Watching You From The Shadows: Haato Akai's Secret Diary - The Shadow That Supports You

The scene I had witnessed that day on Shiokaze Bridge continued to smolder in Haato's chest. Takeru standing up to an upperclassman far larger than himself, all to protect Hana. His back, covered in scrapes and scratches, standing before her until the very end. And then—those gentle words, "I'll always protect you," spoken in a voice that would never, ever be directed at me. The midday light streaming through the classroom window felt unbearably bright. Several days had passed since then. Haato had come to school again today, wearing her usual cheerful mask. " Haato, what'd you bring for lunch today? My mom burned the tamagoyaki again~" Miho, who sat next to her, pushed her desk closer as she spoke. " I've got ham sandwiches. Honestly, Miho, your tamagoyaki looks way tastier when it's a little browned—the flavor soaks in better, you know?" I answered with a smile. Expressions shifting and changing in an instant. The little fang that peeked out when I laughed. It was exactly the face everyone in class expected—the one that made them say, "Haato's always so energetic." *(That's right. This is me. Akai Haato—bright, cheerful, not a care in the world.)* I told myself that silently. Fluffy brown short bob pinned behind my ears, big brown eyes crinkled just slightly—the perfect, everyday smile. But no matter what, my gaze kept drifting toward the middle seat by the window. Satou Takeru's seat. Today, too, he came into the classroom a little late. His slightly long black hair was messy as always, bangs falling over his eyebrows. Those strong-willed black eyes of his—the moment he entered the room, they were already searching for Hana's seat. *(He's looking at Hana again.)* Something deep in my chest tightened, painfully small. Hana was in the row by the window, already spreading out her lunch. Quiet and demure as she was, she ate her onigiri while reading a book, completely unaware of Takeru's gaze. When Takeru reached his seat, he noticed the small, pale blue envelope sitting on his desk. The fourth letter—the one I had slipped there first thing this morning. *'Good morning. Do your best today, too. I'm always watching.'* Takeru picked up the envelope and, careful not to let anyone see, gently opened it. He read the small slip of paper—and the corner of his mouth relaxed, just a little. *(He smiled!)* I hurriedly averted my eyes. My heart was pounding too loud. I couldn't let him find out. I absolutely couldn't let him find out—and yet, seeing him smile made my whole body feel like it was floating, light as air. *(This is fine. This is my "Shadow Love Operation," after all.)* The trauma from elementary school flickered at the edge of my mind, sharp and bright. —It was spring of fourth grade. I wrote a love letter to a boy I liked and put it inside his desk. The next day, that letter was taped to the blackboard. With "From Akai Haato" written in huge letters, and everyone in class pointing and laughing. I was so mortified I thought my face would catch fire. I ran out of the classroom in tears. Ever since then, the feeling of "love" became something to hide. If no one finds out, I won't get hurt. That was my rule. When lunch break came, I pushed my desk together with Miho and Satomi and opened up my lunch. From outside the window came the shouts of the softball club and the dry crack of metal bats hitting balls. The early summer breeze made the curtains sway softly, carrying the scent of grass into the classroom. " Ah, look, look! Someone actually managed to buy a yakisoba bread from the school store!" Satomi pointed out the window. The school store was on the first floor of the first-year building, and during lunch break it was always a warzone of chaos. Yakisoba bread cost 150 yen and sold out instantly, so anyone who managed to get one was practically a hero. " So jealous~ I only have two onigiri today. My mom overslept this morning~" " Your house is always such a scramble in the mornings, Miho." I laughed as I bit into my sandwich. It was just a simple thing with ham and lettuce, but I'd woken up early and made it myself. Truthfully, I'd considered making one for Takeru too—but putting a lunchbox in his desk would be way too suspicious, so I gave up on that idea. " Ah!" Suddenly, Miho raised her voice, pointing outside the window. " Hey, look at that. There's someone behind the school building." Satomi and I both moved closer to the window. The area behind the school building was shaded by the gymnasium, dim even in the middle of the day. There were four figures there. One was a small-statured male student I didn't recognize—probably a first-year. And the remaining three were clearly upperclassmen, their uniforms worn sloppily, hair dyed. " Is that... extortion?" Satomi murmured uneasily. " This is bad. Should we go get a teacher?" I couldn't say anything. I just stared at the scene. One of the upperclassmen grabbed the first-year by the collar. Another tried to snatch his bag away. The first-year had shrunk into himself, trembling. *(I have to help... but what can I even do?)* I clenched my fists tight. Sweat seeped into my palms, and the sandwich wrapper crumpled with a soft crunch. That was when it happened. " Hey. What do you think you're doing over there?" A low, intimidating voice rang out across the school grounds. My heart leaped—a single, heavy thud. —It was Takeru. He stepped out from the corner of the school building, still holding a bread roll from the school store. His slightly long black hair swayed in the wind, and the small scar at the corner of his mouth—a remnant of the fight on Shiokaze Bridge—faintly caught the light. " What's it to you? This ain't your business." One of the upperclassmen glared at Takeru as he spoke. He was a full head taller than Takeru. His build was solid, too. Even so, Takeru didn't back down a single step. " It is my business. He's in trouble, isn't he?" He set his bread down on a bench and stood directly in front of the upperclassman. His gaze was unwavering. Those powerful eyes of his—the ones that tilted up just slightly when he fought—were now fixed sharply on his opponent. " Heh, what are you, some kind of hero? Quit while you're ahead, or you're gonna get hurt." " If I was the type to quit just because someone told me to, I wouldn't have come over here in the first place." —They were going to clash. I held my breath. Gripping the window frame tightly, I watched with something like a prayer in my heart. My pulse pounded painfully, and my mind went completely blank. One of the upperclassmen shoved Takeru hard in the chest. "Guh...!" Takeru staggered. But he didn't fall. He immediately regained his stance and advanced on his opponent. Another upperclassman swung at him from the side. Takeru dodged it and grabbed the guy's arm. *(Stop...! Takeru, stop...!)* I repeated the silent scream over and over in my heart. The sound of fists landing echoed behind the school building. A red wound opened on Takeru's cheek. Blood was seeping out. And still, he absolutely refused to back down. Standing there as if shielding the first-year, he desperately fought back against the two upperclassmen. *(Why? Why do you go that far?)* Tears blurred faintly at the edges of my vision. " You just don't know when to quit!" The upperclassman raised his arm, this time aiming to hit Takeru for real. —No! I almost squeezed my eyes shut. But in that instant— Takeru slipped under the man's arm and swept his legs out from under him. The upperclassman's large body lost its balance and crashed to the ground. " ...Stop it already. Next time, I won't hold back." Takeru's voice was low. A single line of blood ran down from his forehead. Even so, his eyes remained fixed straight on the upperclassmen. The upperclassmen hauled their fallen friend to his feet, clicking their tongues. "Tch... Let's go." Cursing under their breath, the three of them retreated from behind the school building. —It was over. All the strength drained out of me, and I leaned my hands against the window frame. When I exhaled, my body was trembling faintly. " You okay?" Takeru reached out a hand to the first-year who had fallen and spoke to him gently. As if the sharp look in his eyes from moments ago had been a lie, his expression was now calm and kind. " Th-thank you so much... I'm sorry..." The first-year took Takeru's hand, crying. " You've got nothing to apologize for. Guys like that are everywhere. Just be careful when you're alone from now on." Takeru patted the first-year on the head and smiled. The scar at the corner of his mouth twisted slightly. It had to hurt, but his smile didn't show a trace of it. *(So cool... He's so, so cool.)* My chest tightened—like, physically, *squeezed*. It really did. But— " See, I've never been able to protect my childhood friend since way back. So when I see someone in trouble, I just can't leave them alone." Takeru said it quietly, almost to himself. Those words pierced straight through my chest. —Childhood friend. Hana. The reason he fought, putting his body on the line—it was all for Hana. He got stronger to protect Hana, he fought for Hana, he said he "couldn't leave them alone" because of Hana. *(It really is all about Hana, after all.)* The feeling I'd had just moments ago—that he was so cool—slowly, steadily transformed into jealousy. It was frustrating. So frustrating that my fingertips went cold. " Haato? What's wrong? You look pale." Satomi, who was next to me, peered at my face with concern. " Huh? Oh, I'm fine! I was just a little startled, that's all!" I hurriedly put my smile back on. Showing my fang, laughing brightly. *(No, no, no. I can't let anyone see a face like that.)* The real me—jealous, prone to overthinking and worrying—absolutely could not be found out. After school. I was alone in the classroom, finishing up my day-duty chores. Erasing the blackboard, dusting off the chalk, straightening the desks back into neat rows. The classroom was empty and hollow, and the evening sun streaming through the windows painted orange rectangles on the floor. The shouts of club activities echoed from somewhere far away. I filled out the day-duty log, submitted it to the teacher—and then returned to my own seat. From my chest pocket, I took out a small, pale blue envelope. The fifth letter. I had written it secretly in a toilet stall during lunch break today. *'You got into a fight again today. I wish you wouldn't be so reckless, but the way you protect people really is so cool.'* Even I thought it might be a little too direct—but this was how I truly felt. I went over to Takeru's desk and slipped the envelope under his pencil case. The pale blue paper peeked out just a little. *(Please, don't let anyone find out.)* Wishing that in my heart, I hurried out of the classroom. The hallway was already almost empty. Through the windows, I could see the soccer club practicing on the field, a white ball rolling across the green grass. I changed into my loafers at the shoe lockers and headed toward the school gate. —That was when I saw them. Two figures, sitting on a bench at the edge of the school grounds. *(That's Takeru.)* One of them was definitely Takeru. His slightly long black hair glowed brownish in the sunset light. Sitting next to him was a boy from our class. His name was... um, what was it again? Anyway, he was Takeru's best friend—the one he was always with. *(What are they talking about?)* I stopped walking toward the gate. I wanted to know. What was Takeru thinking right now? Even just a little—I wanted to peek inside his heart. I hid in the shadow of the school building and strained my ears. " Hey, I've asked you before, but—those letters. Do you know who they're from yet?" His best friend asked Takeru that. *(Letters?)* I held my breath. My heart started pounding like a frantic alarm be

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Episode 2

Name: Watching You From The Shadows: Haato Akai's Secret Diary
Author: Novelia

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