Chapter 346 is now available for reading! This is the start of the Hiroshi and Hitomi fight, the one hinted at by Saki during Tatsuya's fight. Someone appearing wasn't the surprise part, but more that it was Hitomi. Which is another one of those long forgotten about characters. For those with really good memories, she is the girl, also on the track team, that went to Saki when Takako disappeared. Hitomi's nature is that of an extreme worrier. She stresses out over the smallest details. Though in the case of what happened with Takako, it ended up being for very good reason. Hitomi is close with Takako, which is why she was the one guarding her.

This is the arc that sort of brings up a lot of the minor details that I introduced back in the first arc. There was very little that I put into the first arc that I planned to ignore. Most of it was done with a purpose, a purpose for later. As I have said on at least one occasion, I've never been a fan of just suddenly introducing characters that are important to the plot now, but should have been present realistically in some capacity in previous parts of the story. So I made sure to introduce the necessary parts for future story arcs early. Once I got out of the first arc, it became less of a need. But I do still introduce small little pieces that I plan to make into big pieces later on. Part of it helps that I make plans for all of the future arcs well in advance so I can do what is necessary to introduce the pieces. So if they have a name then they are going to be important later on for something pretty much. So there is a lot of worth in going back and re-reading things. I'm intentionally writing Shift in such a way.

This is the second time we've seen the inside of Takako's throne room, a classroom. Last time with Saki, I ignore some of the details. So I did more to explain it this time around. Plus it is sort of awkward to say that there is some big room at the end of the hall in a school. That's just not true. So I needed to explain the layout better to get a clear view of how it is set up. Saki was admittedly less interested in the school and more focused on Takako. So she didn't take in the scene much.

I'm also finally getting to some of core parts for Takako as well. It's still going to be a bit before I start truly answering the questions. But I wanted to give Hiroshi a little face time with her so I could start stirring up the questions for the reader about Takako. There is still a lot of things that are not known about her. And I'll be finally getting to those very soon.

And Hitomi does indeed have the power to cry literal rivers from her eyes. It's one of the more silly powers I came up with for the characters. But it does fit in with her personality, which as I said is that she is a huge worrywart. So she's weaponized crying. But she's also a track member, which should be another important clue to remember about her.

Enjoy!