It was the next day.
We hung out at Migi's mansion which to my surprise was completely normal and modern.
There was a playroom full of arcades and board games, and without time to waste, we played and played until it was time to go home, only having a few idle talks and gossiping about our classmates.
I've learned that Migi's crush is Gotako (for the 234627th time) from him as he told us reluctantly.
Even Hoshoujo and Najimi weren't surprised. It sounded like they knew from the get-go.
Okai himself was just holding his face when he started sharing it so it was nothing much of importance.
However, later on, Hoshoujo did her thing again where she would threaten someone, and for Migi and Hirode, she told them to stop leering at her or they'll vanish from the world.
Usually, that's illegal, but they're both minors and can be seen as a joke by many people but those two definitely will not mess with her starting today.
They asked me for help as they knew me more than the two, Hoshoujo and Najimi, but I can't particularly help them when they were asking for it with their actions. So, I just smiled at them.
Anyways, the games were finished and we all went home. I was the last to go home since I don't have a curfew or parents to scold me but hey, I did still get home before 7 PM.
A good student must sleep before 9 PM, and after a very tiring day, I took sleep right away after eating.
I just wish that nothing more unusual would happen.
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[....]
[...You——]
It's a pitch-black image.
I can hear voices, yet I can't see anything.
Maybe it's a dream, but as someone who could barely express themself, I, Najimi Kai, would appreciate a dream.
[...Help.]
These voices sound familiar, yet also unknown. They're tones that I'm not used to, something that I've heard, and yet not.
[———!]
Suddenly, everything I can see is a silhouette of the horizon.
A dark, orange sky showed the dusk, and I, who seemingly stood at the ground only looked at it.
There was an approaching black smoke that turned everything into ruins.
[We lost...]
Someone was speaking, and as I looked to my side, it was someone who was kneeling, despairing down on the ground.
???: [I'm sorry.]
He apologized, and soon enough, the black smoke arrived with immense pressure, abruptly making everything come to an end.
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[——!!!]
I was abruptly woken up from my sleep, sweating profusely as I was immediately able to see a maid standing right at the door.
Maid: [M-Master Kai, are you alright?]
Najimi: [I'm fine. Please, just get me a towel.]
I said that, but she was already holding one as if she had been there for a long time. She must have been hesitating to wake me up.
Maid: [But you have been having a nightmare for almost an hour now. This has never happened before.]
I know that. I never dreamed before as I was emotionless, but to think this happens now must be because of the changing environment I'm in.
Maybe spending time with Hoshoujo and the others is working. I'll keep on doing what I've been doing.
Even if it's a negative emotion, I'll strive to feel it.
Even if it's fear and anxiety. I'll hold unto it.
Maid: [A-Actually, your friend has been also waiting since half an hour ago.]
Najimi: [——W-What?]
Looking at the time, it was already an hour passed by the hour classes start. How could my servants not wake me up?!
I jumped out of bed but as soon as I did, I felt dizzy and fell to my knees.
Maid: [M-Master Kai! You shouldn't like that! You have a fever!]
Najimi: [A fever? How could I even——?]
Agh. My head hurts. This must be because Hoshoujo and I slept at the club with the windows open.
I didn't think we'd catch a cold and get a fever from it.
Najimi: [D-Did he already leave?]
Maid: [Yes. We told him that you have a fever so, he went off after. He also said "Get well, soon or we will come back."]
Knowing Kotaro, he wouldn't want to enter this house. He also has to attend classes today.
I might as well take a rest now since all of these things that are making me feel things make me have this annoying fever as well.
But to be honest, it doesn't feel bad. Pain is receptive to feeling anger and sadness.
This may be a way for me to consider being annoyed at it more so I can try and feel something for myself.
Maid: [...Eh?]
Najimi: [——Huh?]
The doorbell rang across the corridor. Our doorbell can usually only be heard in the living room but once someone presses it real hard, the volume can increase and rather gain everyone's attention in the mansion.
It couldn't be Kotaro's doing or a kid, but who could it be?
The door of my room would open as a servant rushes in.
Butler: [M-Master Kai, your friend is back with a girl!]
Najimi: [A girl? She wouldn't be——!]
Butler: [Y-Yes sir. It's that girl from the Hoshoujo family.]
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Mendou: [I can't believe this... I'm here again.]
Yes, I'm inside Najimi's house. In the large hall, to be precise.
There are a lot of corridors that lead to different places in the mansion and honestly, it's overkill with an almost office-like ambiance where maids and servants are constantly on the move.
I can see that they updated the walls with new images of Najimi's mother and somehow she included some of his dad's and a few of his as well.
But I still cannot get used to that one large image of his mother wearing a swimsuit for a gravure magazine.
Isn't that just inappropriate for the guests?!
The servants seem used to it though?!
Hoshoujo: [Tough luck for us. I don't want to meet his parents as well.]
That reminds me——Najimi's parents might recognize her!!
Moreover, that guy might be here as well!
???: [It's your luck that they happen to be out on a trip.]
Mendou: [Ah crap...]
The guy that I don't like seeing second to Najimi's mother... that annoying and cunning guy. He's just a few years older than us, but he's this weird guy...
Mendou: [Weiss...]
Weiss Masunaga. A foreigner wannabe who bleached his hair and raised it for a cooler impression. Though, he had to wear glasses since his eyesight was getting worse at a young age.
Weiss: [Najimi's friends and uh, hmm. She's a new one. Are you his girlfriend?]
Hoshoujo: [No. I'm Kai's girlfriend.]
Weiss: [Well, of course! Mendou here wouldn't be your best choice after all! He's quite violent.]
Whispering that last part, Weiss is a darn bastard that likes to pick on me especially.
He knows a lot of things and acts like he doesn't, that way he can see if you lie and entrap you in his play.
I'm the one who probably knows that, but he only likes to pick on me.
Yet, his attention is focused on Hoshoujo. Of course. He might know who she is even after several years but...
Weiss: [Oh! I've heard he did confess to someone but to think that... hmm, it'll be someone pretty standard. Do you have a name?]
He was just staring too close to Hoshoujo, holding his chin. Although she wasn't entirely comfortable, she just leaned back.
Hoshoujo: [...]
He asked about her name. This could be just a trap he laid out to play her! He always does that!
But I can't tell her that right now that if she lies, she'd be caught red-handed!
I can see it from his grin! That evil grin!
Hoshoujo: [My name is Melyn.]
Mendou: [——Hah?!]
WE'RE SCREWED! Weiss's gonna tell Najimi's parents and everything will just turn for the worse!
Weiss: [Oh? That's quite a unique name. It sounds... English? Are you a foreigner?]
Mendou: [Wait. Why would you ask th——]
Ah. His eyesight is getting worse.
It could be that Weiss is smart, but with his deteriorating eyesight, he can't even recognize people except for their silhouettes and voices.
He must have forgotten about Hoshoujo already so, we should be in the clear. Even more luckily that Najimi's parents are not here.
Hoshoujo: [I'm not a foreigner. Can we just go and see Najimi already? We need to visit him.]
Weiss quickly backed off and apologized for taking much of our time, although he had time to insult me and ask why I don't have a girlfriend yet.
I can get one, just NOT NOW!
So, shortly after we just went towards his room and greeted him. We had a few snacks brought in and some flowers.
Hoshoujo brought the flowers, not me. I'm not like these old-schooled idiots. I brought pizza which I forgot that Najimi can't eat cause he has a fever.
We wore masks, but that thing is surely suffocating to breathe in.
Najimi: [W-Why are you guys here? Should you be in school?]
Mendou: [Just in case you're forgetting something, the school is in repair for two whole days.]
Hoshoujo: [Says the one who's in a uniform.]
Yes, in that same room, I was the only one wearing a uniform.
I overslept and forgot that there are no classes, alright? I admit that I forgot, but I won't be saying it to this two.
It was embarrassing enough that they can tell.
Najimi: [You guys didn't have to visit me. You just might get my cold.]
Mendou: [I doubt that. You're already in an IV and are wearing patient clothes. Your room is a hospital room.]
Yep. As you can imagine, he's wearing those frilly patient clothes with an IV.
The only difference is that he is still on a large fancy bed.
We joked about that and began to idly talk but as we noticed how Hoshoujo's face only became serious as she looked at her phone, we stopped.
Mendou: [What's wrong?]
Hoshoujo: [The classroom... no, the entire academy collapsed.]
What?