Interlude: Akari's Plan Part 2

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    Akari never really moved on, she is still feeling stagnant. In fact, it's getting worse with each and every passing day.

    "Mother, please don't open the door, I have some important work to finish."

    After returning from Akihabara, Akari went to her room.

    I placed the GPS transmitter I had bought on my bed. Taking it out of the box, I was impressed by its size. It was no bigger than my fingernail.

    Akari decided to harass Yukiho directly. To do so, she first needed to know where Daikichi and Yukiho lived. It was a known fact that they lived together, but the location was not known. Searching the Internet, she could find no information.

    However, Akari had a plan to locate it.

    It was Sueyoshi, Daikichi's father, who caught my attention. If I can locate Daikichi through Sueyoshi, it will naturally lead me to Yukiho.

    "Here we go."

    Akari attached the transmitter to the PSB of the portable game console. She tucked it inside the device so that it would not be visible from the outside.

    Once the work was done, I then checked the transmitter's function I opened the map application on my phone, and the location of the transmitter was displayed.

    Perfect.

　Now all I have to do is to give this PSB to Sueyoshi. That way, it will inevitably be delivered to Daikichi.

    Akari firmly believed that her plan would succeed.

　The next day, Akari was on a stakeout at Sueyoshi's office.

    As a childhood friend and former lover, she knew where he worked.

    A little after 6PM, Sueyoshi came out of his office.

　He seemed to be in a very good mood and was chatting happily with the security guard. I told him in my mind that he should hurry up and go home.

    In the end, Sueyoshi had been talking for almost an hour. Not only the security guards, but also the junior employees were involved in the big talk. A circle of people had formed around Sueyoshi, and they were having a great time.

    Watching them made me irresistibly angry. I was being looked at like a creep at a nearby convenience store, but what was the difference?

    "Try me,❄sshole..."

    Finally, Sueyoshi begins to move. He loosens his tie and starts to walk home.

    Sueyoshi entered an apartment not far from his office. He checked the mailbox in front of the auto-lock. No doubt, this is the apartment Sueyoshi lives in.

    "Oh, Daikichi's Father!"

    Akari approached him with an indifferent face. Sueyoshi turned around and was surprised to see Akari.

    "You're Akari-chan from Beniya-san's house, right?"

    "It's been a long time!"

    "What brings you here?"

    "--I've come to return the game console that I borrowed from Daikichi a while ago!"

    It's true that she borrowed the game console. Akari's modified PSB is the property of Daikichi. She had borrowed it when she was in elementary school.

    "Hmm."

　Sueyoshi's brow creased. Akari thought, "This is not good." A bad feeling came over her.

    "By any chance, have you heard anything......about me from Daikichi?"

    "No, I haven't heard anything in particular, is something wrong?"

　Akari put her brain into full operation. The first thing to do is to organize the information.

    Does Sueyoshi know about the relationship between myself and Daikichi?

　Yes.

    Does Sueyoshi know about the cause of the breakup?

　Unknown.

    When was the last time I saw Sueyoshi?

　Right after I entered high school.

    Based on the above, Akari answered as follows.

    "Actually, we broke up quite a while ago."

    First, I'll tell him what Sueyoshi absolutely knows. Next, I'm going to explore the important parts that are unknown.

    "I know. Because Daikichi has a new girlfriend."

　Normally, I would have blurted out, "I didn't know he had a new girlfriend." However, since Daikichi's girlfriend was Takamine Yukiho, that response would be a lie.

　I have to respond differently.

    Therefore, I will not mention Yukiho.

    "Have you heard why we broke up?"

    "Not a word. All I got from Daikichi was that you broke up."

    It was probably true. Daikichi's nature is not to talk about details unless he is asked. And Daikichi's parents are not the type to pry.

    Akari smiled, thinking that this would be a successful strategy. She went on with her story with an innocent look on her face.

    "I knew Daikichi had a new girlfriend, so I was wondering what I should do with the game console. If my ex-girlfriend came to give it to me, I don't think my current girlfriend would feel good about it. But we're moving soon. That's why I need to organize my stuff. I can't just throw away what I owe, so I've come to visit you."

    Akari fell in love with her own line. For a spur-of-the-moment lie, it made a lot of sense.

    Sueyoshi's response was reluctant, "I see." But he didn't seem to doubt it.

    "Then I'll give the console to Daikichi."

    "Thank you very much!"

    Akari bowed her head deeply. 

    She grinned at the ground.

    You're so easy, old man.

    "This is the game console I was borrowing!"

    Sueyoshi said, "Okay," and took the PSB and put it in his bag.

    "Well! I'll take my leave now!"

    Akari quickly turned away and tried to leave as fast as she could. Now that she had done her business, there was no point in lingering here.

    "Hold on."

    Sueyoshi stopped her.

　Akari turned around, cringing.

    "How does Akari know where we are?"

    "Eh?"

    "I didn't tell Beniya-san that I had moved here. Because of the circumstances, I didn't even tell the school that Daikichi and Akari were attending. So how did you know that we moved here?"

    I felt a chill run down my spine. But it would be a mistake to give up now. In a panic, I made up an appropriate lie.

    "I heard it from Daikichi!"

    "From Daikichi?"

    "When I contacted him to return the console, he said he couldn't tell me where he lived because it might be targeted by radical fans, so I had to go to his parents' house."

    I thought to myself, that it was the perfect answer.

    "So that's how it is. That's my boy, he's smart."

    Sueyoshi laughed, "Hahaha."

    Seeing this, Akari felt relieved.

    I've managed to get over the hump.

    "I apologize for stopping you. Actually, thank you for coming, Akari".

    "No! Now if you'll excuse me!"

    Akari dashed off. Her undershirt was soggy with sweat.

    "Daikichi told you? It does make sense, but..."

    Sueyoshi was stumped from the moment that Shuri appeared in front of him.

    If you ask me why, I can't answer. It's like a bug report. My intuition was ringing an alarm bell.

    "I'd better make sure."

    Sueyoshi entered the house and put the PSB in a bag for bulky trash. Then he took out his phone and sent a text message to Daikichi.

    "I went to Mr. Beniya's house to do some errands, and Akari gave me a PSB. She wanted me to return it to you. However, Dad accidentally dropped the console on the way home and broke it. So, if you need it, please buy a new one. I'll pay you later. Sorry, Daikichi."

    Thinking of Daikichi, I sent him a text message that contained an appropriate amount of lies.

　Soon after, I received a reply.

    "Got it. Also, I've cut ties with Akari, so please don't tell her where I live. I would also appreciate it if you don't tell her where you live. I don't want to get involved with her anymore."

    Sueyoshi muttered, "I bet."

    Thus, Akari's plan ended in failure.

    It wasn't until a week later that Akari found out about it. When she thought the location of the transmitter had finally started to move, she headed for the factory. After checking it out, she found that it was the termination point for the oversized garbage that was collected.

    "Grrrrrrrr! F❄❄❄❄❄❄❄cccckkkkk!"

    Akari went crazy and went back to being a recluse.