Date and Stalking (4)
Terrace floor in plain sight from the third-floor window seat.
"Still can't see them..."
With no sign of Tae-il and Sakuya, Ayane clicked her tongue, put away the binoculars, crossed her arms, and plopped down into her seat. She grumbled at Yuuya.
"I told you the first floor would've been better. We can't see a thing from up here—let's just go down."
"No."
Yuuya firmly shut down Ayane's whining. The reason was simple.
"First floor's too conspicuous."
"Tch."
Ayane propped her chin on her hand and shoved french fries into her mouth one by one with her index finger, like a squirrel nibbling away. Yuuya sighed at her blatantly disappointed expression and made a tentative suggestion.
"If we go down to the first floor..."
"And then?"
"And you promise not to use the binoculars."
"Promise?"
"Then I'll allow it. We can go down and keep watch."
"Hah. Forget it."
Ayane, expectations dashed, whipped her head toward the window. Making no effort to hide her feelings, her lips were pursed out a good two inches.
"Haa."
Yuuya let out a sigh. At first, she'd been startled by Ayane's threats, but the more she observed her, the more this junior named Katsuragi Ayane seemed like nothing but a stubborn kid. And kids like this were tricky to handle. Yuuya suddenly felt a newfound respect for Tae-il, who'd put up with her tantrums for nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, Ayane had her own gripes with the situation. Even if they went down to the first floor and used the binoculars, who knew if they'd see inside the café or spot Tae-il and Sakuya. Not using them? That defeated the whole purpose of going downstairs.
"..."
An awkward silence settled between them. They weren't close enough to chat casually, nor did they share any special history. Their first meeting had already escalated to Ayane throwing a fit, so things had gone as far south as they could.
Maybe that's why Ayane found this senior, Yuuya, so uncomfortable. Just like with Rena, when someone came at you aggressively like that, the normal reaction was to back off and avoid them afterward. Yet Yuuya had calmly called Ayane anyway. Thanks to that, she'd learned Tae-il was going on a date with Sakuya—but she felt zero gratitude. Probably.
"How long are they gonna yap in that café..."
"It's barely been any time at all."
"I know!"
Ayane snapped irritably at Yuuya's correction, glaring across the street at the café. She had nothing else to say to her anyway. The Animal Husbandry Club stories Tae-il shared at dinner were already full of all the weird and wonderful details. Ayane felt reassured. From his innocent emphasis on the club's challenges and novelties, it seemed like there was nothing special between him and his senior Yuuya.
Still, it nagged at her. Tae-il and Yuuya took turns with the duties, so stories about her should've been rare. But for some reason, Mori Yuuya's name kept popping up in his chatter, day after day. Something had changed in the club. Tae-il didn't seem to care, but Ayane, who obsessed over his relationships, did.
'We're allies for now...'
But eventually, she'd be the enemy. Ayane pretended to be nonchalant, ignoring Yuuya while staring daggers at the café entrance. Her index finger drummed endlessly on the table.
One second. Two seconds. Three.
Counting silently, Ayane tapped her phone screen to check the time. 1:37 p.m. Not even five minutes since they started surveillance. Time was crawling. She was antsy. Her leg bounced jitterily, and she ground her teeth without realizing it.
Sakuya's image kept flashing in her mind—that pure yet impossibly glamorous figure Ayane could never quite put into words.
'What if Shin-chan falls for Sakuraba...?'
As long as it wasn't Izumi. Or even Iris, someone who could stir Tae-il's musical soul. Shin Tae-il would never waver for a girl. Ayane had always believed that. Ten years of watching him proved it.
But the moment she saw Sakuya today, Ayane found herself imagining the worst—unpleasant, anxious thoughts she couldn't shake. Tae-il ignoring her, advancing to some intimate thing with Sakuya. The chatter she'd overheard from Iris and Rena in the art room becoming reality terrified her.
Ayane's unshakeable faith was cracking.
The final blow: visions from Gunma of Tae-il and Sakuya tangled up kept overlapping in her mind.
"Hah."
Overcome with rising anger, Ayane pressed her forehead and let out a short sigh. Yuuya, who was reviewing viewer reactions and tweaking her latest Itube upload, glanced over at her.
'Yeah... maybe I shouldn't have brought her.'
Even Yuuya, with her shallow social ties, could see Ayane was psychologically shrunken and anxious.
Two hours earlier. After parting with Tae-il and heading home from school, Yuuya felt more restless than usual. His question lingered in her mind.
"A date..."
Normally, it meant a guy and girl who liked each other spending time together. Tae-il was going on a date. And consulting her—a girl—about it didn't sit right with Yuuya.
She'd watched plenty of Itube videos and romance media. No experience, but she had instincts. When a guy asked something like that, it usually meant he didn't see you as a woman at all.
"No. Tae-il probably just wants advice from his senior who's a girl, logically..."
Still, the knot in her chest wouldn't loosen. She felt a twinge of resentment toward Tae-il. Young guy and girl click, they go on dates. Unsure about dating? Ask a friend of the opposite sex. But why her, of all people? It felt unfair.
She'd always been remarkably indifferent to the classroom gossip about other people's romances, but this time, she couldn't ignore it. She never expected someone else's date to bug her this much.
If the date was with that scary junior, maybe she'd feel better. At first, relief washed over her knowing it wasn't Ayane. But that was a mistake.
"If Tae-il's dating, his childhood friend would be better..."
A date with a ten-year companion like that? Probably no dramatic sparks or heart-fluttering excitement from an attractive opposite sex. Too familiar, too routine—no romance left.
But Sakuya? That freshman hyped as pretty and amazing even by upperclassmen, Sakuraba Sakuya?
"No good."
Yuuya dug out the emergency contact list she'd stuffed in her bag after break and never touched.
"I know it's not right, but..."
As club president, she had the Animal Husbandry Club members' emergency contacts. And Asakura, being lazy, had dumped the Light Music Club's list (made by Tae-il) on her too. Tae-il had already swapped numbers with his members, so he hadn't noticed.
Yuuya scanned the list for Ayane's contact and called her.
"Hello?"
"It's me. Mori Yuuya."
[Senior, how'd you get Ayane's number...?]
"Doesn't matter. I've got something to tell you."
[...What?]
It was a relationship that started with threats. No surprise if Ayane was wary or contemptuous, but she waited silently for Yuuya's words.
"You know Tae-il's going on a date with a girl today?"
[...Huh?]
Yuuya inwardly shouted 'bingo' at Ayane's bewildered tone.
"Opponent's Sakuraba, apparently. Know who that is, junior?"
[Sakuraba, that fiery bitchhhh—!]
Yuuya flinched and yanked the phone away from her ear. She'd only asked if she knew who, but Ayane's reaction was way more explosive than expected.
After a moment, a calmed Ayane panted roughly and apologized.
[Hoo. Sorry. So... you called to tell me this? Ayane won't say thanks, y'know.]
"Don't care about thanks. Anyway, let's meet up."
[Meet? With me? Now?]
"Yeah. Meet and tail them."
[...]
As Ayane went quiet, Yuuya licked her dry lips.
[Shocked. Never thought you, Mori-senpai, would suggest that to Ayane.]
"Curious."
She was dying to know about Tae-il and Sakuya's dynamic. Why did Tae-il stress it was a date yet seem so relaxed? What did Sakuraba Sakuya feel for him?
Every bit of info on Tae-il filled the void of isolation Yuuya felt from the years. The more she learned, the deeper her feelings grew, the thirst fading like an illusion. If she'd never known him, fine—but now that she knew this sweet fresh water existed, she had no qualms digging into its secrets.
"Let's tail them."
Like a student solving a test. Leaving blanks on a Tae-il info sheet? She'd never focus on video editing again.
They talked a while longer and agreed to meet at Ayane's house. The reason for choosing the Katsuragi mansion was ridiculous.
[Ayane can spy on Shin-chan from Ayane's room!]
"Crime...?"
[Childhood friend privilege!]
That was probably when it started. Yuuya sensed things going off the rails. And began regretting contacting Ayane.
She reflected: Even liking Tae-il, she knew so little about him. Of all people, Ayane? Lifetime blunder.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah."
Yuuya's thoughts didn't change upon reuniting with Ayane. If anything, they worsened. Especially in Ayane's room.
"See? That's Shin-chan's room."
"Ah..."
Neighborly as ever, Ayane had a clear view of Tae-il's room from hers. His window gaped wide open, underscoring their proximity. The bed wasn't visible head-on, but Ayane had her ways.
Like Doraemon's pocket, she pulled a tool from her hoodie pouch.
"Binoculars...?"
"With these, I can peek at his bed through the wardrobe mirror!"
No blind spots for her. Open window? Ayane could spy on Tae-il anytime.
"..."
Yuuya seriously considered scrapping the tail and confessing Ayane's stalking to Tae-il.
"Ah! Shin-chan's coming! Hide quick, senpai!"
"Eh? Ack!"
Ayane shoved Yuuya's head down, snatched the binoculars, and peeped. Spotting Tae-il, she gasped.
"Shin-chan's... going out fully armored?"
Too late. Coincidentally, Tae-il was already dressed to head out.
"Shin-chan put wax in his hair...?"
He'd even styled it. The same Shin Tae-il who kept his messy protag hair even on dates with Ayane!
No one could deny he was serious about this date. Ayane took the biggest hit.
"Grind..."
Yuuya flinched at the sound above her. Glancing up, Ayane's eyes were dead, gnawing her thumb.
"Sakuraba... unforgivable..."
"Ha, haha..."
Yuuya was struck anew by how insanely obsessive this unlovable junior was.
"Ah, Shin-chan's heading out! Come on, senpai!"
"Eh? Ungh! G-Gently... Kyaa!"
Ayane grabbed Yuuya's burning nape and bolted.
"What're you doing!? I'll leave you if you're slow!"
"Oww...!"
This wasn't just obsession. Her junior was crazy. A bit much.
There's a saying: today's enemy is tomorrow's ally. With their goals aligned for once, you'd think the friction would vanish. But as history proves, reality doesn't work that way.
You need to clap hands for sound, but these two didn't even sync from the start.
"Ah, senpai, hide better! Shin-chan's noticing and acting weird!"
"I'm hiding fine. This is clearly the junior's fault..."
"You mess up and blame others!?"
Their bickering didn't stop during the tail. Oblivious Tae-il hummed along to music in his earbuds, zero suspicion, while they drummed up drama like a one-man band.
Peak chaos: when Tae-il boarded the bus. Trailing at a distance, they sprinted late and missed it by a hair. Even if they'd caught it, Yuuya's hair would've blown their cover.
"Shit! What now!? Next bus is five minutes at least!"
They still didn't know the meetup spot. Five minutes by bus? They'd lose him for life.
Yuuya prodded Ayane. "Junior, GPS...?"
"GPS?"
"On Tae-il's phone... you didn't install one?"
"What do you take Ayane for, senpai? Like I'd put that on Shin-chan's phone!"
Yuuya blinked genuinely at her anger. "Why not?"
"Why? 'Cause installing that without permission invades privacy!"
Privacy invasion? Yuuya was speechless.
'You're saying that?'Her face screamed it.
"Plus, Shin-chan shows Ayane his phone no questions if Ayane asks."
"Ah..."
She just hadn't seen the need. Yuuya's gaze chilled.
"Anyway."
Ayane shook her head mockingly at Yuuya.
"Senpai, you watch too many mangas, huh? What childhood friend installs stalker apps on their phone?"
"..."
Then what's this tail on your childhood friend?
Yuuya ignored her throbbing head, hailed a taxi first.
"Ah, taxi!"
"Get in quick. Before it leaves."
"W-Wait! This senpai's so snappy!"
"Pot calling the kettle."
The driver eyed the squabbling high school girls in the rearview.
"So, where to, ladies?"
"The bus ahead."
"Bus?"
"Senpai's an idiot? How's he supposed to know from that!? Mister, follow that bus ahead!"
"The bus?"
"Quick!"
At Ayane's bark, the driver startled, nodded, and hit the gas.
'These JKs are cute but scary...'Chasing a bus with two high school girls aboard—not a car. In over ten years driving taxi, a first. His driver soul suddenly pulsed.