After Haruka determined to depend on Takayuki, issues progressed rapidly.

“So, you managed to get ahold of a bunch of cryptic letters as proof. What in regards to the lacking objects checklist? Have you ever compiled them, senpai?”

“Ah, sure, right here’s the picture of the cryptic letters and the lacking objects checklist.”

As a result of he had consulted with Haruka previous to this appointment, Takayuki moved rapidly. He made no awkward actions, wanting fully comfy as if doing this was part of his day by day routine.

“…Okay, I memorized all the pieces. Additionally, I do know you are feeling dangerous about this, however please maintain the proof in a protected place. If issues had been to spiral out of our management, we will simply use this to rope the police in.”

“O-Okay… B-However, Baku-sa— I imply, Kouhai-kun, I, um…”

Haruka took a look on the picture of the letters earlier than turning her gaze to Takayuki.

“I do know what you’re serious about. We’ll attempt our greatest to not contain the police in the interim. I do know you’ve gotten your motive. Even so, we nonetheless have to assemble as a lot data as potential in regards to the perpetrator and the rationale behind her actions. So, Senpai, are you able to inform me who you suppose is the perpetrator? And why is she stalking you?”

“Eh? B-However, we talked about this already in our chat…”

“Sure, however Miyama is right here to assist us out now, so we have to share all the pieces together with her. We don’t need any discrepancies in our data. Additionally, she may be capable of level out one thing that we missed or carry up a brand new perspective on the case. That’s why, Miyama, irrespective of how trivial it’s, please share your opinion with us.”

“Ah, yeah, positive, however… Satou-kun, you’re getting labored up.”

“My good friend is in hassle, it could be bizarre if I’m not labored up.”

There was no speck of hesitation in Takayuki’s reply to Aoi’s phrases.

Seeing his angle, Haruka’s tense expression began to calm down as she started to talk.

“Um… I’ve a suspicion that my stalker is without doubt one of the second years, a member of the literature membership… Her handwriting seems to be much like one of many letters that I acquired. Additionally, my good friend stated that she noticed that woman carrying comparable issues as my stolen belongings… I don’t wish to suspect her, however you recognize…”

“I’ll take a look at her handwriting later. Do you’ve gotten her image?”

“Sure. On this group picture…”

Takayuki checked out Haruka’s cellphone display. After a second, his expression froze.

“This woman, the one with the lengthy bangs. Her identify was—”

“…Kageyama Misato.”

Earlier than Haruka may say her identify, Takayuki managed to mumble it out first.

He didn’t even want to take a look at the image intently. It was as if he was accustomed to the woman in query.

“Sure, that’s her identify… Huh, wait… You understand her, Kouhai-kun?”

“I received’t say that I know her personally, however I’m acquainted together with her sister. Her sister is working as an workplace girl within the subsequent city over. She has been telling me varied issues about her although I informed her to cease, severely…”

“You understand Misato’s sister?”

“Yeah, however I received’t get into particulars because it’s fully unrelated to our case. We’re shut sufficient that I can contact her instantly if wanted, although.”

After letting out an enormous sigh, Takayuki tightened his expression and stated,

“Critically, I don’t know if this can assist me or hassle me much more… In any case, I actually can’t simply let this matter slide now.”

His eyes had been crammed with willpower.

This look of him was the aspect that Aoi admired. The looks of a hero. Somebody who wouldn’t falter within the face of evil and wouldn’t be blinded by his personal righteousness. The form of one that’d shine every time he was serving to somebody.

In fact, Aoi knew that glorifying Takayuki like this wasn’t the precise factor to do. However, she felt comfortable to see him appearing like this. Properly, she was alleged to be comfortable, however for some motive, a sense of dissatisfaction rose in her coronary heart.

“In the interim, we must always deal with defending Senpai. Sure, it’s vital to unravel the issue as quickly as potential, but when Senpai had been to get harm as a result of we had been too targeted on fixing the issue, that may be counterproductive. We have to straighten our priorities.”

“…Proper. I suppose we must always take activates the guarding obligation then, Satou-kun.”

Aoi was deep in thought when Takayuki threw these phrases at her. Fortunately, she was used to this, so she managed to reply correctly with a smile, regardless of her interior ideas in turmoil.

“No. Miyama, when you make a transfer, it should entice an excessive amount of consideration. You must deal with serving to out from behind the scenes to eradicate any uncertainties which may provoke the stalker.”

“I suppose so, huh? It’ll be tough for me to maneuver out within the open…”

“Mhm. So, I’ll be the one answerable for guarding her. In fact, it’s unimaginable for me to be together with her 24/7, so Senpai, everytime you exit with out me, attempt to exit in a bunch of three. You’ll be able to’t let your guard down, okay?”

“G-Received it…”

At Takayuki’s phrases, Haruka nodded solemnly. Gone was the hostile look she gave to him only a few days in the past.

“Anyway, for now, earlier than we’re doing something massive, we must always attempt to confirm the identification of the perpetrator first. No must be hasty although, simply take it sluggish, we’ll get them finally. And, Senpai, when you want my assist, be sure that to contact me as quickly as potential. Whether or not it’s in the course of the evening or early within the morning, I’ll go to your aspect as quickly as I can.”

“…Okay.”

Usually, in conditions like this, Haruka would don her ‘powerful’ masks and act like a powerful particular person. However, this time, she simply nodded meekly at Takayuki’s phrases. From the reddish hue of her cheeks, it was clear how vital an existence was ‘Baku’ to her.

“…”

Seeing this, Aoi felt stressed. The turmoil in her coronary heart grew larger, although she was nonetheless in a position to disguise it together with her iconic smile.

It was jealousy. Takayuki and Aoi made a pledge to be companions, but she was unable to speak with Takayuki in addition to Haruka did. Nevertheless, Aoi failed to acknowledge these emotions.

“Alright, Miyama. I’m going to ask you to play an important function. Are you keen to?”

When Takayuki requested that query, her temper instantly improved. The poor woman didn’t even know the rationale for her temper swings.

“In fact. Who do you suppose I’m?”

She responded to Takayuki whereas carrying her traditional smile.

“Thanks, glad to listen to that.”

“Properly, it’s our drawback to start with, so it’s a on condition that I’d supply my assist. It’s for Haru-kun’s sake too. Anyway, what do I must do?”

“Mm, okay, so, what I want you to do is observe us from a distance. When you really feel that one thing went flawed, instantly contact me. You’ve gotten good eyes, the job fits you. I can’t entrust this job to anybody else as a result of there’s an opportunity that issues will flip messy in the event that they let their guard down even slightly.”

“Go away it to me. I get your again.”

“I’m relying on you. Additionally, there’s one thing else. It’s a low precedence on the checklist, however when you can afford to do it, please do it for me.”

“Hm?”

Aoi tilted her head cutely. Then, Takayuki made a fearless grin and stated,

“Make up a believable motive for me and Senpai to stroll to highschool collectively day-after-day. Simply in case, you recognize? I don’t wish to die early, you see?”

Regardless of the fearless grin, there was a bead of sweat working down his cheeks. It was clear that he was attempting to place up a powerful face.

*   *   *

‘If solely I didn’t choose up that keychain, I wouldn’t be on this scenario.’

Lately, that was the one factor that Kageyama Misato may consider. Just a few months in the past, she discovered her adored senpai’s keychain sitting on the bottom. It was formed after a deformed baku. ‘If solely I didn’t choose it up,’ she thought. ‘I’d by no means transform like this.’

However then, a voice rose from deep inside her coronary heart.

‘Or most likely not.’ The voice scoffed at her weak ideas.

*   *   *

Kageyama Misato knew that she was a ineffective particular person.

She struggled in doing issues that everyone else may do with ease. Except for having issues together with her research and athletic prowess, she was additionally unable to socialize effectively. These issues, coupled together with her mentality that refused to depend on others made her wrestle much more in her day by day life.

Misato thought that exchanging phrases with others felt suffocating and painful. So, she all the time tried to maintain her head down and to not become involved with anybody as a lot as potential.

The rationale why she was nonetheless in a position to go to highschool regardless of this was largely on account of her older sister. She was a particular existence to Misato. Sociable, cheerful, succesful and type, she was a goddess-like existence to her.

“Mi~ Sa~ To~! I obtained dumped once more! Waaah!”

Nevertheless, even the goddess-like sister had a weak point she couldn’t overcome. Her luck concerning her love life was terrible. She was succesful, however when it got here to like, her dangerous luck was unmatched.

Most people she fell in love with both already had a companion of their very own or rejected her advances even earlier than she began. Due to this, Misato discovered the aim of her existence. To consolation her sister, who gave the impression to be hated by Aphrodite herself.

“Hehe, Misato, not too long ago I discovered a extremely good love counselor! Now I can lastly maintain my dignity round you! I received’t hassle you with my love life anymore!”

However even that function was misplaced a number of years in the past. At first, she handled her phrases as a joke and ignored them. It was solely when she realized that her sister stopped clinging to her that she understood, her sister wasn’t joking. After that, got here the conclusion that she had misplaced her function in life.

Nevertheless, even when she misplaced her function, Misato’s life didn’t change drastically. She remoted herself from her environment within the first place, so it didn’t actually have an effect on her life that a lot. As traditional, she stored her head down, attempting to remain out of hassle. Each time somebody compelled her to do trivial chores, she’d settle for it with out complaining. Individuals began speaking behind her again, however she ignored them fully. She was bullied, however fortunately for her, her bullies had been smart as their bullying by no means went too far. Most of her time at school was spent listlessly observing house, hoping that point would cross rapidly.

“You guys! Aren’t you ashamed of what you guys are presently doing?!”

As she handed her mundane college days, with none warning, a particular somebody reached her fingers out to her.

That particular person shone brighter than anybody else. Her identify was Amamiya Haruka, an upperclassman of hers, a well-liked individual that was adored by everybody.

In a matter of minutes, she solved Misato’s bullying issues. Ever since then, nobody tried to drive her to do their chores or harassed her anymore. However, as a substitute of being grateful, a darkish sense of resignation and a wave of envy rose up from the depths of Misato’s coronary heart.

Certainly, Haruka solely saved her as a result of she discovered her pitiful. As quickly as she managed to fulfill her day by day dose of hypocrisy, she’d neglect that Misato ever existed.

And so, Misato gathered her braveness and confronted Haruka. However the phrases that got here out of Haruka’s mouth had been incomprehensible to her.

Up till the tip, she didn’t perceive the phrases that Haruka stated to her again then. What she understood although, being with Haruka stuffed her coronary heart with heat. For the primary time in her life, she felt like a correct human being.

“Congratulations, you’ll be able to stroll by yourself now, Misato! I imagine you could befriend everybody you want by yourself now!”

However, her dream ended when she was lastly in a position to socialize correctly together with her environment. As Haruka handed over a cheesy-looking certificates with an enormous smile on her face, Misato turned conscious that all the pieces would come to an finish.

It was throughout that point that Misato realized how vital was Haruka’s existence to her. Sadly for her, her emotions weren’t reciprocal.

After that day, they not ate lunch collectively. Even when Haruka invited her, she’d all the time discover an excuse to refuse it. Seeing Haruka surrounded by her mates pained Misato. To Haruka, Misato’s existence wasn’t any completely different from the opposite women round her.

However, that was simply her assumption. In truth, Haruka usually tried to ask Misato to hang around together with her, even after she handed out the certificates. By no means as soon as did Haruka attempt to abandon her as Misato assumed. 

All alongside, all of the negativity got here from Misato’s personal coronary heart.

“…Ah, this…”

After which, it occurred. That day, Misato was on her method to meet with Haruka. Within the hallway, she discovered a keychain on the ground. Misato knew that the keychain was Haruka’s. Not solely that she usually noticed it hanging on Haruka’s college bag, Haruka additionally informed her many occasions about how a lot she adored the keychain.

The very first thing that got here to her thoughts was to present it again to Haruka, however then she heard a whisper from the depths of her coronary heart.

‘If I maintain this to myself, what sort of face will Haruka-senpai make?’

That day, Kageyama Misato become a stalker.

*   *   *

Again to the current, Misato was having fun with the fruits of her work.

“Clubtime is over, Senpai! Let’s go residence already! Critically, I actually can’t take my eyes off you for a second, you instantly slack off after I do.”

“I’m not?! I’m simply speaking with my clubmates!”

“Your clubmates had been those who begged me that can assist you along with your research! You understand that when you get a purple mark this time, they’ll forbid you from getting into the match, proper? I actually ought to simply inform Renge-san to show you.”

“Not Renge-san, please!”

From the shadows, Misato was watching a sure pair making a fuss within the hall between the gymnasium and the varsity constructing. Burning the scene into her eyes, she clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug deeply into her palms.

“F-Effective, I get it! J-Simply don’t get too near me! I’m all sweaty proper now!”

Haruka made an embarrassed face as she was being pulled alongside by a well-known wanting boy.

She was displaying an expression she had by no means made earlier than. The expression of a maiden in love.

“Who cares, everybody who’s passing right here is a minimum of as sweaty as you.”

“I do!”

Misato stared on the boy who was speaking to Haruka with a blunt tone, Takayuki. For the previous few days, he had been hanging round Haruka. Because of his repute as a delinquent, Misato thought that he was there to flirt with Haruka, however in response to the continued rumors among the many first years, it didn’t appear to be the case.

Apparently, Takayuki and Haruka had been family members they usually had been fairly shut. The rumors stated that Haruka’s mother and father requested Takayuki to observe Haruka’s research for the reason that latter had dangerous grades. Her grades had been so dangerous that the varsity nearly forbade her from collaborating within the upcoming match.

Some folks, together with Misato, had suspicions in regards to the rumors, however after seeing their interplay at college, that they had no selection however to imagine them.

In fact, the rumors weren’t true. It was simply one thing that Aoi intentionally unfold.

“Kouhai-kun, Kouhai-kun, are you aware? Train consumes your vitality, so I must replenish it first earlier than I can examine correctly.”

“I’ll offer you ten minutes of break.”

“That’s not sufficient time to play a single sport at an arcade!”

“Then, don’t go there.”

Haruka finally resigned to her destiny and let herself be dragged away by Takayuki. Seeing this scene, a way of disgust and discomfort rose up from Misato’s coronary heart.

If this was anybody else, Misato wouldn’t really feel this fashion. Even when she noticed the freshmen attempting to flirt with Haruka, she would solely really feel slightly ache in her coronary heart.

However the scene that she was seeing felt completely different. Usually, Haruka would simply brush anybody who tried to flirt together with her off with composure, however with Takayuki, none of that was occurring. It was clear that Takayuki was a particular existence to Haruka.

“Kouhai-kun, are you aware that there’s a brand new crepe store a block away from the station? Why don’t we go there first?”

“So far as I’m conscious, going there’ll take greater than ten minutes.”

As if it was probably the most pure factor to do, Misato determined to tail them.

Misato didn’t have a lot presence within the first place and she or he was conscious of this truth. That was why she was assured that even when she had been to comply with them, they wouldn’t discover her. It wasn’t a baseless confidence too, as she had been stalking Haruka for some time now and the latter by no means observed her. She thought that so long as she was quieter than traditional, issues could be alright.

“What about croquettes, Kouhai-kun? You’ll be stunned to learn the way good freshly fried croquettes style!”

“Huh? You had been simply speaking about crepes, I assumed you’re longing for one thing candy proper now…”

“I don’t know, I simply really feel like consuming each, I suppose?”

“You’ll get fats.”

“I’ll burn the energy away anyway!”

Besides that she did not have in mind the emotional injury that she would obtain for tailing these two. And because of her clenching her fists tightly, her nails dug into her palms deeply, leading to her receiving a bodily injury on prime of the emotional one.

The sight of Takayuki and Haruka strolling aspect by aspect whereas speaking would make anybody who noticed them suppose that they had been an ideal pair of {couples}. Even Misato shared that opinion.

To Misato, Haruka was a reliable senpai.

To her clubmates, Haruka was a dependable vp.

Misato was conscious that Haruka believed that her function in life was to meet the expectations of everybody round her. However, she made a real smile in entrance of Takayuki, a smile that she by no means confirmed even to Misato.

“Sure, that is the factor! The chilly night makes the steamed buns style higher!”

“Eat slowly, you’ll choke your self.”

“I do know! Nom nom… By the way in which, Kouhai-kun.”

“What? We’re going straight residence after this, no extra aspect monitoring.”

“Isn’t the brand new concern for ‘The Harem King’s Shuraba’ out at this time? You’re keen on that one, proper, Kouhai-kun?”

“…Going to the bookstore earlier than going residence doesn’t appear dangerous, huh?”

“That’s what I’m speaking about!”

Each time Haruka confirmed her smile to Takayuki, darkish feelings rose in Misato’s coronary heart.

They had been the identical emotions that she felt again when she first stole Haruka’s belongings. Again when she determined to maintain Haruka’s keychain to herself for no explicit motive.

‘Harm him.’ Whispered the darkish emotion. The phrases echoed in her mind endlessly.

Misato knew that she ended up on this state as a result of she couldn’t resist these whispers. She knew that if she had been to comply with these whispers, Haruka would present her a pained look, a glance that may ache her to the purpose that she’d wish to kill herself.

That ache was the rationale why she’d ship cryptic letters like ‘Please punish me’ or ‘Don’t forgive me’ to Haruka. Little did she know that these letters could be the start of her personal downfall.

Regardless of the guilt and the ache, Misato nonetheless couldn’t cease stalking Haruka. The act didn’t solely carry her ache, in any case. At occasions, she’d really feel an immense quantity of twisted pleasure and satisfaction akin to scratching out the dry scabs off your pores and skin.

With a touch of self-deprecation and malice, Misato unknowingly let loose a smile.

‘Hey you, are you okay?’

Nevertheless, proper earlier than she was about to be swallowed by these darkish feelings, a sure reminiscence flashed by way of Misato’s thoughts.

A reminiscence from round a month in the past. After the doorway ceremony, again when a bunch of boys, Haruka’s classmates to be precise, witnessed her attempting to steal one in all Haruka’s belongings. From a 3rd social gathering’s perspective, the scene may look like the boys had been bullying Misato.

Regardless of that, somebody was truly loopy sufficient to barge into that scene to defend her. Granted, he was among the many individuals who didn’t know what was happening, however the truth that somebody would even try to do it baffled Misato.

At the moment, she couldn’t say something to the boy. Although it was her fault that the boy ended up entering into hassle afterwards. Nonetheless, considering again to that scene, Misato felt a way of disgrace. It was as a result of the boy who saved her again then was the identical boy who was strolling aspect by aspect with Haruka, Takayuki.

How shameful of a human being was she? He was her savior, but as a substitute of being grateful to him, she directed her jealousy towards him as a substitute. Such ideas started to appear in her thoughts.

“Satou… Takayuki… Are you a ‘particular existence’ too? …Is that why you’ll be able to stand aspect by aspect together with her?”

Her phrases served as each a query and a solution to persuade herself of the truth that was occurring in entrance of her eyes.

Haruka was a particular existence, so if Takayuki was additionally one in all them, it could be pure for them to be attracted to one another. The unusual one right here was Misato herself for feeling jealous about it.

“…Huh?”

Misato tried to look towards their route once more and observed that that they had disappeared from her sight.

She tried to go searching to no avail. Considering that they is likely to be going to a sure nook within the buying district, Misato went there, however they had been nonetheless nowhere to be seen. They is likely to be in a retailer someplace within the district, however the one shops within the neighborhood had been izakayas and small eating places that may be solely open at evening. Flustered, she tried to poke across the space, attracting stares from the passersby. (T/N: Izakaya is a form of Japanese bar.)

After some time, she let loose a defeated sigh.

“Simply the place—”

“Yo, Kageyama-senpai.”

The second Misato gave up searching for them, one of many folks she was searching for got here ahead to satisfy her.

“Are you searching for us, by any likelihood?”

Like they had been longtime mates, he embraced her shoulder from behind.

“…Hii!”

The gesture scared her. Who may blame her, although, as Takayuki abruptly appeared like a ghost and earlier than she may react, he already restrained her actions.

There was nothing she may do to flee his grasp. Regardless of her being a woman, Takayuki didn’t maintain again his energy, evidenced by the truth that Misato may barely transfer. She tried to scream, however earlier than a sound may escape from her mouth, Takayuki spoke up.

“Really, we’re searching for you too. We have to have a number of phrases with you, you see? May you include me? Properly, you may attempt to run and I received’t cease you from doing so, however when you had been to do this, then we’ll need to report all of your deeds to the varsity. You don’t need that to occur, do you?”

The risk was delivered completely along with his alluring voice and smile. Misato discovered her coronary heart tightened.

“I’ll ask as soon as once more. May you include me, Kageyama-senpai?”

“…Sure.”

At his oddly mild tone, Misato may solely nod her head whereas trembling.