Chapter 395: I… Don’t Want to See Akito
Chapter 395: I… Don’t Want to See Akito
Normally, Himekoji would have fiercely criticized Option B’s choice about “violently choosing justice,” but right now, he just didn’t feel like it.
He was starting to not understand what was wrong with the System lately.
Just like he was starting to not understand himself.
It was an option that popped up after being gone for so long, and it had nothing to do with being a Pervert.
He had to pick A, right?
If he didn’t want to die.
Simply looking at it made him feel the scary and creepy energy radiating from Option B.
He picked up his phone, wanting to call Mashiro. At the moment his finger was about to press the call button, he hesitated.
In the end, he put the phone away.
He thought, maybe it’s better to tell Mashiro about the sketching plan tomorrow.
After all, he had just been told she hated him like that.
He was afraid Mashiro would say no if he invited her to sketch.
…
The next day, the calls Himekoji made didn’t go through.
He went to the Art Classroom specifically looking for Mashiro, only to find she hadn’t come to school at all.
He sent several text messages and emails, but all received no reply.
Although Mashiro wasn’t the type to communicate much normally, she’d at least reply with short words like “Uh huh” or “Got it” in the past.
The next few days continued this one-sided communication—if Himekoji talking to himself even counted as communication…
Gradually, his mood became lower and worse.
Even walking alone to and from school made him feel restless.
Because before this, Mashiro had always been with him.
If she didn’t eat breakfast and got hungry, she’d suddenly veer into a convenience store mid-walk, grab a piece of Baumkuchen cake from the shelf without paying, rip open the packaging, and nibble quietly.
If she stayed up all night drawing manga and got sleepy, she’d also suddenly lean against a telephone pole mid-walk, close her eyes, and fall asleep standing up.
Himekoji often got completely baffled by Mashiro’s strange words and actions during their commute.
But now, with Mashiro finally gone and not causing him any trouble… he strangely felt unsettled.
It was really ridiculous; he always thought he was fine alone, yet now he felt uncomfortable walking to and from school by himself.
A week passed like this.
He hadn’t seen Mashiro in a week, hadn’t heard her voice in a whole week.
The System was starting to hurry him; if he didn’t complete the option soon, punishment would follow.
Therefore, to finish the Quest Completed—yes, for the Quest Completed—Himekoji had to go see Mashiro.
Though it felt like other factors actually played a bigger part…
But anyways, just blaming it all on the System made him feel slightly less guilty.
…
When he got off the bus, a prominent billboard stood right next to the stop, plastered with promotions for manga and light novels.
Mashiro’s manga was featured among them.
He could hear people around him talking about Mashiro—discussing both her work and Mashiro herself.
“She’s a high school student!”
“Super pretty!”
“But I heard she has a boyfriend already! Supposedly even living together…”
Hearing others discuss Mashiro gave him complicated feelings.
Himekoji shook his head, sighed, and followed the address Miss Iida had given him towards the Hotel where Mashiro was currently staying.
He came here to meet Mashiro.
He’d even specially asked Miss Iida for help.
Soon, following the navigation, he found the place.
The Hotel was impressive.
It showed Mashiro had truly become an amazing manga artist.
A publisher wouldn’t arrange a Hotel like this for a newcomer.
Walking through the main entrance, the left side of the Hotel’s first floor held a half-open coffee lounge.
Because Ayano had said, “I’ll bring Shiina there, so just meet us at the coffee corner on the first floor,” Himekoji obediently found an empty seat in the coffee lounge to wait.
He casually ordered a coffee, checked the time—there were still over ten minutes until the appointed time.
He might have to wait a while yet.
He sipped his coffee and was having this thought, when he looked up and saw someone quickly stepping out of the elevator.
It was Ayano.
Wearing a white blouse, a navy jacket, and a skirt that hugged her figure just right, highlighting her graceful, light build. Ayano, carrying a women’s bag over one shoulder, walked towards Himekoji alone.
Where’s Mashiro?
Without meaning to, his gaze skipped past Ayano, instinctively searching for another figure.
Was Mashiro late?
That didn’t seem to be the case…
Miss Iida’s apologetic expression seemed to say everything.
“I’m sorry.”
That was Ayano’s first word as soon as she sat down.
The waiter holding a menu nearby looked a bit awkward and flustered.
“Where’s Mashiro?”
Surprisingly unable to stay composed or hold back at that moment, Himekoji asked her directly.
“I wanted it to be a surprise for Shiina, so I kept your visit a secret until the very end…”
After Ayano said to the waiter, “The same for me, please,” the waiter gave an elegant nod and left.
“…But I didn’t expect it to backfire. Shiina… she’s still asleep right now… I couldn’t wake her up no matter how much I called or tried.”
Miss Iida was lying.
Himekoji sensed this with a sensitivity that surprised even himself.
Probably because he was used to lies, seeing through others’ untruths sometimes wasn’t hard.
He could feel Miss Iida seemed to be lying to spare his feelings.
But that really wasn’t necessary…
“She said… she didn’t want to see me, didn’t she?”
Once he said it out loud, he strangely felt a bit lighter.
“Huh?!”
Hearing this, Miss Iida’s eyebrows jumped up in surprise.
“Y-you… how did you know…”
The words slipped out because she was so shocked.
Her eyes met Akito’s and she realized what had happened. Miss Iida let out a bitter smile.
“I’ve been found out by Himekoji-kun… Sorry about that. But honestly, I only told Shiina you were coming just a moment ago. I wanted to surprise her… But when I went to her room to get her, she said she didn’t want to see you.”
Ayano also seemed to struggle with how to explain it. She clearly couldn’t understand Mashiro’s action.
“I’m very sorry that Miss Iida got caught up in this weird situation.”
Ayano took a sip of the coffee the waitress had brought and shook her head.
“Sheesh! Don’t say such a grown-up, polite thing like that, kid.”
Himekoji didn’t argue against being called a “kid”.
“Miss Iida, could I ask you for another favor?”
It seemed he had made up his mind as he spoke.
“What is it?”
“Please take me to Shiina’s room. Please.”
Miss Iida slowly lifted her gaze from the coffee cup. She looked troubled.
“Well… I can… but in this situation, I’m afraid it might be difficult…”
Her pained expression showed she must have already spent a lot of effort trying to persuade Mashiro.
He felt bad for causing her trouble, but—
“Even so, please.”
“…Alright. I understand.”
After a moment of hesitation, Miss Iida finally nodded.
Miss Iida called the waitress over and paid the bill.
Just as Himekoji reached for his wallet, Miss Iida said, “I’ve got this,” and beat him to it, giving him a kind smile.
The two took the elevator to the seventh floor.
They walked down the carpeted hallway to the very end.
Neither Himekoji nor Ayano spoke during the walk.
“We’re here.”
Before them was Room 701.
Himekoji took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
Footsteps could be heard inside, pat pat pat, like someone walking over.
“Ayano?”
It was Mashiro’s voice. Even muffled by the door, there was no mistaking it. He hadn’t heard that voice for a whole week.
Just a week. Only a week. Why did it feel so incredibly long?
Inside, Mashiro was probably standing right by the door now.
“Shiina, it’s me.”
Trying not to startle her, Himekoji spoke carefully.
“…Huh?!”
A small gasp sounded, and the presence right beside the door quickly moved deeper into the room.
“Hah… This really does sting…”
Himekoji leaned his back against the door and pulled out his phone.
He dialed Mashiro’s number.
Standing nearby, Miss Iida decided this might take a while and didn’t want to disturb them. “I’ll wait downstairs,” she whispered.
Himekoji nodded to show he understood.
Ayano gave Himekoji a thumbs-up. “Good luck!” she said at the end, then turned and walked alone back toward the elevator.
Meanwhile, Himekoji was focused on his phone. Holding the receiver tightly to his ear, he could hear the busy tone.
At least Mashiro’s phone was powered on.
But…
She probably wouldn’t answer, right?
Just like the countless futile attempts throughout the past week.
She wouldn’t answer. Wouldn’t want to answer his call.
“Mashiro, please. Pick up,” Himekoji urged softly, his voice tensed with anxiety. He directed it at the closed door.
“At least listen for a bit… Just pick up.”
He couldn’t shout too loudly. It would disturb the other guests.
Bop… bop… bop…
The relentless busy tone continued. Mashiro showed no sign of answering.
Just as Himekoji was about to give up, thinking it was hopeless, the busy tone suddenly stopped.
The moment he noticed, his spirits lifted immediately.
“Shiina?”
He tried to call out calmly.
“…”
There was no response.
But… he could hear breathing.
Mashiro was on the other end of the call.
Maybe it was the relief. He felt his legs weaken suddenly, unable to hold his weight anymore. Himekoji slid down the door.
Finally, he ended up sitting on the plush hotel hallway carpet, hugging his knees.
“Have you… been eating properly?”
“You haven’t been picky and caused trouble for Miss Iida, have you?”
He hadn’t planned what to say.
But the words spilled out naturally.
There was a long, heavy silence. Several minutes passed before Mashiro finally responded to Himekoji.
“…I did eat,” came the quiet, sulking voice through the phone, lightly scratching at his eardrum.
“Really?”
Finally hearing her voice, he couldn’t hide his excitement for a second.
“…Ayano said I gained a little weight.”
“Really?!”
“…Akito, you sound happy.”
The pace of the conversation felt slower than usual.
Probably because they hadn’t really talked properly in so long?
“I wouldn’t say happy… It’s just… I can’t even imagine you looking heavier… So, I kind of want to see.”
Himekoji rested his chin on his knees and murmured again.
“I really want to see you, Shiina.”
This feeling wasn’t prompted by the System.
Just one week apart, and he missed her so much already.
Himekoji was starting to lose track of exactly what emotions he was harboring for Mashiro himself.
“…I won’t see Akito until I get thin again.”
“So that’s why you’ve ignored me all week?”
He hesitated whether he should ask this directly, but Himekoji still asked.
Because, having come this far, he couldn’t just exchange pleasantries and leave empty-handed.
Whether it was to complete the option, or to satisfy himself, or perhaps even for Nanami’s sake…
Himekoji had no choice but to confront Mashiro head-on like this.
He and Mashiro had already reached a point where they absolutely had to face what was truly between them.
“…That’s not why.”
A long time passed before Mashiro answered.
“If that was a joke just now, it’s okay to answer my question seriously, you know?”
Why had she ignored him completely for a whole week?
“Because… I didn’t want to see Akito.”
Just as Himekoji relaxed slightly, sharp words shot out like an arrow.
Whoosh.
It shot straight through his chest.
…
…
…