Inseverable Tail

'What am I doing?!' As soon as Megumi realized what she was doing, she took a step back in an awkward manner, fleeing out of sight as Hajime turned around. Her emotions got the better of her and by the time she got back to her senses, she had already defaulted to following him, just like what she used to do whenever she was at school. Somehow, the monitoring duties that Akamine-sensei bestowed on her became a habit. And every time she wasn't occupied at school, she would always follow Hajime, tailing him like a bona fide stalker of his.

She didn't know what triggered her stalking instincts but she assumed that it was probably due to the fact that the invitation transpired in school and she saw it fit to oversee the entire thing even though she couldn't care less. Was it curiosity or genuine jealousy? Megumi didn't want to ponder about it since the answer was as clear as day— or so that's what she assumed since she immediately told herself that her actions were justified by her piqued curiosity.

With bated breaths, Megumi continued her tail, hearing a few kids passing by calling her a stalker. She was used to it, and it's unquestionable that she was also used to ignoring what they call her. A determined expression was written on her face, she wasn't going to lose her tail no matter what.

Hajime didn't even bother going home. He just headed straight to the park and waited for Natsumi there. Megumi almost screamed at him in frustration. 'You're going on a date, for Pete's sake!' She exclaimed in her head. Every cell of her body yelled at her to go to Hajime and give him a good talking-to. But what would that do? It would just give away her position. She wanted to follow Hajime until he reached the cinema. She was keen on catching Hajime doing something malicious so she could instantly butt in and stop the date. Even though she was perfectly aware that Hajime wasn't that type of person, she still wished that she would catch Hajime red-handed so she could stop the date midway through.

Even after all that, she still assumed that everything she was trying to achieve right now was all because of curiosity. It was pretty obvious that she was jealous to the core. "Just you wait, Hajime, I'll catch you no matter what." She gritted her teeth, not because Hajime was going on a date (well, partly because of that) but because he didn't even bother wearing something nice for his date.

While Hajime waited, he fell asleep, leaning in on one of the trellises he frequented. His breathing evened out, and he started soaking in the chilly early evening air that comfortably enveloped him. Megumi, on the other hand, started remembering the time when she and Hajime went downtown. Could it be considered a date? Does that mean she was first before Natsumi? How could Hajime go on a date with another girl when he already went with her?

Megumi shook her head. Her thoughts were getting the best of her and it wouldn't do good if they go out of control. Right now, her sole focus is to follow Hajime and catch him off-guard, or rather, catch him red-handed.

Natsumi finally arrived by the park, waving amicably as she approached Hajime. To Megumi's surprise, she was also wearing her uniform. Megumi was aghast, how could they think the same thing? Did they talk about the date beforehand? Was Natsumi's invitation all just an act? Megumi's thoughts ran wild like a raging river after a storm.

She was reading too much into it, however. After all, Hajime and Natsumi didn't change since it would just be a bother. Besides, they didn't have any time. Time was almost up and the showing was drawing near. They couldn't afford to miss the initial parts of the film, and that's why chance enabled them to think identically.

"Let's go?" Natsumi asked as Hajime opened his eyes. She didn't wait for Hajime to stand up. Without a shred of hesitation, she grabbed Hajime by the arm and pulled him up, proceeding to pull him out of the park and sticking by his side like glue on paper. Megumi clenched her fists and clenched her teeth that they chattered loudly. 'How dare you, Hajime, letting her invade your personal space like that?!' She inwardly screamed in her mind but she still maintained her composure and followed them. It took a whole lot of discipline for her not to scream out her thoughts out loud, even Franz who was watching from afar could tell that Megumi was enraged to the core.

'Whatever, at least I could catch Hajime doing something misunderstandable, and then I'll cut off their date.' She steeled her resolve and pursed her lips just in case she got another urge to scream.

The inevitable has finally arrived as the three of them arrived at the cinema.

And Megumi upped her game a notch by disguising herself as an old lady. She wore a white ruffled wig, wide-rimmed sunglasses, and balanced a cane on her hand— all while following Hajime and Natsumi who were already getting their fair share of popcorn, drinks, and hotdogs on sticks.

"Thanks, Natsumi, you didn't have to do this, you know," Hajime said out of courtesy. In hindsight, it was really unnecessary for her to invite him out but she did so anyway to thank him. Right now, Hajime doesn't have any plans to pay for anything since Natsumi offered to treat him. Furthermore, the tickets were free.

"I should be the one thanking you." Natsumi warmly smiled while bashfully looking down at the ground. Somehow, she felt an intense gaze on her nape and she turned around, only to see that there was an old lady sitting by the corner of the waiting area. For some odd reason, Natsumi could tell that the old lady was intensely staring at her even though her eyes couldn't be seen behind the reflective sunglasses.