Chapter 59
Title: The Cassette Theft
Location: MrLapis' Room – Evening
Rain tapped softly against the window.
The room was dim except for the pale blue glow of the CRT monitor sitting on the desk.
A cassette player rotated quietly beside it.
Click.
Whirr.
Click.
The old machine played soft static-filled music through small speakers.
MrLapis sat in front of the desk alone.
Calm.
Focused.
A notebook rested beside the keyboard while several cassette tapes were lined neatly near the monitor.
Everything in the room looked organized with unnatural precision.
The door slowly opened.
Nagatoro peeked inside first.
Nagatoro:
"…Why does this room always feel like a secret laboratory?"
Senpai entered behind her awkwardly.
Senpai:
"It's quieter than usual today…"
MrLapis didn't look away from the monitor.
MrLapis:
"The rain reduced outside noise."
Nagatoro crossed her arms.
Nagatoro:
"See? Normal people don't answer things like that."
MrLapis:
"You asked a question."
Nagatoro:
"It was rhetorical."
MrLapis:
"Unclear delivery."
Senpai quietly laughed.
Nagatoro sighed dramatically before walking further inside.
The CRT monitor reflected faint light across the room.
On the desk—
one cassette tape was separated from the others.
Unlike the rest, it had a small handwritten label.
1998
Nagatoro immediately noticed it.
Of course she did.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Nagatoro:
"Oh?"
Senpai instantly looked nervous.
Senpai:
"That reaction worries me."
Nagatoro pointed toward the tape.
Nagatoro:
"What's that one?"
MrLapis finally glanced toward it.
Only briefly.
MrLapis:
"A recording."
Nagatoro:
"That explains absolutely nothing."
MrLapis:
"It explains enough."
Nagatoro smirked.
Nagatoro:
"You're protecting it."
MrLapis:
"Yes."
The immediate answer surprised her slightly.
Nagatoro leaned closer toward the desk.
Nagatoro:
"Now I'm definitely curious."
Senpai stepped back slightly.
Senpai:
"…I don't think touching mysterious tapes in this room is a good idea."
Nagatoro ignored him completely.
She slowly circled around the desk.
Watching MrLapis carefully.
MrLapis remained calm.
Too calm.
Nagatoro:
"You know…"
MrLapis:
"Yes?"
Nagatoro:
"You've gotten harder to surprise lately."
MrLapis:
"That statement is accurate."
Nagatoro:
"It's annoying."
MrLapis:
"That statement is also accurate."
Senpai laughed quietly again.
Nagatoro pointed dramatically.
Nagatoro:
"See?!"
Then suddenly—
she moved.
Fast.
Nagatoro quickly grabbed the labeled cassette from the desk and stepped backward triumphantly.
Nagatoro:
"Success."
Silence.
The room immediately felt different.
Senpai noticed first.
The air felt heavier somehow.
MrLapis slowly looked toward the cassette in her hand.
No anger.
No panic.
But something in his expression changed slightly.
MrLapis:
"Put it back."
Nagatoro blinked.
The tone was calm.
But sharper than usual.
Nagatoro:
"…Seriously?"
MrLapis stood up slowly.
MrLapis:
"Yes."
The CRT monitor hummed softly behind him.
Rain continued tapping against the glass.
Nagatoro tried forcing a grin.
Nagatoro:
"It's just a prank."
MrLapis:
"You selected the wrong object."
That sentence made Senpai uncomfortable instantly.
Senpai:
"Nagatoro-chan maybe you should—"
Nagatoro lifted the cassette slightly higher.
Still smiling.
But weaker now.
Nagatoro:
"What happens if I don't?"
Silence.
The cassette player beside the monitor suddenly clicked by itself.
All three turned toward it.
The machine activated.
Static filled the room softly.
Then—
a distorted voice emerged briefly through the speakers.
"…don't let—"
The audio warped violently.
"…2200—"
The tape suddenly stopped.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Nagatoro's smile disappeared.
Senpai stared at the cassette player in horror.
Senpai:
"…What was that?"
MrLapis immediately walked toward the player and ejected the tape calmly.
Too calmly.
Nagatoro stared at him carefully.
Nagatoro:
"That sounded like a person."
MrLapis:
"Corrupted audio."
Nagatoro:
"No."
She pointed toward the cassette player.
Nagatoro:
"That wasn't normal static."
MrLapis placed the tape back into its case carefully.
MrLapis:
"Interference exists in old recordings."
Nagatoro narrowed her eyes.
Nagatoro:
"You answered too fast."
Silence.
MrLapis didn't respond immediately this time.
Which somehow made it worse.
Senpai slowly looked between both of them nervously.
The rain outside became heavier.
The CRT monitor flickered faintly for half a second.
Nagatoro noticed this time.
Nagatoro:
"…Did the screen just move?"
MrLapis:
"No."
Nagatoro:
"You didn't even LOOK."
MrLapis:
"I heard the electrical shift."
Senpai lowered his head slowly.
Senpai:
"That sentence is terrifying."
Nagatoro looked back toward the cassette still in her hand.
Then quietly returned it to the desk.
Carefully.
MrLapis adjusted the cassette immediately.
Perfectly straight.
Nagatoro watched him silently for a moment.
Nagatoro:
"…What's actually on that tape?"
MrLapis remained standing near the desk.
The CRT glow reflected faintly in his eyes.
MrLapis:
"Old recordings."
Nagatoro:
"You keep giving incomplete answers."
MrLapis:
"Because complete answers are unnecessary."
Nagatoro crossed her arms again.
Nagatoro:
"You know, normal people explain things."
MrLapis:
"Normal people also damage things carelessly."
The room became quiet.
Nagatoro blinked.
The meaning behind the sentence landed immediately.
Nagatoro:
"…You think I'd break it?"
MrLapis:
"I think you treat serious things casually."
That one actually stung.
Senpai noticed Nagatoro's expression change slightly.
Nagatoro looked away briefly.
Nagatoro:
"It was a joke."
MrLapis:
"Repeatedly."
Silence filled the room again.
The cassette player clicked softly beside the monitor.
The old fan near the shelf rotated slowly.
Nagatoro suddenly looked smaller somehow.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
For once—
she didn't immediately have another joke prepared.
Senpai carefully stepped between them slightly.
Senpai:
"…Maybe we should calm down a little…"
Nobody answered.
Nagatoro stared toward the rain-covered window quietly.
Then:
Nagatoro:
"…You really changed after the awakening."
MrLapis paused.
Only briefly.
MrLapis:
"Possibly."
Nagatoro looked back toward him.
Nagatoro:
"You used to react more."
MrLapis:
"Reactions create mistakes."
Nagatoro:
"That sounds lonely."
Silence.
A long one.
The CRT monitor flickered again.
For less than a second—
white text appeared across the screen.
22:00
Then normal.
Only MrLapis noticed.
His expression shifted slightly.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
But Nagatoro saw it.
Nagatoro:
"…There."
MrLapis looked toward her.
Nagatoro:
"That."
MrLapis:
"What?"
Nagatoro:
"You keep doing that face lately."
Senpai looked confused.
Nagatoro continued quietly.
Nagatoro:
"Like you noticed something nobody else can see."
The room became silent again.
MrLapis looked toward the monitor.
Then toward the cassette tape.
Then finally back toward Nagatoro.
MrLapis:
"…Some things are better left alone."
Nagatoro stared at him carefully.
For once—
she didn't tease him.
Outside—
thunder echoed faintly across the sky.
And somewhere beneath the sound of the rain—
the cassette player clicked again by itself.
Chapter 60
Title: Enough
Location: MrLapis' Room – Night
Rain continued falling outside.
Soft.
Constant.
The sound mixed with the quiet electrical hum of the CRT monitor glowing faint blue inside the dark room.
The cassette player remained silent now.
Too silent.
MrLapis sat at the desk typing slowly.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The atmosphere felt heavier than usual after yesterday's incident.
Even the room itself seemed quieter.
Senpai sat near the wall flipping through a notebook awkwardly.
Every few seconds he glanced toward MrLapis.
Then toward the door.
Then back again.
Nervous.
Very nervous.
Senpai:
"…She's definitely coming."
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Senpai:
"How do you know?"
MrLapis:
"She dislikes unfinished competition."
Senpai lowered his notebook slowly.
Senpai:
"That somehow sounds accurate."
A few seconds later—
the door opened.
Nagatoro entered.
Immediately.
Confidently.
But not as energetic as usual.
Nagatoro:
"So."
MrLapis continued typing.
Nagatoro crossed her arms.
Nagatoro:
"You're really acting like yesterday wasn't weird?"
MrLapis:
"Clarify the statement."
Nagatoro sighed dramatically.
Nagatoro:
"There you go again."
Senpai looked between them carefully.
The atmosphere already felt tense.
Nagatoro walked further into the room slowly.
Her eyes moved across:
the CRT monitor
the cassette tapes
the notebook beside the keyboard
Then finally toward MrLapis.
Nagatoro:
"You know what your problem is?"
MrLapis:
"You are about to explain incorrectly."
Nagatoro pointed immediately.
Nagatoro:
"STOP DOING THAT."
Senpai covered his mouth trying not to laugh.
Nagatoro narrowed her eyes.
Nagatoro:
"You predict literally everything now."
MrLapis:
"No."
Nagatoro:
"Yes."
MrLapis:
"You remain predictable."
Nagatoro:
"That sounds insulting."
MrLapis:
"It was observational."
Nagatoro stared at him for a few moments.
Then suddenly smiled again.
Dangerous.
Senpai noticed instantly.
Senpai:
"…No."
Nagatoro:
"Oh yes."
MrLapis calmly pressed save on the computer.
Click.
Nagatoro slowly moved around the desk.
Casually.
Too casually.
Senpai immediately looked worried.
Senpai:
"Nagatoro-chan…"
Nagatoro ignored him.
She leaned slightly toward the CRT monitor.
Nagatoro:
"So what exactly are you hiding in this thing anyway?"
MrLapis:
"Files."
Nagatoro:
"That answer physically annoys me."
MrLapis:
"Expected."
Nagatoro suddenly reached toward the keyboard.
Fast.
Very fast.
But before her fingers touched a single key—
MrLapis grabbed her wrist firmly.
The room froze instantly.
Silence.
The rain outside sounded louder now.
Nagatoro blinked.
Senpai stood up immediately.
Senpai:
"M-MrLapis—"
MrLapis slowly released her hand.
Carefully.
Controlled.
But serious.
Very serious.
MrLapis:
"Enough."
The word landed heavily in the room.
Nagatoro laughed awkwardly.
Nagatoro:
"…Okay wow."
No response.
MrLapis looked directly at her.
Calm.
Unreadable.
MrLapis:
"You continue ignoring warnings."
Nagatoro crossed her arms defensively.
Nagatoro:
"It was a joke."
MrLapis:
"No."
The answer came immediately.
No hesitation.
Nagatoro's smile weakened slightly.
MrLapis stood up slowly from the chair.
The CRT glow reflected faintly across his face.
MrLapis:
"You treat everything casually."
Silence.
Nagatoro:
"That's not true."
MrLapis:
"You enter this room already planning disruption."
Nagatoro opened her mouth—
then stopped.
Because he wasn't wrong.
MrLapis continued calmly.
MrLapis:
"You touch objects you do not understand."
"You interrupt things you do not understand."
"And when people tell you to stop—"
"…you continue."
The room became completely silent.
No yelling.
No anger.
That somehow made it worse.
Nagatoro looked away briefly.
Nagatoro:
"You're overreacting."
MrLapis:
"No."
Still calm.
Still controlled.
But colder now.
MrLapis:
"You assume everything is harmless because you personally do not see consequences."
Senpai slowly lowered his head.
Even he didn't know what to say anymore.
Nagatoro tried forcing another smirk.
Nagatoro:
"…Since when did you become this serious?"
MrLapis:
"Since people stopped listening."
That sentence hit harder than expected.
Nagatoro blinked slowly.
The rain outside intensified.
The CRT monitor flickered faintly behind them.
For less than a second—
white text appeared on the screen.
2200
Then normal again.
Only MrLapis noticed.
His eyes shifted slightly toward the monitor.
Nagatoro saw the movement.
Nagatoro:
"…There."
MrLapis looked back at her.
Nagatoro:
"You keep doing that."
Silence.
Nagatoro:
"You look at things nobody else can see."
MrLapis didn't answer immediately.
Which was answer enough.
Nagatoro's expression slowly changed.
Less teasing.
More uncertain.
Nagatoro:
"…What's actually happening to you lately?"
The room felt quieter than ever now.
Even the ceiling fan seemed slower.
Click.
Click.
Click.
MrLapis finally answered.
MrLapis:
"Nothing."
Nagatoro:
"That's obviously not true."
MrLapis looked toward the monitor again briefly.
Then back toward her.
MrLapis:
"Some things are easier to manage alone."
Nagatoro frowned.
Nagatoro:
"That sounds miserable."
Silence.
MrLapis:
"Possibly."
Nagatoro stared at him carefully.
For the first time in a long while—
she genuinely didn't know how to respond.
Because this didn't feel like their usual conversations anymore.
It felt heavier.
Senpai quietly stepped forward.
Senpai:
"…Maybe everyone's just stressed."
Nobody answered.
Nagatoro slowly uncrossed her arms.
Nagatoro:
"…Fine."
MrLapis remained silent.
Nagatoro:
"I get it."
The words sounded quieter than usual.
Almost reluctant.
She looked toward the cassette tapes briefly.
Then toward the CRT monitor.
Then finally back at him.
Nagatoro:
"You really changed after the awakening."
MrLapis paused.
Only briefly.
MrLapis:
"People change."
Nagatoro:
"…Not like this."
Another silence filled the room.
Long.
Uncomfortable.
The emotional kind.
Nagatoro slowly stepped backward toward the door.
But before leaving—
she stopped.
Without turning around:
Nagatoro:
"…You know what's annoying?"
MrLapis:
"What?"
Nagatoro:
"You act calm all the time…"
A small pause followed.
Nagatoro:
"…but you look tired lately."
MrLapis didn't answer.
That silence confirmed enough.
Nagatoro quietly opened the door.
Then:
Nagatoro:
"…Goodnight."
And for once—
there was no teasing in her voice.
The door closed softly behind her.
The room became silent again.
Only the rain remained.
Senpai stood awkwardly near the wall.
Then quietly asked:
Senpai:
"…Was that necessary?"
MrLapis stared at the CRT monitor.
The screen flickered once more.
22:00
Then normal again.
MrLapis:
"…Yes."
Click.
The cassette player activated by itself.
Static filled the room softly.
Then silence.