Summary

Izumi attends a celebratory luncheon in Chapter 26. When Izumi goes to the bathroom, she finds Noriko and Akiko bent over their mother Midori, who seems to be in distress. The twins order Izumi to leave and tell her that she does not belong there. Izumi heads to an empty ballroom. Akio follows her. He asks her to dance. He tells her he is “heartsick” over her (165). They kiss. Tokyo Tattler publishes an article about Izumi and Akio’s “affair” (166).

In Chapter 27, Izumi wakes up to panicked texts from the AGG group chat. She feels certain that the twins orchestrated the scandal. Mr. Fuchigami and Mariko enter. Mr. Fuchigami tells her Akio got fired. Once he leaves, Mariko helps Izumi write a letter to Akio, to be delivered through Yoshi.

Izumi writes to Akio asking to meet her right outside the imperial property in...