Blood.

Himika suddenly botled awake. Her mouth coated with a thick substance that she knew was blood, only it was bitter, not sweet like she was used too. She stuck two fingers into her mouth and touched the inside of her cheek, pulling her fingers away, she discovered that it was, for a fact blood.

Her head throbbed in pain making her wince.

"What the fuck happened?" She hissed, Himika wasn't all that vulgar, so this was saying something.

"You lost control."

Himika's head swiveled towards the voice. The owner of the voice was in the darker part of the room, but it was an easily recognizable voice. Old, worn, but kind and understanding.

"Mr. Yoshimura," Himika mumbled, squinting into the dark. "What happened?"

"That's what I should be asking you, Himika." He replied, stepping into the light with a displeased expression.

"It was Shin." Himika hissed, clenching her fists. "It was like being tied up, blindfolded  and thrown into the backseat of your own car while someone else takes the wheel. All I heard was.... Hinami!"

Himika suddenly stood up, rushing to the door, only to have Mr. Yoshimura block her path.

"Where's Hinami? Is she alright? Did I hurt her?!" Himika askes frantically.

"Hinami is resting. She's fine now." Mr. Yoshimura replied.

"Thank God." Himika sighed, backing off slightly.

"Would you like to go see her?" He asked, reaching for the door knob.

"Yeah."

He opened the door and walked out, glancing at Himika to make sure she was coming.

Himika looked around the familiar hallway and realised that they were back at Antieku, which explained the manager being there.

"After this I need to have a serious discussion with you." Mr. Yoshimura said.

"Okay." Himika replied, her voice no more than a whisper.

They approached another door and the manager reached for the rectangular knob, pushing it down and opening the door, holding it open for Himika.

Himika was at the bedside in seconds, watching Hinami's peaceful face as she breathed in and out steadily. The entire calm image however was ruined because of the obvious bandages wrapped around her left shoulder.

"Did..." Himika paused, taking a nervous breath. "Did I do... This?"

Mr. Yoshimura was silent for a long time.

"You'll have to ask her when she wakes up." He replied.

"Alright." Himika sighed, getting up from the floor. "Let's go talk, I could really use a cup of coffee."

Mr. Yoshimura smiled at that.

"Of course, follow me."

~Time skip~

Himika and Mr. Yoshimura sat across from each other on soft white couches, in front of them a small glass coffee table with two untouched cups of coffee, which had started to go cold.

"What happened? And start from the beginning. Why did you and Hinami sneak out?" Mr. Yoshimura asked, picking up his cup.

"Hinami and I went to Tsukiyama's place because he offered to train with us. Yomo is a great trainer too, but I think we both wanted a bit of a change." Himika replied, copying Mr. Yoshimura in picking up her own cup. "Sure, we could've asked Touka too, but she's busy. Catching up on sleep, studying, and whatever else."

"Can you think of a reason you lost control suddenly?" He asked, taking a sip of his beverage.

"Two actually." Himika nervously replied, rubbing her cup with her pinky.

"Please explain." Although he was asking, it was more of a demamd.

"Shin and I have a sort of deal. He gives me training when I sleep, and he asked for a favour in return. He recently decided that he wanted control in return. I never agreed to his terms, but he's managing to slip through the cracks." She said, quite angrily.

"You train when you sleep?"

Himika simply nodded.

"Whatever, what's the second reason?" He asked.

"I'm hungry." She said evenly.

Mr. Yoshimura's face hardened, but never once did he look mad.

"You need to tell me these things. You can't be this independent." He sighed. "Everyone at Antieku is here for you. Take their help."

"Sorry." She mumbled.

"Until things smooth themself out, you will be staying here, under close watch." He decided.

"What about school?" Himika asked.

"Hinami will be bringing your work to and from school, while you learn under Koma and Irimi and work partime." Mr. Yoshimura explained.

"Koma and Irimi?" Himika repeated, testing the names on her tongue. "Don't think I've met them."

"No, you haven't, they work while you're at school most the time. And you don't seem very approachable." He chuckled. "This will be a great way to practice your control and people skills."

"I'm guessing I don't have a choice?" Himika sighed.

"Nope." The manager chuckled.

"When do I start?"

"I'll start today by teaching you how to make coffee, then Touka will help you with getting a uniform. Tomorrow you will meet Irimi and Koma." He said.

"Great." Himika sighed. "Let's get this over with."

~Time Skip~

"So, how's it taste?"

"Not as good as yours." Himika replied, putting down the cup of coffee she just brewed.

"That's understandable, this is your first cup. It takes practice, and you have to really put your heart and soul into it." He chuckled.

Himika gave him a blank look.

"Considering I don't use my heart and soul often, how the hell do I do that?"

"If you were making coffee for someone you cared about, would you do your best?" He asked.

"Of course," She replied. "What kind of a question is that?"

"Imagine that the coffee you're making is going to go to someone you care about." He smiled. "Go ahead, try again."

Himika got to work, getting a new coffee filter and more coffee beans, along with running the hot water. She imagined that Hinami was waiting for her downstairs, the table covered in school work they would do together while enjoying coffee together, like close friends, or even sisters do.

"How's it taste now?"

Himika brought the cup to her lips and took a sip, enjoying the hot liquid as it warmed her mouth.

"Still not as good as yours, but better than before." She replied, smiling softly to herself.

"It will take practice." Mr. Yoshimura said. "Now let's go find Touka."

~Time Skip~

"So let me get this straight." Touka sighed. "Himika and Hinami did something stupid, Himika lost control, Hinami somehow got hurt, and now you want me to help her dig through the uniforms for one that fits her because she needs to be supervised?"

"Yes." Mr. Yoshimura replied, unfazed by her irritated demeanour.

"Let's go, Himika. The faster we do this, the faster I can get back to studying." Touka hissed, standing up from her desk.

"Right."

Himika hated to admit it, but when Touka was agited, it made her anxious. Touka was probably the only one at Antieku other than Yomo and Yoshimura that actually made her feel inferior. Not to mention as they made their way to the storage room, Touka kept shooting her dirty looks.

"Did I do something?" Himika asked, nervous sweat dripping down her face.

Touka didn't reply, or at least not until they were alone in the storage room.

"I swear to God, if you're the one who injured Hinami, I will hurt you." Touka threatened.

Himika nodded, just a little too quickly.

"Now, to find you a uniform!" Touka exclaimed.

And Himika shuddered. The personality jumps were terrifying.

A/N

Yes! More updates will be coming! I think I kinda know what I'm doing! Kinda? Maybe? Okay, not really. I'm totally winging it. But so far so good.