Each with Their Own Schemes (I Bought a Thermometer, and It Was Only Seventeen Degrees in the Room)

At Airi's answer, Asagi's breathing stopped. For a moment, she wanted to say she had been joking, but some unseen force kept the words from leaving her mouth. Then she watched Airi sit up and lie down on the sofa beside her.

"Will this do?"

"Ah, yeah..."

Blue Feather Asagi froze at the sight before instinctively nodding. Then she watched Airi pull out her phone and start scrolling through the news—wait, that wasn't right! That wasn't what she meant! She meant that... shouldn't that scene involve taking off their clothes?!

"Hmm, not bad. She already has half my beauty."

Airi nodded in satisfaction at the portrait in the sketchbook, then prepared to leave. At that moment, Asagi seemed to suddenly snap out of a dream and called out to her again.

"Um... Xiao Ai, are you free after this?"

"Is there something else?"

"No, um..."

Asagi seemed possessed now. Ever since she had recalled that scene from the movie, it was as if something had bewitched her, drawing her in until she could no longer pull herself free!

"Are you busy right now? I'm tired too. How about we go soak in a hot spring together?"

"Sure, no problem. I'm free anyway."

Airi did not sense any danger at all. She casually put away her phone and nodded. Just now, she had hacked into the Artificial Island's surveillance system to check on Nagisa. Nagisa and the others had successfully picked up Yuma and were currently taking her around Kagami Island. Through the cameras, Airi had seen Yuma as well. Compared to before, Yuma looked much more like a girl now. As a child, she had given off the impression of a tomboy, but now she was clearly livelier, with a carefree sort of beauty.

Yuma looked like she was having