𝓕ᵃᵗʰᵉʳ'ˢ 𝓟ᵉʳᶠᵉᶜᵗ 𝓛ⁱᵗᵗˡᵉ 𝓖ⁱʳˡ

VIII | II

★・・・★

CHAPTER — II
part eight

"What ?"

NOBARA LET out a loud exhale, "Didn't you notice ?", she came forward to roughly grab you by your shoulders, "You're in danger."

Your face frowned in confusion, "Nobara, are you okay ?" You didn't really understand what she was telling you, but what alarmed you the most was how panicked and worried she looked, you instantly wanted to help her. "If there's danger, we can go to the police—"

"No !" She exclaimed, her eyes suddenly going a more warm, orange color instead of her usual chocolate brown before calming down, however you didn't notice that. "Everything but the police. Are you doing this on purpose ? Don't you know—" she paused to watch you clearly, before her face morphed into one of realization, "Oh. You don't know."

"Know what ?"

"Seriously ? You literally got bitten."

Bitten ? When ? By what ?

To say that you were confused was an understatement. At that moment, you felt lost. Not knowing how to deal with it, you simply put it in the back of your mind, trying to rationalize, to tell yourself that Nobara didn't like you—for some unknown reasons—and that she probably just wanted to annoy you.

Yes, that was logical enough, that was something you could understand, that you could digest.

Nobara seemed to have sensed the change in your demeanor and sighed. "Never mind then, I'm just wasting my time here." She pressed her thumb and index on her temple, slowly massaging it. "Just—lock your window and be careful, okay ?" She let go of your shoulders and you nodded, not entirely sure of how you should react. She was being weirdly ominous, like she knew something you didn't, and it wasn't the first time you'd gotten this feeling. Her way of talking reminded you of Megumi and his confusing comments...

How did she even know where you lived, to begin with ?

"How did you know that my room is here," you asked, trying to find the proper words carefully, you didn't want to frustrate her further...

"I knew the girl that used to live here with her family, before you moved in. I'm not stalking you if that's what you're wondering. I just heard a new family would move in, so I guessed it would be here."

"No. I—just—"

"Save it." She rolled her eyes, "I just came here to warn you." She walked back to the your window, jumping out with such ease that it made you feel envious. You wouldn't be able to do this kind of thing—jump inside someone's window—because apparently even strong emotions and knee scratches were dangerous for you. You felt lame, lame and weak. You wished your body was as strong and as flexible as Nobara's. "And the police is useless, take your dad and leave when you realize." Her words were heavy and laced with meaning, but you couldn't to decipher it, and once again you felt clueless.

And then, she was gone, running in the horizon, leaving you alone with your mind swimming in confusing and contradicting thoughts.

At dinner, your father was back to normal, he even kissed your cheek as he sat down in front of you and next to your mother, a satisfied smile on his face.

"What's gotten you in such a good mood, darling ?" you mother inquired, her face mirroring the happy expression on his. He leaned over to her, pouting his lips in an exaggerated manner and pecked her nose.

"I've heard news of the publishing company I told you about. They called me ten minutes ago." He started eating, his knife digging in his food, which consisted of a steak and a vegetal soup.