The person who likes me is a yandere.

Without saying a word, Luo Tianyi grabbed the sleeve of my jacket and strode towards the corridor.

"Hey, let go! What are you doing?"

"------"

"I told you not to pull it anymore, it's going to stretch your clothes!"

"------"

Are you listening? Let go!

"------"

This guy is completely ignoring me. Did your eardrum suddenly rupture?

"Hey? Tianyi, where are you going? Aren't you going to have lunch?"

"You guys eat first. I'll eat after I make this guy pay me back."

She gave a perfunctory response to her friends. Thank goodness her eardrums weren't ruptured.

"Luo Tianyi, I can walk by myself, please let go of me."

"------"

Continue to ignore it.

...This guy really does things his own way.

This gentle and considerate neighbor led me away from the classroom like a dog on a leash, without looking back.

Chapter Nineteen: Bloodshed

"Hey, where are you taking me?"

No matter how many times I call her, Luo Tianyi just won't stop.

Even among high school students where interactions between boys and girls are becoming more active, a girl holding a boy's hand and swaggering through the school buildings inevitably attracts attention. Therefore, I was currently forced to endure the undisguised curious stares from classmates passing by. Even with my amnesia, I felt incredibly embarrassed. Didn't this guy feel anything at all?

Even though she seemed intimidating, she was still just a woman, and I could shake off her slender arm anytime. That being said, she was at least a kind, gentle, considerate, and helpful neighbor in Ayase's eyes, so I couldn't force myself on her in front of everyone and could only follow behind her.

Luo Tianyi walked quickly against the flow of people heading to the cafeteria, crossed the connecting corridor to the special teaching building, and then went up the stairs. The special teaching building had four floors, and she went straight to the fourth floor, heading towards the roof, which most schools usually don't allow students to enter for security reasons. Of course, the door to the roof was also firmly locked with a padlock, but—

"Hey"

Luo Tianyi opened the window next to the door with ease. What exactly is the security system like at this school?

Luo Tianyi braced her hands on the window frame, completely unconcerned that her skirt was being lifted, and leaped over. That graceful jump captivated me.

What are you still standing there for?

Luo Tianyi urged me to hurry over from the window. Since I was already here with her, there was no point in arguing with her anymore, so I followed her example and put my feet on the window frame... My shoes slipped on the wall, and my landing on the roof was a little awkward.

There's a hidden world above the rooftop.

The sky was so blue, and the concrete roof was bathed in the May sun, its heat radiating powerfully through the indoor air. Far from the hustle and bustle of midday rest, the only sounds were the chirping of birds gathered on the roof's mesh. How peaceful... even the weeds growing from the cracks in the concrete seemed so serene.

...So, why go up to the roof?

She asked me to compensate her for the bread. I thought she would definitely take me to a convenience store or the cafeteria. How could I compensate her in a place like this? She wouldn't expect me to jump off a cliff and pay with my life, would she?

These thoughts were running through my mind as I watched her ponytail bounce in the wind...

"Fireworks of stars, square of stars"

Luo Tianyi suddenly turned around and said this to me.

"What……?"

"Fireworks of stars, square of stars"

Luo Tianyi stared straight into my eyes and repeated herself.

...Uh, what's going on all of a sudden? What kind of code is this? If so, how should I respond? I was clueless and kept silent, when Luo Tianyi's long eyes suddenly started to twitch.

"—Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey"

Then he let out a long, emotional sigh.

"What... what on earth is going on?"

"Nothing. So, where do we begin this time?"

"Where?...Where what?"

"--whispering sound"

After a sigh, he clicked his tongue in disbelief. The neighbor's brow furrowed even more deeply.

"I'm telling you, are you really planning to stick with the amnesia trope to the very end? I can't stand it anymore."

"Huh? What do you mean by 'setting'?!"

"Look, look, here we go again. This terrible acting is unbearable to watch."

"I wasn't acting! I really have amnesia! Didn't Ayase tell you?"

"Yes, I already said that."

She raised her right hand, as if signaling me to stop talking.

"Ayase mentioned it, the teacher mentioned it, everyone in the class knows... but nobody believes it."

Why?

"……Ha ha"

She shrugged as if to say, "Is that even a question?" and couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey you, if you're going to lie, at least put some effort into the premise, okay? What era are we living in? Amnesia? I'm amazed you can come up with such a laughable story. Aren't you ashamed?"

Even if you say that, what can I do? That's just how it is!

"And he remembers all the common sense, and can answer questions fluently in class. What's going on? It's so clumsy. I'll say it again, put more effort into making plans. Who would think he's stupid?"

My neighbor's long, beautiful index finger stretched out towards me as if pricking my forehead.

"I myself find it unbelievable, but these are the symptoms. They call it retrograde amnesia."

"I can't stand it. Besides, that's just how you are..."

"Originally? What happened originally?"

"Ugh, ugh, I can't stand it anymore!"

She ignored my question and started rubbing the ground with the sole of her shoe.

"Even if cute Ayase asks me to, why should I take care of someone like you? And you even say you don't remember!"

"Don't, don't glare at me. What can I do? It's not like I forgot because I wanted to."

"I can't stand it!"

What's wrong with this guy? He's been like this since yesterday. I'm getting angry!

"Is that all you wanted to say? If there's nothing else, I'll head back."

Even if I lose my memory, I still have the right to be angry. After I finished speaking in a fierce tone, I put my feet on the windowsill.

"Where are you going? No friends are waiting for you."

"—Gurgle"

The sharp blade of language pierced my back, causing my feet to slip again.

"...I...I mean, Luo Tianyi..."

"what's up?"

"Could it be... I mean, could it be... that I'm being ostracized in class?"

"You're so annoying!"

"—Gaho!"

I was stabbed a second time. The first stab hadn't even been pulled out yet when I was stabbed a second time. Damn it, although I vaguely sensed it, being so clearly announced as being alone was still a bit too much to bear.

"Probably even more annoying than the Black Mamba."

"What?! Black Mamba?"

"The world's deadliest venomous snake"

Damn it, I shouldn't have asked.

"What on earth is going on? It's only been a month since the new semester started, why am I being isolated to this extent?"

"It's not that I'm isolated, it's that I'm disliked."

"...You did this on purpose, didn't you? They carefully chose a more polished approach, and you just tore it all down, didn't you?"

I didn't say anything wrong.

Luo Tianyi said without smiling

"Hmm, no wonder. How can anyone not hate a siscon who's always holding hands with his sister on the way to and from school?"

"Yeah, it's because Ayase is so cute. Even if they're siblings, sticking together like that and showing it off everywhere will definitely attract unnecessary jealousy."

Hey, how did you show off before the accident happened?

"Even if that weren't the case, you've already gone way too far in your daily life..."

"So, what exactly did I do?"

"…………"

"Luo Tianyi?"

Luo Tianyi had been speaking so fluently just now, but suddenly stopped.

"...I'm saying you..."

Then, she suddenly brought her face so close it startled me.

"You really don't remember anything?"