"Tch," Kurokawa spat out a piece of nail and sat next to Tachibana. "Three ball-crushing cases plus that unicorn guy... that's four in a short time. I wonder if it's the legendary 'Nut-Cracker'?" She laughed, a harsh sound that triggered the voice-activated lights in the hallway.
Tachibana glanced at her and went back to the monitor. Kurokawa rolled her eyes. "You're so boring. I'd rather work with Hiramatsu; at least I can mess with her when she falls asleep."
"Where is Hiramatsu today?" Kurokawa asked with a sinister smile.
"I'm covering her shift. She owes me a favor," Tachibana replied shortly.
"Hehe, she owes me a favor too. Why don't you cover my shift as well?~"
Tachibana said nothing.
"Silence means yes, then! I'm leaving!" Kurokawa tried to bolt for the elevator.
"If you're marked absent, don't complain about the pay cut," Tachibana's cold voice rang out. Kurokawa stopped in her tracks. She hated Tachibana, but she loved money more.
"Come with me to the warehouse. We need more rope," Tachibana said.
"Rope?"
"The other two will wake up soon. If they start a riot, we'll get complaints."
They grabbed several nylon ropes. When Kurokawa entered the ward and saw Hayato wrapped like a mummy, she burst into a mocking grin. "He looks like an Egyptian corpse."
Then she met Hayato's bloodshot eyes. The hatred in them was so intense she flinched and looked away. "Oh, those poor patients. Who could be so cruel?~" she said, her voice now dripping with fake sympathy. Tachibana's eyes filled with even more disgust.
"You tie up that one, I'll do this one," Tachibana said, pointing to Coach Azuma.
"Let's swap," Kurokawa said, looking at the massive coach and then at the skinnier Shika. She was still spooked by Hayato's eyes. "I'm not as strong as Nurse Yamaguchi; I'm afraid I won't tie the big guy tight enough."
"Fine," Tachibana sighed. She went to Coach Azuma and expertly bound him.
Kurokawa went to Shika. Her fear vanished, replaced by contempt for the sleeping man. She wrapped the nylon rope around him, pulling it so tight it bit into his flesh, leaving deep red welts.
"Kurokawa, that's too tight," Tachibana frowned. "Are you tying a patient or an animal?"
"Is it? I just don't want him to escape~" Kurokawa whispered with a cruel glint in her eyes.