It has been a couple of years since Kaede Akamatsu and the rest of the students woke up from the Killing Game, everyone was reunited and nobody actually died, and after some time recovering in the hospital, everyone was free to carry on with their lives, though everyone chose to keep in close contact.

Kaede was able to get to know more about Maki Harukawa now that they were both out of the Killing Game, it was easier now that there was no longer much distrust between the two of them. Kaede had learned that she was truly the Ultimate Assassin and not the Ultimate Child Caregiver, that she grew up in an orphanage, and most importantly, that Maki might even enjoy piano music.

However, it didn’t take long for the Holy Salvation Society to find Maki again, and much to Kaede’s dismay, Maki agreed to go with them. Kaede was obviously upset by this, but hopes that Maki will be okay.

A long time after that, Kaede wanted to play the piano in front of an audience again. However, Kaede has been experiencing an unfamiliar stage fright at the idea, it wasn’t helping that most of the audience would probably only be there because she was in the broadcasted Killing Game. Kaede arranged a small concert, but made sure it was a secret kept from her friends, she felt too scared and ashamed to bring any of them.

On the day of the concert, she felt nervous to even come up on the stage. When she sat down at the piano bench, her shaking hands just wouldn’t stay still against the piano keys. But, just before Kaede planned to start playing, the audience was distracted by a commotion outside. Kaede rushed outside to find out what was happening.

Maki was outside threatening the security guard at the venue because they didn’t allow her in, it was getting really heated and a knife was found on Maki. Kaede hasn’t seen Maki for a really long time. Kaede attempted to calmly talk Maki into being taken into custody, once Maki was taken away, Kaede cancelled the concert.

After a few hours, and Shuichi’s help, the situation was miraculously labelled as a misunderstanding and Maki was released with a warning. Kaede collected Maki and took her to Kaede’s apartment. It was late in the evening at this point.

“Maki.” Kaede started once she and Maki were inside, she didn’t know how to feel about everything that happened. On one hand, she was glad that she didn’t have to perform when she was doubting herself, on the other, Maki could’ve had a bad reason to show up.