“Hmm? Am I not supposed to be here, sensei?” I asked calmly, my voice steady as I faced the woman standing just outside the door. I made my expression unreadable, betraying no hint of the tension that might have otherwise given me away.
Orimura-sensei’s eyebrows twitched slightly, a subtle sign of her suspicion as her gaze shifted past my shoulder. Her sharp, discerning eyes landed on her friend who was currently busily arranging materials for her lesson on the coffee table.
At the moment, Ryouko-san appeared completely absorbed in her task, her movements smooth and unhurried, as if she wasn’t in my lap just moments ago. Occasionally, she would pause to take another sip from a can of iced tea, the cool metal glinting under the soft overhead light and making a soft thud whenever she placed it down.