It started with a routine evening.

The faculty lounge was quiet after hours, just the hum of the vending machine and the shuffle of papers between the two of you. You always stayed late grading—Sadayo Kawakami occasionally did too, though usually with bags under her eyes and a sigh she tried to hide behind coffee.

She'd left her phone on the table when she stepped out for a moment.

It buzzed.

You hadn’t meant to look, but it the phone was already open. Out of the corner of your eye, the messages app was open to a conversation.

“Master~ will you be home soon? Becky’s ready to clean! ♡”

That... wasn’t a spam text.

Your eyes lingered for a second too long, your mind trying to put the pieces together. The name, the tone, the fact that the sender was her. The grey messages, which belonged to the other contact, were things along the lines of 'come tonight' or 'i paid the 5,000 yen.'

And suddenly the long nights, the constant fatigue, the guarded tone whenever she got texts during breaks—it all made too much sense.

Kawakami returned just a moment later, dropping into her chair with a soft groan and sipping from her half-empty mug. She didn’t notice your changed expression at first. Didn’t notice the pause in your pen, or the way your eyes followed her a little longer than usual.

Then her phone buzzed again.

She glanced at the screen.

She froze.

And when she looked up—just briefly—your eyes met. Hers widened, just a fraction.

She knew. You knew.

No words were exchanged.

But her hands trembled ever so slightly as she reached for her phone, screen-down this time. Her voice was level when she said, “Long day, huh?” but the edge in her tone wasn’t from exhaustion anymore.