"How long has it been now?" she asked, hands coming to a rest on his shoulders.
"A little over a month, I believe," he answered.
"It will have to end soon, Riku."
"Because Nicole will soon be well enough to leave the hospital?"
"Yes. Who knows what will come out of her mouth when she's asked for an interview?"
"So what will you do?"
"Dr. Warmbrodt has had a very colorful past. That can always be used for our advantage."
"You'll blackmail her psychologist?"
"No, baka. The only reason he was able to get a doctorate...no, the only reason he was able to enter college at all was Palone charity. I'm...quite sure that he remembers just how he earned that charity. Truly, the real work was over the moment he was assigned her case."
"But that wasn't by chance, now, was it?"
"Riku...you have a frighteningly poor ability at remaining silent at unpalatable truths."
"My apologies."
"It's quite all right. So long as that mouth is always shut in front of others, that is. Care for another glass?"
"That is quite excellent wine you've managed to procure."
She smiled, took a glass in her hand, filled it, and passed it to him before repeating the process with another glass. He raised his glass in a toast, and she followed his movements, if with an uncertain look on her face.
"To the future."
She nodded her approval. Their glasses clinked together, and then were drained.
The next morning would find the bedsheets in the dumpster, and the wine conspicuously hidden.