Morimoto Chiyoda left, the pleasant scent of her perfu still lingering in the living room air.
Takahashi Saeko's expression was grave. After their brief contact, she understood Morimoto Chiyoda's personality type.
She looked down at her phone's surveillance feed. It showed no sign of Morimoto Chiyoda, but suddenly, a tall silhouette appeared on the otherwise empty staircase.
Takahashi Saeko's eyes narrowed with deep concern. The surveillance had indeed been hacked by the other party.
Modern technology, while convenient, also had its disadvantages. Highly intelligent systems and surveillance were easily invaded by hackers. If a hacker's skills were advanced enough, they could spy on her life without her knowing. This was why she only installed surveillance outside and not inside her ho. If she had caras inside, a hacker could expose all her private monts without her knowledge, which would be extrely dangerous.
A series of thoughts flew through her mind. Recalling Morimoto Chiyoda's words, Takahashi Saeko couldn't suppress her rising concern. She sat down and quickly texted Ayatsuki Ayaka, "Iroha, are you alright?"
After sending the ssage and receiving no imdiate response, she grew nervous. She even considered calling, but a glance at the ti showed that not even a minute had passed. Takahashi Saeko resisted the urge to call, knowing she shouldn't reveal her vulnerability in front of Morimoto Chiyoda. But Morimoto Chiyoda's sudden probe made it impossible for her to repress her worry for Iroha.
As she fretted, a notification chid.
"I'm fine! I'm shopping at LUMINE in Shinjuku station with Maru and Kaoru. Do you want to co over?"
After this lengthy ssage, a photo of Iroha with Maru and Kaoru was attached. Maru was grinning and waving, while Kaoru wore a contemplative expression.
Takahashi Saeko's heart settled; she realized Morimoto Chiyoda had just been teasing her.
"Great, I'll co over right away," she replied. She decided to spend the afternoon shopping with Iroha and also discuss with Maru how to deal with Morimoto Chiyoda.
Won of that type were tricky. Unless Morimoto Chiyoda grew tired of her relationship with Aozawa, snatching Aozawa from her grasp would be hellishly difficult.
Instead of trying to change Morimoto Chiyoda, it might be better to try changing Aozawa, Takahashi Saeko pondered. I need to find out what Morimoto Chiyoda likes about Aozawa, then get Aozawa to change that trait. That should cause Morimoto Chiyoda to beco repelled by him. If Morimoto Chiyoda likes losers, then I'll make Aozawa outstanding.
Takahashi Saeko turned these ideas over in her mind. She disliked being played by others. Morimoto Chiyoda teasing her just now was already noted in her ntal ledger.
Next, I not only have to fight for Aozawa for Iroha's sake but also to wash away the humiliation of being played, she resolved. I look forward to seeing that self-assured face break into tears, Takahashi Saeko thought with anticipation.
「At three thirty in the afternoon, Shibuya.」
The doors of a small arcade stood wide open. Aozawa stepped out, and the outside air, thick with heat, montarily felt like it scorched his skin. The lingering sensation of the arcade's cool air hadn't fully dissipated before his skin adjusted to the outdoor temperature.
"Thirty-six wins, huh." Hands on his hips, Aozawa faced the bright sunlight with a smile.
Hojo Tetsuji scratched his head in utter incomprehension. Sotis, even when I felt I had the upper hand, why did I mysteriously end up losing in the end? It's so strange!
"Aozawa, you didn't cheat, did you?"
As long as I'm not caught, it's not cheating, Aozawa thought, then replied with a righteous look, "I rely entirely on my own strength. You've lost, and you should bravely accept your defeat."
"But I really felt I could win," Hojo Tetsuji muttered, unable to wrap his head around it. He decided to put his confusion aside. "Whatever, let's go get sothing to eat. My treat."
"Sure." Aozawa agreed without hesitation.
Normally, Hojo Tetsuji would devote all his free ti to his manga. Lately, however, he'd been creatively blocked or, more accurately, stuck on the plot. Having never been on a date, he wanted to draw a dating scene for his manga. But then he was struck by the shallowness of his own experience as a single man, unable to truly imagine what couples did on dates. He decided he needed to experience what dating felt like.
However, Hojo Tetsuji's only female friend, Phoenix Academy Maggie, was unavailable on Saturday. Her days off were fully scheduled. Asking his sister felt too awkward, so he had resigned himself to asking Aozawa to join him.
"Tetsuji, although I have no objections, I think taking a girl to an arcade is a very poor choice," Aozawa pointed out.
"Aren't gas fun?" Hojo Tetsuji asked with a puzzled look, having enjoyed himself monts ago.
Shrugging, Aozawa replied, "Have you ever seen a manga where the main characters go on a date to an arcade?"
"I haven't, but I think going to regular places is too cliché. Going to an arcade might provide the shock of a brand-new impression."
"Innovation doesn't an it has to be cringeworthy," Aozawa retorted. "From my experience, you either go to malls or amusent parks. Dates should consider what the girl likes, not what you enjoy."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"Because I like playing gas." Aozawa spread his hands.
Hojo Tetsuji couldn't co up with a rebuttal to such a reason, and he ntally took note of it. On second thought, many similar works do enjoy setting their stories in amusent parks, he mused.
"Wait a minute, we'll find ti to go check it out."
"I don't mind, but do you have that much money?"
Hojo Tetsuji looked down at his wallet; only 13,000 Yen remained. Compared to the painstaking effort of saving money, spending it felt like watching water flow away.
"No choice then. We can only look around from the outside and imagine the attractions inside."
"What's the fun in that? I have so money here; consider it for the tickets."
"Aozawa, I'm really sorry. I said I would treat you."
"We're brothers. When your manga hits it big, you can just treat back," Aozawa said, waving his hand generously.
The two made their way to Shibuya Yokocho. It wasn't alti at three in the afternoon, yet the place was still packed. Indeed, the shops in Yokocho seed to attract a volu of custors that vastly exceeded their physical size. Many ran shops had long lines in front of them.
You could see so oddly dressed people around; Shibuya was a hub for fashion, so all sorts of attire could be spotted here. There was a Halloween atmosphere all year round.
The sight of colorfully dyed hair and bizarre outfits stirred distant mories in Aozawa's mind—those cringeworthy, non-mainstream trends from way back. Thinking back on it now makes cringe, but at the ti, I truly believed I was the coolest kid in the world, he thought.
Recalling his embarrassing past, Aozawa quickly shook off the thought. He and Hojo Tetsuji strolled around and set their sights on a shop run by an Arabian man. Even the sign was in pure Arabic script, utterly incomprehensible. Inside, a young man was slicing at from a large, vertically roasted chicken skewer, making it clear what the shop sold. The prices were also listed on a nu beside it.
"Let's go with this shop; there are fewer people."
"Alright," Hojo Tetsuji replied.
The two started to queue.
The Arabian's shop was small and didn't employ anyone else; it was just one man bustling about, his movents quite swift. Aozawa observed and figured this store could be called a wrap shop. The sliced chicken was combined with so vegetables and other fillings, then rolled up in a flatbread before being handed to the custors. He didn't know what the Arabians called this dish, but by Chinese standards, it was a wrap. And wraps, he knew, were best enjoyed with milk tea.
Aozawa looked around and, to save ti, raised his hand. "Tetsuji, I'll line up here for two wraps. You go to that milk tea shop over there and get two cups. I want brown sugar milk tea."
"No problem." Hojo Tetsuji handed over 1,500 Yen and headed towards the milk tea shop at the other end of the street.
The queue there was longer than at the Arabian's shop and consisted entirely of won. Most n would feel embarrassed to insert themselves into such a queue, but Hojo Tetsuji was an exception. He couldn't care less about the curious glances from others. There were only a few people in the world whose opinions Hojo Tetsuji cared about. He patiently took his place at the end of the line.
The woman directly in front of him felt an oppressive pressure, as if a ferocious tiger were standing right behind her. She turned her head hesitantly and suggested, "Why don't you go ahead?"
"No need, I'm fine queuing here."
"Haha, I'm not in a rush. You seem to be in more of a hurry, so it's probably better if you go ahead." The woman forced a smile. Ordinarily, she would have cursed anyone who tried to cut in line, tracing their lineage back eighteen generations. But Hojo Tetsuji, with his sunglasses, beard, and tall, imposing figure that resembled a gang boss, simply made her want him to move ahead and not linger behind her. What if he keeps staring and gets those unhealthy ideas about ? My lifelong chastity will be ruined! she worried.
Seeing her insistence, Hojo Tetsuji, not wanting to seem rude, nodded and said, "Thanks, sis. You're a really good person!"
"?! "The woman was bewildered. She glanced at Hojo Tetsuji, who looked to be in his early thirties. I'm only twenty-five, and he called 'sis'? Damn bastard, go to Hell! she inwardly roared, yet she maintained a slight smile, silently berating herself for being so timid.
Hojo Tetsuji smoothly moved up a spot and quickly advanced again, climbing from the very back to third in line.
The woman second in line, oblivious, was busy snapping a photo of the milk tea shop. She was checking in, posting her day's activities on Twitter to garner likes from her followers. After photographing the front of the shop, she turned to capture the length of the queue behind her, intending to show her followers how many people were waiting.
A bearded, sunglass-wearing man's face suddenly filled her phone screen.
"AAAH!" The woman scread in fright, her phone nearly slipping from her grasp.
Her sudden scream also startled Hojo Tetsuji. Before he could react, a hand darted out from the side and caught the falling phone. Then soone wrapped an arm around the woman's shoulder, consoling her softly, "Sweetheart, don't be scared. I'm right here."
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