On a summer afternoon, the sky was a dazzling blue, and as clear as could be—when you looked up, all you could see were a few white clouds scattered above.
The fierce sunlight pierced through the clouds, mercilessly beating down on people's skin.
Cicadas perched atop trees, calling ceaselessly in their distinctive "chirp chirp chirp."
The mood of the people on the street soured in tandem with the unrelenting heat.
A group walked ahead; given that the café was located on the edge of the neighborhood, Haruka Yuzan and company decided to walk home after handing over the café's affairs to Yaguchi Risa.
Mrs. Harada Yukie had woken up an hour earlier and left on her own.
She had originally planned to have a meal with Haruka Yuzan, but upon hearing that he was dining with Chiba Seiryo, she decisively made herself scarce.
Madame's exact words were,
