Chapter 32: A Collection of Eccentrics and Delusions

I’ve been kidnapped... by a group of people who don't even know how to properly operate a desk lamp. Seriously. This isn't a secret organization. It’s more like a school club that failed its registration. My life has officially drifted so far off the rails that "normal" is a distant memory.

A desk lamp was angled directly into my eyes. Blinding. Annoying. And highly unprofessional.

"Answer truthfully!" Asahi Kurayami pointed at me with practiced drama. Short blue-black hair. Crimson eyes. A gaze as sharp as a blade she constantly whets inside her own mind.

Behind her, three others stood in poses they clearly thought looked intimidating. "You can't keep up the charade forever, Nox!" one of them shouted.

I stared at them. Then, I scanned the room. Folding chairs. A torn anime poster. A thick layer of dust on the carpet. Conclusion: This isn't the Resistance headquarters. This is a storage shed. A literal shed.

"As I’ve already said," I remarked flatly, "I am not Nox."

"Asahi already told us! Nox is stubborn!" "Your movements are suspicious!" added a guy with glasses.

I stared at him for a long time. He looked like an NPC who hadn't unlocked his second line of dialogue yet. Asahi stepped closer, thrusting a glass of red liquid toward me.

"Do you crave blood?"

I looked at the glass. Then back at her. "I prefer ketchup."

"...That's different." "Not really." "Good grief..." I muttered under my breath. "When does this end?" Is this an interrogation or a community theater audition?

"You appeared out of nowhere," Asahi continued. "No clear history. And you're always hovering near our targets!"

"By 'targets,' do you mean... students eating lunch in the cafeteria?"

"Don't change the subject!" the glasses guy barked. "Nox are creatures that steal human forms!"

I let out a long sigh and leaned back, making myself comfortable. "Fine. Let's apply some logic."

They instantly tensed up. Interesting. They're afraid of logic.

"If I were a blood-sucking creature," I began, "what would be the most suspicious thing about me?"

They exchanged looks. Silence.

Asahi finally answered, "You're too calm."

I offered a thin smile. "Thank you. That’s called a personality."

"SEE!" one of the members screamed. "He's trying to manipulate us!"

I lowered my head, stifling a laugh. This was more entertaining than anything on TV.

"If I were Nox," I continued casually, "why would I sit here? Why wouldn't I just escape?"

Silence. They were wavering. Asahi narrowed her eyes.

"Don't be fooled! That's a Nox tactic!" she added quickly. "Underestimating the Resistance!"

...She is truly committed to the bit.

"May I ask a question?"

They hesitated, then nodded.

"If I were a bloodthirsty monster," I said softly, "why would I disguise myself as a student with mediocre grades whose only hobby is eating melon bread?"

Total silence. The members in the back began to falter. "Wait... that actually makes sense..." "Hold on..." "...Is Asahi the Nox?"

I raised an eyebrow. Oh? An internal plot twist.

"Asahi accused us first to stay safe!" "It’s possible!"

Asahi panicked instantly. "SILENCE!"

I stared at the ceiling. Someone... anyone... save me.

"If you ever find the real Nox," I said nonchalantly, "let me know. I'm curious too."

High-level sarcasm. Effective. Lethal.

SLAM.

The door swung open. "...What exactly are you doing in here?"

The voice was calm, yet heavy with authority. Mayonaka Nozomi stood in the doorway. Long violet hair. A gaze as cold as a night that never truly sleeps. Beside her stood Kurumi Mitsuzu, a gentle smile on her face, but her eyes were sharp—like a blade wrapped in silk.

The room went dead silent. The lamp was still shining directly into my face. The situation was... profoundly embarrassing.

Kurumi stepped in slowly. "It seems," she said softly, "that you're all playing a game that is quite... imaginative."

Asahi stood up straight. "We were verifying the truth!"

Kurumi smiled. It was thin. Dangerous. "In that case... let us seek the truth in a more mature fashion."

Silence. She locked eyes with Asahi. "Imagination is a beautiful thing," she continued gently. "But if left uncontrolled... it can hurt others."

Asahi went quiet. For the first time, she had no scripted comeback. Nozomi stood beside me, saying nothing, but her presence acted like an anchor holding a ship steady in a storm. Strange. But... grounding.

Kurumi continued, "If you have anxieties... speak them plainly." She turned toward the exit. "The Heartbreak Society is open to everyone." She glanced back slightly. "Come. Let's settle this there."

Asahi and the others looked at each other. Hesitant. Confused. Reality was beginning to set in.

I stood up and grabbed my bag. Nozomi gave me a fleeting glance, wordless. We walked out. The university corridors were quiet, our footsteps echoing—slow and rhythmic.

...Finally. From a kidnapping to a counseling session. My life is truly absurd.

And amidst those footsteps, I realized one thing. It’s not just me who’s troubled anymore. It’s everyone around me. And for some reason—I’m starting to get used to it.

This might be the start of a whole new problem. But at least it’s more logical than "Nox."