Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ✔

Chapter 39 - Exposed, Part 2

The girl behind the wall revealed herself to the 2 of us. She had shoulder length silver hair, and a petite figure. She held a cane in her hand to help her walk. This was Arisu Sakayanagi, Class 1-A.

"Can I assume you were the one to call us here?" I said, as the girl approached us.

"Yes, it was me," was her short reply. The smile never left her face.

"The reason being?"

"Fufu. I'll be getting to that soon."

She paused before continuing.

"That was quite the relay, wasn't it, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka-kun? Your start at the beginning was impressive as well, Takeyama Keisuke-kun."

I wasn't getting the right kind of vibe from this girl.

"So what's the matter? I'd like to wrap this up quickly if possible," Takeyama responded. I echoed the same sentiments.

Her cane tapped against the silent hallway.

Clonk.

Clonk.

"It's been quite long, Ayanokoji-kun. 8 years and 243 days, to be exact." She then turned to Takeyama. "I haven't had the privilege of meeting you before, Takeyama-kun. But I believe it's been over 7 years since I last heard your name."

"I don't even know who you are."

"Fufu. I suppose so. Our acquaintance isn't mutual, after all."

I let out a sigh, and turned around to leave. Takeyama-kun stood at the same spot, still curious as to why Class A's Leader pretends to know us.

Clonk.

Clonk.

"White Room."

I unconsciously stopped in my tracks. As soon as those 2 words pierced my ears, I lost all sense of rationality.

How?

Why?

How does she know?

"Fufu. It's disagreeable, isn't it, to be swept by information that your enemy possesses?"

I turned around to look at the girl.

It was true. I had never met this girl before in my life. I haven't lost any memories of my past either. I was 100% sure that I had met this girl for the first time, in Advanced Nurturing High School.

"Kiyotaka."

A calm, cold voice flooded through the hallway. Takeyama-kun turned to look at me, clearly in the eye. The 2 of us stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

"Are you.....?"

"Yes," he said without a hint of hesitation. "I am. But I do not remember you being there. Not at all."

The silence in the corridor was one of the most uncomfortable ones I have ever been in.

Takeyama Keisuke is from the White Room.

This was the only logical conclusion I could draw from our encounter. However, I had my doubts. I had never set my eyes on him before. No, I hadn't even heard of him. And it looks like it is the same for him as well. He is left with no clue as to who I am, and how I came to be.