"Hey, how have you been lately?"
"..."
"Don't be so cold. There's only one final step left in the commission. Once Suou goes somewhere, you can come to me and collect what you want."
The woman's voice over the phone spoke to Black. Black narrowed his eyes slightly, darting a glance at Suou in the distance before lowering his voice. "When?"
"Any time after four in the afternoon. You can pick the time yourself."
"Got it." Black nodded and promptly hung up. He had never once called the number that had always been contacting him; the other party had always been the one to reach out. Since that woman had said so, that restriction must have been lifted now. Thus, he hung up without the slightest hesitation.
"Suou."
"Here!... What is it?"
Suou looked at Black in surprise. This... was he actually calling her by name so directly? That was practically unheard of.
"Come grocery shopping with me. We'll have a good meal, and then there'll be something to do." Black grabbed his coat and slipped it on.
"Oh." Suou hurriedly stood up. "Are we acting together this time?"
"No. You'll act alone." Black said flatly. He took out a sheet of paper and wrote something on it. Just as Suou leaned over to sneak a look, he tucked it away even faster. "I'll give it to you when the time comes."
"...Not now?"
"You're still young."
"What does that have to do with me being young?!" Suou protested. Black said nothing more and simply opened the door and walked out. Only then did she snap out of it and hurriedly chase after him.
"The time for parting is almost here."
Mao, transformed into a flying squirrel, spoke with a hint of emotion in his voice. He then looked at