The phone rang, its chime breaking the silence.

Jack had drunk too much brandy last night, and his movements getting out of bed were sluggish.

Next to him lay a petite woman with jet-black hair.

He answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Jack."

His boss's cold voice instantly sobered him up.

Jack yelled, "Yes, sir!"

"Do you have any news about what happened last night?"

Jack's head was in a fog. He hadn't been working at all the previous evening and had chosen instead to party at a bar. Of course, he couldn't report that to his boss, so he could only vaguely reply, "I'm still investigating for specifics."

"Still investigating?! Do you realize that the six conglomerates are already aware of Dio being a Superpower User?"

The boss's pent-up anger finally erupted, and through the phone, he lambasted Jack, "You useless wretch! We give you funding and you haven't reported anything useful. Every day it's just trivial matters. The second and third bodies of Superpower Users have already been autopsied by the task force team. Even the autopsy reports have been filed, and here you are, doing nothing! The shame of the CIA!"

The tirade stunned Jack into silence. Claiming that Dio was a Superpower User was just a lie he'd concocted, but judging from his boss's tone, it seemed that Superpower Users might actually exist.

Dio is a Superpower User?!

This revelation made Jack jump to his feet, replying, "I... I've done what I could with the little money and manpower you've given me. How could I possibly break through the blockades of the six major conglomerates?"

After his outburst, the boss regained a moment of calm. This is clearly not the time to report Jack's incompetence to the higher-ups, as it would only reflect poorly on the CIA. Instead, I need to use Jack's excuse to ask for more budget and authority.

"Investigating Dio is now our top priority. I'm sending thirty-six agents to assist you and applying for a large budget. If you keep making excuses, don't blame me for being ruthless."

If not for consideration of Dio's potential reaction, the higher echelons would even consider deploying U.S. Forces Japan to occupy Tokyo directly for a thorough search.

"All information regarding Dio will be sent to your computer later. The number of Special Intelligence Investigators will be expanded. Don't continue slacking off."

"I promise to complete the task set by the superiors!" Jack replied loudly, his spirits soaring. He knew all too well that his current authority came solely from being the first to report that Dio was a Superpower User. If he couldn't provide a satisfactory answer, he'd likely be stripped of his position. He didn't want that; he wanted to work hard to prove his capability.

"Jack, do you still want it?"

The woman woke up, lazily wrapping her arms around his waist and mumbling.

Jack declared righteously, "Starting today, I'm abstaining from lust, so you'd better leave quickly."

The woman was slightly startled and said, "This is my house."

"Oh, then I'll leave."

Jack got up to get dressed. He was about to exit through the window when he heard the front door open. "Honey, I came back early!"

"Oh no, my husband came back from his trip."

Jack was at a loss and exclaimed, "You're married?"

"Didn't I tell you last night? You even said you only like married women because they're more exciting."

"But you didn't say he'd come back early," Jack grumbled, cursing the alcohol for putting him in this mess. He hurriedly dressed and was about to escape through the window but paused as he opened it.

HISS. He took in a breath of cold air; it was at least thirteen stories down from here.

Jack turned around and bolted out the front door at breakneck speed. He had no intention of climbing through the window. If I fall, it'll be certain death. If I leave through the door, at worst, I'll just take a beating.

「…」

The midday sun was radiant, and the light rain that had fallen during third period had long been dried by the scorching sun. The air was devoid of any coolness and filled with the heat of high summer.

"Whew!" Ayatsuki Ayaka let out a heavy sigh, fanning her face with her right hand, and said, "It's so hot. I'm sweating buckets just from eating lunch. Why can't they install air conditioning or fans in the cafeteria?"

"Probably cost considerations," replied Takahashi Saeko, handing her a slightly chilled orange juice.

"Thanks, Saeko," Iroha said with a smile and reached out to take the juice.

Takahashi Saeko pulled back her hand and teased, "What are you thinking? I just let you touch it; I didn't say you could drink it. If you want some, go buy it from the vending machine yourself. Free orange juice doesn't just fall from the sky."

Iroha paused for a moment.

Takahashi Saeko then burst out laughing and said, "Just kidding, you can drink it."

"Saeko, that's not funny at all. You made me feel really awkward just now," Iroha pouted, her cheeks puffing out.

Unable to resist, Saeko pinched her chubby cheeks and said with a laugh, "Sorry."

"Haha."

Giggles sounded from the side. Miyahara Kaoru approached, wrapped in a faint scent of perfume mixed with food. With a bright smile on her face, she naturally sat down beside Iroha, linked her arm, and asked, "What are you guys talking about?"

"We're discussing how unbearably hot it is, like it never rained at all."

"It's still okay for now, but the rainy season is even more miserable."

Miyahara Kaoru's eyes swept toward Takahashi Saeko, meeting that scrutinizing gaze, and she smiled.

Takahashi Saeko shook her head helplessly and then said, "Iroha, did your friend make plans with her beloved guy?"

"Ah, that." Iroha's face showed a hint of stiffness as her mind whirled, making up a lie, "She did ask, but the guy suddenly became unavailable, so she decided to give up."

"Hey, does that mean we prepared for nothing?" Takahashi Saeko glared.

Iroha hastened to wave her hands and say, "It's fine, if she's not going, I can go. It just so happens I can take Aozawa there this week to experience the haunted house, give him a scare."

Takahashi Saeko was slightly taken aback. She had thought that Iroha couldn't get a date with Aozawa, so she had come up with that excuse. It seemed that Iroha no longer wanted to continue using the pretense of a friend and had decided to step in herself. Iroha's actions always manage to surprise me. That was also Iroha's special ability.

Takahashi Saeko couldn't help but complain, "As long as you're happy, at least we didn't waste our time decorating."

Miyahara Kaoru said with a smile, "Do you need us to help dress up as ghosts?"

"No, I can manage." Iroha quickly refused. She didn't want her friends to see her and Aozawa on a date. It feels like a public execution. My immature tactics might be laid bare during the date. To maintain her persona, she had decided not to let them participate.

"You need to seize the opportunity." Takahashi Saeko, worried that she would fall into a state of complacency, pressured her, "The ones competing with you now are not only Phoenix Academy but also a junior from the first year."

"A junior from the first year?" Iroha showed a flicker of surprise on her face; she had never heard of such a thing and asked, "Saeko, how do you know about a junior?"

"Wasn't Aozawa eating in the cafeteria with Phoenix Academy every day before?" Takahashi Saeko explained casually. "He hasn't been coming to the cafeteria to eat for a while, so I was curious about where he ate his lunch. After investigating, I found out that recently he has been eating lunches made by Hojo's sister. That's a love-filled lunchbox!"

She emphasized the last sentence.

Iroha immediately became tense. She didn't know about this, nor had Aozawa mentioned it.

"Does Hojo's sister also like Aozawa?"

"Would you make a lunchbox for a guy every day if you didn't like him?"

The retort left Iroha speechless. Yeah, if there were no feelings, who would make a lunchbox for a guy every day?

"What does the sister look like?" Iroha asked the question she cared about most.

Takahashi Saeko took out her phone, found a photo from the gallery, and said, "This is what she looks like."

"Why does Saeko have her photo?"

"I took it secretly when I was outside."

To this unabashed answer, Iroha was stunned for a moment and whispered, "Saeko, I don't think it's good to take pictures secretly."

"If you won't look, it's fine, I'll delete it."

"Wait, let me see it first, then you can delete it." Iroha couldn't care less about the ethics at that moment and peeked at the phone.

The girl in the photo was exceptionally delicate and docile. Black, short hair covered her ears, and her almond eyes were bright and lively. From the angle of the photo, it was taken from the side by Takahashi Saeko, apparently while the girl was studying.

"She's so pretty!" Iroha exclaimed, her gaze then falling on the girl's chest, which was also well-developed. Damn it, why are all my rivals so strong?

Takahashi Saeko deleted the photo and said, "Looks don't matter. What's important is a gentle and obedient junior. For guys, girls like that have an extra appealing trait. No guy can refuse a gentle, composed junior."

"No way?" Iroha's face showed a trace of panic.

Takahashi Saeko patted her hand and said, "Don't worry, you also have the 'Hot Girl' trait, which is an advantage. Your unique suntanned skin is a plus. It's just that compared to a lunchbox, your vegetable juice might fall a bit short."

"Then I'll also make Aozawa a love-filled lunchbox."

"Iroha, you can hardly fry an egg without it being half raw, and when it's not too salty, it's tasteless. Even dogs wouldn't eat that—how can you expect Aozawa to?"

Takahashi Saeko's blunt truth pierced Iroha's heart.

Her spirits deflated instantly, but she stubbornly said, "It doesn't matter. Aozawa is utterly infatuated with me; he definitely won't fall for someone else!"

"Iroha, you must never trust men; you have to believe in yourself." Tama Chan approached with a calm stride, her face full of smiles. "This comes from my own experience; my partner's deep feelings didn't stop me from dumping him. If you want to make Aozawa unable to leave you, you'll need to employ some tactics. Like asking him for help with little things on a daily basis, letting him answer your questions. Then responding with admiring tones and looks, satisfying his vanity."

"I see!" Iroha had an epiphany, realizing what she needed to do. That's it! I'll borrow money from Aozawa! Then I'll repay him, proving I'm a trustworthy and good girl.

"Maru, Kaoru, Saeko, I've got something to do. I'll come find you later, see you."

Iroha quickly got up and left.

The three watched her leave, their faces showing a relieved expression.