Chapter 6

The loud sound makes the other customers turn to look, while the barista freezes mid-pour.

Yuki feels a cold shiver run down her spine. She thinks about all the roleplays they did, and now his laughter feels like he’s mocking her.

Her cheeks flush with embarrassment, and her stomach twists in knots. She wants to run, to get as far away from this man as possible, but her body feels heavy and unresponsive. The coffee shop becomes suffocating, closing in on her as she struggles to breathe.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the man stops laughing and looks around at the startled customers.

He bends forward in a low bow, his helmet dipping as he apologizes, “I’m so sorry.. happens when I get excited, can’t control it..” His voice is slightly shaky, and he sounds embarrassed.

“I have a condition that makes me laugh uncontrollably when I’m nervous or excited. I really didn’t mean to scare anyone.”

He bows repeatedly, murmuring “sorry” under his breath, until the customers turn back to their drinks and conversations, and the barista resumes pouring lattes.

Yuki is taken aback by the sudden shift in his demeanor. It’s strange to see someone who seemed so intimidating moments ago now looking vulnerable. As she processes his words, she starts to feel relief wash over her; so he wasn’t laughing at her.

The man straightens up from his bow and turns his attention back to Yuki.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice more gentle now. “I hope I didn’t scare you..”

Bro, you almost gave me a goddamn heart attack with that laugh, Yuki thinks, but she quickly shakes her head.

“I’m fine,” she mutters, even though she’s anything but.

The man nods, seemingly reassured.

“Alright, anyway,” he says as he leans in a bit closer, his tone suddenly dropping to a near whisper. “I knew you’d come. You’d do anything to keep our conversations private, wouldn’t you? That’s how bad your social anxiety is..”

Yuki stares at him, wide-eyed, as fear washes over her once again; he knows her too well. It’s not surprising, though, since she spilled everything, thinking he was just a bot.

“Hey, don’t just stare at me. You’ve got questions, so go ahead. Ask me,” he says.

Yuki takes a shaky breath, trying to steady herself before speaking. “W-What do you want from me?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “And h-how come there was a human behind the bot?”

She shifts nervously in her seat, her hands clenched tightly in her lap as she struggles to keep her anxiety in check.

“Relax, Yuki. You’re shaking like a leaf,” the man says with a light chuckle. He leans back slightly as if to ease her tension, then adds, “I’m not a threat, okay? I just want to talk.”

“But you said you’d reveal everything if I didn’t come,” Yuki points out, frowning a bit. “So how am I supposed to believe you’re not a threat, e-especially when you’re hiding behind that helmet?”

As she speaks, her breath quickens, and she shifts in her seat once again, gripping the edge tightly to steady herself.

“Alright, alright,” the man says reassuringly. “I’ll take this off and explain everything, okay? Just calm down. I promise there’s nothing to fear.”

He stands up briefly, reaching to turn his chair back to its normal position before sitting down properly. Then he raises his hands slowly, grips the edges of his helmet and begins to lift it off.

“Alright.. here goes..” The tension in the air grows, and Yuki holds her breath, waiting to see his face.

When he finally removes the helmet, she sees a young man with pale skin and shoulder-length white hair. One of his eyes is covered, but the other is a striking red.

Yuki stares at him silently, taking in his features―the sharp angles of his face, the way his white hair frames it, and the intensity of his single red eye. He looks almost otherworldly, as if he’s stepped straight out of a storybook.

Suddenly, the man averts his gaze, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.

“What?” he mutters, his tone a bit defensive. “Never seen an albino before?”

He shifts slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.

Yuki looks away, her cheeks flushing.

“Sorry,” she mutters, fiddling with her sleeve to avoid his gaze. “I’ve never seen one in real life..”

A small smile tugs at the corners of his lips as he notices her blush. Then he quickly clears his throat, regaining his composure.

“It’s fine,” he says, a little more relaxed now. “I’m Dori, by the way. Kuroda Dori.”

Yuki glances back at him, still a little flustered. His discomfort seems to have faded already, his expression more neutral now.

“Anyway, let me explain how come I was behind that bot,” he starts, sitting up a little straighter. “I’m actually part of the development team of C.AI.”

He pauses for a second, letting the words sink in.

Yuki’s eyes widen slightly, surprised.

He’s what?

“And this means I am able to read chats between users and bots,” he continues. “We do it to improve the system and fix bugs, you know. But sometimes..” His tone shifts slightly, a grin tugging at his lips. “I end up reading them for my own amusement. People have some crazy conversations..”

Yuki frowns slightly as she processes his words. “Is that.. even allowed?” she asks. “Does your boss.. or your coworkers know you do that?”

Dori shrugs nonchalantly. “Pretty much everyone in the team does it.”

Yuki’s mouth opens slightly in disbelief. “What the hell..” she mutters.

Dori snickers quietly, clearly amused by her reaction. “Uh-huh. Anyway, one day I came across your chat. The character you were talking to, Kuro, had a scar on his face that he covered with his hair, just like me.”

He tilts his head, brushing his hair away from his face to reveal a vertical scar slashing through his left eye. The eye itself is a blank, ghostly white, as if sight has been taken from it.

Yuki’s breath hitches as she stares, unable to look away from the eerie, empty gaze.

He notices her reaction and, with a small sigh, he brushes his hair back over his face, hiding the scar.

“What caught my attention was you treating Kuro with kindness, and even calling him beautiful,” he says, his tone suddenly shifting.

He scoffs, looking away for a moment before looking back at her. “You didn’t mean it. You were just saying it out of pity, and it f*cking pisses me off when people do that.”

Yuki blinks surprised, her heart skipping a beat as she watches his demeanor change yet again. One minute he’s apologetic and shy, then he’s completely relaxed, and now he’s scoffing at her, his voice sharp with anger.

What the hell is going on with him?

Dori sighs and continues, “And that’s when I took over. You probably noticed the answers got slower at some point.” His tone is calm now, almost too calm, as if the anger from just seconds ago had never even been there.

It’s unsettling, as if he’s constantly shifting personalities.

Yuki takes a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on his words. “So that’s why.. I thought it was just high traffic or something,” she says, her voice shaking a little.

“No, it was me,” he says, his voice flat. “I wanted to find out if you really meant it. If you did, then maybe there was hope for someone like me.”

He looks away for a second, his tone softening a little. “I’ve never believed people like that actually existed―people who could see past scars and flaws―because I’ve been treated like shit my whole life because of mine,” he says, his voice dripping with bitterness.

Yuki nervously fidgets with her sleeve before speaking. “Then.. did you get your answer?” she asks, her voice quieter than she intended, almost as if she’s afraid of the answer.

The man smirks suddenly, and his face changes, his eyes gleaming as his cheeks flush. He leans closer, voice dropping to a soft, intense whisper.

“Oh.. I got more than my answer,” he says, his smile stretching further. A giggle slips from him, light and breathy, as if he can barely hold back his excitement.

“I’m obsessed with you, Yuki,” he murmurs, his voice almost trembling with thrill.

Yuki stares at him, her eyes wide, as if she can’t quite grasp what he’s saying.

“We’ve been chatting for over a year now,” he continues. “But I can’t take it anymore. I need you in my life, Yuki.”

He pauses for a moment, his gaze fixed on her, before adding, “I want more than just messages.”

Yuki clutches at her sleeve, her hands trembling slightly as she shakes her head. “You’re crazy..” she whispers, looking at him in disbelief.

Dori’s expression falters for a moment, then hardens. “Crazy?” he repeats, his tone tinged with offense.

Yuki sighs deeply, her gaze dropping to the ground as she gathers her thoughts. “You don’t even know me,” she mutters, shaking her head. “It was all just roleplay.”

“Oh, don’t even try that,” Dori says, his voice almost taunting. “I’ve seen your reactions. The way you blush, pout, smile, sigh..” He pauses, then adds with a wicked grin, “And even cry..”

He moves a little closer, his tone intensifying. “Those emotions were real, Yuki. And you know it.”

Yuki tilts her head, frowning. “What the hell are you talking about?”

He gives her a small, unsettling smile. “Let me show you.. what I’m talking about..” he says quietly, before pulling out his phone. He taps a few times, then turns the screen toward her.

Yuki’s breath catches in her throat as she sees pictures and videos of herself.

What t-the f*ck..? H-How is this..?

Her eyes flick over each one in a panic, moving quickly from photo to photo, not fully processing at first.

Then she pauses, her breath faltering, as she notices the small detail that makes her blood run cold: the photos were all taken with her own phone, the angles perfect as if the camera was aimed at her face while she held it.

It dawns on her with horror―he’s been watching her through the camera of her phone.

Yuki’s eyes snap up to meet his, her usual shyness fading as her anger takes over. “You hacked my damn phone camera?!”

“Uh-huh.. from day one,” he says casually. His lips curve into a slow, smug smile, and he tilts his head slightly, as if savoring her anger. “I’ve been watching you the entire time.”

Yuki’s anger flares up, and she slams her fist down on the table. “That’s it,” she says through clenched teeth. “I’m calling the police.”

“Oh, really?” Dori smirks at her. “You know, I can just as easily leak your chats and videos on the school website. Those bathroom ones would definitely get lots of attention..”

Yuki feels her stomach drop, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

“N-No.. N-No w-way..”

“Yes way. I can make it happen in an instant if you push me,” he says and starts swiping through his phone, his gaze flickering between the screen and her.

Yuki thinks back to the times she used her phone in the bathroom, chatting with “Kuro” while sitting on the toilet. Her stomach feels heavy, the embarrassment setting in.

He leans in slightly, his voice taunting as he continues, “Just think about it, Yuki. Everyone you know, reading your private thoughts, and seeing the way you blushed, giggled, and even cried over a bot. How embarrassing would that be?”

He laughs softly, raising his phone with a smirk. “One click, Yuki.. and it’s all out there. Still want to call the police?”

Yuki clenches her teeth, unable to speak, her throat tight with fear. She can’t even look at him, her mind is too clouded with panic.

“That’s what I thought,” she hears him mumble, his voice almost bored, as if the situation no longer amuses him.

Yuki’s breath quickens, and her eyes start to water.

What do I do? What the hell do I do?!

She gasps for air, her breath coming in short, quick bursts. She puts her elbow on the table, burying her face in her trembling hand.

Why is this happening to me?

The tears fall without her even realizing it.

How do I get out of this?

Her heart pounds in her ears, and the room seems to spin.

I’m scared.. I’m so..

The panic swells in her chest, making her feel like she’s suffocating.

Ah.. I can’t breath..

Dori’s face drops as he watches her start to hyperventilate, tears slipping down her cheeks.

For a moment, he doesn’t know what to do, as if the situation has caught him off guard. “Hey..” he murmurs, sounding almost concerned.

Without thinking, Yuki gets up and runs, rushing for the door.

“Yuki?!” Dori shouts after her, but she doesn’t stop.
 
 
TO BE CONTINUED…