n

n

n

n

nA hooded person with a black mask dressed in black stood around the corner of an alley, right beside the vending machine under the streetlamp.

nSeeing the hooded individual, Ishikawa couldn’t help but feel slightly uneasy.

nThere weren’t many people around and she couldn’t help but feel skeptical about him. So, as she noticed the hooded individual from afar, she changed her path to maintain a distance from the individual.

nWhile keeping a wary eye on the individual, she walked. Her previous excited face displayed a noticeable change as she looked rather tensed.

n‘Why is he staring at me?’

nShe couldn’t help but feel her legs weaken as she noticed the individual’s stare. From the moment, she had gotten close to the hooded individual, he kept staring at her. freewēbnoveℓ.com

nSo, it further alleviated her fear.

nHer heart thumped the more she got close to the man. She even felt a desperate urge to run away. So, she hastened her steps.

nBut she couldn’t be too obvious about her fear.

nWho knows what the man would do to her if he discovered she was scared?

nSo, she tried to put up a brave facade.

nHowever, as she got close to the man, he started heading her way. This further panicked her and she started turning pale. She tightly squinched the bag in her hand and prepared to swing the bag if he took any action.

nThen the man called out to her, “Sumire.”

n‘Who is this man? Is he a stalker? How does he know my name?’

nDifferent thoughts ran amuck as her heart rate spiked when she heard him calling out her name. Perspiration trickled down her forehead and her palms became sweaty.

nShe hastened her speed further, ignoring the man’s call.

n“Wait, Sumire,” the man hastened his pace as he tried to catch up to her.

nIshikawa, however, became even more scared. Out of fear, she started running away, “Who are you? Why are you calling my name?”

nThe man chased her down immediately and caught up to her. Then he grabbed her by hand. Just as he grabbed her, Ishikawa felt a chill run down her spine.

nIn a state of panic, she swung her bag while at the same time, she jerked her hand to try to free herself from the man’s hold. “Leave me,” she yelled.

n“Woah, calm down.”

nThe hooded individual ducked his head as he avoided the blow. Then he immediately let go of her hand and pulled down his mask, “Sumire, it’s me.”

nIshikawa was ready to escape, but when she saw the person’s face, her furrowed brows relaxed, and a look of relief washed over her.

n“Oh- It’s you, Hiro.” She said.

nHiro, however, appeared panicked. Drenched in sweat, he looked at her fixedly while maintaining a safe distance from her.

n“Now, can you put your bag down?” he said.

nEven now, she still had her bag raised as if preparing to strike again. Although her expression had softened, she still looked fierce.

n“Oh- Sorry about it,” she lowered her bag.

n“But why are you dressed so suspiciously? You nearly scared the ** out of me.” Ishikawa said.

n“I should be the one to say that,” Hiro mumbled albeit in a low whisper.

n“Did you say something?” Ishikawa felt that she heard something but couldn’t tell what it

nwas.

n“Ahh, nothing. I just said that I can’t walk freely now.”

n“That makes sense,” she murmured with a thoughtful look. “People will recognize you if you don’t hide your appearance.”

n“I’m sorry. But still, can’t you at least make a call or tell me beforehand that you’d be here with that appearance?” she nagged.

nWell, he couldn’t refute. After all, he did look suspicious in that all-black attire. From head to toe, he looked like he was dressed in black- a pair of black boots, black pants, black shirt layered with a black leather jacket.

nOn top of it, he wore a black cap and a black mask to cover his face.

nIn every possible way, he looked like a suspicious person.

n‘Maybe wearing all-black was a bad idea.’ He thought after hearing her.

n“I’m sorry. I should have been more careful,” Hiro apologized after pondering briefly.

nNow that she felt at ease, she couldn’t help but take notice of Hiro. Although he looked suspicious in the beginning, he also looked stunningly good-looking.

nThe leather jacket fit him perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and lean body. Also, the

ncap sat perfectly on his head accentuating his facial features.

nEspecially, the top unbuttoned part of the shirt that revealed his fair yet slightly tanned skin was a feast to the eyes.

nIf one looked closer, they could even see part of his collarbone.

n‘He’s got quite a noticeable Adam’s apple and his collarbone is quite defined. I wonder if he’s got abs.’

nIshikawa who had been staring fixedly at Hiro couldn’t help but blush as she thought about how eye-appealing Hiro looked at the moment.

nHer face reddened as she thought while looking slightly embarrassed, ‘What are you thinking about Sumire? From when did I start thinking such pervertedly?’

n‘Come to your senses, Sumire.’

nHiro was talking with her but she who had been lost in her thoughts couldn’t even hear her.

n“Sumire? Are you okay?”

nAs she came to her senses, she was met with the sight of Hiro looking at her with eyes full of

nconcern.

n“Yeah, I’m fine,” she responded in a hurry, her tone slightly embarrassed.

nClueless as Hiro was, he said, “You sure? You look all red. Are you having a fever? If you’re not

nokay then we can go some other time.”

n“No, I’m okay. Let’s go, it’s getting a little late.” She said alarmingly while attempting to

ndivert his attention away from her reddened face.

nAlthough she was embarrassed beyond measure, she didn’t want Hiro to find out that she had

nbeen having perverted thoughts about him.

nUpon hearing her, Hiro looked at the sky and said, “Yeah, let’s go.”

n“But where are we going?”

nAs they began to walk, Ishikawa couldn’t help but ask.

n