Chapter 47: Twilight Crisis

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Translator: Soafp

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Outside the car window, the cluster of buildings in Shinjuku was bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Through the glass, I could see the constant flow of people at the station, giving off an air of restlessness. The orange light reflected off the windows of the skyscrapers, making them shine as if they were on fire.

I glanced at the clock—just past 5 PM. The city’s lights were gradually increasing, preparing for nightfall.

“What do you want to eat, Hajime?”

Kagura, sitting next to me in the back seat, asked while clinging closely to my arm. Feeling confused by the sensation of her chest against me, I turned my gaze in the other direction, only to find that Marin had also wrapped her arms around mine.

“I’ll feed you again.”

Marin whispered with a gentle smile. It was clear that both of them were competing for my attention.

…These two really have no sense of personal space.

Despite that, my heart was pounding from how close they both were.

The soft sensation from Kagura and the warmth from Marin pressing against me from both sides left me unsure of how to react.

I almost let out a dry laugh, but I knew that if I responded here, it would only make things worse.

“So? What do you want to eat?”

Kagura persistently turned my face toward hers. At this, Marin let out a dissatisfied “Mmm…” sound.

“Well, since it’s a celebration for both of you passing your transfer exams, we should go wherever you two—”

Before I could finish, Kagura leaned in seductively, peering into my face.

“It’ll be a celebration because we get to go with you… right?”

“Kagura! You’re making Hajime uncomfortable!”

Marin quickly interjected.

“He’s not uncomfortable~ He’s happy~!”

Kagura stuck out her tongue playfully at Marin, smiling cheerfully.

Watching their playful exchange, I had a thought.

Maybe it would be better if we got off in Shinjuku and looked for a place together.

“How about we get off in Shinjuku for now and explore a bit to find somewhere to eat?”

When I suggested this, both of them quickly agreed, saying, “That sounds good.”

We told the driver, and the taxi stopped near the central area of Shinjuku Station.

As we got out of the taxi, the bustling atmosphere of Shinjuku surrounded us.

The sound of footsteps, car horns in the distance, and the flickering neon lights of the busy district filled the air.

Around us, businessmen heading home from work and shoppers hurriedly passed by.

Kagura and Marin pulled their hats down low and wore stylish sunglasses to avoid being recognized. Both of them were famous as an actress and a singer, so they couldn’t afford to draw attention. To hide their identities, they had pulled their hats low and donned fashionable sunglasses.

Amidst all this, they excitedly searched for a restaurant, their eyes sparkling as they looked around at the lively streets.

However, I couldn't shake off a lingering feeling of unease deep in my chest.

“Hajime, is something wrong?”

Kagura noticed my mood and peered into my face.

“Oh… uh… I was just thinking, it would've been more fun if Miyabi and the others could have joined us for the celebration…”

I gave a wry smile as I spoke, and Marin, seeming to remember something, chimed in.

“Now that you mention it, when we met up with you, they were already gone, right? Did they head home early?”

“Yeah… after class ended, they disappeared right away…”

I answered, lowering my gaze.

“Hmm, those girls seemed pretty straightforward when we saw them this morning… Did something happen?”

Kagura adjusted her sunglasses slightly, asking curiously.

“We all had lunch together, but during that time, Miyabi and the others seemed a bit off…”

“I see… Hajime has been worried about that, and that’s why you’ve been looking down the whole way here, right?”

Marin said, as if she had seen right through me.

“Oh, no, it’s just… I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be like this during your celebration…”

I apologized, trying to be considerate, and Kagura hugged my arm with a grin.

“Don’t worry about it. That’s just who you are, Hajime.”

“Exactly! It's very much like you, Hajime.”

Marin said, smiling brightly as she clung to my other arm.

Despite being toyed with by the two of them, I felt a slight sense of relief.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

When I checked the screen, I saw it was a call from Aoi.

“Aoi? I wonder what’s going on…”

Puzzled, I pressed the call button.

“Hajime! Miyabi… Miyabi’s in danger!”

Aoi’s pained voice suddenly pierced my ears.

My chest went cold in an instant.

“What do you mean, Aoi? Calm down and tell me!”

“Actually, Godai and the others threatened Miyabi, telling her she had to go to karaoke with them, and she ended up going with them… I’m… I’m secretly following them right now. They’re at a karaoke box in Shinjuku…”

Threatened? Karaoke in Shinjuku?

I tried to piece together the information, but my thoughts were too scrambled to make sense of it.

“Have… have you called the police?”

“They said they can’t act if the threat is just about karaoke…”

Hearing that, I had no choice but to agree. And on top of that, the three of them are from the same school, and they all know each other… But, wait—if the nature of the threat is problematic?

If I could find out what they said to make Miyabi comply, maybe the police would at least listen…

“Aoi, this is really important, so listen carefully. What did Godai and the others say to threaten Miyabi? If we know exactly what they said, the police might—”

At that moment, the call cut off.

“Aoi!? …Damn it!”

I frantically tried to call her back, but there was no answer.

My heart pounded furiously, and my palms were slick with sweat.

A wave of panic surged through my entire body, making it hard to breathe.

I couldn't just sit still—I had to do something, and before I realized it, my legs had already started moving.

“W-Wait, Hajime!?”

Kagura, startled by my sudden action, called out in surprise.

“What happened!?”

Marin looked at me with concern, her eyes following my hurried figure.

“I’m sorry, you two! I’ll make this up to you, I promise!”

There was no way I could involve two celebrities in this.

Shouting with a trembling voice, I pushed through the crowd and broke into a run.

The scenery in front of me blurred. My heart pounded so hard it hurt, and my throat felt tight. Karaoke in Shinjuku… Miyabi is in danger—those words echoed in my mind, driving my legs to move on their own.

I thought I heard Kagura and Marin calling out behind me, but I had no time to look back.

All I could see was Aoi's anguished voice and Miyabi's image seared into my mind, refusing to leave.