Book excerpt: Kyouichi’s ex is trying to keep Maiko in check, but Maiko has Kyouichi’s love when she starts to feel down! Maiko sees Kyouichi driving with Koishikawa. She wants to trust him, but she feels crushed by the rumors that keep appearing about them. When she goes to confirm whether or not Kyouichi is engaged, she overhears him say that he doesn’t have any childhood friends in the company, almost as if he’s trying to hide her existence. Then Nakazaki hugs her and says, “Can’t you be with me instead?” But when Kyouichi appears...