The days raced by, and winter break finally descended, granting the boys a much-needed respite from the confines of school, a precious window to bask in the fleeting holiday season.
In the midst of this particular morning, Haruki found himself amidst a shopping spree. He stood before the icy meat freezer of his go-to supermarket, a partially filled shopping cart by his side. His mother had dispatched him to town earlier, armed with a list of essentials that included two kilograms of pork cutlets. Yet, despite multiple deliberations, he remained undecided, trapped in a perpetual battle of choices.
But truth be told, while an outsider might think the boy was seriously debating on the issue, Haruki's thoughts were otherwise filled with a certain ginger-haired boy who had returned to his hometown in Hokkaido.
Ginger's unsettling revelations about the Harada family continued to haunt Haruki's mind, leaving him unable to shake off his concern for his friend.
"Huh, Fukuda, is that you?" a familiar voice jolted him back to reality, causing Haruki to turn and face a surprised Takumi. "Wasn't expecting to bump into you here."
"Same here. Thought you'd be on your way back to your hometown by now," Haruki replied, finally making up his mind and placing the chosen meat package in his cart.
After all, Takumi Shimoda always travelled to Saitama to see his parents during the breaks.
"I decided to spend the holiday with my relatives here. My parents will be joining us," Takumi explained, his gaze wandering. "Where's Nomura? Hasn't he come back?"
Aware that Haruki and Kentaro lived in the same neighborhood, thanks to their occasional informal visits, Takumi still couldn't get over the fact that Ginger had entire house to himself.
Initially, both Takumi and Tadashi had felt a mix of emotions upon discovering that Kentaro lived independently at such a young age. However, they were quickly relieved knowing that the Fukudas took good care of him.
"He'll be back soon," Haruki casually responded.
Kentaro had taken a week off from school before the break and headed to Asahikawa. If his words held true, he would be back early tomorrow. Haruki felt a pang of guilt for keeping the truth about Kentaro's real family from their other friends, but the gravity of the situation demanded caution. He would let Ginger decide when the time was right.
"And what about Matsui?" Haruki asked, well aware of the proximity between Takumi and Tadashi's homes.
"He's around but had to fetch some Judo gear from his home in Tokyo earlier today. He'll probably be back by evening."
Never expected the whole gang to be around this time; Haruki thought to himself.
"Oh, I know!" Takumi suddenly exclaimed, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "How about we all hit the arcade this Sunday? Nomura will be back by then, right?"
"Uh, I guess—"
"Perfect! I'll tell Tadashi," Takumi interjected, his enthusiasm mounting.
Haruki managed a tentative smile. "You sure he'll be up for it? Matsui isn't too keen on crowded places."
"Don't worry! Leave it to me. Just meet us at the arcade at the designated time. We'll discuss the details in the group chat."
"Alright," Haruki agreed, momentarily drifting back into his own thoughts as Takumi rambled on about the endless possibilities for their upcoming outing.
Considering Ginger's sheltered nature, would he even be willing to step foot in a bustling arcade?
**
Contrary to Haruki's expectations, Kentaro readily agreed to their impromptu arrangements. Haruki couldn't help but marvel at how much his friend had changed.
"You sure about this?" Haruki double-checked, even though he had already received a positive response. He didn't want Kentaro to feel obligated or uneasy. "If it's too sudden or you're tired, we can cancel. Seriously, are you sure?"
They were already en route, bundled up in cozy attire to combat the slight chill in the air. The weather was ideal for their plans, mostly consisting of indoor activities where the cold wouldn't bother them much.
Kentaro ambled alongside, hands buried deep in his jacket pockets, his determined gaze fixed ahead. "It's a day planned by you. Of course, I'm in."
But it really wasn't my doing; Haruki helplessly thought to himself, frowning. Damn that Takumi! He couldn't just change dates like that. Ginger had had a late flight the day before, and was probably exhausted. Of course, he wouldn't admit it, but Haruki knew. Today was supposed to be the day Ken caught a break and rested.
However, Haruki couldn't bring himself to disappoint Takumi in the end. The poor guy had gone to great lengths to convince Tadashi to join them.
"Please, it has to be tomorrow," Takumi had pleaded over the phone the previous night, his voice nearly breaking. "Tadashi said he's swamped on Sunday and can't make it. And I'm sorry I forgot to mention Kentaro's flight today, but Matsui won't even pick up my calls anymore. I think he blocked me, that jerk! He even threatened to feed me to his monstrous dog if I dared set foot in his yard. He's made up his mind already. PLEEEEEEEEEASE, it's tomorrow or never!!!"
And thus, it fell on Haruki to sway Kentaro's decision, though it hadn't taken much convincing.
Ginger readily agreed.
Well, what's done is done; Haruki finally let go of his worries and focused on the road ahead. Since they were already on their way, they might as well enjoy themselves.
*
As planned, the two rendezvoused with Takumi and Tadashi at the entrance of the bustling arcade and ventured inside together.
"Look at all these people," Takumi exclaimed, a mix of excitement and concern in his eyes as he surveyed the crowded scene. "Will we be able find any unoccupied games or machines? It's insane."
"Don't rush, there's an entire complex," Tadashi reassured, though his expression betrayed his wish to have stayed home.
"Games and machines?" Kentaro interjected, capturing everyone's attention.
Without hesitation, Takumi swiftly pulled him closer, seizing the opportunity to play the role of an enthusiastic teacher with a willing student.
"Exactly! It's your first time in a place like this, right? There are games galore, all over this massive building. And you're free to explore wherever you want."
"Really?" Ginger's curiosity piqued.
Takumi gestured toward a row of charming cafes and eateries. "And it's not just games. You can eat anything you want too."
"Remember, we didn't come here to empty our pockets on food," Tadashi interjected.
"Don't worry, I've got all the money we need," Takumi boasted. "I could buy a whole restaurant without batting an eye!"
Tadashi rolled his eyes, accustomed to Takumi's flair for exaggeration.
Haruki couldn't help but smile helplessly. Sometimes, he forgot Takumi was from a privileged family.
Suddenly, an unsettling sensation crept up Haruki's spine, causing him to instinctively glance over his shoulder, on high alert. Yet, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. People were going about their business, engaged in conversations and laughter. Shaking off the unease, Haruki tried to ignore the lingering feeling, but it refused to dissipate.
It was as if...
A sudden tug at his side made Haruki look at Tadashi, who wore a similarly inscrutable expression. They shared an unspoken understanding.
Tadashi had felt it too. They were being followed.
Great, trouble right from the start? What cliché manga subplot was this?
Meanwhile, Kentaro and Takumi remained ahead, engrossed in their conversation, oblivious to the peculiarities around them.
How could they be warned without alerting the stalker?
As Haruki sifted through his thoughts, Tadashi abruptly called everyone to a halt at a specific spot.
"Let's split up for now and cover more ground exploring the games here," he suggested out of the blue.
"Split up?" Takumi's objection rang loud. "What's the point of bringing us together if we're just going to separate?"
Even Kentaro seemed perplexed, though he refrained from speaking up.
"We'll meet up again soon. I just think it's best if we explore independently to figure out what we really want to do," Tadashi turned to Haru, seeking his opinion. "What do you think?"
Quick to grasp Tadashi's intentions, Haruki nodded knowingly. "I think that's a great idea."
Takumi interjected with a bewildered tone, "Huh—?"
"Listen, we'll rendezvous at a specific point exactly thirty minutes from now," Tadashi pointed towards the miniature clock tower at the center of the building complex. "We'll use that clock as our guide. It's currently one minute to ten. Let's gather at the tower precisely at ten-thirty for an information exchange. Sound good?"
"Yeah," Haruki affirmed before Tadashi whisked the protesting Takumi away with him.
Now that they were in pairs, it would be much easier to reveal the truth to each other. Haruki also didn't linger as he brought Ken along in the opposite direction. The separation would also help identify the stalker's true target.
"Haru," Kentaro had long noticed his friend's peculiar behavior. He felt a tinge of concern as he asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Come here," Haruki suddenly draped an arm around Ken's shoulders, creating the illusion of close buddies engaging in casual conversation.
Kentaro was taken aback, struggling to process this unexpected gesture.
"Listen, we were being followed earlier," Haruki explained in a hushed voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any suspicious figures. "Tadashi noticed it too, which is why he suggested we split up temporarily. We're trying to determine who's following whom, so stick close until we regroup."
Understanding now, Kentaro furrowed his brow. "What does the person look like?"
"I haven't identified anyone suspicious. If we are indeed being followed, I'll—" Haruki abruptly tensed, his sentence trailing off.
That strange sensation crept over him once again. They were truly being followed.
What the hell?
"Haruki, listen. I think—"
"Let's go in there," Haru interrupted, guiding Ginger into a nearby café.
Choosing a secluded window booth, Haruki ordered refreshments to avoid appearing suspicious by just sitting there.
"We'll wait and see what happens," he told Kentaro after placing an order for a strawberry and a chocolate milkshake. "Maybe they'll follow us inside."
Various individuals entered and exited the shop, none of them appearing or behaving suspiciously. It was only after a few more minutes that a man with well-groomed, short dark hair, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo and sporting shades, entered the small dining area. The waitress promptly attended to him, and he settled into a window seat in the same row as the two teenagers, ordering a cup of coffee.
Haruki observed him for a while, unable to catch a glimpse of the man's face as he had his back turned.
Whoa, was the guy meeting someone here? He'd went all-out with the suit...
"What do you see?" Kentaro, unable to see the man from his position, snapped Haruki out of his thoughts, causing his gaze to return to the entrance.
"I don't spot any potential stalkers. Got distracted by the guy in the really nice tux who just walked in..." Haruki's words barely left his lips when Ken abruptly stood up and headed toward the man. "Hey, wait. Where are you going?"
Haruki assumed he was leaving but was baffled when Ginger approached the suited man instead. What was he doing now???
The young man in the tuxedo lifted his head, his gaze meeting Kentaro's fiery face.
"Why are you here?!" Kentaro growled, stopping in front of the man.
Naturally, this scene attracted attention, and Haruki, utterly confused and embarrassed, stood up to try and calm his enraged friend, speaking in hushed tones. "Hold on a minute, Ginger. I don't think he—"
"Young Master, please calm down," the well-dressed man interjected.
Haruki's mind raced as he shifted his gaze between the man in the tuxedo and the tomato-faced Kentaro, struggling to comprehend the unfolding situation.
"I already told you I don't need you stalking me," Kentaro hissed at the young man.
The so-called 'stalker' removed his shades, revealing a gentle blue-grey gaze, and placed them on the table. "Please understand that I'm doing this out of concern, Young Master."
Young Master?
Haruki suspected his ears were experiencing technical difficulties. Who exactly was this person, and what on earth was happening???
~~~~~~