Chapter 21: A misunderstood guy appeared

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Translator: Soafp

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“………”

“Masato, are you okay?”

“Did something happen?”

“Huh?”

It happened after school, when I was hanging out bowling with my friends.

While I sat spaced out in my chair, Touya, Nakajima, and Amagi—the baseball nerd—were all tilting their heads at me.

“No… it's nothing.”

“Really?”

“Come on, something definitely happened…”

Yeah… sorry, I apologize to them in my mind.

(This is bad… really bad.)

Ever since leaving school—or more precisely, since lunch break—my mind's been completely occupied with what happened with Runa and Rira.

It's been burned into my memory so vividly that I can't forget it even for a moment.

“………”

When I close my eyes, I remember it.

The feeling of Runa's ch*st against my face… or the pressure of Rira's chest against me… all of it, in perfect detail.

“Hey, hey! You're bleeding from your nose!”

“…Huh?”

“For real! Here, take a tissue!”

Nakajima presses a tissue against my nose.

I was kinda dazed, and I did feel a weird heat in my nose, but looks like I've got another nosebleed.

“S-sorry, Nakajima.”

“It's fine… but are you sure you're okay?”

“Were you thinking about something pervy?”

Amagi's comment makes my heart skip a beat, but I bluff and say, “Of course not.”

(Thank god I didn't have a nosebleed when I was with Runa…)

If I'd started bleeding like this back then, Runa's chest would've been covered in red, and she probably would've screamed.

I roll up the tissue, shove it in my nose, and cross my legs trying to look calm.

“D-dude… he's trying to act cool while bleeding!”

“That's not cool at all!”

“It's actually super lame!”

Heh… noisy bunch of idiots.

Still, it's not like I want to have nosebleeds.

I just remembered something a little… exciting, that's all.

“Heh… heheheh.”

While I sit there taking a break, the others keep bowling.

And yet, what fills my head are memories of Runa and Rira—Wait crap, I'm bleeding again!?

“Whoa!! Masato, your tissue's completely red!”

“Dude, this looks bad!”

“Massive blood service, huh!?”

Oh crap, this is worse than I thought!

Amagi's weird enthusiasm aside, the bleeding eventually stopped.

It came out fast, but stopped just as quickly—still, I felt bad for worrying them.

“Thank goodness…”

“I seriously thought it was some illness…”

“You really okay now?”

Even Amagi, who was laughing earlier, looked genuinely worried by the end. Anyway, since it stopped, everything's fine now.

“Well, that sucked, but it's over. Sorry for the trouble.”

“Don't sweat it.”

“Though, like, the other customers were totally staring at you.”

“Someone's gonna find that bloody tissue in the trash and think it's a murder scene.”

Yeah… it was really red. Let's hope it doesn't cause a scene later.

After that, we all hit karaoke.

Four nerds together meant nothing but anime songs from start to finish. We got fired up, but at least I didn't start spraying blood again.

“See ya!”

“Later!”

“See you tomorrow!”

“Get home safe!”

After splitting up with the guys, I started heading home.

Just then, I got a message from Mom saying she'd be home late.

“Oh, right. Today's Mom and Dad's anniversary.”

She mentioned that last night. I could just go home and cook, but since it's a special day, I might as well eat out.
Guess I'll grab some Chinese food!

It was still early for dinner, so I killed some time. By around six, I hit a restaurant and filled myself up with mapo tenshinhan.

“Phew… that was good.”

Rubbing my full belly, I started walking home.

“Huh…?”

At that moment, a jolt ran through me—well, not literally, but I suddenly felt uneasy. Like… should I really just go straight home?

“What is this feeling…?”

Something unexplainable made me start running. Even though it was night, the summer air was warm and sticky,
and sweat rolled down my back as I ran.

“This way leads to… Runa's house.”

No way… do I want to see her?

No, no, that can't be it. Still, knowing her house is ahead makes me aware of it. Well, it's not like just passing by costs anything.

Thinking that, I kept running—then, just as I turned the corner, I bumped into someone.

“Ouch…”

It was just my shoulder, but the impact hurt more than expected.

“…Tokunaga?”

I couldn't tell at first since he was looking down, but there's no mistaking it—that was Tokunaga.

He rushed past without even noticing me, running like he couldn't see anything around him.

What's up ahead…?

A bad feeling crept over me, but I kept walking—and that's when I saw it.

A man in a suit cornering Reina-san.

“Please, just leave me alone!”

“What are you saying? I helped you, remember? Isn't it cruel to talk to me like that?”

“Following people around like that is called stalking!!”

“Stalker? You think I'm a stalker?”

Wh—what the hell is this situation!?

Just from a few lines, it's obvious: Reina-san's being stalked… and that guy's the one doing it.

Runa attracts weird men, but I guess Reina-san does too. Still, there's no way I can just walk away.

“Reina-san!”

I don't know why Tokunaga was here, but more importantly—I'd forgotten something crucial.

In this situation, the NetoraSensor hasn't activated.

That means… I don't have that mysterious power's protection.

“Huh? Who's this?”

“Kamiki-kun!?”

Normally, I'd try to think before jumping in—but seeing Reina-san's terrified face, I couldn't stop myself. I had to act.

“Reina-san! Are you okay!?”

I stepped in front of her—and that's when I realized.

The guy in front of me was more muscular than I expected, and his eyes burned with obsession.

(T-terrifying…)

I've taken down plenty of guys before, but this one… feels completely different.

Then I understood why—Reina-san doesn't have a husband, so the NetoraSensor didn't activate.

“Another dumb kid with a hero complex? You really attract these types, don't you?”

“Kamiki-kun, I'm fine! Please, just go!”

“………”

Should I run and call for help?

But if I leave now, I know something terrible will happen. I can feel it—the man gives off that kind of aura.

“Come on, move.”

“…!”

He shoved my shoulder hard. I lost my balance and slammed into a nearby utility pole.

Reina-san rushed to my side, but without that mysterious power, I couldn't even fight back. Pathetic.

“Hah, look at you shaking. Run away now and I'll let you live, kid.”

“………”

“Still giving me that defiant look, huh?”

“Ugh!?”

“Kamiki-kun!”

He grabbed my collar and squeezed hard—I couldn't breathe. Then he grabbed my hair with his other hand, forcing my head back.

“Let him go! Please!”

“This kid's the problem, not me. I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm just teaching him a lesson.”

“That's not teaching—stop it!!”

Her voice made him flinch for a second. I twisted my neck as hard as I could, broke free, and kicked him in the stomach with everything I had.

He was tougher than I expected, but it was enough to push him back a few steps.

“…Tch. You little b*****d.”

He snapped—completely lost it.

“I'm fine… hah.”

“Kamiki-kun… why would you go this far?”

“Because there's no reason not to protect someone.”

“…!”

Seriously… stalkers are such a pain.

How can someone keep forcing themselves on another person even after being clearly rejected? I just don't get it.

(Damn… my legs are shaking…)

I was scared. It hurt.

And for the first time, I felt the real fear of possibly dying.

Even so, I refused to back down—not just because I wanted to protect Reina-san, but because I knew that if something happened to her, Runa would be devastated.

“………”

I steadied my stance, staring the man down.

“Instead of stalking and scaring women, I'd rather be someone who can protect them. That's why I won't back off.”

“…You really are an insolent brat.”

He reached out toward me—and just then, Reina-san gripped my hand.

That moment… the man's movements slowed, and the exact same phenomenon as when the NetoraSensor activates occurred.

“…Huh?”

What… what's happening?