**IN A DEEP PROBLEM**
*"Really? He's your new guy?" I scoffed. "Don't ever intercept me again just because of your idiotic talk," she snapped. "I took everything from you? Cut the crap—didn't you get something in return? Just count it as a fair trade."*
*"Let's move, Hananoi. I'm not in the mood for this crazy conversation."*
Silence hung between us for minutes until I reached my destination and boarded the bus. I bit my tongue, refusing to ask about what had just happened, never knew she's someone like that.
At the convenience store, I swapped places with the outgoing shift worker—time for my shift.
*…Deep sigh…*
Thirty minutes passed without a single customer. Then, two old men walked in, eyeing the cigarettes. They tried haggling, but my glare shut them down.
A few hours later, nearing my 11:30 departure, the owner arrived late for the midnight shift.
***Ding***—the door chimed.
*"Welcome."*
My last customer? **Yui.**
*"Hananoi? What are you doing here?" she asked.**
*"That's my line," I muttered. "You work here?"*
*"As you can see."*
*"I'd like to talk, but I've got somewhere to be. I don't recall you living on this street."*
*"I'm here for a friend's birthday," she said. "Just craving a midnight snack."*
She left seconds later. My shift ended, but the owner was 15 minutes late.
---
**Car horns blared.**
The next day set in...
The weather forecast droned on: *"Expect scorching heat—avoid heatstroke and enjoy your summer!"*
*"It's boiling. Can someone turn on the AC?"*
**Pheww…**
Misaki greeted me. *"Hananoi, good morning! Want shaved ice?"*
*"Love some."*
*"Midterms are next week, right?"*
*"Yeah."*
**Bam!** I slammed my hands on the desk, suddenly remembering club activities.
*"Misaki, sorry—we'll talk later."*
Outside, I paused. *Haa… Almost forgot I kinda have a girlfriend, made look like she's the only one pressuring.* I headed to her classroom, lingering at the door. She sat at her desk, laughing with friends.
**Stare—**
My gaze lasted too long. Someone snapped their fingers. *"Who's that?"*
Chisato lunged to my side. *"It's you! We thought you were some creep."*
*"Did a teacher send you?"*
*"Don't make it obvious. I just came to see your face."*
*"You… came… to… do… what?"*
*"Don't toy with me."* I narrowed my eyes. *"Dead serious."*
*"Then follow me to the rooftop."* She grabbed my wrist, dragging me upstairs.
**{HUG}**
*"What're you doing?"*
*"Call it recharging."*
The moment shattered when the vice president appeared.
*"Sorry,"* She said nonchalantly
She went back downstairs. *"I've got a meeting anyway—better than wasting time in the clubroom."*
*"Sorry, Chisato. Gotta go."*
*"No problem."*
I sprinted off, only for the VP to smirk. *"Quite the charmer, Hananoi-san."*
*"Assignment done?"* I handed her the paper from my pocket.
*"No club activities until after midterms."*
*"Yes, ma'am."*
I waited until Chisato returned to class, then lingered on the rooftop. The bell rang, but I stayed—too drained to move.
**{Yawn}** *Damn, I'm exhausted.*
Walking out of the school {thinking}hmmm..... that alleyway Fuyuki and I passed yesterday is more of a shortcut home, Don't feel like taking the bus
Then—**a stalking aura.**
Yo! Fuyuki's new guy
Who are you I ask calmly, don't you remember my face from
yesterday, So what about it and for the record am not her boyfriend,
Oh I see you're trying to talk your way out, you see that guy at that corner with an eerie look he almost attack me for dating her back then, it was part of his plan for me coming back to beg like an idoit,You see he's more of a psychopath, he gave everything to
her, so he doesn't want anyone near her despite the breakup.
You said you aren't her boyfriend, can you proof it, which evidence would you like me to provide for that??, You know a least there must be a picture of the relationship, I
show him my phone with just a picture Chisato forced me to take with her.
*"Boss, he's clean!"* the lackey yelled.
The psychopath lunged. I dodged, slamming him to the ground.
**{Panting}** He scrambled back, trembling. *"Boss, what the hell?!"* the other shouted.
*"BLOOD! RUN!"*
*Blood?* I looked down.
A knife was embedded in my left side.
{Collapse}