It's the beginning of the week, the start of classes, and the first day at Khijuen High School.

"Yes, yes. Good morning, everyone. I am Teacher Irokawa Eri, and I will take attendance."

One by one, the students rise from their seats as the teacher calls out their last names. From what I can see, most of them know each other from the previous year.

Before the teacher arrived, some had already gathered in small groups. Well, it's not surprising. I understand that even I should have friends in the class, but I haven't been able to talk to them.

Looking around, Teacher Eri continues to call the roll.

"Hiiragi Kanon, Hiiragi Kanon."

Receiving no response, a student from the back looks at the empty seat next to me on my left.

"Teacher, Hiiragi hasn't come."

"Oh... It seems like this year will have the same attendance problems. Well, the next one is Makisu Rokujo. Makisu, are you in the classroom?"

The teacher repeated my name and continued until all the students focused their attention on me.

"Why aren't you responding, Rokujo?" Kogure, who sits in the seat to the right, asked.

Some students began to murmur.

"Did something happen to him? Maybe he didn't get enough sleep or is lost in thought."

"Uh... Now that you mention it, I heard he had an accident the other day. Maybe it affected his brain."

"Yes, maybe that's why he's so confused today."

"So, Makisu? Are you in class or not?" the teacher asked, holding her head.

"Sorry, teacher. I was distracted," I said, getting up from my seat.

With that, I took my notebook and pretended to be reading so that no one would notice my flushed face.

The feeling of embarrassment didn't go away. Yesterday, I assured my younger sister that I wouldn't stand out at all, and the first thing I did was make most of the class aware of my existence.

Aaaah! I wish the earth would swallow me.

Why didn't I say "present"? Why the hell did I let this happen?

"Very well, I guess everyone is here," the teacher said, closing her notebook. "Well... Makisu, do you know anything about Hiiragi? I thought he would come with you today."

I lowered the notebook and thought about her question.

Hiiragi... Hiiragi... I guess I've heard that name before, but I can't seem to recognize it among the names of the friends my sister made me memorize.

I know I was in the literature and video game club last year, but I ended up resigning because of the accident. If she's referring to that, Hiiragi must be a muscular guy, a hikikomori, or a chubby anime lover.

In any case, even if I don't know who this Hiiragi Kanon is, I have to answer before the others start gossiping.

"Was he supposed to come with me?" I asked, puzzled.

The teacher looked at me, confused.

"Weren't you two friends? It's strange; I saw you together last year."

In response to her, half of the class started murmuring again, so the teacher continued with her lesson to avoid further commotion.

"Alright, let's get back to today's topic. Open your books to page twelve; we'll start with the..."

△♡△

The afternoon bell rang, and the teacher said her goodbyes. My classmates left the classroom until I was left alone.

Although I was in a hurry, I couldn't be the first to leave. The leaders of some clubs were waiting at the classroom door to catch new students and escort them to their groups, but I had no intention of joining one where I'd be exploited.

My time is valuable, and I can't afford to waste it. If I were to be a member of a club out of obligation, I'd prefer one where I could relax and it wasn't too crowded.

I picked up my bag and left the high school.

After the events of the morning, the afternoon was quiet, and I wanted to rest at home, sit on the couch, and watch some TV programs.

Although that wouldn't be possible today. It seemed a shadow had been following me since I left the school. I tried to ignore it and continue on my way home, but I grew uneasy as I sensed some hostility.

While this might seem like a hallucination, it's not. The other day, I heard about a case in the news where a student was targeted by a serial killer and met their demise at their hands. If that's the case, at the very least, I should blend into the crowd to lose them.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Oh, yes... Now I remember, I was supposed to find out if that game was released," I said aloud, trying to throw off the shadow.

Since then, I've walked down several streets, trying to figure out who was following me. I even stopped at some stores, thinking I might have been mistaken, but the feeling of being watched didn't change at all.

It wasn't until I crossed the pedestrian crossing that I felt safe. Even though I was scared, I remembered that I needed to prepare dinner for tonight, so I calmed down a bit.

“Right, I need to buy some ingredients”.

Erina, my younger sister, asked me to make pumpkin soup for dinner, so I headed to a convenience store. However, when I had most of what I needed, a problem arose.

The same feeling of being watched returned to me. I was about to run again when I noticed something unusual.

Who the hell is she?

Next to the pumpkins, a girl who was crouched down beside the counter, seemingly trying to hide from me, couldn't stop staring at me with a puzzled expression as I grabbed the last pumpkin from the display.

What first caught my attention was her outfit. She was wearing the same Khijuen High School uniform, but she had on a black hooded coat with rabbit ears.

Her short hair was pink, and her large eyes had a turquoise hue. I'd say she looked like a normal student, but as strange as it may seem, she had an air of someone who didn't have many friends.

Although I don't want to go to another store and look for another pumpkin for dinner, it's better to avoid getting involved with her since she's been hounding me without saying a word.

In summary, she's a stalker.

Furthermore, just as I grabbed the pumpkin, she also grabbed it to prevent me from taking it.

"I-I mean... Do you need this? Don't worry; I'll leave it for you," I said, trying to pull my hand away.

She remained silent.

It seems she's not going to respond. I'd better slowly move away and go to another store.

"Good luck," I bid farewell as I walked toward the checkout counter.

However, she grabbed my hand.

I thought I must have been mistaken, that maybe it wasn't her who was following me, but after grabbing my hand and looking at me like that, it confirmed it a hundred percent.

"Easy, I won't take it. You can keep it," I said, trying to withdraw my hand.

I couldn't help but avert my gaze, but she looked at me, puzzled, with her head tilted.

"Why didn't you come to find me?" she asked timidly while taking my hand and placing it on her chest. "Aren't you going to be with me for eternity?"

People turned to look at us, prompting me to withdraw my hand from dangerous territory. Although she seems to know me, I consider that I've never seen her in my life. I couldn't forget someone so mysterious, and I'm pretty sure my sister would have told me if I had.

Or did she?

Anyway, this girl seems close to me, so I should ask her name first.

"What's your name?"

She paused for a few seconds, seemingly not comprehending that I had an accident and as a result, I have amnesia.

"Hiiragi Kanon."

There it is! That's the name the teacher mentioned in the morning, so the coincidences exist.

No... Wait a moment, this isn't a coincidence.

Besides, wasn't Hiiragi a guy?

I assumed that he would be the typical anime-obsessed overweight guy or a brainy, card-loving nerd.

But well, whether I know her or not, it doesn't matter to me right now. Even if Hiiragi Kanon is a girl, that doesn't give her the right to have followed me like a stalker.

While I was still pondering what my relationship with Hiiragi Kanon was, she grabbed my hand again and shook it.

"A pleasure to meet you again, Rokujo Del Tiempo."

Although I don't understand her reasons, it's obvious that she knows me. But... why is she shaking my hand as if we were introducing ourselves?

I'm sure I didn't tell her my name. Moreover, she added something strange like "Del Tiempo." What does that mean exactly?

It's probably best to act like I don't know her.

"Um... I'm sorry, I think you're confused," I said.

Hiiragi tilted her head again.

"You're Rokujo. Only Rokujo would recognize a good pumpkin like that."

What does my identity have to do with a pumpkin?

Anyway... It's not something I care about. I don't want to get mixed up with a stalker, regardless.

"Yes... Well... Nice to meet you, Hiiragi. We'll see each other another time, I guess."

Honestly, I hope I don't see her again.

I headed to the checkout counter to pay and went in search of another nearby store. As I walked along the sidewalk, my thoughts were interrupted by the feeling of a shadow.

That shadow was none other than Hiiragi Kanon, who hadn't stopped following me since then.

Now that I had discovered that Hiiragi was the shadow, she didn't even bother hiding anymore. People passing by on the street couldn't help but stare at her as they saw her continuing to mimic my steps.

Is she crazy or something?

No, of course not, but she really does behave like a weirdo who won't leave until I make things clear.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, turning to face her.

"Are you going to make food to recharge your energy?" she asked, raising the pumpkin in my direction.

What's wrong with her?

I'm sure I didn't give her any reason to do this.

Furthermore, she hadn't stopped following me and saying nonsensical things. Even though Hiiragi was a classmate, it wasn't pleasant for her to be so persistent.

"Do you need something from me?" I asked, looking at her seriously.

Upon hearing my questions, she jumped as if she were a child. I wonder if she really knows what she's doing.

"A recharge of energy for our dark lovers' contract would help me a lot," she said, trying to hand me the pumpkin.

Ah, now I get it. I think she means that I should invite her to dinner.

But why should I invite her to dinner? She has been bothering me during my shopping, not to mention that she's a stalker.

Anyway... What does she mean by that "dark lovers' contract"? Is that some kind of secret code?

Wait a moment... Didn't the teacher mention that I spent a lot of time with her last year? Maybe we are related in some way.

If she said lovers... Could she possibly be my girlfriend?

No, I don't think so; it's impossible.

If that had happened, there would be pictures of her at home, and I don't remember seeing her in any of them. But if we really are friends like the teacher mentioned, maybe she can shed some light on my behavior before I lost my memory.

Of course, she has nothing to do with my current self. In any case, if Hiiragi could provide me with that kind of information, I think inviting her wouldn't be a bad idea.

"We're friends, right?" I asked with a bit of uncertainty, trying to confirm my suspicions.

Hiiragi didn't respond, but her smile seemed to indicate that I was right.

Now that I looked at her closely, she was quite pretty, although not my type. I must have misunderstood her; perhaps she just wanted to talk to me, but I didn't give her time to express herself.

Even though she spoke strangely and seemed to be a chuunibyou, I was relieved that this situation had been resolved.

Well, that would save me the trouble of looking for another pumpkin for dinner.

"Do you want to come?" I asked again.

"Yes, let's go," she said, nodding and extending her hands to give me the pumpkin.

With the idea of finding out about my past, I walked with her to my house