“Keep calm, act normal”

Lily ran a towel through her damp locks, sitting cross-legged on her bed. The faint hum of her father's voice drifted from the kitchen down satira, sharp and purposeful as he gave directives over the phone. From what she could catch, it sounded like a major project—something big enough to pull him back into work mode, where he thrived like the legend he was.

Her phone buzzed beside her, a constant source of unease she hadn't yet dared to confront. That one message still sat unread and unanswered. Every time she saw it, her chest tightened, her finger hovering over the screen but never quite tapping it.

Instead, she opened Claire's messages, scrolling through the slew of photos, memes, and random updates her friend had sent. Claire's endless energy felt like a lifeline, even from halfway across the world.

Claire: OMG, call me back! It's a boy problem, emergency level ten.

Claire: Kidding. I just miss you. Kinda wish it was a boy problem though lol.

Claire: Seriously though, are you okay? Text me or I'm calling your dad.

Her lips twitched into a small smile as she typed back a quick response.

Lily : "Sorry, Claire-bear! Things have been… chaotic. Tell me about your day!"

But it wasn't Claire she needed to focus on right now. Of course she missed her, but over the past three weeks, their friendship had started to feel like a distant echo. Back at the private academy, they'd been inseparable. Now, it was as though Lily couldn't even summon the energy to explain everything. Maybe she was just tired—it was possible. Talking about it might have helped, but she knew Claire too well. When Claire latched onto something, she could be relentless. And right now, Lily just didn't have it in her to deal with that.

Her gaze shifted to Koji's name in her contacts. His absence at school today had left her feeling untethered, like a piece of herself was missing. She hated admitting how much she depended on him, but it was true. Koji had become her anchor in this unfamiliar world, and without him… well, everything felt harder.

She chewed her bottom lip before finally typing a message

Lily:"Hey seat buddy! I just wanted to make sure you're okay! So.. how are you?"

Her thumb hesitated over the send button, but she forced herself to press it. As the message whooshed into the void, a small weight lifted off her chest, though uncertainty lingered.

Standing, she tossed the towel onto her desk chair and padded to her wardrobe. Her fingers trailed over the hangers as she debated what to wear. Something comfortable, something casual. The air outside was crisp, but she didn't want to overthink it.

She pulled out a loose cream sweater and a pair of dark jeans. Simple and unassuming. Tossing them onto her bed, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her blonde hair, still damp, framed her face in loose waves, and the faint shadows under her eyes betrayed her restless night.

"Ugh" she muttered, scrunching her nose.

The sound of her father's voice rising in the other room snapped her out of her thoughts. It was rare for him to sound so tense, and for a moment, she wondered what kind of project he was juggling now. He always seemed to carry the weight of his career effortlessly, but Lily could see the cracks when he thought no one was looking.

Slipping into her sweater, she shook off the lingering thoughts. She needed air, needed to feel the world beyond the four walls of her room. Anything to clear her mind.

Anything just to get Hayato out of her head. The message, his cryptic words.

Everything.

As she tied her socks, she grabbed her phone and glanced at the screen one last time.

Koji hadn't replied yet.

And that message—the one that had been eating at her—still sat there, unanswered.

Lily slipped her damp hair into a loose ponytail, tying it neatly before sliding a simple black visor cap onto her head. She gave herself a quick once-over in the mirror: the oversized cream sweater that hung just right,the fitted black jeansand her gray, sleeveless padded jacket to keep the chill at bay. Comfortable, warm, and not too noticeable—exactly what she needed.

Grabbing her bag from the desk chair, she slung it over her shoulder and sat to lace up her white sneakers. The air outside was crisp but not cold, perfect for a short walk. Just enough to clear her head, maybe pick up something sweet to lift her mood.

"Dad, I'm heading out." she called toward the living room as she stood by the door.

Kenjiro was still pacing, his voice firm but steady as he rattled off instructions in Japanese over the phone. He paused just long enough to wave at her, his free hand still clutching a pen that he twirled between his fingers.

"I'll just be at the kombini!" she added, louder this time to make sure he heard.

"Don't forget your jacket—it's cooling down." he replied absently, pointing at her without breaking stride in his conversation.

"Already wearing it" she said with a faint smile, slipping out the door before he could add anything else.

The late afternoon air hit her face, carrying with it the faint scent of fallen leaves and distant car exhaust. It wasn't quite evening yet; the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting the streets in hues of orange and gold. She pulled her cap lower, adjusting the strap of her bag as her sneakers crunched softly against the pavement.

Her steps were unhurried as she made her way toward the small convenience store a few blocks down. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional hum of a passing car or the chatter of people lingering on the road. But the silence wasn't comforting—it left too much space for her thoughts to churn.

A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. About Hayato, despite not wanting to, and about his infuriating words. What did he even want from her? Was she his new target now? From the very first day, it had been clear things weren't going to go smoothly. That damn group of misfits—she'd never dealt with anything like this in her seventeen years of life. Things had been so much calmer at the private academy she'd attended, but here, in Seon? Everything was so strange, so overwhelming..

Her gaze drifted upward to the darkening sky as she walked, her thoughts spiraling further. Was it a joke? A cruel prank? Or something worse? The idea of a stalker crossed her mind again, and she shivered despite herself and—damn it! Just stop thinking!

"It's still light out" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as if to dispel the thought. "Nobody's going to follow you in broad daylight."

She rounded the last corner, the glow of the kombini's bright fluorescent lights coming into view. The familiar green-and-white sign felt oddly welcoming, a small pocket of warmth in the growing dusk. Adjusting the strap of her bag, she quickened her pace.

Just a snack, she told herself. Something sweet to settle her nerves. Maybe a melon pan, or a pack of Pocky. Something normal to remind her that everything was fine—had to be fine.

(⊃•﹏•`⊂)

The familiar ding of the automatic doors opening barely registered at first as Lily wandered down the aisles, her eyes scanning the brightly lit shelves. Everything was so perfectly arranged, rows of snacks, drinks, and bentos practically begging to be chosen. She bit her lip, overwhelmed by the sheer variety.

Her fingers hovered over a pack of strawberry Pocky before pulling back. Maybe something for Koji? She didn't know when—or if—he'd show up at school tomorrow, but it felt like the least she could do. Something to say she was thinking of him.

As she meandered deeper into the aisles, her shoulders began to loosen, the tension melting away little by little. It had been a good idea to come here. The soft hum of the store's air conditioning, the faint murmur of the cashier talking to customers—it was soothing, grounding.

Grabbing a small basket from a nearby stack, she decided to fill it with a few treats. Strawberry milk for her, melon bread for Koji, and maybe—

Her thoughts screeched to a halt.

The automatic doors dinged again, signaling another customer. Reflexively, her eyes flicked toward the entrance—and her stomach dropped.

It was him.

The delivery guy.

Dressed as always like a second skin, just as yesterday, from the sleek jacket to the gloves that clung to his hands. Even the helmet was the same, obscuring his face completely. He stood still for a moment, his tall figure framed by the bright light of the entrance, before stepping inside.

Lily froze, her fingers clutching the basket handle so tightly her knuckles turned white. The air around her seemed to thicken, the faint buzz of the fluorescent lights suddenly too loud.

Her mind raced. Why is he here? Did he follow me? Is this a coincidence?

The man didn't look her way. He walked in lazely, moving with an unhurried, almost mechanical grace. For a moment, she wondered if she'd imagined it—if he was just another customer—but the uneasy knot in her stomach said otherwise.

Calm down, Lily. He's just… another customer. A weirdly ominous customer, but a customer nonetheless.

Keep calm. Act normal.

Lily forced herself to look away, dropping her gaze back to the basket. She tucked a pack of onigiri inside, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to focus on anything but him.

He's just buying something. That's all. Right?

Still, she couldn't help but glance over her shoulder, her eyes trailing after him as he disappeared into another aisle. She swallowed hard, her pulse hammering in her ears.

Her instincts screamed at her to leave, but her feet stayed rooted in place.

The line at the register felt like it was moving in slow motion, each beep of the scanner dragging her nerves further toward the breaking point. Lily clutched her basket tightly, her palms damp and slipping slightly against the plastic handle.

Breathe, Lily. Just breathe.

Her eyes flicked forward, locking onto the cashier like a lifeline. Two people ahead of her. She could make it. She just needed to pay, grab her things, and get out. Simple.

Except it wasn't simple, because he was there.

She could feel him even without turning around, the presence of the delivery guy looming just close enough to make her skin crawl. He wasn't breathing down her neck—thank goodness—but the distance was far too small for her liking. A moderate, calculated gap, as if he wanted her to know he was there but not quite close enough to be outright alarming.

Is this… a normal distance for waiting in line? Maybe he's just buying something. Well, of course. Maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe he's not even looking at me—

Her gaze flicked to the side.

Oh, he was looking.

Not directly at her, but enough to notice the faint tilt of his helmet in her direction, the subtle shift of his body. Lily swallowed hard, her heart pounding louder than the soft background music playing in the store.

Why? Why is he here? Why does he look like he's casually shopping when he's clearly the villain in a horror movie?

The person ahead of her paid and stepped away from the register, and Lily shuffled forward robotically, setting her basket on the counter with shaky hands. The cashier gave her a polite smile as he started scanning her items, but her focus was everywhere else.

She could feel the delivery guy's presence behind her like a heavy weight pressing between her shoulder blades. She glanced up at the mirror mounted in the corner of the store—the one meant to deter shoplifters—and nearly jumped when she spotted his reflection. He wasn't doing anything—just standing there, waiting his turn in line—but the image of him, tall and shadowy, sent a shiver down her spine.

What does he even need to buy? Mysterious villain snacks? A bottle of 'I'm Totally Normal, I Swear' water?

"That'll be 1,780 yen" the cashier said cheerfully, breaking through her spiraling thoughts.

"Oh! Uh, right. Sorry" Lily fumbled with her wallet, yanking out a couple of bills and slapping them onto the counter. Her hands were sweating so much she almost dropped the change.

"Arigatō!" the cashier said, handing her a bag with her items.

"Bye, yeah, thanks.. bye!" she mumbled, grabbing the bag and turning on her heel.

And there he was.

The delivery guy had moved a step closer while she was paying, and now he was right there, standing at the edge of her peripheral vision. His black helmet reflected the fluorescent lights, the visor hiding his face entirely, and for a brief, panicked second, she thought about making a break for the door.

But instead, she forced herself to walk past him as calmly as she could manage, her heart racing so fast it felt like it might burst out of her chest.

Her hand brushed the door, pushing it open to the cool evening air.

You did it, Lily. You're out. You're—

The door dinged behind her.

He'd followed.

ヾ(´囗｀｡)ﾉ

Her head whipped around so fast her hair almost slapped her in the face. The delivery guy had exited the store.

The streetlights cast long, eerie shadows across the pavement, illuminating his dark figure as he stepped outside. He stopped there, helmet gleaming under the glow of the lampposts, his body completely still.

And then their eyes met.

Well, technically, her eyes met his helmet, but the intensity was the same. Her wide, panicked stare locked onto his featureless visor, the bag of snacks crinkling audibly against her chest as she pressed it closer like a makeshift shield.

The world seemed to pause. No wind, no cars, not even the faint buzz of electricity overhead. Just the two of them, frozen in place.

Damn you, delivery man!

She took a step forward, her sneakers crunching softly against the pavement.

And he took a step too.

Her breath hitched.

Lily's mind raced as she turned and started walking down the street, her pace brisk but not too hurried.

Stay calm. Maybe he's just going the same way. Lots of people live around here. It's totally normal. Not creepy at all.

She glanced over her shoulder.

There he was, walking at the same steady pace, his long strides matching hers effortlessly.

Her heart jumped into her throat.

Oh my God, he's following me. He's actually following me!

Why?! Why is he doing this?! Her brain spiraled into chaos. Does he want my snacks? My money? My… life?!

Another glance over her shoulder confirmed it—he was still there, maintaining a polite yet undeniable distance.

He knows where I live! He delivered food to my house! He's probably been planning this for weeks! He's going to break in, steal my snacks, and leave me for dead!

The street was empty except for the two of them. Every step felt louder, heavier, echoing in her ears as the tension built to a breaking point.

She stopped.

And so did he.

Lily turned around sharply, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the figure standing a few meters behind her. She stared for a moment, chest rising and falling with nervous breaths, waiting for him to… say something? Do something? But he didn't move, didn't speak.

And then, with a surge of unearned courage, Lily did the only thing she could think of.

She ran.

Her sneakers slapped against the pavement as she bolted down the street, the plastic bag bouncing against her side. She didn't look back, didn't even dare to think about what would happen if she tripped.

Run, Lily! RUN! Forget the snacks! Forget everything! Just live to see another day!

The sound of her own frantic footsteps filled her ears as she dashed toward the distant glow of her house.