Chapter 113: Emi’s…

Emi's hand found its way to Kai's arm, a soft, deliberate touch that led him forward. She hooked her arm around his as they began to walk, guiding him gently down the hallway with a familiarity that seemed both casual and intentional.

Kai, caught off guard, allowed her to lead for a moment.

But as they took a few steps, a strange unease washed over him.

The weight of her hand on his arm felt out of place, and the thought of Hina crossed his mind—a flash of her face, her sharp gaze and the trust she placed in him.

With a subtle but firm motion, he pulled his arm away, putting a bit of distance between himself and Emi.

His movement was polite but unmistakably clear, a sign of respect for his girlfriend and an instinctual need to set boundaries.

He reacted instinctively, not thinking about anything in particular.

Maybe he was scared of a possible Hina's reaction?

Emi paused mid-step, momentarily thrown off by his reaction.

For a brief moment, a look of surprise flickered across her face, but she quickly masked it, letting out a light laugh as if brushing it off.

"Oh, sorry, Emi," Kai said, trying to smooth things over, "I just… don't want everyone's eyes on us." He gestured to the hallway around them, where a few students were passing by, glancing at them with mild curiosity.

Emi's forced smile softened, though her eyes held a glint of something he couldn't quite place. "Ah, of course. I understand."

She gave a small shrug, adjusting her posture and stepping back slightly to give him space.

"I forget how much attention people pay here." She said while playing with her hair, with a small blush on her face.

Kai returned her smile with a polite nod, a little more at ease now that there was some distance between them.

As they resumed walking, he couldn't help but feel a lingering tension in the air.

There was something just a bit too calculated in her behavior, but he brushed it off, not wanting to be rude.

"So… what did you want help with?" he asked, breaking the silence.

Emi's smile brightened, her demeanor shifting into one of casual innocence.

"Well, I thought it would be great to get a tour of the school, you know?" she replied, her tone friendly and enthusiastic. "I'm still pretty new here, and you know how confusing it can be to settle into a new place."

Kai blinked in slight confusion. "Oh, that's it? Just a tour?"

Emi nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. "Yep, nothing more. Don't worry, Kai. I respect your relationship with Hina," she said with a slight tilt of her head, a playful glint in her eye. "But don't forget, we're childhood friends too."

Kai let out a small sigh of relief, though he still couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to her request. "Alright, I can show you around," he replied, his tone more relaxed.

They began their slow walk through the school, with Kai pointing out various classrooms, study areas, and the library.

Emi listened attentively, but Kai could feel her gaze on him, studying him with a focused intensity that made him feel like he was under a microscope.

"So, how have things been for you here?" Emi asked, her tone light but her eyes sharp. "It must be nice, having someone like Hina around. She seems… interesting."

Kai shrugged, choosing his words carefully. "Yeah, she's… different," he replied vaguely.

He didn't want to reveal too much about Hina, especially to someone as curious as Emi.

Something about her probing questions felt off, like she was fishing for something specific.

Emi continued walking beside him, her expression unchanging, though a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes at his vague response.

"You know," she continued, trying a different angle, "I'd love to get to know her better. Hina seems like the kind of person who leaves a strong impression."

Kai nodded, keeping his response neutral.

"She does, but she doesn't really talk about personal stuff with me. She's pretty private. And that's why I didn't talk about her when we went at that cat cafe."

He hoped that answer would satisfy Emi, but he could see her persistence wasn't waning.

Emi's gaze grew slightly sharper, though she kept her tone casual. "I see. So she diddnt even talk about… our conversation about the festival?" she pressed, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity.

Kai shook his head, keeping his response short. "Not really. She just mentioned that you two talked about the festival, that's all."

For a moment, a faint shadow crossed Emi's face, but she quickly replaced it with a smile, as if accepting his answer.

"Well, I suppose she wouldn't want to bore you with the details." She gave a soft laugh, her eyes flicking toward him as if gauging his reaction. "I guess I was just hoping she'd mention me more often."

Kai's polite smile didn't waver, but internally, he felt the strange weight of her words.

There was an odd, almost competitive tone in her voice that made him wary, but he kept his thoughts to himself, not wanting to cause any tension.

Emi finally sighed, a hint of resignation in her expression.

"Oh well," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Anyway, thanks for the tour, Kai. You've been a big help."

Kai offered her a friendly nod, relieved that the conversation seemed to be winding down.

But just as they were about to part ways, Emi's phone chimed, and she glanced at it, her eyes lighting up with sudden realization.

"Oh! I almost forgot—I have an appointment," she said, giving him an apologetic smile. "Thanks again, Kai. I'll see you around." With a wave, she turned and walked away, leaving Kai standing alone in the hallway.

He watched her disappear down the corridor, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't quite pin down.

Something about their interaction felt off, as if there was a hidden layer beneath her cheerful demeanor.

He couldn't shake the feeling that Emi had been testing him, trying to extract information about Hina without being too obvious.

Before he could dwell on it further, his phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts.

He glanced down at the screen, seeing Detective Saito's name flashing on the caller ID.

The familiar pang of anxiety struck him.

Whenever Saito called, it was never without reason.

Taking a deep breath, Kai answered, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Hello?" he said, his heart thudding as he braced himself for whatever news awaited him on the other end of the line.