I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Such things shouldn't be said, but she was surprised to bring them up in front of Aki Tomoya.

"Let's not talk about work, Ms. Machida."

Aki Tomoya chuckled awkwardly.

After complaining, I thought the other person was finally going to immerse themselves in the New Year's atmosphere, but their workaholic nature was still on full display.

When asked for his opinion on Xia Shizi's new work, he was embarrassed to say that he had done it once before and didn't have time to do it a second time.

"Besides, I'm not interested in light novels anymore."

Aki Tomoya looked intently at Machida Sonoko.

Machida Sonoko smiled sheepishly. After her little trick was exposed, she was now certain that the boy in front of her was not as easy to talk to as before.

However, after the unpleasantness last year, it's already unexpected that we can still get together and laugh and talk.

"Hashima-kun, I really want to help you, but you've come to the wrong person."

Just then, Machida Sonoko turned to Hashima Iori and said regretfully.

She knew exactly what Iori Hashima wanted, but she trusted Akane Kousaka more than Iori Hashima.

Machida Sonoko agreed to attend the gathering, but what she really wanted to do was find out Akane Akasaka's thoughts through Iori Hashima.

If it were Akane Akasaka, her college friend would definitely be able to help Kasumi Utako, who was under her tutelage.

"As expected, thanks to someone's reminder, I no longer considered such a thing, and I had already suffered the consequences before."

Kasumi Shiko and Kashiwagi Eri are no longer within Iori Hashima's circle; he's just routinely building connections.

At this point, Iori Hashima gave Tomoya Aki a meaningful smile.

Aki Tomoya pretended not to see it and, holding his chopsticks, said, "I guess you really have to go to Kyoto for kaiseki cuisine, right?"

"Then will you treat me to authentic kaiseki cuisine in Kyoto sometime, okay, Tomoya?"

"My wallet can't afford it."

"Later, I mean later."

On New Year's Eve, there are many New Year's gatherings like this.

Thanks to Iori Hashima's care, Aki Tomoya had a good first day of the Japanese New Year.

It was also unexpected that he was able to resolve some of the conflicts with Machida Sonoko.

"After a year of hard work, I can finally rest for a day... Excuse me, I'll be right back..."

Machida Sonoko put down her wine glass and sighed, then went to use the restroom.

She had only been gone a short while when the door was opened.

Just as everyone thought she had returned and was thinking "how fast," Aki Tomoya was the first to notice that the woman who opened the door was a stranger.

"Have you come to the wrong place?"

She was a woman holding a wine glass, with long hair tied in a ponytail, a tall and perfectly curvaceous figure, and a beautiful face with a smile that was somewhat intriguing.

Or maybe it's someone from next door who went into the wrong room?

Aki Tomoya frowned as he thought about it, and had already reminded the other person aloud.

In contrast to him, Iori Hashima, who noticed the woman at this moment, had an excited and surprised expression.

"Why are you here?"

"Iori Hashima asked in surprise."

He recognized the woman at the door.

Noticing his respectful tone, Aki Tomoya adjusted his glasses and began to scrutinize the woman.

"Benisaka Akane?"

Aki Tomoya murmured softly in a voice only he could hear.

He already had a guess about the other party's identity.

The only suspect who could elicit such surprise and respect from Iori Hashima is Akane Kousaka.

"Hashima-kun, I didn't expect you to be here too. Can we join you?"

Akane Akasaka smiled, then looked at Tomoya Aki with interest.

If she hadn't seen Machida Sonoko, she wouldn't have realized that her subordinates and her college friends were all there next door.

Things are truly unpredictable!

Should we leave?

Aki Tomoya asked Hashima Iori, then gestured with his eyes to Hyodo Michiru, who hadn't put down her chopsticks yet.

However, Michiru Hyodo didn't understand Tomoya Aki's perspective and probably still thought that more people meant more fun.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Aki Tomoya, right?"

"What brings you here, President Akane Akasaka?"

Whether it was a guess or he knew him beforehand, Aki Tomoya didn't care.

What he was more concerned about was whether the New Year's gathering could continue.

I never expected Machida Sonoko to come here, and I never thought I would see the famous Akane Akasaka here.

He had once greatly admired this senior, but now, seeing him in person, he felt troubled.

After learning that Akane Akasaka was such a mature and beautiful woman, Tomoya Aki was not surprised at all. Instead, he thought it would be troublesome to meet Akane Akasaka here.

"Can't we just get to know each other? You're really wary."

Akane Akasaka sized up Tomoya Aki.

Akane Akasaka's eyes sparkled as if she had found something interesting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Machida Sonoko strode into the house, her face flushed with alcohol and a relaxed smile on her face, as if she wanted to continue enjoying the New Year's Day holiday.

But when she noticed there was another person in the room, her smile froze instantly, and she took a half step back in fright, crying out in alarm, "Akane, Akane... no, Akane Kousaka?!"

At first, she called out the other person's real name unclearly, but after realizing what she was saying, Machida Sonoko immediately corrected herself.

Machida Sonoko was truly surprised to see Akane Akasaka here.

When she looked at Iori Hashima with a questioning gaze, she received the same troubled look in Iori's eyes.

"Yuanzi is here too, what a coincidence! Cheers to New Year's Day!"

Akane Akasaka took the initiative and handed the wine glass to Sonoko Machida.

At that moment, Machida Sonoko didn't have time to notice Akane Akasaka's movements, but instead turned her head to look in the direction from which the footsteps came.

The familiar voice beside her made Machida Sonoko's expression become increasingly subtle.

Why is Ms. Machida here?

"That's what I wanted to ask too, Ms. Kasumi Shiko!"

=

Chapter 120: A Mess (2/4)

Wearing casual clothes, Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri stood in the corridor, looking at Machida Sonoko in surprise at the doorway.

Neither side expected that they would run into each other here.

Machida Sonoko first glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri with surprise, then looked at Akane Akasaka inside, as if she understood something.

"Well, that's fine then..."

There's nothing wrong with that. In Machida Sonoko's opinion, Akane Akasaka and her club can indeed help them.

Instead of accepting the glass of wine offered by Akane Akasaka, Sonoko Machida returned to her seat, pulling down her collar; her face was already sweating.

"Aki-kun, are you leaving?"

Machida Sonoko looked at Aki Tomoya with curiosity.

Now someone has arrived who wants to take over, and that's not the key point. She's the one who knows about the thing between Kasumi Shiko and her fan TAKI.

And that Kasumi Shiko is right there up there. As far as Machida Sonoko knows, Kasumi Shiko has selectively forgotten about this fan and is unwilling to mention anything about her.

"It's such a coincidence that we've all gathered here. I would feel guilty if I disturbed your gathering."

"Tsk..."

"At least make sure your expression and tone are right when you say something like that," Aki Tomoya thought to himself.

To be honest, he would be somewhat annoyed if the New Year's party were disrupted.