A Night of Paranoia (8)

“You know, Menou? I... ran all the way here because I was worried about everyone, even though I still hadn’t recovered from the damage of releasing my limits. Can you believe that?”

Kagami spoke to Menou, but the previous incident must have taken quite a toll. Menou only looked exhausted and didn’t reply.

“I-I’m sorry, Kagami-san? I mean, I was kind of... on your side, I think, and... well, look! I didn’t attack you like Parna-san and Kururu-san did—I just stood there and did nothing!”

“I KNOW NOTHING.”

“Um... well, uh, hehe...”

Having learned how painful it was not to be believed, Kagami repeated Alice’s words in a mechanical monotone and stared blankly up at the ceiling.

“You’re the one who made it look suspicious. Of course we’d get the wrong idea if you suddenly barged in without saying anything.”

Parna sighed at Kagami, who was whining and grumbling in a decidedly unmanly fashion, and pointed a finger at him.

“I was trying really hard to explain, though?”

“You’re so petty. I apologized, didn’t I? It’s fine—you got to see something nice, too.”...