Kōyō did not appreciate tardiness. You were supposed to arrive in her office for tea hours ago. Though the phone on her desk drew nearer, she resisted the temptation, trusting you to be completely capable of remembering a time and place—

A knock tore into Kōyō's mind, bringing her back to the present (and away from gripping her poor teacup with all her might). "Come in." Finally.

Kōyō's lecture died on her tongue as she realised her guest was not you but Executive Nakahara. He took his hat off and bowed respectfully, just as she had taught him. "Apologies for the interruption... Were you expecting someone?"

She waved it off as nothing much, trying not to pull a face as she sipped her cold tea. As Kōyō explained that she had an important appointment with you, Chūya's face slowly hardened. "They're in the infirmary, been there for a while now— Did... did they not tell you?" She could see the regret in Chūya's face the moment he asked that.

But she didn't care about him, not in this moment. How dare they not inform her? Not one of her subordinates thought it proper to make her aware of the situation, leaving her to wait for someone who was never coming?

"Right." Kōyō stood with the composure and grace of an adult, but even Chūya knew to stand back when she walked by. She was at the infirmary in record time.

Before the men at the door could make some pitiful excuse to stop the raging beast from approaching, Kōyō grabbed one. "Get out of my way or so help me I will ensure you leave in a bodybag." The words of an executive were no threat but a promise, and Kōyō did not lose her composure so easily.