Golden Era (Book 2)

28. Stalker

Two dozen photos were captured in detail their conversation and their embrace. Sitting down next to Noa, Ayuri demanded, "Please explain what this is."

Ayuna was at a complete loss. It chilled her to think that someone had stalked her and documented her life in detail like this. Finally, she asked, "Where did you get these?"

"I didn't," Ayuri shot back, stone-faced. "Noa did, and thank Heavens she did. Otherwise, these would likely be publicized tomorrow and drown the school in gossip. Considering your relationship with Sachi is now more or less common knowledge, the Yozei name will become a joke and Sachi a laughing stock."

Ayuna snuck a glance at Noa, who remained silent throughout their exchange. "Noa?"

"For once, Ayuna, I think I'll be asking questions," she replied, eyes darting between the two sisters. "You both have a lot of explaining to do. You seem to know the backstory for these photos and kept it a secret! I'm done with being in the dark. What the hell is going on?"

Stiff-lipped, Ayuri said, "I think I'll let Ayuna do the talking. Her version of the story's always better than mine."

Under Noa's intent watch, Ayuna collapsed into the nearest chair and let her secrets pour: she told Noa about waking up from that vivid dream, her time at Seigaku, and finally, the events that led her and Ayuri to discover that the dream was real.

Noa's eyes popped. "Real? It can't be! It's ridiculous!"

"I had doubts all summer," said Ayuri. "But I see reality when I see it, especially when Ayuna's account corroborates with everything these people said."

"But the time gaps..."

"It doesn't make sense, I know. Nothing does. Not that it matters because Ayuna clearly doesn't want to be with Sachi anymore."

Shirking from her sister's caustic remarks, Ayuna looked at her friend helplessly, "Noa, how did you get these photos?"

"From this guy named Saito Ken."

Ayuna paled.

Noa watched her reaction. "You know him?"

"He's the teaching assistant for one of my lab courses."

"Ah. That explains how he knew your whereabouts."

Ayuna shuddered. She thought back to their last conversation before she left for the trail. Ken's eyes had the glint of knowing more than he should. It frightened her to think that he'd followed her and waited until she made the return trip. She didn't dare to imagine what might have happened if Fuji hadn't appeared.

"Why don't you tell her exactly what happened, Noa," prompted Ayuri.

Noa nodded and faced Ayuna, "I saw you leave late in the afternoon and monitored your GPS signal because I was worried. When I followed the signal, I bumped into Saito Ken skulking around the side trail with a camera. He practically jumped out of his skin when he saw me, so I knew he was up to no good. After some questioning, he confessed he took photos of you that he felt the student council president should probably see."

"He was on his way to show Sachi?" whispered Ayuna.

"Exactly. But I confiscated his camera as soon as I heard he took pictures of you without permission. Sachi strictly ordered no pictures of you under any circumstances. Not to mention, pilfering personal information behind someone's back is prohibited—a serious violation of student privacy. These policies gave me the right to act as information police and tell him to keep his mouth shut if he didn't want the incident recorded as an offence..."