She ambles into the cafe (she's so sure it's a cafe) hands in pockets. My plan failed. Peace-kun is in shambles. The device she came up with to lure Shinonome Nano into her clutches had to be fixed.

It wasn't incidental she was still in her lab coat, dirt, scuffs, scrapes and all. She came here without stopping after the paramedics had declared her safe to go.

"Coffee, straight black. No sugar or cream," she says, unable to stop herself from blushing in chagrin at the last bit. Nakamura looks around. Why no open tables?

She curtly thanks the person at the counter and wanders towards the back, cup in hand. She casts unimpressed glances at the empty seats beside other people. No symmetry. I have no choice. I must ask.

Nakamura tries to sound polite. "Is this seat taken?"