Higashiba Hazuki Is Being Followed

[That’s so awful.

Who put this thing into your locker, Xiaoyue?]

While changing shoes, I saw something unpleasant appear inside the locker.

I should say—

It was something that once belonged to me.

A red umbrella.

But this umbrella looked miserable, as if it had been abused by some unknown person.

The surface was covered in dirty footprints, and the ribs were bent and folded out of shape.

It had been shoved messily into my locker like this.

Besides that—

There was also a piece of paper pieced together.

The words came from different newspapers and books, clearly showing that the culprit had no intention of leaving their own handwriting behind.

And written on it—

It’s not over yet, Higashiba Hazuki.

You will pay the price for your arrogance.

Ah, I’ve really run into something troublesome.

I thought things would calm down after he took my umbrella.

[What should we do, Xiaoyue?]

At a time like this, there’s no way to catch the culprit anyway.

I sighed.

Sure enough, it would be better to go back to that room and wait to rot.

Getting involved with the outside world is always such a hassle.

And now that my only umbrella has been ruined, I’ll have to buy another one for future rainy days.

For someone as desperately poor as me, that’s practically disastrous news.

But what I hope for even more is that nothing like this will happen again.

As for now—

[Let’s tell the teacher.]

Although this kind of thing could be investigated fairly easily, it still feels better to hand such trouble over to someone else.

[Yeah, yeah.

We definitely have to catch that awful person.

Xiaoyue is clearly so gentle and kind, and treats everyone well.

What does that person even want?]

Gentle and kind—

Really, how foolish.

No matter how many times it happens, her remarks always make me laugh.

Even the slightly troubled feelings from earlier have now been replaced by a bit of pleasure.

After all, I really am someone so rotten there’s no saving me—

[I’ll keep an eye on this matter.]

The homeroom teacher was a steady-looking middle-aged man named Kamishiro Shigetada.

It was said that he had twenty years of teaching experience and had seen countless similar incidents.

At this moment, he let out a sigh.

[However, don’t hold too much hope.

Anyone who does something like this will definitely find ways to hide their tracks, choose moments when no one’s around, and act in secret.

Even if we keep an eye out, we can’t devote too much energy to it.

After all, we still have other things to take care of.]

[Of course, with us around, they won’t dare act openly.

Even if they pull small tricks, they’ll be more cautious.

So Higashiba, you don’t need to worry too much.]

[If you really want to eradicate it completely, it’s best to investigate privately on your own.]

He didn’t brush it off.

Instead, he clearly stated what he could and couldn’t do.

Although it still couldn’t solve the problem, it was better than someone who verbally agrees but actually does nothing.

As expected of a steady middle-aged man.

[Thank you very much, Teacher Kamishiro.]

[Mm.

You’re so outstanding, Higashiba.

It’s normal for someone to be jealous of you.

If things get too excessive, I’ll ask everyone to help keep an eye out.]

[Class is about to start.

You two should head back to the classroom and get ready.]

[Okay.]

Ding-ling-ling—

The class bell rang, informing everyone that it was time to return to the classroom.

[Today’s lesson will be trigonometric functions—]

Math is one of my stronger subjects.

After easily understanding these simple concepts, I found myself slightly dazed.

Really, it’s so boring.

So I’m being hated again.

Perfect and flawless Higashiba Hazuki, you probably won’t blame me for this subpar performance, will you?

Being seen through as a hopeless fake—

That really does feel frustrating.

[Xiaoyue, Xiaoyue!]

Amamiya Kaoru’s dissatisfied voice rang in my ear.

[What is it?]

[You’re clearly affected by that incident.

Look, you’re not even listening seriously in class.

Before, Xiaoyue was always very attentive.]

[Is that so—]

I put on a gentle smile and looked at her.

[Maybe I really do care a lot about who it might be.]

[That’s why we have to find them quickly.

Someone like that is targeting you—this is really dangerous.

So we need to think of something.]

Amamiya Kaoru was wholeheartedly thinking for my sake.

[But relying on just us isn’t enough.

We’ll need to ask others for help too.]

Others—

[That’s roughly how things are, Ichijou-kun.]

During lunchtime, the time when I could be alone with him, I told him everything not long after.

[I want to figure out what reason would make that unknown person hate the current Higashiba Hazuki.]

[But there aren’t many people I can trust—]

[So Higashiba-san really trusts me?]

He interrupted my words, focusing on that single phrase.

[After all, I know Ichijou-kun very well.

Unlike people who seem friendly on the surface but harbor malice inside, I understand that Ichijou-kun is a very, very good person.

At least among everyone I’ve met, you’re the best.

I trust you very much.]

[I’m happy to receive such an evaluation, but—]

He paused.

[What about Amamiya-san?]

[Kaoru could also be the type who’s only friendly on the surface, but feels intense disgust inside, you know.]

[It’s surprising.

You and Amamiya-san seem so close, yet she hasn’t truly earned your acknowledgment.]

He let out a sigh.

Does he feel regret for Amamiya Kaoru?

That would make sense.

After all, she’s been deceived by me.

Even this seemingly precious friendship is nothing more than a toy for amusement to this fake.

How pitiful, Kaoru.

[After all, the Higashiba Hazuki you’re seeing is a fake.

And at the same time, a very rotten person.]

[That’s why you shouldn’t always call yourself rotten, Higashiba-san.]

He shook his head, then seemed to think of something and looked at me thoughtfully.

[Why—]

[What is it?]

[The reason you want to find that person is to know why they hate you.

I’m a bit curious—]

His gaze carried a hint of confusion.

[Why is that your reason?]

Honestly, as a galgame protagonist, the way he thinks can be really troublesome sometimes.

[Of course it’s because I want to see where my performance isn’t good enough.

If there’s something I didn’t portray properly, I really should adjust it.]

I kept that gentle smile, answering without avoiding the question, even though it felt a bit troublesome.

[Until the real Higashiba Hazuki returns, Ichijou-kun wouldn’t want the originally perfect her to become disliked in other people’s eyes either, right?]

[Think of it as being for the original Higashiba Hazuki, Ichijou-kun.]

[Maybe when she comes back and learns about this, her fondness for you will increase greatly.

You might be able to攻略 her without much effort.]

[You must really like the real Higashiba Hazuki, right?

She’s so beautiful.

Even becoming one of your harem members wouldn’t be embarrassing at all.]

As I spoke, I carefully observed his expression, hoping to find even the slightest hint of infatuation born from fantasy.

Unfortunately, under my observation, all he showed was a look of contemplation.

What is he thinking?

I’ve wondered about this countless times.

Perhaps I’m puzzled that someone I should understand and have a firm grasp on is always thinking about something else.

Still, as long as it doesn’t affect the攻略 progress, it doesn’t really matter to me.

[I’m going to eat now.]

I opened my meal, which, as usual, could only sustain my body’s basic energy needs, drawing a gaze.

[Is eating just this really enough, Higashiba-san?]

Instead of continuing his thoughts, he noticed my meal?

[As long as it roughly supplies the body with the basic energy it needs, that’s enough.

Ichijou-kun doesn’t need to worry at all.]

[Still, Higashiba-san should think about your own body more.]

He sighed, then opened his own lunchbox.

An enticing aroma immediately wafted out, drawing my gaze over as well.

As always, it’s so lavish.

And—

There was a small dish separated out, packed in a paper box, as if it were prepared for someone.

The answer was revealed quickly—

He handed it to me.

[Would you like to try it?]

Honestly, his action startled me a little.

[If you do this, I might suspect that Ichijou-kun has some ulterior motive toward me.

Let me guess—are you trying to take something from this body?

For example, wanting to obtain an experience like the real one?]

I looked at him seriously.

[It seems Ichijou-kun is quite good at taking jokes seriously.

But you should also think about the original Higashiba Hazuki, you know.

Of course, if you’re prepared to take responsibility for her, that wouldn’t be impossible.

I would also do my best to serve you—]

[Stop, stop, Higashiba-san—]

That same wry smile again.

[For me, this is probably a kind of frustration.]

[Frustration?]

[Just like how you examine what parts of your performance aren’t perfect, I also have shortcomings I want to make up for.]

He handed over the paper box, the aroma growing even richer.

[It’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone unable to eat what I make.]

[—That time was my own issue.

You don’t need to take it to heart, Ichijou-kun.]

[Even so, it makes me feel uncomfortable.

Higashiba-san, think of it as my stubbornness.

Please come and try my cooking every lunchtime.

That way I can adjust my culinary skills.]

Does he really value his cooking that much?

Even I, who should know him very well, was momentarily stunned.

Then—

I inhaled the irresistible aroma, feeling a rare sense of hunger toward food.

[Then I’ll accept it, Ichijou-kun.]

Well, I’ll just think of it as helping him out.

[That’s great, Higashiba-san.]

[Mm.]

I didn’t even bother replying properly, focusing on the tempting food instead.

[Mmm—]

There really was a sense of happiness.

It tasted incredibly good.

But not long after, that familiar nauseating feeling rose in my once-settled stomach.

As expected, it still doesn’t work.

But it’s better than many other foods.

[Ah, right.

Kaoru has been asking me if I can wait for her at the kendo club and go home together.

It seems something urgent came up, so—]

He sounded apologetic.

[I can’t go home together with you today, Higashiba-san.]

Well, galgame protagonists are always bad at refusing requests from beautiful girls.

That’s normal.

Instead, I’m a bit curious.

If I were to ask him right now to definitely go home with me today, what kind of reaction would he have?

It feels like it would be quite fun.

[Hehehe—]

I let out a strange laugh like that.

Of course, this kind of malicious amusement wouldn’t be expressed directly.

In the end, I very generously agreed.

Then, on the way home—

I noticed something unexpected.

I turned my head and searched behind me, but all I could see was an empty alley.

Yet that feeling of being watched was unmistakably real.

It seems I’m being followed.