Chapter 14 – The Two Who Vanished Before My Eyes

Right now, I’m walking together with Hidaka-san’s little sister, Nao-chan — but there’s absolutely no conversation. We’re really just walking.

I thought maybe we’d be able to talk a little once we reached our destination—the shopping mall—but that wasn’t the case at all.

And yet, she’s been gripping the hem of my shirt this whole time. It kinda feels like I’m walking around with a little relative, even though we’re in the same grade.

“…………”

Hm? Nao-chan suddenly stopped walking. I wonder what’s wrong. This area is the women’s clothing section, and there’s a lingerie shop right nearby — but that couldn’t be it.

“Did you find something you need?”

“…Replacement… underwear.”

…Right. I figured. Also, her voice really is cute.

“Then I’ll be on the bench over there.”

“…(Nod)”

After seeing Nao-chan toddle into the store, I sat down on a bench across from it and took out my smartphone.

The gazes of the people coming out of the store? I don’t care about that at all. It should be totally obvious I’m giving off “waiting for my girlfriend” vibes, after all.

If my partner here were Ayane-san, I would’ve followed her right into the store and picked out underwear to my own liking, though.

Hey, don’t say that’s gross. I’m a virgin, you know; my delusion power is at MAX level.

For now, I’ll just play some games and wait until Nao-chan comes out.

— She’s slow. I’ve already been waiting for thirty minutes. During that time, five messages arrived from Wano-sensei. 【I saw you while I was driving just now, but weren’t you with a girl, Akasaka-kun!? What does this mean!? Hey! What is the meaning of this!?】

Isn’t men’s underwear just like 980 yen for a pack of three? That’s what I always get. Is it different for girls? But I can’t exactly raise my head to check.

I don’t mind being looked at — but having people think, “Ah, that guy is staring at underwear~” is absolutely impossible for me.

So could you please hurry up and come out already?

Just as I was thinking that, feet appeared in the corner of my downcast vision, the toes were neatly aligned and pointing right at me.

It looks like she finally came back.

“Were you able to buy ones you like? Where to next, then? Let’s go look at futo— Eh?”

When I raised my head, the person standing there wasn’t Nao-chan — it was Ayane-san. …Ayane-san!?

“…………”

Ayane-san looked back and forth between me and the lingerie shop, then fixed me with a gaze so intense it felt like it could pierce straight through the crown of my head.

My heart skipped a beat. Ah, crap — I messed up. A shiver ran down my spine.

This is bad. This is really bad. At this rate, she’s going to think I’m a pervert, grinning to myself while watching women pick out underwear. She’s going to mistakenly think I’m having thoughts like, “Ah, that person looks pure, but she wears stuff like that. Hmm… what a slut!

So, just as I opened my mouth to defend myself, Nao-chan stepped up next to Ayane-san, holding a paper bag from the lingerie shop. And the two locked eyes. The very next moment—

“You…!”

An incredibly deep, intimidating voice echoed from Nao-chan. …Eh?

“We meet at last! I shall have my revenge for that day!”

Nao-chan was speaking super fluently, like something out of a historical samurai drama. Wait. My comprehension can’t keep up. Who are you? And Ayane-san — don’t just stand there looking blank, react to her! Nao-chan is acting like a total weirdo! I mean, she actually is being a weirdo right now!

“The suffering of that day… I shall never forget it. The pain in my chest from having my beloved stolen away will never fade…”

Ayane-saaaaan! What did you do this time!? Even though I want to prove that Ayane-san hasn’t done anything wrong, victims just keep popping up one after another, and I’m starting to lose track of what I should even do!

Right then, the paper bag slipped from Nao-chan’s hand.

The transmitted impact, the opening of the bag, the underwear spilling out. Furthermore, it was slightly naughty-looking.

Seeing that, Ayane-san looked at me with a shocked expression. No, wait — something completely different and shocking was just happening right in front of us, wasn’t it?

“No… don’t look…”

Nao-chan, could you please not switch into shy mode right here, of all places? My head is getting confused trying to figure out which one is the real you.

Just as I completely lost my grasp of the situation, hung my head, and held it in my hands, I overheard a conversation between some young girls as they passed by.

“I heard the Anime Saito in the West Wing just got 【Love Concerto】 acrylic keychains and clear files in stock. Let’s hurry and go buy them~.”

“Eh, that’s crazy! We gotta go super fast before they sell out! We totally gotta use Shukuchi!”

“Yeah! We have to go using a Shukuchi that surpasses Shukuchi!”

— What an information-dense conversation. Could you please not use the word “Shukuchi” so lightly? I’m actually a bit of a stickler when it comes to Shukuchi, you know? Because I researched it a lot back in the day.

Wait, this isn’t the time for that. Ayane-san and Nao-chan — I have to somehow get this situation under control… or so I thought, but—

“Huh?”

When I raised my head again, both of their figures had vanished.

Even when I looked around, they were nowhere to be found.

“…Spirited away?”