“Tch…”
“Scared now~?”
“You scared him~”
“Nah, this brat’s just acting tough.”
“Should’ve played along and pretended to lose. Kid like this probably doesn’t even have a girlfriend.”
Their taunts kept coming, and the surrounding looks grew sympathetic.
It was frustrating, but… just because it reminded me of my dream, I’d frozen up? Hah… guess it affected me more than I thought.
“C’mon, say somethin’? You started this”
“Just drop it already.”
“Ugh, kids like you are the worst.”
With that, the woman shoved my shoulder hard.
As she took another step closer, still smirking, Emu returned from the restroom.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Kai-senpai.”
“O-oh, hey.”
“Who’s…?”
Emu’s sudden appearance left the women gaping in shock.
Just her looks alone made their expressions shift to undeniable defeat.
“Seems like some unpleasant people bothered you while I was gone… I’m sorry, Kai-senpai.”
“Nah… Welcome back, anyway.”
“I’m home♪ …Now then.”
Her smile vanished, replaced by blank indifference.
The moment her cold, unreadable eyes locked onto them, the women flinched.
“I heard everything, including the part about him ‘not having a girlfriend.’ Rude people must have eyes as cloudy as their manners… Not that I care about you.”
She glanced at the torn bag but didn’t react angrily.
After checking the damage, she simply said, “It’s fine,” and turned back to them.
(…Emu’s terrifying.)
Her icy stare wasn’t directed at me, but the chill she radiated lived up to her nickname—the Ice Queen.
“Senpai is an incredibly strong person. So while he might have his own thoughts about what you said, it’s certain he wasn’t shaken—but when people speak badly of him, it ruins my mood, you know?”
With that, Emu paused for a moment… then continued.
“Senpai isn’t the kind of person you think he is… To me, he’s someone I respect and admire, and I’ll declare that right here. You don’t have to remember my words—I just wanted to say this personally.”
Emu spoke decisively.
The women had no chance to interject, left speechless as they stared blankly in her direction, with no sign of rebuttal.
Though they seemed prideful, they were clearly overwhelmed by Emu.
“Well then, Senpai, shall we go?”
“O-Oh…! Yeah.”
With that, Emu took my hand, and we walked away from the women.
Once they were out of sight, Emu stopped, and I suddenly remembered something—bowing my head.
“Sorry, Emu! Here, this is…”
“…Ahh, now that you mention it, you were holding onto it for me.”
…Was that reaction way too casual?
Emu took the paper bag and checked inside.
“It’s fine. Doesn’t look broken.”
“…That’s good.”
I let out a relieved sigh.
But still, if I hadn’t dropped it in the first place, none of this would’ve happened—no argument with those women, and Emu wouldn’t have had to go that far to defend me.
“Kai-senpai, really, don’t worry about it.”
“…Still, I kinda feel pathetic.”
“Do you? If anything, the fact you stood your ground like that takes real courage—something worth praising.”
“That was… just me refusing to let it slide. Sure, part of it was me dropping it, but when they said stepping on someone else’s stuff was no big deal, I couldn’t just stay quiet.”
“I only saw part of what happened, but one thing’s clear—you got angry for my sake. So from me, all I have is gratitude toward you, Kai-senpai.”
Though the bag Emu hugged now had a hole in it, the smile on her face eased the unease in my heart.
“…Hearing that makes me feel better.”
“Yes~♪”
If Emu was going this far to reassure me, I’d try not to dwell on it.
(But… it weirdly overlapped with that dream. Am I more hung up on it than I thought?)
Even my sister had told me something similar—was I really this sensitive? I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought.
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“Is something wrong?”
“Nah. Just thinking if I’ve always been this sensitive.”
“Sensitive…? Kai-senpai?”
“Hey, I know it’s unlike me, but that reaction’s kinda rude, kouhai.”
I reached out and ruffled Emu’s hair—not out of annoyance,
but as a senpai asserting dominance.
By the time I pulled back, her hair was completely messed up, and I instantly regretted it.
“S-Sorry… got carried away there.”
As Emu fixed her hair, her cheeks flushed red.
That expression wasn’t out of embarrassment or anger—it looked more like… dazed enchantment? At least, I don’t think I was imagining it.
“…Emu-san?”
“Wha—Kai-senpai, what was that all of a sudden?!”
Her cheeks still red, she glared at me—but after seeing that look earlier, her glare held no weight.
“I already said sorry.”
“…Well, since it’s you, Kai-senpai, I’ll forgive you.”
She turned away with a pout.
Though her expression screamed “lowkey masochist,” I was just glad she forgave me for messing up her hair.
After that, we wandered aimlessly.
After walking in silence for about 500 meters, I finally broke.
“…Where are we even going?”
“…Who knows?”
Turns out, Emu had no destination either.
Looking back, ever since we met earlier, we hadn’t discussed plans—first there was the old man, then those women.
“W-Well then!”
“Hm?”
“I want to drop this off at home… Would you like to come over?”
“Uh… Are you sure?”
“Yes! I mean… it might sound weird to say ‘just this once,’ but I’d like to talk with you, just the two of us.”
After a brief hesitation, I seized the opportunity and nodded.
I’d gone out hoping to maybe see Emu anyway—this was perfect!
“Then let’s go right away!”
Whether she sensed my excitement or not, Emu walked ahead with a smile.
Following her, though, brought back bad memories—especially passing by the utility pole where that stalker had once lurked.
“…No way.”
I stopped and subtly checked behind us.
No suspicious figures in sight—no sign of anyone cleverly hiding either.
“Kai-senpai?”
“…Ah, nothing. Sorry.”
“Were you… worried someone suspicious might be following us?”
“Kinda… yeah.”
At school, I always checked when Emu was in a hypnotized state, but what if she was unaware? Plus, I’d just had run-ins with Matsuri’s ex and Saika’s dad—bad timing.
“As far as I know, it should be fine… but I’m happy you’re concerned for me.”
“Of course I am.”
But judging by her reaction, she really didn’t seem worried.
“Stalking… stuff like that can escalate into awful cases. Seen it on the news, so it’s on my mind.”
“I see… That is scary. Even though that guy got arrested, there’s no telling if he’d hold a grudge after getting out.”
What I feared, and what Emu mentioned—both were unlikely.
But because of that, I couldn’t help worrying. Now that we’d grown closer, I wanted to protect her—just like Matsuri and Saika.
With my partner’s power, I’d keep her safe no matter what.
(If something happened, I wouldn’t get to indulge freely… For the sake of my own desires, she can’t get hurt.)
…Yeah, that’s some villain logic right there. I nodded firmly to myself.
Before long, we reached Emu’s place. Her parents wouldn’t be back until night, so it was just the two of us.
“Make yourself comfortable in the living room. I’ll go put my things away.”
“Sure.”
Left alone, I crossed my arms.
To think I’d be visiting a girl’s house back-to-back… Hard to believe, even for me.
“Wait, does Emu even remember me being here before?”
Last time, I’d used my partner’s power—better not slip up now…!
“That aside… I’m in a girl’s house, damn it!”
I kept my expression neutral so that Emu won’t notice, but being to a girl’s house, here had me pumped—Hurry back, Emu!
“…Oh?”
While waiting, my eyes landed on a photo frame on the shelf
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