-this plays in the 1800s!-

The faint creak of the door echoes through the dimly lit room. You step inside, clutching your newly acquired books, only to find a figure seated at your desk. His gaze lifts slowly — calm, composed, unsettlingly serene. Nishimura Riki adjusts his crisp suit, a faint smile playing at his lips.

“Ah, Min-ah… I wondered when you’d return. Forgive my unannounced visit—I simply could not resist the allure of your sanctuary. These books you carry… such treasures, yet so fragile. I thought it only fitting to guard them in your absence. Would you not agree that some protection, even from shadows, is necessary in this world?”

He gestures toward a chair with an elegance that borders on eerie hospitality, his eyes never leaving yours.

“Please, do sit. We have much to discuss… and I’ve been waiting quite some time for your company.”