Thinking about it now, it has been a while since I went out with only Naoto. He usually invites some other friends with him.
But, it's not abnormal either. We did hangout by ourselves multiple times as well.
We started walking around and chatting.
"So, how did you pull it off?" Naoto questioned me.
"Pull what off?"
"You know, becoming Tsereteli-san boyfriend."
"...!" A crazy thought just occurred to me.
What if, Naoto is the stalker?
No, surely that's not the case, right? he doesn't have a reason to... I hope.
"W-why d-do you a-ask?" I couldn't hide my uneasiness.
Pffft "Why are you so nervous? hahaha! is it really that embarrassing? haha!"
"Y-yeah, kinda" I felt a little better hearing him laugh, I can't see someone like him stalking a girl.
"Well then we can leave it at that for now." he said with a smile.
We walked a bit more until we reached an arcade.
"Hey dude, how about we spend time here?"
"Sure thing, looks like a good place."
We entered the arcade. Then Naoto went straight to a crane machine.
"Dude, look here, they got some figures in here!"
"Hmm, let me see what kind."
"These are from that new trending anime."
"The undefeated king is stripped of all his power?"
"Yeah, that one!"
"I thought it was average at best. However, Yukihime Spyair is kind of cute."
"I didn't watch it but my brother likes it. Also which one is the character you just mentioned?"
There was a figure of her in her usual black, purple and light blue dress inside the crane machine so I pointed at her. "This girl."
Naoto saw her and grinned at me. "I guess that's your type, huh?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Come on don't act clueless! she's the spitting image of Tsereteli-san beside her clothes!"
I shock my head at the remark. "They are completely different!"
"Sure thing buddy. Anyway, I'm gonna try to get a figure."
"Don't ask me to do it when you fail twice."
Naoto is one of those gifted with powers.
"Tell me Rio, were do you see the fun in easy wins?" he asked.
His power is simple. If he tries doing the same thing twice and fails on both tries. The third time he tries it, he's guaranteed success that ignores any other factor. The only thing he can't do with it is change how someone feels about him.
"Sometimes life is not all about fun."
He used to call it 'third times the charm'. But after I told him that name is lame, he decided to name it 'slave to the rhythm'.
"Fine, but you'll do five tries before it."
He hated his power.
For everyone around him, he was viewed as a lucky and talented person. One capable of everything even the impossible.
However, for the man himself. It was a curse that removed any form of challenge from his life.
I was focused on Naoto moving the claw of the machine. It went down and didn't catch anything.
He tried again, this time the claw caught a figure. Yet, the moment the claw went up, it lost it's grip and the figure fell.
"Now Rio, your turn."
"as I said only five times."
Even though I tried my best. I ended up failing all five times.
"It's about time you get it." I said
"What a shame." Naoto said as he started moving the claw. this time he caught two figures and both of them were his.
The first figure was that of the main character in the third arc, he was wearing a worn out clock over his body with basic adventurer clothes under it since he was undercover, the figure did capture his handsome face with his amethyst eyes and blond hair.
The other figure was Yukihime Spyair.
"Hey, take this one since you like her." Naoto said as he handed me Yukihime's figure.
"H-huh? You don't have to, maybe your brother also likes her besides I-."
"Come on now, we got her together. Count it as an early birthday present if that helps."
"If you insist, thank you." I took the figure and put it in my backpack.
"Don't mention it, really."
I nodded. "Alright then, so now should we play some of the games in here?"
"There is a lot of stuff, let's play some."
We started playing in the arcade, every now and then we changed the game. An hour into playing we decided to take a break and eat some snacks as we chatted.
"I liked the newest season honestly, people drop it way too fast because it's a weekly monster. But that stops at around episode 13 of the show." Naoto said.
"I actually dropped it around the 10th episode, the character cast is so boring especially compared to the previous season."
"Well I suppose that's fair, the new protagonist is just a goody two shoe with nothing more"
"I know right? and the rival is really bland this time. besid-" Ding.
A notification from my phone? It's probably my sister, I better check it...
-He managed to run away again.
-HUH!?
It was Lilia.
-The stalker appeared again, I tried to catch him again but failed.
-Where are you right now?
-In front of school.
-Wait there I'm coming over.
I rushed there with Naoto as fast as we could while I explained the situation to him.
Huff huff huff "Lilia! are you alright?"
Lilia was sitting on a bench waiting with her hands clenched, she looked frustrated. "They slipped again without a trace..."
"It's alright Tsereteli-san, there is still more chances to catch that stalker." Naoto said trying to calm her down.
"More over did you manage to at least catch any of their features?" I asked.
"What are you? Retarded? If I managed to catch a glance I would've caught them already." Lilia grumbled.
"S-sorry..."
Lilia stood up "I'm leaving."
She walked away without adding anything.
"I don't really know the details. But it seems like she's really stressed out." Naoto said.
"Yeah, I hope I can do something to help her."
"Maybe try to find potential suspects first?"
Sigh "That would take forever believe me."
"Yeah, I suppose that's true." Clap Naoto clapped his hands to change the atmosphere "Anyway, how about we head home as well? It's getting late."
"Yeah, I suppose"
Then, a voice emerged from behind us. "Excuse my interruption." An old gentleman addressed us. He had white hair and emerald eyes. His cloths looked fancy and formal while he held a cane in his left hand that he didn't seem to need, He had a well maintained beard and he's probably a bit taller than the delinquent from before.
"Hello, can we help you with something good sir?" Naoto responded.
"Aren't you a polite child. Do you know where the 'sunrise café' is?" he said with a gentle smile.
I recognized the name as the coffee shop I went to with Lilia two days ago. So I gave the man the directions.
"Thank you very much child, I hope you both have a good evening." The gentleman said as he left.
I looked at Naoto beside me and he stared back at me. We both thought of the same thing.
That man looked suspicious.
However, we decided to think nothing of it for now since it was just a hunch rather than an evidence supported theory.
Thus we started walking back home.
At home, I saw two extra pairs of shoes at the front door. It usually meant that my sister had brought some friends over.
They would probably be in the living room. I should go say hi.
When I set foot in the living room, two people I had already expected were there. Being both Seika and Mayoi.
However the last person on that table was unexpected... It was Lilia.
"H-hello!" I said nervously.
Mayoi waved her hand at me and Lilia shifted her gaze from me.
"Look who's finally here! come sit with us!" Seika said.
"H-huh!? why?" I asked.
"We were going to study but ended up talking about the stalker situation. Join us on here."
"Uh, sure? But since when did kanzaki-san know?"
"I-I heard a-about it just n-now..." Mayoi startled.
"She just knows about the stalker, not the rest of the story thought."
Honestly I thought telling Mayoi was not a bad idea, she is trust worthy and really smart as well. She could definitely help us here.
I sat next to Seika. "Alright, where did you stop."
"W-we were discussing potential suspects." Mayoi said, she started to talk more comfortably now.
"So did you find any?"
"W-well, the three guys from earlier today."
Those being Naoto, that delinquent and.... The nerdy guy. I forgot his name again.
"remove Naot-, the general affairs officer from that list, he was with me while Lilia was stalked today."
"Does he have a power?"
"Yeah but it can't allow him to be in two places simultaneously."
Mayoi nodded her head. "That narrows it down to just the othe-"
"No, there is another suspect. After Lilia separated from us, an old guy appeared and asked us for directions. We don't have any proof but he seemed shady."
"Now it really is a mess, huh." Seika frowned.
"The most efficient way would be to investigate the two guys from school." Lilia said.
"Even though I don't want to get involved with that blond guy. Lilia is right." I acknowledged her words.
"B-B-BUT! H-how can we even do that?" Said the puzzled Mayoi.
"Well." Seika replied with a smirk "It's easy, we should just hangout with them on Saturday."
"HUUUUUH!?" Mayoi yelled out blushing.
She wasn't the type to hangout with boys because of her shyness.
"Calm down Mayoi-chan, I'm just teasing you. It will be just Rio on that mission, teehee."
"I guess I can do it, doesn't seem difficult.... by the way when is Saturday?"
"....."
"I-it's tomorrow." Mayoi broke the silence.