Ryoma staggers through the restaurant, ignoring the pain in his jaw and the unsteadiness in his legs. His eyes dart from face to face as he searches for Kaede.
"Sir, excuse me! Where are you going?"
"Have you seen a waitress named Kaede?" Ryoma asks without stopping.
"Sir, you can't just…"
But Ryoma has already walked past him, continuing down the corridor. He pushes through another door, startling a staff member carrying a tray.
"Hey! You can't go back there!"
"Where's Kaede?" Ryoma demands, barely sparing the man a glance.
He follows the corridor until he reaches the kitchen. Several staff members immediately turn toward him.
"Stop right there! This is a restricted area!"
A chef steps forward, blocking his path. "Sir, you need to leave. You can't come in here."
From deeper inside the kitchen, Ryoma hears a man scolding someone.
