Vol 1 Chapter 6【Vol 1 – The Woman Next Door】

“Want some water?”

She broke off the kiss to get a drink. Are you serious? She’d just cost me the shot. Almost immediately, I heard both of them pad out of the bedroom. If they’d just go somewhere outside entirely, that would be ideal.

I kept my ear pressed toward the outside while I waited — and then:

“Oh, stop it — you’re so bad!”

A woman’s breathless, suggestive laugh, somewhere between a moan and a gasp. Something was happening in the kitchen. Now. I aimed my gaze toward the sound — which, from my position in the wardrobe, was somewhere behind me — and blinked. On the chance I’d misjudged the angle, I tilted my head slightly left and captured both rooms in the frame. Three uses total on the camera. I planned to check the photos first, and if both were missed, I still had one shot in reserve.

A message appeared immediately.

【View photos?】

【Photo File 1】

【Photo File 2】

Two files. Makes sense — I’d taken two shots. I opened the first one. A photo appeared: two people tangled together on the table, completely exposed, nothing left to the imagination. Clean shot.

I was quietly satisfied — and then voices drifted in again.

“Hey… could you maybe lend me a little more money?”

They’d apparently paused to talk. The request came through clearly.

“What? I just lent you some last time. Again?”

“You have so much, though…”

“What do you even need all this money for? Doesn’t your husband provide for you?”

“He found out about the affair. We’re separated now. I can’t get alimony, so I really need the money…”

“You really are something, you know that… Look, until you pay back what I already lent you—”

“Come onnnn. I’ll make it worth your while. How about a shower together? I’ll give you the full treatment — go get in, and I’ll grab a change of clothes.”

“Hmm. I suppose I can look forward to seeing what that entails.”

After that, the conversation faded. But somewhere in the middle of it, a hollow feeling settled over me. If her husband already knew about the affair, the photo was worthless. I’d thought I had a strong card to play — and the moment I realized how shallow that thinking had been, the air went out of me completely.

Footsteps heading into the bedroom. Grabbing a change of clothes meant the wardrobe — this wardrobe. My throat tightened; I swallowed without meaning to. If that door opened, I’d have to 【Load】 again. I pre-positioned my finger over the 【Load】 window — just as the sound of Sakurai entering the bedroom reached me, along with the door clicking shut behind her.

Why close the door? Didn’t matter — shut or not, I was in trouble either way. The clothes were in here, obviously.

Completely hopeless.

But the wardrobe door never opened. Instead — a rustling sound. The crinkle of something like an envelope being torn. It wasn’t loud enough for me to be certain, but that was what it sounded like.

Then footsteps — stopping right in front of the wardrobe.

This is it, I thought.

But she turned, opened the bedroom door, and walked out.

Then came the sound of water.

— Shhhhhhh.

She’d said she’d do it in the shower. That must be what was happening. The change of clothes had apparently not been needed after all. Either way — this was my chance—a chance to get out. I carefully eased the wardrobe door open.

Slipped out of the bedroom. Nobody there. Into the living room. Still, nobody — just voices in the distance—a gift from the universe. I got out of that apartment.

Back to my own place after that. I sat on my bed. The camera idea had been a dead end, too. Leverage didn’t work on someone whose secret was already out. I took several slow breaths and sorted through everything I’d learned from the infiltration.

The loan collection notices. Begging her affair partner for money. It was undeniable — she was desperate for cash. So what if the last remaining approach was money itself? Putting it all together: the debt notices, the way she’d clung to her lover, asking for funds — she was in serious financial trouble right now. If I hinted at having money while acting like I was interested in her, she might come to me first.

If money didn’t work, I had nothing. No matter how hard I turned it over in my head, it was the only play left. I went straight to the bank and withdrew 500,000 yen. For someone drowning in debt notices, that kind of money ought to make her come running.

I went home and resumed watching the entrance. By now, she was probably deep into a passionate stretch of time with her affair partner. Once they were done, she’d walk him out — that was the moment I’d been waiting for.

But no matter how hard I watched, there was no sign of either of them.

Damn it.

Was that guy planning to spend the night? Even if she and her husband were separated — bringing another man home and letting him stay over was something else entirely. I shook my head. I kept fighting off the boredom, watching outside until well past midnight, hoping to catch some chance to get close to her. Sakurai never came out. Neither did the man.

He was definitely staying over. I finally accepted that and put the plan on hold until morning. He had to have work; there was no way he’d stay two nights in a row.

I lay down on my bed. All that surveillance had worn my eyes out — I was exhausted down to my bones. Sleep came almost immediately.

I woke up without intending to. No convenient twist where it had all been a dream. I stretched and yawned. The 【Game Window】 was still there at the edge of my vision, same as ever. I checked the time in a hurry, around ten o’clock.

I really slept. Alarmed at how much time had passed, I looked out the window — and there was Sakurai, taking out her trash. She always did it at this hour. The man had apparently left at some point while I was asleep. I’d nearly let the opportunity slip by in my sleep.

I grabbed the money and headed downstairs immediately. Sakurai had just finished at the trash area and was turning back toward her building. I ran straight at her — and deliberately let my shoulder clip hers, dropping the money on the ground as I went. Classic play: act like you’re rushing somewhere with cash in hand, collide with someone, let them see it fall. I completed a 【Save】 on the run. Ready.

“Oh—”

“Ah, sorry about that!”

I apologized and started picking up the bills, and Sakurai’s eyes lit up — right on cue. She bent down and started gathering the money too, her gaze sharp with curiosity and naked greed. She passed the bills back to me and turned on the charm.

If I hadn’t known what she was really like, that sultry, playful glance would have been enough to make me fall for her on the spot. Knowing the truth, though, all I saw was raw avarice wearing a beautiful mask.

“You shouldn’t be walking around with this much cash loose like that. What would you do if someone snatched it?”

“I withdrew some fun money in advance and just… well, anyway — thank you.”

I worked the hint in casually, feeding her exactly the kind of information she’d react to. Her eyes began to gleam.

“Why spend it on that when you could spend it with me? Hehe. I’m pretty good company — what do you say?”