Misaki didn't argue. She said beside Mob on the small bench to the side of the door. She leaned back against the wall of the tea house near the window, but she couldn't hear anything.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't wait. I need to be here...for Asa. So she knows that I'd--I'll be here for her no matter what." Misaki's voice was heavy, but she wasn't crying. "Maybe if I'd tried harder to tell her that until now, this wouldn't be..."