Takagi still liked his female superior, of course.
But liking her was one thing; he truly had no ideas beyond that.
Everyone in the entire Metropolitan Police Department liked Officer Sato, okay?
Liking someone was like admiring flowers. Appreciating them did not mean bringing them home.
Yeah, Sato was the kind of person who could only be admired from afar, never approached lightly.
She was beautiful, but she was also a fierce woman.
Compared to that, someone like our Ayaka—beautiful and not a fierce woman—was better.
Takagi thought to himself.
Sato Miwako sensed that he seemed to be studying her and shot him a suspicious glance. "Takagi, what are you thinking about?"
Takagi smiled awkwardly and waved his hands. "Nothing. I was just thinking about Ayaka."
"Oh~" A sly smile appeared on Sato Miwako's face. "Come to think of it, it's been quite a while. I was the one who introduced you two, after all. How are things going between you and Ayaka?"
"Well..."
"You're getting shy now!"
Sato Miwako laughed and patted Takagi on the back. "I understand. A matchmaker doesn't meddle in married life!"
"I don't want to know any of your little secrets!"
Having his female superior tease him like that made Takagi blush bright red.
"Sonoko, do you know how worried we were about you...?"
"You actually made a joke like that!"
"Exactly! You could at least have told us!"
"Well, my phone wasn't with me!"
"Then you could have asked Senior Fujino to tell us!"
"Senior didn't tell you?"
"He did, but we thought he was just saying that to cover for you, Sonoko!"
"That really does sound like something you'd do, Sonoko..."
Meanwhile, Fujino drove straight to Snow King Ice City.
When Ayako and Ran saw Sonoko sitting inside the shop, enjoying the