Two Strings, One Song: Memory Fragments and Parallel Songs

Parallel Song: Bocchi The Yandere?!

(Hiroko's POV)

It's been a week since I first talked to... What was her name again? Oh, right. Hitori Gotoh. When Gotoh and I bumped into each other just a few days ago, she seemed pretty happy.

But I don't know. I said that maybe we could be friends, and she never talked to me since then. Maybe she didn't want to be my friend after all...

But, ever since then, I've felt like some evil spirit or something has been watching me all the time. In the morning when I go to school, during lunch when I'm alone, and even after school when I'm going home.

Someone was definitely stalking me. But why me? But the important question was who was it that was watching me?

...

I was at home, having dinner with my dad. We had spaghetti for dinner, and I couldn't get my mind off the Gotoh girl.

I was twirling my food around with my fork, and my dad seemed to notice.

"Kiddo. Is... Something on your mind?"

"Yeah, dad. Um... I was just wondering. Do you ever get the feeling like you're being watched?"

I hear my dad put his fork down, and I look at him. His eyes are slightly wide, clearly full of concern.

"... Hiroko, what do you mean?"

"I could've sworn that last night, I was being watched as I was about to sleep. I think, I saw someone looking at me through my window."

My dad gulps, and he whistles and puts his hands together on the table.

"It's... Probably just your imagination, son. Have you been getting plenty of sleep lately?"

"Um, I..."

I decided not to make my dad worry, so I lied.

"Kind of, yeah. You know, schoolwork and all."

My dad chuckles and sighs.

"Okay, that's good... That's good, really. I was worried for you."

"Yeah, I know you are, dad."

"Hm. Now, let's get back to having dinner."

We both ate and washed our dishes. I did my usual night routine; Shower, practice my guitar for a bit, and then, finally go to sleep.

But as I put my blankets over me, I turned my back, and I took a flashlight out from beneath my pillow.

This has to work...

I close my eyes and pretend to sleep. Then, I hear my bedroom window open. Given the chance, I quickly turn the flashlight on and get up from my bed, shining it at the window.

"Gotcha!" I say quietly.

My... Window was closed, and there was nobody.

I sigh and sit back down on my bed.

"I could've sworn... God, am I going insane?"

I shake my head and finally go to sleep.

But, as I was asleep, I could clearly hear a voice saying...

"I wish I could have the courage to t-talk to you like you did to me..."

And the next morning, it was normal as usual, but the thing was, I walked to my bedroom window outside.

The only thing I found was an orange guitar pick with a weird text..

(I couldn't find a better picture.)