Chapter 21: The End of the Interlude
Glancing at Yukinoshita, Duan Shiji folded his arms and leaned against the hallway wall. "Since you're that worried, why didn't you stay and watch?"
"Hoo~ There's no need for that at all…" Yukinoshita exhaled as she responded.
Shrugging his shoulders, Duan Shiji wasn't quite sure what to say. "Suit yourself… as long as you're happy."
Then, naturally, they both fell silent again.
Thanks to that, they could hear the voices coming from inside the classroom.
"…Um, I'm sorry. When I don't go along with others, I get anxious… So I end up always reading people's moods… Maybe that's why you got angry," said Yuigahama's voice.
"..." Miura seemed to give no response.
"Ah? How should I put this… I've always been like that. Back when we played Little Witch Dorei, I actually wanted to be Dorei or a music note, but because other classmates wanted those, I picked Hane Tsuki instead… Maybe it's because I grew up in a big residential complex. Being around people every day, I started thinking that kind of behavior was just natural…"
Miura sounded impatient. "I don't get what you're trying to say."
"I-I figured… honestly, I don't really understand it either…" Yuigahama said softly. "After seeing Mr. Shut-in and Yukinon, I realized they don't have many friends, but they still seem happy. When they bicker, it's always honest and unfiltered, yet they get along…"
As sniffles followed, Yukinoshita's shoulders twitched, and she slightly opened one eye to sneak a look inside the classroom.
You can't see from here, I told you to just go in already! Duan Shiji couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Seeing them like that made me think the way I've been forcing myself to please others is wrong… You see, that shut-in guy is so shut-in, he spends every break reading and grinning to himself… It's kinda gross, but he seems happy doing it."
She called me gross… Hikigaya widened his eyes in disbelief.
"I thought that weird habit of yours only showed up in the clubroom, but I guess you do it in class too. That's seriously disgusting—please quit it," Yukinoshita turned toward him.
"Huh… Why didn't you tell me earlier!" Hikigaya turned to Duan Shiji for answers.
"Who's got time to watch over you…" Duan Shiji threw him a glance and retorted, "I've got stuff to do too, you know…"
I'm never reading light novels with eldritch gods at school again… Hikigaya was dead inside.
"So I want to try living a little more freely, without forcing myself… But it's not like I dislike Yumiko. So, could we… still be good friends?"
"…Mmm~~ I see. Alright." Miura closed her phone with a click.
"…Thank you, and sorry." That was the end of their conversation. Then came the light sound of Yuigahama's footsteps.
As soon as Yukinoshita heard them, she stepped away from the wall. "…Seriously, she could say it after all."
Seeing her leave, Duan Shiji instantly realized what would happen if he lingered and quickly followed her.
Only Hikigaya hadn't reacted yet—
Clatter~ The classroom door flung open.
"Eh? Mr. Shut-in, what are you doing here?" Yuigahama stood frozen after seeing Hikigaya.
"…Hey." With no way out, Hikigaya awkwardly raised his right hand in a fake greeting.
Yuigahama's face instantly turned red. "You heard everything?!"
"H-heard what…?" Hikigaya feigned ignorance.
"You were eavesdropping! Gross! Stalker! Pervert! You—you… you disgusting creep! I can't believe this! So disgusting, absolutely revolting!" Yuigahama seemed to have hit a verbal landmine.
"Okay, enough already!"
Even I would feel hurt being called all that to my face. And stop saying it like it's a fact—it really stings.
"Hah! Like that's enough! Think about who's to blame here, you idiot!" Yuigahama stuck out her little pink tongue and taunted him before running off.
Are you a grade schooler?
"There's no way this is all my fault…" Hikigaya mumbled, then decided to grab a can of Spor to soothe his throat.
…
For Duan Shiji, little interludes like this weren't really a big deal.
With some time left during the lunch break, he decided to find an empty classroom to read some Book of Han.
However, just a few pages in, his hand paused.
"Feeling a bit unsettled…" Sighing, Duan Shiji pulled out an old, worn-out brown notebook from his bag.
Flipping it open, he skipped past the first few dozen pages without stopping.
At the top of one page, he left a blank line. Then, his brush flew across the paper as he began writing line after line in Chinese characters.
He continued until just before the lunch bell rang. After a brief pause for thought, he returned to the blank line and wrote two characters: 索行 (Seeking Action).
…
What happened during the day obviously had little connection to what happened that evening.
By now, Duan Shiji had already eaten dinner and was on his way to the Stairway of Angels.
"Hmm… what was that?" Riding his bike, Duan Shiji furrowed his brows—he thought something just flickered.
Looking in that direction, he realized it was the park by the road.
Chiba really had done a good job with its greenery—nice, wide parks were scattered everywhere.
Still, it was late now, and the sky was completely dark. There weren't many people in the park anymore…
"Weird, who'd still be out at this hour?" he murmured and turned his head toward the park.
He vaguely saw someone chasing another person… From their figures, they both looked like girls.
The one being chased made a quick turn and ducked behind the slide in the children's play area.
The one chasing her seemed to lose track and stood still, waving something in her hand.
Duan Shiji squinted and realized it was… a ladle?
Must be some kid acting up, getting scolded by her guardian…
Suddenly, the chaser seemed to notice something and flung the ladle.
With a flash of reflected light, the ladle spun through the air like a flying axe and struck the side of the slide with a loud clang.
Guess she got found out…
Duan Shiji silently offered condolences for the girl and shook his head.
Honestly, he didn't think this sort of thing had anything to do with him.
Unless it was a truly dangerous criminal or something, he didn't really want to meddle in others' business.
And even if it was a dangerous criminal, Duan Shiji would just run even faster and call the cops when he could. He definitely wasn't the type to play hero.
That's why he figured… he lacked courage.