The next morning, as promised, Hisaki followed Mrs. Ikeda to send Mari back to the university.
Hisaki had been preparing herself ever since she woke up this morning. To avoid acting weird or showing hostility if she did encounter Okawa Hitomi, she had to put up a perfect facade.
Mrs. Ikeda dropped them off at the gate before she drove to the medical department. She was going to meet one of the university's medical professors.
Mrs. Ikeda reminded Mari to contact her once she returned to her dormitory in the capital safely. To Hisaki, Mrs. Ikeda told her to wait at the guard's post if the meeting had to be prolonged.
Nearby the gate, a bus was already waiting to bring the delegation to the train station. Several students were chatting while waiting to board the bus.
As Hisaki and Mari got closer, the students noticed their appearance.
"Mari! I thought we have to just leave you here!"
"Oh, is this your friend? Why don't you introduce us?"
