The Boundary of Emptiness
“Mikiya. Mikiya.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“It’s not about anything else… Have you ever been in love?”
“Um… Haven’t so far. No one I liked enough.”
I sighed, watching Mikiya laugh off the sudden question. I never imagined this guy was still a virgin. The guy who charmed girls as easily as breathing being clueless about this side of things? His words were pure truth, no lies.
While tapping the stubborn lid of my lunchbox, I scanned the classroom. Kids were gathered in small groups, eating lunch. Some had already stepped outside, leaving many empty seats.
And right beside me, the girl in question stood up, holding a sandwich.
I flicked my gaze toward her, then lightly tapped the shoulder of the boy sitting in front of me. Curious, Mikiya leaned in for a whisper.
“There’s this topic I’ve been really interested in lately…”
“Ryougi Shiki, right? Finally admitting it. Honestly, only the two of you in this class didn’t know she’s caught your eye.”
“What? You already knew?”
“Every single lunch break you head to the roof, handing out notices yourself, and… well.”
“Shut up!!”
I shoved my chair back and stood. Every eye in the room locked onto me. I sat down again right away, but the sudden attention turned into fresh gossip.
I switched off my ability, blocking my eyes and ears. Getting mocked for being the subject of rumors? No thank you. It still gave me nightmares even now—the time everyone shunned me and I was left completely alone.
“You okay?”
Mikiya asked, concern thick in his voice. I answered casually that I was fine, but his eyes said he didn’t believe me.
“You’ve been feeling something constantly. Got some kind of illness? Sorry, I won’t ask if it’s too painful.”
“It’s not that. Just really tired lately.”
“Yeah? …If you need help, come to me anytime. I’m your friend.”
Friend. Even setting aside whether such a bond truly existed, this guy was the most reliable person I’d ever met. No matter what I tried, he always told the truth.
When I got angry, the feeling was pure anger. When I laughed, it was pure happiness. I’d never seen anyone so consistent in the way they expressed emotion.
That’s why I could even say this. We weren’t close enough to spill everything yet, but…
Hmph.
I steered the conversation back to the topic at hand. I talked around it, but the core remained one question.
*How can I get closer to Ryougi Shiki?*
Mikiya simply said, “Just do it naturally.” I’d thought the same. I recalled everything that happened in the past month.
The only student in the entire school wearing a kimono to class. Her looks were model-level, and simply walking was like being in a drama. Of course, everyone noticed Ryougi Shiki.
But Ryougi Shiki showed no interest in anyone.
Even when handing out flyers, her attitude was ice-cold. That’s all there was to it—her lines were drawn so thoroughly it looked like the whole conversation.
With such a frigid demeanor, the kids’ curiosity faded and Ryougi Shiki ended up isolated. Even when rumors floated around, she didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow. It was frightening.
But I didn’t give up. If a man draws his sword, he has to swing it. That’s why I approached Mikiya, the guy who’d probably met the most girls, only to fail.
“Pfft.”
“What’s so funny?”
Mikiya wiped his glasses and spoke.
“At first, you were just like Ryougi Shiki—everyone avoided you. Seeing you change like this is kinda funny.”
“That’s… well. Yeah.”
I was actually pretty sensitive when I entered high school. I was cold, but not as harsh as Ryougi Shiki.
After that, the boring small talk continued. Realizing my original goal, I hurried up to the roof. Thankfully, lunch break was still young, and I succeeded in sitting beside Ryougi Shiki.
Sitting down was good, but what now? I should have asked for advice. My belated regret was pointless. I sat frozen next to the lunchbox I’d set down.
“You came again.”
Ryougi Shiki spoke first—something that happened only once in a very long while. I was startled but quickly calmed. I told myself I was as natural as possible right now.
“Yeah. Eating alone is better than with just one person.”
“I hate you.”
It hurt. Even without using my eyes, I knew it was sincere. Fine. I’d heard it dozens of times. Being direct was actually easier. Twisting words to cut someone down was truly terrifying.
Today I decided to gather my courage. If things were normal, Ryougi Shiki would have made the first move and I’d have let it slide. But something felt like it might work out.
“Why?”
Ryougi Shiki thought for a long moment, then lowered her head in silence. Her slightly irritated expression was too attractive.
But that look was only charming to me. The students secretly peeking this way got scared and hurried back into the classroom.
In an instant, only Ryougi Shiki and I remained on the roof.
I smiled awkwardly and glanced sideways. Ryougi Shiki had already finished her sandwich and stood up.
“I don’t know what you’re after, but if you do this, you’ll probably give up too.”
“Wha…?”
My vision flipped. The hand holding the sandwich pressed against my throat. Ryougi Shiki slammed me to the floor and climbed on top.
It happened so fast I couldn’t react. No, even if I’d known in advance, I wouldn’t have been able to. Her movements were that swift and precise.
Cold metal touched my neck. A knife. Even in a situation where death was imminent, I still wondered where this knife had come from.
“If you move even a little, you’ll die.”
My heart raced like a racehorse. Ryougi Shiki’s face was right in front of me. Her expression was as cold as ever.
The blade pressed against my skin. A single drop of blood slid down the edge and fell to the floor. My eyes opened on their own. My instincts warned that if they didn’t flee, I would die.
“You still have the will to approach?”
Ah. If she hadn’t said that, I would have succeeded. Ryougi Shiki had clearly meant it to scare me, but it had no effect on my eyes.
The emotion in her words was rejection.
There was no intent to finish me off. Instead, a small thread of concern made me feel safe.
Thank goodness. My body, which had been tense, finally relaxed and fatigue rushed in. Seeing my sudden change in attitude, Ryougi Shiki looked confused.
My mouth itched. I debated whether I could speak or not. In the end, I concluded it was okay.
“You have no intention of killing me.”
“…Do you not understand the meaning of my actions?”
“I’m not wrong. You don’t kill people. You can’t.”
The knife pulled away. At the same time, Ryougi Shiki’s body shifted a little, giving me room to sit up. I looked into Ryougi Shiki’s eyes and said,
“Ryougi Shiki, you take murder seriously. You know its weight well. I don’t know why you see others as enemies, but at the very least, you’re not a simple murderer who kills people without a second thought.”
“How…?”
Success! I’d roughly guessed it, but my eyes were perfect!
Ryougi Shiki looked flustered enough to be visible. I kept my mouth shut and stayed still. I didn’t know what she was thinking. My ability didn’t read thoughts.
But emotions? I could read those clearly. No act could fool me right in front of me.
“Disgusting.”
“Ahh!!”
The sole of my shoe pressed down. My thigh screamed in pain. Her build was small, but her strength was surprisingly great. I got meaningful information.
Ryougi Shiki stared at me in silence, then suddenly turned and headed down the stairs first. I looked at the empty spot she’d left behind.
I picked up the plastic wrap and the now-cold lunchbox, then descended the stairs. The boy who’d nearly died just moments ago was filled with both hope and worry.