42 Juumonji group (1/2)

That night, Takashi Kobayashi felt a wave of regret wash over him as he remembered his previous words.

The person who saved them obviously didn’t want to have his identity revealed, and if he really was Seigo Harano, then that meant that he had exposed the identity of the person who saved him... Wasn’t that the act of an ingrate!?

As a delinquent, Takashi Kobayashi wasn’t exactly a paragon of virtue, but he had his own principles as well; he would never sell out someone that had helped him before.

But he already said it out loud without thinking, and the information was forcefully obtained from him by that blonde girl and her overwhelming aura.

Thus, he could only pray that Seigo Harano wasn’t the person that she was looking for.

On Monday during classes, he observed Seigo Harano closely for a while, and as a result... he became certain that Seigo Harano was the masked person they were seeking!

He was both shocked and depressed at this.

When the blonde girl called him and asked him about the results of his observation, Takashi Kobayashi told her on purpose that he had been mistaken.

But maybe his acting skills were poor, or the blonde girl just didn’t believe him, she still forced him to secretly take a photo of Harano and send it for her to decide.

Takashi Kobayashi could only obey her.

He was only a normal person, after all; if he disobeyed the mafia, there were plenty of ways for them to punish him... And besides, even if he resisted with all his might, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to obtain the information they wanted.

He and Kahei Watari were only unimportant characters in the grand scheme of life; they were taken advantage of because they were easy to make use of.

A few seconds after, he sent her a cell phone picture of Seigo Harano, and she subsequently confirmed that Harano was the masked hero.

She could confirm instantly just through a cell phone picture!?

Takashi Kobayashi felt even more afraid as he confirmed how resolute the blonde girl was.

Everything else that happened was only natural: Kobayashi was asked to bring Seigo Harano to the place that she requested, or else the blonde girl would take her goons and wait directly in front of the school.

After consideration... well, there was actually nothing to consider—Kobayashi and Watari could only obey.

...

”I see.” Seiji finished listening to Kobayashi and Watari’s explanation.

”I’m so sorry, Harano-san...” Takashi Kobayashi bit his lips regretfully: ”If only I didn’t say it out loud back then, you wouldn’t have...”

”Even if you didn’t say it, as long as they seriously searched for me, I would have been discovered sooner or later.” Seiji sighed, ”Aren’t I right, Miss... Kaede Juumonji?”

Light laughter resounded from the direction of the passenger seat.

”Did you hear her? There’s no need to beat yourself up about it; even though it did give me some trouble, you didn’t do it on purpose, so forget about it.” Seiji smiled at Kobayashi.

Takashi Kobayashi nodded, but inwardly, he remained ashamed of himself.

”By the way, Kobayashi-san, you’re quite perceptive. I’ve never even talked to you before, and even though I wore a mask that night and tried to speak in a lower voice, you still recognized me.” Seiji changed the topic by praising him.

”Er... it’s nothing really. I instinctively felt that I’d seen you somewhere before...” Kobayashi scratched his head.

”Takashi often notices the small details.” Kahei Watari who had remained silent suddenly spoke up.

”Oh, indeed... you’re often together. By the way, what do you guys usually do together?”

Seiji casually changed the topic again in order to relieve their tension as well as to help himself remain composed.

Seiji wondered if they actually weren’t delinquents. Going to internet cafes, reading manga in bookstores, and playing games in game centers—these activities caused him to suspect that the duo were otakus!

A delinquent couldn’t possibly be an otaku!

Just as Seiji was thinking that to himself, wanting to ask more about this topic, the car slowed down.

”We’ve arrived,” Kaede Juumonji announced.

Seiji and the others got off the car and were greeted by the sight of a majestic wooden door. It was the type that usually belonged to the huge, secluded houses he would often see in mangas.

The door slowly opened from the inside, and it could be seen that there were two rows of men in black suits, lined up neatly to both the left and right of the pathway, creating an imposing atmosphere.