Mariko bites her lip, feeling the sting of her eyes and hating how her stomach turns because she puts it together quick. There's no way that Hikari hasn't met this woman, not after a year and half -- not with the way she makes Hitori smile like a fucking idiot. If she closes her eyes she can practically see it, Hikari mooning over Gentiana's pretty long hair - asking Togusa if she can do her hair like IllyRia-san.

Hikari would love this woman, almost as much as her father does.

It feels cold; the air, her breath, her blood. The chill makes her shiver as she laughs, a quick, mirthless 'ha' as she looks at Togusa. She knows she doesn't have the heart to say it outright - if it were anyone else but him, she could but this hurts.

"Man, I feel like Hikari-chan would never be able to stop talking about a lady like that." She'll lead him, but he won't drink. Not this time. Not when it's damn near poison.

"So tell me why I haven't heard a word from her about the pretty lady her daddy knows?"