Mygo, are you all yanderes?

Seeing that Nagasaki Motoyo seemed about to say something more, Wakaba Mutsumi pointed out the window.

"Su Shi, we've arrived at school."

Seeing that Wakaba Mutsumi already knew Kusano Akira's true colors, yet still addressed him with such an intimate address, Nagasaki Motoyo narrowed her eyes, saying nothing, but becoming more wary of Wakaba Mutsumi.

She then followed Ruoye Mu's footsteps and waited together at the car door.

"Yes, we've arrived at school."

Volume 1: Chapter 17. Something's Wrong with Toyokawa Shoko

Let's switch our perspective back to Kusano Akira's.

After parting ways with the two, Kusano Akira temporarily forgot his earlier worries and quickened his pace toward Haneoka.

The main entrance of Haneoka Station is not directly connected to the station, so Riku has to walk a short distance after getting off the train to reach the entrance.

Because Kusano Akira woke up a little late in the morning, there were hardly any students on the road at this moment. The huge road was very empty, with only a few elderly people who looked like they had retired and had nothing to do but take a stroll walking slowly on the street.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, a blue-haired girl with twin tails appeared in Kusano Akira's field of vision, resembling someone he had seen before.

Kusano Akira, curious, quickened his pace and glanced at the person as he walked up to him.

Just as he had sensed, this person was indeed Toyokawa Shoko, whom he had met just last night.

But it was different from last night. Last night, although Toyokawa Shoko looked tired, her overall demeanor was very sharp, and she didn't seem to be overwhelmed by life at all.

But now it's different. His dark circles are frighteningly large, his expression reveals a kind of numbness, and he walks unsteadily, as if he might be blown over by the wind at any moment.

"Toyokawa-san?"

Seeing Toyokawa Shoko like this, Kusano Akira patted her shoulder uneasily, bringing her back from her dazed state of staring blankly ahead.

"Ah... Kusano-kun."

As if she were slow to react, Toyokawa Shoko slowly turned her head. It would have been better if she hadn't turned her head, because as soon as she did, Kusano Akira was startled by her face.

Her once bright eyes were now empty, her once full and pink lips were now almost cracked, and her entire expression revealed a deathly stillness.

"...!"

Upon seeing Kusano Akira before her, Toyokawa Shoko's expression, which had been as calm as a still well, began to ripple, and she quickly became terrified.

As if she didn't want to see Kusano Akira, Toyokawa Shoko staggered, turned around and ran away from Kusano Akira.

Seeing that Toyokawa Shoko was trying to run away, Kusano Akira quickly grabbed her arm, and no matter how hard Toyokawa Shoko struggled, she couldn't break free.

Seeing that even though Toyokawa Shoko's face was flushed red from exerting force, she still couldn't break free from his large hand, Kusano Akira felt a sense of relief.

He finally met a girl who was weaker than him. You know, both Chihaya Aine and Takamatsu Akari were incredibly strong.

Even the seemingly gentle and weak Wakaba Mutsu almost crushed his arm when she grabbed him just now.

If Kusano Akira hadn't specifically tested his wrist strength, he would have thought he was too weak.

"Let go of me..."

Toyokawa Shoko placed her right hand on Kusano Akira's hand, which was tightly gripping hers, and tried to pry Kusano Akira's fingers apart, but no matter how hard she tried, it was no use; Kusano Akira's hand was firmly holding her arm.

"Why do you run away as soon as you see me? Didn't you say last night that I wasn't just a transit point? Are you a stalker?"

Kusano Akira stared at Toyokawa Shoko, who was still trying to pry open his fingers, and said to her helplessly, his tone revealing a weariness that he himself did not realize.

"Let me go..."

Instead of responding to Kusano Akira's words, Toyokawa Shoko simply kept repeating the sentence.

"No, so what you're saying is..."

Seeing that Toyokawa Shoko looked like she was possessed, Kusano Akira sensed something was wrong. She didn't seem to be alright at all; she looked like she had become mentally unstable.

But how could she have changed so much in just one night?

"Let me go..."

Toyokawa Shoko kept repeating the same sentence, and Kusano Akira frowned, pretending to agree.

"It's a deal, you don't run away after I let go..."

"……it is good."

Upon hearing Kusano Akira's words, Toyokawa Shoko hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded.

"Then I'll let go..."

Upon hearing Toyokawa Shoko's agreement, Kusano Akira pretended to let go, but kept his eyes fixed on Toyokawa Shoko's movements while silently counting in his mind.

Just as he had guessed, as soon as he let go of Toyokawa Shoko's hand, Toyokawa Shoko immediately turned and ran away.

Fortunately, Kusano Akira had been observing her movements, and as soon as he let go, he immediately grabbed her again, causing Toyokawa Shoko to be pulled back by the force as soon as she ran out, and fall to the ground.

"...You lied to me again..."

Seeing that she had failed to escape, Toyokawa Shoko turned her head away, avoiding looking in Kusano Akira's direction, and muttered softly.

"What do you mean 'I lied to you again'? I only caught you after you ran away. If anyone's lying, it's you who lied to me."

Upon hearing Toyokawa Shoko's words, Kusano Akira helped her up while pointing out the flaws in her words.

"Besides, I've never lied to you before; we only met last night."

"..."

"So why do you run away the moment you see me?"

"And what's wrong with you? You look so pale."

Kusano Akira looked around to make sure no one was watching, then pulled Toyokawa Shoko in front of him and forced her to look at him.

"..."

Even so, Toyokawa Shoko remained silent, burying her head in the sand.

“…Oh, alright.”

Seeing that Toyokawa Shoko had no desire to communicate with him, Kusano Akira had no choice but to give up his idea.

It seems that Toyokawa Shoko won't tell him anything anymore, which makes sense, since he and Toyokawa Shoko are at most acquaintances, and their relationship isn't close enough for her to open up to him.

If I have the chance, I should tell Wakaba Mutsumi. As her childhood friend, Toyokawa Shoko should be able to tell her, right?

He shouldn't have cared so much, but Toyokawa Shoko's behavior was just too strange.

"Then I'll be going now. Toyokawa-kun, you should hurry up too, you're going to be late."

After saying that, Kusano Akira released Toyokawa Shoko's arm, turned his back, waved, and walked forward alone.

"..."

As soon as Kusano Akira's figure disappeared into the distance, Toyokawa Shoko touched the spot where Kusano Akira had just held her hand, as if feeling the lingering warmth of his body.

She stood there for a long time before finally losing control of her emotions and leaning weakly against the wall, letting out soft sobs.

"Waaah...waah...why..."

"I clearly didn't want to..."

Selection……………………

After leaving Toyokawa Shoko's sight, Kusano Akira slowed down again. He picked up his phone and tapped on Wakaba Mutsumi's profile picture.

[Kusano Akira: Are you there, Mutsu?]

【Wakaba Mutsumi: Says.】

[Kusano Akira: I just ran into Toyokawa-kun.]

【Wakaba Mutsu: Auspicious?】

[Akira Kusano: Yes.]

Upon hearing Kusano Akira's words, the darkness in Wakaba Mutsu's eyes deepened. She bit her lip hard, not even noticing the bloodstains appearing at the corner of her mouth.

"Xiao Mu, are you alright?"

When Nagasaki Motoyo saw the bloodstains on Wakaba Mutsu's lips, she took out the tissue that Wakaba Mutsu had left for her and wiped Wakaba Mutsu's lips, asking with a worried expression.

"Should we go to the infirmary later?"

"fine."

Wakaba Mutsu shook her head, not turning her gaze to Nagasaki Motoyo, but staring intently at the phone whose screen she had crushed.

"It's only started happening recently, sometimes."

"Hey? Xiao Mu, you too?"

Nagasaki Motoyo looked at Wakaba Mutsu in astonishment.

"……Too?"

Wakaba Mutsumi finally looked up from her phone and looked at Nagasaki Motoyo with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, I'm the same as you."

"Recently, I've become inexplicably strong, and I'm starting to lose control of it. I often accidentally hurt myself—although the wounds heal quickly."

Nagasaki Motoyo spoke to Wakaba Mutsu, who seemed quite troubled.

"I was thinking about whether I should go to the hospital for a check-up."

Upon hearing Nagasaki Souji's words, Wakaba Mutsu recalled the three things that had happened when she met Kusano Akira earlier. When she held Kusano Akira down, a fleeting look of pain crossed his face.

At the time, Wakaba Mutsu didn't pay much attention, thinking that Kusano Akira was just accommodating him and playing along with her act. Now it seems that he really does feel pain.

As if an electric current was coursing through every nerve in her body, Ruo Yemu's breathing gradually became rapid, and a sickly flush quickly flashed across her fair face, but then disappeared.

Doesn't that mean... she can do some forced things without Kusano Akira's consent?

No, this isn't coercion; it's just... playful banter between friends.

Yes, it was just friends joking around.

Ruoye Mu swallowed hard, pulling her wandering thoughts back to normal.

"In that case, should we go to the hospital for a check-up together?"

Upon hearing Nagasaki Motoyo's words, Wakaba Mutsu shook his head and refused Nagasaki Motoyo's request.

Just kidding, she doesn't even know what caused this inexplicable strength. What if it really is some unknown disease that has been cured? That would be such a pity.

At least let her use it once or twice.

"Need not."

"Oh, that's a real shame..."

Nagasaki Motoyo was slightly disappointed. She had originally planned to take this opportunity to show some concern for Wakaba Mutsu, but there was nothing she could do since he had refused.

"Ah, Xiao Mu, your phone keeps ringing. If you don't answer, will..." (This is followed by a series of seemingly unrelated phrases and questions, possibly from different sources.)

When Ruoye Mutsu heard the news, he looked at his phone. Sure enough, Kusano Akira's messages had piled up, with a new one appearing every few seconds.

[Akira Kusano: Where is everyone?]

[Kusano Akira: wei, zaima? 】

[Kusano Akira: What happened? Why haven't you replied to my messages?]

[Akira Kusano: Are you alright?]

If Ye Mu saw the words that carried a hint of concern, the darkness in her eyes would subside slightly, but it would immediately surge back, and an unspeakable desire for control would be revealed in her gaze.

【Wakaba Mutsumi: Yes.】

[Wakaba Mutsumi: How did you run into Sho?]

[Kusano Akira: Are you alright?]

[Wakaba Mutsumi: Yeah, it's nothing. I just didn't have time to check my phone.]

[Kusano Akira: Oh, I see. That's good. I thought you were in some kind of trouble.]

Ruoye Mu gave a mischievous smile.

[Wakaba Mutsumi: You really want me to run into trouble?]