is already channeling her magic to teleport near the hospital entrance. She casts a cool look to Kyoko, expression blank.

"It happened last night. They're fine. That's all I know, she asked me not to stay around in case the police wants to see my papers. I'm going to go see them now. Thank you for your hospitality."

"Yeah, sure," Kyoko says awkwardly. "Tell them I said hi?"

"Alright."

Yuki vanishes the moment she says it, leaving Kyoko on her lonesome. The teen plops down onto the couch and rubs her forehead. Then she shudders, being reminded of the fire her father set.

For her part, Yuki arrives in solitude. Her presence quickly draws Oriko and Kirika to her, though. Oriko herself arrives in borrowed clothes, looking awkward and self-concious in Kirika's pants and jumper. Partly, Yuki notes, because she is a lot more voluptuous than her girlfriend and nothing fits right.

"I found a place you can stay for the time being," is what she greets them with. "Just Oriko, though. Assuming you can stay with your family, and that you'll hang around us all day, anyway."

Kirika was about to raise her hand, but the add-on makes her lower it again.

"You know what? That's fair."

Oriko, despite all awkwardness, offers a tired smile.

"I appreciate that you went that far. Kirika's mother was fairly adamant about my not being welcome, so my options were limited. I do need to file for the insurance payout, which will take a while. Could we go there now? I am not feeling well."

Kirika immediately snatches the bag with all of Oriko's worldly possessions away. Her girlfriend's wordless look is ignored. Yuki approves.

"I can teleport us there," she offers, which both girls readily accept.

Kirika seems fairly excited when they appear in Kazuko's living room. She chatters at the pair of them about how cool and convenient that spell is, all while investigating their new surroundings. Oriko just sits at the table and lays her head down on it.

Kirika and Yuki exchange looks, then wordlessly shuffle Oriko into the bedroom. Yuki gives up 'her' futon without hesitation. Neither of them lets the seer do anything beside laying down, though they give her some tea and porridge.

What follows for the rest of the afternoon is akin to a silent vigil. Neither Yuki nor Kirika feels like talking. Despite their new location, Kirika is a little on edge; her gleaming Soul Gem sits in her palm, the distraught girl ready to transform and attack any threat. Yuki still dwells on Oriko's ever-worsening state.

They exchange quiet words on occasion. Just a murmur of thanks or a question, nothing that ultimately matters. But it still means a lot for Kirika to not view Yuki as a threat.

The one time Oriko gets up in-between, Yuki remembers to extend Madoka's invitation. And despite Kirika being worried, Oriko agrees to attend immediately. Then she is quickly led back to bed.

As the day progresses and school ends, Kazuko comes home early. She quickly bustles inside with groceries in hand, only momentarily surprised by the sight of the two sitting at her table. Then she smiles... and Kirika grows pale?

"My, I didn't expect you to be here already," Kazuko begins kindly, but pauses as she steps closer.

She leans in, squinting at Kirika.

"Miss Kure? What are you doing here? Ah. Yes, now I remember, Yuki did mention someone with your name. I didn't make the connection until now, but I don't forget my students' faces so easily. Even if it's been a year since I had your class."

Even as she says it, Kazuko's expression firms up. She presses a hand to her hip, radiating authority all of a sudden.

"And why is it that you haven't come to school in over a month, hm? Your education is important, young lady."

This is an entirely new side, something Yuki has not seen before.

Kirika flounders momentarily, clearly intimidated by her teacher's disapproval. But then she twitches and her expression smoothes out.

"I've been staying with my girlfriend," she answers proudly. "She's far, far more important than studying. Especially now that she's sick."

Kazuko puffs up in indignation, but fails to intimidate Kirika again. Yet before she can start laying into her, a soft cough draws her attention away.

"Kirika's absence from school is in large parts my fault," Oriko offers with a soft smile. "Were I a more principled woman, I may have told her to attend class regardless. But I couldn't resist the chance to have her close."

She stands almost meekly, clad in the same white nightgown she wore last night. Her disheveled hair falls open and her skin is pale, but she still wanders into the room and offers a deep bow to Kazuko.

"Please forgive her, Ms. Saotome. Kirika is merely compassionate and loving, far more so than anyone deserves. And at the same time, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for offering me a place to stay when I have nowhere to go. I am Oriko Mikuni."

Kazuko is simply dumbstruck. Even at her lowest, Oriko still manages to emanate a sense of control over the situation. Her voice retains its strength.

"O-Of course," their host finally says. "Of course I'd help, my dear. It's the least I can do. You don't look too well, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Oriko lies. "Although I need to buy new clothes. Somehow. This nightgown is all I have left. And as much as I love your clothes, Kirika," she adds, "I like them on you. They don't fit me."

"Yeah, 'cause your boobies are too big."

"That, and your waist is narrower," Oriko adds. She rubs her chest with a pained grimace. "I don't even have any bras left. It was a pain and a half to find some that fit me, now I need to do it again."

Kazuko startled for a moment over their candid exchange. Now she shakes her head and motions Oriko to the table.

"Come on, we can take care of things one by one. You must be hungry, miss Mikuni. Let me whip something up for everyone, then we can start planning the next step, okay?"

Her gentle but insistent manner has Oriko relocated between Yuki and Kirika before long. They exchange helpless looks while Kazuko pulls up her sleeves and gets to work.

"How does she have so much energy after teaching all day?" Kirika asks quietly.

"She steals her students' power and vitality," Yuki quips back, prompting a snort from the dark-haired girl.

Oriko smiles as well, leaning her head on Kirika's shoulder. Her gaze wanders around the room, tidy as it is.

"I can not repeat often enough how grateful I am for your help, Yuki," she says, one hand gently grasping the Abnormality's arm. "It doesn't matter how much or little you actually did, but that you went out of your way to do it does. That means so much more to me than you can imagine."

Yuki clasps her hand firmly. A faint smile graces her expression.

"That's what friends are for."

Oriko smiles as well. Even when one of the viridian veins along her Soul Gem pulsates and grows thicker.

The three bask in their camraderie until Kazuko calls that food is ready. Yuki and Kirika quickly set the table, then they help her carry in a big pot of stew. A heavy, heady scent of spices fills the air.

Kazuko makes sure to plate up Oriko's portion first, but Oriko waits politely until everyone has theirs. And despite her sickly appearance, or perhaps because of it, she eats voraciously.

"If I may ask," Kazuko begins after giving the seer a second portion, "are you related to Senator Mikuni?"

Oriko's spoon pauses right at the surface of her stew. Kirika tenses up a little, but Oriko herself seems unaffected beyond her moment of hesitation.

"Yes, he was my father," she answers, gaze resting on the table.

Kazuko nods sadly. "I see. I'm sorry for your loss, and for this to happen after everything else. You really didn't have it easy."

She shakes her head in sympathy, expression more forlorn. "Do you have any idea how such a fire could happen? Neither of you strikes me as the forgetful sort, to leave on the stove or something."

While Oriko remains politely disaffected however, Kirika twitches into a snarl.

"Some bastard set fire to her house," she spits, causing Kazuko to let out a startled noise. Kirika ignores her, turning to Oriko instead. "And if you'd just tell me-"

"Like I said, Kirika: it's fine for now."

Oriko cuts her off with a sudden sharpness. Kirika relents, but she does not stop scowling.

Meanwhile, Kazuko leans forward, halfway standing from her chair. "What do you mean, someone set the fire?! This is awful, you should go to the police!"

"Without any evidence, Ms. Saotome?" Oriko returns evenly. "And even if I had evidence, how long would it be until someone claims I must have fabricated it? After all, I am my father's daughter."

She says it in an almost mocking tone, but she must be hurting from how true it still is. Kazuko deflates as well, seeing the same thing Oriko sees.

Yuki feels that familiar anger well up again. It was quelled by meting out due punishment, but just hearing about all this again makes her blood boil.

She is tempted to say something. Let them know the issue was dealt with. But Oriko might not have wanted that, Kirika might have wanted to do it herself... and how will Kazuko react, being right there?

Concern suddenly blossoms in her heart. Can she be open about something like this? Even if she knows it was just, Yuki is aware enough that not everyone may agree. Will they take offense?

What should she do?

---

[] Tell them now
weight: x1

[] Leave it be for now
weight: x1