Oh shit, here we go again.

  The very first words to leap from my spectacularly chaotic brain, which, for some reason, decided that speaking everything out loud was a great idea. Unbeknownst to me, I was facing a pair of walking time bombs heading straight for me.

  "Hahahahahaahahah!" The only thing I could manage in response.

  “Why are you laughing?” Yuki demanded, her hands on her hips as she and Arisa loomed before me like the incredible, yet terrifying, avengers of my misery. My eyes darted toward Shirori, sincerely hoping she’d have some brilliant idea to resolve my impending doom...

  “Oh, I just remembered my dog needs feeding. Bye, Souta!” she declared, attempting a hasty retreat.

  “THAT SON OF A BI-”

  But before she could make her escape, a not-so-gentle hand landed firmly on her shoulder.

  “Oi… You’re not leaving either, Missy.” Arisa spoke in a tone that definitely didn’t belong to any creature from this planet.

  “Hahaha, of course, Miss Arisa! I shall accompany you!” Shirori replied, her dry chuckle barely masking her rising panic.

  Leavers get stitches.

  Don’t care if that’s not the saying, it's the new motto now. So there we sat, Shirori and I on the floor, while the two hot bombshells, who were undoubtedly about to explode. Hovered over us.

  “So, explain everything, Souta. I've noticed you've been acting strange, but now I demand to know what is going on.” Yuki glared, her eyes narrowing like a hawk eyeing its prey.

  “Hahah, what do you mea-”

  “NGH!”

  I attempted to play the clueless card, but that was clearly a bad choice. When Yuki slammed her foot beside my head, it sent a mini-earthquake through the room.

  I knew it was over.

  “I said, tell me everything you’ve been hiding from us, now, Souta Kannazuki.”

  Using my full name? This was serious.

  “I PLEA THE FIFTH!” I shouted.

  “Fair enough-NO WAIT, THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS! JUST TELL ME, DAMMIT!”

  She shook my head vigorously, but I kept my mouth zipped tight. My eyes widened when I glanced at Arisa and Shirori. And honestly, if the situation were different, I might’ve felt something entirely different. But right now? Terror was the reigning emotion. Primarily for Shirori, who was in a rather compromising position, hands tied behind her back, legs bound as well, and a drooling ten out of ten chick with a little too much enthusiasm, rubbing her hands at the sight of helpless Shirori.

  “HMMMMMMM!” Shirori shouted, her eyes wide as she desperately looked my way. But of course, after the whole running-away debacle, I decided to close my eyes. “Farewell, Shirori, it’s been good knowing you.”

  “HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!”

  “Heehe, Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it?”

  “HEY! You’re speaking to me, remember? Unless you want the same treatment.”

  “…”

  “Yes, please-”

  “Forget I said that!” Yuki quickly added, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

  For a brief moment (If you ignore that Shirori's screams), it was silent. I could see Yuki's brow twitching faster and faster as time went on, until her patience ran out.

  “Souta,” Yuki said softly, her demeanour doing a complete 180 as she knelt to my eye level. “Just tell me… What’s going on? Surely you can give me something… Because this isn’t fair.” Her voice was soft, devoid of any anger, and her eyes lingered off to the side for a second. "You being so secretive... I don't like it"

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  Oh Wow! That was cute!?!

  I blinked, my heart racing as Yuki's face inched closer, and I could feel a mix of adrenaline and dread tightening in my chest. Was she doing this on purpose? The way her eyes pierced through mine made me sweat and panic. Her breath barely touching my skin, I could feel the pressure building up on me as time slowed down for a brief second.

  "Tell me... Or I'll never trust you ever again." She whispered.

  My eyes widened when those words left her mouth. It seemed I didn't have a choice anymore. I couldn't lie, I knew I couldn't now, even if I tried.

  So with one final deep sigh, doing my best to ignore my shaky hands.

  I spoke.

  "This stalker. The one that’s been sending the messages.” I swallowed, my gaze falling to the floor. “I knew. From the very first day.” The words felt heavy as they left my mouth. “And I didn’t say anything.”

  I could see Yuki’s eyes widen along with Arisa’s.

  “So how long has this really been happening?” Yuki asked, her voice edged with concern.

  “It started relatively quickly. I got a note from him, saying to save one of you or something like that.”

  “Souta! Why didn’t you tell us? If you’re hiding this, then I can only assume you’re part of this whole stalker thing.” Arisa added softly as she moved closer.

  By this point, my mind went blank.

  That's an actual fair point…

  NO, wait, hold up, they can't start thinking that I was behind this?!

  “HMMM!” Shirori screamed again, her fearful protest echoing in the room.

  “Shut it, Shiroriri!” Arisa shot back.

  “Sorry… Please don’t be angry at him,” Shirori replied through her muffled voice, sounding utterly helpless.

  “We’re not… Depending on his answer,” Arisa said, turning back to face me.

  “It’s it’s…” My voice trembled, the words lodged in my throat.

  Because you’ll lose faith in me. You’ll lose trust in me.

  Such simple words carried so much meaning. I could feel the frustration building in their tones. As they both stared into my soul.

  "Just say it, Souta."

  "Just tell them..."

  "Stop bitching out!"

  "JUST TELL THEM!"

  “IT’S BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT YOU TO LOSE FAITH IN ME!” I shouted, causing both girls to step back slightly.

  “Souta…” Arisa muttered, a hint of sympathy in her voice.

  "I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to ask for help because what kind of person does that? Asking the very people who are supposed to protect me for help? So I told myself that this was best for you and the others... carrying this burden alone, I convinced myself that this was the better way... That I could handle this alone. And that bastard... He doesn't know when to quit!" I shouted, doing my best to keep my breathing undercontrol, but I knew the moment it was spiralling downhill when even Shirori’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  I inhaled again heavily as the weight of what I’d just revealed settled in.

  Well… This could’ve gone better.

  For a brief moment, there was silence. Neither girl spoke.

  Shirori was sealed up, so her protests were muffled, but I could tell she wished to chime in.

  Finally, Yuki spoke up.

  But not with words. With action.

  SLAP!

  The feeling of her cold hands slapping across mine felt weird. Painful, yet beneath it was a sense of concern. My hands naturally grazed across my cheek as I looked at Yuki, who had a scowl on her face.

  "You jerk! Do you really think so little of us!? What do you think we are? Dolls? And to think that we wouldn't trust you or whatever nonsense you spoke there. What kind of people do you take us for?" She shouted, her cheeks slightly flushed with rage. The faint droplets of tears shone as she scowled at me.

  "But I didn't want you to-" I started.

  "Shut it, Souta. You've tried to act like the hero, and now look, you look like a jackass," Yuki scowled as she stormed off.

  "But that wasn't my intention!" I shouted, but Yuki didn’t reply. My eyes were wide, my mouth open, as I looked to Arisa, who for once had no idea what to say.

  "I think we should leave it, Souta." She said her eyes didn't meet mine. "Just make sure to come into the new room secretly," she said before she too walked away.

  You're kidding.

  This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Not at all. How has this all gone this badly?

  Was I that much in the wrong?

  "Hm," Shirori murmured through the muffled sounds, still tied up. After some time sulking, I managed to untie Shirori, and for a bit, we sat in silence; there was nothing to talk about.

  Until I broke the silence.

  "I've messed up big time… Haven't I? I should have just come out clean from the beginning. Maybe Yuki was right. Maybe I was trying to play the hero." I said, my head down. Shirori blinked, looking out the window. At this point, the motion-sensor lights had been turned off for a while, so everything outside looked much clearer.

  "You're not, Souta. It's just Yuki being Yuki. She cares about you, as I told you before. Remember?"

  My gaze lifted as the faint memory of that conversation played back to me.

  "Well, I remember, but I'm still confused. How does she care?" I said, now facing Shirori, who got up. The lights shot on as Shirori smiled at me.

  "Think about it, Souta. Just think about how worried she was about you. She was upset that you were keeping such a big and dangerous thing a secret from her."

  "But-" I tried to come up with a counterargument, but nothing came to mind.

  Does she actually have a point?

  "Surely you cannot be that dense, Souta. I know your lack of experience with women is apparent, but this is a whole new level," she said, tapping her foot with her eyes closed.

  "Shut up! I'm feeling pressured!" I cried out, my head buried in my hands. The thought really settled in. Maybe I was being an idiot, and maybe Shirori was right; Yuki was just worried for me. I took a deep sigh after rubbing my head at a thousand miles per hour before I stood up.

  "I'm going to apologise to them!" I said to myself with a confident tone.

  "Oh… Are you sure you will, and aren't just saying that because… Well, you're you, Souta?"

  "Of course, I'm going to say sorry! I've realised that I was being an idiot and that I should have said something." I then looked at my reflection in the mirror.

  "And most importantly, I need to say sorry to Reina for keeping her quiet for me."

  "Well then, very good! I can confirm that it is a respectable decision," she replied with a smile.

  "Hehe, I know, right, wait." I turned towards her and narrowed my eyes.

  "If I said something else, like I'm not going to do anything or something along those lines… Would you have said the same thing?"

  Shirori's smile vanished instantly.

  "No, I would have said you're a lying idiot that needs to check himself," she said abruptly.

  "…."

  "…Glad I never said that, then."

  "I knew you wouldn't." She smirked before waving her hand. "Then I shall leave it up to you." She walked away like it was the end of a movie.

  "Um, Shirori, I swear your room was the other way?"

  "…………………."

  "Yeah, you're right. Sorry." She replied before walking back the other way.

  What a grade-A goober.

  Now standing by myself, but with a calmer mind, I knew first and foremost I needed to say sorry to Yuki and the others.

  But whether that goes smoothly is an entirely different ballgame… and something tells me it won't.

  DeadEndYuto!