As I searched for Ayu, I encountered difficulty locating her. I checked the classroom, gymnasium, and cafeteria, but she was nowhere to be found. I am uncertain of her whereabouts at that time.
I considered calling Ayu, but I wanted to surprise her and engage in a serious conversation about the situation involving the elderly gentleman. I also wanted to address the issue of the stalker and provide him with an opportunity to speak out today. I feel compelled to do so.
Frankly, I have been a cowardly boyfriend by not allowing Ayu to assist me and investigate the matter. This behavior will cease today. I intend to speak with her.
However, as I was walking through the hallway, I noticed Arata walking hurriedly.
"Hello, Arata," I expressed my relief upon seeing him.
"Hello, Daisuke. I am in a bit of a hurry," Arata replied and walked a bit faster.
"Wait, have you seen Ayu around here? I have been searching for her, and the last person I saw with her was you.
"Oh, yes, she is not far away. She just needed to finish putting two more posters, but are in the left corner of the hallway, and I believe you can see her from there," Arata provided me with directions by gesturing with his hand.
"Thank you, Arata. I'll see you tomorrow in school." I followed the direction Arata gave me to go, as I wanted to see Ayu. Arata went out of school and hurriedly checked his phone on the way. As I walked, I felt a bit anxious. I wondered if she would see me and if I would make things worse. She had told me tomorrow, but I still felt uncertain. I wanted to do what was right, but I was afraid of making things worse. I decided to follow my gut and talk to Ayu about this situation. I had to do what I had to do.
As I got the direction, I looked around for any sign of Ayu nearby. The first thing I saw was a poster of her, so I knew I was close to her. I heard voices, and it was Ayu. I walked fast and heard another voice that sounded familiar.
"Louis," Ayu sounded upset.
"Hello, Ayu," another voice of the familiar voice I had heard before. I was shocked to hear that name because it was the guy Ayu had talked to me about her ex-child's best friend. I walked even faster to see that Louis's person. I then went to the side of the wall to have a closer look. When I looked, I was even more shocked. I was speechless, and angry, and couldn't believe I could see his face again. After all this time, it was Ayu's childhood best friend, the stalker.
"Why can't you simply bother someone else, Louis" Ayu picked up the tape on the floor and turned away from him to continue tapping the poster.
"Well, is it against the law for me to refrain from engaging in conversation with you?" Louis teased Ayu, but Ayu made it clear that she had no interest in him.
Ayu resumed tapping the poster while Louis assisted her in holding it.
"Please, do not simply leave me alone," she pleaded, visibly upset as she genuinely desired solitude.
"Ayu, can we simply begin anew?"
"I request your solitude, Louis. Our friendship is untenable. Your treatment of me has been akin to that of a model as if I were merely an object of your desire for perfection. I fail to comprehend the rationale behind this behavior. May I simply be the individual I aspire to be and pursue my aspirations?" Ayu's expression was visibly marked by distress.
"You are perfect, Ayu. More than anything in this world. I find myself constantly captivated by the memory of our first kiss during our middle school years." Louis extended his hand to touch Ayu's cheek. However, Ayu swiftly smacked his hand, expressing her aversion to his touch. Nevertheless, Louis feigned a smile, characteristic of his demeanor.
"Smacking my hand? I find it endearing," Louis remarked, his gaze fixed on Ayu.
"You are aware of my sentiments, Louis. You have undergone a transformation. You are no longer the Louis I once knew. You are not the same individual," Ayu responded, as she covering her face and experiencing a sense of apprehension towards Louis's intense gaze.
"That is not the sentiment you conveyed to me previously, Ayu. You expressed your love for me," Louis replied, advancing towards Ayu at a measured pace.
"That was before your behavior became reprehensible," Ayu uttered, visibly trembling. Subsequently, Louis positioned his hand against the wall, preventing Ayu from escaping, and attempted to kiss her lips slowly.
"Please, someone help me!" Ayu implored for assistance.
I intervened and struck Louis's face with such force that an immediate aversion to him developed within me. Louis thudded himself to the ground as a result of my punch. I gazed upon him with a profound sense of hatred, and the desire to continue inflicting harm upon him persisted.
"D-Daisuke…" Ayu was apprehensive to see me, and I promptly rushed to her aid.
"Ayu, are you okay?" I addressed her with seriousness.
"Y-yes…" Ayu looked at me and then She averted her gaze as she experienced a blush of embarrassment at my impressive demeanor. In contrast, Louis slowly rose to his feet and experienced a slight pain from the punch I had given him. In response to my punch, he moved his head to the left side, producing a small cracking sound in his neck as he attempted to dislocate it from the impact.
"Daisuke Ito, so we meet again," he looked at me calmly, yet his inner thoughts were filled with anger. He continued speaking, slightly forward of us with his hands behind his back.
"I had told you we would meet again, didn't I? We did," he forced a smile at me.
"Wait, you two have already met," Ayu looked at me with a hint of upset. I looked at her, feeling a bit anxious that she might be upset with me for not informing her. Then I looked forward to Louis, who appeared to be distressed.
"And I did tell you to stay away from her,"
"I do not harbor any fear of you, Daisuke. You believe because of that punch you gave me does not imply that I must have fear of you because I do not Daisuke Ito," he walked side to side, and I covered Ayu as I did not want him to be near her.
"Well, you should be because I have more to offer," I looked at Louis's eyes, and he began laughing.
"Continue impressing me, Daisuke, because you simply do not comprehend what is forthcoming, and when it arrives, it will be over for you," he got closer to my face, two feet apart, with his glasses glistening in the light.
"You possess nothing, do you comprehend me? Nothing for causing us to separate from our relationship," I looked at him with hatred.
"You have no idea what is coming up, simply remember that," as Louis looked away from me and walked on his way out.
"See you around, Daisuke, and especially you, Ayu," he did not look at us with an evil face, making it as if we were unaware.
As Louis departed, I turned to Ayu and slowly looked at her.
"Ayu, I apologize for not meeting you tomorrow as you had hoped," I said.
Suddenly, Ayu embraced me tightly, her body trembling with fear. Her strong hold on me was a desperate expression of her apprehension.
"Thank you, Daisuke," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
Her tears streamed down her face, revealing her deep emotional distress. I understood why Louis had been following us; he was harboring sinister intentions towards Ayu. I felt a profound sense of responsibility to protect her from further harm.