บท 116: Chapter 101: Familiar meeting
~~Thus chapter follows Hina's events~~
Hina walked down the street with a steady pace, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, but Hina's focus was sharp, unshaken by the mellow hues of the day.
Her right hand rested in her pocket, fingers tightly gripping the handle of the small-hidden knife she always carried and that nobody knew about.
Even though the walk to the cat café was supposed to be innocent, every step felt like it could lead into something much darker.
She couldn't shake the strange sense of familiarity she had felt the moment she first met Emi Fujimoto.
There was something off about her.
There was a strange feeling in the back of Hina's mind that told her they had crossed paths before.
And her instincts rarely sensed something wrong.
But no matter how hard she tried to recall, she couldn't place the memory.
Emi had been too friendly, too comfortable when they met at school with Kai, as if their interactions were rehearsed.
More than that, she seemed way too friendly with her boyfriend.
It seemed like they had already met before… but not as childhood friends.
Hina's instincts rarely betrayed her.
This wasn't just some casual meeting about the school festival.
There was something deeper going on, and Hina intended to figure it out.
As she walked, she stayed on alert, keeping her senses sharp for anything unusual, any sign of danger.
Every person she passed, every shadow that moved, was scrutinized.
Hina felt like she couldn't lower her guard for even a split second.
Her fingers brushed the cool metal of the knife again, reassuring her that she was ready for anything.
After about twenty minutes of walking, she finally reached her destination.
The cat café stood at the corner of the street, its warm, cozy lights spilling onto the sidewalk.
There was a soft murmur of conversation and the occasional meow from inside.
It seemed innocent enough.
But Hina remained wary and on alert.
Just as she arrived, she saw Emi standing outside the café, waiting for her.
Emi was wearing a light pink sweater and jeans, looking perfectly harmless as she waved excitedly.
And once again, the strange feeling of familiarity returned again, but this time with a little wave of repressed anger.
Hina couldn't tell why.
She was sure that she had never met that girl before.
Emi smiled widely, her face lighting up with enthusiasm, but to Hina, it seemed exaggerated.
Too much.
"Hina-chan!" Emi called out, her voice cheerful and sweet as she approached. "I'm so glad you could make it!"
Hina forced a smile, but her eyes remained cold and calculating, studying Emi's every movement. "Yeah. I'm here." Her tone was flat, professional.
Emi, unfazed by Hina's lack of warmth, beamed at her.
"Come on, let's head inside! I already reserved a table for us. It's the best spot in the café!" She said with a joyful tone of voice while grabbing her left arm.
"Disgusting…" Hina thought while feeling the touch of Emi on her arm.
Hina nodded but said nothing as Emi led the way.
Her eyes darted around as they entered the café, taking note of the layout, the exits, and the people inside.
The soft purring of cats and the scent of coffee filled the air, but Hina remained on edge.
There was no telling what Emi's true intentions were, and until she found out, she wouldn't let her guard down.
Inside, Emi guided her to a small table near the window.
It was cozy, with plush chairs and a cat-themed décor that gave the place a whimsical atmosphere.
Hina couldn't help but think it was an odd setting for a meeting that could potentially be more dangerous than it seemed.
A waitress approached them with a polite smile. "Can I get you two anything?" she asked.
Emi glanced at the menu briefly before flashing another bright smile. "I'll have a white cat chocolate cappuccino, please!"
The waitress nodded and turned to Hina. "And for you?"
"Nothing," Hina replied curtly "I had a bad stomachache today, so it think it's better for me to don't eat anything sweet…" she said, with a small smile and a formal tone.
She clearly didn't trust anything here, and the last thing she wanted was to let her guard down by indulging in something as trivial as coffee.
The waitress seemed surprised by her "coldness" but said nothing as she left.
Hina probably scared her.
"Are you sure that you want nothing?" Emi asked, with a slightly disappointed tone of voice.
Hina nodded her head again.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, but I don't feel like eating or drinking anything…"'she said, while scratching the back of her head.
As soon as the waitress was gone, Emi leaned in a little, her elbows resting on the table as she grinned at Hina.
"I'm so excited about the festival! There's so much to plan, right? I was hoping to talk to you about some of the details." Emi said, changing the topic of the conversation.
Hina remained silent.
She just nodded her head again, letting Emi talk for now.
She was studying her closely, observing her body language, the way she moved, the tone of her voice.
Emi seemed bubbly, almost too friendly, but there was something else underneath.
Something guarded, like she was hiding something important.
"So, Hina," Emi continued, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, "what exactly is your role in the festival organization? I've heard you're pretty involved."
Hina's expression remained neutral as she answered. "I'm just helping with logistics. Nothing major."
"Oh, come on, don't be modest!" Emi giggled, waving her hand dismissively. "I bet you're doing way more than that. Voices about you said that you're always so reliable."
Hina didn't respond, but her suspicion grew. Emi was clearly trying to warm her up, soften her.
But for what? Every question felt calculated, as if she were trying to get at something specific.
"Ah well, you're right. My role is to actually manage everything with Kai… a hard work." Hina said.
As the conversation continued, Emi asked more about the festival, like who was responsible for what, the timeline, and the various events being planned.
But it was all surface-level.
Hina knew There was no real interest in the details; she was merely keeping the conversation going.
Hina could tell that Emi's mind was somewhere else entirely, and soon enough, the conversation started to shift.
"So… Kai-kun," Emi said casually, leaning back in her chair with a small, innocent smile. "He seems like a really nice guy." She said.
Hina's eyes narrowed slightly.
She had been expecting this.
Emi had been circling around Kai since the moment she opened her mouth.
Now, she was finally getting to what she really wanted to talk about.
"He is," Hina replied, her voice sharp.
She wasn't going to give Emi any more information than necessary.
Emi's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with something that Hina couldn't quite place… curiosity, maybe even something darker.
"You two seem really close. How long have you been together?"
Hina leaned back slightly in her chair, her posture calm but her mind racing.
She didn't like this line of questioning, not one bit. "Long enough," she replied curtly.
"That's sweet," Emi said, her tone light but her eyes probing. "You two look really cute together…" Emi said, while her eyes were locked in Hina's, like a challenge.
Hina raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.
"Why are you asking about Kai?" She asked.
Emi blinked, feigning innocence. "Oh, no reason! I was just curious. I mean, it must be hard balancing school, the festival, and a relationship, right?"
Hina's eyes bore into Emi's, her suspicions deepening.
Emi was digging for something, but Hina wasn't sure what it was yet. "We manage," she said simply, refusing to give her any satisfaction.
There was a brief silence as the waitress returned with Emi's cappuccino, placing the intricately designed drink in front of her.
Emi thanked the waitress, taking a sip before glancing back at Hina.
"You know," Emi began, her tone more serious now, "Kai's really lucky to have someone like you."
Hina didn't respond, her eyes narrowing as she waited for Emi to continue.
Emi's gaze softened, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"But sometimes, don't you wonder if there are things about him you don't know? Secrets he's keeping? I mean, how do you trust him so much?" Emi asked, with a mischievous tone.
Hina's grip tightened on the knife in her pocket, her heart skipping a beat.
She wasn't sure where Emi was going with this, but the shift in the conversation had put her on high alert.
"What do you mean?" Hina asked, her voice dangerously calm.
Emi smiled again, but this time it didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, nothing. I'm just saying, sometimes people aren't who they seem. Especially in situations like this like organising the school festival. More than that…" Emi said, clearing her throat.
"I heard voices about you, about how good your grades are… about how many people admire you… you're perfect, and yet, you're in love with someone so simple as Kai? An invisible man? What did you see in him?" Emi asked.
Hina's mind raced, trying to piece together Emi's intentions.
Was she trying to plant doubt in her mind about Kai? Or was there something else going on, something much bigger than she realized?
One thing was certain.
Emi Fujimoto wasn't as innocent as she appeared.
As they sat there in the cozy café, surrounded by the purring of cats and the warmth of the setting sun, Hina knew this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous.
Emi was playing a game, and Hina was determined to figure out the rules before it was too late.
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