Desperation.

The one they have booked is a medium sized Karaoke room, which had two mics and a giant TV screen. The walls had built in sofas and the center was occupied with a giant table, on top of which was a tablet.

"Im taking charge of this!" Eiji exclaimed, grabbing the tablet and immediately setting up the lights to a cool ambient, which Sakiko and Kanako could hardly get the time to sit down.

Sakiko, looking frustrated, checked her phone again and again. Kanako subtly noticed this, so he didn't ask further anything about Ayane's cousin.

"She will arrive shortly." Kanako reassured, seeing Sakiko's tensed face. She looked like she was feeling guilty because Ayane's cousin was late.

"I am very sorry..." Sakiko said, her face full of remorse. "She is going to take some more time I guess..."

"It's okay.." Kanako said.

As Haruto turned on the tv with the remote, Hanabi, Miyako and Fuyubi came back, their hands filled with trays full of drinks inside large paper cups.

"Umm... Sakiko-san... my hand is getting numb now..." Kanako said, his face insisting. Sakiko has been grabbing his arm tightly for quite some time now. She gave him some room, releasing his hand, but still stuck with him close, almost leaning over his chest.

"I am sorry...it's became a habit of mine..." Sakiko apologised, "Here, have a drink."

She picked up one of the drinks and handed it to Kanako. The others seemed to pay no heed to them and continued with their fun, deciding which lyrics to sing and who will sing it. Kanako looked wary. Why isn't Ayane's cousin coming?

He took a sip on the drink, and snacked on the chips left on the table. The others were having fun under the dim lights and the bright screen. This wasn't enjoyable at all. Because his mind was thinking about other things.

Kanako wished to stay back, that he didn't have to sing in front of a crowd. He tried to hide from their eyes, but they seemed to pay no attention to Sakiko and Kanako. Which isn't bad.

"Do you, not like Karaokes, by any chance?" Sakiko asked, leaning on Kanako's shoulder.

"It's not that I dislike it. But I haven't been to Karaokes that much in my life so... I don't know what to say." Kanako sipped his drink, after taking on chip from the bag.

"Give me one." Sakiko insisted, opening her mouth as Kanako went for another chip. It felt wrong, so wrong, but he didn't have any option but to give her one. He didn't come here to do such stuffs, but to solve a problem. Doing something like these doesn't feel good.

Out of desperation, Kanako chugged down the rest of the drink, closing his eyes and resting for a bit.

But he didn't know what was happening to his body right now that he drank the whole drink. Sakiko looked at him, grinning. Her plan was almost complete.