38 Before School

I set up an alarm to go off in the middle of the night. 

Grandma should be asleep, so I don't have to worry about her catching me.

After shutting off the alarm, I grabbed my phone and got up. I turned the camera on and proceeded to look around my room with it.

Most smartphone's font facing cameras can detect infrared lights, which most spy cams give off. I'm gonna sweep around the house to see if I find anything out of the ordinary.

It's a start to finding any other hidden cameras, but I'll definitely need to order a bug and camera detector. I don't know who this is, so I can't neglect higher end spy cams. Also, maybe it's not just cameras, but mics, too.

I sighed as I walked around my room and pointed my phone everywhere.

The fact that we live in a society where such cameras are easily accessible is fucked up. It sucks to have to worry about being constantly watched by someone and having no privacy.

After watching the video back, I saw nothing suspicious, so I moved on.

It took a bit before I managed to sweep the whole house.

Did I find more? Yes. One in the living room and one in the bathroom, which enraged and disturbed me to no end.

Luckily, the bathroom camera was only pointed at the sink. I didn't have to fear for my nudes being in someone's hands. 

But, if you were gonna plant one in the bathroom, why the sink and not the shower or toilet? It's odd. Or, am I weird for thinking that? Nah, no way.

After I found them, I destroyed them. I yanked them out of their hiding places and smashed them with no mercy. It's wasn't nearly satisfying enough, but at least they're gone now.

The only thing left is to find the perpetrator. 

Who's been inside my house? Yuu and Akira. However, there's a chance someone else snuck in without my knowledge. I can't rule out Tatsuya, but I definitely know it wasn't Ryuu. He's not sneaky or smart enough to do something like this.

Akira took out a camera. I don't see any gain from doing so (If anything, it's a loss.), so I also doubt Akira did it.

That leaves Yuu and Tatsuya.

Man, maybe I should've saved one and looked for it online.

I need to get that detector ASAP. If I end up finding anymore with it, I'll definitely save them to find out their model and price. 

But, for now, it's sleep time.

The next morning, I woke up to my alarm as usual. I was a little more tired than I would have liked, but at least it's not as bad as the other day.

I was just brushing my teeth when my phone went off. I glanced at it and saw Akira's name on screen.

Huh. I wonder what he wants so early?

As I exited the bathroom, I read the message.

AkiRawr: Waiting for you outside!

I blinked before rushing to a window. 

Sure enough, I saw a familiar head of black hair.

Oh, he hasn't done this in a while. Actually, it's more surprising he didn't do this after Golden Week. Well, we did have a fight, so I guess that makes sense...

I hurried along with my preparation and headed out the door.

"Mornin', Haru!" Akira greeted as I walked to the front gate. "Did you sleep well?" He held out his hand towards my bag. 

"Eh, could've been better." I admitted as I handed it over. "I actually ended up checking around for anymore hidden cameras around the house last night."

"Oh." Akira's usual grin dropped. "Did you find anymore?"

I nodded dejectedly as we started to walk. Akira shook his head disappointedly.

"That sucks." Akira sighed. "Who the hell is behind this?" 

"I'm not sure." I wasn't lying, but I wasn't telling the whole truth either.

"Stalkers can range from someone close to you to a complete stranger, but for it to get this bad, they must be psychotic." Akira said seriously. "You should avoid being alone."

"I know." I nodded again. "I'll be careful."

Akira gave a lopsided smile.

"You know, you're taking this pretty well." Akira said in a lightly teasing manner. 

Oh, that's because I know this place is full of yanderes.

Like I could say that.

"It's creepy, but I am a guy. I'm not some weak girl." I inwardly cringed at myself after the words stumbled out. 

I just said the first thing that came to mind, ok!?

Akira burst into laughter.

Yeah. I would to. I can't blame you.

"You done yet?" I asked, unamused, after a minute. "It wasn't something you were suppose to laugh at." I grumbled with a glare.

"Haha, sorry. Sorry." Akira wiped away some tears. "It's just, that wasn't something I was expecting you to say. Pft." 

I puffed out my cheeks before speeding up to leave him behind.

I know it was cheesy and lame, but he didn't need to laugh that hard!

"I'm sorry! Wait for me, Haru!" Akira rushed after me with a silly smile on his face.

"Your face says otherwise!" I yelled back without slowing down.

"But I have your bag!"

At some point, it basically became a race to school. We sped past other students and ran through the school gates. 

It might've been an odd sight seeing one boy running from another boy who had two bags and was yelling apologies. 

"You really hold grudges." Akira slightly panted from his seat.

"I don't...want to hear...that from...you." As the indoor person I was, I had to inhale as much oxygen as I could in between.

Damn, I should workout.

"You need to work out more, Haru." Akira smirked after catching his breath. I frowned.

"Shut...up." I leaned back in my seat as I continued to breathe heavily.

"I'll go get us some drinks. You'll accept that apology, right?" Akira stood back up.

"Only if you get me water and strawberry milk." I finally managed to speak without sounding like I'm dying.

"Such an expensive apology." Akira smiled fretfully as his hand dug around in his pocket.

"I'm willing to pitch in." I rolled my eyes before looking for some yen.

"Haha, thanks for the help!" Akira merrily spoke as he held out his hand.

"What help? I'm buying my own drink. This doesn't count." I smugly grinned as I dropped the coins in his palm. "Looks like I won't be forgiving you yet, huh?"

Akira's smiled froze before falling sadly.

"Haru!" Akira whined.

"I'll be waiting for that strawberry milk, Akira." I patted his shoulder. Akira pursed his lips.

"This is extortion." Akira muttered.

"What was that?" I pretended to be oblivious.

"Nothing~ I'll get going, my friend~" Akira smiled before leaving.

Once he left, I scanned the classroom.

Yuu wasn't here. Neither was Ryuu. Mr. Heir was, but he was facing forward, minding his own business (possibly literal).

I slumped onto my desk and sighed.

I wonder what lunch and break are gonna be like today. I really hope it won't be like last time.

"Good morning, Haru!" 

I jumped up when someone poked my back. When I looked beside me, I saw the culprit giggling.

"You're so jumpy this morning." Yuu giggled in amusement.

"I wasn't expecting someone to touch me all of a sudden, okay?" I defended myself as I felt heat rise to my cheeks in embarrassment.

This guy really do be a ninja!

"Hehe, you're here early." Yuu sat down in Akira's seat. "I see Aki-kun's here, too." Yuu tapped Akira's bag with his foot.

"Oh, yeah. We kinda ended up running here." I sheepishly said. 

"Eh? You're walking to school together again?" Yuu asked with a smile, though I could feel his dark aura peeking out.

"U-Uh-huh." I answered nervously.

"Then, can I—"

"I'm back!" Akira announced as he entered the classroom. "Got your water and—oh." Akira stopped when he saw Yuu in his seat. "Hello, Yuu-kun."

Yuu's smile twitched. 

Oh my.

"Hi, Aki-kun. You're back fast." Yuu answered politely, though it sounded prickly.

"Yup, so could you give me my seat back?" Akira's smile also seemed on the not-so-sincere side of the spectrum as he placed my drinks on my desk.

"Oh, sorry." Yuu stood up, kicking Akira's bag in the process, which spilled some of the contents. "Oops, sorry about that, too. I can be clumsy, hehe." Yuu sarcastically apologized as he stepped over the mess he made.

O-oh my!

"Haha, accidents happen." Akira continued to grin as he sat down. "But, you should clean up your own mess, right?"

Oooooo!

"Oh, you're right." Yuu knelt down and started picking everything up.

*Rip*

Ohhhhhh shittttt!

"Oh, no! I think I ripped your homework." Yuu sounded troubled as he held up the paper that was now in 2 pieces. "I'm so sorry!"

"..." It was Akira's turn to have his lips twitch. 

Uh, should I step in? But, like, this is so fun to watch!

Luckily, the bell rang, saving me from choosing.

"See you later, Haru!" Yuu patted my head before heading back to his seat.

I glanced at Akira to see how he was, but he was bent over gathering the rest of his stuff.

"Uhm, you good?" I asked in concern.

I'm sorry, Akira, but Yuu got you beat this time.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. I just didn't think Yuu was such a petty person." Akira smiled as he said this.

A shiver went down my back.

Oh, I, uh, never heard Akira talk like that about someone.