"Damn it..."

I swear out. I was meticulous enough... So how? Why? Why is this happening to me?

I begin to rule out any person that may be a suspect... but as I lean back in my chair, my frantic eyes stare at the ceiling... I keep hitting brick wall, after brick wall... after brick wall. There is simply no one. Hoga Kakeru is just an introverted nobody with no enemies, no friends, no social life... So how?

WHY? Why did they send me this code? Were they just testing my brain maths? My capabilities...? No... that doesn't seem right. It doesn't seem like it'd be the only reason...

It was then did I hear another ping. I am quick. I snap back to my PC, fingers clenched tightly around the mouse that is too small for my hand.

_________________________________________

2:48PM

Unknown

I KNOW IT WAS YOU.

Unknown

_________________________________________

This... this lunatic has a picture of my house?

I grit my teeth, glaring towards the windows that I have my curtains hanging over. So this was his end-game. This is what he wanted... He could've been waiting for me at the station the entire time...

Electricity fires through my veins as I reach for my switchblade— sitting undisturbed in my side drawer. I should just kill him now and be through with it. I clench the knife, vigorously plucking my grey and black jacket from my coat hanger. My movements are snappy, hasty.

I storm past my mother's room, grabbing my cap on the way out as well. A single thought shrouds my mind:

KILL THEM.

I know I have to. If he knows I am the one that killed Ennoshita, then he may have more on me... The message didn't insinuate such, but if he knows anything about my past life then I have to erase him. Imminently.

I burst past my outside door, clenching my teeth the way I clench this blade. I immediately make eye contact with a woman passing. She looks at me; crushed, terrified even. But with her head hanging low she bows, cradling her groceries close to her.

"..." Sliding the blade into my pocket, I avert my eyes and look elsewhere.

I am looking for someone, anyone. Anyone that may look suspicious to me. My eyes dart from left to right, I even begin to walk around and look into less obvious places like the inside of a parked car or a above a tree, even inside of a trash bin... but there is nothing.

No semblance of this person. I just look and feel crazy. I take my hand and tug the back of my head, letting out a raspy sigh.

It's been five minutes. That was more than enough time for him to make his escape. So, with a defeated gaze, I drag my feet back towards my house.

Whoever set this up has clearly taken a liking to me... but if he knows that I did it; why not go to the cops? Is it money that he wants? I feel like I should find out. There has to be some sort of hint that I am not looking at.

I flick my phone out of my pocket, bringing back the chat log with Unknown.

_________________________________________

Unknown:

YOU
Stalking me now, are we?
Why don't we chat for a little?

ʳᵉᵃᵈ

The person hasn't replied. I'm not sure if he has any intention to.

After all, I've played right into their arms. I am helplessly ensnared, and I have no choice but to go with the flow for now... but it's only been two days since the incident has transpired. I realize.

...He hasn't been keeping an eye on me this entire time, has he? Has he just been waiting for me to find some way to fuck up? I am growing increasingly, unstably, irrevocably upset.

Perhaps I am only overthinking things. I try to calm myself down and fight the anger writhing inside of me by exercising my fingers— I stretch them out and curl them back into the palm of my hand. Stress relievers and toys don't always work, but if I do this and imagine the anger dripping out of my fingertips, just like water, then that helps.

I relax against my sofa, wanting to melt right through it. I hang my defeated head low, gnawing at the inside of my cheek. I have a feeling that I'll be up for the rest of the night. I have to find some way to advance, some way to move accordingly since our perpetrator is most likely a couple steps ahead already.

I sigh, turning my cold gaze towards the ceiling. I can hear my stomach murmuring at me, and as I place a single hand above my belly— I soon realize...

"...Shit. I have to go to work."

━━ 🏐 The 🏐 🏐 ━━

"Yeah, so that's why I don't like green phesants. Symbol of harmony my ass..." Hinata finishes up with his banter by snatching at the top of his skewer. I watch as he rips right through his tebasaki— the chicken's charismatic aroma almost instantaneously reaches my nostrils.

I look down at my grilled chicken skewer, regretting my choice.

"So... because you were teasing him, eating the food that you knew it wanted... it attacked you as a child, and now you hate them?" I let out a snicker, imagining young Hinata being harassed by a bird pecking and fluttering above his head. "Don't you think that was a bit deserved?"

He frowns, looking at me with such devastation. He looks absolutely dead on his feet. "That is a mean thing to say to a person that is trauma dumping on you!"

I let out a bit of a hiss, tilting my head. I take a bite of my sad skewer, occasionally passing the ginger's food a couple glances of my own.

"Well, if you're going to trauma dump, then at least be the victim."

"Why? I'm telling you why I hate those birds!"

"..Yeaahh, I don't know. It sounds like you're telling me why the bird hates you."

He frowns even more. It's cute. The way he grips the wooden stick, the way his eyebrows waggle downward, the way his lips curl and puffs out. "Why?" He whines out. "What can I do to get you on my side for once?!"

I pause, slowly turning my body towards him. There is silence that surrounds us while we walk towards my job.

"What...? What is it...?"

My eyes sparkle for a moment. They glisten as my lips pull from corner to corner, from eye to eye. But with a bead of sweat rolling down his face, he takes a cautious lean away from me. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because..." I begin to admit, lowering my skewer. That savory goodness there in his hand... it's been tempting me since even before we started walking. "I know what you can do for me." I gulp, nibbling on my lower lip.

Hinata looks confused. Well— he looks anxious and confused. He averts his eyes for a moment; lips agate. He's waiting for me to pursue, but instead of speaking— I lean close and quite viciously squeeze my teeth around that hanging piece of meat.

"H-Huh??!" He stutters out, brows knitting upward. He looks surprised, and as though he hates every part of me right now. "What are you doing?? Let go! It's mine!"

He takes the palm of his hand to my forehead, attempting to smoosh me away— like a bug— but like a cockroach; I don't quite give up that easy.

"Nuoah!" I continue biting, hard. I squeeze the skewer for dear life, even as we walk. Even as we tumble and teeter on the sidewalk, bumping shoulders with people passing— each person grumpier than the last.

"Y/N! Don't be an asshole, get off! I know you hate that grilled chicken, but I'd already warned you not to get it!" He makes every attempt possible in order to shake me off. The only attempt of his that comes close is the forehead flick that I absolutely hate.

I squeeze my eyes shut each time. I can feel my forehead growing hotter and bruising... but I don't care. I'm so hungry. I need this tebasaki.

Once we finally come to a stop, just outside of a single door, we continue tussling there. Hinata pulls at the stick, taking a step back. Are my teeth this strong for him to consider using two hands?

"ARGHHH!!!" He barks out, fuming at my tenacity and tireless nature. I can see the agitation in his eyes as my drool begins to infect and coat the second strip on the skewer. He continues pulling— he even decides to corner me. Hinata leaves my back against the cold wall behind me, and as we both fight not to give up— i eventually grow numb to the pressure against the top of my head.

"That's it..." He lets out a bellowing grunt and growl. That's it, what? I ask myself, gnashing my teeth against the wood as I continue to pull... but Hinata exceeds my expectations once more.

He leans down, towards me. All of a sudden, my mind becomes a bit of a blur. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because of that softening expression he makes as he comes close to me. Maybe it's because I am now picking up on his scent.

It isn't cologne, I don't think... because it doesn't smell at all expensive. It doesn't irritate and tickle my sinuses, it doesn't even linger. It's light and cheeky, much like his personality. He has the fragrance of a safe place I could always hide in as a child... not literally, of course.

Distracted by the sudden shroud of thoughts pouring into my mind, my teeth loosen, but Hinata is already making his move. My eyes are wide and his are closed. He bites down on the opposing end of the skewer, not even realizing what he's doing.

He squeezes, letting out a bit of a grunt— but I don't even think he's noticed that I've given up. Redness booms and blossoms my cheeks as I stare at him, noting each one of his features. When did he grow up? When did he get this manly?

I avert my eyes away from his jawline, slowly beginning to release the stick at his closeness.

"Ah-ha! Finally given up now, have we?" He speaks obliviously, triumphantly fluttering his lashes towards me. He looks satisfied by himself, grinning from cheek to cheek as he speaks to me past the skewer.

I remain silent, keeping my gaze on anything else besides him. I keep my hand close to my chest, nervously cradling it as I remain sandwiched between him and the wall.

"What's the matter, Y/N? Nothing clever to say now?"

I nibble at my lip, anxiously, just waiting for him to remove himself... but something changes.

The air becomes different. I am starting to feel tension... and I think Hinata is starting to realize it too. He just stares at me, patiently waiting for a response out of me... but neither of us feel awkward.

He reaches for his lunch, finally removing it from his mouth. he keeps his warm, soft, loving gaze on me. I can't tell what he's thinking, or what he's watching— but I can feel his gaze all over me. He is scanning me, surveying me, trilling over me. I gulp, daring to speak.

"...take a picture... It'll last longer..."

I wasn't serious. It was just a joke to break this string of silence and tension between us, but once he lowers one hand, his free hand reaches for that camera that he always keeps strung around his neck.

My face explodes some more after he moves. He's making me crazy with his silence and these eyes of his. My heart pounds and I squeeze my hand over it— trying to conceal the sound of it thumping against my chest.

"...Can... I?" He finally whispers. At first, I thought he was completely unaffected by this... but as I finally look back towards him— looking past his intense gaze, I notice pink in his ears and his nose. Nothing about this situation makes me think that he is joking. I can tell he's serious with the way his eyes never stray south of my face.

He clenches his camera, not even picking it up yet. I stammer, helplessly, with quivering lips. I buffer right in front of him, for him and everyone passing to see, but I can't...

I can't take this... I can't!

I hear a shuffle right beside us. This is neither the time or place to be doing this— and I'm sure I have to clock in any second now.

I avert my eyes, turning my gaze towards that noise— towards my right. But my heart sinks even further, and a dry lump forms in my throat.

"Sorry... you two. I didn't know I was interrupting."

I recognize that black hair. I recognize that apologetic smile. I slowly begin to frown, nails digging into the palms of my hands.

"K-Kakeru..."