The library was quiet.
Too quiet.
Even the AC was scared to breathe.
I stood frozen in the aisle, staring at the girl who just told me she'd been watching me.
Not noticing me.Not seeing me around.
Watching. Me.
She closed her book softly.
"Ah… sorry. That came out weird, didn't it?"She smiled. Innocently. Dangerously.Like a cat pretending not to be eyeing a mouse.
"My name's Airi. Airi Yukishiro."
I nodded slowly. "H-Hey… Airi…"
She tilted her head. "You remembered my name already? That makes me happy."
I never told her I knew her name.
"…I didn't—uh—I mean—nice to meet you."
She stood, brushing imaginary dust off her skirt, and walked closer.
"I've seen you with Yuna a lot lately," she said, too casually. "And that blonde girl, Riko… she seems upset."
My chest tightened. "You know Riko?"
"I know everything about you, Kaito."
ALERT. ALERT. ESCAPE.
I took a step back.
She took a step forward.
Then… she did something weird.
She pulled out her phone.
And showed me…
A photo.
Of me.
Sleeping.
In my own room.
"Wh—WHERE DID YOU—?!"
"I was worried," she said sweetly. "You looked tired. I didn't want you to get a stiff neck. So I watched for a while."
A WHILE?!
"Don't worry," she giggled. "I only took 36 pictures."
My heart exploded. My soul quit the party. My sanity called in sick.
Airi held out a lunchbox, perfectly wrapped in cute cloth.
"Here. I made this for you."
I blinked.
"Why?"
"Because I like you. Obviously."
OBVIOUSLY?!?!
Elsewhere – Riko & Yuna
From behind a bookshelf, two heads popped out.
Riko squinted. "Who the hell is that?"
Yuna pouted. "She's cute. I don't like that."
They watched as Airi tucked the lunchbox into Kaito's bag and patted it lovingly like it was alive.
Riko stepped forward.
Yuna grabbed her arm.
"Don't."
"She's giving him food."
"She might be giving him poison. We don't know her."
Back to Kaito
I sat at my desk, staring at the untouched lunchbox.
It was pink.
It had little bunny stickers on it.
There was a note on top that said,
"Eat it all or I'll cry. ♥ – Airi"
I put it in the fridge and locked the door.
Then I heard my phone buzz.
Airi had texted me.
"You forgot to say thank you. It's okay. I'll forgive you. Just this once :)"