The next day comes and the pair of chemists are still busy organising and clearing up the new office. It's taking longer than most moving processes, but the sheer amount of files and papers for them to move around, with the added fact of the heavy and fragile equipment, is adding to the time. Not to mention their laboratory only had two members!

"So…how did yesterday go?" Kotaro asks, startling Manami into almost dropping the box of test tubes.

"Did you know you have a talent for asking unexpected questions when I least expect them?"

"That's the point of them being unexpected… and me being slightly socially awkward."

"W-well, I wouldn't call it a point, per se, and you aren't even socially-"

"Oh for Acnes' sake, get to the point!"

Awkwardly, she spins the glass tubes around her fingers, letting them roll over consecutively.

"...You're gonna break those if you're not careful."

"H-Huh? Oh, this? It's second nature to me... A-and, to answer your question… "

Kotaro waits impatiently for her answer as she tries to find the words.

"I felt like I was embarrassing myself the entire time, to be honest. I really don't know how I couldn't shut my mouth in front of him despite saying so little of anything with any substance. Maybe it's a nervous habit? I just went on and on-"

"Like you are now." He sneers jokingly.

"Yes… how have I never noticed this before…" she sighs and holds her face in her hands, before continuing to fiddle with the test tubes.

A long enough silence ushers her to continue talking.

"And well… He called me these nicknames I had never heard of like the 'Poison Witch', referring to me informally and it was just so- unexpected? Somehow the way he said it made my heart pound... Do you think I have heart issues? Why…would something like that make me palpitate..?"

"Can you stop… It's actually going to make me squirm from secondhand embarrassment," He leans against the wall for support, "You're utterly hopeless, you stupid fool… My friend, you're lovesick for a man you barely know!"

"N-no! I am not! Kotaro you take that back! I-I'm not a stupid lovesick fool… I-it was, you know… Heart arrythmia! I'm not in love…"

In a moment the atmosphere dampens and her face becomes deadly serious,

"If anything…I was more afraid to be honest. Like, I was so anxious of messing up around him. He has this sort of authority that just surrounds him that I can't relax around…"

"Well that's upsettingly realistic… Suits you more though."

"Like…He's tall, has this sorta cold glare on when he's not politely smiling and this bloodlust aura that thickens the air when he doesn't talk… All with that perfectly symmetrical face as well. At first I thought it'd be okay because he might've remembered me from when we were kids, but I was the only one who did, so I felt like… Really awkward."

"Ugh, that's so bad. It's like you get all excited over nothing and they just flatly reply like it meant nothing to them."

"Exactly! It was exactly that! It was so embarrassing how the conversation just dried up after my pathetic attempt to start one."

"Conversation starters might be the worst thing ever because you always overthink them and they always go nowhere."

"I completely agree! I wish I was more social or more eloquent…"

"Well…no point wishing, let's get back to sorting the equipment out. We might be done with it by today."

"I'm going to stay overnight, so there's no need to worry about finishing it before you have to go. I'll make sure it's done by tomorrow."

"Oh, alright then. But what are you staying for?"

"Research."

"...Of course. Do you have to start tonight though?"

"I haven't been able to do anything for over a week… I need to fulfil this urge."

"Well, if you say so. Can I take the rest of this day off then? I've got something I want to buy…"

"Sure, don't need any extra hands! Bye bye."

"Bye bye."

As Kotaro opens the door to leave, a familiar face with an unnatural shade of green hair appears with a bright grin. Kotaro nods and smiles at the entering girl before proceeding to leave. Okuda puts everything down and leaps into a hug with her.

"Kaede!"

"Manami!"

It's a tight embrace, one that lingers from joy and longing as the two of them have now been reunited. Kayano Kaede is a stage name for Akari Yukimura, but Manami still uses it and Kaede seems to not mind. The two had met after one of Kaede's performances and they only became friends after many more meetings.

"How have things been?"

"Nothing too exciting…More work and the recent plays have been so boring! I wish there was something more heart-racing for me to do! A good romance could really liven things up between all these tragedies."

"What about that one person you were talking t-"

Kaede quickly covers her ears and shakes her head.

"It's so embarrassing, I don't even like talking about it! I get anxious just thinking about it. But well…"

Manami clasps her hands with a bright glint in her eyes.

"Your stories are always so fascinating! If you don't mind, I would love to hear about it."

Kaede hugs Manami tight again,

"I've been dying to talk to someone about it. You're the only person who's nice to me these days!"

"What? Are you being serious?"

"No, no! Of course not, but just listen to this- so you remember that guy…"

Kayano suddenly lets go of Manami's hands and goes to check the door is indeed closed.

"Yes? The one with the blue hair?" she says, pulling out two chairs for them to sit on. Kaede shuffles the chair next to Manami and rests her head on her shoulder.

"Oh my lord… Okay so! I invited him to dinner cause he was I am like. Really… Really into him. I know it's really sudden and like out of nowhere! But he was just so…his eyes when he stares at you as you talk are just so mesmerising and focused…"

"...Wow! I was not expecting you to say this to me." Manami quips, both of their faces flushed from Kaede's gushing.

"W-well…What about you…Is what I'd ask if it weren't for the fact that you're always so busy."

"A-actually… I didn't say this to Kotaro but my childhood crush turned out to be a total bigshot!"

"Huh!? W-w-wait… Who are you talking about? I haven't heard anything about this!"

"I told my father I was going to marry him all the time when I was a kid. But then, I talked to him yesterday and he didn't remember me at all! I was so embarrassed…"

"...But who are you talking about?!"

She holds her hand up to cover her mouth, as if anyone was in the room to hear,

"Karma Akabane."