Because of Ned, Yui's gaze returned to Sophie once more—this time with a different look in her eyes.
"Yes, I just got off the plane this morning."
"Why didn't you tell me? I could have picked you up," he said.
Sophie lifted her head to look at him. "Thank you, but it wasn't necessary."
"We've only been apart for a short while. Why so formal?" His words immediately caught Yui's attention.
"The version of you from that time wasn't the real you. It was just a brief interlude—a pause in your life." Sophie said to him.
He gave a short, scoffing laugh. "Just talk to me the way you did the day before yesterday. There's no need to be so restrained between us."
Sophie lowered her eyes and said only, "Goodbye." Then she stepped around him and left the ward.
Ned remained standing in the doorway. He neither chased after her nor turned back.
"She's really beautiful," Yui said softly, breaking the silence as she stood beside Ned.
Ned didn't respond.
