NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55
“Well then, good job today.”
“Yeah, good job.”
I bowed my head and left the office. It was a conversation that left me feeling down for many reasons, but I let out a small sigh, realizing it couldn’t be helped.
Based on my experience—or rather, due to the precedent set before me—I was starting to forget that simply being involved in “crime” is something that eats away at both your body and soul.
My relationship with Chiaki-san is highly unusual. The one between Kondo-san and her stalker is what you might call more typical… though I hesitate to use the word “typical” when it comes to crime.
But this is the reality: a selfish perpetrator, a frightened victim, and the people dragged into it or caught in the middle. This scenario certainly exists.
One person’s malice, a selfish desire, ends up inconveniencing so many others. It’s a situation that can’t be ignored.
“Oh, Mizuki-san! Sorry, did I keep you waiting!?”
––And especially when the target is an innocent girl who hasn’t even reached adulthood.
“…No, not really. I just finished changing.”
“Ah, okay. Good, I was worried.”
Kondo-san hurried over to me with a relieved expression. She looked like a big dog that had just found its owner. With her carefree personality, she probably seemed quite endearing to an outsider.
“Well then, let’s go home.”
“…Yes, understood.”
As I stood up from the chair, Kondo immediately moved close to me. The proximity was noticeable, but it didn’t feel strange anymore. I had long since lost any feelings of awkwardness; this closeness had become the norm.
To someone who didn’t know the situation, it might look like we were a couple being affectionate… Not that I think so, of course—just an objective observation.
“…Haah.”
“Hey, please don’t sigh like that all of a sudden! I get scared, thinking I might have upset you!”
But in reality, it’s not something as pleasant as that. This distance between us was built out of fear and helplessness, not something carefree or lighthearted.
“Oh, sorry. It’s not about you, Kondo-san. This situation is just… depressing. I was talking to the manager earlier, and it put me in a sour mood.”
“Ah, I’m sorry for that.”
“No, no need to apologize. Like I said before, it’s not your fault.”
Sure, I did think at first that I’d been dragged into this mess. There’s no denying that Kondo’s initial handling of the situation was questionable.
But in terms of judgment, it couldn’t be helped. A stalker isn’t something normal people encounter. Asking a high schooler with little life experience to handle it properly is unrealistic.
Besides, the one most at fault is the stalker, the perpetrator. Let’s not confuse that. Kondo is a complete victim, and there’s no need for her to feel guilty about being targeted.
“I’ve told you this before, but this is basically a duty for someone older. I’m not exactly an adult, but it’s normal to help a kid who’s in danger. And even if I didn’t step in, the manager would’ve done something.”
“Well, um…”
“Come on, let’s get going. It’s not dark yet, but it’s safer to get home early.”
“Ugh, yes…”
I urged her to hurry, and after some hesitation, Kondo followed me.
I hate seeing her like this. Not too long ago, she was so carefree, to the point I worried if she had something wrong with her head.
But now? She might seem like her usual happy-go-lucky self, but I can tell. Having been with her since the start of this whole situation, it’s obvious to me.
She’s clearly forcing herself. Even when she tries to put on a front, she clouds over in unguarded moments. I’ve seen it countless times.
Her behavior toward me is also different. I can see her trying to gauge my mood during our conversations, as if she’s afraid that I might stop accompanying her.
Her closeness is a sign of her anxiety. She’s scared, so she clings to me—or more accurately, hides behind me. The fact that she doesn’t even walk beside me anymore is proof of how afraid she is.
“…”
I hate seeing Kondo like this. This isn’t her character. She used to be so carefree, causing me to sigh in exasperation. Where did that girl go?
“It doesn’t look like he’s around today.”
We stepped out of Marine Snow and looked around. Thankfully, there was no sign of the loathsome stalker. At least, not anywhere I could see.
When I quietly mentioned it, I could see Kondo visibly relax. That motion irritated me, and I mentally clicked my tongue.
“Let’s hurry. Let’s get you home.”
“Right.”
We retrieved our bicycles from the employee parking lot. Instead of riding, I walked alongside her, pushing the bike.
I matched my pace to hers, walking slightly faster than usual. She didn’t complain, which told me everything I needed to know—she wanted to get home quickly.
“…”
The silence between us was heavy and uncomfortable. Normally, our walk home would be much noisier.
When this all started, Kondo would talk non-stop. Her machine-gun chatter was relentless, enough to wear me down.
But as time passed and the threat of the stalker loomed, her energy began to fade. At first, any silence was just a pause for breath, not this oppressive quiet.
“Ahaha, it’s good he wasn’t here today, huh? The police said they’re increasing patrols, so maybe it’s working?”
“Maybe. He might even have been caught by now.”
“That’d be amazing!”
She forced a smile, a shadow over her face. She was only breaking the silence out of desperation, but it was clear she was straining herself.
Not that I could offer any witty conversation. I knew I should be the one easing the tension, but I didn’t have the mental capacity for it.
Just like Kondo was scared of the stalker, I was on edge too.
I’m just a regular university student, so it’s not like I have some extraordinary ability to sense danger or detect a specific person in a crowd.
I’m no expert, and I certainly don’t have any specialized skills or training in bodyguarding.
The best I could do was stay vigilant, keeping an eye on our surroundings. Even though I couldn’t see the stalker right now, that didn’t mean he wasn’t there. Until I was sure, I couldn’t let my guard down.
In this state, it was impossible to engage in casual conversation. My nerves were on edge, and given the choice between awkward silence and safety, I’d choose safety every time.
Still, it annoyed me. Why did something as simple as walking home from work have to be so exhausting? Why did we have to carry this heavy atmosphere with us?
“…Hey, Mizuki-san.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Do you think… I should quit my part-time job?”
“No. Absolutely not. That’s not an option.”
“But… you said I should quit at first! And I’m causing so much trouble…”
It’s maddening. This conversation is just infuriating. Sure, the silence was awkward, but that didn’t mean I wanted to talk about something like this.
“Yes, I did say that at first. But that was back then, and this is now. Things are different. At this point, it would be worse if you quit. It would be more dangerous if you left the manager’s and my sight.”
“Y-yeah, I guess…”
“Shut up. Like I said, you don’t need to worry about that. Look, I’ll be honest. I don’t want you to quit.”
“Huh…?”
“I’m not some righteous hero, and I’m not particularly kind either. But I’m pissed off. Pissed at the stalker for causing all this.”
“R-really?”
“Of course. What do you think I am? Do you think anyone could go through all this and not get angry?”
You’d have to be some sort of saint or just straight-up crazy not to feel angry after being dragged into this mess by a stalker.
“And what really ticks me off is that the stalker’s actions are making you consider quitting. You like working at Marine Snow, right? You went through the trouble of convincing your parents. So why should you have to quit because of some middle-aged loser?”
I can’t allow that. I refuse to let one disgusting person ruin Kondo’s life, steal her place of refuge.
I understand that safety is the priority, and I know I was the one who first suggested quitting.
But even so, everything I’ve seen tells me that I can’t let Kondo bear any more misfortune. As someone who’s been involved from the start, I can’t stand by and let that happen.
“So, Kondo, don’t worry about it. This has become more of a personal mission for me. Just work like normal, live like normal. Until this is resolved, I’ll stick with you.”
“T-thank you… so much!”
––I hope one day, I can be annoyed by Kondo’s silly chatter again. As I heard her voice tremble with emotion, I let out a small sigh.