Oh no! They all seem a bit off!

Chapter 154 Please Find the Real Me

After crying for a while, Shiraishi Rin wiped away her tears, stood up from the ground, and took out her phone in a daze to contact Shimada Rieko.

When the call connected, she said in utter despair, "I'm sorry, Ms. Shimada, I... I can't keep up the pretense any longer."

"……What's wrong?"

After a brief silence, Rieko Shimada forced herself to remain calm and asked softly on the other end of the phone, "Calm down first. Where are you? I'll come pick you up right now."

"I am here……"

After Shiraishi Rin gave her detailed location, Shimada Rieko didn't hang up the phone and continued to comfort her.

Rieko Shimada was already in Bunkyo Ward, so she arrived at Rin Shiraishi's side within a few minutes and helped her into the car.

Shiraishi Rin sat in the passenger seat, head down, eyes red-rimmed, still moist and misty, giving the impression of being on the verge of tears.

"Yeah……"

By this time, Shimada Rieko already understood the whole story. On her way here, Shiraishi Rin had explained it to her in fits and starts.

Shiraishi Rin asked in a low voice, "Ms. Shimada, what should I do? I... I'm afraid to see them again."

The thought of being looked at with suspicion and strangeness filled her with confusion and fear.

Rieko Shimada patted Rin Shiraishi on the shoulder and gently comforted her, "It's alright, perhaps this is exactly what Miss Shiraishi wants."

The young lady she was referring to was naturally Shiraishi Rin, who was in her true form.

The reason why the original Shiraishi Rin could allow the clone to impersonate her and continue living was to get the clone involved with Akizuki Makoto and draw him into the scheme.

Now, the clone has stumbled upon this, which can be considered a blessing in disguise.

At least she shouldn't get scolded today when she reports to the main body.

Just as Shimada Rieko had predicted, when she drove the clone to the apartment in Jimbocho and asked the clone to report the day's events to the original, the original became unusually excited and agitated.

"Great, that guy's taken the bait, hahaha...hahaha!!!"

Rin Shiraishi, who had been lying in bed, was so excited that she sat up in bed for the first time in a long time, and a smile appeared on her face.

This was also the first time she had smiled after creating a clone.

If Akizuki Makoto takes the bait and interferes with them, he will definitely be able to end the strange changes happening to them.

The current Shiraishi Rin no longer harbors the absurd fantasy that her legs can be healed; she only wants to end this farce.

Otherwise, if it continues to split off clones and drain her life force, she might not survive the summer.

She could feel her life force draining away at an extremely rapid pace; all her vitality was being drained by the clone to maintain its health.

The clone not only took away her appearance, family background, relationships... everything about her, but now it even wants to take away her existence.

She couldn't imagine what would happen if, after she died, the clones continued to be reborn in an endless cycle, and they would really replace her.

Compared to her morbid, manic, dark, and twisted self, the clone would definitely be more likable.

Naturally, the clone will be accepted, even if she can only live for a week and then become a new individual.

In other words, this is equivalent to intermittent amnesia, but it's much better than amnesia, at least the clone can still recognize people they knew before.

This is better than someone like her who is not only physically disabled but also emotionally disabled.

"What...what else do I need to do?"

The clone, Shiraishi Rin, looked at the original, who was laughing maniacally, with some fear, and asked in a low voice, "Can I... not go to school?"

"Not going to school?"

Upon hearing this, Shiraishi Rin, the real person, immediately stopped laughing, frowned, and cursed, "If you don't go to school, how can you continue to lure Akizuki to investigate? What are you thinking? You're just a fake human, how dare you make demands of me?"

"Couldn't you be a little more grateful to me? Everything you have now belongs to me. Shouldn't you do something for me?"

"Do you even consider yourself a human being? Show me what you're worth! Who gave you permission to hide away and wait to die?"

"You're still alive because I've given you my life force. Are you going to waste my precious life?"

The barrage of vicious words, like cannonballs, relentlessly attacked the clone's already shattered heart, causing her emotions to collapse uncontrollably.

She couldn't help but cry, but all she got in return was even more vicious insults from the original body.

The original used the sharpest language to hurt the clone, venting the negative emotions she felt while imprisoned in this dark and gloomy room.

"Ha ha…"

He cursed for about ten minutes before he got tired of it, rubbing his barren chest and breathing heavily.

Recently, her physical functions have been deteriorating, she gets tired easily, and she sleeps more than twelve hours a day.

"Get out of here, I don't want to see you again, you're disgusting."

She mustered her strength, ordered the clone to leave, and then lay back down on the bed.

"Woo..."

The clone let out a sob, turned and left without a word, its heart filled with sorrow and despair.

She even had a fleeting thought of suicide. Since she didn't have long to live anyway, and was going to die in six days, she might as well end her suffering sooner.

In this way, she can escape responsibility, avoid facing the members of the Light Music Club, and also escape from boundless despair and sorrow.

"As expected, I shouldn't exist..."

As Shiraishi Rin rode the elevator, looking at the reflection on the smooth stainless steel wall, she felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

This face, this figure... or rather, her whole being, doesn't belong to her; she took it from someone else.

As the elevator descended to the lobby on the first floor, she took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, walked out of the apartment, and got into Rieko Shimada's car.

Rieko Shimada glanced at Rin Shiraishi, who was sitting in the passenger seat. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she said nothing and silently drove away.

After dropping Shiraishi Rin off at her home in Shinjuku, she took out an envelope, handed it to Shiraishi Rin, and said, "This is extra living expenses. You did a great job and worked very hard."

After saying that, she placed one hand on Shiraishi Rin's head and gently stroked it.

How could she not see that Shiraishi Rin had been suppressing her emotions the whole way?

"Woo..."

Under her gentle touch, Shiraishi Rin's emotions instantly overflowed, and she could no longer hold back.

However, she had already cried all her tears, and now she couldn't shed another single tear.

"I'm sorry, this is all I can do for you."

Rieko Shimada sighed softly, a lingering sadness settling over her.

Rin Shiraishi took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions within her, and said through sobs, "Th...thank you...Ms. Shimada...that's...enough."

"Let's go somewhere together this weekend."

Rieko Shimada smiled and said, "Although life is short, it is precisely because it is short that we should live it more passionately."

“…Yes, I will.” Shiraishi Rin nodded vigorously. Because of Shimada Rieko’s promise, a sudden longing for life and an expectation for the future welled up in her heart.

This reminded her of a line written by Osamu Dazai: "I had intended to die this winter, but in January someone gave me a set of mouse-gray pinstripe linen kimono, which is suitable for summer. So I'll live until summer first."

At the same time, she also thought of the kindness that Shiina Maki and Niijima Rie had shown her, the kindness that truly regarded her as a friend.

Although the Shiraishi Rin they knew is no longer here, if it were them, they probably wouldn't distance themselves from her after learning the truth.

"I'll go up now. Goodbye, Ms. Shimada."

"Goodbye."

After saying goodbye, Shiraishi Rin got out of the car. She stood by the car, bowed deeply to Shimada Rieko, and then turned and went home.

As soon as she got home, she went straight to her bedroom, took out the notebook left by the previous clone, and began to read it carefully.

This time, she will not be timid.

She was reading a book, carefully absorbing the contents recorded in the notebook, whether it was happiness, joy, sadness, confusion, or despair.

She felt deeply connected to the contents of the notebook and resonated with their emotions.

"So, that night, we ate ramen..."

Before he knew it, Shiraishi Rin saw the contents recorded on Saturday.

As expected, Akizuki Makoto is very clever. Based on the memories of the original body, she intuitively sensed Akizuki Makoto's strength and personal charm.

No wonder Shiina Maki likes Akizuki Makoto, and even Himeya Yuki is fascinated by him.

If it were him, perhaps he really could find a way to resolve their abnormal changes.

"Please save me, Akizuki-kun..."

Shiraishi Rin murmured the last words left in the diary, and then repeated them again.

This time, she was praying that Akizuki Makoto could save her and end the cycle that was happening to her.

Amnesia, while not death in the true sense, is almost the same, and is no different from having one's consciousness taken over.

……

……

The following day, Tuesday.

8:17 a.m., classroom of Class 3-A, Mingsheng High School.

Today, Makoto Akizuki and Maki Shiina came together, and they were discussing Rin Shiraishi.

After Shiraishi Rin ran away last night, Shiina Maki and Niijima Rie parted ways after dinner.

After returning home, Shiina Maki went to talk to Akizuki Makoto and learned why he asked Shiraishi Rin such a strange question about having barbecue on Saturday night.

"Shiro-Shiroishi-chan..."

When Shiina Maki entered the classroom and saw Shiraishi Rin, a look of bewilderment immediately appeared on her face.

Makoto Akizuki had already told her that Rin Shiraishi seemed to have amnesia, forgetting things that happened on Saturday and even Sunday.

She may have even forgotten things from earlier times, as evidenced by her complete ignorance of the electronic keyboard.

The thought that Shiraishi Rin had forgotten those things made Shiina Maki unsure how to interact with him.

She was afraid that Shiraishi Rin would think she was a strange person who would become close to her so easily.

"Shiina-chan".

Rin Shiraishi, seeing Maki Shiina standing at the classroom door without taking a step, stood up and walked towards her.

When she reached Shiina Maki, she bowed deeply and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I suddenly ran away yesterday and didn't contact you or explain afterward. I think it's better to apologize in person."

"No, it's okay, it's okay!"

Shiina Maki immediately shook her head and waved her hands, helping Shiraishi Rin up, and then said, "I-I don't mind at all! On the contrary, I should apologize to Shiraishi-chan. I'm sorry for taking the liberty of getting closer to you and causing you any trouble, right?"

"Do not say that."

A sadness welled up on Shiraishi Rin's face as she whispered, "I'm not bothered at all. I'm really happy, extremely happy."

Akizuki Makoto, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up when he saw that the atmosphere was about right: "So... can you tell us what happened? Everyone is very worried about you."

"This one……"

Shiraishi Rin looked at Akizuki Makoto, hesitated for a long time, and still couldn't bring himself to confess.

Although her original self allowed her to tell Akizuki Makoto that she also wanted him to help her, for some reason, she just didn't have the courage to be honest.

"It's okay, take your time to think about it."

Qiuyue smiled and said, "You guys chat, I'll go back and sit down first."

Now that he's out of the picture, Shiina Maki is probably more likely to win over Shiraishi Rin's heart than he is.

Afterwards, Shiina Maki and Shiraishi Rin chatted for a long time until the bell rang for the first class, when they reluctantly parted ways and returned to their seats.

"Excuse me, Akizuki-kun, may you uncover the secrets within me?"

As Shiraishi Rin sat down, Akizuki Makoto heard a soft whisper beside his ear.

"Please come and find the real me, Akizuki-kun."

"..."

Akizuki Makoto suddenly turned his head and looked at Shiraishi Rin with a surprised expression, but he could only see her profile facing the podium.

He wanted to ask what Shiraishi Rin meant by what he had just said, but after thinking about it, he didn't ask.

Clearly, Shiraishi Rin will no longer share any more clues with him.

She probably wanted to be honest, but she also had her own unspeakable difficulties.

"Have you found the real me...?"

Qiu Yuecheng muttered to himself, but he heard this sentence very clearly.

The information contained in this sentence is quite intriguing.

He spent the entire morning contemplating the possibility of his "real self".

During lunch break, Ji Yexue came directly to the classroom and called him to the student council room for a private talk.

"I've discovered something interesting."

Upon entering the student council room, Ji Yexue went straight to the point: "Yesterday, I had someone monitor and investigate Bai Shi's recent movements, and we found that she went to two very suspicious places."

"The first place was a high-end apartment building in Jimbocho. She stayed there for about half an hour, and then took a car to a single apartment near Shinjuku-Toyama Park, where she apparently checked in directly."

(End of this chapter)