**Consequences of Desperation**

The air was thick with tension as Rin finally found her voice, her words barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry." The apology seemed to hang in the air, a feeble attempt to make amends for her actions. Saki's expression turned cold, her eyes flashing with anger. "Fuck that," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. Without another word, she removed her belt from her waist, the leather strap slithering through her fingers like a snake. Rin's eyes widened in fear as she took a step back, her hands raised in a futile attempt to protect herself. Nozomi, still sniffling, looked on with wide eyes, her face pale. Saki's anger seemed to be directed solely at Rin, and the younger girl felt a wave of dread wash over her. Saki took a step closer to Rin, the belt at the ready. "You know, I've been patient with you," she said, her voice cold and detached. "I've given you chance after chance, and yet you still manage to screw up. You hurt Nozomi, and you hurt me. You need to learn some discipline." Rin shook her head, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She knew she had messed up, and Saki's reaction was a mix of anger and disappointment. The belt cracked through the air, and Rin flinched, expecting the impact. But it didn't come. Saki seemed to be savoring the moment, her eyes blazing with anger. The silence was oppressive, heavy with anticipation. Nozomi's sobs had stopped, and the only sound was the quiet hum of the air conditioner in the background. Rin felt like she was standing on the edge of a precipice, staring into the abyss. The belt cracked through the air again, and this time, it landed on Rin's shoulder. She cried out in pain as the leather bit into her skin, leaving a stinging welt. Saki's expression didn't change, her eyes still blazing with anger. "How many times do I have to tell you?" Saki spat, the belt rising and falling in a rhythmic motion. "You need to listen, you need to obey. You can't just do whatever you want and expect everything to be okay." Rin stumbled backward, her eyes fixed on Saki's angry face. She felt a wave of pain and humiliation wash over her, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse. But she kept her feet, her eyes locked on Saki's, as she waited for the punishment to end. The beating continued, each stroke of the belt leaving a stinging mark on Rin's skin. She felt like she was losing herself, like she was being broken down and rebuilt into something new. And when Saki finally stopped, Rin collapsed to the floor, her body aching and her heart heavy with shame.