_Chapter 23~ Stalkers_

There was a problem.

Well, there always was a problem in my life but this past week was an entirely different kind of problem.

Mouth caving inwards, I snapped my head left and right. Although nothing reached my ray of vision besides passing students opening their shoe lockers and heading outside, I could still vividly sense the same pair of eyes boring a hole into my back. Somewhere out there, someone was observing my every move.

I gnawed on my lower lip, returning my attention to my locker. Was I being paranoid again? I had to be. There was no way I was being watched.

Right?

Followed by a few seconds of internal conflict, I shut my locker and turned to go.

Ryu was standing behind me.

"Ah!" I screamed, raising my arms in defence. My heart which had stopped beating for a second kicked in full throttle. I placed a hand over my chest. "Gosh... Where the heck did you come from?"

Tightening his hold over his backpack strap, Ryu met my eyes. "I was here for a while," he responded simply. "Watching you stare at your locker for a full ten minutes."

"And you didn't say anything?"

He bobbed his head. "You looked like you were very into it."

My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I dropped my shoes to the ground, slipping into them. "Jerk."

Tapping my toes on the linoleum to ensure they were on correct, I heaved aloud. Ryu's stare was the one I felt then? Was he possibly the one watching me recently too...?

I faced him, lips primmed.

Not liking it, his eyebrows knitted together. "What?"

Have you been following me? I wanted to say it, so desperately, but I held myself back. It seemed impossible. I mean, Ryu of all people? This entire thing had to only be my imagination.

"Let's go," I ordered, brushing past him and out the doors.

Ryu easily caught up with his long strides and we headed out of the school building side by side. Though if was odd, for the past few days we'd always went home together. Previously, we'd run into each other on the bus since we were headed in the same direction anyway, but now we didn't try to avoid each other when leaving school itself.

Lately it dawned on me that maybe the reason we hadn't done so before was because I was the one avoiding him. Well, he was bad luck so I didn't want anything to do with him, but recently, after I'd stopped thinking so negatively of him, our relationship had somehow improved...

The piercing sensation was back.

Screeching to an abrupt halt, my neck immediately jerked backwards. I narrowed my eyes at the idling students surrounding me, in search of the source. Regardless of my efforts, nobody suspicious was in sight. Making a face, I straightened my posture. What the heck...

Ryu who was standing beside me was trying to figure out what I was looking for.

"You're acting weird again," he said.

"We covered this," I muttered, returning my focus back to the pavement in front. "I'm unique."

He rolled his eyes. I was grateful he didn't make fun of me like last time. "Why do you keep stopping and staring?"

"It's nothing."

A scoff left his mouth. "Yeah, right."

Frowning, I contemplated on telling him. Knowing he'd tease me if I didn't, I seized his arm and tried to usher him to a more secluded area. No matter how hard I tugged, however, Ryu didn't budge.

"What are you doing now?"

"Just..." I wrenched his sleeve some more but he didn't teeter. With newfound heat claiming my cheeks, I let him go. "I was... I can't tell you out in the open."

Perplexed, the creases between his eyebrows deepened. "Tell me what?"

Biting on my lower lip, I attempted dragging him off again. This time, he relented. We left the vicinity of the school to a more abandoned area and after checking to make sure nobody was hovering around, I came outright with it: "Somebody's been watching me."

Ryu stared at me for a while—that indifferent look of his that gave me no clue what he was thinking—and I grew flustered in return.

"No, seriously," he finally said. "What do you have to tell me?"

Spite consumed me and I scowled at him. "I am being serious. Somebody is following me."

"What'd you do this time?"

I gasped at his accusation. "Why do you automatically assume I did something?"

"You didn't?"

"I don't know."

Ryu ran his fingers through his hair. "Why would anyone want to follow you in the first place?"

"I don't know," I replied again. "But I can guarantee someone is."

"Are you being paranoid again?"

"No!" I huffed. "A little concern wouldn't hurt."

"I really doubt you're getting followed," he said.

"But how about if I am?" I blanched at the idea. "How about if—"

"Okay, I get it," he cut me off with a sigh. "I'll do something."

His words caught me off guard. "You will?"

He shrugged.

"But if there really is a stalker, you could get hurt!"

As if I had said something humorous, Ryu sneered. He clasped his hand over his mouth to hide it.

"What?" I demanded, feeling myself blush. "I'm serious!"

"You're actually worried I'd get hurt?" he asked in amusement.

"Might I remind you you're the one who got your ass handed to you by those delinquents?"

His smile wavered. "That... was different."

"How so?" I returned. "You got injured because of me. How can I allow you to get hurt for me again?"

He met my eyes. "I'm not going to get hurt."

"How about if you do?" I downcasted my gaze, suddenly feeble. "I mean, if there really is somebody following me... it's not like I want somebody to beat them up."

"You have a problem with everything..." Once again, Ryu's mouth tilted upwards. "Then, what do you want?"

I brightened. "Something civil."

He quirked an eyebrow.

"Not violent," I clarified. "Unless he or she start throwing some punches or whip out a weapon on you. Then you could use self-defence. But no hurting them on your part. You're already in a lot of trouble."

"That's a little unrealistic," he pointed out.

"Then I don't want you to help me."

Ryu elevated his shoulders. "All right."

As a silence loomed over us, my eyelids tapered.

"Wait, that ended weird," I realized. "Let's start over."

With a snort, he shook his head. "No, let's not."

Incredulous at his sudden change of behaviour, I gasped, "But—"

"Forget this imaginary stalker of yours and let's go."

Swivelling around, he walked off at that. I made a face.

"It's not imaginary!" I shouted after him.

Ryu didn't stop to retort anything. Frowning, I stomped my foot. I then clicked my tongue, shuffling forward in accordance.

I wasn't imagining it. Somebody was there.

Right?

*           *          *

It was missing.

"You need a pencil?" Daichi asked from over my shoulder.

Mouth tight, I nodded. He tossed me a lead pencil and eraser and I gratefully accepted them as Ms. Osaka began her lesson for the day. I carefully leaned over to check the inside of my desk but my pencil case was still nowhere to be found.

"It was in here yesterday..." I chewed on my lip hard, quickly discarding the thought.

I probably left it at home. I'd look for it after school.

"My lunchbox... My lunchbox..."

Paling, my digging through my backpack grew frantic. Where was it? Why was it not in here?

"You forgot your lunch too?" Daichi asked casually from his seat.

I dropped my bag, eyes wide with panic. "I swear I put it in here this morning."

He elevated his hand, chowing down on his yakisoba bread. "Apparently you didn't. "

Scratching my cheek, I peered down at my bag once more. Yeah... Apparently.

"See you tomorrow, Reina!" With one final wave, Daichi spun and headed for the exit of the building.

I made my way towards my locker, twirling in the combination and jerking it upwards. Although it was typically filled with my outdoor shoes that I'd switch my indoors with, no shoes remained inside.

I blinked a couple times to ascertain I was seeing straight, but nothing changed. Reaching inside only to be met with emptiness, my mouth curved downwards into a frown.

"Even my shoes now?" I muttered in disbelief.

I paced back and forth. Was I going crazy? Why did my stuff keep disappearing today? First my pencil case, then my lunch, and now this?

I yanked at my hair. Groaning, I slammed the locker shut then wrapped my arms around my rumbling belly.

Today was such a tiresome day. I had think about this all after a proper meal and goodnight's rest.

Today was already startling enough. There was no way tomorrow could be any worse.

*           *          *

I spoke too soon.

"What the..."

Blinking rapidly, I gawked at the sight of my outdoor shoes in my locker. Shoes that had been missing only yesterday. Not only were they back, but they were polished to perfection—squeaky clean and crisp, too.

I carefully reached inside and brought it to my line of sight. Who the...

My face lit up with eureka. Racing towards my homeroom class (stealthily of course—delinquents could be anywhere), I dived into my seat and lifted my desk so that I could see the inside. I wasn't surprised in the least to spot my pencil case sitting inside. Heart pounding, I unzipped it. My eyelids grew wide.

New pencils. New erasers. Rulers. And any other stationery necessities, all store bought and fancy.

Paranoia welled up inside of me. Who did this?

Lunch.

The word seemed to echo at the back of my mind. I fiddled for my bag, ripping it open immediately. Although I was expecting an unfamiliar boxed lunch to be waiting for me inside, it wasn't there.

I reclined in my seat. Well, obviously it wasn't inside. I had my bag with me all morning.

I spared my classmates a glance but not a single one was fixated in my direction. Was this a freaky coincidence, or was it my stalker?

Who would want to stalk me anyway? Nobody sane, at least.

Of all the possible individuals they could've chosen, it was very unlikely they'd pick someone as bland as me. Somebody was most likely pulling a prank on me behind the scenes.

Daichi, maybe? But why?

"Miss Kikuchi."

Ms. Osaka stood at the foot of my desk, thrusting me back to senses. I bolted to my feet. "Y-yes?"

Her thin lips drew together as she held out a bento* for me. "This was on my desk addressed to you. Please be sure to take better care of your belongings next time."

I blankly stared at the inconspicuous wrapping. I knew it was coming, but it was still difficult to digest.

"Who brought it?" I asked her.

Ms. Osaka spun on her heels and scoffed. "How am I supposed to know?"

She stomped off at that. Her grouchy attitude left me in a swell of anger.

"Maybe because it was on your desk," I spat under my breath, in a voice she most likely wouldn't hear. "Thanks anyway."

After Ms. Osaka vanished entirely, unaware of my words at all, I set the lunch down on my desk, furrowing my brows. A little part of me didn't want to open it to see what it contained. The other part of me did though, so with a gulp, I reached out to unwrap it.

Something nudged my ankle and my heart stopped. My eyes darted to the ground and nearly bulged from their sockets to see somebody lying flat on the floor, hand going through my bag. Their awe-inspiring grey irises met mine and instantly shrunk back.

"Wh-wh-wh...!"

My scream got caught in my throat, the shock too great to digest.

Taking that as his opportunity, however, the male snatched my lunchbox, sprung to his feet, and dashed out of room. On alert, my jaw fell, and I rounded towards the exit.

What the actual heck?

"Miss Kikuchi, take a seat," Ms. Osaka's voice called out. "Class is to begin soon!"

All of my classmates' pretentious stares were the least of my troubles at the moment. Without a second to spare, I made a beeline for the door.

"Miss Kikuchi!"

Ms. Osaka's shout was muddled in comparison to the hammering of my heart in my ears. My head reeled left and right. I took my chances and ran left. I zigzagged through the remaining students passing through seemingly empty hallways, eyes scanning every possible area.

Red hair. The boy had fiery red hair.

Grounding my teeth, I came to an abrupt standstill. I inhaled and exhaled deep breaths to regain myself. The eerily peaceful halls only added to the dispirit flourishing within me. Where did he go?

I hadn't seen him before. Why was he doing this then? Going as far as to steal my lunch—with me being there to boot. His audacity was astonishing.

After roaming aimlessly for a couple minutes, I was just about ready to give up and return back to class. That was when hushed whispers drifted through the cracks of the door. My ears perked and my head whipped right. I dogged the whispers that didn't seem to be coming from a classroom up to one of the janitor rooms in the school. My heart rate spiked as I extended my hand for the doorknob. The glass was tinted, not giving me the opportunity to peer through at all, so I had no choice but to enter inside.

Swallowing hard, I mustered up all the courage I possessed and twisted the knob, shoving it open.

What was there to greet me went far beyond anything I was expecting.

Several boys crowded around a table in the centre of the room but once I had entered, they became as stiff as statues. Carefully, I surveyed the state of the room. Pictures of my face lined the walls—in almost all angles and proximities alike—as well as my many missing items decorated the counters and chairs. Resting in the center of the boys at the table—whose faces were all covered in scars; hairs bleached; uniforms dishevelled—was my box of lunch.

My extremities began to tremble.

Before I could react, all the faces of the delinquents had lightened considerably. Beaming, they all rushed up to me, trapping me from escaping altogether. I tucked my chin, my breathing coming out in short, shallow intervals. I was hyperventilating.

"I can't believe it!"

"She's here!"

"Ah, she's finally in front of us!"

"Thank you, God!"

Simultaneously, they clasped their hands together, sparkling in awe.

"Our beloved Miss Reina!"

My jaw had gone slack. "Miss Reina?!"

__________________

Bento* - a Japanese-style packed lunch, consisting of such items as rice, vegetables, and sashimi (raw fish with condiments)