Regularly Irregular

CHAPTER 14 - The Start of it All

You noticed it once during your gym hour as you were running your warm up laps. You made sure to run faster than everyone, that way you wouldn't have to hold meaningless small talk with your classmates. After finishing the three laps, you sat on the turf in the middle of the track, taking a moment to catch your breath. Your eyes had wandered and landed on a tall oak tree in the distance. You were particularly intrigued by the figure that was hiding behind it, only poking their head around the side. As you focused on it, you realized they were staring directly at you.

You dug your palms into your eyes, rubbing roughly to make sure you weren't hallucinating. When you dropped your hands, the figure hidden behind the tree was gone. A shiver ran up your spine at the thought of someone spying on you, and a small seed of worry was buried in the pit of your stomach. 

The same mysterious figure continued to pop up after that, hiding behind trees or brushes, sometimes even glaring at you through classroom windows. You had never gotten close enough to tell if they were a student or not, for every time you tried to approach them they would vanish before you even got close enough to see their face. It was creepy, to say the least. And slightly terrifying.

"Are you okay, Y/n?" Kakyoin's voice brought you out of your daydream.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine."

"Are you sure? Class got out almost ten minutes ago and you haven't moved a muscle. Do you have cleaning duty or something today?"

"Uh... I don't think so. If I did someone would have yelled at me to do it by now." You tried to joke but the atmosphere hanging around Kakyoin was one filled of worry.

"You've seemed a bit off lately, are you sure there's nothing bothering you?"

The truth was there was an endless amount of things that were bothering you, the biggest ones being the truth about your friend's trip to Egypt and that stalker-ish figure that was following you everywhere. Normally you wouldn't hesitate to complain to Kakyoin, but it felt wrong right now.

"I promise, I'm fine." You smiled up at your friend. There was no particular reason you were keeping your silence, just a nagging voice in the back of your head that told you Kakyoin would make a bigger deal of the situation than needed to be made if you did come clean.

"If you say so..." The hesitation in your friend's voice was clear, but he didn't pry anymore. "Well, I'm going to hang out at Jojo's for a bit, wanna come with?"

"To the giant's house? No way in hell," you replied coldly, gathering your school bag and standing from your seat.

"Oh come on~ You guys have been getting along so well lately! Please, please, please! Every time I go over there Miss. Holly is always asking why you aren't tagging along as well. She thinks you are Jojo are really good friends and you wouldn't wanna disappoint her, would you?" Kakyoin batted his eyelashes at you, his eyes growing large like a puppy's.

It was difficult to say no to him general, but even more so when he acted so childish. It was stupid, sure, but that didn't stop your heart from exploding in your chest every time he insisted on spending time with you. So what if Jotaro was going to be there too? His mom was definitely the nicest person you have ever met. She had no issue housing and feeding someone who's name she didn't even know the night you (drunkenly) stayed over.

"Did you even ask Kujo, because I'm sure if you did he would say no." You crossed your arms over your chest.

"Ya see, I was thinking we just tell him you're coming with and not give him the chance to argue."

"And you really think that's gonna work?"

"I don't see why it wouldn't." Kakyoin's cherry earrings bobbed as he shrugged his shoulders. He grabbed your hand, leading you to Jotaro's locker before you had the time to object any further.