Haibara’s Teenage New Game+ - Volume 7 - Chapter Pr

Prologue: The Place I Belong

I didn’t remember how long I’d been sitting there, but the next thing I knew, I was drenched in the rain. Drops of water seeped through the gaps of the trees, battering me. It took a while to realize that the cold had sucked all the warmth from my body.

I didn’t have the willpower to move. However, staying on the ground was pointless. I lifted my heavy hips and stood up. I set off in the opposite direction Natsuki had gone and turned back the way I came.

It’ll be fine. Natsuki will be able to find Miori. Strangely enough, I had absolute confidence in him. It’s meaningless for me to chase after him now. Above all, I don’t even have the right to see Miori.

I followed the animal trail that furtively slithered along the mountain and forest until I reached a wide road. I must stand out, seeing that I’m soaking wet...but I couldn’t care less. Where should I go now?

I can’t go home anymore. I’ll only feel worse when I step through the door. Having said that, there isn’t anywhere else to return to. My feet won’t move, because I have no place to go. There’s nowhere I belong in this world. I thought I’d found the sole place for me, but I’m not worthy of it.

I hurt Miori. I’m the worst type of person, who only thinks about himself. At this rate, if I stay with everyone, I’ll only ruin our relationship just like I did today.

I was standing there motionless when my smartphone vibrated in my pocket. It was a RINE notification. The “Natsuki’s Fam” group chat had come to life. Apparently, Miori was safe and sound. Natsuki had managed to persuade and rescue her.

That’s good. I believed Natsuki could do it. Underneath that thought was a feeling that ate away at me like a shadow. Why am I not the one who’s there?

There was no need to keep up appearances at this point. This dark emotion was nothing but jealousy. I envied Natsuki for having a special bond of trust with Miori. That was why I’d chased after him. I had wanted to stop him and go in his place. Such thoughts were running through my mind, but none of them included any concern for Miori’s well-being.

“All you’ve been talking about is yourself.”

Just as Natsuki had pointed out, I had only been thinking about myself. Nothing had changed from the past. I only ever took action for myself, and other people were merely tools. I had been disgusted with the way I was, so I had tried to change my way of thinking. Apparently, one’s true nature can’t be changed.

Now that everyone knew Miori was safe, they were all sending messages.

“We were worried about you!”

“I’m glad you’re safe!”

“Ahhh, what a relief!”

“Welcome back.”

In response to those warm words, Miori replied, “I’m sorry for making you guys worry.”

I’m a member of the group, so I should say something too... But do I have anything decent to say to her? I lost sight of the words filling the group chat and slipped my wet phone back into my pocket. I gazed up at the cloudy sky.

Suddenly, a passerby stopped in front of me. Recognition flashed across my face.

He was dressed in a uniform from Kakiwari High, a school near Ryomei. He wore his high-collared black gakuran jacket with all the buttons open, revealing a red shirt underneath. This guy, dressed in such flashy colors, was even bigger than Tatsuya. He had short blond hair and a fierce face. To be frank, he looked like a delinquent.

“Koya...” I hadn’t said that name in a long time.

He snorted in response. He had been my friend in the past. Although he was a year older than me, we had been close enough that I didn’t need to be polite to him. We hadn’t been in touch for a while though.

“Reita, didn’t think I’d see you out here. What’s with the dumb look on your face?”

“It’s got nothing to do with you.”

“Not gonna answer, huh? Ah well. Whatever, this is perfect timing.”

“Perfect...timing?” Unsure what he meant by that, I furrowed my brows.

“You go to Ryomei now, right? Same school as my little sister.”

Though I casually called him by his given name, Koya was a year older than me and in his second year of high school. And his younger sister was in the class next to mine, class 1-1.

“What about it?” I asked warily. I had a bad feeling. Given the timing and how there was an ongoing missing person search, it was obvious what he was going to say.

Koya took out his phone and showed me a picture. “This chick goes to the same school as you, and she’s in the same grade as you. Apparently, she’s missing. Know anything?”

It was a photo of a girl with her black hair tied back into a ponytail. Of course I knew her; at least, I knew her better than most. Even though our relationship was smeared with lies, we had dated in the past.

“There’s no way you don’t know who she is, yeah? I know you’re a well-connected guy.”

“Yeah, I know her. I know she’s missing too.”

“My li’l sister’s worried about her, so all my buds are helping me search for her. We’ve got eyewitness testimony that she’s been seen around here... Does that dumb look have to do with that?”

“She’s worried?” What nonsense is he spouting? Your sister isn’t someone who’d worry about other people. She’s just like me.

“Cat got your tongue? Looks to me like you know something, huh?”

I know Miori is safe. While I would never tell him where she is, I’m not against letting him know she’s safe... But Koya will definitely tell his sister anything I say. Thinking that, I felt my willingness to answer rapidly fade.

“Even if I did know anything, I wouldn’t tell you,” I replied.

He frowned. “What’d you say?” he growled, his voice low enough to shake the ground.

I knew I’d angered him. “If you really want to know, then try making me spit it out. Just like you used to,” I said. The goading tone didn’t sound like my own.

Encountering Koya had drawn out my unruly side that had lain dormant. But I didn’t care. Nothing mattered anymore. I had no regard for whatever happened to me next. Right now, all I wanted was to dump these irksome feelings somewhere.