Pursuing The Unknown[2]

“Aoki!” I dropped to my knees, lifting her head gently.

Her body trembled faintly in my arms as she struggled to breathe. I placed my hand over her forehead only to see that her body was burning up. 

Her breathing was uneven, it was clear that she was suffocating.

“...Araki-kun…?” Her weak voice cracked through the silence.

“You’ve got a fever,” I said, trying to steady my voice. “Don’t talk right now. I’ll take you to the infirmary.”

With the librarian’s help, I lifted her carefully and hurried down the entrance. Her faint breath brushed against my shoulder, every exhale trembling with heat.

“...I’m sorry”, Aoki whispered.

“Just stay put for a whil– ”

“The infirmary nurse is on leave today . You might want to send her home instead.”

Just before I turned the corridor, a familiar voice grabbed my attention. There I spotted him.

“Kuromiya…sensei?”

He was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, as if he’d been waiting there for a while.

“Oh, it’s you again,” he said, pushing off the wall and walking toward us. “I heard a loud noise from the library and came to check and look at what we have. Mm, seems like that girl’s not doing too well.”

His eyes shifted briefly to Aoki.

“Let’s get her home quickly,” he added in his calm, deep tone. “It’s better if she rests.”

I nodded, silently agreeing with his suggestion. Together with Kuromiya-sensei, we contacted Aoki’s parents and arranged for her to be taken home. I stayed by her side until she finally left.

As a result I missed my first period at noon, but right now that was the least of my concerns. Her warmth lingered against my hands even after she was gone. For some reason, I couldn’t shake off the unease settling in my chest.

“I suppose I’m fortunate to have some free time right now,” Kuromiya-sensei said, adjusting his glasses with a faint smile. “By the way, Araki-kun–you have math class at this hour, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah… though I kind of missed it.”

“I’ll explain it to your teacher later,” he replied casually. “So don’t worry about it.”

“It’s fine, thank you for your consideration. Right now, I don't feel like it”

“Still worried about her? She must be a very good friend of yours”

“No, she's….just an acquaintance”

“Hm? I wonder…” Kuromiya tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Aoki-san, was it? For an acquaintance, you seem to be getting along too well. I often see you two chatting in the library”

“Library…?” I furrowed my brow. “Do you visit the library often?”

“Of course,” he replied “I am a teacher, after all. Now, go back to your classroom. I'll talk with takeda-sensei(maths teacher) for you”

“...yes, thank you”

With those reassuring words, he left without looking back, casually waving his hand as if signaling me to return.

I must say he became a huge help regarding Aoki’s collapse. Without him, I would probably be in a bind. 

But I wonder why…I get this strange feeling. 

Something feels off…

【SAME DAY–8:04PM】

“Start over from the beginning, huh?”

The day has come to end, so does my time on the clock. To find him, I only have around 48 hours. 

But today wasn't a waste, thanks to Aoki I think I got a better grasp on what I need to do. 

I still don't know what ‘answer’ he's talking about, but If I could get rid of him from tailing me then that's enough.

Speaking of Aoki…

I wonder what happened, it's rare for her to catch a fever. She was doing just fine before. Could it be…it's because I asked that question?

Her eyes, her reaction…I want to believe I am wrong, but there's no way right…? As much as I want to refuse, something inside me tells otherwise.

If that's the case…I asked something very sensitive.

Trrr, trrr.

My thoughts broke as my phone persistently rang. I reached out to my phone wondering if it's Yuzu. But…

…Aoki?!

I quickly swiped up to answer, considering what happened earlier it's a natural reaction from me.

[“Hello? Araki-kun…]

“Aoki…why? Are you doing fine now?”

[“Mm, thanks to you. Really, thank you very much. Also, I'm sorry for troubling you. I just wanted to show you my gratitude…”]

I see…Is that why she called me?

“It’s fine, Kuromiya sensei also helped so it wasn't really a trouble for me”

[“I see… then I must thank him too”]

“Well yeah. By the way…is the reason for you to–” I paused

[“Araki-kun?”]

“No…nevermind”

I felt like I shouldn't ask her. She's just recovering, if that's the reason she collapsed then I should probably avoid it. And besides,

I don't have the…right to ask her.

[“So…don't you have anything to say to me?”]

“Well, take rest I guess”

[“Hmmm,” she let out a soft hum “...yeah this is the Araki-Ryota I know. It's not like I'm expecting anything. I wish you could’ve said more.”]

And all of a sudden she's back to normal, I really don't get this girl.

“Sorry for not having any more to say” I replied, in a sarcastic tone. “I don't know what's going on in your mind, but…don't overthink.”

Not that I’m in any position to say that myself.

[“Yeah…by the way, I actually wanted to say something.”]

“Something?”

[“Earlier this afternoon, I mentioned that I've looked into that girl. Right?”]

“Sigh…I told you it's fine–”

[“Well well, just listen first. I don’t know if it’s just a misunderstanding or confusion, but I found something very… strange”]

Strange?

[“Remember I said I asked my friends in Class 1 about her? So, a while ago that same friend called to check on me. Apparently, she asked her friend in Class 4 about it”]

“Wait, seriously?”

[“Mm. According to her, Class 4 did have P.E. before lunch”]

As I guessed, since mine and Aoki's class are out of the list that’d remain only class 1 and 4–A 50/50 coin toss. So it was class 4…

“And?”

[“So she asked if there was any girl who got injured or had to go to the infirmary…and her friend replied…”]

“THERE WAS NO GIRL LIKE THAT”

……..huh?

For an instant, it felt like my heart stopped. What Aoki just informed me is still echoing in my mind. After all that can’t be right.

Aoki’s observations are always sharp, she never makes mistakes like this.

I even confirmed it with Kuromiya-sensei in the infirmary.

Then… What is this all about?! What the hell is going on? if there's no such girl then…who is that she saw?

It's strange…something is not right…

“…..what?” I gasped, “Just now what did you…”

[“... there was no–...huh”]

“Aoki?”

[“Oh, Araki-kun”]

Huh? Her tone changed?

“Are you sure that there was no girl like that?”

[“Girl…?”]

…What?

[“S-Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. So…what were we talking about?”]

Wait…

“Are…you feeling unwell again? It's about that girl! The girl you saw in the infirmary. She is also suffering from recurring dreams. You just said your friend called you and–”

[“Sorry, but…Who is that again?”]

…What?

[...huh, it's weird. I feel like I was saying something important…huh? What was it…Araki-kun, hello? Araki-kun?”]

I wonder what kind of face I made at that moment. It’s like the past itself was rewritten.

As if the conversation we just had vanished, as if it never existed. Reality itself has begun to warp.

If I look paranoid right now, I wouldn’t be surprised. After all—

What…the hell going on..?

I’m sure Aoki just mentioned that girl. I heard it clearly. Then why is she acting like she doesn’t even know in the first place? Did she forget…? Or–

IS MY MEMORY MISTAKEN?

Aoki's voice grew lower in my head. I am sure she must be calling me but I couldn't bring myself to speak. 

[“Araki-kun, are…you alright ?”]

“I'm fine…if only I could say that. Heh, haha…hahaahah”

I let out a sinister laugh.

[“Araki-kun…?”]

It all started with just one question: what are dreams? And yet, here I am- chasing after several questions… and just now–

One more is added to that stack. 

Even if I had several lifetimes, it wouldn’t be enough to find every answer.

But right now—there’s only one I need. 

Trrr, trrr, another number displayed on my phone. 

“Sorry, Aoki. I'm hanging up, let's meet again in school. Take some rest”

[“Uh, mm. Alright…”]

I'll catch up with Aoki later. Because,

The answer is calling me.

“What a coincidence, I just thought to call you” I said, “Mr. Stalker”

[“Looks like…you are in trouble. There are only 48 hours left”]

“You're right, I don't have any clues either. Trouble doesn’t even begin to describe it. Really, I’ve got nowhere to look…” I paused, then smirked. “Until now.”

[“.....oh, you mean…you got an idea?”]

“Who knows, but looks like you haven't realised yet. The one in trouble isn't just me…the same goes for you”

[“...I-interesting…are you saying you can find me? ”]

“nah, there's no can or will. I'll definitely find you. So, you’d better enjoy your last forty-eight hours… because the next moment you'll be behind the bars.”

[“Heh…I'm looking forward to it.”]

“You called me just to remind me? You're rather impatient”

[“I just wanted…to tell you to stop fooling around with that pink girl”]

My eyes widened as my lips slightly parted when he mentioned her.

[“If you…want to know the answer…then focus on fin–”]

Before he could finish I hung up.

“...Stalker through and through,” I muttered, sliding my phone back into my pocket, “but this is as far as you go”

That day, I thought I hadn't made any progress but I was wrong. After turning every corner I finally…can see the route to the exit. All that's left is go through that exit and solve this maze. Afterall…

IT’S TIME TO TURN THE TABLES.

Within these 48 hours, I’ll catch him.

Chapter 03: Pursuing THE UNKNOWN