The Reaper's Path

Chapter 3: Trepidation

"You're late," was Arima's greeting to his sister when she arrived home.

"Eh, I apologize," she closes the door. "I have to meet with Yoshino-san at Anteiku for my tutor session."

So that's the reason why she didn't come today. "'Anteiku'?"

"Hm. The coffee they serve there is delicious!" She plops down herself on the couch beside him. "Kishou, we should go there with your parents sometime!"

"Have you eaten dinner?" He ignores her happy declaration.

She nods vigorously. "Yoshino-san bought me foods."

It was just two weeks ago when Hana suddenly got some changes in her shift. Her rest day was moved to Thursday. She has to work from ten in the morning up to six in the evening during Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. And her work time during Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays is from one o'clock up to ten in the morning. Not to mention that, every now and then, she'll be transferred from one ward to another during her working time. This is because the aforesaid is her schedule in patrolling the wards in Tokyo together with her fellow investigators. Also, during the time laps between her shifts, she is supposed to stay inside the CCG main building and assist the other investigators in some cases.

Though her new shift is pretty tedious, she found it about right to gather some ideas and to secretly investigate on her own the case of her parents' death.

"—Kishou, are you even listening?"

The bespectacled lad adjusts his glasses. "Would you please repeat that?"

She heaves a sigh. "I was talking to you about a certain case but I guess that doesn't need to be repeated anymore. Are your parents already asleep?"

"They are your parents too."

She lets out a sweet smile. "But they're not my biological ones, I'm sorry." She sets her guitar case and messenger bag on a vacant seat. "So? Are they asleep or not?"

Kishou opens a Biology textbook. "Asleep."

"Why are you still awake at this time? Did you not study earlier? You should go to sleep now, Kishou," she yawns, opening her bag, bringing out a stack of papers.

"This is my way of staying awake," he monotonously responds.

"Eh? Is a super-duper-giga-mega-difficult long quiz on its way tomorrow?"

"...It's nothing like that. And also, stop with the exaggeration," he flips a stage.

"Then why are you cramming?"

"..." No answer came from the lad's mouth.

She stands up. "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

He looks up at her, a small frown on his face. "You know very well that I don't drink coffee."

"Oh," she scratches her hair. "I'm sorry, I forgot." She turns around and was about to head to the kitchen when a hand grabs the hem of her trench coat. It was Arima's. "What?" Hana asks.

"Don't tell me you're going to drink coffee?"

"Of course. I still have to study and to review the cases I chose to assist," she says as she tries to fruitlessly shove the lad's hand away. "Hey, let go!"

Arima grips her arm tightly, pulling her down to sit back on the couch. "You aren't drinking any coffee. You won't be able to sleep if you do."

"What's wrong with you? Are you having PMS?" She holds her laughter as she stares at him.