Page 192 of Mercy Written in Blood

"You usually enjoy being right."

"Not about everything."

Haruki smiled. Renji looked towards the shelves. The evasion was answer enough. Ayako had watched them during dinner,and Haruki had felt it — not disapproval, but assessment. She had noticed the way he turned towards Renji whenever someone spoke, the way Renji listened to him even while pretending to focus elsewhere. She had certainly seen their hands beneath the table. Ayako missed nothing that occurred inside her own house. Yet she had said nothing. That silence had been more unnerving than confrontation.

"She likes you," Haruki said.

"She does not know me."

"That has never prevented her from disliking anyone."

"Perhaps she considers me useful."

"Probably."

Renji looked at him. Haruki smiled.

"And she likes you."

"You have no evidence."

"She gave you the good tea."

"I did not realise tea constituted emotional testimony."

"In that house, it does."

Renji considered this.

"That explains why Hiroshi received beer."

Haruki laughed again. This time Renji's mouth moved — not a smile, almost. Haruki saw it. He knew better than to point it out. Renji had become suspicious whenever his own enjoyment was observed too closely, as though pleasure were something that retreated if named.

Instead, Haruki reached for his coffee.

"You were going to complain about the guards," he said.

"I am still going to complain."

"Then why haven't you?"

"You have been distracting."

"Another admirable quality."

"No."

"You're becoming repetitive."

"So are you."

Renji placed his cup on the table.

"The men outside my building are unnecessary."

"They found a camera across from your entrance."

"The camera is gone."