20 minutes before the confrontation...
In a quiet alley near Yukio's apartment, the blue-haired girl crouched behind a bush, trying to fix the slightly crooked pin on her hat. Her name was Hoshimachi Suisei—idol, perfectionist, and currently, an unwilling spy.
Suisei (Internally):Ugh... so much for elegance. How could I fall from a tree like a complete amateur?
She clenched her jaw as she recalled the moment just minutes ago—Yukio looking down from his window, catching a brief glimpse of her as she landed awkwardly on the ground.
Suisei (Internally):I was doing just fine, observing from a branch... until that squirrel showed up.
She shivered with frustration. And to make things worse... he saw it. That 'pervert' saw her underwear—she was sure of it. He looked down for half a second... half a second too long.
She stood up and brushed the dirt off her skirt, still hiding in the shadows of the alley. Then, as she adjusted her cap and binoculars, she spotted someone familiar.
Suisei:Huh...?
Her sharp eyes locked onto a figure walking out of a nearby apartment complex.
Suisei (Internally):That's him... the guy. The one Pekora's been with. No one knows his name, not even me. He's a complete unknown...
Without a sound, she began tailing Yukio at a safe distance. Despite her polished idol persona, she moved with the precision of someone who had done surveillance before. Maybe once. Or twice. Or twenty times.
Suisei (Internally):What is he doing...? Just walking around aimlessly? Boring...
She followed him through a few empty streets. Then, Yukio stopped. He looked around at nothing in particular—trees, kids playing, a distant park bench—and let out a soft sigh.
Yukio (Distant):This is not fun at all.
Suisei narrowed her eyes.
Suisei (Internally):What did I expect... He doesn't even look like someone who enjoys being around people. And yet... he's always with her lately.
Just as she was considering returning to HQ, something caught her attention.
Pekora:Oh! Yukio-kun!!!
Pekora's voice rang out like a bell in the quiet park. Suisei's head snapped toward the playground.
Suisei (Internally):Pekora...?! She's here too?
What's she doing out here with... him? Again?
Suisei climbed a nearby tree with practiced ease—this time avoiding any small woodland creatures. From her new vantage point, she observed the two. Yukio approached the playground reluctantly, and she watched as he crouched near the bunnies Pekora was playing with.
Then it happened.
Pekora:Yukio-kun, you're so mean—even to animals!
The mood shifted slightly. Suisei's brows furrowed.
Suisei (Internally):What did he do...? Pekora looked hurt for a second there. I knew it... he's no good. First spying on me, then making Pekora sad...
She gritted her teeth. A memory flashed briefly in her mind—one from long ago. A different boy. A different disappointment.
Suisei (Internally):They're all the same. Every single one of them. Selfish. Heartless. Creeps.
And now this one is trying to get close to Pekora... She's too kind, too naïve to notice what kind of person he really is.
She watched in silence as the two sat together on a bench, Pekora showing him something on her phone. Yukio's expression remained flat, unreadable. But then—
Yukio:Just because of that, I will subscribe to your channel.
Pekora beamed. Suisei's heart twisted.
Suisei (Internally):No... No, no, no. That's how it starts. Fake kindness. False smiles. Then lies. Manipulation. Betrayal.
As Pekora walked away, waving cheerfully, Suisei remained in the tree, her hand tightening around a nearby branch until it creaked.
Suisei (Internally):That's enough. I've seen enough. I'm ending this now.
She dropped from the branch, landing silently like a shadow. Her boots tapped against the path as she marched forward, eyes locked on the boy who was still sitting alone on the bench.
Her expression hardened, her voice low and cold.
Suisei:Hey.
Yukio turned slightly, surprised by the sudden appearance of the girl he saw earlier.
Yukio:You're that girl. What do you want?
She stepped forward, her arms at her side, posture straight and confrontational.
Suisei (Internally):I don't know your name. I don't care. But I won't let you get any closer to her. Not you. Not ever.
As the chapter fades out, her last thought echoes like a vow:
Suisei (Internally):I don't need A-chan's permission to protect her. I'll do it myself.