"This is really getting sad…"
Monika heaved a heavy, depressed sigh.
"At least, I'm getting some exercise though, right?"
That seemed like the point she would let out a small laugh to fake some acceptance of what she has done, but she couldn't muster a single chuckle. There was nothing she could do but think about her earlier encounter with Mali.
Did I speak our encounter into existence? Even if that was really the case, I didn't expect it to play out that way. I expected Mali to taunt me, to deliberately make me feel even worse, but that actually seemed to be the last thing she wanted to do.
She scratched her right cheek, trying to think of every possible reason Mali could have had to confront her like that.
But why? Why would she-?
Monika let out another sorrowful sigh.
Never mind. It doesn't matter. Even if she got what she wanted, it wouldn't change things in the long run.
She sat up and bundled her scarf.
"Why am I even torturing myself considering something impossible?"
Monika looked up at the dark sky above her. Seeing the glittering lights shining down reminded her of the tail end of her summer vacation. Watching the sky light up with paper lanterns with her friends; at that moment, she was absolutely sure that there would be many more moments like that.
She believed that they would always stay like that.
I wanted to believe that.
Monika shook her head and forced herself to move. One step after the other, she began her trek home.
Looking around, Monika could see many smiling faces walking past her. Was it right to feel envious or was it a sign of that she was a bad person? She had been plagued by questions like this for days but never really had a concrete answer. It seemed like there was always something that kept her from-.
Eh?
She stopped right in her tracks as her eyes were suddenly drawn to one particular face in the crowd. It was a shock to say the least to see Shujinkou's father: Jomei.
What's he doing here?
Her feet once again started moving, her mind now focused on following him. One step after another, Monika subtly closed the gap between them, while still maintaining enough distance to not draw his attention.
Appearing now, not too long after the incident he was indirectly related to…
This can't be a coincidence.
She continued to tail behind Jomei until he suddenly stopped. He sat down on a nearby bench and, while still looking ahead, motioned her to come his way.
Part of her knew she shouldn't do anything on his terms, but she didn't listen. She cautiously approached him.
"How'd you know?" Monika asked.
"You learn to be acutely aware of your surroundings when you have experiences similar to the one you've just been through," Jomei explained.
"So, you're aware of what happened?"
"Yes."
"And that's why you're here?"
Jomei didn't say a word as he looked up at Monika. The eyes he bore were the complete opposite of his son's. They were cold and distant.
"You've been around Akui, I'm sure he's given you something of his life story. You've had to at least infer his obsession with me. When you're connected to someone like that, you make sure you can find any evidence of their next move."
"That's it?"
"Of course."
Jomei resumed looking forward. It was as if he knew what she was going to force herself to ask him next.
"…Have you heard that Shujinkou is in a coma?" Monika questioned.
"Yes."
"Are you going to see him?"
"Are you going to disparage me too?"
Monika's ears slightly perked up upon hearing the word, "too". Did he actually run into someone else she knew?
"Actually… Why the hesitation when mentioning Shujinkou?" Jomei suddenly asked. "Is there something about him that's affecting you personally?"
"I… One of my fr- Someone I care about ended up in a coma protecting us from someone who really just wanted to get a rise out of you," Monika replied as calmly as she could.
"Does that imply that Shujinkou really was the one who trounced Akui?"
"He…"
Monika couldn't bring herself to answer that question. Even if she could feasibly explain what happened that night or even had a desire to do so, she just couldn't.
The way Shujinkou acted… He was so ruthless and sadistic to those he deemed a threat… That was…
Jomei snuck a glance at Monika's face and took note of the conflicted expression that rested on it.
"I guess in the end, it doesn't really matter," he said.
"It doesn't?"
"Your reluctance aside, most likely not."
"Okay…"
Monika solemnly scratched her right cheek. Despite only talking to Jomei for a few minutes, she was beginning to feel like a helpless child.
"Did that satisfy whatever need you had that led to you following me?"
"Uhm…"
"Is it fair to say you only chased me impulsively?"
"I think that's fair on my side considering the relation you have to the incident…"
"So are you trying to find some way to blame me for what another has done?
Monika shook her head.
"…No. I guess… I was hoping you could do something better than me."
"…You're one of the few who possesses strong feelings for Shujinkou, correct? Then why do you expect me to do something you yourself have not done yourself?"
"Huh?" Monika stared at Jomei with shocked eyes. "H-"
"I have my reasons for not seeing Shujinkou, but what's yours? For someone who has such strong feelings for him, what's keeping you away? And is it just you or are the others staying away too? Either way, between all of us, I believe his friends not seeing him is more of a sin than me not seeing him."
Somehow, Jomei's words hurt Monika more than all the physical punishment Akui put her through. She was affected that she couldn't bring herself to say anything as Jomei stood up to leave.
"I'm starting to see why even Sayori doesn't like him much…" she mumbled under her breath.
…
"What's wrong? You look like you got hit by a truck."
Monika heaved a heavy, tired sigh as she stepped past her cousin.
"I feel like I did. I think I got a taste of what it's like to be in Natsuki and Shujinkou's shoes, if just a little."
"What's that mean?"
"I… I ran into Shujinkou's dad on the way home."
"Jomei? The guy Akui wouldn't shut up about; a feeling his goons actually agree with."
Monika nodded her head.
"So…" Claudette gingerly rubbed her bandage arm. "Is he here to see his son?"
"No. He's just here to see the aftermath of the incident. You know, preempt any future events by doing research and all that…"
"He's here just for that?"
"He's… not the most empathetic person."
"Wow… He sounds really scummy and that's putting it lightly."
That sentiment was something Monika could wholeheartedly agree with. She already had a poor opinion on the man despite never directly talking to him.
"That's actually pretty funny of you to say, considering you've never been in his presence."
Claudette shrugged.
"Call them how I see 'em based on their actions and not seeing his comatose son after a guy he knew put said son and my cousin and their known associates through the wringer is more a little more than scummy actually. It's borderline sinful."
"Yeah, it is…"
Claudette took note of the hurt on her little cousin's face.
I said something triggering, didn't I?
"Claudette…" Monika willed herself to look up her cousin. "I'm going to turn in early tonight."
Claudette watched in silence as Monika trudged up the stairs.
I'll take that as a yes… Way to go, Claudette.
The next day…
"…Is that it? No…"
Hiro continued to pace back and forth. She didn't understand how a motion that could cause dizziness was supposed to get one's brain to function better, but she was willing to give it another try.
What is it? Hiroko… Shujinkou…
She stopped, focusing completely on the burgeoning breakthrough she had then.
My children… and me? Uhm…
And just like that, her breakthrough was lost. Strangely though, she wasn't as upset as she thought she would be. In fact, that was something she felt ever since her meeting with Jomei.
Jomei…?
Hiro shook her head and heard the doorbell.
Who could that be?
She walked to the front door and opened it. Standing on the other side of the door was Mali.
"Good morning, Ms. Hiro," she beamed.
"Good morning, Mali. What're you doing here?" Hiro queried. "Shouldn't you be at school right now?"
"Senpai's more important than school. I'm here to help you keep an eye on him."
"That's nice of you to offer, Mali, but you shouldn't miss school for that reason."
"Its okay, Ms. Hiro," Mali flashed a knowing smile. "I got permission on all sides to take a personal day for Senpai."
"You did?"
"Mm-hmm. I explained to the school that I couldn't perform to the best of my ability while I'm so concerned with Senpai and the adult figures in my life don't mind me being here. So… I'm all good to do nothing but be by Senpai's side today."
"Oh. Well, if you went so far… Come in."
"Thank you, Ms. Hiro."
Mali's eyes remained glued to Hiro as she stepped inside her senpai's home for the second time.
"No need for thanks. I should be the one grateful that Shujinkou has friends that would go so far for him."
"Friends…?"
Mali remained quiet for a moment.
"You honestly shouldn't be so surprised. After all, I'm Senpai's Kōhai," she proudly declared. "It's my duty to look after him."
"You said that yesterday too… You must be really fond of him."
Mali giggled.
"Senpai has a certain… appeal to him. Of course, I'm not the only one who feels that way."
"Right…"
Mali took note of Hiro's facial expression. She was sure that the woman in front of her would scratch her right cheek if she had the quirk her son possessed.
"Have you already had breakfast?" Hiro suddenly asked.
Mali shook her head. "No. Are you really offering to make something just for me?"
Hiro nodded her head with a smile.
"Wow… That would be great, Ms. Hiro."
Mali followed her into the kitchen and took a seat at the table.
"Any requests?"
"I'll be fine with anything."
Mali curisouly tapped on the kitchen table as she watched Hiro get to work.
"Ms. Hiro, can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"You don't seem too fazed by yesterday. Why's that?"
"Um…"
What Mali did not know was that Hiro herself had been pondering that very question since they last met.
"It's not that I'm not fazed by it. It's more like… I don't know how to properly explain it. I'm not as upset as I feel I should be, but it's not like I'm trying to ignore recent event and lock my feelings away. I'm just… I don't know, I guess I'm trying to figure it out."
"Wow… Such an honest response…"
An intrigued smile crossed Mali's bright face.
"That's interesting."
"Interesting how?"
"How refreshing it is. It really is refreshing for an adult figure to be so honest, especially to a stranger."
Mali's explanation was something Hiro found both surprising and worrying.
"Hey, Ms. Hiro, can I ask you something else?"
"Mm-hmm."
"What has Senpai said about me to you?"
Hiro looked back at Mali.
"Well, he's told me that you're a really clever person."
"Really?"
"Yes. He told me how you always effortlessly outpace everyone in conversation and how you can discern people in no time at all. He also told that one of the first things you did when you two first met was finding a club room for everyone."
"He only told you that?"
"Well… he did mention how you tried to get him to kiss you in front of the others," Hiro said with a nervous chuckle.
"Oh… Senpai, must have been really upset with me, huh?"
"I don't think he was really upset with you. If I recall correctly, he was more upset with the fact that he inadvertently upset his friends."
"That's so like Senpai to downplay my part for his own perceived slight. Especially since Senpai ultimately had no fault in that moment given at that point he could do whatever he wanted with anyone."
Mali could recall the different negative emotions she felt as she watched the Literature Club members depart from school that day.
Though they seemed fine with Senpai after the weekend. I can only imagine Senpai's natural appeal spared him from their envy.
Mali glanced up at the ceiling then quickly turned her attention back to Hiro.
"What's your opinion on that moment?"
"I don't exactly have the full context of that situation to form a fair opinion."
"But it's pretty obvious though, right? Either I was getting a rise out of your son or I was messing with his friends, one including his precious best friend. Either way, it's not a flattering first impression to hear about.
"I guess."
"So is your opinion on me bad?"
Hiro shook her head.
"Why not?"
"Because you haven't given me a reason to have a bad opinion."
"But I messed with your son and that wasn't even the first time."
"I know. He told me about the first day he was tasked with watching over you."
"So why would you not have a bad opinion about me?"
"Well… Until yesterday, I could only build an opinion on you through the bits and pieces of what Shujinkou has told me. And the way he talks about you went through a change similar to when he first joined the Literature Club.
The way he talked about everyone… his voice always had a notable hesitation whenever he spoke about them at first. It was the same for his other friends. But as time passed by, that hesitation turned into relief then turned into fondness, if that makes sense."
"And Senpai speaks about me fondly?"
"If I were to be perfectly honest, I would say it's more in the relief phase at the moment."
Relief…
That possible answer was more surprising than Mali expected it to be. It was possible that Hiro was just trying to protect her feelings, but she didn't sense any fallacy in her voice.
Of course, that doesn't mean that there weren't any hidden meanings behind those words.
"Does that mean that in actuality Senpai sees me as someone he's stuck with? A burden he's effectively trapped with and is just trying to find a way to make due with the hand life dealt him."
"I don't think Shujinkou has ever seen you as a burden."
"How can you be so sure? You heard about the things I've done to Senpai; why would you think that he wouldn't consider me an annoying brat that constantly hangs around him for her own self-interests?"
"Because it's obvious that he wants that relief to turn into genuine fondness like everyone else."
"Senpai really wants that?"
"That's what I believe. And it's because of that and the fact that you care enough to come here that I personally can't have a bad opinion about you."
With a gentle smile, Hiro slid a plate of food in front of Mali.
"…Hmm. I was right; you're just as interesting as Senpai," the freshman student complimented. "I can see why Senpai wasn't a wreck by the time I met him."
"Oh. Uhm…"
Hiro had heard something similar time and time again. And every time she had the same reaction.
"Thank you, Mali."
But this time, she felt something different.