At this, Mouri Ran suddenly remembered something and hesitated. "But Mika's skills are so good that she's fully booked every day. I don't know if she'll have time to see me if I just show up now."
Just as she spoke, an angry shout suddenly came from the alley beside them.
A middle-aged woman barked, "Mika, stop right there! I'm not finished!"
"Hm?" Outside the barbershop, Suzuki Sonoko's ears twitched. She whispered to Jiang Xia, "Someone's in the alley!—The 'Mika' she mentioned, could that be the hairdresser Ran likes?"
Jiang Xia headed toward the alley entrance. "We'll know if we take a look."
The other three hurried after him. The four of them peered around the corner, curiously looking into the narrow alley beside the shop. Two women stood facing each other, and the atmosphere was tense.
The younger woman with long hair seemed to want to leave, but the middle-aged woman opposite her blocked the way.
The middle-aged woman said anxiously, "Explain this to me! What exactly is going on?"
Mitsui Mika sighed. "Store manager, wasn't I clear enough? I'm moving to another salon, so starting next Monday, I won't be coming here anymore."
The store manager pressed her lips tightly together, the nasolabial folds beside them filled with anger. "This decision is far too sudden. There's no way I can agree to it! Besides..."
At that moment, a young employee pushed open the shop's side door hidden in the alley, interrupting her.
"Store manager," the employee said quietly, "there's a customer in the shop asking for you."
The store manager took an irritated deep breath. "I know. I'll be right there. Tell him to wait a moment."
The employee did not dare say anything more. Just as silently as she had arrived, she shut the door and slipped