Eyes Everywhere

Mute but Not Invisible – Volume 1, Chapter 14: Eyes Everywhere

A Day Out

Two weeks had passed since Yuu Takahashi's accident on the school trip, and to his immense relief, his ankle had finally healed. The bruising had faded, the stiffness was gone, and, most importantly, he was finally allowed outside without his sister breathing down his neck every second.

Or so he had thought.

"You're walking too fast," Ayaka said, grabbing his wrist before he could get ahead of her.

Yuu sighed silently, shaking her off. He had been cooped up for too long, and he wanted to enjoy the fresh air while he could. The town was bustling with activity, the weekend crowd filling the shopping district with voices and movement. Stalls lined the streets, vendors calling out to passing customers, and the scent of fresh pastries drifted through the air.

Ayaka, ever the overbearing sister, had dragged him along under the pretense of "helping him get some air." But Yuu knew better—this was just another excuse for her to keep an eye on him.

"If you keep glaring at me like that, I'll think you actually want to say something," Ayaka teased, smirking as she glanced at him.

Yuu ignored her, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Fine, fine," she sighed. "Let's just get this over with. I need to pick up a few things. Try not to disappear on me."

He had no intention of doing so.

But he wasn't the only one being watched today.

Mei's Obsession

From the shadows of a nearby alley, Mei watched them.

She wasn't sure what she hated more—the way Yuu looked so relaxed around someone else or the fact that he was smiling (even slightly) in Ayaka's presence.

Her fingers curled into fists.

She had followed him here the moment she spotted him. She wasn't a stalker—she told herself that repeatedly—but how could she not be curious? Yuu was an enigma, and ever since the trip, she had only become more fixated on him.

'She's in the way,' Mei thought, eyes narrowing at Ayaka.

Yuu barely let people near him. He avoided attention, rejected most social interactions, and kept to himself. But here he was, comfortably walking beside this girl like it was nothing. Who even was she?

Mei's thoughts were spiraling.

'She must be family,' she reasoned. 'That's the only explanation.'

Even so, the sight bothered her.

She shifted behind a streetlamp, keeping them within sight. It wasn't enough to just watch.

She needed to know more.

The Other Stalker

Unbeknownst to Mei, she wasn't the only one watching Yuu.

A second pair of eyes followed him from a different vantage point—a girl standing across the street, blending into the weekend crowd.

The one who had written him the letter.

She had watched him from afar for months, always wondering if he'd ever notice her. But after slipping that confession onto his pillow, she had taken a more active role.

'He hasn't reacted to it yet,' she thought, adjusting the brim of her hat. 'Did he throw it away? Does he even care?'

She needed to know.

She hadn't expected someone else to be watching him too, though. That girl. The one hiding near the alley, her eyes locked onto Yuu with a disturbingly intense focus.

'Who is she?'

A new complication. A new rival, perhaps.

But that was fine.

If she had to compete for Yuu's attention, she was more than ready.

A Tense Encounter

Yuu and Ayaka stopped in front of a convenience store, and she motioned for him to wait outside. "I'll just be a minute," she said before disappearing inside.

Yuu leaned against the wall, pulling out his phone, completely unaware of the fact that he was being watched from multiple directions.

Mei took this as her chance.

She stepped forward.

Yuu noticed the movement in his peripheral vision and turned just as Mei appeared beside him, far too close.

His shoulders stiffened. How long had she been here?

She smiled at him—her usual soft, unreadable smile. "Fancy seeing you here."

Yuu didn't react. He reached for his notebook, but before he could write anything, Mei spoke again.

"Who was that?" she asked, tilting her head slightly toward the store where Ayaka had entered.

Yuu raised an eyebrow. Why did she care?

When he didn't answer, Mei's fingers twitched at her side. "A relative?"

Yuu hesitated before nodding.

Mei relaxed slightly—but only slightly. "I see."

She wasn't convinced.

Before the conversation could continue, the sound of a soft giggle drifted past them.

Mei's head snapped up. So did Yuu's.

Across the street, the mystery girl—the letter's author—stood watching them. And the moment she saw their eyes on her, she smiled knowingly before turning and vanishing into the crowd.

Mei stiffened. 'Who was that?'

And more importantly—

Why was she watching Yuu too?

Mei didn't move right away. Her fingers clenched at her sides as she turned her gaze back toward Yuu.

He was still looking toward where the girl had disappeared, his brows furrowed. Something about his reaction made Mei's stomach twist.

'Is he… interested in her?'

The thought infuriated her more than she expected.

Before she could say anything else, the convenience store door swung open, and Ayaka stepped back outside.

She immediately noticed Mei. Her eyes flicked between them, then narrowed slightly. "Friend of yours, Yuu?"

Mei forced a smile as Yuu subtly shook his head.

Ayaka didn't look convinced. "Uh-huh. Right." Then she turned to Yuu. "Come on. We're leaving."

Yuu hesitated for only a second before walking past Mei without another glance.

Mei stood frozen, watching him go, frustration boiling in her chest.

This wasn't over.

End of Chapter 14