The Day After I Told My Shut-In Genius Childhood Friend, Who’s Highly Dependent on Me, “I Got Confessed To,” She Showed Me a Hypnosis App - Chapter 21

After school.

I climbed the stairs to the rooftop like Momose-san told me to.

I could sense a few guys trying to follow me, but I couldn’t hear their footsteps. I heard a voice saying, “Stop eavesdropping and study!” So, it seemed like some of the other girls stopped them, probably Momose-san’s friends.

My steps felt heavy.

Actually, they felt awkward.

I didn’t even know why, but Momose-san was giving off that strong presence.

(Did I promise a date…?)

I tried to search my memory, but I couldn’t find any clue. Yesterday, I only remembered meeting her on the station platform in the morning. After that… I only remembered going to class.

Wait.

(…Did I go straight to class after the station?)

My head felt weird as I tried to recall. When we got off the train, Momose-san had a small injury, right? Didn’t I tell her to go to the nurse’s office?

This has been happening a lot lately.

Some memories felt hazy or missing.

I felt like my perception was wrong.

(…Could it be?)

I reached the rooftop. Momose-san was waving at me from her usual spot.

“Honamin. I’m sorry for calling you out.”

“No, don’t apologize… it’s probably my fault…”

She looked a little relieved and showed me her phone. On the screen was our message history.

“Did you send this, Honamin?”

“…No.”

It was a message saying, “I’m sorry. Something came up, so I can’t go on the date.”

Of course, I had no memory of sending it. I checked my own phone, and there was no trace of it. After seeing me confused, Momose-san nodded.

“…Yeah, it wasn’t you, Honamin.”

Exactly, it wasn’t me.

But then one question popped up.

Then, who sent it?

(…Oh no.)

I already had a good idea who the culprit was. My heart sank.

“…I’m sorry. By the way, when was this date supposed to be?”

“Sunday after the tests.”

“…I see.”

I really wanted to bury my face in my hands.

The one who arranged it was my childhood friend, who wasn’t here. Or maybe she didn’t really arrange it.

(What the hell are you doing…)

I let out a sigh.

This time, she really crossed the line.

I usually let Mio get away with stuff. I know it, and I’m okay with her doing things to me.

(But causing trouble for others isn’t okay…)

“…Honamin.”

Just as I was feeling down, Momose-san spoke to me.

“I don’t care about who the culprit is. As long as I know it wasn’t your choice, that’s enough.”

“…Yeah. It wasn’t my choice.”

“Then… will you go on a date with me again?”

She held out her hand. I felt sorry, so I took it.

“…I’m sorry. Let’s go.”

“What day works? I’m fine with another day if you want.”

“No… the same day is fine.”

“Got it.”

Momose-san smiled at me like she usually does.

She’s a kind person.

And she’s strong too; she came straight to ask me even after being turned down.

At the same time, I couldn’t help but wonder about Mio.

…Why did Mio do something like this?

She’s not the type to cause trouble for others.

…Wait, how did she even do it?

◇

I went home.

Today, I didn’t go to Mio’s house. I went on my own.

I really wanted to ask her face-to-face what she was doing, but I couldn’t because of the situation.

(I have no idea what she’s doing to me…)

What happened this time was pretty unusual. Before, she made that “app that sends sound waves to make you feel horny,” and I told her to delete it. But this felt stronger than that.

(What did she do to me?)

This time, my memory of a “date with Momose-san” had been replaced with a “date with Mio.”

It wasn’t just changing the schedule. My own perception had changed.

Could someone really mess with someone’s mind like this? Normally, no. But if it’s Mio… maybe. I couldn’t say it was impossible.

I sent Mio a message saying I wouldn’t come over today.

“Mio. You’re doing something to me.”

“I don’t care if it’s just me, but you can’t bother anyone else.”

“I don’t know what you’re doing, so I decided not to come to your house for a while.”

“I’ll ask you and scold you properly later, so be ready.”

“I ordered some takeout, so eat something.”

“Also, take a bath. Stop staying up late.”

“That’s all.”

“Phew…”

After sending it, I saw that she had read it.

Calls started coming in immediately, but I didn’t answer. Messages kept coming too, but I ignored them for now.

It was unlikely, but she could still try to affect me with voice or text. For a while, I needed to cut off all contact.

(Please, seriously)

Honestly, I was worried about staying away from Mio. She can’t really take care of herself. She can’t even leave the house.

I remembered a few months ago, when we tried to leave the house together. She threw up at the front door.

She’s a genius at making things, but everything else… She’s useless below.

(I’ll have Mom check on her, at least.)

I wanted her to reflect on what she did. Leaving her was not an option. I regretted something like this back in middle school, so I wouldn’t give up on her.

(Please… let this make her reflect.)

With a mix of frustration and hope, I blocked Mio’s account.

Then, feeling messy and unsettled, I threw myself onto my bed.

◆ “Shinonome Mio”

In the dim room, I sat curled up in the corner of the bed.

(It’s my fault.)

(It’s my fault.)

(It’s my fault.)

Next to me, a smartphone lay on the bed, its screen still on.

It showed the one-sided messages I had sent to my childhood friend, who hadn’t replied.

Staring into space, I repeated self-blaming thoughts over and over while sitting completely still.

(It’s my fault…)

I stayed like that for a long time.

Near midnight, I finally wiped away the tears that had been flowing with the pad of my fingers.

(But… It’s not over yet.)

I picked up the smartphone that had been lying beside me once again.