While Fang Cheng and Takeda Masumi talked on the rooftop, Asaka Akie had already finished showering and returned to her room.
She changed into the special-occasion lingerie she'd bought online, spritzed on some fresh, pleasant perfume, and grabbed the little umbrella she'd secretly bought, ready to take the first step into adulthood.
She'd be eighteen in a few months, and according to Area 11's laws, she was already old enough to marry and have children.
Fang Cheng didn't seem like the kind of person who'd get married at such a young age, but there was no harm in thinking ahead.
Who knew? Maybe he'd agree on a whim.
But as she was heading out, she ran into an obstacle.
And that obstacle was none other than Ye Yuqing.
She forcibly took control of their body and hid under the covers, refusing to come out.
Asaka Akie wrestled with her for ages but couldn't win, and nearly cried with frustration.
She'd finally gotten this chance to break through the barrier between them and be with Cheng-kun. So why were you making trouble now?
Ye Yuqing had a pretty convincing argument of her own. "Who just throws herself at a guy like that? Have you no shame?"
"That's right. I have no shame."
Asaka Akie threw caution to the wind. "I want to be with Cheng-kun. What's wrong with two people who like each other being together?"
"Give me a break. He doesn't like you. He just wants your body—and mine, too."
Ye Yuqing said angrily, "Men don't value things that are handed to them. How do you not understand something so simple?"
"Cheng-kun isn't like that."
Seeing Ye Yuqing being so unreasonable, Asaka Akie couldn't help raising her voice, too. "Yuqing, today you clearly..."
When she'd kissed Fang Cheng earlier that