Secret Play in the Depths of Night

The stone lantern in the courtyard was still lit, its halo like melted aged honey, softening every shadow until even human silhouettes seemed truncated. Just around the corner, Shen Chuanze had been doused in hot soup by Chihaya Yūki—the girl dropped to her knees the moment it happened, the sound of her kneecaps hitting the flagstones betraying no hint of pain, only a trembling, bowed head lowered as far as it could go. Shen Chuanze couldn't be bothered to get angry; he never wanted this coat in the first place. He turned to leave, but she called after him—her voice small, yet like a silk thread winding around his ankle. The rules of this house were all set by him, but tonight, the way Chihaya looked at him was different than usual.