【018】Pursuit

【Takahashi Mika】

What the hell is going on?

By chance, I went out to the neighboring town and ended up finding Nana.

At the station, she was meeting up with someone.

Nana said before that she likes someone. So maybe it’s a date. With that thought, I decided to at least confirm the face of her partner.

And then, that partner turned out to be Tamura.

What?

Why Tamura?

I mean, Tamura’s makeover is insane. I hate to admit it, but even I felt my heart skip.

Like, wow, that guy cleans up nicely.

I even thought that.

But none of that matters.

Why is Nana with Tamura?

My shopping trip to the neighboring town suddenly turned into tracking Nana. The two of them entered the shopping complex. That clothing store.

They were trying on clothes and showing each other.

That clothing store had a high couple rate, but those two were more lovey-dovey than any other couple. Honestly, it was embarrassing to watch.

Nana was handing clothes to Tamura and having him try them on. All the clothes suited Tamura.

Then Nana changed in turn.

When Nana came out of the fitting room, even I, a girl, was mesmerized. Other couples also looked at Nana in surprise.

Nana was shining that brightly. Same beautiful girl as always.

When Tamura said something, Nana blushed, not seeming to mind. They were laughing together.

I’d never seen that kind of smile before.

A smile she never showed me.

I wonder what this is. This uneasy feeling.

No, I already know what this unease is.

A sense of exclusion, loneliness, irritation, anger.

All of it mixed together.

Next, the two went to a store selling accessories.

Glittering jewelry lined the shelves.

I closed the distance a little.

I could hear their conversation.

“Misa-kun, let’s buy matching things.”

Misa-kun…

That time too, she said Misa-kun.

So the person Nana likes is… Tamura?

“Would this suit you, Nanaka-san?”

Nanaka-san!?

Tamura, calling Nana by her first name…

“Huh? Really? …Ehehe.”

Ugh, so cute…!

But I’m pissed. I’m so pissed!!

What’s going on?

I really don’t understand.

By then, I’d already run away.

I don’t understand Nana.

Nana, who first talked to me when I was struggling to make friends. Nana, who eats lunch with me. Nana, who enjoys shopping after school and on weekends. That’s the Nana I know.

But lately, Nana is different.

She’s hiding something.

That’s scary.

Who are you? I don’t know.

I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know.

What should I—

“You’re Takahashi Mika-san, right?”

I was called out to.

By whom?

【Inoue Reina】

Wait, wait, wait, hold up.

What kind of situation is this?

I went to visit Nakano Nanaka and Takahashi Mika, who might be involved in the groping incident, heading to their houses, but both of them had gone out to the neighboring town.

So I came to the neighboring town.

I quickly found Takahashi Mika.

But the situation was strange.

Takahashi Mika was hiding behind cover.

Yes, for some reason, she was tailing someone.

And the targets were Nakano Nanaka and Tamura Misaki.

Wait, what?

With my pink brain cells, my imagination is that Takahashi Mika actually likes Tamura Misaki, and she’s conflicted about choosing between friendship with her love rival Nakano Nanaka or love, which led her to this stalking behavior.

That can’t be it. Besides, there’s no point in me, with zero romantic experience, thinking about this.

But it doesn’t seem like a coincidence.

Nakano Nanaka, Tamura Misaki, and Takahashi Mika.

The fact that these three happen to be together.

Looking at Nakano Nanaka and Tamura Misaki, they only look like lovers. Their lovey-dovey behavior is honestly enviable.

If possible, I’d also like to with Sergeant Hayama…

Wait, I’m getting off track.

Isn’t Tamura Misaki being bullied? Was Nakano Nanaka secretly dating him?

I don’t understand.

Nakano Nanaka and Tamura Misaki went into a café in the shopping mall, perhaps for a break.

I was about to enter too, but suddenly I saw Takahashi Mika running away.

I called out to Takahashi Mika.

Takahashi Mika had a surprised look on her face.

“Who…?”

“I’m Inoue from the Criminal Investigation Division.”

“Ah, the detective… from that time.”

Takahashi Mika seemed to remember me and nodded in understanding.

After catching her breath, she met my eyes.

“So, what do you want with me?”

“It’s awkward to talk standing up, so how about we talk somewhere calmer?”

【Tamura Misaki】

We came to a café with a nice atmosphere.

But lately, cafés make me think of the detectives’ interrogations.

Nanaka-san chose the seat at the far end by the wall. We sat facing each other.

I ordered a hot coffee, and Nanaka-san ordered a café au lait. After a little while, they arrived. I took a sip of the hot coffee and relaxed.

“Nanaka-san, thank you for today.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t really get many chances to go out, so today was fun.”

“I had fun too.”

“Why did you invite me today, Nanaka-san?”

My biggest question.

Nanaka-san’s eyes widened.

“Because I wanted to go out with Misa-kun… though that’s about ninety percent of it, but actually, there’s something I wanted to ask.”

“Something you wanted to ask?”

Nanaka-san acted so naturally.

I felt caught off guard.

She asked:

“Misa-kun, you’ve been with Satou-san lately, right? What are you doing?”