CH 4

Chapter 4 – Yandere and Criminal Law

Today’s second period is a lecture on criminal law, which is a completely foreign field for me as an education major, but it’s quite interesting. The lecture covers not only the principles of laws and regulations, but also topics that have been in the news recently, so it’s a good learning experience.

The only complaint I have about this lecture is that Tsubaki is also attending the same lecture. She always takes a seat diagonally behind me and observes my every move, even during the lecture. It’s just so uncomfortable.

I once took a seat in the very back of the room to escape Tsubaki’s surveillance, but I’ve decided to never sit in the back again because Tsubaki sat right next to me as if she had been waiting for me. Hearing a thinly concealed laugh coming from beside me every ten minutes was more frightening than a bad horror story.

Today, Tsubaki is seated diagonally to my left, two rows behind me with three seats in between. If I twist my body a little, I can see her. Just as I let out a sigh, the professor started the microphone test.

“Test, test. Now for today’s lecture… We will be addressing the Stalking Regulation Law.”

Yes, I think I’m going to learn a lot from today’s lecture.

“The Stalking Regulation Law, as the name implies, is a law that regulates stalking… The official name is… And it’s often revised in response to actual cases…”

What kind of mindset does Tsubaki have listening to this lecture? I wonder if she would reflect at least a little on her own daily conduct that is so palpable… Well, I can’t see that happening.

I hardly moved my head and caught sight of Tsubaki only with my eyes. She’s just lying face down. I have a bad feeling about this…

“Well, in a Supreme Court case that was just recently decided… The use of GPS to monitor behavior does not fall under the definition of ‘spying’ under the Stalking Regulation Law…”

A shiver ran down my spine. I see, I guess Tsubaki’s aim is to efficiently stalk me through the holes in the law.

…Wait, she’s sleeping? She hasn’t moved a muscle since a while ago. Eh? What’s with her? She doesn’t even realize she’s a stalker? She totally thinks it’s not her problem…

“And then, I know it’s not often, but… If you are ever stalked, you should promptly consult with the police. That concludes today’s lecture. As for attendance, please submit the paper I handed out at the beginning of the lecture and…”

What’s with that Tsubaki… She stayed face down until the end. She didn’t take the lecture seriously. Oh well, I’ll take what I learned today and turn her in to the police one of these days. Sleep tight.

“Fufu… Good work, senpai.”

As I was walking out of the main lecture hall and heading for the cafeteria… A youkai appeared from behind me with a nudge.

“What do you want, Tsubaki?”

“Can I not talk to you if it isn’t something important?”

“Don’t talk to me even if it’s important.”

“I wanted to eat together with senpai.”

“I told you not to talk to me, and you ignored me… Whatever it is, I’m eating with my friends today. Don’t follow me.”

“Ye~s.”

Swoosh, Tsubaki moved sideways away from me. What? Looks like she’s pulling away rather well today…

“Oi, Tsubaki.”

“What is it? You want to eat together with me after all?”

“Take out the GPS in my bag.”

“Oh my… You found out?”

The corners of Tsubaki’s mouth lifted with a grin. Her eyes were pure like a child who got caught playing a prank, and her mouth was curving into a sinister smile. It was not the kind of expression a person with normal senses could make.

I see, Tsubaki didn’t sleep at all during the lecture earlier. She went to the trouble of pretending to doze off just to fool me… Of course, she also understands that placing a GPS is not easily punishable.

“As expected of you, senpai, you sincerely know everything about me. Fufu…”

With a grin, Tsubaki took out a ballpoint pen-shaped GPS from my bag. Where does she get stuff like this from…?

With a “tsk”, Tsubaki backed away from me. It doesn’t seem she’s going to chase after me any more.

As she was leaving, I thought I heard her say, “I’ll do better next time,” but I decided it was just my imagination. Or rather, I had to do so in order to keep my sanity.