Chapter 159: Tailing

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Translator: Soafp

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[Nina PoV]

This is the right thing to do.

Devoting my precious day off to “following” him.

What I saw—it was worth it.

“…”

At first, I thought I must have been mistaken. No, I wanted to believe I was mistaken.

But—there's no mistaking that hair color.

That obnoxious, eye-sore of a color. And seeing him walk out of school flanked by two girls? I wanted that to be a mistake, too.

One of them looked like a delinquent.

The other, cheerful and bubbly like a gyaru.

“Hajime-Nii…”

I didn't approach them because he looked so happy talking with those girls.

It felt… unbelievable.

He had no friends up until middle school.

And now he was getting along with two girls who were the complete opposite of him?

Maybe… even though he denied it—maybe he paid them. That's what I wanted to believe.

But their faces didn't show any signs of that. I just couldn't believe it.

---

From the café window, I kept observing. My third cup of decaf coffee beside me, next to the empty plate from my curry.

I feel like an idiot.

Normally, this would be a waste of time. Watching Hajime-Nii since 4 PM—now it's already 6 PM.

My curry’s long gone, and I'm on my third coffee.

But it was the right call.

He changed clothes and headed out again—and this time, to a club.

Sure, in America, sometimes families go to clubs together, but I've never been to one.

[“I'll be fine.”]

The Hajime-Nii who said that no longer exists.

He's just a party guy now.

He's changed. In just one year.

What happened to him? I can't even begin to imagine.

I don't even want to.

All I feel is regret.

“If only I'd stayed by his side, he wouldn't have turned out this way.”

“—!”

And now he's coming out.

With that gyaru by his side.

The girl looks excited, while Hajime-Nii seems a bit overwhelmed by her energy.

The two of them—they look unbelievably… close.

Very close.

“No way.”

There has to be something going on.

No, maybe that gyaru is trying to… use him.

“Check, please.”

Before they could go anywhere, I started following them again.

---

“See you at school tomorrow☆”

“Yeah, take care.”

“Bye-bye☆”

They part ways at the station.

Hajime-Nii… he’s heading toward the ticket gates.

“…”

I watch from the shadows of the alleyway.

It's already 7 PM—this place, it doesn't suit someone like me.

It's finally time for me to leave.

“…Haa.”

I let out a big sigh to calm myself from the unsettling events.

What's happened in the last year and a half—to him.

No, what happened to him.

I don't know, but…

What I do know is that I can't let Hajime-Nii be “alone” anymore.

“—Hey. What are you doing?”

“!?”

“You've been totally obvious, you know.”

I hadn't noticed.

She had been waiting for me as soon as I stepped out of the alley.

“Oh, it’s you…”

“Fuhaha! You didn’t think I’d notice, did you?”

That voice.

The girl who had been with Hajime-Nii earlier was standing there.

“Let’s have a little chat, shall we? Toumachi’s little sister.”

The smile she wore now was different from the one she’d shown my brother.

It was terrifying.

For the first time since coming back to Japan, I felt genuine fear.

“Well, let’s talk while we walk.”

“…Are you the one who…”

“Hmm?”

“…Sorry for being rude. What's your relationship with my brother?”

“Haha! No need to be so formal. Just ask whatever you really want to know.”

I tried to hold back, but it felt like she could read my mind, and she responded accordingly.

“I can pretty much tell from someone’s gaze what kind of feelings they’re directing at me.”

“…!”

“You don’t like me, do you?”

She smiled as she said that—.’

Her expression sent chills down my spine.

It was as if she could see through everything.

“…”

“Yup, so ask me anything you want☆.”

“Did you… turn my brother into what he is now?”

“Nope!”

“…Are you even really my brother’s friend?”

“Yup!”

“!”

“I really like Toumachi. You could even say we’re best friends!”

“Wha…!”

Her words were utterly clear and devoid of any hesitation.

There was nothing fake about them.

…She genuinely, truly cared about Hajime-Nii.

“I don’t know what kind of misunderstanding you have, but Toumachi is a lot more amazing than you think.”

“Oh, how about I tell you objectively what he’s like at school now?”

“He ranked first in the latest exams, and despite that noticeable hair color, his behavior is exemplary. He’s close to the school’s most beautiful girl, and during break times, he’s always surrounded by other girls—haha! How does that match your image of him?”

She spoke of an unbelievable reality.

[“I really like Toumachi. You could even say we’re best friends!”]

But her face didn't change when she said it.

Which meant—she wasn't lying at all.

“Toumachi isn't the same person you knew anymore.”

“…That's… a lie!”

“It's not a lie.”

“!”

“And, as his ‘sister,’ you probably understand that better than anyone, don’t you?”

She said it so calmly.

“…That’s enough. Thank you for your time.”

“Ara☆ Well, whatever. Bye-bye.”

I cut off the conversation and rushed into the station.

[“Until then… neither Mom nor I will come here. It would be hard for him to focus on his studies.”]

“Dad didn't say I wouldn't come, Hajime-Nii.”

There's no way I could believe such a ridiculous story.

So—I’ll use the spare key I kept in my pocket and confront him directly.