Chapter 115: Pure White Lace Calf Socks
On the way back, Natsume Mio didn’t get in Mikazuki Haruna’s car.
She sat on the train, thinking about her, and even reread the confession lines she had written before.
That girl is a rich heiress, in the same line of work as A Jian, and his direct senior at school.
But aside from that, she doesn’t have any other advantages, right!
Hah, even if they fought directly, she couldn’t beat me.
Looking at her like that, one punch would definitely make her cry for a long time!
Even in that dream that foreshadowed the future, where A Jian was someone who would bow under her skirt for money, it definitely won’t happen this time.
But…
It always felt a bit like her own wishful thinking.
Money is like that—once you have 100,000, you want a million; with a million, you want ten million; with ten million, you want 100 million…
It seems like a desire that never ends.
Although she didn’t know how much royalty fees A Jian could earn now, with Chainsaw Man’s popularity, a few million or even ten million probably wouldn’t move him.
But what if she offered 100 million?
If 100 million isn’t enough, 200 million? Or even more?!
She just didn’t know how rich that girl really was; it seemed she still needed to investigate her background further.
After all, she had just formally declared war!
According to Natsume Mio’s original plan, she was supposed to establish a relationship with A Jian before university, and now there were only a few days left.
It could have been achieved today!
It’s all that Mikazuki Haruna’s fault—what was she doing harassing A Jian at his house for no reason? Did she think A Jian would be tempted by her?
Why?
Because she wears black stockings every day?
Right, I could just go back now, couldn’t I? A Jian’s house isn’t going anywhere.
However…
Natsume Mio looked at her own legs.
She was wearing very ordinary white cotton socks today.
At home, she hadn’t considered this at all, but now thinking about it, weren’t plain white cotton socks a bit lacking in appeal?
Not the kind of appeal involving smell.
But she didn’t have stockings with her either, and going back to change would take a lot of time…
But Akihabara is full of clothing stores; she could just buy a pair on the way!
With that thought, Natsume Mio, who had originally planned to take the train straight home, immediately transferred stations to head directly to Akihabara.
After getting off, Natsume Mio found a nearby women’s clothing store and went straight to the shelf with stockings.
The shelf was full of all sorts, with various styles hanging there.
Pantyhose, thigh-high socks, knee-high socks, calf socks… materials from sheer transparent silk as thin as a cicada’s wings to thick warm velvet, everything was available.
The colors were a bit plain, mainly black and white, with a few vibrant styles among them.
Natsume Mio’s gaze quickly scanned over, skipping the black area entirely.
Mikazuki Haruna always wore black ones, and Natsume Mio didn’t want to match her style.
Besides, black didn’t go well with what she was wearing today.
A light beige long skirt paired with round-toed little white shoes on her feet, the overall style leaning fresh and soft—black stockings would feel a bit out of place.
If it were dark colors or gyaru style, black stockings would fit perfectly.
But buying a whole outfit just to match black stockings… that would be too expensive.
Although she had a little savings herself, compared to that Porsche-driving little rich girl, it was still far off.
Thinking about how that girl could buy expensive clothes without hesitation just to tempt A Jian made Natsume Mio feel annoyed again.
However, she really liked the style of the skirt she was wearing today, and A Jian would definitely like it too.
Her gaze finally settled on a pair of pure white calf socks.
The main body of the socks was lightweight, sheer silk fabric with just the right hazy feel; from the ankle upward, it was mesh material, ending with lace trim.
The price tag said 880 yen, not expensive.
It’s you!
Natsume Mio picked up the packaging bag and quickly went to the cash register to pay.
She tucked the small paper bag with the new socks into her pocket and hurried to the mall’s restroom.
She found an empty stall and locked the door.
Natsume Mio sat on the toilet lid, took off the cotton socks from her feet, and then put on the new lace calf socks.
The cool, silky fabric clung tightly to her feet, pulled all the way up under her calves.
She lifted her feet, admiring them under the soft light in the stall.
The curve of her calves wrapped in the semi-transparent fabric looked even softer in line, with the lace trim at the top perfectly accented.
Natsume Mio nodded in satisfaction and stuffed the changed cotton socks into the previous stockings packaging bag.
She had no pockets on her, but she was carrying a canvas crossbody bag today, so she casually shoved the paper bag into it.
After straightening her skirt, Natsume Mio pushed open the stall door, quickly left the mall, and turned toward the residential area.
She had passed this road when delivering the bento to Sakamoto Ken earlier, so Natsume Mio didn’t need navigation and easily found the residential area path where Sakamoto Ken’s new studio was.
That small parking lot now only had a very ordinary White Toyota parked there, meaning she hadn’t come back after leaving.
By now, Natsume Mio had arrived at the studio’s doorway; she stood there, hesitating for a moment without knocking.
She pressed her ear against it…
The house was very quiet, but she could faintly hear some slight sounds of a chair moving.
A Jian was drawing at home, probably?
Would going in now disturb him?
As Natsume Mio was thinking, she heard a familiar voice from not far away.
“Moshi moshi~ Ah, Sakamoto Sensei, I’ve reached the 2-chome area, but… these paths around here are a bit confusing. I’ve gone in circles a few times and I’m not sure which building your studio is.”
Then, Sakamoto Ken’s voice came from inside: “Did Kaji see a red vending machine? It’s right next to that.”
“Eh? I see it, I see it! Then I’ll come over~”
Natsume Mio immediately turned to look.
At the intersection here, Kaji Keiko met her gaze from afar.
“Natsume?” Kaji Keiko was very surprised to see the girl standing at the door.
She quickened her pace over and asked curiously, “Are you here to see Sakamoto Sensei too?”
Natsume Mio was startled by the sudden appearance of Kaji Keiko, her body instinctively tensing up.
She had wanted to quietly listen to what A Jian was doing inside, but ended up being caught red-handed by the Editor.
How was she supposed to explain this?!
While Natsume Mio was trying to come up with a reasonable excuse, the studio door opened from inside.
Sakamoto Ken stood at the door, looking puzzled at the two outside: “How did you end up coming with the Editor again?”
“Again?” Kaji Keiko looked at Natsume Mio in confusion.
Natsume Mio coughed lightly twice and said, “Coincidence, it’s a coincidence… A Jian, I went back to the convenience store and quit the part-time job with the Store Manager, and then… um, when I passed by here again, the Editor just happened to arrive…”
She gave Kaji Keiko a somewhat forced look; actually, Kaji Keiko had seen her eavesdropping with her ear to the door earlier.
Kaji Keiko gave her a knowing smile but didn’t expose her.
Sakamoto Ken knew where Natsume Mio lived; going from her original place to Sumida Ward didn’t require passing by here.
She must have been unhappy seeing Haruna here when she came at noon, so she planned to come again.
But unexpectedly, she ran into Editor Kaji again this time.
At this point, Kaji Keiko had already naturally taken off her flats at the entrance and walked inside.
