In early October, just a couple of days after meeting Alan at the start of the school year, Akari Hojo drafted an essay.

She wrote its title in her diary:

"An In-depth Study Based on the Scoundrel Alan’s Baseless Breakups and Frequent Girlfriend Changes."

Akari Hojo understood that to complete a great study, one needed both a life-burning, persistent attitude and the most detailed possible understanding of the subject matter.

Coincidentally, she seemed to possess both of these aspects.

Before the breakup, she had felt that she couldn’t live without Alan for the rest of her life, even her blood flowed with love for him.

After the breakup, this feeling deepened, seemingly no longer content to remain in her blood vessels, skin, or bodily fluids, it was most appropriate to say it had seeped into her bones.

Secondly, although she had little understanding of scientific knowledge, her understanding of Alan was not just thorough, but intimately close.

Of course, these two aspects mentioned above were merely the foundation for completing the research, to complete the proof, considerable meticulous logic and evidence were still required.

After repeated investigation, observation, and deduction, she compiled the following questions:

"1: Alan inevitably establishes a new relationship shortly after each breakup."

"2: Alan’s partners in each relationship seem to possess outstanding talent in some area?"

"3: Alan dedicates all his energy to each partner to ensure that they fall in love with him?"

"4: Each of Alan’z breakups seems to have a specific reason? (Note: Referring to question 3, it is known that he is not ruthless)"

"4.1: Could the breakup be due to the disappearance of novelty?"

"4.2: Could the breakup be due to an inability to bear the partner’s love?"

"......"

She wrote several pages of questions and logical deductions, but most were still guesses. The actual truth still required concrete evidence.

Just like now, when she saw Nozomi Sakura appear here, Akari Hojo knew that the question mark after her second question could be changed to a period.

Nino Kitagawa had a special talent in kendo, and she herself excelled in singing. Her sister was not Alan’s girlfriend and was not currently involved in the argument.

As it stood, Nozomi Sakura’s presence here indicated that at least Alan believed she was skilled in acting.

Akari Hojo was equally overjoyed at this moment, so much so that the smile on her face grew increasingly radiant.

Like a scientist stuck on a certain part of an argument for a long time, then becoming uncontrollably excited when inspiration strikes...

Nozomi stood before her, watching her almost double over with laughter, her face instantly darkening, and her hands unconsciously clenching.

If Nozomi favorability towards Hojo had been zero before, it must now be negative one hundred.

Who are you looking down on? Can’t I train here? Can’t I be an actress?

If it weren’t for the fact that she also knew Alan, given her temper, she would have already started cursing.

She could appear gentle, thoughtful, and understanding in front of Alan, but that didn’t mean she was like that with everyone, especially with a former girlfriend who had disgusted her before.

Hojo’s peripheral vision noticed the strange expression on the girl’s face in front of her.

She quickly waved her hand at her, then straightened up, took a deep breath, and wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes, saying.

"Don’t misunderstand, I’m not laughing at you. I just remembered some happy things."

"......"

Nozomi still had a sullen face. Her lips moved, and she asked.

"Is there anything else you need?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Eh?"

Hearing her cold tone, Hojo blinked, thought for a moment, then said earnestly.

"I truly didn’t mean to mock you. I just figured some things out. Alan bringing you here for actor training means you definitely have talent in this area..."

"Moreover, you don’t need to be hostile towards me. I’ve already given up."

Hearing her say that, Nozomi sneered and couldn’t help but say.

"Do you take me for a fool?"

Upon hearing this, Akari Hojo said seriously.

"I never lie. I don’t know if Alan has told you..."

At this point, she suddenly paused, then immediately closed her mouth, as if she had almost let something slip.

Nozomi particularly disliked people who stopped talking mid-sentence.

Such people deserved to go to hell.

She said impatiently.

"Just say whatever you have to say directly."

"Is this something I can say? It’s about Nino Kitagawa. Has Alan told you?"

"Haha, he said he would marry her. Is that it?"

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, Akari Hojo unconsciously narrowed her eyes and asked.

"You don’t care?"

"The future is for the future. I only live in the present."

"Oh~ what an enviable mindset."

Akari Hojo praised her, then thoughtfully scrutinized the girl’s expression, wondering for a moment if she truly loved Alan.

Although she still didn’t know how she ended up dating Alan, if she referred to argument 3, unless she was a slut, there was no reason for her not to be moved...

After thinking for a moment, Hojo continued.

"But I do care. Since he has already decided to marry Nino Kitagawa, there’s no need for me to waste any more time on him."

"By the way, didn’t he come to train with you? I remember before, whether it was me or Nino, he would always follow us like a shadow."

As she spoke, Hojo tilted her head and glanced into the lounge.

Upon hearing this, Nozomi felt a pang in her chest, but she maintained a calm expression and said.

"’Shadow’ is indeed a good word to use. I also find him a bit annoying, so I told him not to come. He just needs to be a good driver and pick me up at night."

"Oh, I see..."

Hojo wanted to say something more, but Kaguya waved to her from down the hallway and called out.

"Miss Akari..."

"I’ll be right there."

Hojo responded, then looked at Nozomi Sakura and said.

"If you still have time after your training, would you like to chat again?"

It was clearly a question, but after she finished speaking, she didn’t give Nozomi a chance to respond. She gave her a half-smile and turned to leave.

Tap, tap, tap.

Listening to the crisp sound of high heels tapping on the ground, Nozomi’s hands unconsciously clenched.

She exhaled forcefully, barely managing to suppress the jealousy in her heart, then turned and returned to the lounge.

During the afternoon training, Nozomi kept thinking about Akari Hojo, and her training was completely out of sorts.

She was scolded several times by Director Fujiwara before she barely managed to regain her focus.

At five o’clock, training finally ended.

She sat in the lounge scrolling through her phone, but her mind was completely elsewhere, not on the short videos.

Her gaze repeatedly swept over the time in the upper left corner of her phone, then she subconsciously glanced outside the door, still not seeing Alan.

A sense of loss welled up in her heart, as if she had been abandoned.

Normally, it would be fine, but knowing that Akari Hojo was also here today, she especially wanted to prove to her that his feelings for her were no less than his feelings for Hojo...

Ding-dong

Her phone rang with a notification, and Alan’s message popped up.

Nozomi’s eyes lit up, and she quickly tapped into it.

However, the next moment, the smile on her face instantly froze.

An unspeakable sense of betrayal constantly stung her heart.

Tears welled up in her eyes. She swallowed, preparing to take a deep breath, but then she looked up and saw Akari Hojo pushing open the glass door of the lounge.

A smile appeared between the girl’s eyebrows as she said.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Nozomi."

As she spoke, she looked around, perplexed, and asked, "Has Alan not come to pick you up yet?"

Nozomi felt another pang in her heart. She forced a smile and explained.

"I found him too annoying, so I didn’t let him come."

"Oh."

Akari Hojo nodded calmly, but in her heart, she sighed, thinking this woman was truly stubborn.

No matter how perfectly one controlled their expression, tears that had already welled up could not be hidden unless wiped away.

Akari Hojo’s eyes showed sympathy. She pursed her lips and said.

"I’ll give you a ride. We can chat on the way."