"It's alright. I can accept even the more... extreme hobbies you might have."
Seeing Senior Mei smile as she spoke, I instinctively pressed a hand to my forehead. She had clearly misunderstood the reason for my distress.
Wait, if I really think about it, doesn't everyone already know about the 'February 29th' file?
Actually, the moment I realized Kiana knew, I should have started questioning everything. But no, it's only two people so far, right? I'll be fine.
Even when Major Himeko was conducting inspections back then, she completely overlooked it, and I was so nervous I forgot I had even included it in the records. If even the Major didn't notice, it means the average person wouldn't have a clue.
Right. It's fine.
I'm still safe.
...Probably?
"By the way, Senior Mei, how did you even get inside the house?"
I decided to ask the question that had been bugging me the most. Unless she was a literal ninja, I should have sensed someone's presence. We were living in a two-bedroom rental; it was impossible not to notice someone entering.
"...Ah, that. It's a bit of a long story. Do you have time?"
"A long story...?"
I didn't think it was the kind of question that required a long explanation, but her tone made me uneasy. Despite the growing sense of dread, I nodded. In hindsight, I really shouldn't have.
I mean, who would have thought the introduction alone would take an entire hour?
"—And that's why, whenever I had a spare moment, I was always watching you."
"Um, Senior Mei? When exactly are we getting to the point?"
"The important part starts now, so please, listen just a little longer."
Two more hours passed.
"I never imagined that loving someone could change me this much. As time went on, it became harder and harder to suppress these feelings. But at the time, I thought you and Kiana were dating, so I desperately held back."
"...Huh? Kiana and me?"
"Yes. Back then, the two of you were always together. You were so close it felt like watching a couple. That's why I tried to stop following you... and stop looking into your business."
"Isn't that actually a good thing?"
"But eventually, I started suffering from withdrawal symptoms because I couldn't do what I wanted to do."
Wait, why would you get withdrawal symptoms from stopping your stalk—I mean, your observations?! Was I some kind of drug to her? Or was 'observing' me so deeply ingrained in her daily routine that she couldn't function without it?
...Come to think of it, isn't this situation incredibly dangerous for me either way?
"Even so, I had to endure it. My bond with the two of you was the only connection I truly cherished. But then, I found out."
"...Found out what?"
"That you two weren't actually dating."
As she spoke, Senior Mei cupped her cheeks like a shy maiden, her expression glowing with an almost spiritual ecstasy—as if she had found light in the depths of darkness. A cold shiver ran down my spine. My instincts were screaming at me to stop listening, that I'd be better off not knowing. That if I stayed ignorant, I could keep my peaceful daily life.
I tried to open my mouth to change the subject, but Mei was faster.
"So, I installed surveillance cameras in your room. I synced them directly to my phone."
Surveillance... what now?
Haha, it was past lunchtime. I must have been so hungry that I started hallucinating. There's no way I heard that right.
"Uh, Senior Mei. Why don't we get something to eat first?"
"Now that you mention it, lunch has passed."
"It's a bit late to cook, so let's eat out. Is that okay?"
"I'm the guest being treated, so of course."
Right. Let's just eat and think later. Then I can be sure I just misheard her.
However, even after walking outside, breathing in the fresh air, and finishing a full meal, I realized my hearing was perfectly fine. Once my stomach was full and my brain was functioning at 100%, I replayed her words in my head. The conclusion remained the same.
Ugh, my head hurts.
Well, she already knows about the surveillance cameras and my secret files. Nothing else could possibly surprise m—
"Back at the Academy, the only joy in my life was hugging a life-sized dakimakura I made of you while watching your livestream on my phone. It made me feel like I was really holding you."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
A dakimakura? Unless I was mistaken, she was talking about those five-foot-long pillows printed with fictional characters. "Why on earth would you have a dakimakura of me?!"
"Because I took photos of you and had it custom-printed?"
"No, you're supposed to ask for permission before making something like that!"
"If I had asked, would you have said yes?"
"Of course not!"
"That's why I made it without asking."
"What happened to my right to privacy?!"
Wait, if she's already installing cameras and stalking me, did I ever even have privacy in her eyes?
"For what it's worth, it was quite popular with the others, too."
"Who?! Who else saw it?!"
What could they possibly use a dakimakura of me for?! Wait, for hugging? Then just use a regular body pillow! Why did it have to be me? Wait...
"Senior... what exactly were the images printed on the pillow?"
"One was you showering, and the other was you sleeping."
...Excuse me?
My nudes had been distributed without my knowledge.
"Don't worry. The shower one was from the back, obviously!"
"I have nothing but worries! And what do you mean 'obviously'... Does that mean there's a front-view version too?"
"You can rest easy on that part. I'm the only one who has the one I sleep with!"
"Oh, well, that's a relief then."
Right, since there's only one, it's fine. Yeah, it's fine. It's totally fine. Is it? I feel like I missed a very important keyword there, but surely it's fine. I'm still alive, so everything's great. Hahaha...
"By the way, do you remember the first time we met after Kiana awakened as the Herrscher of the Void?"
"...You mean when you saw me and immediately turned around to run away?"
I had been so happy to see her after all that time and tried to greet her, but her face twisted, and she bolted. I thought she resented me. At the time, I had forced myself into the fight to save Major Himeko and Kiana, only to be forcibly cast into the Sea of Quanta by the Herrscher of the Void.
I mean, I met Seele earlier than expected because of that... but I failed my original goal. I assumed Mei and Bronya hated me for making big promises and then disappearing. When I finally reunited with my wife (Bronya), she ran up and slapped me across the cheek. She wouldn't even talk to me for a while, and Seele had a hard time playing mediator. I found out later she was just furious that I had been so reckless with my own life, but we were awkward for a long time.
"Back then, seeing you and smelling your scent after so long... I almost lost my resolve."
"Lost your... resolve?"
A suggestive thought crossed my mind, and I instinctively countered it. Surely she just meant she was overwhelmed with emotion, right? It couldn't possibly be *that* kind of 'resolve.' Maybe it was because I had made an 'appointment' with Bronya for tonight that my mind was heading into the gutter. There's no way Senior Mei—who had successfully hidden her stalking from everyone—would lose control in public, right?
"If I had stayed there a second longer, I might have lost my mind and devoured you on the spot."
"...I don't think I'd taste very good?"
"Fufu~ I'm just kidding."
As she confirmed my worst suspicions, I instinctively covered my body with my arms. Senior Mei gave me a cute, predatory smile and slowly licked her lips.
...She was kidding, right? Please tell me she was kidding.