After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Monday.

The hot weather continued.

It seemed to Kagura Hikaru that this summer might be unusually long.

Perhaps it was the sun heating up the sky and the constant chirping of cicadas that told him so.

In the afternoon after school, he was in his room packing his bag with enough clothes for a change and a Swiss Army Knife, praised universally as a multi-tool.

The latter was his self-defense tool; even if it was discovered, it wouldn't raise suspicions, nor would he be treated as a dangerous person to be expelled or monitored.

Frankly, that was the kind of place he was heading to today.

Last week, Ms. Kurosaki from the Happiness Cult had given him an invitation.

The invite detailed the location and time of the gathering, and it mentioned that guests could choose to stay overnight voluntarily.

This subtle invitation from the Happiness Cult was also a stepping stone for an undercover mission.

After reporting this to his "superior," Inspector Yamazaki, Kagura Hikaru, as expected, received instructions to cooperate.

Just in case, the police would not equip him with any eavesdropping devices.

This was actually for the safety of Kagura Hikaru.

As previously agreed, Inspector Yamazaki did not plan to have Kagura Hikaru do anything special; just follow the lead of the criminals, successfully infiltrate the Happiness Cult, remain vigilant against brainwashing, and report the occurrences to the police. That would be enough.

Because of the mysteriously strong intelligence network of the Happiness Cult, the police were utterly unable to implant an undercover agent within the cult — resorting to this method to gather information was a helpless measure.

Inspector Yamazaki still felt regretful to this day; he frequently agonized in front of Kagura Hikaru, feeling he should not have impulsively invited a minor to participate in the plan and to this day, dared not face Kagura Hikaru's family.

In fact, according to normal procedures, Kagura Hikaru's family should have been informed, as he was still a minor and anything concerning him required guardian consent. The fact that no one knew was purely because Inspector Yamazaki had been too timid; procrastinating and even enjoying the delay as if hoping for the end of the world.

Regardless of what he thought, Kagura Hikaru wouldn't give him the opportunity.

Whether it was kicking himself out of the undercover plan or telling his parents, he wouldn't let Inspector Yamazaki succeed.

After all, it was he who approached him first, and now he regretted and wanted to escape; no way.

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Kagura Hikaru finished packing his overnight bag, then went downstairs to bid farewell to his stepmother.

"I'm leaving now," he said.

"Eh? Oh."

As Kagura Hikaru was putting on his shoes in the genkan, his stepmother came over and said worriedly, "Mister Hikaru, staying overnight at a friend's house is fine, but don't stay out too late, you still have school tomorrow."

"Oh."

"Also, remember to come home early tomorrow. Your father has gone on a business trip to China and won't be back for months. It's lonely being in the house by myself," she added.

"...Oh."

Her words might have sounded a bit ambiguous, but of course, they were only meant on the face value.

It was just a few days ago, his father, following company orders, went on a business trip to China alone, without taking his stepmother.

It must have been because of Kagura Hikaru, assuming that at least one adult should stay at home to take care of the child.

However, once only the two of them remained at home, his stepmother was clearly more uneasy than Kagura Hikaru.

She was a very traditional woman from the Island Nation, accustomed to relying on her husband, and once her pillar of support was away, she became absent-minded, even subconsciously leaning on her stepson (Kagura Hikaru) as her support.

But Kagura Hikaru himself didn't really know how to interact with his stepmother.

Moreover, he now had more important things to attend to, so he just hastily responded a few times and left the house.

Soon, he arrived at the Happiness Sanatorium.

Unlike the previous time with its open doors, today the sanatorium unusually had its doors closed, with a sign at the entrance stating 'No Unscheduled Visits Allowed.'

Having an invitation in hand, Kagura Hikaru supposed he wasn't considered 'unscheduled'?

He approached the door and knocked.

After a while, a middle-aged man came to open the door — the manager of the Happiness Sanatorium.

"Is it Mister Kagura? What can I do for you?" the manager asked with a slight smile, only cracking the door a bit.

Mister Hikaru took out the invitation and handed it to him.

No lengthy explanation was needed; the other party understood his status as a guest immediately.

The person in charge stowed the invitation away and then smile deepened, opening the door, "I apologize for the rudeness. Please come in, Mr. Kagura."

"Thank you."

Mister Hikaru walked into the sanatorium.

It was only after entering that he realized the place was already full of people. Roughly estimating, there were about thirty individuals, each one carrying a luggage bag or backpack.

They likely, like Mister Hikaru, had received an invitation, considered by the Happiness Cult to be of value for their mission.

From this perspective, the Happiness Cult wasn't picky.

The group included males and females, young and old, the eldest around sixty, the youngest about the same age as Mister Hikaru, truly a varied collection.@@novelbin@@

Mister Hikaru's gaze inadvertently locked onto one person.

A young woman stood somewhat apart from the others, tapping her foot impatiently, her back toward him.

She seemed somehow familiar.

"Why are you here?"

Mister Hikaru slowly approached, calling out, "Ayakoji?"

The girl turned around; her beautiful ponytail swept through the air in an arc, revealing Chiyoko Ayakoji's lovely face.

He hadn't recognized her incorrectly.

But he wished he had.

Mister Hikaru felt his palms sweat, and his heart seemed to contract in an instant.

Why was Chiyoko Ayakoji here? She shouldn't have any connection with the Happiness Cult!

His mind flashed back to a few days ago when Chiyoko Ayakoji had come to his place to drop off some notes, and he had left the room for a while.

At that time, Mister Hikaru had also checked the honey, ensuring none was missing.

But now, thinking back, he realized he only checked the first jar of honey he had brought back, not the second batch bought by the sanatorium.

Could she have...

"What's wrong? You look so pale upon seeing me. Are you unhappy?" Chiyoko Ayakoji said, noticing him but not appearing surprised, her half-moon eyes drooping.

"Did you eat that jar of honey?" Mister Hikaru stepped closer, asking in a low voice.

"What?"

"Don't play dumb!"

Chiyoko Ayakoji, puzzled, said, "I don't know what you're talking about. What honey?"

Mister Hikaru was taken aback, then questioned, "I had two jars of honey in my room. You didn't touch them when you visited last time?"

"Why would I need to touch your honey?"

"...You didn't eat it?"

"Of course not. What do you take me for, a glutton or a thief!" Chiyoko Ayakoji said indignantly.

Mister Hikaru's nose was very sensitive.

Sensitive enough to distinguish between truth and lies.

Thus, he could be certain that Chiyoko Ayakoji was telling the truth.

He sighed deeply in relief.

He certainly did not wish for Chiyoko Ayakoji to become a follower of the Happiness Cult after accidentally consuming the honey – such a plot twist would be far too dreadful.

However, if it wasn't because of the honey, why on earth was she here now…