"What're you doing?"
Natsuki nearly jumped out of her skin upon suddenly receiving that question. The school day was done and everyone already went home or began their afterschool activities. Most importantly, the last time she checked, there was no on around in the hallway.
She frantically looked around. Despite the sudden voice vying for her attention, she didn't see who it belonged to.
"Up here."
Natsuki looked up at a set of lockers. Casually lying on top of them, looking down at her was Mali. The curious look on her face and the way she slowly swung her legs gave her a very innocent appearance.
"Just like Senpai and everyone else, you don't look up," Mali noted.
"Well, who goes around climbing on top of lockers anyway?" Natsuki calmly snapped back.
"Is that so wrong?"
"It makes you look like you're up to something."
Mali giggled. "Is that what you think I'm doing right now? You think I'm up to something devious?"
"Everything you do is devious. I have yet to see you do something that wasn't done just for your own amusement," Natsuki bluntly answered.
"Wow…" Mali cupped her face with her hands and smiled brightly. "You really think poorly of me, don't you, Summer Loli?"
"S-Summer Loli!?" Natsuki exclaimed.
"What's wrong? Your name means summer, doesn't it?"
"You know exactly which part of that ticks me off! I'm not a loli!"
"Really?" Mali quietly stared at Natsuki. "You kind of have that childlike appearance quality to you and you don't look that much older than me despite our age difference."
Her face immediately lit up as she added, "Plus, you're so cute; How can I not refer to you as a loli? Senpai's loli."
"…I'm not… I'm not a loli…!" Natsuki retorted, her voice trembling with anger.
"Does being called that really bother you? But having that status would surely allow you to be called cute all the time and isn't that what any girl wants?" Mali questioned.
"I'm not…!"
She wanted to yell her point again, but something stopped Natsuki.
"Do you have a problem with that word? If that's the case, I don't see how Senpai will ever compliment you if he ends up choosing you," Mali teased.
And that was when Natsuki understood what stopped her moments earlier. She recalled the time Shujinkou actually used that word to compliment her.
"Forget it…" Natsuki sighed. "It's a waste of breath trying to explain anything to you."
"So, it really does bother you that much, huh?" Mali continued to wave her legs back and forth as she contemplated her dilemma. "Okay, I won't call you that anymore."
That was surprising for Natsuki to hear. "Really?"
"Yep," Mali assured her with a bright smile. "I won't, Natsuki-Chan."
"Natsuki-Chan?!"
"What's wrong now? I'm calling you by your name."
"Why the 'chan' though!? I'm older than you and you're still using it for the same reason as the first one!"
"You really don't like it?" An inquisitive look was on Mali's face as she quietly stared at Natsuki. "You want me to go back to Summer Loli?"
Natsuki's heart sank upon hearing that malicious nickname again. She realized then that Mali was just going to continue coming up with more, each one possibly more degrading than the last.
"No… You can keep the new one…" she begrudgingly conceded.
"I'm glad," Mali calmly cheered. "If you didn't like it and complained about it then Senpai would get on me for not being nice to his friends."
"…What?" Natsuki responded with muted disbelief.
"You didn't know? Senpai confronted me and asked me to be nicer to his friends. So, I've been trying my hardest to do so."
"This… When did he ask that?"
"Not too long after he took me on his Kōhai."
Natsuki trembled upon hearing this. "This whole time… Everything you've done since you started hanging around Shujinkou… Was you being 'nice'?!"
"Wasn't that obvious?" Mali calmly replied.
"You call constantly insulting us and ticking us off being nice?!"
"Don't you guys tease each other all the time?"
"It's called 'friendly teasing'!" Natsuki raged. "You'd get it if you ever had an-!"
Natsuki instinctively bit her tongue, keeping her from saying any more. It was surprising to, say the least, and she wasn't the only one to think so.
"Wow… I didn't expect you to stop yourself… You were this close to saying something really mean, but you stopped." Mali marveled.
"You…"
Was the entire conversation up to this point just to provoke Natsuki into being saying things that would paint her as the bad guy?
"You wouldn't be wrong though. I don't have any friends," Mali nonchalantly admitted. "The only person even remotely close to being close to me is Senpai. All I have is Senpai. It's one of the reasons Senpai is so special to me."
"'Special to you'? You've done nothing but torture him ever since you two met," Natsuki pointed out.
"Isn't that proof of how nice I've been? I've never done the things I did to Senpai when we first meet. Besides, I've done a lot of nice things for Senpai and you and the others."
"Like what?"
"The clubroom for one. Remember, Senpai said it would be nice if you guys had one and I found one for you guys."
Natsuki remembered that moment very well, especially what happened after they first got there.
"And then you tricked him into trying to kiss you," she chided. "You probably only got us the room just so you could set up that moment."
"You really think I would set up something so elaborate just for that? Didn't I say otherwise back then?" Mali pointed out.
"You think we bought that? You try and get him to kiss you and then you stop him just to make him feel bad."
Mali giggled at that accusation. "Why should Senpai feel bad? A Senpai and Kōhai having a romantic moment is an okay thing to have. Plus, Senpai's allowed to do whatever he wants because at the end of the day, he had no reason to deny wanting to kiss me if wanted to. It's not like he has a significant other or anything."
"Yeah, but that doesn't change that setting him up like that in front of everybody was a really lousy thing to do," Natsuki chastised.
"Maybe, but even so, why would it bother you so much?"
"Obviously, because I don't like seeing my friend being put in a situation like that."
"That response is so Senpai-like, but is that really the case? Even a friend wouldn't hold something like that against me so much. It's almost as if it really bothered you personally."
"That's…"
Natsuki looked away.
"Thinking about it, you all were really strongly against Senpai sharing a meaningless kiss with me," Mali continued. "Are all of you protective of the sole male in your club like Senpai is protective of you all?"
"Well, obviously that's the case," Natsuki answered, still looking away.
"But… when I saw you all leave, everyone but Senpai's best friend looked really upset. Why would that be the case unless you all see Senpai as more than a friend?"
"Maybe I was mad about how you gave him an ultimatum that he was clearly uncomfortable with."
"You were all mad about that that you had to leave Senpai immediately?"
"That's not-!"
Feelings of shame and regret were all Natsuki felt as she recalled blowing up on Shujinkou when they next met. Even though they don't mention it and Shujinkou surely doesn't look back on it, the look of hurt and shame on his face was very hard to ignore or forget.
"…I guess it doesn't really matter, the status quo has been restored after all, so Senpai must have used his natural charms to get back into everyone's good graces, right, Natsuki-chan?" Mali questioned.
Natsuki looked up at Mali. "…This is really what you consider 'nicer'? I'd really hate to see you trying to be cruel…"
Mali just smiled, unnerving the older student. The younger first year then rose up and sat along the edge of the lockers.
"Anyway, I answered your question, so it's only polite to answer mine," she said.
Puzzled, Natsuki asked, "What question?"
"I asked you earlier, 'What're you doing?'"
"I was just minding my own business until you freaked me out."
"Yeah, but why are you still here at school? There's no club meeting today right; shouldn't you be on your way?"
"Why does what I'm doing matter to you?"
"I guess you can say… I have a bit of an interest in you at the moment."
"Huh?"
Hearing that sent a tiny shiver spiraling down Natsuki's spine.
"Don't get me wrong, it's nothing compared to Senpai, but you have something," Mali clarified.
"Yeah, well, given what your interest has put Shujinkou through, I'm not exactly happy to hear that," Natsuki griped.
"Aw, that's so mean Natsuki-chan. I thought the older students were supposed to support the interests of first years. I mean, Senpai does."
"I'm not Shujinkou."
"Well, no one is really; a fact that has to be tearing one of you apart."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I can't tell you that. Divulging information like that is something sacred to the Senpai/Kōhai bond Senpai and I share," Mali answered in a nonchalant manner.
"Then why bring it up?" Natsuki groaned.
"Why not? It seems like a natural additive to my response, Natsuki-chan." Mali jumped down from the lockers, landing in front of Natsuki. "But you wandering around like this means you're free, right, Natsuki-chan?"
"And if I am?" Natsuki cautiously asked.
Mali smiled as she grasped her elder's hands.
"Then spend some time with me," she proposed.
"Eh?!" Natsuki exclaimed.
"Let's hang out, Natsuki-chan."
Mali waited for an answer, but it was clear that her simple request had rendered Natsuki stunned silent.
"Natsuki-chan?"
"…Don't give me that innocent tone and face!" she snapped. "Why should I hang out with you!?"
"Well, why wouldn't you? Are you mad that Senpai's Kōhai is taking some of his time away from you?"
"You just spent the last few minutes doing nothing but make me uncomfortable; if anything, I should be trying to get away from you, not hang out with you!"
"Well, it's not like you have anything better to do right now."
Natsuki ripped her hands away from Mali and crossed her arms in a huff. "I'd rather do nothing."
"Do you really find me that annoying?" Mali wondered with a hurt look on her face. "Then maybe this would be a good chance for us to get closer."
"What?"
"Spending time together naturally makes people closer, right? After all, you were annoying to Senpai and he still befriended you. Wouldn't it only be fair for you to do the same."
"That's only because… He didn't find me annoying…" Natsuki quietly answered to herself.
It was clear to Mali that she wasn't getting anywhere.
"How about this: We can do something you want to do. We can go to the park, maybe hit the arcade or even just stand here and talk."
But even that proposition seemed to leave Natsuki unconvinced. She simply glared at her, her eyes showing nothing but how annoyed she was.
"Even if I say no, you're just going to insist and stalk me too, aren't you?" Natsuki questioned.
"Eh? Wait, do you think I'm stalking Senpai?" Mali gasped.
"You keep showing up out of nowhere around him."
"Really now, Natsuki-chan, I have my own life. Not everything about me revolves around Senpai. Same with you, right?"
"You didn't deny my question."
"You created a separate branching conversation yourself."
That remark reignited the rage Natsuki tried to her hardest to suppress. "See! This is why I don't want to go anywhere with you!"
"Oh…" Mali pondered her situation until she suddenly thought of a sure-fire suggestion. "Okay, how about this: For this afternoon only, I'll be an open book like I am to Senpai."
Natsuki's expression suddenly softened. "Seriously?"
"Mm-hmm. You could ask me anything and I'll answer to the best of my ability."
Mali watched as Natsuki shuffle through a variety of mixed emotions. She saw irritation, disbelief, surprise, reluctance then finally acceptance.
"…Fine. I have some shopping to do, so you can follow me if you want," Natsuki muttered.
"Yay! I get to spend time with Natsuki-chan!" Mali cheered.
"Stop that! You're not Sayori!"
…
"Wow, Natsuki-Chan, you bought a lot of food."
Mali's eyes were glued to the large duffel bag Natsuki carried throughout the mall.
"What's wrong with that? I just happened to need to restock on food at home," Natsuki explained.
"But why are you restocking the food? Isn't that a job for your parents?"
Natsuki remained silent.
"I get it… You like to prove you're responsible, right?" Mali happily asked.
"It doesn't hurt to pitch in…" Natsuki mumbled.
"I get it. My sister and I pitched in a lot too."
For the first time since they left the school, the annoyance displayed on Natsuki's face vanished. Now, it was replaced with genuine curiosity. "You have a sister?"
"Did I say that? Aw, I wanted to mention that to Senpai first," Mali complained.
"Too bad. You said you were an open book to me so answer my question."
"Fine, fine. A deal's a deal. Yes, I have a biological sister."
"She isn't like you, is she?"
Mali shook her head. "Oh no, Natsuki-chan, she's much worse than me trying my hardest to live up to my name."
Natsuki instinctively took a step back from Mali. That's… horrifying…
"I can't remember… Have you ever heard my full name, Natsuki-chan?" Mali wondered. "Well, just in case, it's Malizia.
Do you know what that means? It stands for malice, mischievousness and cunning. All-in-all, it all adds up to malevolence."
She giggled as she approached Natsuki. "Suits me, don't you think, Natsuki-chan?"
"So that's why you act the way you do? You're trying to live up to your name?" Natsuki inquired.
"Oh no, that's just a nice side effect. Whatever I do, I do because I want to."
"Well, who names their kid 'malice' anyway?" Natsuki sputtered in disbelief. "They were just begging for you to turn out like this."
"Natsuki-chan, is that sympathy I hear from you?" Mali gasped.
"No… Just stating at fact. Seriously, I can't imagine any parent giving someone a name like that."
"Really?" Mali playfully scratched her right cheek. "But I guess you're right though. Thinking about it, it's the almost the opposite of the kind of parents who gave Senpai his name: Protagonist. 'Protagonist' and 'Malevolence'… Makes how special our relationship is more obvious now, right?"
"Not really."
"But I guess I shouldn't really complain. After all, it's not nearly as bad as being named 'devil'."
Natsuki sighed. "He may deserve that name for all I know…"
"Yep. So where to next, Natsuki-Chan?"
Without saying a word, Natsuki started walking again. "I'm heading home."
"Eh?" Mali subtly exclaimed. "But we only went to one place together and you were eerily quiet until now."
"Yeah, but I think I had enough of your 'malevolence' for one day," Natsuki bluntly responded.
"You didn't even really take advantage of the special offer I gave you. I was really expecting you to try and get to know me better."
"I'm not even sure I want to know more."
"So, that's really it? You don't even want to know about any of my so-called devious schemes?"
Natsuki stopped and looked back at Mali. "…Fine. There is one thing I want to know right now."
"What is it?"
"What's your plan with Shujinkou?" Natsuki asked.
Mali cocked her head in surprise. "My plan?"
"Why are you so interested in Shujinkou anyway?"
"Why…?" Mali scratched her right cheek again until she suddenly smiled. "Because he's Senpai."
"That's not the answer I'm looking for."
"What are you looking for? You want me to admit that I have some evil scheme for Senpai?"
"Don't you?"
Mali giggled. "That's a pretty funny accusation considering that I initially tried to get Senpai out of my life right away."
"So, why didn't you?" Natsuki queried.
"Why are you asking such obvious questions, Natsuki-chan? It's obviously because I'm interested in him."
"You're just repeating yourself now..."
"No, it's just that it's that simple. Senpai has interested me. Everything about him interests me. There's no evil plan. For now, I just want to be around Senpai."
Natsuki stared at Mali, as if she was trying to gauge whether there was any truth to her answer.
"I doubt it's that simple," she concluded, shaking her head.
"Why so suspicious though?" Mali wondered. "Is it really that strange for me to simply be interested in my Senpai?"
She paused before smiling again, "You're not thinking I'm going to go yandere, are you?"
Just of the thought of that being a possibility shook Natsuki. "It's not entirely impossible."
"That's harsh, Natsuki-chan. Besides, Senpai doesn't need a yandere when he already has a tsundere."
"I'm not a tsundere!" Natsuki raged at the top of her lungs.
"Really? But didn't you go from cold and tough to soft and sweet around Senpai?"
Shrinking back in defeat, Natsuki could only answer with an almost inaudible, "He's not exactly a guy you feel comfortable being cold to…"
"See, Senpai made someone so cold to him, so nice to him now," Mali pointed out. "That's one of the things that makes him interesting."
"So, you're interested in him just because he's nice?"
"That's funny; I've been meaning to ask you all the same thing."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"What is it about Senpai that draws you all to him? Certainly, you're not all fond of him just because he was nice to you, right? If that was the case, then that wouldn't really justify wanting him as much as you all do, don't you think?"
A small smirk crossed Natsuki's face, briefly surprising Mali. "You really don't get other people's feelings, do you?"
"How so?"
"Yeah, Shujinkou's nice to me. Heck, he was nothing but nice to me during a time where I was nothing but mean to him. I constantly called him a dummy and I still do when he deserves it and he's still nice to me.
But so what? He's nice to everyone, even you.
Really, him being nice is only one of the things I like about him because, you know, that's not his only trait. Shujinkou's more than just the nice guy of the club and it's surprising his 'Kohai' doesn't see it."
Mali didn't respond to that statement. No reflection or instant comebacks, instead Mali was quiet.
"I see…" Mali hung here head for a moment, before looking up with a bright face. "So, you are in love Senpai!"
"Wh-! All I said was that I like him! It doesn't mean that!" Natsuki angrily stuttered.
"But you just said it with such vigor and that there's a lot to like about Senpai then just his natural kindness."
"That's-!"
"Why are you so embarrassed? Senpai's such a worthy person to love as per your own admission."
"All I said there was more to him! Any friend could see that."
"You're right of course though," Mali accepted. "There is more to Senpai. If that wasn't the case, you wouldn't feel so strongly about him. So strongly that you want to protect him this badly even when he isn't here."
Natsuki groaned, wondering if she had let herself play into Mali's hands again.
"Isn't that why you agreed to take my offer in the first place?" Mali questioned. "You wanted to see what my intentions were with Senpai not just because you were worried I may steal him away; you were sincerely worried about him in general."
"Of course, he's… He's my friend."
Natsuki's eyes drifted away, her firm expression crumbling away.
"I wonder though… Are you willing to protect Senpai as much as he's willing to protect you?" Mali challenged. "After all, friendship is an equal two-way street."
"…Like I said, you don't understand others' feelings."
Natsuki quickly turned and walked away.
"Hmm… I wonder if that wasn't nice enough for Senpai."
With Natsuki gone, it was time for Mali to turn her attention elsewhere. She took one step forward, before suddenly realizing something strange.
Examine her surroundings, she noticed everyone around her was nearly frozen in place. They were struggling to move, but the best they could do was tremble in place.
"That was really entertaining to watch," a voice from behind complimented.
Mali turned around. Standing behind her was the only other person who was able to move. Flashing their own innocent smile, they wasted no time introducing themselves.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Malizia, but you call me Mali."
This other Mali could be pass as her own doppelganger. Was it a case of familiar appearances? No, Mali could tell that there was more going on here. Something interesting.
"What a coincidence. That's my name too," Mali smiled as she took her doppelganger's hands. "Nice to meet you, Mali."