Donut Lady's shop.
Bai Qiu came here after dropping off Toyokawa Sachiko.
He saw that there were very few donuts left in the display case.
So, Bai Qiu said with great generosity,
"I'll take them all, packed up."
"Alright, please wait a moment."
This was the first time he'd come here at night.
He arrived here.
Bai Qiu couldn't help but think of Donut Lady.
Since that day, he'd been coming to buy donuts for breakfast every morning.
Hmm… a little addicted.
Donut Lady seemed to be the same.
And, no matter what time he left.
She always seemed to be a little earlier than him.
Standing one or a few spots ahead of him in line.
She would buy 20 donuts every time.
Fortunately, Bai Qiu didn't have to wait for ages this time.
Forget about her.
Bai Qiu idly scrolled through his phone.
"Excuse me, could I get a few donuts, please?"
Bai Qiu looked up.
A black mask, a familiar baseball cap, and sunglasses.
Bai Qiu was secretly delighted.
I finally get a chance, huh?
Damn that Donut Lady!
Bai Qiu then plastered on his most polite smile and looked at her earnestly.
"Of course not..."
Bai Qiu's pupils narrowed.
"Not a problem..."
Bai Qiu's smile vanished, his expression becoming a bit stiff.
He wanted to smile, to let her know he was willing.
But earlier, he'd swallowed the word "maybe".
He accidentally bit his tongue and started bleeding.
He could no longer maintain perfect control of his expression.
His pupils, hidden behind his sunglasses, also slightly contracted.
"Sorry, did I scare you?"
Misumi Touka naturally lowered her mask and subtly took a step forward.
Her deep purple eyes held a hint of mystery, more captivating than the stars.
Bai Qiu had seen many beautiful faces before.
But compared to them, she possessed an air of composure and calmness.
Her profound gaze gave no hint of her thoughts.
But even that wasn't what surprised Bai Qiu.
The key was her short, golden hair.
It made Bai Qiu realize he'd made a mistake.
Luckily, he reacted quickly.
He sucked in a breath to ease the pain, shook his head, and slowly spoke,
"How many do you want? Would five be okay?"
Bai Qiu glanced at the remaining donuts, estimating there were fewer than 10.
"Okay, thank you," Misumi Touka said softly, nodding.
Actually, two would be enough; after all, Mana could only sneak two at a time.
Bai Qiu told the clerk.
After paying, he quickly left the place that often made him lose face.
After Bai Qiu left, Misumi Touka pulled her mask back up. She glanced at his departing back and murmured in a voice only she could hear,
"It seems he's not the one I'm looking for!"
"Although, he does seem a little like..."
From the moment Bai Qiu turned around,
Misumi Touka watched his every move intently.
Her eyes didn't leave him for a second.
Did he bite his tongue or something?
Other than that, nothing seemed out of the ordinary; he didn't act like he recognized her at all.
Yeah, there's no way he'd be the one to come out and buy Mana a donut.
Just find you.
Tokyo's a big city, after all.
Misumi Touka chuckled softly.
Qiu…
Xiao Qiu…
Qiu-chan…
Wait for me…
I will definitely find you.
"Um… are you, by any chance, Misumi Touka from the idol group Sumimi?" the shop assistant suddenly asked nervously.
Misumi Touka finally came back to herself.
Smiling, she nodded slightly and put a finger to her lips in a "shush" gesture.
The shop assistant nodded blankly.
Taking the donut, she murmured a "thank you."
Misumi Touka stepped forward and left.
In front of the elevator doors.
Bai Qiu and Nagasaki Soyo stood side by side, keeping a slight distance between them.
After exchanging greetings, the two fell silent.
The atmosphere was a little awkward.
What a… coincidence!
Both of them couldn't help but think at the same time.
These two had been avoiding each other quite deliberately recently.
As for the reason?
Of course, it was because of the incident a few days ago where they shared a bowl of soup.
Actually, these past few days...
Whenever Nagasaki Soyo thought about Bai Qiu possibly eating alone in a big house, just like her…
And eating food that wasn't even properly cooked…
Nagasaki Soyo felt a pang of sympathy. She had planned to invite Bai Qiu over for dinner.
Of course, she could also ask about Kohane then.
However, when she was about to ring the doorbell…
The scene from that night would involuntarily flash in her mind.
Nagasaki Soyo felt her head getting hot, and she retreated.
Bai Qiu felt like things weren't going well for him today!
Who's to blame?
Rana? No, children are innocent.
Toyokawa Sachiko? No, I'm the bad guy.
The golden-haired girl? No, she's just a passerby.
Nagasaki Soyo? No, Soyo did nothing wrong.
So, I'm sorry, but it's just you left.
Donut Lady.
If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have thought of donuts. If I hadn't thought of donuts, I wouldn't have gone to buy donuts. If I hadn't bought donuts, I wouldn't have met the golden-haired girl. If I hadn't met the golden-haired girl, I wouldn't have mistaken her for someone else. If I hadn't mistaken her for someone else, I wouldn't have been delayed there for a few minutes, and if I hadn't been delayed...
So, I can get downstairs before Soyo, get into the elevator first, and then I won't run into Nagasaki Soyo.
Bai Qiu thought to himself.
"Um... Bai Qiu-kun, the elevator's here."
Nagasaki Soyo reminded him, holding the elevator's open door button, her eyes fixed on Bai Qiu.
You don't even want to ride the elevator with me!
"Oh, right, sorry."
Bai Qiu snapped back to reality and hurried into the elevator.
Once inside the elevator, the space felt cramped.
Bai Qiu couldn't help but stand next to Soyo.
Soyo pressed the button for the 45th floor.
At this moment, Nagasaki Soyo had also regained her composure and rationality.
She noticed that Bai Qiu was still carrying a Keyboard Bag.
Nagasaki Soyo looked at it curiously.
This packaging... it's an Electronic Keyboard...
Soyo's gaze narrowed slightly.
Returning so late, had he been practicing the piano?
Oh, right, I forgot to ask him about the band last time.
I should ask him now.
Nagasaki Soyo's lips curled into a smile, and she was just about to speak when her expression suddenly changed.
Wait!
What is this smell?
Nagasaki Soyo sniffed, the scent seemed faint.
So, she took a step closer to Bai Qiu.
Sniff, sniff…
Ah... familiar... such a familiar scent.
It can't be wrong... it can't be wrong... it can't be wrong!
Absolutely not wrong!
This aura, this scent.
It's definitely the scent that only Toyokawa Sachiko has.
Nagasaki Soyo was both surprised and delighted. The scent of Sachiko made her feel at ease.
She instinctively closed her eyes, greedily savoring this scent, her body and mind gradually relaxing.
However, in an instant.
Nagasaki Soyo's eyes snapped open, a sharp glint in them.
She wanted to demand answers!
To shout them out loud!
Why!
Why did he smell like Sachiko!
What was his relationship with Sachiko!
Tell me everything!
This was definitely a scent! That only came from being incredibly close!
From the moment the elevator started, Bai Qiu felt a strange pressure.
And as the elevator ascended, this pressure grew heavier.
He didn't think it was due to gravitational acceleration.
There was no one else in the elevator, that much was certain.
The source of this pressure came from Nagasaki Soyo.
Bai Qiu touched his face, feeling that Soyo had been staring at him for a long time.
Do I have something on my face?
"Soyo, what's wrong?"
Nagasaki Soyo took a deep breath.
Calm down, Soyo.
She needed to stay composed in situations like this.
"It's nothing!"
Nagasaki Soyo smiled, squinting her eyes.
"I was just curious why Bai Qiu-kun is back so late."
"Did you go somewhere fun?"
That's right, Soyo, just like that. Guide him step by step to reveal the truth.
"Oh, this? I went to work with my bandmates today."
Bai Qiu said this on purpose.
It could ease the awkward atmosphere and provide something to talk about.
More importantly, it could earn Soyo's notes.
Band? Bandmates? Work?
This sentence revealed a lot of information.
A glimmer flashed in Nagasaki Soyo's eyes, and then she praised,
"You're working hard, Qiu-kun!"
She wanted to ask where he worked, but that felt a little abrupt.
"Is this… an instrument?"
Soyo asked, immediately recognizing it as an electronic keyboard, even the same model Sachiko used to own.
But she needed to get the answers gradually.
That way, she wouldn't arouse suspicion.
Bai Qiu, however, preferred to get straight to the point.
"Yeah, I'm the keyboardist for a band."
"I see. Does your band have any live performances? Where do you usually practice?"
Bai Qiu's eyes lit up.
As expected, Nagasaki Soyo knew quite a bit about Bands.
"Not yet, we're active in Shimokitazawa."
"If you're interested, I'll definitely invite you when we have a Live."
Bai Qiu said with a smile, feeling the pressure around him ease up a bit.
"Alright, be sure to save a ticket for me then."
Nagasaki Soyo's lips curled into a smile, and then she prepared to ask the next question.
"Of course."
"Ding!"
The elevator doors opened automatically as it reached the floor.
Bai Qiu's eyes lit up. He was saved!
He was the first to step out of the elevator, and immediately felt a sense of relief.
Damn elevator!
Nagasaki Soyo cursed inwardly, feeling extremely displeased.
Why did it have to go up so fast?
It was just at a crucial moment!
She hadn't even asked which live house yet.
I should have known to rent the top floor.
Wait, if I rented the top floor, Bai Qiu-kun would also be on this floor, going outside.
Damn it, if I leave this space...
I won't be able to smell Sachiko-chan anymore!
Nagasaki Soyo couldn't help but take a final sniff.
Huh?! Why?! I can't smell it anymore!
Nagasaki Soyo's eyes darkened.
"Um… Soyo, aren't you coming out yet?"
Bai Qiu looked at Nagasaki Soyo with a puzzled expression. What was with her face, turning red and then black like that?
"Ah, yes!"
"Sorry, I was spacing out."
Nagasaki Soyo hurried out.
"Have you eaten, Bai Qiu? Would you like to come to my place for dinner?"
Nagasaki Soyo invited him, hoping to glean a bit more information.
Bai Qiu hesitated slightly, then raised the bag in his hand.
"No, thanks. I bought some donuts, and they won't be good if I leave them too long."
"I have food at home, so I won't bother you."
Even though Bai Qiu missed Soyo's home cooking, he felt she was acting a little strange today, and her gaze seemed a bit too intense.
Thinking about what happened today, Bai Qiu didn't want to stick around any longer.
So, he decided to go home!
"I see…"
Nagasaki Soyo sounded disappointed.
Damn donuts.
"You can't refuse next time, okay?"
Nagasaki Soyo said, retreating to advance.