HKZ 158

Chapter 158:

We continue from last week, where Ebino hugs Tarou, saying "It's warm when we're like this." He hugs her back... and then he suddenly backs away. He says "I already knew you were a good person... but I didn't take notice of how beautiful you were while everybody around me went on and on about how pretty you are. But now, I finally realize the truth: you are a beautiful, cute, and wonderful girl."

Ebino swoons. "W-what are you saying, so suddenly..."

Tarou continues: "A while ago, you said I've changed. Well, I guess I really have changed, ever since that girl came into my life. Since then, I was able to truly appreciate you for who you really are. IT's all thanks to that girl.  I never wanted to be a low-energy guy... I was just scared, and so I didn't want to recognize or realize anything. She freed me from that state of mind. So, I want to go on living by that girl's side." Tarou then gets up and walks away, leaving Mei Ebino at the station.

But Ebino will not lose. SHe gets up and grabs his hand from behind. She yells at him "Nobody wants that life for you! Not even your FIrst Love Zombie, Eve!"

Tarou doesn't turn around. He calmly asks "What... did you just say?"

Ebino thinks back to what Ririsu told her. Ririsu said that no matter what he can't know that she knows about Eve, because Taoru knows her so well that their plan to 'save' him would be laid bare and he'd discover the truth about their conspiracy. Ebino acknowledges what she was told, but believes that she must believe in Tarou and be honest with him about her true intentions.

Tarou asks how long she's known about her, and Ebino tells him about how she found out having accidentally overheard his sister and Riri's conversation about him. She tells him that since then, she has been told all about his situation.  Tarou thinks to himself "They blabbed to Ebino? Ibusuki-kun didn't say a single word about it to me..."  Just then, Tarou thinks back to the whole pool situation. He says, "Wait a sec, so that means meeting you at the pool today..."

"It was not a coincidence. It was all planned out. Eve was in on it, too." interjects Ebino.

Tarou: "So you're telling me Eve was part of your plan? She approved of this? There's no way she would ever do that!"

Eve: "Did you ever wonder why she isn't by your side right now? It's because she's with Ibusuki-Kun."

Tarou is in a state of shock. He realizes the truth that Eve and Ririsu worked together to get him to be with Ebino.

Just then, while Ririsu is sulking about losing the love of her life, she looks over as a foreboding black shroud comes over Eve. Ririsu calls out to Eve, while noticing her weird appearance. "Eve... you are..."

"Don't talk to me, ugly!" says Eve as she looks coldly back at Ririsu.

Ririsu is shocked. She stands up and yells at her 'Who the Hell are you calling ugly... we have the same damn face! Don't tell me you've become a lost-love Zombie..."

Eve responds: "Don't follow me. I said I don't want you to talk to me anymore, didn't I? That's because I hate your guts." She flies off. Ririsu realizes that something must have happened between Tarou and Ebino to cause her to change so suddenly.

Back with Tarou and Ebino, Ebino begs him not to leave. She tells him that should Eve disappear, she'll be his shoulder to lean on and they can get over the sadness of losing her together.

Tarou says: "What exactly did Ibusuki tell you about First Love zombies? Even if I were to return your feelings, Eve wouldn't disappear. She would always be by me, sleeping deeply. I just couldn't go on living having to see her hanging over my shoulder like that..."

As he says this, Eve shows up above. She looks menacing, like the Dark Eve she ran into in Dad's tornado of FLZs. She says "Tarou, there you are. I was looking for you."  Tarou looks up at her. However, Mei sees Ririsu running toward them. She's out of breath having ran there as fast as she could. Tarou asks Eve what's up with her clothing, but Ririsu interjects and yells at him.

Tarou: "Ebino knows all about Eve."

Ririsu: "...you told him? Why would you do that?"

Ebino: "More than that, Eve won't disappear, will she? She'll still remain while she sleeps, never fading from view. Did you lie to me? "

Eve flies over to Tarou. "Sorry, Tarou. I was decieved by this jerk, too!" she says.

Ririsu is stunned as she looks Tarou in his eyes as everything comes crashing down around her.

End of Chapter