Chapter 140: A Nice meeting

And just like that, before Emi and Kai's eyes, none other than Lala appeared.Kai was visibly surprised—but at the same time, oddly relieved.Emi had been about to do something… risky.

Emi clenched her fists and lowered her gaze slightly at the sight of Lala, as if she hadn't expected her to show up at that moment… or maybe she simply didn't want to see her.

But the new arrival wasn't alone.

At her side were Naomi and one of Kai's classmates—Haruka Sakamoto, a perfectly ordinary girl with short black hair and brown eyes. The kind of girl you'd see anywhere on a typical day.

Lala, after walking inside, casually looked around—as if pretending to look for someone—until her eyes "just happened" to land on Kai.And when she saw him, her expression lit up like she'd just found something wonderful.

Kai, on the other hand, felt a cold shiver crawl down his spine.

"Kai!" Lala called out joyfully, ignoring the people she had come in with and heading straight toward him.

"Oh, crap..." Kai thought, glancing at Emi for a second before turning back to Lala.He noticed it immediately—Emi looked like a different person.Her fists clenched tightly.Her eyes stared blankly at the floor.And she looked like her mind was spiraling into a mess of very dark thoughts.

After Lala's cheerful greeting, Emi forced a smile and greeted her, along with Kai.

"H-Hello, Sakagami-san," Kai said."Hey… Laura," Emi added, her voice just as friendly as it was fake.

"Oh! No need to be formal!! Just call me… Lala~" she answered sweetly, deliberately brushing past Emi's presence.

Then she turned toward Emi with a completely different tone."Hello to you too, Emi-chan."

Behind her, Naomi and Haruka caught up.

"Oh! Hi everyone!" Naomi chimed in with her usual radiant smile.

Kai blinked, a bit surprised.

Naomi, who had once been kidnapped, showed no trace of trauma.She was still the same cheerful Naomi—as if nothing had ever happened.

Even Haruka gave a casual wave.

"May I sit here?" Lala asked, her voice nearly adorable as she pointed to the empty chair next to Kai.

Kai didn't answer. He looked at Emi instead.

Emi replied coldly."Sure. Take my seat, even. I have something urgent with my managers."She stood up as she spoke, her voice sharp.

For some strange reason, it was clear she didn't want to be near Lala.

And something else Kai noticed: Lala had entered the café without being greeted, as if she were already familiar—like she owned the place.

"Oh, that's a shame, Fujimoto-san... are you sure you can't stay with us?" Naomi asked.

Emi shot Naomi a look that said: "Don't ask me anything else."

She nodded, forcing a flat smile. "Yeah. It's a shame. But I have to go."

Her tone and demeanor had completely changed compared to a few minutes earlier when she was being sweet and supportive toward Kai.

"See you at school, Emi-chaaaan~" Lala said.

Emi ignored her.

But before she left, she turned to Kai."Come with me. Just a sec."

Without a word, Kai followed her outside.

Once they stepped out of the café, Emi grabbed him by the collar and stared straight into his eyes.

Kai froze.

Her hands were shaking.

"Kai… please… stay away from that girl," she said in a voice filled with real concern. Almost fear.

"Huh? What do you mean? Why?" Kai asked, pretending not to understand.

Her grip on his collar tightened.

Her eyes shimmered, almost like she was about to cry.

She bit her lip, as if holding back things she desperately wanted to say.

"Don't ask anything. Just stay away from her... please. And not just that—don't stay here. Come with me. Let's go somewhere else," she pleaded.

Kai was still confused.

"Huh? Emi, I don't get it… what's wrong with that girl?"

"She's—" Emi started, but her voice was interrupted by the ringing of Kai's phone.

Emi immediately let go of his collar and looked down at the ground, holding her arm.

"Sorry, one sec," Kai said, pulling out his phone.

The name on the screen sent a shiver down his spine.

Hina.

"Of course it's her now..."

"It's Hina," he said, showing Emi the screen. "I'm scared of what she's gonna say..."

Emi stared at the phone for a moment, her hand tightening around her arm as if trying to stop herself from doing something… impulsive.

"Sorry, Emi. Just a second."

Kai answered the call.

"Hello? Hina?"

"YOU'RE A DEAD MAN WHEN YOU GET HOME," a murderous voice replied.

"EH?!?" Kai flinched hard.

"You know exactly what you did, you bastard."

"W-What?!?"

"I just found your lewd and disgusting browser history. Wanna tell me WHY THE HELL YOU'RE LOOKING AT OTHER GIRLS IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ME?! ARE YOU CHEATING ON ME?!?!" Hina screamed trought the phone.

Kai's face turned red from sheer embarrassment. Emi was hearing everything.

"Hina, I—!"

"NO! I'M GONNA KILL YOU! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT COMING HOME!" Hina screamed.

"WHY ARE YOU EVEN AT MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW?!?!"

"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! I DO WHAT I WANT! YOU'RE SLEEPING OUTSIDE TONIGHT!"

Click.The call ended.

Kai sighed, looking down.

Then he looked up at Emi, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

"See what I'm dealing with every day?" he muttered, scratching his head.

Emi gave him a soft, sympathetic smile and pulled him into a hug.

Then, without warning, she kissed him on the cheek—specifically the one Hina had slapped earlier.

Kai froze.

And just like that—he felt a dangerous, bloodthirsty aura behind him.

The kind of aura that could kill him at any moment.

"I promise I'll get you out of this, Kai. I swear," Emi whispered softly "But now I must go... it's also for your safety," Emi said, with a sad tone of voice.

Then she let go, gave him one last loving look, and told him she had to go.

Before she left, she turned to him again."You shouldn't stay here."

And just like that—she was gone.

In that moment, Kai felt conflicted.

Emi's reaction confirmed his suspects about her.

She knew something about Lala, Hina, and maybe the criminal world. 

And so, he decided to go inside again, to see how Lala was going to behave around him.

Moreover, going away with Emi would've been dangerous.

So... with a sigh, he stepped inside the store again...