Inside the hotel room, not long after Toru left, Shizuka fumbled for the bedside lamp and turned it on.
She propped herself up into a half-sitting position.
Just as Toru had predicted, although she had drunk quite a bit, she wasn't completely drunk. At most, she just felt a little uncomfortable.
Shizuka didn't know why she acted like that. She had never used such tactics with other men before.
Leaning against the headboard, she stared blankly at the ceiling light.
Thinking about her life over the past twenty-plus years, she found it both laughable and frustrating.
When she was young and still in school, she was proud and indifferent toward boys her age. She had no intention of dating and just wanted to live life on her own terms.
So while her peers and friends were busy dating, she remained aloof, often preaching to her friends about how relationships ended badly.
Her school life had been carefree. It wasn't that no one pursued her, but she coldly rejected them all.
After graduating and entering society, whether it was due to age or her biological instincts, Shizuka suddenly found herself wanting to fall in love.
That was when she realized how manipulative people in society could be.
They either lusted after her looks or her family's money. In her eyes, those men were either greasy or insincere.
And so it went, year after year. Now, at twenty-six or twenty-seven, panic started to set in. She was beginning to think she might not ever get married.
If she had known this would happen, she would've gotten into a proper relationship back in university. At least students were simpler back then.
Especially after becoming a Teacher, seeing the vibrant youth of high school students, the contrast with society made the difference even more apparent, leaving her feeling completely disillusioned. She figured she'd probably never get a boyfriend in this lifetime.
But today, she'd gotten lucky.
She met a handsome guy, a top student from Tokyo University, and most importantly, someone who hadn't yet been tainted by the world. He was so considerate, without any ulterior motives, even when she was "drunk."
Shizuka looked at the milk and trash can by the bed, thinking about how he had thoughtfully turned off the lights earlier. Women were always moved by small gestures like these.
"Could it be that I'm actually into younger guys? And they have to be students?"
The thought startled her.
She was a Teacher. She had to uphold the dignity of her profession.
Although she wasn't a predatory woman, for some reason, she had an urge to be the hunter this time.
She picked up her phone and tapped on Toru's Line profile, curious about his private life.
There weren't many pictures in his moments. Most were landscape shots. Occasionally, there were one or two selfies.
Just as she had expected. Guys didn't like taking selfies, and his posts didn't reveal much. At most, she learned that he often traveled, so maybe he liked exploring?
And being able to support himself while traveling like that, plus having gone to Shuchiin Academy... his family background must be solid. Putting everything together, he was basically a dream guy in the eyes of most girls.
Shizuka hesitated.
Would someone like that really be interested in an "old lady" like her? What if she ended up drinking beer and singing breakup songs with her friends at KTV again? They'd definitely laugh at her.
"Whatever. I'll take it slow. It doesn't hurt to get to know a guy like this. It's not like we have to be lovers. Just being friends is fine."
Even though she often shouted, "God, give me a boyfriend!", deep down, Shizuka was a free-spirited woman.
Her finger accidentally scrolled through her contacts. When she saw a certain name, she paused.
It was someone she had mentioned to Toru before. A friend and former student who had just entered her second year at Tokyo University, also studying in the Faculty of Politics and International Studies—Yukinoshita Haruno.
After thinking for a moment, she sent a message:
"Haruno, when you're free, I'll come visit you at Tokyo University. I've never been to Japan's top school, and as a Teacher, I should personally feel the atmosphere of academia."
Using visiting a friend as an excuse to go to Tokyo University, and then contacting Toru while she was there, would give her a reason.
Not long after, Haruno replied:
"That's odd. Shizuka, you actually want to come to my school? Something feels off. What's your real reason?"
What a sharp woman.
Seeing her reply, Shizuka cursed under her breath. She regretted saying anything.
If it was Haruno, she really might see through her intentions the moment they met.
That woman was terrifying. Even Shizuka couldn't handle her sometimes.
But she'd already sent the message, so she had no choice. She could only tough it out and keep the conversation going.
...
On the other side, Toru had returned to the street corner. He walked to the steps where he had seen the girl in the white dress and raised an eyebrow.
"She's gone?"
He looked around, but the girl and the black cat she held had both vanished.
Toru searched the nearby area and confirmed that someone had definitely been there earlier. There were traces of black cat hair on the ground.
"So, was that a person... or a ghost?"
The surroundings were quiet and dim, with only the distant light from a convenience store and a few streetlamps. It felt like the set of a horror movie.
Toru took a deep breath. Since he couldn't find her now, he'd have to come back later.
...
Tokyo, A high-end apartment.
"Huh? Brother? Dad, where would I get a brother? Oh! I get it now! Before you married Mom, you had a child with another woman!"
"A certain high school detective, Kudo Shinichi, once said, there's always only one truth!"
A girl with long pink hair, wearing a black hair clip and a casual home outfit, had somehow found a Sherlock Holmes-style detective cap and put it on.
She held a pipe in one hand, shaped her other into a gun, and closed one eye as she pointed at her father with a serious look.
Her two sisters beside her nodded along in agreement, clearly supporting their older (or maybe younger) sister's logic.
Fujiwara Daichi stared at his three unreliable daughters, his face dark with frustration. When his wife, Maho, also gave him a suspicious look, he panicked and quickly said:
"Dear, you know that's my brother's kid! Why are you encouraging Chika too?"
Maho's expression had just softened when Chika interrupted again:
"It must be the child you had but didn't dare let Mom know about. Then you found Uncle and made him pretend it was his kid!"
"Detective Chika has uncovered the truth! Dad, confess now! Confession earns leniency! I'll visit you in prison often, I promise I won't abandon you!"
Chika wiped away imaginary tears.
"Chika is right."
"Sis nailed it!"
Her older sister, Toyomi, and younger sister, Moeha, chimed in enthusiastically.
Seeing that his wife was now fully suspicious, Daichi was on the verge of a breakdown.
What kind of karma did he suffer to end up with three wild beasts like this? Especially Chika. She was inhuman!
Watching Chika mimic that iconic Kudo Shinichi pose that had become famous thanks to the media, Daichi ground his teeth.
That damn Kudo Shinichi, always playing detective games.
Wait, hasn't he gone missing lately? Serves him right!
"Chika, stop messing around. I'm serious."
Daichi knew that trying to explain now would only make things worse.
He turned to his second daughter with a solemn expression.
"You're close with that girl from the Shinomiya family, right?"
"Shinomiya? You mean Kaguya? We've been best friends since fourth grade."
Chika didn't understand why her dad suddenly brought up her best friend.
Daichi nodded.
"The family head and your uncle have decided. Your brother—well, technically, your cousin—is going to marry the Shinomiya girl."
"Huh?! He's marrying Kaguya?!"
Chika jumped up in shock.
Not shock over the news itself, or any objection to an arranged marriage for her best friend. It was pure gossip-fueled excitement.
Wow. Dating, engagement, then those two doing that~
A flood of strange thoughts raced through Chika's mind. Her face turned bright red, and she started breathing heavily.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
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