Haruto strolled back to his room, a faint melody humming from his lips, still buoyed by the relaxing spa session with Asuka.
The warmth of the evening lingered on his skin, and his mood was light, the day's events playing through his mind like a pleasant daydream.
As he reached his sliding door, he noticed it was slightly ajar. "Perfect. Too lazy to dig through my pockets," he murmured, sliding it open with ease.
The sight that greeted him, however, froze him mid-step.
Mari stood in the center of the room, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her usually soft features were twisted into a sharp frown, her sapphire eyes brimming with fury.
She tapped her foot against the tatami floor rapidly, each thud echoing her irritation.
Haruto instinctively hesitated, his initial plan to greet and hug her quickly shelved.
"Uh… hey, Mari—"
"Where have you been all this time?" she demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut through the room.