Isn't it very scientific to use the Death Note to kill people?

She ignored Lin Jiashu and immediately turned around, clearly looking for what she wanted—something different from her own witch outfit and more like the type of witch costume that the public was familiar with. After finding a satisfactory style, she almost couldn't wait to rush into the fitting room.

In the fitting room, as she changed into the black tulle dress with subtle patterns and the pointed hat, she couldn't help but chuckle softly. She was already picturing Lin Jiashu being led by a rope, looking unwilling yet unable to resist—she didn't consider Lin Jiashu's willingness at all, because in her mind, even if Lin Jiashu was unwilling, as long as she sacrificed a little and gave him some benefits, he, whom she had captured, would definitely not be able to refuse.

"Oh ho ho ho ho ho!"

An eerie laugh came from the locker room.

After changing, she adjusted the angle of her hat in front of the mirror one last time, making sure she looked perfect from every angle.

Koizumi Akako then pushed open the fitting room door with satisfaction, ready to admire Hayashi Yoshiki's werewolf look and implement her "dog-training plan".

However, the werewolf Hayashi Yoshiki was not seen outside the door.

The shop assistant smiled and said to her, "That handsome young man has already paid and left. He said he's waiting for you outside. You can go find him as soon as you're done here."

Koizumi Akako was taken aback.

"This guy has absolutely no gentlemanly manners."

She muttered, but then she thought, could it be that Lin Jiashu's werewolf costume was too ridiculous and she was embarrassed to be seen by her in the store, so she left early out of shyness?

This thought brought her joy again. She imagined Lin Jiashu hiding on a street corner wearing a fluffy wolf head mask, and couldn't help but smile as she quickly walked out.

When we came out, it was already completely dark.

A cool evening breeze blew, neon lights flickered, and the crowds were even more surging than in the afternoon. Koizumi Akako's gaze swept across the room, quickly finding that familiar figure leaning against the wall—

However, he didn't disguise himself at all!

Lin Jiashu was still wearing his usual exquisite coat, his hair was perfectly styled, and he had his usual gentle smile on his face as he looked at her with a relaxed expression.

Koizumi Akako's smug expression froze instantly, turning into astonishment and annoyance at being tricked.

She strode forward, stood in front of Lin Jiashu, glared at him, and demanded with displeasure, "Hey! Didn't you say you were going to dress up as a werewolf? Why are you still like this?"

She looked him up and down, but there were none of the furry ears and paws she had been expecting!

Seeing her annoyed expression, Lin Jiashu's smile deepened.

"I've changed my clothes."

"What's changed?" Koizumi Akako glared at him.

"Can't you guess?" Lin Jiashu leaned closer to her, his voice low as if whispering a secret, "I am a werewolf before I transform."

"Huh?" Koizumi Akako didn't react.

“Because it’s not a full moon today,” he pointed to the moon overhead, “so I can only maintain my human form.”

"..."

Koizumi Akako was completely stunned. She stared at Hayashi Yoshiki in disbelief, then a surge of shame and anger at being tricked rushed to her head. "You...you tricked me?!"

Seeing her furious yet vividly portrayed as a witch, Lin Jiashu suddenly reached out and pushed her shoulder against the wall, bracing his hand against the wall and enveloping her in his shadow.

The distance between the two suddenly closed.

We are much closer than walking side by side this afternoon, much closer than ever before.

Lin Jiashu's gaze fell on Koizumi Akako's suddenly tense face, and he carefully examined her.

Chapter 53: Pramia's Shock and Anger

Hayashi Yoshiki braced his arm against the wall next to Koizumi Akako's ear, enveloping her in his breath.

The two were standing very close together.

Lin Jiashu was so close that he could count her slightly trembling eyelashes.

"She's exactly the witch I imagined."

"you……"

Perhaps because his gaze was too focused and serious, and even his voice too deep, Koizumi Akako's tense face turned slightly red at the base of her ears.

Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.

But she couldn't tell whether it was because of shyness or anger, but it was probably the latter... Just as she was about to lash out, Lin Jiashu suddenly laughed.

His features, overly refined for a man, softened with a smile. His voice, deliberately close, carried a warm breath and a deep, magnetic quality, drawing Koizumi Akako directly into his senses—

"You care so much about whether I've disguised myself or not, does that mean you've actually been secretly hoping I'll turn into a werewolf and then..."

He paused deliberately, watching with amusement as she gasped for breath, as if her thoughts had been exposed and she looked away.

"...so that you'll have the chance to lead me around like a puppy?"

"Nonsense!"

Koizumi Akako reacted violently, like a cat that had been splashed with water. Her voice rose slightly, but her face turned an astonishing red: "Who would have such inexplicable expectations? You... I just think you're a liar!"

"is it?"

Lin Jiashu seemed somewhat surprised.

He was surprised for a moment, and his eyes seemed to show some disappointment.

Wait, disappointment?

Before Koizumi Akako could even react in surprise, he chuckled with his eyelids lowered. Instead of backing away, he moved his face even closer.

His high, straight nose almost touched her burning earlobe, and he said softly in a deep, breathy voice that made her legs weak, "That's a real pity... Actually, I was thinking that if you were interested, I would fulfill your expectations a little."

"..."

Koizumi Akako's face was turning red at a visible speed.

Meeting expectations?

What is he going to do? Is he really going to bark in my ear?

Although she didn't want to admit it, at that moment, a surge of anticipation and excitement welled up from the bottom of her heart, and even her brain and cheeks felt hot under his gaze... Koizumi Akako's blood seemed to boil, and she knew without even touching her face that she looked absolutely embarrassing.

"Are you ready?"

As if oblivious to her excitement, Lin Jiashu asked her in a low voice.

Koizumi Akako did not respond.

Then--

She heard the man so close to her speak in a voice that was almost deliberately seductive, a voice that was extremely soft yet incredibly clear, carrying a warm breath—

"Meow"

"..."

and many more……

what?

ha!?

Koizumi Akako didn't react in time.

All the excitement and anticipation collapsed with that eerie "meow," leaving only a head full of question marks.

"???"

She stood there, frozen in disbelief, staring at the face so close to hers, her mind completely blank.

Lin Jiashu straightened up, took a step back, and resumed his elegant and composed demeanor.

He wore a gentle and kind smile, but to Koizumi Akako, it was nothing more than a mocking smile after he had fooled someone.

"Just kidding," he said with a smile. "Happy Halloween, lovely witch."

Koizumi Akako finally reacted, her cheeks turning so red they almost bled, but it was from anger!

"Lin, Jia, Shu!!"

She stomped her foot in anger, "Halloween isn't April Fool's Day! You're playing a trick on me again?!"

asshole!

This time, we absolutely have to teach this despicable bastard a lesson!

Just as the surging magic flowing through Koizumi Akako's hands seemed about to turn into a fireball, Lin Jiashu's cell phone suddenly rang in his pocket.

Lin Jiashu immediately took out his phone, and when he saw the name "Inspector Megure" on it, he seemed to no longer care about Koizumi Akako, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Excuse me, I need to take this call."

He ignored the raging flame in Koizumi Akako's hand, his tone turned serious as he swiped to answer the call and put the phone to his ear: "Hello, it's me, Inspector Megure."

Koizumi Akako wanted to say something to vent her anger, but she saw that Hayashi Yoshiki's expression was unusually serious. He even raised his finger to signal her to be quiet. Not only that, but he seemed worried that she would make a noise and interfere with the call, so he took another step forward and gently but firmly pressed her shoulder with his other hand, controlling her more firmly between the wall and himself, forming an almost imprisoning posture.

Koizumi Akako was stunned by his sudden seriousness and domineering manner, and for a moment forgot her anger; the fireball in her hand also disappeared subconsciously.

"…Brother Lin, I'm sorry to bother you! But the situation is urgent!"

Because of the close proximity, Koizumi Akako could hear the sounds coming from the other side very clearly.

The killer who's adept at orchestrating accidental murders has reappeared! This time, their target is Nakamura and his fiancée, Christine Lissell's, wedding. We need your help!

"Accident……"

Lin Jiashu's voice was filled with astonishment, "What exactly happened?"

The murderer?

Accident?

Need help...

Koizumi Akako, who had clearly heard the voice on the other end of the phone, stared blankly at the man in front of her whose expression was gradually becoming serious. The annoying expression that had been mocking her earlier had now disappeared, replaced by a deep seriousness... For some reason, after meeting his eyes, Koizumi Akako's anger and resentment were extinguished.

It wasn't until Lin Jiashu hung up the phone, his face dark and gloomy, that she seemed to snap out of her daze.

"H-Has something important happened? Hmph, if it's urgent and you beg me earnestly, maybe I can consider helping you."

She spoke with an air of superior arrogance.

However, Lin Jiashu ignored him.

After putting his phone away, he only said, "Sorry, that's it for now," and then turned and left without looking back.

Koizumi Akako, who was left behind, was stunned.

"Hey? Hayashi Yoshiki! Wait! You better wait a minute—"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Time goes forward

Location transformation

The wedding venue on the top floor of Shibuya Hikarie is no longer just tense; it has gradually taken on an eerie atmosphere.

Christine Lissard—the bride in her pristine wedding dress looks utterly disheveled.

Several small scratches appeared on the back of her hand, and a small patch of her white dress was stained with spilled coffee. Most importantly, her face... her face, which had been meticulously made up for the wedding, now had a noticeable bruise on her forehead.

These were the results of a series of unexpected events she encountered during that hour.

Even bystanders felt something was off about the unusually high frequency of these unexpected events.

Was it really just an accident?

Looking at the marks on his fiancée's hands, Nakamura Tsutomu's expression was one of heartache and confusion. He tried to explain rationally, "It's probably because there were some oversights in the venue setup, plus you were too nervous today..."

"No! It's definitely not an accident!"

Christine abruptly interrupted him, her voice slightly shrill from excitement and barely suppressed panic. Her beautiful face was pale with shock, but her eyes burned with a provoked rage. "Nakamura, don't you feel it? This is all too coincidental, a coincidence that's chilling!"

Shiratori Ninzaburo and Inspector Megure exchanged glances, both reading the same thought in each other's eyes.

Miwako Sato also approached at this moment.

She lowered her voice and said, "Inspector, could these successive seemingly coincidental accidents be... that?"

Inspector Megure's expression had already become extremely solemn. He pursed his lips and slowly nodded.