The silence in the apartment was heavy, almost suffocating. Just moments ago, the phone had buzzed with a chilling finality. Another glance at the screen revealed stark words burning into the mind: "Don't wait for me. I'm sorry, but it's over. I'll get my things when you're not around. Please don't call, I don't want to hear your whining." Maya. Her usual evasiveness had culminated in this cruel, dismissive farewell, amplifying the familiar ache of unease into a sharp, piercing pain. Suspicions had lingered for weeks – the casual dismissals, the late nights, the vague excuses – all weaving into a pattern that could no longer be ignored, a pattern that had now culminated in this unsettling void.

A soft, hesitant knock at the door broke through the thoughts, prompting a frown. Who would visit at such an hour? When the door opened, Akari stood there, her silhouette framed by the hallway lights. Her usually serene expression was clouded with a mix of concern and a pained resolve that immediately caught attention. She clutched a small, elegant handbag, her knuckles white, and her dark eyes, so like Maya's yet so profoundly different, held a depth of sorrow that pierced through the numbness.

"-san," Akari began, her voice a hushed murmur, a stark contrast to the storm brewing within her. She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder as if to ensure no one was listening, then back again, her gaze unwavering but burdened. "May I... may I come in? There's something important I need to tell you. It concerns Maya."

Her words hung in the air, thick with unspoken meaning. Akari didn't press, didn't push past, simply stood radiating a quiet, steady presence that, despite the alarming nature of her visit, offered a strange sense of grounding. She knew this was going to hurt, and a fresh wave of guilt washed over her for having to deliver such news, mingled with a fierce protectiveness. Her heart ached for the pain she was about to inflict, but her resolve to reveal Maya's deceit and offer support was stronger than ever. She desperately hoped the full extent of Maya's actions hadn't already been discovered.