14. Could it be that I am merely a pawn in your game?

The red high heels on her raised foot swayed gently from time to time, the glass display case reflecting Sayaka Suzumiya’s face.

She sat alone on the Cartier sofa, lost in thought.

Even when her friends called her while trying on watches, she seemed hardly aware, simply folding her arms and staring at her blurred reflection in the clear glass before her.

If one looked closely, they would notice the slight dark circles beneath Sayaka’s light makeup and the unmistakable fatigue hidden in her eyes.

She hadn’t slept well these past couple of days.

The main cause was Tsukasa Harano.

Since the afternoon before yesterday, the scene that had unfolded kept replaying incessantly in Sayaka’s mind. Even sitting here, she felt as if the warmth of Harano’s palm still lingered on her hip.

But what kept Sayaka awake for two whole nights was that Harano hadn’t reached out to her.

Why hadn’t he even called?

Though they weren’t connected on any messaging apps, her phone number was easily accessible to anyone working at the ward office—Harano had no excuse not to know it.

He professed to have harbored a secret crush on her for so long. Was he really going to resign because of her reserve two days ago, pretend nothing had happened despite taking advantage, and simply vanish from her life?

What kind of so-called deep, secret love was that?

Shouldn’t he have been desperately clinging after being rejected?

If it weren’t for Sayaka’s upbringing and refined manners that helped her remain composed and patient beyond the average, she might have stormed over to Harano’s registered address yesterday to confront him.

Regarding that day’s incident, Sayaka felt both ashamed and exhilarated, yet now all she harbored for Harano was resentment—every time she closed her eyes, his image would flood her mind.

To vent her emotions, she had arranged to go shopping with friends on the last day of the weekend.

“Sayaka, you don’t seem very happy today,” one friend remarked.

“I’ve been troubled by something lately.”

“Are your uncle and aunt pressuring you about marriage again? There’s no need to get so upset; you should understand them. Just listen without letting it get to you. Listening doesn’t mean you have to follow through.”

“It’s not that. It’s about work,” Sayaka replied as she rose from the soft chair and walked out of the Cartier store with her friend, reluctant to say more.

Her companion, Orizuki Kurosaki, was a friend from university.

They had been close since then, maintaining contact after graduation and often going out shopping together. She was one of the few friends Sayaka could truly confide in.

Orizuki was slender, with a waist as delicate as willows swaying in the wind, dressed in a black long skirt that accentuated her quiet demeanor, a faint smile always playing at her lips.

Though slim, her beauty was elegant and refined, with eyebrows shaped like willows and eyes bright with a subtle glow.

Had it been any other matter, Sayaka would have shared her troubles with Orizuki. But the events with Harano at the office were too embarrassing to detail. So, faced with her friend’s concern, she chose to remain silent.

Not pressing further, Orizuki swiftly let the topic drop, linking her arm with Sayaka’s and smiling: “If it’s work bothering you, don’t let it spoil your wonderful weekend. Prada has new arrivals lately. If you like, I’ll get you something.”

“Why suddenly a gift?”

“You think I forgot your birthday is coming up in a few days? This is an early present.”

“What if I don’t like it?”

“What else can I do? Not buy it? Saves me money. I’ll just get you a cake and smear it on your face. How about that?”

Sayaka certainly didn’t think that was a great idea, but feeling her friend’s thoughtfulness warmed her heart and eased her mood somewhat.

Then, her gaze suddenly froze.

“Let’s go take a look over there,” Orizuki suggested.

“...”

“Don’t want to go?”

“...”

“Hm?”

Orizuki glanced to the left and saw Sayaka’s face had turned ashen, her snow-white cheeks clouded with a darkness as if they could weep.

She looked startled and confused.

Following Sayaka’s gaze, Orizuki spotted a couple about ten meters away, their gestures intimate as they laughed together. She faintly caught words like “like,” “reject,” and “right in front of you.”

The man ahead on the right was slender, carrying a Prada shopping bag. He wasn’t especially handsome but appeared to be in his twenties.

The young woman beside him was quite pretty, her youthful makeup and attire bright and fresh.

Judging from Sayaka’s expression, Orizuki’s thoughts turned swiftly, roughly guessing the matter. It surprised her that this usually indifferent friend could be stirred by such feelings.

“Sayaka? Who is that?”

“We’re going over.”

Sayaka’s icy tone seemed to freeze everything around her, her beautiful eyes brimming with unrestrained killing intent.

He said he saw stars in my eyes?

That he was too shy to confess his feelings?

That he had fallen for me at first sight two years ago?

He took advantage of me, then vanished without a word, not even a phone call, and now he’s here in Shinjuku on the weekend, meeting another woman, smiling more happily than anyone.

And that woman is Ruka Hoshino!

Wasn’t she the one who reported you?

Am I also just a plaything in their game?

All these thoughts and suspicions erupted wildly in Sayaka’s mind, making her feel as if her intelligence and dignity were mercilessly trampled by Harano. She clenched her fists so tightly that even the sharp nails digging into her palms went unnoticed.

Sayaka, her face darkened, strode forward, with Orizuki slowing her pace to follow.

Elsewhere, Tsukasa Harano stared into Ruka Hoshino’s eyes.

After his words, the thin barrier that had existed between them seemed to shatter.

An ambiguous atmosphere quietly unfolded.

Yet, while Ruka’s alluring lips parted slightly without speaking, Harano’s attention was privately focused on a malignant thoughts list.

[Malignant Target: Ruka Hoshino]

[Malignant Thoughts List:]

[1. Wants Harano to formally pursue her (white)]

[2. Wants to know how much money he has (white)]

[3. Judging by the situation, Harano will probably buy me a bag later, and it must be Gucci at least (white)]

Compared to her previous surface apology masking a wish for him to die immediately, thanks to Harano’s careful maneuvering, Ruka’s malignant thoughts had transformed into the true face of a gold-digger.

He hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly.

His reasons for meeting were strange, his explanations flimsy, yet it seemed she genuinely believed he liked her and didn’t mind.

It turned out not only men had three major delusions.

Well, whether it was her own imagination or a deliberate show of wealth to bait her, it was good that she was back on the path of materialistic pursuit. After all, every beginning is difficult; the rest would go smoothly.

Harano’s thoughts shifted; the pale blue screen showing the malignant thoughts list slowly faded. Smiling, he looked at Ruka and asked, “What’s wrong, Hoshino-san?”

“I...”

“What do you want to say?”

“Harano...”

“Hmm?”

Seeing the astonishment on Ruka’s beautiful face as she glanced behind him, Harano sensed something was wrong. A chill ran down his back, as if he were being watched.

Following her gaze, he turned and saw a cold, beautiful face less than two meters away.

Sayaka Suzumiya clenched her fists, her disgust and loathing unmistakable in her eyes, her expression terrifyingly dark.

Harano met her gaze.

Suppressing the feeling of being caught in an affair, though unprepared for this unexpected complication while carrying out another plan, he knew that panic would only make matters worse.

After a brief moment of fluster, he regained composure, rehearsed all possible contingency responses, and then showed a perfectly measured surprise: “Section Chief? What a coincidence.”