"W-Wait, Tatsu?!"

Unable to choose whether she should panic or not, Yulia desperately tried to stop Tatsu from saying even more aggressive words, however, that was ultimately useless, as Tatsu just kept going.

"Look, I might not understand the full situation but this is just sad to watch. What? Are you that in love with him that you can't take a simple look at the mirror and see for yourself the sad person that you have become? Despicable."

Oh my god. I'm fucking losing it. Tatsu just called out to Arkalee like that. I'm so anxious to know what her reply will be.

"Oh. So you don't want to be useful. You're useless then. I have no need for you anymore, Tatsu."

"Call me whatever you want, I won't back down. We need to have a talk, Arkalee. And it's not just me... You can ask Yulia and Daniel too and I am sure that they will answer the same thing."

For very different reasons, I will answer positively. Yulia and Tatsu, on the other hand, have genuine reasons here.

"Yes, Arkalee. As you can see, I and Yulia do share the same sentiment regarding this. You just haven't been yourself lately. And certainly, you develop a very leech-like behavior whenever you are around him."

"Leech-like?"

"Leech-like."

Yulia might have not understood what I just said, but I nevertheless still didn't bother to explain it to her because it's damn self-explanatory. Just like a parasite bonds to its host, Arkalee displays the same exact symptoms.

Speaking of Arkalee, I thought that she would argue back immediately, but she's not getting paranoid and neurotic.

Instead, she's now looking plainly calm with a wide smile on her face.

What?

"Oh. If everyone says so, then it must be so. I'm a big dummy, hahaha. Okay, let's talk!"

What the hell happened in her mind in these five seconds? Something literally changed her thoughts and the one who noticed this to be the weirdest thing ever was no other than someone who had already supposedly experienced this situation.

"Arkalee, your behavior makes no sense... You were eager and defensive a while ago but now you are just accepting this?! Something's wrong here! Did he tell you to trick us?!"

If so, then this is really bad acting from Arkalee. Changing your behavior in just a matter of split seconds implies that you have something to hide.

That's what I have learned from engaging in conversations with Kawahara thus far.

"Um, no. I still love him and always will. Ah, yes. I've been hiding that for quite a while, but my aim was just to show you that no matter how much you attempt to reason with me, it won't work. Know why? Because I'm in full control of my feelings, unlike you."

Arkalee, you really didn't have to say those last two words, did you...

"That's not true, but that's not the point here, Arkalee. My point is that despite the way you feel, being rewarded for your feelings is very important and you aren't being rewarded, at all. Thus, I want to fix that."

"Wow, wow, wow, such novelty! Um, so?"

Overly emotional people have a fascinating sense of sarcasm apparently. The more you know.

Once you get on their nerves with ideologies that they don't approve, they just start lashing at you with the crudest verbal words that could come out of their mouths.

"...So? Don't you want to be rewarded...? Are you implying that you are fine with not being rewarded?"

"Ah, no, definitely not. I do agree with you on that, Yulia. But what I can't stand is how every single one of you is misunderstanding the actual situation. You see; this is a test!"

"A test...?"

Yulia is as confused as Tatsu and I are. We are trying to understand Arkalee's thought process but thus far, we have gone to the assumption that this was all an act to the current state where Arkalee is claiming that this is a test.

"Yes, a test! You see, the one I really love is extremely clever and adroit and he leaves very explicit messages in his actions!"

I do agree with Arkalee here but not in the same fucking context.

"Arkalee, that is nonsense... He just doesn't want to be with you. Isn't the fact that you are madly searching for him a representation that he despises your very presence?"

That was low-key savage. I felt like praising Yulia for being so unknowingly ruthless to Arkalee.

"No, not true, Yulia. I am positive it's very much the opposite and here is why. Hyunda told me that if I found him before 7 pm that I would pass the test!"

Wait, wait, wait.

"Hold on a second, Arkalee. Are you absolutely certain that that was what Hyunda told you? You aren't tricking us, are you?"

Although my intention wasn't to intervene in this conversation until I absolutely had to, I had to do so, because this doesn't make much sense to me.

"No, I'm really, really serious right now."

"Okay, that's very weird then. How the hell did you lose sight of him?"

This is what I want to know. But also, if Hyunda told me to keep her busy until 7 pm then why the hell did he say something like that to Arkalee? And also, how the hell did Arkalee lose sight of him?

None of this adds up.

"Funny you ask! I did commit a very stupid mistake on my behave! I allowed him to go to the bathroom and out of delicacy I allowed my stupidity to take over! Did I wait for like... two minutes? Probably less. And he didn't show up. I freaked out, obviously."

What...

"After that, I went in and found a small paper note on the sink... As you can see here, it's true!"

To make things more credible, Arkalee pulled out a small paper note from her skirt's pocket and showed us a small note written by Hyunda. Yes, I identified that writing style immediately, as it had a very polite mannerism to it.

"It says that I have until 7 pm to find him! But, really, really, I won't commit the same mistake again..."

About that...

"Arkalee, you should realize something already. It's fucking forbidden for a girl to do things like invading a boy's bathroom and even going as far as invading our dorm! There's a limit, damn it!"

Since Tatsu hasn't said anything about this, I was left with no choice but to spill out my angry thoughts about Arkalee's actions thus far.

She's such a fucking lunatic. Who the hell invades a boy's bathroom just because your crush has been there for like two minutes!? I thought there was a limit to being paranoid and insecure but clearly not.

"Daniel, I have never invaded your dorm. It's against the rules."

"Yeah, sure. And the grass is black. Except not, you compulsive liar! There is an obvious line that you can't cross."

"I don't know what you are talking about. But, in the end, as I was saying, he has gone missing. And it's been like half an hour since then. I'm slowly going insane. Which is why I have to search for him. So, if you are not here to help me, then I will politely ask you three to stop bothering me."

This is bad...

Arkalee made a pretty solid point. She's here in order to scout Hyunda's whereabouts through the binoculars and the telescopes, but since she has achieved nothing thus far, she will just retreat and keep on looking for him.

Which means that she will be out of my sight.

With that in mind, I had to do something that brought controversy to both Tatsu and Yulia.

"Wait, Arkalee. How about we help you?"

"What?" x2.

Okay, there is really no need to act like that guys...

Not even Arkalee immediately replied as she began to think about this for a second.

"So you are willing to help then? Why didn't you say so from the start, Daniel?"

"Well, I was just waiting for the talk to be over so I co---"

"Wait a second, Daniel. We are not doing this! Remember our goal?!"

Yeah, Yulia, I really do.

The thing is, Arkalee won't actually lose her time here and she looks ready to leave. However, I have bigger priorities.

Henceforth, it's time to lie.

"I do remember our goal. However, this is Hyunda we are talking about. I do agree with what Arkalee has said about him. He's really clever and cunning, which should imply that we are not going to find him easily."

"We..........?"

"Yes, Yulia. We. For our goal to work, we should have Hyunda here, no?"

However, saying this only will only leave Yulia with confusion. Thus, I leaned on her left ear and said some additional words to her.

"We can't convince Arkalee to understand the full picture without Hyunda here. If you want Arkalee to see your point, then you have to make her realize that Hyunda's at fault. Got it?"

"I see..."

"Hey, what are you two talking about? Tell me. I want to know now!"

Impatiently, Arkalee lashed out at us without a second thought. Probably, in her mind, just the thought of using Hyunda's name must've sounded like a worldwide offense.

"Look, Arkalee, you can't deny that having three more people on the case is beneficial, right? You can think all you want about your stalking skills and how good they are, but you do acknowledge that Hyunda is just a little bit way too hard to find, right?"

"Of course. He is Hyunda!"

If I had any sense of tact, I would care about the fact that Tatsu's heart is getting decimated to infinite pieces right now, but I'm not gonna let that stupid triviality stop me.

"Right... It's a good thing that we have reached a consensus here. You want to pass this 'test'... right?"

"Very much, yes. My life might just depend on it."

"You are such a drama qu--- Erm, I mean, so, I was thinking... We could do a nice deal. It would go like this. If we do help you find Hyunda, then you will have to listen to reason. In other words, you will have to stop being obnoxious and obstinate, and let us help you. If you agree to those conditions, then we will help you."

Now, I am aware of one thing. Arkalee, won't actually listen to reason. I am positive about this.

Yet, that wasn't the main point. At all. These words are appealing to both sides here. Arkalee actually wants our help and Tatsu and Yulia seek to help Arkalee see just how bad of an influence Hyunda is.

Thus, it's beneficial to both parties here.

"Okay. Sure, I can agree with that. However, just how exactly are you all going to be of any help? I was going to suggest for you three to scout the school grounds even further and then contact me once you see Hyunda, but if you have any bright ideas, then I am down to listen to them. I do have to get this over quickly or else I'll actually lose it. And you won't like it when I lose IT."

Arkalee, we get it, you need medical assistance. Stop creeping everyone out, for crying out loud.

And speaking of bright ideas, it's not exactly a bright one, but...

"Give me a second, will you?"

"Be quick... I'm losing time..."

Ignoring Arkalee's impatience, I started dealing out a call to the same person I talked to just a few minutes ago.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

However, given that I was starting to feel the need to lay down, I took a seat on the bench that was on the edge of the viewpoint, and subsequently, Yulia joined me as well.

My call was intercepted within the range of seven seconds.

"I fucking swear, if it's something dumb, then I will hang up. I did tell you that I had things to do, right? I was not just saying that to sound cool."

"Wait, hear me out, Kawahara."

Maybe it wasn't the brightest of all moves to say his name out loud, as it brought sudden controversy to Yulia and the rest included.

"I think this is something that might interest you..."

"Ho? This better be worth it. I want it to be as interesting as a breaking news story that would make a man want to know what it is about while that man's in the middle of masturbating!"

....

"...Are you---"

"No, god no! Well, you're lucky that that's actually not the case."

So Kawahara would just casually pick a call while in the middle of masturbating? Well --- this thought aside, Arkalee has immense impatience written all over her face, so I ought to hurry up.

"...Remember how we had that talk about Hyunda...?"

"You what?! You and Kawahara were talking about him?! What gives you the right?!"

"Wait, Arkalee, it's really not what you think it is!"

"Oh, piss off, Yulia! I will not allow your boyfriend to talk behind mine in front of me!"

"But, Arkalee, Hyunda's not your boyfriend, right...?"

"Shut up, Tatsu! I was speaking in a timeline way ahead of the current one! All times matter!"

.................

My god, why are they all so dramatic?

"Dan, my drama senses are tingling. Something tells me that you are around two obnoxious thots and an unbearable simp. Am I quite on point?"

"Yes, you are."

"As expected. But, yes, I do remember about the talk we had about the bastard. What of it?"

"Well, you see, it appears that he went missing. Even Arkalee can't find him. And so, I was wondering if you knew his location..."

I hate to admit it, but Kawahara was on point about Ryoken's location all the time and he nailed Arkalee's location as well, and even though I have no idea how he does this, I am positive that he can find out about Hyunda's location.

"Dan, you better give me a plausible reason for this. I am currently busy. Are you telling me to drop what I am currently doing just to go out of my way to track the bastard's location?"

"Well, yes."

"Reason. Give me."

...

"...There's really no particular reason."

"That's just not true. There is always a reason for an action. It's entirely impossible to perform an action based on logic without reason. Unless you are implying that your action just now is utterly illogical. If that's the case, then I might as well just fucking hang up because you're being boring as shit right now."

"Wait, there's a reason. You're right. However, my surroundings don't allow me the option to give you the primal reason."

This isn't exactly true, as Yulia, Tatsu, and Arkalee have inside their minds, their supposed thoughts about as to why I'm making this call to Kawahara. They can't be allowed to understand the real reason, henceforth I can't tell it out loud.

Would Kawahara really buy a lie or just go out of his way to help me again just because I told him 'Hey, Arkalee needs to learn about Hyunda's location to fix her emotional tide of sentiments.'? Hell no.

Which is why...

"However... There's another reason, you might say."

"Such as?"

"I've been wondering, but, can you do this?"

"Dan, what the fuck are you talking about? I demand an explanation."

"Alright, alright. I don't think you can find Hyunda's location."

Let's see how he reacts to the sudden news...

"Nonsense. I've been able to successfully track down Ryoken's location and Arkalee's location, which is probably where you are at, along with many others. And now you mean to tell me that I can't do something like that? What's your reasoning for that?"

As expected, he didn't take it too well. But, for better or worse, he's willing to listen to what I have to say.

"My reasoning lies in our previous conversation. Do you remember our previous conversation?"

Honestly, I can't mention the conversation's details, otherwise, these drama queens will go nuts, even though they have no fucking conceivable reason to act that way.

"You're definitely surrounded by them. It's not a possibility anymore, but a certainty. Which means you can't mention the details. But, yes, I do remember. Are you referring to the bastard's evaluation topic?"

"Yeah, that. You did go out of your way to put him in such a high position that I have to wonder if you can actually do it. You also said that in comparison to certain individuals that he was above them in that sense."

"I didn't say he was above them. I only said that he possessed something that those insignificant pussies don't have for themselves. The way he portrays his own power just goes to show that he doesn't want to use his power. Therefore, until he decides to use it, to me, he is not above anyone. Those trash cans are better than him, currently."

Meanwhile, as this was happening, Arkalee decided that it was a good idea to adjoin her right ear onto my phone, without actually asking for permission to do so.

Naturally, this made Yulia instantly skeptical and repulsed.

"Arkalee, what are you doing...? He's having a call, back off, would you?"

"Daniel's taking way too long, so I'm going to have to listen closely. I hate being kept in the dark."

........

"Daniel, can't you just put the call in speaker's mode so we can listen to it?"

"..."

Tatsu's a numbskull. Doesn't my whole conversation thus far imply that I am trying to strike a deal with someone that doesn't budge easily?

As a matter of fact, this might just not work at this point as my argument needs a little bit more structure...

"Um, can you two actually be patient? He's trying, so don't be so disrespectful and keep your distance as well. Show some dignity, please. Or is it too much to ask of you two to be well-educated? It's not right to be like this. Would you like it if someone else did what you are doing right now? You probably wouldn't, right?"

Just as I was about to tell them how inconvenient they were being, it was as if Yulia could read my intentions for a split second and acted primarily on the basis that I was feeling annoyed and repulsed and their stupid unreasonable behavior.

"Then he better hurry up..."

Tatsu remained silent as he observed the situation and Arkalee simply threw that ultimatum.

Ultimately, before returning to the conversation with Kawahara, I spoke to Yulia in return.

"Thank you."

"Mhm! Don't worry about it!"

After that enthusiastic reply, I resumed the conversation with Kawahara.

"I have a fair proposition for you that's not a taunt, like my previous one. I'll do it."

"What will you do though?"

"I'll join you; if you manage to find Hyunda's location."

"You are serious now. You really are. Why are you serious though?"

To be honest, this is a risky gamble, but I'm willing to play it, just because in my mind, I don't know the outcome of this as I'm gambling on the winner here.

"Maybe I think that you won't win here. But, I guess you are too bus---"

"You are still in the same location, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be there in two minutes."

He hung up.

For the record, if he is in the hideout, then he will have to perform an inhuman stride just to reach here in two minutes.

After the call ended, I let them be aware of the situation.

"Accordingly, the one who can supposedly find Hyunda's whereabouts will be here in less than two minutes."

A few seconds have passed, after all.

"Kawahara?! Kawahara can tell us where he is?! Daniel, I swear, you better not be making a fool out of me."

"I regret to inform you Arkalee, but we didn't get here based on our reasonings. As a matter of fact---"

Yulia was about to say something really unnecessary so I tapped her mouth for a quick second as I addressed some words to Arkalee.

"I'm not making a fool out of you. You'll see. However, there's no guarantee that even Kawahara will be enough. Or maybe I'm being naive here."

No, that's not the case.

I am aware that Kawahara is accurate with his guesses --- rather, they are not guesses. That's what I think. It's far too naive to call them guesses, therefore, I believe that they are certainties at this point.

Eventually, not too long after this brief conversation, erupting from the top of the door of the viewpoint's entrance, Kawahara walked in with a precise stride as went straight into my direction, at the edge of the viewpoint, where all the school could be glanced upon.

Then, he deliberately delivered confident words immediately to me.

"You're keeping your deal, Dan. Also, why is he here? I can understand the crybaby and the horrendous wretch here, but the simp? What gives? Is it the crybaby's monthly menstrual ovulation day or something?"

Upon hearing Kawahara's set of aggressive words, Yulia and Arkalee got immediately triggered.

"Kawahara, you are the worst piece of shit I have ever seen! You think you are so funny but you are not!"

"Zip it, thot. Also, I don't have to think that I'm funny. I'm not even trying. My jokes are far too intellectually complex and superior for the likes of you, henceforth, incomprehensible to feeble-minded peasants who dwell on basic thoughts like denying someone's worth based on idealism."

"Kawahara, do you know where he is or not?! Or are you just here to be rude!?"

Once again impatient, Arkalee went straight to the point, after being verbally assaulted by Kawahara.

"I will know. I just wanted to come here to make sure that someone was aware that I can take things pretty seriously and that it's a very bad idea to pass it as a joke."

Without a doubt, Kawahara was referring to me.

Despite that, he continued on.

"Just so we are clear, my intention here isn't to help any of you as I will be as quick as possible. Under five minutes, I will track down the bastard's location and that will be it."

"Wh... Five minutes? Explain, please."

Wanting to know Kawahara's secret, Yulia nevertheless asked Kawahara.

"I won't explain. I don't respond well to orders, so you have been warned. Just wait for the result like a good girl and you will be rewarded. Dan, what a shame. I expected a really good fight from you, but I must say, for it to happen like this, I can't help but feel premature disappointment. If you knew you were going to lose sooner or later, then why bother to resist in the first place?"

"We'll see about that."

I wonder if he got my message...

"What? What's with that confidence? You're not the type of person to make bluffs because your actions do have a logical foundation. Bastard, you are hiding something, aren't you? Weird... What exactly is the aim here? Hey, all of you! I want individual answers. Crybaby, go first!"

...Not good.

Pressured, Arkalee answered to Kawahara who was borderline yelling on her face.

"I need to know Hyunda's location! That's actually really all. Also, I don't need to explain myself to y---"

"Simp, next! Spill it! Are you here on simp duty or are you here under the affiliation of an interesting logic?"

Switching his target, Kawahara brutally and savagely asked Tatsu that question in the same high-pitched voice tone.

"I am not a simp, Kawahara..."

"You're not a full-fledge one until you deny to be one! Congratulations on the self-acceptance! Now, say it!"

".....I'm not telling..."

Contrasting his previous attitude filled with violence and savagery, Kawahara simply placed his right index finger on his thumb for two seconds and spoke once again, while idly looking towards the cerulean afternoon sky.

"Maybe it's because I'm co-existing with other inferior beings that I am losing brain cells. Why would I question a simp's action? It's obvious you are here to serve as an emotional pillar. It was fucking self-explanatory yet for a second I really did start an interrogation. I want to commit toaster mash-up. Next, thot!"

Yulia's turn was up, so since she was right next to me, we watched Kawahara cast down his hateful glare at her in that precise second.

Yulia, despite that, maintained her strong posture and didn't lose to the sheer pressure being applied by Kawahara's strong will.

"I want to know Hyunda's location so I can properly speak to Arkalee about her wrong thoughts about Hyunda. Which is why, I, even though repulsed and disgusted just by the thought of having to rely on your help, am grateful for your assistance and would appreciate if you could stop being such a rude person for once in your whole damn life!"

"I'm not rude. You people are. I'm just defensive by nature. Leave me alone. Lastly, Dan! You. I really, really want the honest truth here. And trust me when I say this, but if you lie, I will know the second you do it, because in my mind, I already have the most accurate assumption and if your answer doesn't come close to that one, then you will---"

"Kawahara, stop talking to my boyfriend like that. Get to the point, we don't have all day to listen to your endless spewing."

Brilliantly, Yulia interrupted Kawahara's long rant and completely stopped his long-length verbal onslaught that almost anyone in existence has to receive whenever in his presence.

"Dan, how many times must I tell you to put a leash on her? This is what happens when you don't put a leash on creatures like this. They get the sensation that they actually matter when they fucking don't."

"Oh, shut up already. You think that just because you are such a psychopath with no moral values at all that you are suddenly soooo amazing, don't you? Well, you are wrong. You are just delusional."

"A delusional who has more intelligence than all of you combined."

That wasn't exactly pleasing to hear. 

It's not something that I can just laugh at either.

"I want to know Hyunda's location so I can help Yulia achieve her goal. Because that's my goal too."

"Then that makes no sense whatsoever. Why would you call me out here and make that nonsensical deal and be confident at the same time? You are solely relying on the bastard's cleverness to get away from my external forces but I didn't take you for such a dumbass who would just mindlessly gamble like that. Unless... Unless... You are not gambling."

This ability of his to depict the foundation of someone's action should not be something this accessible...

"I also don't believe that you are doing all of this just for that stupid nonsensical goal. You never cared about Arkalee's situation, so why now? No, no. That's not the right question. Instead --- What exactly allowed you to be this confident? You are betting on the chance of the bastard being able to escape my power. However, that's not it either. You know what would make more sense? You, somehow, being in control of the bastard's location. Now that would make perfect sense!"

How the hell is this possible? Kawahara's perception is way ahead of what I thought it was. It shouldn't be this easy to just create multiple assumptions while being this accurate.

Suddenly, I started to sweat a bit, as I felt an omen swirling around the cold air.

"Kawahara, that's not true. I am with Yulia here."

"No, you're not. I know you too well at this point."

......

Hyunda, please. You got my message, right? 

Truth to be told, while Kawahara was still on his way here, I told Hyunda to completely hide his location and remain as incognito as possible.

However, I'm starting to think that maybe he didn't get my message and that my fate is sealed. More so, Kawahara's starting to become unpredictable as I don't know what he might do next.

As I was having these thoughts, I felt my phone vibrating and took it off my pocket to see it and it was Hyunda who texted me the following messages:

【If you see this, then don't react in any possible exaggerated way. Maintain your facial expression the same as always to your surroundings.】

【I saw your message. But, there is something more important that I need you to do as quickly as possible. As soon as you process the upcoming message, do it with all the speed you have without wasting any possible time. It's important.】

【Delete every single one of our texts.】

Without paying any attention to Kawahara anymore, I started to delete our texting history texts as fast as I could.

However, Kawahara didn't exactly let this movement slip by as a coincidence.

"Dan, what a damn coincidence. Do you want to know what I would do if I was in your current position and I was up against me? I would let the bastard know that his current location is about to be as perceivable as it can get. But, if we are talking about simplicity then... I would simply inform the bastard that he needed to hide in a place where he won't be easily found. And to do that, given that there is a massive distance between you and him, just by using your phone, you could reach out to him with a simple text."

Faster, faster, faster...

"And would you look at that? Here you are, clinging to your phone like it's your lifeline."

Almost there... Just a few more...

"I'm sure you won't mind if I have a look at what you are hiding!"

With brute force, Kawahara snatched away my phone from my hands without showing any remorse whatsoever, as he glanced upon my phone's screen subsequently.

"..."

Meanwhile, at the exact same time, at the theater's entrance.

Once again indecisive about what movie to watch, this time alone, I took a good time to choose what movie I wanted to really watch.

I do like good dramas, for example, as I am a complete sucker for an emotional tearjerker. 

Plus, the fact that there aren't many people around here and inside the theater's ticket lines, the lines itself are pretty empty, so this is a really good time to watch something that can pick my interest.

And even though I was completely sure that I would have this time alone to myself, my expectations quickly betrayed me as I witnessed a silver-haired boy, who I've been somewhat familiar with during the past few weeks, align horizontally to my position while glancing upon the movie agenda.

This person was completely and utterly focused on choosing the movie as my existence probably came out as translucent, given that he paid zero attention to it even if he is standing right next to me.

"Oh, they have Joker? That's recent. Drama and crime..."

Although I was paying attention to the fact that he wasn't paying any attention to me whatsoever, I couldn't help but feel intrigued by his two specific words that captured my absolute interest.

"Um... Is it good?"

"I don't know. I haven't watched it. I will be able to tell if it's good or not when I do finish it though. Regardless of that, accordingly, the movie is acclaimed to be quite good. Are you interested in seeing it, Sana?"

"Well... I do like drama and crime. It's rated R though... Does this mean that it contains highly sexual scenes?"

I really don't like that type of stuff...

"It's probably monotonically referring to the violence and the amount of blood. Aggressive verbal usage as well. However, I believe that's about it."

"Okay, yeah... Why not... Also, this is a really freaky coincidence..."

I'm surprised that Arkalee isn't around him. It's just Hyunda here. I guess even he wants to watch a movie once in a while to relieve his boredom, huh?

"Yeah, what a coincidence."