Arc 4: Hero & Stalker

Chapter 22: Was I Being Watched!?

“Souta, are you doing any part-time jobs right now?”

After a tiring weekend, both mentally and physically, it was Monday again. During the crowded lunch break in the cafeteria, Higuchi suddenly asked me this while we were sitting together at a table.

“No, not really.”

I’m more of an indoor person who prefers to relax at home. Even though I’m in high school, I don’t have a strong reason to earn money actively, and I don’t want to spend my after-school hours or weekends working. If anything, I’d only do a part-time job if there’s something I really want to buy.

Also, I don’t take long-term part-time jobs because, believe it or not, I’m part of a club. Well, it’s almost like it’s closed down now, and I barely show up at the club room…

“What about it?”

“Hmm, yeah, I thought so… Then, maybe I was mistaken?”

“Mistaken? About what?”

As Higuchi spoke hesitantly, I asked back while slurping my hot Chinese noodles.

“Well, you see, I thought I saw Souta at the plaza in front of Sakuragicho Station when I was coming back from shopping last Saturday.”

“Bluhh!?”

“Whoa!”

I accidentally spat out my noodles in surprise, and the broth splattered all over the table. It seemed like some noodles had gone up my nose because I started coughing and tearing up.

“Ah, gross. What are you doing, Souta?”

“Cough, hack!”

“Seriously. Here, wipe yourself with this.”

“Sorry… Thanks.”

I was wiping the table and my mouth with the tissue Higuchi handed me, feeling really panicked inside.

Was I seen!?

I hope he didn’t see me with Mizushima…

“So, what about Saturday?”

I asked hesitantly, and Higuchi shrugged and repeated himself.

“Like I said, I thought I saw you at the station plaza on Saturday.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Around the evening? Walking from the bus stop at the square into the station.”

That must have been after I parted ways with Mizushima. It seems like he didn’t catch any crucial moment… but I was careless. I never thought Higuchi would be there too.

“But, Souta, you’re a total indoor person, right? You hardly ever go out on your own unless I drag you out, especially on weekends.”

“Well, I can’t deny that…”

Don’t make me sound like a hermit.

I’m not a kid anymore, and I do go out on my own. Like going to the cinema to watch a new movie, or, well… going to the cinema to watch a new movie!

“So, I figured either you were coming back from a part-time job, or I just mistook someone else for you.”

I see, so that’s how we got to the first question.

But what should I say? If he didn’t see me with Mizushima, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to admit I was there…

“But well, if it wasn’t for a part-time job, then it must have been my mistake.”

While I was struggling to find an answer, Higuchi seemed to have settled on that conclusion. Nodding to himself as if satisfied, he then teased me.

“You’re the guy who finds shopping too much of a hassle and does almost everything online. The only times you go out on weekends are when I drag you out… Oh, right. Or when you were going on dates with Satomori-san.”

“Hey, don’t bring that up. I’m still not over it.”

Indeed, starting to go out on weekends was a big change for me, mainly because I began dating Ena-chan.

We went to the cinema, cafes, and sometimes I was invited over to Ena-chan’s place… Though it was just simple outings, being with Ena-chan made them fun.

“And speaking of which, look, there’s Satomori-san.”

Just as I was feeling down, Higuchi whispered to me.

Following his gaze, I saw Ena-chan sitting at a four-seater table near the cafeteria window. With her were two girls, one with a bun and another with braids – probably Ena-chan’s friends I saw before at the store.

But today, there was an additional person sitting with Ena-chan and her friends.

“Look, isn’t that Mizushima-san with them? Wow, those two are close.”

Just as Higuchi said, Mizushima was sitting next to Ena-chan. Even from a distance, I could see them chatting and laughing together.

Mizushima had said she didn’t want to waste even a day in her quest to win me over, but it seems she didn’t plan to stick to me all the time at school.

Since she’s also dating Ena-chan (though they seem to be passing as “just good friends” to others), she probably needs to spend time with her too.

Moreover, it seems she wants to avoid letting Ena-chan or anyone else at school find out that we’re in a “trial” relationship. Today, she just gave me a casual greeting when we passed each other in the hallway.

(I was worried she’d be all over me at school like yesterday… but it looks like that was needless.)

Thankfully, it seems I won’t have to deal with Mizushima at school, which is a relief.

However, seeing her getting along so well with Ena-chan isn’t exactly great for my mental health. Honestly, I feel like telling Mizushima to switch places with me.

“By the way, they’re both in the advanced class, right? Seeing them together like that, they look like a sophisticated young lady and a gallant prince in disguise. They really make a picturesque pair.”

“…Yeah, I guess.”

While half-heartedly agreeing with Higuchi, I continued to watch them talk, lost in thought.