---
I sat back in the chair, shoulders sinking, my body still feeling strange, as if it wasn't entirely mine yet. My fingers tapped the wooden armrest in nervous rhythm. The girls had been hovering, fussing, smiling too much. That kind of smile that was meant to reassure but only made me more uneasy.
I cleared my throat. "Where's Ayame?" My voice cracked slightly, and the sound startled me—it had been too long since I'd spoken, maybe.
Sora, who was closest, fiddled with her apron. "She… stepped out. She'll be back soon."
That answer didn't satisfy me, but before I could press, another question tumbled out. "Alright then. What exactly happened? To me, I mean."
