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CLOVER Convenience Store.
[Opening Product List]
Akira instinctively scrolled to the bottom of the product list.
He focused on the 7.62mm bullet option, adjusted the quantity to five, and clicked "Buy Now."
[Stocking Shelf #1]
Done!
Sometimes, arms deals were just that simple.
Without making a sound, he had already completed Yamamoto Ichiro's transaction for Keiko Yamato.
He didn't even need to notify Yamamoto Ichiro—the guy already knew their arrangement. Once the deal was done, he could just head to the villa halfway up the mountain to collect his cut.
"Late!"
"Late!"
Suzuki Sonoko came running in, flustered.
It was the weekend!
But unlike usual, today she was scheduled to work at CLOVER all day.
Except…
She had overslept because she forgot to set an alarm.
"Huh…?"
"Where is everyone?"
Sonoko thought she'd be the last one to arrive, but when she stepped into CLOVER, she realized—aside from Akira, there wasn't a single soul in sight.
"They're not here yet," Akira replied.
Meanwhile, he had already finished all the store's opening preparations.
"OMG???"
"They're all late?"
Sonoko was shocked.
Her oversleeping was one thing, but did everyone mess up like she did?
She shook her head.
No way!
She wasn't sure about Fuyutsuki Shiori and Nakazumi Yui, but there was no way Ran would make such a mistake.
Sonoko glanced around the convenience store…
Not a single person in sight!
A sly smile crept onto her face.
Silently, she leaned in against Akira, letting her soft lips lightly brush his cheek like a dragonfly skimming water.
The more they interacted, the bolder she became.
Even when Ran was around, she still danced dangerously close to the line.
Because it gave her a thrill—an illicit kind of pleasure she had never experienced before.
Just as Sonoko finished her smooth, fluid moves, Nakazumi Yui rushed into the store, dressed in a white sundress.
One look at her exhausted and flustered face, and it was clear—she wasn't having a great morning.
"Something's wrong!"
"I can't find Shiori-chan!"
"Did she tell you where she was going?"
Yui had woken up to a nightmare.
Shiori was missing!
At first, she thought Shiori had just gone to the bathroom. But as time passed, she realized—it wasn't that simple.
She searched every corner of their home, inside and out, but there was no sign of her.
Thinking it over…
If anyone knew where Shiori was, aside from herself, it had to be Akira.
After all—Akira was Shiori's boyfriend.
"No need to worry," Akira said casually.
"She stayed over at my place last night."
The moment those words left his mouth…
Yui's expression turned strange.
So that's why Shiori was acting so weird before bed last night!
Hmph—!
That girl snuck off to Akira's place and didn't even tell her!
"I see," Sonoko chimed in, her face lighting up with realization.
But she wasn't thinking about Shiori.
She was thinking about Ran.
Hmm… Now it all made sense!
Last night, those two must've been with Akira, playing some group games.
Damn it!
Ran always acted so prim and proper, but behind the scenes, she was just as bad!
"It's fine," Akira smirked.
"Next time, we'll bring you along too."
He could see the jealousy brewing in Sonoko's eyes.
If anything, she was easier to invite than the other two.
"Shhh—!" Sonoko quickly made a silencing gesture, glancing toward Yui.
She pursed her lips and whispered, "Don't you dare."
The last thing she wanted was for Ran to find out she had already been shaped by Akira.
"Um…"
"W-Well, if Shiori-chan is safe, then I guess that's all that matters," Yui said, awkwardly finding a way to end the conversation.
She definitely didn't hear anything just now.
Nope.
Nothing at all.
That said…
She could barely believe it.
Shiori was already playing group games?!
That girl was ahead of her by so many versions at this point.
Even her mindset had completely changed.
Before, she would only talk about holding hands and kissing Akira.
Now?
Before bed, she was giving Yui vivid details about doing AI things.
Every time…
Yui found herself completely drenched.
"....."