Chapter 5: Five Minus Two

Chapter 5: Five Minus Two

Date: x/xx

Weather: Sunny

Right in the same place I’ve always been.

+++

On Monday, Yaegashi Taichi and the other second-year members of the Cultural Research Club met up first thing in the morning in the clubroom to discuss the possibility that a new «Heartseed» phenomenon had begun.

As usual, Inaba took charge of the discussion for what must’ve been the umpteenth time. First, they each took turns telling the others about any strange events that had happened to them in recent memory. As it turned out, they each had “memories” of another member saying or doing things that the person in question didn’t remember in the slightest. From there, they considered the possibility that an outside force was controlling them, but for the most part, everyone had rock-solid alibis. This left only one conclusion: one or more physically identical impostors were running around behind their backs and having weird interactions with the others.

“So far, they’ve only ever approached us when we’re alone... Maybe that’s an enforced restriction rather than a tactic,” Inaba mused as she set the chalk down on the tray.

“Mmm...” Kiriyama murmured. “The thing is, these imposters look SUPER identical. Like, obviously the stuff they say is just totally bonkers, but it really feels like it’s the actual person talking to you, you know?”

“Get it together, Taichi. Can’t believe you didn’t use the power of love to see through the fake Inaba and her lies,” Nagase joked.

Beside her, Aoki gasped. “You’re right... I never noticed, the power of love didn’t work for us either!” he howled, clutching his hair.

“Who the heck do you think you’re including in that ‘us’?!” Kiriyama snapped.

“Look, it’s not my fault. Whoever they are, they know how to replicate Inaba, right down to her scent.”

“My scent...? Oh god, do I reek or something?!” Instantly, Inaba went from competent commander to full-blown panic.

“No, no! I just mean your, um... natural smell. It’s not bad at all—it’s nice.”

“GROOOOOOOOSS!” Nagase shouted.

“I... I see. So you think I smell good... Personally, I’d like our scents to mingle sometime soon... Hee hee...”

“LEWD!” Nagase shrieked again, though Taichi didn’t see what was so lewd about it.

“Moving on! Let’s come up with a plan!” Kiriyama called.

And so they began to brainstorm potential countermeasures. The debate progressed smoothly; after all, this was their fifth phenomenon, and by now they’d fully acclimated to the entire process.

“If they only target us when we’re alone, like, maybe we should just assume any one-on-one conversation is fake?”

“That does make sense... but there’s no guarantee it’s limited to just one-on-one stuff, y’know?”

“Oh god... If we go with that, then I can’t spend time with Taichi!”

“Why not? All you have to do is make sure a third person is around, right?”

“Oh... Of course...! Then I can be with Taichi as much as I want! Hee hee!”

“I’m on board, too! That way me and Yui can make up for lost time and—”

“I-Inaba, I appreciate the sentiment, but if you think about it, wouldn’t that just create more situations in which two people end up alone together?”

“We’ll just have to cross that bridge when we—”

“Inaban, I command you, cease all Ina-bashful activities at once! This is not a drill!”

“Fine, fine... Let’s get this over with. Hmmm... Oh, that reminds me. Do you think these impostor assholes duplicate our memories, too? Maybe we could discern the fake if we ask it a question that only the real deal would know the answer to.”

“Our memories... Of course! In that case, how about we decide on a code word?!”

“That might work... Good idea, Iori. It’s worth a try, at least. That said, the rules of any given phenomenon are never designed in our favor, so there might not be a one-size-fits-all solution.”

“Oh gosh... You don’t think anything’s happened to Chihiro-kun or Shino-chan, do you?! I mean, if no one’s seen an impostor of them, then they’re probably safe, but still!”

“Good question... I’ll see if I can’t probe it out of them.”

“Either way, it seems like all we have to do is let the impostor do its thing, then check in with whoever it was later on.”

“You say that, Taichi, but there’s no guarantee it only impersonates the five of us,” Inaba pointed out.

“Y-You really think they’re impersonating people outside the club?” Kiriyama asked nervously. “That’s, like... kind of terrifying, don’t you think? Like, what if they impersonate our friends in class?”

“Yeah... It’d be a lot easier if we knew for sure they could only mimic the five of us, but if they can be anyone, then all bets are off. I mean, sooner or later we’ll start thinking everyone is a fake!” Nagase replied.

“Look, don’t take what I said and blow it out of proportion. There’s no definitive proof that they can impersonate anyone besides us,” Inaba reassured them. “We don’t even know what their motives are. Maybe they’re independent entities created by «Heartseed», or maybe they’re just controlled hallucinations. Who knows? Either way, we’re still going to handle it the same way.”

“And how’s that?” Kiriyama asked.

Inaba looked around at each of them in turn, leading Taichi and the others to follow suit. There in the clubroom, the members of the original CRC pentagon each looked into the others’ eyes. Then, finally, Inaba spoke:

“We’re going to believe in each other.” She paused. “As much as we’ll want to start suspecting each other, we’re not going to fall for it. We’re going to believe in our friends, family, and acquaintances... but that doesn’t mean we take everything other people tell us as gospel, got it?”

The others nodded.

“Trust, but verify.”

Somehow, they innately understood what she meant by this.

“Still, I gotta say...” She shook her head and laughed. “I really don’t see why «Heartseed» keeps wasting its time trying to fuck with us when it ought to know it doesn’t stand a chance.”

□■□■□

After school, Taichi, Nagase, and Inaba headed off to cheerleading practice.

“You guys haven’t forgotten our Sports Festival bet, have you? The losing team has to do whatever the winning team saaays!” Nagase teased in a singsong voice.

“I’d be more excited if we weren’t lumped in with the other grades,” Inaba grumbled.

“What’s on your mind?” Taichi asked her.

“Our class is motivated, the third-years are... well, reasonably motivated... but our team’s first-years leave a lot to be desired. It’s like they don’t even want to try.”

“Really? Even with Chee-hee and Shino-chan there?”

“You know they’re both wallflowers. Especially Chihiro. He’s supposed to be a cheerleading rep, but he doesn’t even care! Do guys think apathy is a good look? Because it isn’t. Bah.”

“Now, now, Inaba,” Taichi soothed, “it’s not his fault he lost at rock-paper-scissors.”

“Whatever. The point is, Green Team needs to light a fire under our first-years’ asses or we’re dead in the fucking water. Problem is, there’s really not much us second-years can do about it... Uh oh, they’re calling for us. Gotta go.”

And with that, Inaba jogged off to join her classmates.

“Hmmm... Inaban’s really changed, hasn’t she? Last year she felt like more of a ‘puppet master from the shadows’ type, but these days she’s been in the spotlight more and more,” Nagase mused as they watched Inaba walk off. The soft look in her eyes was like that of a mother hen proudly watching over her baby chick.

“You’ve changed too, you know. You never used to volunteer for this stuff—you’d always just take whatever other people dumped on you.”

“Oh yeah? Well, right back at you! You... Well, okay, you’ve always been the volunteering type. But these days you’re more outspoken!”

Am I? Taichi scratched his head.

Meanwhile, Nagase concluded: “I guess we’ve all grown up in our own ways.”

That day’s cheerleading rehearsal was a full-scale performance. Thus, Taichi and the rest of the Red Team—all three classes from all three grade levels—had gathered together in one place. And although a handful of people couldn’t make it due to prior commitments, the crowd was still close to a hundred students in total. Pretty impressive.

More impressive still was that Taichi and the other cheerleading representatives were meant to lead them.

This quickly proved... challenging.

“Okay, so what I want you guys to do...”

“Setouchi-senpai! Could you come over here for a minute?!”

“Be right there! Yaegashi-kun, could you take over for me?”

“Y-You’re putting me in charge? I’m not sure I’m cut out for that...”

As it happened, a lot of the cheerleading reps were absent that day, and there were clearly not enough hands available to manage the rehearsal.

“O-Okay, break time! Second-year representatives, over here!” Setouchi called. She waited until everyone had gathered around her, then continued, “Alright, guys, what the hell are we going to do about this? We’re so short-handed, it’s ridiculous! Hardly anybody’s directing the other grade levels!” The look on her face was one of sheer panic.

“Maybe we should put one person in charge of the second-years, then have the rest sub in for the first- and third-years?” Nagase suggested.

“Normally I’d say go for it, but... I don’t think we have anyone who could manage our entire class on their own, do we?”

But just before Taichi could nod his head in agreement, a fitting candidate sprang to mind:

“Well, we’ve got Fujishima, don’t we?”

After all, he himself had recently seen her back at her full potential... but now that he thought about it, something about the encounter had been off. That “revival” he thought he witnessed might’ve simply been the work of an impostor. But even so, nothing could change the fact that Fujishima was once a charismatic leader unlike any other.

“Huh? M-Me? No, I couldn’t possibly...” Fujishima faltered, shaking her head despondently.

Oh, come on, Fujishima! If not you, then who—

“Man, we really need Fujishima-san’s help if we’re gonna win this,” Watase Shingo commented nonchalantly... at a volume loud enough for the entire crowd to hear.

“Yeah, I know, right? Fujishima-san can do anything she puts her mind to,” Nagase continued, as if on cue.

From there, the rest of the crowd seemed to take the hint:

“Fujishima-san’s our only hope!”

“Gosh, I hope she’ll help us...”

“She’s the only one who’s got what it takes!”

“I’ve... got what it takes...?”

“I don’t get it. What’s the big deal about Fujishima-san?”

“Shhhh! Just go with it, dumbass!”

“Y-You can do it, Fujishima-san!”

“Go for it, Fujishima!”

Well, that escalated quickly. I kinda feel bad for starting it... Seriously, our class latches onto things way too fast... Taichi thought to himself nervously.

“Fu-ji-shi-ma! Fu-ji-shi-ma! Fu-ji-shi-ma!” the crowd began to chant, louder and louder until it built to a roar. At that point, even the first- and third-years had started to join in. Somehow the entire Red Team had latched onto this idea.

Surrounded by nearly a hundred people cheering her name, Fujishima stood stock-still, staring blankly. Then, slowly, she began to tremble... and balled her hands into fists...

The next instant, she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, thrust out her chest, and put her hands on her hips.

“Hahaha... MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“What are you, some kind of demon lord?” Taichi retorted under his breath. He’d never seen this side of her before, and frankly, he was starting to think maybe he should’ve let sleeping dogs lie.

“If you want it that badly, I guess I have no choice! You want me to lead these peasants? I’ll show you a TRUE leader!”

Seriously, you’re supposed to be our hero, but you sound like the villain.

“Y-You’re so badass, Fujishima-san!”

“You know, Watase, I’ve always questioned whether you might have some masochistic tendencies, and now I’m sure of it. You’re hot for her evil dictator persona, aren’t you?” Taichi muttered.

Sadly, the duration of Fujishima’s demonic revival expired at the end of rehearsal that day.

□■□■□

After cheerleading rehearsal, Taichi headed straight home.

As they understood it, the new phenomenon had been active for quite some time now, and yet «Heartseed» hadn’t turned up to explain it to them. Was it changing things up this time around? There was also the possibility that the mastermind behind this one was not «Heartseed» but «The Second», the entity who had foisted the Age Regression upon them last winter—during which it saw fit to possess the body of his younger sister Rina. Personally, Taichi was terrified to think he might have to relive that nightmare all over again.

“Huh? What do you mean, has anything unusual happened lately?”

Rina’s round eyes widened even more as she looked up from her magazine. The sixth grader’s wavy hair had grown nearly to her shoulders now, and she exuded an air of maturity almost unthinkable for a preteen. Yes, this was Taichi’s pride and joy, perfect in every way. No matter how old she got, she would always be his sweet baby sister.

“First you dash full-speed into the house, and now this... Wait. D-Don’t tell me... Did you finally notice?!”

“Uh... Yeah, that’s right! I noticed, alright! Now ‘fess up, young lady!” It was a total bluff, of course, but he needed to know if she’d witnessed anything potentially impostor-related.

“Hmmm... For the record, I really didn’t want to tell you ‘cuz I know you’ll probably have a heart attack, but I guess it’s too late now...”

I’ll have a heart attack? Good god, what could it be?

“Okay. The truth is...”

Rina paused for a moment, smiled, and dropped her bombshell.

“I have a boyfriend!”

A boyfriend...? Rina... has... a boyfriend...?

“GGGHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Taichi promptly passed out on the spot.

“Taichi?! Are you okay?! I heard a big thump... Did you fall flat on your face?!”

“No... It c-can’t be... Rina... Boy... Boy... Boy...”

“You’re sounding like a broken record, Big Bro! Earth to Taichi! Come in, Taichi!”

His consciousness grew hazy. Vaguely, he could make out her frightened expression... Then he felt a stinging pain in his cheeks and realized she had slapped him.

All at once, Taichi snapped back to his senses and jumped upright. That was a close one... I nearly shuffled off this mortal coil.

“You... You’re too young to have a boyfriend! You’re in sixth grade! Did I say you were allowed to date?!”

“Aww, c’mon! I waited a loooong time for you to start dating someone first!”

“What...?! Are you saying my love life was the trigger...?! So if I break up with my girlfriend, you’ll...?!”

“You’re gonna break up with your girlfriend right now?”

“W-Well... No...”

“What about later?”

“N-No... Not ever,” Taichi stammered bashfully.

At this, Rina grinned and looked into his eyes. “Good grief, you silly little lovebird. What if I told you you couldn’t date, hmm? How would you feel?”

“Nngh... I still think you’re too young, but... you’re at that age now, and I guess you’ve gotta leave the nest sometime. It might be a little earlier than I’d like, but... if it’s what you really want, then I give you my blessing,” Taichi choked out, fighting back tears.

Rina threw her arms around him in a big hug. “YAY! Thank you, Big Bro! I wuv you sooo much! Let’s all go on a double date sometime!”

“Sure... Sounds great,” he sobbed.

Later...

“So, is he in your class?”

“Oh, no. He’s a third-year in middle school.”

“What?! Dump him, now! What kind of fourteen-year-old dates a sixth grader?! That’s disgusting!”

“Not as disgusting as an older brother who tries to control his sister’s love life...”

+++

The jig is up. They know something’s going on. With a sigh, I drop the voice recorder I retrieved from the CRC clubroom onto the floor beside me.

Here I am, sitting on the floor, legs sprawled out, in an empty clubroom in the Rec Hall—the same one in which I made Inaba strip for me the other day.

They’ve already figured out that I can only Project if we’re one-on-one, as well as my potential to Project as someone unaffiliated with the club, something I still have yet to experiment with all that much. Worse still, they’re planning to catch me out using their shared memories. Frankly, that would completely fuck me over... and then «Heartseed» will—

No, stop. Don’t waste time freaking out about a what-if scenario that’ll never happen. Look at it this way: it was my idea to tap the clubroom just in case, and thanks to that, I’ve blown the lid off their plans. I’ve got this under control.

At least now I finally see why everyone has so much faith in that stupid lovey-dovey chick. She took charge, analyzed the information available to them, and even acted as a pillar of emotional support for the others while she was at it. I’ll give her props for that. Perhaps Inaba Himeko is a worthy adversary after all.

Not to speak lightly of the others, of course. I knew they’d gone through this a few times in the past, but still, it’s like they didn’t even bat an eye. If you ask me, their ridiculous confidence is the real supernatural phenomenon. It’s almost like they’re more worried about the stupid Sports Festival! They’re insane. They’re abnormal... and so is the world for letting them exist.

Not me, though. I’m in the right. They just caught me off-guard, that’s all. But really, I know I’m above them. They’ll never be on my level. I mean, they don’t have the faintest clue that I’m behind all this.

Inaba’s ultimate plan is for everyone to “trust, but verify.” What a joke. What good will trust do you? Nothing. Will trust save you? No. It won’t. Trust me, at any given moment, the world is waiting eagerly for the tiniest chance to fuck us over. That’s just how it is.

So guess what? I’m just going to Project even more. Club member or not, I’ll pose as their Phantom. Everywhere you turn, you’ll be surrounded by impostors and fakes. Soon you’ll lose sight of what’s real... and then you’ll never trust another living soul again.

You want to underestimate me? Knock yourselves out.

I’ll show you true hell.

□■□■□

After school, I target Yui before she leaves campus for karate practice. She’s running late because she stopped by the clubroom first; now that the initial after-school rush is over, the shoe lockers are devoid of life.

“[Kiriyama Yui’s vision of Aoki Yoshifumi]. Headed out, Yui-san?”

“Yup! What about you? Headed to the clubroom?”

In order for the rest of my plan to work, I cannot screw this up... It’s okay. I can do this.

“Yeah... Oh, right. I guess we’d better be on guard since we’re one-on-one. Okay, what’s the code word?”

“It’s ‘Screw you, «Heartseed»!’ Don’t you think we should change it, though? Like, isn’t it kind of rude?”

“I don’t know... It’s pretty straightforward if you ask me,” [Aoki] replies.

“Hmmm...” Yui frowns.

With this, I’ve convinced her I’m the real Aoki. Now I can really mess with her. Even if she realizes I’m an impostor, it’ll just show her what little use their stupid code word is.

So, time for me to go all-out. Should I force myself on her? Nah, that’s probably crossing a line.

“Yui-san,” [Aoki] calls, and I reach out to her.

She stares at my hand in alarm. As it moves, she watches it like a hawk to see where it goes. What’s got her so freaked out?

She’s so small and petite... with her little round face and clear, soft skin... As my hand closes in, something in the air shifts. For some reason, I feel myself tremble... but I ignore it and press on until my fingers come into contact with her cheek.

A pleasant tingle shoots through my body. Her skin feels cooler than I was expecting... It’s nice.

“...What are you doing?” Yui asks, standing stock-still, looking me dead in the eye.

“Oh, um... I was just thinking about how cute you are...”

“So you touched me... because you felt like it?” She looks neither bashful nor angry. Her expression is perfectly blank.

I hesitate. “Well... yeah.”

Her eyes glint sharply. “The real Aoki would never do that! Get lost, impostor!”

“Bfffgh?!” The next thing I know, something hits me hard in the nuts, and pain rampages through my entire body. My legs give out, and I feel myself hit the ground. Meanwhile, tears spill from my eyes as overwhelming nausea washes over me. “Gah... aaahh... Fuck...! You’re not supposed to... kick that hard...! Not cool...!”

“That’s what you get, impostor. Oh, I know! I should just, like, tie you up while I’ve got you. That’ll solve everything! But where could I get some rope...?”

“What...?”

Tie me up? What? What the hell? Why would you do that? Why would you think that? Fuck, I’m dead. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

I can feel fluid leaking from every inch of my body.

What do I do? Deny it? That won’t work. One phone call to the real Aoki and I’d be screwed. And if anyone else shows up, they’ll see me as Uwa Chihiro, and then...

I’m dead.

Is this really where it ends? Here? Now? This easily? Like I’m some kind of stooge? No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening!

If they find out, there’s no way I can keep attending Yamaboshi with them. I’ll have to drop out... I’ll turn into a shut-in loser... I’ll never be part of society again... or maybe «Heartseed» will erase me entirely—

My sight blurs.

What do I do?

Do I admit I’m an impostor and—

Yes, that’s it! «Heartseed» told me the five of them think of it as omnipotent. I can work with that!

“Go ahead... Tie me up... I’ll just disappear...”

Did she buy it? Or did I just dig my own grave?

“You can do that? Darn... I guess it won’t work, then.”

She bought it. Thank god. I survived... by the skin of my teeth.

“Hmmm... You guys really do look identical to the real deal...” Yui scrutinizes my appearance, staring down at me as I lie on the ground.

How can she be so calm? Almost like she’s merely observing an insect... How dare she look down on me!

“How did you know... I wasn’t real...?” [Aoki] asks through the pain.

“Because the real Aoki would never touch me for his own self-gratification,” she answers easily, and it’s obvious she believes in Aoki without a shadow of a doubt.

Yeah, well, screw your trust. Don’t act like you all know each other perfectly!

“It was actually pretty easy, now that I think about it. Anyway, I gotta go now. Mess with me again, I dare you.” Yui flips her long chestnut hair over her shoulder and smirks. “Oh yeah... I’d better tell them not to bother with the code word thing since you have all your memories.”

And with that, Yui strolls off like she’s lost interest entirely. I stare blankly after her.

“Whoa!”

And then another student turns up, staring at me like I’ve grown a second head.

Using a nearby locker for support, I stagger to my feet. “What are you looking at?”

Spooked, the other student dashes off.

I survived... Not only that, I’ve made them think I gain the same memories as my Phantom.

I’ve achieved my goal... and yet...

“God damn it!”

The locker reverberates with a metallic BANG as I slam my fist into it. My knuckles sting as my chest floods with an overwhelming sense of defeat and hopelessness.

I made a total disgrace of myself back there. What’s worse, she made it clear she didn’t see me as a threat—and rubbed it in my face.

She’s so far above me, I’ll never reach her...

This isn’t working.

The next day, on my way to school, I luckily spot Taichi right as he sets foot on campus. My gut tells me to attack.

I didn’t get any sleep last night—my mind was racing too hard—and now the sleep deprivation has me weirdly hyped up. Normally I’d never try this in a crowd, but fuck it.

“[Yaegashi Taichi’s vision of a friend in class who usually arrives late].”

It’s impressive how calm and composed I can manage to be in this state. You see, if the Phantom Projection ever creates a paradox in the target’s mind—for example, if they see two of the same person—the repercussions are allegedly pretty serious, so it’s up to me to ensure that doesn’t happen.

I’m on fire today. This is me at my very best. I’m gonna win this time.

“Oh, hey, Watase. I see you’re here early for a change.”

“Good morning, Taichi-san.”

As I speak, I hear the Phantom voice replay over my own (originally this creeped me out, but now I’m pretty much used to it) and learn that this “Watase” is a guy.

“Listen, I know this is kind of sudden, but could I borrow some money?”

It’s a crude method, but one that’s likely to work. They say money is the very embodiment of human greed, after all.

“Sure... How much?”

“As much as you’ve got. I really, really need it. It’s for something important, I swear.” [Watase] bows humbly.

This is Taichi we’re talking about. He’s a pushover. Hell, he might just give me his whole wallet.

“Alright, sure.”

See? What’d I tell you? The guy’s a moron.

“I don’t know what you need it for, but if you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t push it. When can you pay me back, though?”

“Oh, you know. Soon.”

This is so easy. It’s like taking candy from a baby... Wait... He’s glaring at me...?

Intimidated, [Watase] takes a step back. “Wh... What?”

“You’re an impostor, aren’t you?”

“Wha...?! H-How...?!”

“Watase’s obnoxious when it comes to borrowing cash. He’ll make you write an IOU over lunch money! He’ll put that crap in his will!”

“Wh... What?”

How was I supposed to predict that?! Who does that?! I scream internally. I need to escape. I turn and bolt.

I run out behind the school building, attracting the curious stares of students just arriving on campus, as well as some on their way back from morning club practice. My face burns scarlet. I feel sick.

No... This isn’t a defeat. It’s a tactical retreat.

That’s not how they’ll see it, though. They’ll think I’m running away like a coward.

Did I just make it obvious that I actually don’t retain the Phantom’s memories? Will they figure it out? I don’t know. Fuck!

This isn’t working. It really isn’t.

All throughout class, my mind is focused on one thing only: my next strike. I skip club activities to prepare. Then, that evening, I target Aoki on his way home from school.

“[Aoki Yoshifumi’s vision of a family member who might reasonably be here].”

“Oh, hey, sis! Headed home?” Aoki asks. I didn’t even know Aoki had a sister.

Wordlessly, I close in on him. I’m going to take this asshole down a peg.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” he asks.

Posing as [Aoki’s older sister], I smile... ball my right hand into a fist... and swing that fist directly into his stupid, trusting face. Twice.

“AGH!” He reels from the impact.

A shiver of pleasure shoots down my spine as I imagine myself destroying him. The violent impulses send dopamine to my brain. I could give in to my animal instincts and tear him limb from limb, right here, right now... but I won’t. I have self-restraint. Besides, it’s not his body I want to annihilate, anyway.

“Wh... What the hell, sis?!” Aoki shouts.

In response, I tilt my head slightly.

“Oh, I geddit... You’re an impostor...”

At this, I sneer at him.

“Damn you... How dare you try to wear my sister’s face...!”

That’s it. Get angry. Yell at me. Lose your composure. Go ahead, bring it on... Just know that whatever you do to me, I’ll do right back. Tenfold. And that’s the moment you’ll realize you’re in hell.

“Wait a minute... So you’re telling me you can be anyone? Nowhere is safe?”

Glad to see you’re up to speed, nimrod. I can use the Phantom Projection to be anyone I want. Sure, maybe you’ll see through the act once we start talking, but until then, you have no way of knowing. Anyone in the world could potentially be a threat. Who could possibly survive that? You’ll go nuts. And that’s precisely what I’m angling for.

You want entertaining, I’ll give you entertaining. God, I can’t wait to see that look of despair on your face—

“That’s it? Meh, no biggie.” Aoki’s face lights up with relief as he smiles.

He’s grinning at me.

“Wh... What...?”

“Well, I mean, if all you can do is resort to physical violence, isn’t that kinda admitting you’re out of cards?”

“What?”

“When it comes to «Heartseed»... and «The Second», now that I think about it... For as much as they screw with us, they never attack us physically. Well, okay... To be fair, there was this one time during the body-swap, but we kinda started that one,” Aoki explains casually, as if discussing the weather with a friend. “I can’t say I get it myself, but Inabacchan says they’re interested in our ‘emotional turbulence’ and our ‘connections as a group’ and stuff. So basically, it’s a competition. If their phenomenon crap gets in our heads and screws with our friendships, then they win. But if we can endure it, then we win.” He nods to himself. “So when you resort to violence, it’s like... against the rules, sorta? You’re giving up your victory.”

“I’m not competing with you,” I reply. Call me a loser all you like;. I want no part of your stupid little game.

“Sure you are. And you’re losing, too. Wait... Real talk, you aren’t «Heartseed»? Are the rules different for you or something?” He muses on this for a moment, then shrugs. “I’ll just talk to the others about it, I guess. Anyway, my point is, you can punch me black and blue, but you’re not gonna beat us by throwing a little tantrum. And if you ever hurt one of the girls, I will personally make you pay.”

“Wh... What do you mean by that?”

“Doesn’t matter! You’re just gonna pay! End of story!”

He has no bite to back up that bark. He’s just bluffing...

So why do I feel so threatened? Why do I feel like I’m losing? I’m not losing. I’m winning. He’s the loser. In what world could he gain the upper hand?

“Against the rules”? “Giving up my victory”? Give me a fucking break.

I’m not losing. I’m winning. I’m not losing. I’m winning. I’m not losing. I’m winning. I’m not losing. I’m winning.

No matter how you look at it, I have the upper hand. Anyone could tell you that. Right? Someone look at this shit and tell me I’m right... Someone... Anyone...!

And yet, the only one of us she cares about is—

This isn’t working. None of this is working. Everything I do just backfires.

The whole world is working against me.

□■□■□

It rained all throughout the next day.

During karate practice, Yui asked me “Are you doing okay? You haven’t been to the clubroom in a while,” to which I replied that I was fine, though I couldn’t bear to look her in the eye. I was her enemy, after all.

Thinking back, it’s a wonder I managed to act so normal around them in the early days. I can’t remember for the life of me how I pulled it off... Maybe it was easier back when my tactics weren’t quite so... direct.

After practice ended, for some reason, I was gripped with this strange desire to talk to Yui. I was tired of the constant hostility... I wanted someone to lend a sympathetic ear for a change.

On the way home from the dojo, I follow Yui down the street as she twirls her pink umbrella. Then, loud enough to be heard over the rain, I announce:

“[Kiriyama Yui’s vision of the friend she wants to talk to the most].”

Meanwhile, I close the gap between us.

“Hmm...? Wait, what? Chinatsu?! Is that you?!” Almost in disbelief, Yui dashes over to me, splashing through the puddles in her polka-dot rain boots. “Did you just get back? Like, how are things going over there? Are you keeping up with karate practice?”

From this, I intuit that my Phantom was a fellow karate student who had once lived here, but has since moved away. Something about the name rang a bell, too... Then I remember: Mihashi Chinatsu, the girl who used to be Yui’s biggest rival during competitions. She was a prideful girl, even more so than Yui, and always wore her hair in a ponytail.

Being [Mihashi] suited me fine, incidentally. Better her than some rando I knew nothing about.

“Tell me all about what’s been going on with you,” I say, mostly so she’ll stop asking me questions. When I cast the Projection, I made sure to specify a friend she wanted to talk to, so hopefully I won’t need to contribute much. That way we can spend a long time—

Wait... What am I doing?

“Yesss, I am sooo ready to vent! Let’s go to a cafe or something!”

“N-No, I can’t.”

Seriously, what am I doing?

“Huh? How come?”

I’m... Yes, that’s it! I’m researching how to screw with her next. That’s why I’m Projecting as her best friend: for research.

With an objective now established, I regain my composure.

“Oh, um, I’m waiting on a phone call right now. I’ve got plans with family after this, so I can’t really stick around.” I need to ensure I can escape at any time.

“But it’s raining!”

“So what? I like your umbrella, though. Cute boots, too.” They were the first compliments I could think of.

“I know, right? You can tell a girl’s worth based on how much style she has in any weather!”

“Even in a thunderstorm?”

“Especially in a thunderstorm! ...Actually, now that I think about it, you don’t usually compliment me on my clothes... Oh god, you’re not an impostor, are you...?”

Quick, before she figures it out!

“Impostor?” I ask.

“Oh, uh, nothing! Jeez, I really need to stop suspecting everyone...”

Apparently she bought it.

From there, Yui tells me about all sorts of things. She must’ve been excited to catch up with an old friend. As a result, I obtained a variety of information, but none of it was immediately useful.

Then, at some point we start talking about the guys in the CRC, and Yui mentions me and Taichi, but for the most part, her comments are all centered on Aoki Yoshifumi.

“Seriously, Aoki is driving me crazy. He’s like...”

Aoki this, Aoki that.

“...because Aoki...”

Blah blah blah.

“...and then Aoki was like...”

Aoki, Aoki, Aoki.

I can’t stand it anymore. I’m sick of hearing his name on her lips. It feels like she’s intentionally rubbing it in my face. So instead, I cut in.

“So.”

Yui falls still, her pink lips pressed together like a flower bud before spring. I had forgotten, of course, that interjecting meant I would have to come up with a statement of my own. What do I say? The sound of the rain seems to grow louder with each passing moment.

“Be straight with me: how do you actually feel about Aoki-san?”

It was the first question that sprang to mind.

Yui freezes for a moment. A gust of wind blows past, sending fat drops of rain splattering against my umbrella, though the rain itself doesn’t seem to have gotten any heavier.

“Well...”

Normally this topic would send Yui into a blushing frenzy, but today she’s calm and level-headed... possibly only because she believes she’s talking to Mihashi Chinatsu. Whatever she’s about to tell me, it’s likely the honest truth.

I find myself wishing the rain would pour down harder.

“I’ve always told myself it would be stupid to fall for someone just because they say they’ve fallen for me. It doesn’t feel right to ‘give in’ to them just because they’re nice, you know?” She pauses for a moment. “But I’m ready to make my decision.” Her voice is firm, cutting through the drone of the drops hitting the concrete.

“Yeah?”

“I mean... Maybe not right away, but, you know, soon!” She spins her umbrella bashfully. Now this is more like the Yui I know. “No matter how it goes, I’ll be sure to call you and tell you about it.”

“No—I mean, yeah, for sure.” Reflexively I wanted to refuse, but I hastily force myself to nod along at the last minute.

Now for one last question... to seal the deal.

“What about Uwa Chihiro? How do you feel about him?”

“Huh? About Chihiro-kun?” She looks surprised that I would ask. “Hmmm... Well, we’ve been karate buddies for a long time... Plus, he joined the CRC on my recommendation... which made me look pretty cool, might I add!” She thrusts out her chest proudly. “He can be a bit of a grouch, and sometimes he picks on me... but all in all, I’d say he’s my favorite underclassman. Out of all the boys, anyway!” she finishes with a bright smile.

Look at her, rubbing it in my face. I already knew that, thank you very much... Seriously, what the fuck am I doing? I must be an imbecile.

Don’t lower yourself to their level. You’re above this plebeian tripe. Are you chickening out? Pathetic. You know what it is you need to do. No matter what happens, you have to achieve the task assigned to you.

«Heartseed»’s words revived in my mind:

—Now that you’ve joined me... don’t think for a moment you can go back to your ordinary life... unless you show me something worth my time.

My body trembles down to my core, and I tighten my grip on my umbrella until my hand goes numb. Help me, help me, help me, help me!

No... I have to help myself. I have to win, or else I’m dead. No one can save me now.

After a while, I pick a random point to call it a day and let Yui know I’m leaving. All around us, trees line the sidewalk, their branches glistening with dewy leaves.

“Bye, Chinatsu!” Yui calls from somewhere behind me as I walk off. Then she disappears, and I’m alone.

The streets are dark and devoid of life. No one sees me. No one realizes I exist.

Someone, please notice me. Find me. Acknowledge me. Someone, anyone, please!

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

Lost, I scream up at the sky.

□■□■□

Storm clouds billow in my chest.

I don’t have the first clue what to do. I could always try a different approach... but I can’t think of anything halfway decent.

With each passing day, the CRC quintet is slowly but surely regaining its strength. They’re barely even worried about the impostor now. They don’t care about the phenomenon. They don’t care about me.

Previously I believed the Phantom Projection was invincible, but now that I’m thinking about it logically, it’s actually full of loopholes and weak points. Why did I ever accept this defective crap with a smile?

«Heartseed» said it would “all depend on how you use it,” but I doubt that very much. Take any guy off the street and surely they would struggle with this... At the very least, I refuse to believe I’m worse than the average person...

But if I look at it from an objective perspective—

No, I won’t accept it. I can’t accept it.

Because the second I do, I’ll give in to despair.

The following morning, before I left the house, my mother stopped me and said, “You’ve been looking a little under the weather lately. How are you feeling?”

I replied... Actually, I don’t really remember what I said, if anything.

Even after I arrived at the classroom, my mind was elsewhere. I vaguely recall talking to someone, but if I did, I can’t remember what we talked about. Oh, but I do remember Enjouji shooting me a sad puppy dog look the whole time. Not that it matters.

Now it’s lunchtime. I have zero appetite, so instead I leave the room.

The halls are full of obnoxiously loud students on their way to the cafeteria, and the classrooms aren’t much better. Out of nowhere, it drives home the fact that I am alone in every sense of the word. Does everyone feel this way from time to time, or is it just me? Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t belong here.

I wander aimlessly around campus, seeking a quiet place where I can be alone, until I find myself at the Rec Hall. I guess I came here on instinct. Well, that works. Might as well collect the voice recorder from the clubroom, I think to myself. And so I climb the stairs.

Arriving at the fourth floor, I turn the corner—and blink.

I see a familiar face, a petite girl with striking reddish-brown hair. It’s Kiriyama Yui. This is the first time I’ve seen her since we parted ways yesterday. She doesn’t notice me, though. Instead, she heads into the clubroom.

I don’t want her to see me here. Not right now. I quietly back away.

“What the? Chihir—”

“[Kiriyama Yui’s vision of Yaegashi Taichi]!” I shout reflexively.

For a moment, Yui freezes in place.

“Huh? Oh... Taichi... For a second I thought you were Chihiro-kun... Weird...” She frowns to herself.

“Your eyes must’ve been playing tricks on you,” [Taichi] says. Meanwhile, pulse racing, I heave a sigh of relief. That was close.

“Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, let’s head in.”

“Oh, hey, it’s Kiriyama and Chihiro! Wait, what? Chihiro wasn’t invited to the meeting, was he?”

That was absolutely the last voice I want to hear right now.

Evidently the second-years had planned to meet up here at lunch.

“Oh... Huh...? What the...? Taichi’s... here, and he’s... there? How are there two...?”

Here I am, Projecting as [Taichi] to Yui... while the real Yaegashi Taichi stands behind me on the stairs. To her, there are now two Taichis... and that’s exactly the sort of paradox «Heartseed» warned me about. What did it say would happen if I caused one? Oh, that’s right. It would “cause issues.”

But what does that mean, exactly? Is something going to happen to me? Will something happen... to Yui? We’re already exceeding the normal bounds of reality with this phenomenon. How much worse can it possibly get? Not only that, but now I’ve got a third party catching me in the act. At this rate, he’ll realize I’m the mastermind—

I start to panic.

I need to get out of here. Right now. If they find out I’m behind the Phantom Projection, I’m dead. Taichi sees me as Uwa Chihiro. Uwa Chihiro. I need to do something. I need to bluff my way through this. It’s my only option. I don’t have time to hesitate. If I want to get out of this alive—I have to convince him I’m not me.

“[Yaegashi Taichi’s vision of Inaba—Enjouji Shino]!”

Whew. That was close. I almost said Inaba’s name on reflex, but then I remembered she’s probably going to show up any minute now—

“Chihiro... Oh, wait... That’s not Chihiro. Sorry, Inaba.”

Instantly, my mind goes blank. The Projection must’ve defaulted to the first name I said.

I feel my entire body break out in a cold sweat.

Just roll with it. Roll with it. Roll with it. Roll with it.

Focus. You need to get out of here—

“Hey, Taichi! Oh, Chihiro’s here too? What’s up with that?”

A moment later, Inaba Himeko arrives on the fourth floor. Now Taichi can see two Inabas—the real one as well as my Phantom.

“Wh... Huh? Inaba... and... Inaba... Two of them? Two... Inabas...?” Taichi mumbles.

“If that’s Taichi... No, but... they’re both Taichi...? Two Taichis...?” Yui mumbles.

Both of them are staring, eyes as wide as the human body will allow, babbling like they’re broken inside.

I start to shake so hard, I worry I’m about to break next. I feel like I’m going to pass out... but once again, the two of them beat me to it.

Their eyes are unseeing. Their minds are gone. They’re breaking. Breaking. Breaking.

And I’m the incompetent loser who broke them.

—When Kiriyama Yui and Yaegashi Taichi next awoke, their memories were gone.