"Any rumors about you blacking out yesterday?" Said Mari curiously.
"Yes, rumors that accused Chief Kobayashi of being the reason behind it..." said Hana. Hana clarified, "If possible, I'd like to set the record straight if it was distorted..."
Mari looked concerned, and Yuuto took the opportunity to crash the conversation by sitting with them at one of the tables in the break room.
"Shinohara-chan, are you sure the Chief isn't forcing you to deal with this rumor against your will?" He inquired.
"No... He asked me to, but he left me the choice to do so or not..." Said the young woman. "And that's what I'd like to do..."
"But why?" Yuuto asked, "He didn't force you to, okay. But he was still nasty to you..."
Mari patted Yuuto's shoulder a few times while smiling wearily.
"That, you don't need to know..." She said.
"Even if the Chief was a real bastard with her?" Yuuto whispered.
