One of Two

Looking at the million points on his phone, Satsu couldn't help feeling dazed.

He didn't know why, but regret welled up from the bottom of his heart.

"My three hundred million!"

In an empty corner, Satsu crouched on the floor, clutching his head and silently weeping.

His expression was exaggerated, but his voice was very quiet. He didn't know whether he didn't want anyone to hear him or was too overwhelmed to make a sound.

"How crazy do you have to be to trade three hundred million yen for a million useless points?!"

"And the funniest part is, I have to pay it back! If I can't repay it in a month, I'll be expelled!"

Satsu continued muttering to himself. Gradually, his body began to twitch, and his expression grew more and more twisted.

"Thump, thump, thump."

Whether it was the pounding in his eardrums or his heart beating hard, Satsu felt as if someone were beating a drum inside his head.

"Ugh~ Ah~"

"Ugh~ Ah~"

As strange, shuddering sounds escaped his mouth, the pain in Satsu's body grew more intense. His slight, continuous trembling turned into violent spasms, one after another.

It was as if his soul were battering against his body, trying to break free.

"Waaah!"

Satsu suddenly let out a tremendous roar, his voice almost echoing through the entire hallway.

"Huff—huff—"

He panted heavily, drenched in sweat, as if he had just woken from a nightmare.

"Too noisy. I have my own rhythm."

Satsu said something incomprehensible, then his mind wavered.

"Wait, why did I say that?"

As he spoke, Satsu became aware that something was wrong with his body.

The first thing he noticed was the exhaustion. His muscles ached all over, as if he had just pushed himself through exercise beyond his physical limits.

His head was swimming even worse. Satsu forced himself to his feet, bracing a hand against the wall. "What on earth happened? It's that same feeling as last time."

"I couldn't control the regret welling up inside me at all. I could only watch helplessly as it swallowed my reason."

"And this time it was even worse. When I hit the clerk, at least I knew what I was doing. This time, it was as if I'd been disconnected."

Remembering the state he had been in, Satsu couldn't help feeling afraid. He unconsciously raised a hand to his forehead.

"If it happened last time because I was defending myself and got emotional..."

"Then what caused it this time? I wasn't in danger, and I hadn't experienced any major emotional upheaval."

"Damn it. Does this mean I'll randomly lose control of my body?"

"Is it the original owner's consciousness? Didn't he kill himself already?! If he's going to die, he should do it properly!"

As Satsu pondered, he slammed a fist into the wall. But reason quickly won out. "Calm down, Satsu! Calm down. If I get angry, I might lose control again."

"Kato?"

Hearing someone call out to him, Satsu hurriedly turned around. Only then did he realize that it was Kokoro Inogashira.

"Oh, Inogashira. You..."

Satsu scrutinized Inogashira, his tone probing. "What did you see just now?"

"I didn't see anything. I heard you scream, so I rushed over."

Satsu didn't answer right away. He stared intently at Inogashira and, after confirming again and again that he couldn't hear any relevant thoughts from her, finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Kato, are you... okay?" Inogashira asked hesitantly.

"I'm fine. I just accidentally stubbed my toe against the wall," Satsu said, making up an excuse.

"Do you want me to help you back to the dorm? You look like you're in a lot of pain. You must have hit it pretty hard."

As she spoke, Inogashira took Satsu's arm before he could answer. He didn't refuse. Given the state he was in, having someone help him was certainly a good thing.

"Sorry for the trouble, Inogashira."

"Just call me Kokoro. I'll call you Satsu, too."

Waaah! Satsu's so muscular! I can clearly feel his muscles. (Kokoro Inogashira)

Hearing the excited thoughts of a young girl, Satsu ignored them and said as if nothing were wrong, "Sorry for the trouble, Kokoro."

The two walked very slowly, neither of them saying a word. Satsu felt so awful that he had no mood to talk, while Kokoro was lost in her own world.

The sunset, Satsu injured, and me supporting him—it's just like a scene from a school romance novel, where the heroine supports the hero after he gets hurt protecting her! (Kokoro Inogashira)

Not bad, that imagination. (Kato Satsu)

They hadn't gone far when they spotted Haruka Hasebe, who noticed them at once.

A flicker of something hard to discern crossed Hasebe's normally calm face. "What happened, Satsu?"

Weren't you going to the teachers' office with Ichinose? How did you end up with Inogashira? (Haruka Hasebe)

Oh no, Hasebe's got the wrong idea! I need to clear up this misunderstanding right away. (Kato Satsu)

Satsu was just about to speak, but Inogashira beat him to it. She said,

"Satsu hurt his foot, so I was going to help him back to the dorm."

S... Satsu? Inogashira, who's always been so bad at socializing, is suddenly comfortable calling people by their first names? (Haruka Hasebe)

This is bad! (Kato Satsu)

Why did she have to show up now and ruin the mood between Satsu and me?! (Kokoro Inogashira)

"Why are you here, Hasebe?" Inogashira asked, her tone growing increasingly unfriendly.

What's with that tone? Did I interrupt their time alone together? (Haruka Hasebe)

I'm doomed!!! (Kato Satsu)

Hasebe glanced at Inogashira and said coldly, "I was waiting in the classroom to walk back to the dorm with Satsu, but he didn't come back for ages, so I came to find him."

"Then you can go back first. Satsu hurt his foot and can't walk very fast. I'll take responsibility for helping him back." Inogashira's tone was just as cold.

"Actually, it's not that bad..."

Satsu spoke timidly, but Hasebe and Inogashira clearly didn't hear him. They continued glaring at each other.

Come on, brain, work! What can I say to take control of this situation?! (Kato Satsu)

Anyway, I need to interrupt them first! (Kato Satsu)

"Kato, about your stopping Ayanokoji...!"

Before Satsu could speak, Suzune appeared at the worst possible moment.

Hasebe and Inogashira both looked at her warily, even angrily.

Satsu looked at her helplessly, too. Suzune was taken aback by the three of them staring at her. After scanning the scene, she immediately understood what was going on and gave a mocking smile.

Looks like you've hit a snag. Serves you right! (Horikita Suzune)

"Let's talk another day."

Leaving those words behind, Suzune turned and walked away without hesitation.

When no one else showed up, Hasebe and Inogashira turned back to each other.

"Satsu, I remember you promised to go to the mall with me," Hasebe said.

"Obviously, Satsu can't go anywhere right now. He should go back to the dorm!" Inogashira said.

Suddenly, they both turned to Satsu and demanded, "Say something!"

"F—" (Kato Satsu)