Chapter Two

It had all started with a single, anonymous email. It began with, "My Sweet Nico Nico Nii" (disgusting) and ended with "I hope you will consider my request".

Whoever it was, wanted to meet up at a love hotel and they offered a remarkable sum. Far more than she would make on a good week on her webcam show. But it was too good to be true, so she ignored it.

Nico hoped that was the end of it.

It wasn't.

Another email came back, still sickeningly kind and presumptuous. The amount increased by another hundred thousand yen. Nico gave a firm reply back.

Then the calls began. She had no idea how he got her number but she didn't reply when he called. He would call, again and again, saying that he knew she was there. Eventually he started to threaten her and demand to know why she wasn't taking his "wonderful advances."

Nico ignored him. This worked with all of her stalkers. Eventually they would realize they couldn't do anything. But not this man.

Things came to a climax when Nico, on her way back from college, saw people gathered around her apartment building. She cautiously retreated to a nearby café that had a convenient second floor with a nice view. Seated where she could see but no one could see her, she watched the group below.

Apparently, someone tried to break into the apartment complex. Her complex. She cautiously hoped he wouldn't but also expected it all the same. Nico realized that she was way too calm about the whole thing. She tried to explain to herself that it was better to be desensitized; otherwise something horrible would've happened if she weren't realistic.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard yelling. No, screaming. It was her eldery neighbor. The crowd broke apart to let more people through, mostly young men. Then, the all too familiar drone of the ambulance rang through the streets. Nico didn't remember much after that. She remembered hastily grabbing her belongings, rushing down the stairs into the street.

The ambulance came quickly and she squished herself into the crowd, struggling to see what had happened. Another neighbor noticed her and reached out to her shoulder. "Yazawa-san! I don't think you should be here, it's not good for a young lady to—" Nico broke her "good girl" façade by wrenching away from her neighbor. "What happened?!" She demanded, drawing attention towards her.

"Please, everyone back away, we need to get him to the hospital." One of the EMT's came near, his arms outstretched to push away onlookers. Nico complied while trying to keep clear view of the ambulance's back doors.

She had never seen her stalker's face but when she saw the crumpled form on the stretcher, she instantly knew it was him.

The days that followed were hazy and forgettable as Nico concentrated on her schoolwork since midterms were coming up. And then it led up to tonight – she couldn't sleep, couldn't rest, and couldn't study. She felt guilty, that went without saying, but also partially responsible for what happened. And seeing the body...

She did a quick camshow, only bringing in ten viewers who paid for the "medium" showing.

Nico constantly worried if the suicide would soon be connected to her camshow. She knew it was a stretch but the coincidence of the decrease in viewers and the stalker's death was hard to deny.

She wondered again if it was a sign to stop what she was doing. She already planned on ending the showings when her mother went back to work, which was in a week. She had more than enough funds as well.

But, Nico felt strangely obligated to continue the shows.

For now, she thought, she'll try to get to sleep. Tomorrow was a free day and she wanted to go shopping for winter clothes.

Nico, normally a deep sleeper, woke up to the sound of knocking on her door. She got up, yawning and putting on a cardigan. Maybe the TV man?

She opened the door and put on her cordial face. "Hello, may I help yo—"

It was a young woman, perhaps her age, maybe even a year older, standing impatiently in the hallway. She visibly cleared her throat and held up her clipboard. Nico noticed her stunning red hair and casual attire that seemed to clash yet work well. The woman spoke then in a strict yet beautiful voice.

"Excuse me, I'm from Nishikono hospital. I'm here today due to the incident that happened roughly a week and a half ago. Are you Nico Yazawa?"

Nico could only nod.

The girl continued talking in her quick, business manner. "The hospital would like to extend their help in order to lessen such incidents in the future. We are offering three free weeks of counseling for all of the residents in this apartment complex. If you are interested, I can write your contact information." She hurriedly took out a flyer from the clipboard, nearly ripping it, handing it to Nico.

"We will be having a small meeting. There will be free refreshments." The girl stopped then, fidgeting with her pen. Nico snapped back to attention and took the flyer. "Ah, thank you. I will, I will go to the meeting."

Click. The pen was ready. "May I have your name, number and email address?" Nico nodded, quickly going through her mental list of which email address would be appropriate.

Finished, the girl arranged her papers and turned to leave before Nico awkwardly cleared her throat. She stopped and looked at Nico with an unreadable expression. "Yes?"

Nico struggled to speak. "Do…Will you be at the meeting?"

The girl nodded. "Yes. Will you be there?"

Nico smiled. "Of course."

The girl bowed and walked to the next apartment.

Nico returned to her room and sat down nearby. Then, she remembered she forgot to ask for the girl's name.

TO BE CONTINUED