Chapter 2
In the middle of the afternoon, I had to be more careful around the city.
Not many people hang out at the top of buildings, regardless of the day, so I stay at those spots most of the time. If there's risk of being seen, I merely send myself to another one as quickly and as quietly as possible.
It didn't stop me in my search, either.
I scanned from the top of the buildings that I thought wouldn't prevent me from seeing the streets of Tenguu City.
But that didn't mean that I left buildings that were higher out of the picture. Occasionally I would go to higher buildings to see if I could find clues for what I was looking for.
It was time consuming. But I had gotten used to it.
When you aren't allowed to even have your favorite meal, you end up developing a discipline…
And just as I thought so, I felt a very slight tightening on my chest. I quickly ignored it.
But suddenly, there was something that I couldn't ignore. I felt a presence. As if I was being watched. It felt as if it was coming from behind.
I casually turn my head around and notice a familiar face standing behind me. My eyes widened a little.
My clone gave an innocent smile. She had a grin on her face and look as if she were a smug child who had just caught someone doing something naughty.
"…How are you here?"
My other self shrugged as if she hadn't the slightest clue. And that was when I realized.
I didn't know what this one was thinking. Something was very wrong.
"I'm hungry."
Of course she had to mention hunger.
"I just ate."
"But I haven't."
"Then-"
I was about to suggest to my clone that she should go eat, but seeing as how this one seemed a little odd, I decided to keep quiet.
"We should go eat somewhere."
Keeping quiet didn't work for very long.
"Like I said, I already ate."
I'm not entirely sure as to why I hadn't dragged my other self into my shadow already.
"In that case…"
My clone turned around and started to head for the door that led to the inside of the building.
"Where are you going?"
"To see Shido-san. Maybe he'll want to eat something with me."
To me that was a flag. I immediately called my shadow and had the hands drag her back inside.
I continued to stare at the streets of Tenguu City from above.
And that was when I saw him.
He was walking with a plum-haired girl who was eating a kind of bread. I think it was called kinako bread.
They seemed to be enjoying themselves. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest as I saw him.
"My, if it isn't Shido-san."
I had said that out loud as a joke, but that wasn't all. It sounded louder than usual. Usually this kind of moment happens when someone says the exact words that you do and at the same time. I looked to my right.
A clone was looking in the same direction that I was previously looking at. I had an idea as to which one it was. She seemed very delighted to see the man she was obsessed with. Wait, that meant I was obsessed with him too. Let's deny that, then.
Suddenly, she started to wave.
"Shido-sa-"
Once again, my shadow appeared and managed to cover my clone's mouth before her voice had gotten too loud. This one was now becoming very aggravating.
Something had to be done. This one was too independent for my own good.
I immediately left the building that I was at and was now at a high ground park area. The end of the park was guarded by handrails. The rest of the area was very spacious, and there were a few benches near the rails. I thought this would be a good place to settle things.
The sun was also setting at the horizon, and no one was around to watch. It would be over quickly.
I called my shadow, and the pool of darkness ejected a clone. Her dazed look was familiar.
"Good afternoon."
My other self greeted me with a smile.
"Good afternoon."
I returned a smile of my own.
"Ah, you smiled."
"Is that bad?"
My clone shook her head.
"No, I think it's nice."
"I figured it would be the kind thing to do."
Immediately after saying that, I extended my right hand out. Seconds later, a musket formed just as I had expected, and I cocked it and aimed at the person standing in front of me.
"Perhaps sending you off with a smile would make this easier for you."
My clone stood in place, unfazed. Not that I really cared.
"Rest assured, however, the rest of us will continue to succeed where you've failed."
"I'm glad."
My other self still stood with a smile on her face. It seemed rather arrogant for a clone.
"…Are you mocking me?"
She shook her head.
"No, I really am glad."
I looked at her harshly.
"If you kill me, then that just means that I'm right."
For some reason, my left eyebrow twitched.
I pulled the trigger on my musket.
There was a roar in the air, and then my clone recoiled backwards and fell onto the ground. A trail of blood was found, but that could be cleaned up with my shadow. I quickly called it and it absorbed the corpse and all.