That afternoon, the sun leaned westward, scattering its golden warmth across the schoolyard.
On top of the slide, already cooling under the breeze, a boy sat casually with his back slightly hunched. In his hands, an old Game Boy glowed faintly, its dim greenish light flickering in the dusk.
His face was locked in concentration, as if the world around him had simply vanished. His fingers danced swiftly across the buttons, producing the familiar chimes of a retro game, mixed with the steady click-click of plastic. The sound was both comical and oddly comforting, turning the once-quiet playground into something that felt a little more alive.
"Yaaawn… finally done," I muttered, stretching my arms as I stepped out of the school lobby.
"Today really wore you out, didn't it, Young Midori?"
Pirika walked just below my feet, looking up at me with such an innocent expression, as if sharing in my exhaustion.
I let out a small sigh. "Why are you acting tired too? As far as I remember, you spent the whole day napping on the school fence."
"Eh? Sleeping takes energy too, you know!" Pirika puffed her cheeks. "Besides, our body sizes are totally different. Of course I run out of stamina faster."
"Are you trying to put on an act again?" I asked, my tone laced with sarcasm.
"Eh!? That's cruel! How could you say something like that to your own guardian? If Megumi-chan were here, she'd definitely defend me… sniff sniff…"
Pirika immediately hung her head, her ears drooping down dramatically like a pair of soaked rags.
I exhaled a long breath. "Alright, alright… I'll buy you another sausage later."
In an instant, her face lit up, ears shooting upright, and her tail wagged so wildly it looked like a broken electric fan.
"Hmm… if I had the choice, I'd rather have a burger," she said in a spoiled tone.
"What kind of cat eats burgerrr!?" I yelled instinctively, my voice echoing off the schoolyard walls.
Tweet! Tweet!
The chirping of sparrows cut through our quarrel, sharp and clear, like an impatient audience eager for the next act of a play.
"Huh? What, do you want a burger too?" Pirika turned to the sparrow with a dead-serious expression.
"Of course not!" I snapped back, a vein almost popping on my forehead.
"Midori-chan, Midori-chan—otsukaresamadesu!"
The voice seemed to come straight from the tiny sparrow perched on the fence. It was the mother sparrow we had helped yesterday.
Since then, she had settled down around the school. I was truly grateful to Nakamura-sensei, who even went so far as to climb a tree just to place the birdcage on a safe branch. And now, every time I came to or left school, she would always greet me in her own special way—chirping brightly, flapping her wings, and twirling in the air.
I smiled warmly. "Thank you, Piyuu-san."
The moment I said her new name, the little sparrow answered with a cheerful trill, as if it really suited her.
"What did she just say?" Pirika blinked curiously.
"Just a simple greeting," I replied shortly.
"Heee~ so you even gave her a name, huh?"
Pirika narrowed her eyes with a mischievous grin.
"Is that a problem?" I shot back challengingly.
"Not at all. In fact, it's nice. I'm happy too," she said, turning toward the sparrow still perched on the fence, a small smile spreading across her face.
"Tch… what's with that…" I muttered, half embarrassed and half annoyed at her smug smile.
As we were about to step out of the school gate, both Pirika and I stopped in our tracks. Over in the schoolyard, there was still one elementary school kid sitting casually, lost in his own little world.
"Why's there still a brat hanging around this late? Is he your friend?" Pirika asked, shooting a sharp glance at the child.
I looked as well, slightly puzzled. All the students should've gone home around three o'clock. It was only because I happened to have extra lessons that I was leaving later than usual.
"Nope," I answered curtly.
Pirika gave a small snort and stepped forward ahead of me. "In that case, let's go check on him. For all we know, he might be in some kind of trouble. Besides, it's pretty dangerous for brats like you to still be wandering around at this hour."
"Brats like you…?" I repeated, my brows furrowing, feeling just a little offended.
Who's the real brat here… me, or her? I grumbled inwardly, a bit annoyed.
In the end, we stepped back into the school grounds, heading toward the empty playground.
On top of the slide, the boy sat quietly. His face was serious, eyes locked in deep concentration on the small device in his hands—as if the world around him didn't matter at all.
…Would it be okay if I talked to him?
A flicker of hesitation crossed my mind.
"Meoww~!"
Pirika took the initiative, greeting him in her usual style.
But the boy didn't even flinch. He didn't turn his head, nor did he show any sign of hearing us.
"U-um…" I tried greeting him softly, my voice cautious, worried I might startle him if I spoke too suddenly.
"E-excuse meee…" I forced myself to call out again, my voice hesitant.
"What's with this brat? Is he deaf or something?" Pirika muttered sharply, her tail swishing back and forth.
And then—
KABOOM!
A small explosion burst from the Game Boy he was holding, followed by the familiar retro game over jingle.
"Uwaaaah, damn it! I was this close to beating my high score!"
The boy groaned in frustration, then raised the Game Boy high above his head.
Grab!
His tiny body lost balance and slid right off the top of the slide.
"Woooaaahh—!"
In an instant, he crashed right in front of Pirika and me, sending up a cloud of playground dust that had us both coughing lightly.
"Cough—cough!" The boy patted his chest as he coughed.
Pirika, also coughing from the swirling dust, narrowed her eyes in irritation. "Cough—ugh… turns out it's just some bored brat… cough-cough!" she grumbled, looking half annoyed, half fed up.
"Eh…? What's a student still doing at school this late?"
The boy tilted his head up, his voice so casual, as if he'd only just realized we were standing right in front of him.
Pirika and I both shouted in unison without thinking.
"That's what we should be asking you!!"
"Ahh, you're that fourth grader who got into an accident yesterday, right? What was your name again… I forgot," he said, scratching his head.
"My name is Hisaka Midori," I replied politely.
"Oh right, Midori. Sorry… I didn't even offer my condolences back then…"
He gave me an awkward smile, as if genuinely feeling guilty.
I shook my head gently. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."
"So, why haven't you gone home yet? It's almost dark, you know. It's dangerous if you're alone," he said in a tone like an adult lecturing a child.
I froze for a moment. Huh? Why am I the one being questioned here…?
"Ah, I was about to head home, actually. But then I saw a student still here all by himself, so I thought something might've happened. That's why I came over," I explained.
"Ohh, is that so. Well, I'm used to being by myself. Besides, if I go home too early, they'll just make me do homework. I don't like studying," he said casually, as if that was the most natural thing in the world.
"You little brat…" Pirika muttered sharply, shooting him a condescending glare.
"Do you often stay here by yourself?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Not really, but I like playing games here," he answered casually, swinging his Game Boy back and forth.
"Poor kid… does he not have a family?" Pirika muttered under her breath—but loud enough for us to hear.
"Meooow~!"
"Woah!" The boy nearly jumped out of his skin. His eyes went wide the moment he noticed Pirika. "W-what kind of cat is this!? Why are her eyebrows like that!? Is she your cat!?"
"Why, you little—! I've been here this whole time! Are you making fun of me, brat!?" Pirika snapped, her fur bristling. She even raised her front paws like clenched fists, fiery spirit burning as if she were about to challenge him to a duel.
"Y-yeah, her name's Pirika. Even if she looks angry, she's actually a pretty friendly cat," I explained a bit awkwardly.
"I-is that so…? But why does it feel like I'm the one getting scolded here?" the boy muttered, scratching his head with a sour look on his face.
Before I could answer, the screech of car brakes echoed from the street.
A sleek black sedan stopped right outside the school gates. From inside, a man in a suit and an elegant woman stepped out, standing firmly at the entrance as if waiting for some kind of signal.
"Damn… they're here already. Guess there's no helping it…" the boy muttered, his tone dripping with displeasure.
I blinked in confusion. "Who are they?"
"They are… my subordinates."
"Eh—seriously!?"
Pirika froze. "Don't tell me… this brat is the son of some corporate boss!?"
"Well then, see you around, Midori!"
He dashed past me, but suddenly stopped a few steps ahead. Quickly, he spun around, pointing his finger at his own chest with a wide, mischievous grin.
"Oh right! My name is… Eguchi Takuya! Remember it well! Bye-bye~!!"
With a wave and a mock salute, he ran straight through the school gate.
The two people waiting for him immediately bowed in respect. The elegant woman in sunglasses brushed her bangs neatly to the side, while the man beside her politely opened the car door.
Without another word, Eguchi Takuya slipped into the black sedan. The engine purred softly, and the car glided away, disappearing down the dimming road of the late afternoon.
"Eguchi… Takuya." I murmured his name under my breath, my gaze drifting far away. For some reason, my thoughts wandered in directions my eyes could not follow. He really did seem like the child of someone important.
"Well, anyway, let's just head home. My stomach's already putting on a full orchestra in here!" Pirika quipped, patting her belly and breaking me out of my daze.
I gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, let's go home."
***
Inside the black sedan speeding down the highway, Eguchi Takuya lounged casually in the back seat. His fingers busily tapped away at the buttons of the Game Boy that never seemed to leave his hands.
"It's rare to see Waka-sama interacting with another child," remarked Ishida, the driver, his eyes fixed straight on the road.
"No. She's not my classmate," Eguchi replied curtly, not once lifting his gaze from the screen.
"Then… who was that little girl, Waka?" asked Uragami Mei, the office-dressed woman seated beside him. Her curious eyes flicked toward the Game Boy's screen, while her fingers absentmindedly tucked the bangs from her forehead into place.
"Ummm… what was her name again?" Takuya furrowed his brow. At a glance, it looked like he was genuinely trying to remember, but in truth, his eyes never once left the Game Boy's display. His fingers moved with sharp precision, fully focused on maneuvering through the tight corners of his racing game.
Ishida and Uragami Mei stayed silent, patiently waiting for the boy to finally answer.
"Ahh… Midori. Hisaka Midori. She's a fourth grader," he said at last, his tone flat, as if stating something trivial while still speeding along the digital racetrack.
"I see… she seems like a good child," Uragami Mei remarked with a gentle smile, brushing her bangs aside so they no longer covered her eyes.
"Yeah, something like that…" Takuya replied nonchalantly, his eyes never leaving the glowing screen, as though nothing mattered more than the score he was chasing.
"Waka, you really are impressive, aren't you? To have a cute girl as your friend already," Uragami Mei teased—whether sincerely or just to provoke him, it was hard to tell. But the sideways glance she shot him was sharp enough to pierce.
"W-w-what are you talking about, Mei?! D-damn it, now I'm losing focus…!" Takuya's face instantly flushed red, even his ears burning hot. His fingers trembled, sending the race car on the Game Boy swerving wildly out of control.
"Uwaaah, don't drag me into your swerves too, Waka-sama!" Ishida groaned from the driver's seat, instinctively gripping the steering wheel tighter as if he were being pulled into the game himself.
Mei let out a bright, cheerful laugh, delighted to see this rare side of their little boss.
***
The next day, at noon.
At a street intersection, two casually dressed men were taking a break beside a vending machine.
"Konnichiwa," they greeted passersby with a casual wave.
Allow me to introduce them. They are part of a super-secret organization known as Jamming Ningen. My name is Kurokawa Haguro, and my partner here is Takao. You could say we're something like master thieves, backed by a piece of high-tech equipment called the Jamming Slider. Thanks to that device, our movements can't be caught on camera or by infrared lasers. Cool, right?
…That is, if only we hadn't failed.
Because of an unfortunate accident, some of our stolen goods were lost in the chaos.
"Hey, Takao… any idea where we might find a lead on that ring's whereabouts?" I asked, sitting casually atop a roadside guardrail.
"I don't know… we should just be grateful we're not wanted men right now. The newspapers and TV didn't even mention the victim's name, so we can't track it down," Takao muttered.
"And if you had just listened to me back then, our mission would've been over already," I shot back, glaring at him as he leaned against the vending machine.
"What else could I do? The situation was desperate," Takao retorted, cracking open a bottle of soda. He gulped it down in one go and let out a deep sigh of relief. "Puaaaahhh!"
"Hey, Haguro… what if we take a closer look into that elementary school kid from last time?" he asked, his tone caught between doubt and curiosity.
"Don't be an idiot! You trying to get us thrown in jail, huh?" I snapped at him without thinking.
"But… could all of this really be just a coincidence?" Takao's gaze hardened, though his expression clearly begged me to believe him. "That ring the kid was wearing… it's exactly the same as the one we stole."
"You're right, but the kid said it was a gift from her parents. If we force the issue, it'll only draw suspicion," I explained with a heavy sigh.
"Let's try one more time… please, Haguro." Takao's voice carried a desperate plea.
"…Fine. But if it turns out that ring isn't the one we're looking for, we stop. No more business with that kid."
Takao nodded quickly, and the two of them walked off. Their conversation faded away, swallowed by the midday clamor of the city.
High above, perched atop a power pole, a black crow sat silently—its dark eyes gleaming, as if piercing through the secrets of the two men who had just left.
***
At three in the afternoon, the school bell rang, signaling dismissal time for all the students.
Everyone rose to their feet as the class leader gave the commands.
"Kiritsu!" (Stand!)
"Rei!!" (Bow!)
All the students bowed in unison, their voices echoing politely.
"Sensei, arigatou gozaimashita!"
The children lined up neatly in front of the getabako, switching from indoor shoes to outdoor shoes. The creaking of wooden lockers mixed with the lively chatter of classmates eager to go home.
One by one, they stepped out of the school lobby, their small footsteps filling the path toward the gate. Some laughed, others grumbled about homework—an after-school scene bursting with life as the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky.
Tweet—tweet.
As always, the little sparrow greeted me from the branch near the school gate. Its chirps were soft and sweet, as if meant only for me. A few classmates glanced toward the sound, but I was the only one who truly understood the meaning of its call.
"Hey, Midori-chan! Let's hang out tomorrow, it's Sunday," Megumi suddenly suggested.
"Whoaa, great idea! I'm coming too, hehe," Takumi chimed in excitedly.
Megumi's face puckered into a slight pout, but her expression slowly softened.
"W-well… I guess that's fine," she admitted a little awkwardly.
"A-actually… I'm not sure. There's something I want to buy," I replied hesitantly.
"Hey, kiddo, reading books is great and all… but like I told you before, you should get used to going out once in a while too. Remember, someday you'll grow up into a proper young lady," Pirika lectured while strolling casually beneath my feet.
"Another book? You should take Pirika-chan out sometimes, so she won't get bored. Right, Pirika-chan?" Megumi complained, hugging her bag tightly to her chest as if holding back her frustration.
"Indeed, young Megumi." Pirika nodded solemnly with an exaggerated wise-old-man expression, as if giving some sage advice.
"Then how about this—we go buy the book while hanging out together?" Takumi suggested cheerfully, flashing a big grin.
"Agreed!" Megumi exclaimed, walking backward with a beaming smile as she faced both me and Takumi.
"Well, if you two don't mind…" I answered softly, a small smile tugging at my lips.
"Yosh! It's decided!" Takumi shouted with fiery enthusiasm, clenching his fist tightly.
Amidst that warmth, my steps suddenly faltered. I felt like something was missing… not an object, but a person. That boy who was always alone—Eguchi Takuya.
Curiosity tugged at me, making me glance toward the place where he had been yesterday.
"What's wrong, Midori-chan? Did you forget something?" Megumi asked, turning toward me.
And sure enough… there he was. I saw him—lying all alone on top of the slide, as if the entire world meant nothing to him.
"Oh, that kid. His name's Eguchi Takuya, fifth grade. Same class as Tajima Tada," Takumi explained while glancing in his direction.
Megumi raised a hand to her forehead like a makeshift visor, peering from a distance. "Ohhh… let me take a look."
"Why is he always alone? Doesn't anyone at this school want to be friends with him?" I asked, still staring at Eguchi Takuya.
"Just like you, isn't it?" Pirika teased with a crooked smile.
I shot a look down at Pirika, my eyes full of protest.
"Hey, hey, don't look at me like that. I'm only speaking the truth," she said, flicking her tail high as if to challenge me back.
"Not really," Takumi cut in quickly. "You could say he just prefers being alone. Besides, he's talented. I heard his grades are always good, and he's great at sports too."
"In that case… how about we invite Eguchi-kun as well?" I ventured quietly.
"Eeeeh? But he's not even in our class!" Megumi's face instantly dropped, her shoulders slumping as if all her excitement had drained away.
"Megumi's right. Besides… I doubt he'd agree," added Takumi with a shrug.
"If we don't ask, how would we ever know?" I looked at the two of them before taking a step toward the schoolyard.
"Mi-Midori-chan…!?" Megumi yelped, shocked that I was actually serious.
"Well, guess we don't have a choice," Takumi muttered, finally following along.
As we approached, Eguchi Takuya still hadn't noticed us at all. The only sound that reached our ears was the familiar chiptune beeping from his retro handheld game.
Kaboom!
Game Over!
"Damn it… failed again," he grumbled in frustration.
"Hello, Eguchi-san," I greeted him from below the slide.
Eguchi Takuya jolted upright, quickly straightening his posture as he sat on the slide. His eyes widened, clearly startled to see the three of us there.
"What, so I don't count?!" Pirika suddenly protested, shredding my train of thought with her loud voice.
"Huh? What's going on? Why is it suddenly crowded here?" Eguchi asked in confusion, his eyes darting back and forth between us.
"Midori… and her friends?" he added, as if only just realizing it.
"Hey! I'm Inui Takumi, Midori's classmate," Takumi introduced himself cheerfully, giving a bright thumbs-up.
"A-a… I'm Aika Megumi, also her classmate," Megumi followed nervously, clutching the straps of her bag tightly.
Takuya only gave a small nod before sliding down without another word. Swoosh! He landed nimbly, standing right in front of us as if that was his way of greeting people.
"Ow!! Yoroshiku!" Eguchi Takuya exclaimed energetically.
"So… what business do you have, coming all the way to me?" he asked, his curious eyes darting between us.
"Unexpected… he's not a quiet kid at all," Megumi murmured inwardly, narrowing her eyes a little.
"Eh, is his personality really like this…?" Takumi thought, scratching his cheek.
"This Sunday, the four of us are going on an adventure. How about it, want to come along?" Takumi asked bluntly, without the slightest hesitation.
"H-hold on—what do you mean by adventure, Takumi!?" Megumi shouted reflexively, her face flushing red.
"An adventure, huh? That actually sounds interesting. I don't mind. So, where are we going?" Eguchi Takuya's eyes sparkled with genuine excitement.
Megumi quickly stepped forward, positioning herself between Takumi and Takuya. "A-ahaha… no! Not an adventure! Tomorrow it's just… a normal outing, and maybe some shopping!" she explained awkwardly, her smile cracking like fragile glass.
"I see… well, that works out. I was planning to buy a new game anyway," Eguchi replied.
"I also have a book I want to get," I added.
"And me too! Buy me something, won't you? Why should you all be the only ones shopping?" Pirika protested, wedging herself right between the four of us.
"Yosh! Then let's meet here tomorrow at eight in the morning," Takumi declared with gusto.
"I'm being ignored here!!" Pirika shouted, fuming so hard it felt like her head had swelled twice its size.
"Eeehh!? Eight a.m.!? That's way too early!" Megumi protested.
"Actually, I was thinking five—WOOAARGHH!!"
Her fist landed squarely, sending Takumi flying half a meter backward before he tumbled across the ground.
"Listen here!! Girls need a lot of time to get ready!!" Megumi shouted, her face flushed red, eyebrows furrowed sharply. A vein popped on her forehead—she was clearly at her limit.
Eguchi twitched nervously. Holy crap, this girl's strength is on par with Tajima…
Takumi remained sprawled on the ground, twin rivers of tears streaming down his cheeks. "Forgive me…" he whimpered, as if resigning himself to fate.
In an instant, Megumi spun around. Her expression shifted drastically—now a radiant, angelic smile, as if nothing had happened just seconds ago.
"Eguchi-san, would nine o'clock tomorrow be alright?" she asked sweetly.
"Uh—I-I don't mind whatever time… a-ahaha…" Eguchi replied stiffly, swallowing hard. This girl… is dangerous… he thought to himself.
"Alright then, it's settled. Midori-chan, let's head home," Megumi said, her smile blooming once again.
"Mm," I offered a faint nod. "In that case… see you tomorrow."
We left the playground together. Megumi dragged along a still-despairing Takumi, while Pirika sat casually on his stomach as if hitching a ride on a moving cart.
Eguchi Takuya remained where he was, staring at our backs as we grew more distant.
"Thanks, Midori!" he suddenly called out.
Both Megumi and I instinctively turned around. We waved back, each with a warm smile on our faces.
And there in the distance, at last… a small smile quietly formed on Eguchi Takuya's lips.
To be continued…