LRAB Page 354
Page 354
Shiraishikawa suddenly said.
"A very ugly pug, but she really liked it."
Aozaki Aoko's teacup clattered onto the table. Professor 563?
That was the dog that Aozaki Touko had when she was fifteen years old; it died long before she left home.
Aozaki Touko has the same name... What does this mean?
"Are you ok?"
Shiraishikawa asked with concern, handing over a tissue.
Aozaki Aoko mechanically took the tissue and wiped the tea that had splashed onto her hands.
Her thoughts were in complete disarray.
The details described by Shiraishikawa are too private to be mere hearsay.
If what he said is true, then Aozaki Touko...
"Our...relationship is complicated."
Aozaki Aoko finally gave a vague answer.
"It's almost like there's no connection at all."
Shiraishikawa nodded thoughtfully.
"That's what she said too. There's nothing between my sister and me—those are her exact words."
These words pierced Aozaki Aoko's heart like a knife.
Even after all these years, Aozaki Touko's indifference can still hurt her.
Chapter 440 Dissatisfaction
She stood up abruptly.
"I have to go now."
"and many more!"
Shiraishikawa quickly stood up.
"Could you... tell me how to contact her? Or at least tell her that I miss her..."
Looking at the ordinary man with a pleading expression, Aozaki Aoko suddenly felt a ridiculous pity.
He had no idea what kind of monster he had fallen in love with.
"I will... pass on the message."
She finally said that, although she knew in her heart that she would never do it.
As she stepped out of the sushi restaurant, the night breeze brushed against Aozaki Aoko's flushed cheeks.
She tried to clear her mind.
Shiraishikawa's appearance disrupted all her speculations about Aozaki Touko's whereabouts.
If Aozaki Touko really did live in seclusion in this city for six months, dating an ordinary person... then what are her plans now?
Aozaki Aoko suddenly remembered the sushi she had barely eaten, and the witch at home who was waiting for dinner.
She sighed, turned into the convenience store, and grabbed a few bento boxes at random.
The lights of the Kuonji residence looked especially warm in the night.
Aozaki Aoko pushed open the door and threw the convenience store bag onto the table in the entryway.
"I am back."
She called out weakly.
"Welcome back."
Kuonji Yuju's voice came from the living room, so calm that no emotion could be discerned.
"Where's the dinner party?"
Aozaki Aoko walked into the living room carrying a bag from the convenience store and saw Kuonji Yuzu sitting in an armchair by the fireplace reading a book.
The black-haired witch raised her head and glanced at the plastic bag in Aozaki Aoko's hand.
"A convenience store bento box?"
Kuonji Yuzu's voice remained calm, but Aozaki Aoko could sense the dissatisfaction within it.
"Sorry, something unexpected happened today."
Aozaki Aoko placed the bento box on the coffee table and slumped onto the sofa opposite her.
Kuonji Yuju put down his book and asked a question.
"What could have happened that made you forget to prepare dinner? Did you get into another fight with some familiar?"
"It's worse than that."
Aozaki Aoko rubbed her temples.
"I met a man who claimed to have dated Aozaki Touko."
"That Aozaki Touko is definitely up to something again!"
Aozaki Aoko threw the convenience store's plastic bag onto the table, the plastic packaging making a rustling sound.
She deliberately raised her voice an octave, trying to drown out Kuonji Yuzu's cold gaze.
Kuonji Yuzu slowly unpacked the bento box, her fingertips lightly tracing the edge of the cheap plastic box as if inspecting some dangerous item.
"This is what you call dinner?"
She raised her unfathomable black eyes.
"And I heard that someone had a great time at a high-end sushi restaurant in Ginza at noon today."
Aozaki Aoko's lips twitched, and her fingers unconsciously twisted together.
"that is because--"
"Because of what?"
Kuonji Yuju picked up a piece of fried chicken that had gone cold with the tip of her chopsticks, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Is it because I was so shocked to hear about Aozaki Touko's marriage that I need some good food to calm my nerves?"
"Hey! That's Aozaki Touko!"
Aozaki Aoko slammed her hand on the table, causing the rice in the plastic container to jump.
"That woman who values magic more than life itself suddenly says she wants to get married? Wouldn't you be shocked?"
Kuonji Yuju put down her chopsticks and placed her hands, folded, on her knees.
What shocked me even more was that you actually thought you could get rid of me with a convenience store bento box.
Outside the window, the night in Misaki City was getting darker, and the lights of buses on the distant mountain road flickered like fireflies.
Aozaki Aoko sighed and plopped down in the chair opposite her.
I took two buses and climbed a mountain for half an hour; I'm exhausted. I'm already grateful I remembered to bring you food.
".Excuse."
Kuonji Yuju's voice was as soft as a feather falling to the ground, yet it sent a chill down Aozaki Aoko's neck.
Aozaki Aoko scratched her head, deciding to try a different tactic.
Listen, Aozaki Touko wouldn't lure ordinary people to Misaki City for no reason.
She must have her eye on something—
"The barrier is not responding."
Kuonji Aryu interrupted her.
"You said the same thing yesterday."
"But this time it's different!"
Aozaki Aoko suddenly leaned forward, her body feeling better.
"I tested that guy named Shiraishikawa, and he really has nothing to do with the demonic path. But doesn't that just prove that Aozaki Touko is up to something else?"
Kuonji Yuju finally raised her head, her black hair falling beside her pale cheeks.
"Aozaki Aoko, the barrier can only detect magic power and magic. Some things... are not within its scope."
Aozaki Aoko was stunned. .
Chapter 441 The Hermit Has His Own Clever Plan
"You mean-"
"Superpowers. Or, more simply, money."
Kuonji Yuju tapped her fingertips lightly on the table.
"What did you get out of that Shiraishi Kawa?"
"Uh..."
Aozaki Aoko's eyes darted around.
"It's like... helping him solve his problems and stuff..."
Kuonji Yuju's gaze instantly turned icy.
"You wasted an entire day just to be a therapist?"
"Hey! I'm investigating this very seriously!"
Aozaki Aoko suddenly stood up and reached into her jeans pocket.
"And look, I got this!"
She slammed three brand-new 10,000-yuan banknotes onto the table, the banknotes gleaming coldly under the light.