A Dangerous New Obsession

Mute but Not Invisible – Volume 1, Chapter 4: A Dangerous New Obsession

The Aftermath of a Slip-Up

For the first time in years, Yuu Takahashi had made a mistake.

A single word—just one slip—had unraveled the careful silence he had cultivated, and now, Mei Kirishima wouldn't leave him alone.

Yuu knew from the instant he saw her expression after hearing his voice that she was different. This wasn't like Rika's playful harassment or the class rep's stern interventions. Mei wasn't trying to expose him—she wanted to keep him.

And that terrified him.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Everywhere he went, Mei followed. She wasn't overbearing—she wasn't loud or disruptive like Rika—but she was always there. Watching. Waiting. Like she expected him to speak again.

By the time the final bell rang, Yuu had exhausted every possible method of avoiding her, but it was no use.

She wasn't going anywhere.

Walking Home… With a Shadow

Yuu usually walked home alone. It was a quiet, peaceful part of his day. No scheming Rika, no class rep lecturing him, just silence.

Not today.

He barely made it five minutes from the school gates before realizing he was being followed.

Mei's footsteps were soft, almost soundless, but Yuu's senses were sharp enough to catch her presence. When he glanced over his shoulder, she met his eyes without hesitation.

"Are you heading home, Takahashi?" she asked casually, as if they'd been walking together from the start.

Yuu sighed and pulled out his notebook.

"Stop following me."

Mei read the words and smiled. "I'm not following you. I just happen to be going in the same direction."

Yuu narrowed his eyes. That was a blatant lie.

He flipped to another page. "Why are you doing this?"

Mei tilted her head. "You already know why."

Yuu let out a slow breath and wrote: "You heard my voice. You shouldn't have."

Her smile widened—too wide. "I think I was meant to hear it."

That response sent a cold shiver down Yuu's spine. He snapped his notebook shut and picked up his pace, but Mei matched his stride effortlessly.

"You don't have to talk to me now," she continued, her voice soft but insistent. "But you will eventually. I'll wait."

Yuu felt an unfamiliar sense of unease settle in his stomach.

This wasn't something he could brush off like Rika's antics.

Mei wasn't going to stop.

An Unexpected Interruption

"Yuu!"

A familiar voice cut through the tension.

Rika.

She waved from the opposite side of the street, grinning as she jogged over. "Ohhh, what's this? Are you actually walking home with someone? That's a first."

Yuu wasn't sure if he should feel relieved or irritated by her sudden appearance.

Mei, however, simply stared at Rika with quiet intensity.

"Tch, figures," Rika muttered. "You really latched onto him fast, huh?"

Mei's expression remained unchanged. "He and I have an understanding."

Rika raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Ohhh, an understanding, huh? So, what, you think you get dibs on him or something?"

Yuu felt his headache growing.

Mei simply responded, "We're close."

Rika snorted. "Pfft, since when? You barely spoke to him before today. And now you're glued to him? Sounds real suspicious."

Mei's violet eyes darkened slightly. "You wouldn't understand."

"Damn right I don't," Rika shot back, stepping between them. "Look, I annoy Mute-kun all the time, but at least I don't stalk him. You're taking things way too seriously."

Yuu could feel the tension between them rising, and he wanted nothing to do with it.

While Rika was teasing, Mei wasn't playing around.

A Standoff… And an Escape

Mei's hand subtly reached toward Yuu's sleeve, but before she could grab him, he stepped back.

Too dangerous. Too close.

Instead of engaging, he quickly flipped open his notebook and wrote: "Going home. Don't follow."

Then, without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.

For a moment, neither girl moved.

Then Rika burst out laughing. "Damn, Mei, I think you just got rejected in record time."

Mei watched Yuu's retreating figure in silence before finally murmuring, "I'll see you tomorrow, Yuu."

Rika raised an eyebrow. "Ohhh, you're one of those types. This'll be fun."

Mei didn't respond.

Instead, she simply smiled.

Yuu's Realization

By the time Yuu reached his house, his heart was still pounding.

This was bad.

He had always known that his voice had power, but this was the first time he'd seen the consequences play out this way.

Mei wasn't like Rika. She wasn't just curious or playful.

She was serious. And she wasn't going to stop.

Yuu let out a slow breath, locking his door behind him. He had to be even more careful now.

Because the moment he slipped up again…

Mei would be waiting.

End of Chapter 4