Seiji could only interpret Chiaki's strange behavior as a sign that she was tired and her mind wasn't clear.
"The night is still young; let's go drink!"
"Overruled; it's getting late; I'll take you home now."
"Your Honor, I have an objection!"
"You're not allowed to speak!"
"Hey — that's too much!"
Seiji rejected all of Chiaki's unreasonable demands and took her home.
Chiaki lived in a luxurious apartment that was on a completely different level from Seiji's apartment. Without a card or a face, one couldn't even enter.
When they arrived at the door, the silver-haired girl took a step forward and turned around to smile at him.
"Thank you so much for accompanying me tonight."
Seiji scratched his face awkwardly.
"Is there a need for such a formal thank you? I'm a little embarrassed. "
Chiaki giggled.
"Actually, I wanted to see you embarrassed on purpose; you're so cute ~"
"I'm going back; have a good night." Seiji decisively turned around and waved his hand.
"Don't! Don't run away; I haven't finished talking yet! "Chiaki grabbed his hand.
"What else do you want to say?"
* Whoosh … * There was a soft sound.
Seiji watched as the silver-haired girl undid the red rope that was tying her hair up, allowing it to fall freely.
This scene reminded Seiji of a certain anime movie from his previous life; he felt that the beauty that was revealed in that instant was quite moving.
After letting go of her hair, even though Chiaki had only returned to her usual appearance, she seemed especially charming due to her current attire and her beauty just now.
"This … is for you." Chiaki placed the red rope in Seiji's hand.
"Eh?"
"This is Haruka's first gift to me, and I … don't need it anymore," Chiaki said with a serious expression.
Seiji was rendered speechless.
"That's why I'm giving it to you! You can do whatever you want with it; throw it away, give it to someone else, or … return it to its rightful owner. "Chiaki smiled seductively.
Then, she turned around.
"That's all, good night ~"
"Wait, such an important thing … is it really alright to give it to me!? Why are you giving it to me? "
If he had to give it away, wouldn't it be more suitable to give it to Mika? Seiji was puzzled.
However, Chiaki just waved her hand and walked through the door without answering.
Seiji stood where he was for a long time. In the end, he could only sigh and carefully put away the red rope.
He took one more look at the apartment and turned to leave.
This rather long night had come to an end.
…
A new week, Monday.
On the way to school, Seiji told Mika about what happened last night.
As for the reason why Haruka Shimizu asked Chiaki out, she only mentioned that Haruka wanted Chiaki to transfer to another school and become friends. She didn't mention anything about Chiaki's suspension or the hidden dangers.
He did not mention the red string at the end either.
Because when Seiji went back and looked at the system's "gift", he was shocked!
Judging from what he received from the "gift", this red string had an incredibly deep emotional connection with it!
Just what did Chiaki mean by giving such an important item to him? Seiji didn't understand, but he knew that this wasn't something that could be casually dealt with. He didn't want to tell Mika about it for the time being, not because he wanted to hide it, but because he didn't understand Chiaki's deeper meaning, so he didn't want to tell her.
As expected, Mika didn't think too much about Seiji's words and accepted it.
"That person … Sakaki was first slapped, then knocked unconscious by you, Seiji; he was quite pitiful."
"We have already mercifully spared his life."
"Is that considered merciful?" Mika was astonished.
"Do you want to know what level we can reach when we're cruel?" Seiji pretended to adjust his nonexistent eyeglasses.
"I don't want to know …"
"What a pity, you lost the chance to see the truth of the world."
"What does this have to do with the truth of the world!?" Mika forcefully retorted.
Yep, the atmosphere was just as harmonious as usual.
However, Seiji didn't expect that what he was about to face would be so … disharmonious.
After arriving at school, he put away the love letter from his shoe locker as usual, said goodbye to Chiaki, and went to class together.
Everything was normal.
During class.
"Chiaki, what do you intend to do about Shimizu's request?" Seiji asked her on the way back to class after going to the restroom.
Actually, he wanted to ask about the red string … but he felt like he would be fooled, and it wasn't the right time.
"About that … I haven't thought about it yet, what do you think?" Chiaki countered with a question.
"It's just a possibility, but taking a break from school can indeed reduce the risk to the minimum," Seiji said.
"But if you take a break from school, no matter how you apply, you'll fall behind in your classes, you won't be able to participate in any club activities, and even the school festival …"
"Yeah, that's why even though it's Haruka's request, I'm still hesitant." Chiaki sighed, "I know that she's concerned about me, and I want to comply with her request, but taking a break from school … this isn't a simple matter.
It's fine if I fall behind in my classes, but as for the club … if I quit now, I'd be letting down everyone in my club.
Besides, if I take a break from school by myself, it feels like … I'm abandoning everyone. "
Chiaki looked at Seiji Mukai.
"What do you think I should choose?"
Conversation options appeared —
A: In order to make Haruka feel at ease, take a break from school.
B: I can't make this choice for you.
C: Stay at school, and no matter what happens, I'll protect you!
A conversation option appeared, which meant that this was an important answer, and it would directly affect Chiaki's path … whoops, whether or not to take a break from school.
Conversation options kept popping up, but up until now, Seiji had mostly ignored them. He always answered based on his own feelings rather than whether or not her favorability rating towards him increased.
This time, he was more inclined towards option B, because he was indeed unable to make such an important choice for Chiaki. But considering what might happen in the future … he decided to save a file.
If it really was dangerous staying at school in the future, he could return here and choose option A to ensure Chiaki's safety.
After saving the file, Seiji replied to Chiaki.
"I can't make this choice for you; it's up to you. Haruka and school are both very important to you, and you'll have to decide for yourself which one to give up."
There was no notification of an increase in her favorability rating towards him.
If this was a dating sim, this option would undoubtedly fail. Option C was the correct path … whoops, it should be the answer that would increase her favorability rating towards him.
Chiaki smiled faintly.
"I knew you'd say that … Actually, you should be acting cool at a time like this! Say that I'll protect you if you stay at school, and that she'll be greatly moved ~ "
Seiji chuckled at this.
"Why should I move your heart? Don't make it sound like I like acting cool."
"Eh, aren't you the same?"
"Of course not!"
Chiaki giggled.
Even though she didn't receive the answer she wanted, this was more like Seiji's style. She thought to herself that he didn't need to intentionally act cool, because he was already quite handsome to begin with.
After the topic was over, the two of them chatted and laughed as usual as they returned to class.
Not long after, the bell rang again.
The same students, the same teacher, and the same class as usual. The weather outside the window was nice and sunny, and the temperature was low but comfortable. This was the type of weather that young mothers would take their children out.
Time passed just like that, and soon there was only one class left before lunch break.
Just as this class was about to begin, Seiji suddenly received a phone call.
He glanced at the screen and saw that the caller was... Hoshi Amami!
"Hey, Amami." Seiji picked up the phone. "I heard that you caught a cold; how are you?"
There was no response from the other end of the phone.
"Amami?" Seiji furrowed his brows, feeling that something was amiss.
There was still no response.
"Hoshi Amami, is that you!? Say something! "Seiji raised his voice.
"Senpai..."
Finally, there was an answer, a very soft voice.
"... I'm sorry."
Sorry?
What did that mean?
Seiji suddenly felt an ominous premonition rise in his heart.
"Hey, Amami, why are you apologizing!? Where are you right now!? "he shouted as he stood up.
His sudden action attracted the attention of the students around him.
The bell rang.
The teacher walked into the classroom.
"Hoshi, answer me!!!"
Seiji's shout drowned out the ringing of the school bell.
Almost everyone was startled by him, and the elderly teacher almost dropped the textbook in his hand.
"Harano -san... what's the matter?" the male Mandarin teacher, who was over 50 years old, asked as he adjusted his reading glasses.
Everyone turned to look at Seiji Mukai as well.
Seiji couldn't care less about this.
Hoshi Amami's voice didn't ring again. There was only the sound of the phone being hung up.
Seiji immediately called again.
"Harano -san, just what are you doing?" the elderly teacher asked again, his tone becoming interrogative.
Seiji glanced at him.
"I'm sorry, Sensei," he said directly as he started walking away.
"I'm going to skip class!"
After saying this, he quickly walked out of the classroom under the astonished gazes of all the students and teachers.
Chiaki and Mika exchanged glances. They both had looks of confusion and worry on their faces.
"Harano -san... what's the matter?"
"Hoshi... who's that?"
"Where's he going?"
"I've never seen such a cool way to skip class..."
The students discussed amongst themselves.
* Cough cough. * The elderly teacher coughed violently.
"How... improper!" he said with a hint of anger in his voice.
Outside the classroom.
Seiji was already running. He dashed through the hallway and jumped down the stairs in just two or three steps.
His cell phone still couldn't connect.
He didn't know where Hoshi Amami was right now, but he could only go... to the middle school section!
With his speed, it wouldn't take long for him to reach the middle school section.
However, when he saw a group of people gathered in front of the school building, Seiji faintly sensed that he was still too late.
A group of teachers with either serious or frightened expressions had gathered around a small area.
Many middle school students poked their heads out of their windows and looked in that direction as well.
There was a dark red stain on the ground.
"Hoshi Amami!" Seiji ran over.
The male and female teachers all turned their heads to look at him.
This scene resembled some sort of absurd painting.
"Who are you!?"
"Don't come over!"
"Wait a moment, he called out this child's name..."
"Is it someone we know!?"
"Go away!!" Seiji ran into the crowd and pushed aside the people blocking his way as he looked at the ground they were gathered around.
What he saw... was a scene that he absolutely didn't want to see.
It was dark red, deep red, and emitted a fishy stench …
Wearing a middle school uniform, with a body that was far too slender for a boy...
And...
"Ahhhh, you bastard!" Seiji's furious roar echoed through the air.
Hoshi Amami, a third-year student at Yuen Hwa Secondary.
On this sunny Monday, a new week had just begun.
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