Chapter XCIV: Tailgating, Part 1
Kota leans back on his bed, still feeling a bit out of it from the whole ordeal at Tengen's place. He picks up his phone, staring at the group chat. The conversation is filled with the usual jokes and chatter from the group, but after what happened, Kota feels a wave of disgust. He's not in the mood for any of it.
His phone pings with a message from Gin.
Gin: "Dude, you okay? You disappeared that night."
Kota sighs, grateful for the concern. He begins typing a response, not holding back on the events of that weird night.
Kota: "Yeah… It was messed up. I just bailed. Couldn't take Tengen's creepy behavior anymore."
Gin replies almost instantly.
Gin: "Man, don't sweat it. I don't like that group much either. If I were you, I wouldn't bother going back. Tengen's... off."
Kota stares at the message, his tension easing slightly. It's good to know he's not the only one who thinks something's wrong with Tengen. He exhales deeply, feeling validated. Gin's casual dismissal of the situation reassures him, but there's still an underlying unease that won't go away.
Deciding he needs more than one perspective, Kota opens another chat and reaches out to Asahi, who had been relatively quiet during the sleepover.
Kota: "Asahi, man… I've got to tell you, the other night at Tengen's was just too weird. He's been acting super shady."
After a brief pause, Asahi's reply pops up.
Asahi: "I get it, Kota. Tengen can be… intense. Don't worry about it. If you're uncomfortable, you shouldn't feel pressured to hang out. It's not worth it if it makes you feel bad."
Kota reads the message twice. Asahi's calm, reassuring words help, but the problem is deeper than discomfort. Tengen's behavior had crossed a line, and there's something unsettling about how he manipulates situations.
Kota: "Yeah, thanks man. I'll try to avoid it. Just hope I don't get roped into another sleepover."
Almost as if summoned by Kota's anxiety, his phone buzzes with a notification from the group chat. It's Tengen, of course.
Tengen: "Hey guys! Let's do another sleepover next weekend. We'll plan it out early this time so everyone can come!"
Kota's stomach churns at the thought. He can't believe Tengen is so casually suggesting another sleepover after how badly things went. He fights the urge to throw his phone across the room. Instead, he ignores the message, his disgust rising.
But then, a private message from Tengen appears.
Tengen: "Kota, are you coming? We missed you last time, man."
Kota feels the bile rise in his throat. Missed me? He scoffs, knowing full well that Tengen's idea of "missing" him is just wanting another opportunity to mess with him. Kota quickly types a response, coming up with every excuse he can think of to avoid this disaster.
Kota: "I can't make it, Tengen. I've got a huge research project I need to finish. Plus, my asthma's been acting up, and my health's not been great."
There's a pause before Tengen's reply, making Kota's heart pound as he waits.
Tengen: "Come on, man! It's just one night. You can work on your research later. As for your asthma, I'll make sure everything's fine. Just use your inhaler."
Kota clenches his fists. Tengen's complete disregard for his reasons only makes him more determined. He's not going to let this slide.
Kota: "Look, Tengen, I'm serious. I can't come. I've got too much on my plate, and I'm not feeling well."
He watches the chat bubble appear, Tengen clearly not letting it go.
Tengen: "You'll be fine. You always make it work. I'll even help you with the research if you want. You can't just bail on us."
Kota grits his teeth. The fact that Tengen is trying to guilt-trip him is infuriating. He takes a deep breath, determined not to let Tengen manipulate him again.
Kota: "No, Tengen. I'm not coming. End of discussion."
There's a longer pause this time, and Kota feels a strange sense of relief, thinking he might've finally gotten through. But then, his phone buzzes with another message. It's from the mysterious chat head.
Mysterious Chat Head: "Never surrender. You know what needs to be done."
Kota's skin crawls. The cryptic message feels like a warning, but from whom? He doesn't know what's worse—Tengen's relentless pestering or this strange new message.
On Sunday, Kota escapes the drama for a while by going to the mall with his mom and grandpa. Window-shopping with them is a welcome distraction, and Kota enjoys spending time with his family. It feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the tension surrounding Tengen.
As they stroll through the busy mall, Kota's phone pings. It's a message from Enmei.
Enmei: "Hey, man, where are you? Haven't seen you around lately."
Kota frowns, debating whether to tell Enmei where he is. He figures there's no harm, especially since Enmei has always been more laid-back.
Kota: "At the mall with my family, just taking it easy."
But to his horror, just a few minutes later, Enmei shows up. And not alone—Tengen and Asahi are with him.
"Kota!" Tengen calls out with a grin, waving as if nothing's wrong.
Kota's blood runs cold.
"Of course. Of course, Enmei would tell them."
He tries to hide his frustration, but it's impossible. His grandpa and mom are busy looking at something in the shop, leaving Kota frozen in place.
Tengen approaches, his usual casual attitude making Kota feel sick.
"Hey man, good to see you out and about! Thought you were too busy to hang out."
Kota forces a smile, mentally cursing himself for ever telling Enmei where he was.
"Yeah… I didn't expect you guys to show up."
Asahi stands off to the side, his hands in his pockets, looking slightly uncomfortable. He doesn't say much, but Kota can tell he's just following along.
Enmei, on the other hand, seems oblivious to the tension.
"We were nearby, figured we'd drop by and say hi."
Kota's mind races, looking for an exit strategy. His phone buzzes again, this time a chat from Akiko.
"Saved by the bell", he thinks.
Kota: "Akiko, you won't believe who just showed up… Tengen and the guys. At the mall."
Akiko replies quickly.
Akiko: "What?! Seriously? Are they following you?"
Kota glances at Tengen, who's making small talk with his mom now. He turns back to his phone.
Kota: "It feels like it. I need to get out of here."
Akiko: "Don't let them push you around. You can handle this."
Kota straightens his back. She's right. He can handle this. He takes a deep breath, then turns to Tengen, faking a smile.
"Well, guys, I've got to get back to my family. Maybe we'll catch up later."
Tengen looks disappointed, but Kota doesn't care. He's had enough of this game.