We continued walking. I tried not to think of unnecessary things, but no matter how hard I tried, suspicion started creeping into my mind. Maybe Mai already knew. Maybe Mai's reason for wanting to introduce me to the doppelganger was so that I would die. Maybe...
I shook my head hard. I don't like this. I had to change my thoughts.
That's when we passed by Cafe from before. My eyes caught sight of the intact glass window.
"It seems like the previous place was a different world, huh?" I said casually.
"Why do you think so?" Mai asked, looking at me with interest.
"In that place, I broke the glass window of this cafe," I replied.
Mai looked at the cafe's window, which of course was intact, not even a scratch.
"Then why did you break it?" Mai asked.
"Ah..." I felt my back get cold as I remembered. "I couldn't see my reflection in the glass."
"Of course because now you're a ghost," Mai said giggled softly.
"I don't like that answer," I grunted.
And why was she giggled?
"If you really have nothing to do with it, I think I have a theory," Mai said then. We started walking again.
"Okay, and what is it?" I asked.
"If that previous place was a different world, then maybe the conditions here are reversed," Mai replied.
"Reversed?" I said, confused.
"Think about it," Mai said. "Before, I couldn't see the new student while others could. Now, what if the situation is reversed? Only I can see you while others can't."
"I see," I said. "But why am I the one who's not visible now?"
"You and the new student are opposite of each other," Mai replied. "You were visible, he wasn't. And now he's visible, you're not. You swapped positions."
I nodded. "That makes sense."
That's when I saw one of the cafe customers whispering to their friend and looking at me.
Looking at me? That confused me for a second. Can they see me? No, wait, they're not looking at me. They're looking at Mai.
"Mai, those people are probably--"
"Leave it be," Mai said cut me off.
"But they're probably talking about you!" I said. "If I'm really not visible, that means you look like you're talking to yourself."
"isn't it obvious?" Mai said. "You just realized it now?"
Yeah, sorry I'm that slow. I sighed.
"Then why don't you say anything?" I said. "People will think you're crazy."
"So what?" Mai replied. "I don't care."
I looked at her, a little bit surprised. I guess she really meant it.
Up until now, I rarely see Mai talk to anyone. Considering she avoids contact with others, there's no image that she needs to maintain. She's truly indifferent, not just putting on an act to avoid getting hurt. I don't think there's a reason to prolong this.
We starting to walk again.
As soon as I saw my school building, I hesitated. It's hard to step my feet deeper into the school yard. Half of me was screaming to retreat, while the other half was encouraging me to move forward.
Mai noticed my unease. She looked at me and asked, "Want to back out?"
I wanted to say no, but what if I really die?
"It's not a problem if you want to back out," Mai said while adjusting her glasses.
"But there's one thing," Mai continued. "I'm afraid you'll disappear if this problem isn't resolved soon."
"Wha—disappear?" I stared at her in shock.
"If you stay in this state for too long," Mai said. "Who knows? I might not be able to see you anymore."
"He-hey, you're not serious, are you?" I said, starting to get scared.
"I'm only talking about the possibility," Mai said. "Just think about it. If it's a doppelganger that wants you dead, why would it become a new student?"
That's true. It's very strange for that creature to act that way, but...
"Look at the situation," Mai said. "It looks like you, it uses your name, none of the students question it, and now people can't see you. Do you understand what that means?"
I gulped. No, I don't. But I know it means bad.
"I'm afraid that creature, whatever it is, might be stealing your life," Mai said. "Slowly, maybe they'll start forgetting about you. And when they forget about you, it will replace your figure. All the things you've ever done, they'll remember it as him doing it. And when they forget about your true self completely, you'll disappear and he'll become Alex Walker fully."
I was stunned. Trying to accept all of her words as a whole. It's very difficult. It's too strange. Absurd. Too terrifying. And finally, with a stutter, I said, "B-but... That's not really true, is it?"
"It's just an assumption," Mai said. "But based on the evidence available, it's highly likely that it's true. Maybe you want to test it out?"
I looked at her in disbelief. If she wasn't Mai, I'm sure she would have been smirking as she said that.
From the direction of the school building, the sound of a bell could be heard. I could tell exactly that it was the recess bell.
"Decide now," Mai said. "It will be a hassle to find him once he leaves class."
I let out a sigh. "Okay, I'll meet him."
Walking uneasily beside Mai, I had to admit that I was a bit scared. No, "A bit" may be an understatement. I was scared. A lot. After all, despite Mai's reassurance that the chances were small, the possibility that I might be walking towards my own death was really bothering me. I couldn't calm down at all.
Without realizing it, I let out a sigh that seemed to be noticed by Mai. That's because Mai glanced at me.
My class was in the last room at the end of the corridor. We would be there soon. Fate would decide soon whether I would die today or not.
As we got closer, one by one, my classmates came out of the room. One of them was Salmon, followed by Dread and Rhino. Right behind them, someone familiar with red hair and a face like mine came out. No mistake, it was the new student. The other Alex.
I was frozen in place staring at him. It's hard to explain how I felt when I saw that figure. The figure that was exactly like me was a few meters in front of me and slowly getting closer.
He smiled, chatting happily with my friends. It felt really weird. Like watching a mirror. No, more like watching a video recording. However, he actually exist right in front of me. The way he moved, his voice, the way he talked, everything. Except maybe he smiled more than I do.
I was still frozen as the four of them walked towards me. For a moment, I felt like he was looking at me and smiling, then a second later, he and my other friends went through my body. Continuing to walk and chat as if nothing happened.
Mai beside me said, "How is it?"
"He knows," I said still in shock. "He can see me."
"Of course he can see you," Mai said. "I mean, you're not dead, right?"
"Ah... right..." I immediately looked at my hands. True, I was still alive.
"Good, now follow them," Mai said.
"Eh? Why?" I looked at Mai in disbelief.
"While I reread this book, you watch him," Mai said. "Maybe you can find something."
"Oh... okay," I said.
"Oh, by the way," Mai reached for something from her bag, "take this."
She gave me a folding knife.
I looked at it confused. "For what?"
"For precaution," Mai said.
"Precaution—?"
I didn't understand. If I can't touch the transfer student, then what's the point? But Mai had already turned and went into classroom.
I sighed. Looking around, it was clear that I was not part of this world anymore. Nobody was looking at me. And every time another student passed through my body, I became more convinced of this.
Maybe I am a ghost, maybe I am already dead.
I turned around and started to walk. I kept walking, picking up speed until I was running. Then, I turned and went down the stairs. No, I'm not dead. It's not possible for me to die and not realize it.
People say death is the most painful thing you will ever feel. Whatever the reason, there's no way I could have missed it.
I quickly left the school building. Looking around, they're not in sight anywhere.
I think Mai's assumption makes more sense. Somehow I'm related to all these strange events. Like Mai said, maybe unconsciously, deliberately or not, I've done something.
Maybe I made someone angry enough that they cursed me with this?
Ah, there they are. They're playing basketball. I quickly walked to the side of the basketball court.
I watched Salmon who was happily carrying the ball and then passed it to Rhino who immediately passed it back to Dread. Dread who is good at sports, threw it directly into the opposing team's basket and it went in. They all high-fived each other including the transfer student. He laughed happily.
I can only stand on the side of the court and watch him. This is truly strange. The transfer student looks like he's enjoying being me. In fact, I'm sure I've never smiled that wide, laughed that freely. So he really wants my life?
Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder, making me jump in surprise.
I could feel that it was a large hand, not a woman's hand, so it clearly wasn't Mai's. And other people should have passed through when they touched me.
"Finally, I found you," he said, smiling.
***