A week later.
Shimizu Kanon and Ayako were walking down the street together.
Shimizu Kanon looked somewhat dazed, her head lowered as she remained silent the entire way.
Curious to the end, Ayako finally couldn't hold back and asked, "What's wrong with you today? You seem kind of strange. Is something bothering you?"
Shimizu Kanon came to her senses and forced out a faint smile. "It's nothing."
Seeing her like that, Ayako said bluntly, "Is there something you can't tell me? If something's troubling you, talking about it might help you feel better."
Hearing this, Shimizu Kanon looked at Ayako and slowly sighed. "Sigh... It's not my problem, really! It's A-Ce! I just feel like something's changed about him lately, so I'm a little worried."
"Hm? Qing Junce? What's wrong with him? I saw him helping Sakuragi Hanamichi practice shooting yesterday, and I didn't notice anything different!" Ayako wore a puzzled expression.
Shimizu Kanon shook her head worriedly. "I don't know either. I just have that feeling, and it makes me uneasy."
Ayako threw an arm around Shimizu Kanon's neck and laughed carefree. "Oh, come on! You're definitely overthinking it. He's a grown man already. Nothing's going to happen to him."
Shimizu Kanon struggled with it for a moment before finally nodding. Hopefully, I really am overthinking it.
Qing Junce's villa.
Inside Qing Junce's bedroom.
Snore... snore... snore...
Qing Junce lay sprawled across the bed, fast asleep.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains and spilled into the bedroom, bathing the entire room in a dreamy glow.
At Qing Junce's bedside lay an open magazine featuring young models. The various girls wore revealing, alluring outfits, their ample breasts resembling seductive demons haunting the night, making ordinary men yearn for what they could never have.
At the same time.
The Anzai