Senpai Has New Stalking Tactics, But She’s Still Terrible at It

After catching Shirakawa-senpai red-handed last time, I thought that would be the end of it.

I was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

The next day, when I stepped into the classroom, I felt it.

A presence.

It wasn't strong. It wasn't obvious. But it was there—a weird, awkward feeling like someone was watching me.

At first, I thought I was imagining things.

Then, when I glanced outside the window—

There she was.

Behind a tree. Peeking.

…You've got to be kidding me.

Attempt #1: The Tree Stalking Disaster

Shirakawa-senpai thought she was being sneaky.

She was not.

There was no reason for a second-year student to be standing behind a tree outside the first-year classrooms, stealing glances through the window.

And yet, there she was.

I sighed and turned away, pretending not to see.

Two minutes later, I glanced again.

Still there.

Another five minutes.

She was holding a notebook.

…Was she seriously taking notes while hiding behind a tree?!

I rubbed my temple. Does she think I won't notice if she stays still long enough? What was this, a T-Rex logic stealth mission?!

I needed to put a stop to this before someone else noticed.

Slowly, I raised my hand, casually pointing at her through the window.

Her reaction was instantaneous.

She flinched. Then, PANIC.

Her notebook fell. She scrambled to grab it—and lost balance.

Rustle—

The next thing I knew, she tipped over and fell flat on her face.

I winced. That's gotta hurt.

A few students turned toward the window.

"Whoa, did someone just fall?" "I think that was Shirakawa-senpai?" "What was she even doing there…?"

I sighed, packing up my things. Guess I'd have to check if she was still alive.

Attempt #2: "Disguised" Stalking

When lunch break came, I grabbed my usual bread from the cafeteria and went to my favorite empty hallway—a quiet spot where I could eat in peace.

Or so I thought.

Because the moment I sat down, I heard footsteps.

And then—

"O-Ohohoho~! Fancy meeting you here, Kurose-kun!"

I turned.

Standing behind me was Shirakawa-senpai… wearing sunglasses.

Indoors. In a school hallway.

"…Senpai." I stared. "What the hell are you wearing?"

She froze. "W-What do you mean? I'm just… uh…"

She glanced around nervously, then suddenly crossed her arms and smirked.

"…I-I'm not Shirakawa Rika. You must be mistaken."

I almost choked on my bread.

"…Excuse me?"

She dramatically adjusted her sunglasses.

"My name is… uh…" She paused, then mumbled under her breath. "(Crap, I didn't prepare a fake name—)"

"…You seriously planned a disguise and didn't think of a fake name?"

She visibly deflated.

"I-It's just…!" She fidgeted. "I thought if I wore sunglasses, you wouldn't notice me!"

"Senpai, you're the only person in this entire school who would wear sunglasses inside a hallway."

She flinched. "Th-That's…"

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "Let me guess. This is part of your 'passive observation' again?"

She went completely silent.

Then, slowly, she pulled out her notebook.

"…I-It was going well until you noticed…"

"BECAUSE IT WASN'T GOING WELL AT ALL."

This girl… she was hopeless.

And yet, weirdly dedicated.

"…Senpai," I said. "At this point, wouldn't it be easier to just talk to me normally?"

She stiffened, looking away.

"…Th-That's too embarrassing."

"…And stalking me isn't?"

"…N-No comment."

I sighed, standing up. "Whatever. Just eat your lunch."

As I walked past her, she whispered—

"...I-I wasn't actually following you. I just knew you'd come here."

I stopped.

"…What?"

She fidgeted, gripping her notebook.

"I-I've been observing you for a while, so… I just knew. That you always eat here."

I blinked.

For some reason, that statement made my chest feel strange.

I shook it off and left before she could see my face.

Attempt #3: The Stealth Mission Failure

At this point, I had given up. Shirakawa-senpai wasn't going to stop.

So when I felt a familiar presence behind me after school, I didn't even need to check.

She was there.

I exhaled. "Senpai. You're following me again."

Silence.

I sighed and turned around.

No one was there.

…Or rather, there was.

But she was hiding behind a lamppost.

Badly.

Half her body was sticking out, completely visible. I stared at her. She stared back.

A long silence.

Then—

She slowly moved behind the lamppost.

As if that would make her disappear.

"…Senpai."

No response.

"…I can still see you."

Silence.

Then—

"…No, you can't."

I facepalmed.

This was actually painful to watch.

"…Senpai. Why are you like this?"

"…N-No comment."

I sighed, walking toward her. "Look. If you're really trying to observe me, you need to—"

BZZZT—!

Before I could finish, the streetlamp turned on.

A bright light shined directly on her.

Her expression?

Pure, utter betrayal.

"…T-The lamppost has failed me…"

I nearly lost it. It took everything in me not to burst out laughing. I did not. I absolutely did not.

(…Okay. Maybe a little.)

In the end, I made her promise (again) to stop following me.

"…B-But," she mumbled. "I-I don't know how else to get close to you."

I blinked.

She fidgeted, avoiding my eyes.

"…You're hard to approach."

For some reason, that made my chest feel weird again.

"…Senpai." I sighed. "You don't need to follow me to talk to me, you know."

She hesitated.

Then—

"…C-Can I still take notes?"

"NO."

She pouted.

But strangely, she didn't argue. For once, she looked satisfied.

As if, somehow…

This was progress.