The next morning, my mom shook me awake.
"Itsuki! You're late!"
I dragged myself to school.
"Morning, Itsuki!" Shuko waved.
But her smile was fragile.
[She's still suffering. Something else is eating her alive. That text from last night… who was it from?]
At lunch—
"Itsuki-senpai."
Yagami. A quiet underclassman. Ryuchi's cousin.
"Do you need something?"
"Yes. It's about Shuko."
My chest tightened. "What about her?"
"I… saw someone. A man in a black hoodie. Following her last night. She looked afraid."
"Did you see his face?"
"Not exactly. But… there's one more thing. Rumors. That you're dating multiple girls. That you're using Shuko."
I understood
[This must be what's traumatizing her. But should I even trust Yagami? He's Ryuchi's cousin. Does he even know Ryuchi's true intentions?]
At the corner.
I saw a boy. He is wearing a white shirt. He is Kaito.
He was listening to all of that.
Part 2 Notebook
On the way home, I couldn't shake the feeling.
[Something's wrong.]
I turned—Ryuchi. Writing furiously in his notebook.
[That notebook… what's in it? I have to see it. Maybe the answers are there.]
"Itsuki… Itsuki!"
"Oh. Hey." "You seem off. Is there anything I can help with?"
It's Haruto.
"No, just… thinking about the test tomorrow."
"Don't worry. You'll get first place anyway."
I forced a laugh. "Maybe." We parted ways.
[Haruto… suddenly talking to me this much. He usually speaks to no one but Ryuchi. Is this normal… or is something wrong?]