Today marked the beginning of something different for Hisaka Midori. For the first time, she was going on a trip with her friends.
Normally, her mornings were spent alone in her room, immersed in the world of books that kept her company. But this time, the atmosphere felt different. Midori was busy preparing—folding the blanket on her bed, tidying up the stacks of books on her desk, then sweeping the wooden floorboards that creaked softly beneath her feet.
Those chores were part of her usual daily routine. But there was one thing that set this morning apart from all the rest.
A gray cat, with eyes that seemed to pierce straight into the heart, followed her every move. It jumped onto the bed while Midori was fixing it, sat neatly in the corner of the desk as she arranged her books, and circled around the broom as its master swept the floor.
Sometimes, the cat made Midori laugh, and at other times, it left her feeling a little annoyed.
On the other side, a girl named Megumi Aika was still lost in the warmth of her bed. She clutched her body pillow tightly as if she never wanted to part with it, while her blanket had already slipped halfway off, revealing her messy hair.
The walls of her room were covered with her own drawings and doodles, as if that little space was her very own private world.
Riiiing!
The alarm above her head blared loudly, announcing that it was already seven in the morning.
And still, her eyelids remained sealed, not even a flicker breaking their silence. With a sluggish movement, her hand fumbled through the air, desperately searching for the source of the noise. A moment later, her body flopped to the side, her eyes still heavy and unwilling to open.
Then, a flash of memory struck her consciousness. The promise she had made this morning!
In an instant, her face turned pale with panic. She shot up from the bed, her tangled hair bouncing in every direction. In a rush, she began tidying up her room—placing things here and there without the slightest idea of what should be cleaned up first.
Not far from there, a boy—also a classmate of Hisaka Midori—had already started his morning. His name was Inui Takumi.
The room he left behind was spotless, as though every corner had always been used to being neatly arranged. Now, he stood in the front yard with his father, mother, and younger sister.
The fresh morning air wrapped around the little yard. The gentle sound of water trickled as Takumi watered the row of flowers in their pots, while his father busied himself trimming the overgrown branches. His mother and little sister cleared away dry leaves, giggling from time to time when the wind scattered part of the pile they had just gathered.
For Takumi, these simple moments always brought a sense of calm—a small daily ritual that made his home feel warm.
Elsewhere, inside a grand multi-story building, a boy named Eguchi Takuya looked completely overwhelmed. Not because of anything he had done, but because of the people around him.
His assistant, Uragami Mei, bustled back and forth with an armful of clothes, trying to decide which outfit would best suit the young Waka-sama. Her lively voice rang through the room, brimming with enthusiasm, as if she were choosing costumes for a prince.
Meanwhile, Ishida sat calmly on the sofa, utterly unfazed by the commotion. A newspaper was spread open in his hands, and on the small side table beside him, a cup of black coffee sent up curling wisps of steam. Each sip he took stood in sharp contrast to the chaos that filled the room.
***
"Ittekimasu!"
"Be careful on the way, alright?" Mother smiled and waved her hand, while Father, sitting beside her, only gave a small nod, his face still warm from their morning conversation.
I bowed my head slightly, then stepped out of the house with Pirika faithfully trailing at my side. The morning air welcomed me with its familiar freshness, making each breath feel lighter.
"Are you sure you didn't forget anything?" Pirika's voice came, almost like a gentle scolding filled with worry.
"All good." I checked my small shoulder bag once more with confidence. "You know me—I'm always thorough."
Pirika let out a small click of her tongue, but the gentle sway of her tail betrayed her relief.
And so, the two of us began walking, following the roadside path toward the promised meeting spot—a place that felt like the beginning of something new.
Upon arriving at the rendezvous point, Inui Takumi was already there. He was sitting on the swing, gently pushing himself back and forth as if savoring the soft morning breeze.
The moment he noticed me, he quickly jumped down and ran over, his face brimming with energy.
"Ohayou, Hisaka!" he greeted cheerfully.
I raised an eyebrow, holding back a smile.
"Ohayo, Takumi-kun. You're here so early. How dedicated of you," I replied in a half-teasing tone.
"Of course! As the leader, I have to set a good example. Hehe." His voice rang with confidence as he puffed out his chest, as though it were something of great importance.
"Yeah, yeah, alright, Mr. Leader."
Takumi then turned to Pirika, who was sitting politely near my feet. With a stiff yet genuine smile, he gave a slight bow.
"Ohayo, Pirika-chan! A good morning to you, too."
Pirika clicked her tongue. "Don't act all buddy-buddy with me, brat. Want me to smack you, huh?"
I instinctively coughed into my hand, my face growing warm. For some reason, I was the one who felt embarrassed hearing the cat's sharp words.
Meoww~
The sound of an engine stopped right in front of the school gate. Instantly, Takumi, Pirika, and I turned to look.
From the white car, Megumi stepped out, giving a small wave to her mother behind the wheel. As soon as the door closed, the vehicle slowly drove away, leaving Megumi trotting toward us.
"Ohayou, minna! Am I late?" she greeted, her face carrying a hint of worry.
I smiled, trying to put her at ease.
"Ohh, no, not at all. We just got here. Right, Takumi?" I asked, glancing in his direction.
There was no answer. Takumi stood frozen stiff. I couldn't tell what that silence meant—was he in awe, or… had he fallen for Megumi's appearance this morning?
"Hey, Takumi? You hear me? Hello? Hellooo?" I tilted my head and waved my hand right in front of his face.
Takumi bent forward as if gathering up all the air in the world, his face suddenly turning bright red like a ripe tomato.
"Ka… kawaii-yo, Megumi!" he shouted, his voice bursting with enthusiasm.
But before he could even let all of that passion out, Megumi—her own face flushed red with embarrassment—curled her hand into a fist and thud! delivered a swift punch straight into his stomach.
"Puuhhkk!"
Takumi winced, his lips jutting out as he tried to endure the pain. His body swayed, nearly collapsing, but he managed to brace himself with one knee on the ground.
"I'm… not done yet… I can still fight…" he muttered weakly, whether delirious or genuinely trying to hold on was anyone's guess.
All I could do was sigh in a mix of confusion and resignation.
Beside me, Pirika let out a small chuckle. "Hahaha, that brat finally got his karma. Consider that payback for yesterday."
"So early in the day, and you're already talking rubbish," Megumi snapped, her voice sharp.
"Forgive me, Megumi. But I only spoke the truth," Takumi said in a mock-cool manner, turning his gaze dramatically to the side as if striking a pose for a magazine cover.
"You little…" Megumi clenched her fist again, her face tightening.
Meooow~
Pirika's sudden voice broke the tense atmosphere, softening it in an instant.
"Ara~ ohayou, Pirika-chan! Forgive me, I almost forgot to greet you," Megumi said, her smile turning sweet in a heartbeat. The graceful aura radiating from her stood in sharp contrast to the scowl she'd worn just seconds earlier.
Pirika tilted her head upward, her eyes half-lidded as she looked at Megumi.
"Come on, give him a break, Megumi-chan." she murmured in a mock-wise tone, as if advocating forgiveness for Takumi, who was still trembling in place.
Since we still had time to wait for one more person, we decided to spend a little while at the playground.
I chose to perch on top of the monkey bars, balancing myself as I opened a book. The morning breeze blew gently, the pages rustling lightly with each turn.
Meanwhile, Takumi seemed busy playing with Pirika on the swing. With a wide grin, he pushed her higher and higher.
"Wahhh! Put me down! Hey, not so high, you idiot!" Pirika cried out in panic, her tail thrashing wildly.
Megumi, sitting on the swing beside her, instinctively stopped, her eyes widening with worry.
"Takumi! Don't go overboard! You're scaring Pirika-chan!" she scolded sharply, her glare making Takumi flinch as he hurried to steady the swing.
The park, which had moments ago been filled with the chirping of morning birds, now echoed with their silly shouts—yet somehow, the sound felt warm to my ears.
Fifteen minutes passed, but there was still no sign of Eguchi Takuya.
"Is he even coming?" Megumi muttered, still sitting on the swing and lightly kicking her legs back and forth.
"I don't think he will. I mean, he's… kind of a loner," Takumi said casually. As he spoke, he lifted both of Pirika's paws into the air, clearly intending to topple her from the top of the slide.
"Pirika-chan, you have only two choices. Admit your mistakes… or fall," Takumi declared, wearing a mock-serious expression.
"You little brat! Let me go right now! What kind of cat do you think I am?!" Pirika shouted, struggling as her claws dug into the slide's surface.
Meoooww~
"Oh, I see. So you've finally decided to confess. But unfortunately… it's already too late," Takumi said, narrowing his eyes as though carrying out an execution.
"What are you even talking about, you brat?!" Pirika meowed again in panic.
Megumi stopped her swing, her face already showing clear irritation.
"Takumi, could you please stop bullying Pirika-chan?" she said sharply, her tone dripping with both annoyance and exasperation.
Takumi quickly chuckled, letting go of his grip.
"Sorry, sorry. It's just… Pirika-chan is way too cute."
Takumi then pinched Pirika's cheeks playfully, squeezing them again and again while laughing.
"So cute, waaay too cute!"
Pirika could only stay still in resignation, her face twisted in clear annoyance.
"I swear, I'm gonna knock this brat out…" Her long tail swished like a light whip.
Watching the two of them carry on, I couldn't help myself. A small laugh slipped past my lips, though I held it back so it wouldn't burst out too loudly.
Megumi glanced at me with a worried look, as if asking for a decision.
"What should we do, Midori-chan?" she asked, her voice faintly laced with a restless sigh.
Closing the book on my lap, I gave a slight smile.
"Let's wait another ten minutes," I answered calmly, though deep inside, I was starting to doubt whether Eguchi Takuya would really show up at all.
Ten minutes slipped by before we realized it.
"Looks like he's not coming…" Megumi murmured as she stood from the swing, brushing the dust off her skirt.
"Told you so," Takumi replied casually. He was now lying across the slide, his hands folded behind his head like a pillow, gazing up at the cloudless blue sky.
I lowered my eyes to the book resting on my lap. In my mind, I pictured him—the boy who always kept to himself, drowning in the glow of his game screen. That image… was just like me back then, before I met Megumi and Pirika. Sitting alone, accompanied only by the silent company of books.
"Hoaa~munyaa…" Pirika yawned wide, smacking her lips. Then suddenly, her eyes shot open.
"Eh? Look who finally decided to show up," he said softly, his voice half-surprised.
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. The very person we had been waiting for all this time had finally appeared.
A sleek black sedan came to a graceful stop right in front of the school gates. All of us turned our heads at once, as if even time itself held its breath.
Two bodyguards stepped out first—a man in glasses and a woman. Both looked impeccably formal, dressed in crisp business attire despite it being a holiday.
With an air of elegance, the beautiful woman adjusted her bangs, then opened the rear passenger door with commanding poise. There was no mistaking it. The one who stepped out was none other than Eguchi Takuya.
He alighted from the car, exchanging a few quiet words with her before they began walking toward us.
Takumi instantly slid down from the slide, while Megumi stiffened, nerves plain on her face. As for me, I rose from where I had been leaning against the monkey bars, my heart already braced for what was about to come.
"Morning, everyone. Sorry I'm a bit late." Eguchi greeted, his voice flat yet polite.
"Ah, it's fine. We only just got here ourselves," I replied with a faint smile.
Takumi shot him a sidelong glance, holding his breath.
(Who is this guy really? That aura… he feels like someone from a yakuza family…) he muttered inwardly, his face tightening slightly.
"Y-Yeah, that's right. We just got here too," Megumi added quickly, though the nervousness on her face was all too clear.
"Meoww~" Pirika chimed in with a little mewl, only making the atmosphere more awkward.
Then, the woman with bangs stepped forward, offering a polite smile.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Uragami Mei. I'm Eguchi Takuya's bo—"
Her words abruptly stopped as Eguchi shot her a sharp glance. For a brief instant, the icy look in his eyes made the air itself feel heavier.
"…Forgive me. What I meant was, I'm Eguchi Takuya's elder sister," she corrected herself in a hurry, forcing a strained smile. "My little brother may seem quiet, but he's actually quite friendly."
No, no… it's obvious these two aren't from any ordinary family, Takumi muttered inwardly, his gaze sharpening.
"She's… gorgeous," Megumi whispered in awe, her pupils shimmering as if swallowing the very light.
Straightening my posture, I introduced myself politely.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Hisaka Midori. These are my friends—Megumi, Takumi, and… my cat, Pirika."
"Meoow~" Pirika chimed in, as though to firmly assert her presence.
"...A cat?" Uragami Mei murmured, one delicate brow arching slightly. She leaned down, fixing Pirika with a piercing gaze—serious, almost like an inspector scrutinizing a suspect.
"Ara, how unusual. This cat's eyebrows… it's as if she's constantly glaring in anger."
I could only return a strained smile, unsure of how to even begin explaining.
"Nee-san, you should head back. There's nothing for you to worry about," Eguchi said with a cheerful smile. Yet, in Uragami Mei's eyes, that smile seemed to carry a nuance she couldn't quite ignore.
"V-very well… I'll take my leave then. Please… take good care of my little brother," she replied with a graceful bow.
Eguchi instantly flushed, his face tinged with embarrassment at her words.
With a composed turn, Uragami Mei walked back toward the sleek black sedan. The car pulled away slowly, disappearing beyond the school gates, leaving the air oddly lighter in her absence.
"Sorry about that. My sister's always like that… she tends to worry over trivial things," Eguchi muttered, scratching the back of his neck.
"Heee~ your sister's pretty amazing," Takumi chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of envy.
"She looked like some kind of office lady, right? So stylish and beautiful. Don't you agree, Midori?" Megumi teased, shooting me a mischievous glance.
"Ah… y-yeah…" I stammered, nodding faintly, unable to muster any more of a response.
"Don't say things like that, you're just making me embarrassed," Eguchi muttered, lowering his head with a bashful expression rarely seen on his face.
"Well then, shall we get going?" I said, stepping forward as if to lead the way.
"How about we stop by the game center first?" Takumi suggested, folding his arms lazily behind his head.
"Woah, that's a great idea, Inui-kun," Eguchi replied, his face showing the first hints of genuine excitement.
"Boys… always thinking about their own fun," Megumi remarked with a huff, though her tone carried a playful softness.
"You're so grown-up, little Megumi…" Pirika purred, tilting her head upward as she let out a quiet meow.
And so, we left the schoolyard behind—each step light and unremarkable, yet somehow carrying the weight of a new bond of friendship being formed.
High above, a lone black crow perched atop the tallest tree of the school. Its beady eyes followed us in silence, as though watching… waiting.
***
Amid the bustle of people passing by, my friends and I decided to drop by a bookstore.
The moment we stepped inside, our senses were greeted by the sight of towering shelves lined with neatly arranged books. The faint, nostalgic scent of paper lingered in the air—soothing, stirring a quiet curiosity within.
Other visitors—adults, as well as middle and high school students—seemed completely absorbed in their own little worlds, reading while standing as if they had forgotten the passage of time.
We, too, split up, wandering down the towering aisles that stretched like the winding passages of a vast labyrinthine library.
Takumi and Eguchi—two people who usually seemed to live in different worlds—now looked surprisingly close. Their conversation flowed with ease, as if they had finally discovered a shared frequency.
Meanwhile, Megumi had stopped in front of the illustrated book section. Her expression softened, her eyes shimmering as though she had stumbled upon something beautiful that quietly touched her heart.
As for me, I walked side by side with Pirika. My hand brushed along the spines of the books, reading the titles one by one. Yet, among all those I examined, not a single one bore the title "Solomon Gate."
"Maybe… I'm just too short to see what's on the top shelf," I muttered faintly, tilting my head back helplessly at the towering row of books above me.
Failing to find what I was looking for, I finally decided to ask the store clerk, who was seated in front of a computer.
"Excuse me… could you help me find a book titled Solomon Gate?" I asked politely.
"Of course. Please wait a moment," the clerk replied kindly, fingers already dancing across the keyboard.
Moments later, the clerk's voice broke me out of my thoughts.
"I'm sorry, but Solomon Gate has been out of print… for the past twenty years," she said calmly.
I froze. Twenty years…? That didn't make sense. Then how had I managed to get hold of that book? When—and from where—had I even found it?
And… was the title really Solomon Gate? No, I was certain. Back then, even my mother had glanced at the cover and read the title aloud.
The clerk turned toward me, her smile tinged with curiosity.
"Why are you looking for that book, miss? Could it be… your dream is to become an archaeologist?" she asked, leaning slightly forward.
Archaeologist?
"Ah, no, not really," I answered awkwardly.
Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of two men walking past the store. Their silhouettes blurred by the bustling crowd, yet a sharp instinct screamed at me in recognition.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to steal a glance.
And sure enough—they were the same two men. The very ones who had asked me about this ring the other day.
My heartbeat roared in my chest. Reflexively, I snapped my gaze away, pretending to busy myself with the bookshelf in front of me.
I had no idea… had they seen my face just now?
Was this just a coincidence? No.
There's no such thing as a second coincidence.
That meant… the excuse I gave them yesterday hadn't been enough to satisfy them.
"Don't worry, Midori. As long as I'm here, you'll be fine," said Pirika, who had clearly picked up on my unease.
Kring—kring!
The entrance bell chimed.
"Ojamashimasu~"
The two figures stepped inside. My heartbeat instantly quickened.
So… they did see me after all?
I could feel their eyes sweeping across the room, searching—there was no mistaking it. Fortunately, the towering rows of bookshelves stood as my shield. From the narrow gap between the spines, I peeked out, carefully watching their every move.
They began walking along the aisles.
"What's wrong, Hisaka? You look like you're hiding from someone," Takumi's voice came from behind, with Eguchi at his side.
"This brat… his instincts really are sharp," Pirika muttered.
Meoww~
"Ah—ahaha… it's not like that. I was just… admiring the details of the text on this book," I answered awkwardly. Eguchi, however, stayed silent, watching my expression closely.
"I see. So, did you find the book you were looking for?" Takumi asked, stepping closer.
"Doesn't seem like they have it here," I replied.
"If you don't mind me asking, what book are you looking for?" Eguchi chimed in.
"Ah, it's nothing important," I deflected quickly.
Pirika glanced at me, her eyes hinting that she already understood the truth behind my evasive answer.
Megumi came over with a wide smile, holding up a picture book filled with illustrations ready to be colored. Her eyes sparkled—she clearly adored it.
"Ta-dah! Pretty cute, don't you think?" she whispered happily, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb the other customers.
I gave her a small nod, smiling back as if to share in her joy. After all, inside a bookstore we had to be on our best behavior—no shouting, no exaggerated expressions.
And yet, behind my faint smile, my heart wavered uneasily. Restless. As though every second, someone was watching me from the shadows between the towering bookshelves.
"Did you guys find what you were looking for?" I asked, forcing my voice to sound casual.
Megumi nodded with a bright smile, hugging her book tightly.
Takumi raised a confident thumbs-up.
Eguchi only offered a faint smile, saying nothing more.
"W-well then… let's get going," I said, forcing a smile even as my chest felt unbearably heavy.
Meooow~ Pirika chimed in, as if she could sense my unease.
Cling— the bell above the door jingled as we stepped outside. The open air immediately greeted us.
Unbeknownst to the others, the two men inside the bookstore had caught sight of our departure. With a small nod, the pair quietly followed, slipping out of the shop soon after.
"Man, that was actually pretty fun—stopping by a bookstore like that. The atmosphere, the smell… it really feels like stepping into a world of paper. No wonder Hisaka loves reading," Takumi remarked, taking a deep breath as though savoring the memory.
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying Midori-chan's like some kid obsessed with the smell of paper or something?" Megumi cut in with a sassy tone, lips jutting out in a pout.
I blinked reflexively, my expression turning awkward—I couldn't tell whether to smile or defend myself.
"Well, she's not wrong," Pirika added as she trotted along behind us. "That place was super peaceful. I almost wanted to sprawl out and nap on the top shelf."
"Th-that's not what I meant, Hisaka—"
"It's fine. If that's how I look to you, then let's just say it's true," I replied, feigning a sulky pout.
In an instant, Takumi's face darkened and his shoulders slumped, as though all his energy had been drained away.
"Eh… you really got down that fast?" Megumi glanced at him, stifling a laugh at the sight of Takumi suddenly collapsing into gloom.
Meooow~
Pirika chimed in again, her eyes glinting as if to say, what a flimsy little kid.
"Just teasing you, Takumi," I said at last, putting a little firmness into my tone.
"Geez… don't do that. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest, you know," he grumbled half-heartedly, scratching his head.
"Hahaha!" Eguchi couldn't hold it in, his laughter breaking the mood and lightening the atmosphere once again.
Hisaka and her friends kept up their playful banter along the way, completely unaware of the shadows trailing behind them.
The two jamming ningen—Masao and Takao—moved with extreme caution, pressing themselves against walls, slipping behind tree trunks, and then darting toward the vending machine. Their movements were bizarre—sometimes flattening themselves against a wall until they were almost invisible, then suddenly springing upright, stiff and straight—blending in like utility poles.
At a glance, ordinary passersby might dismiss it as nothing more than a trick of the eyes. But for anyone who looked closely, it was obvious—their behavior was far from normal human movement.
"Mom, look… what is that man doing?" a child asked innocently, pointing straight at Masao, who was standing stiffly in line with an actual utility pole.
"Sshh, don't stare. Come on, let's go…" his mother whispered frantically, tugging her child away with a panicked look.
Masao let out an annoyed snort, his face twisting in frustration.
"…Damn brat. If it weren't for this mission, I'd die of embarrassment being seen like this," he muttered under his breath.
"Calm yourself, Masao. Stay focused. Remember, this is all for the mission," Takao said flatly as he balanced himself on top of Masao's head, using his partner's body as a human stepping pole.
From their makeshift disguise as a pair of utility posts, Takao peeked out with sharp eyes, locking onto the figure of a child standing at the street corner with three companions.
With every heartbeat, Takao's gaze tightened, colder and sharper.
"…There's no mistake." His voice hitched, almost in disbelief.
"That boy…! That kid… what is he doing here?!"
Masao tilted his head up, brows knitting together.
"What are you talking about, Takao?"
"Look carefully—the tall boy over there…"
Masao tried peeking from behind the pole, though his legs trembled from having to support Takao perched on his shoulders.
"Where? Let me see—"
The moment his eyes caught sight of the boy in question, they went wide in shock.
"Whaaat!? That's—"
Startled beyond belief, Masao's body stiffened on reflex. His balance shattered instantly.
"Oi, don't wobble like that—"
Flop!
Both of them crashed to the ground with a loud thud, drawing the stares of passersby.
"Damn it, your reaction was way too much just now!" Takao snapped, wincing in pain.
"You idiot, keep your voice down! They'll hear us!" Masao shot back in a panic, clapping a hand over his own mouth.
Takao froze, his face pale. Beads of sweat rolled heavily down his temple.
At the intersection, their steps came to a halt. The traffic light was still red, forcing the small group to wait in silence.
At the corner of the street stood a convex mirror.
No one paid it any mind—except Eguchi Takuya.
His gaze locked onto it. Through the curved glass that distorted shapes, he caught the faint reflection of two men. They had been following them all this time.
"How about we get some taiyaki after this?" Megumi chirped brightly, breaking the calm.
"Whoa, that's a great idea, Little Megumi! The taiyaki we had last time was really good," Pirika replied, her eyes sparkling.
"Meowww~" the little cat mewed, as if agreeing with the suggestion.
"See? Pirika-chan wants some too," Megumi said with a laugh.
"Ahh, I want some too!" Takumi exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"Alright then, let's go buy some," Hisaka said with a smile.
"Hooray! Let's go get taiyakiii!"
"…Sorry, everyone. I can't come with you."
Eguchi's words instantly made us stop in our tracks. All of us turned to look at him.
"What's wrong, Eguchi?" Hisaka asked.
"I… just remembered I have an appointment today," Eguchi replied awkwardly.
"Eh, why's that? We're friends, don't be so distant with us," Takumi chimed in.
"You're way too blunt, you know…" Megumi scolded, tugging at his sleeve.
"Hey, wait, Megumi! You'll rip my shirt!" Takumi protested, half stumbling backward.
"I'm really sorry." Eguchi clapped his hands together, then bowed. The mood turned a little awkward.
"Ah, there's no need to go that far, Eguchi-san," Midori said quickly.
"Y-yeah, that's right. If you've already got an appointment, then it can't be helped… right, Takumi-kun?" Megumi tried to ease the mood with a slightly forced smile.
"R-right! A true man always keeps his promises," Takumi added, giving a thumbs-up.
"Thank you, everyone… Today was really fun!" Eguchi smiled awkwardly. "Ah, the light's turned green. You'd better cross before it changes again."
"In that case, we'll be going on ahead, Eguchi-san." Midori bowed politely.
"See you tomorrow!" he called out warmly.
"You'd better keep your promise, aibō!" Takumi shouted with fiery enthusiasm, his eyes gleaming.
"Meoww~"
"A-aibō?… ahaha," Eguchi let out a quiet mutter.
Awkwardly, he raised his hand and waved goodbye. Midori and the others slowly walked away, crossing the street and leaving Eguchi standing alone on the other side.
From a distance, Masao and Takao watched Eguchi Takuya head off to the right. Both finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Fuuuh… at last, the kid split up from our main target."
"Good. Now let's hurry and follow the girl—"
"Yosh, let's—"
"Why are you two following my friend?"
That calm voice came from behind them.
Both of them jolted in shock, as if struck by a surge of high-voltage electricity.
"W-what?!" Masao's eyes bulged, his body frozen stiff.
Takao nearly stumbled, his face turning pale.
Eguchi stood there, his gaze calm yet piercing.
"B-b-b-boss…!" Masao suddenly stammered, his face drained of color.
Since when did this kid get behind us?! Takao thought, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his temple.
"Hey… answer my question," Eguchi's voice was calm, but it cut deep. "Why are you tailing my friend? Don't tell me you two are—"
"I-it's not like that, boss! It's… it's, uh… what was it again…" Masao stuttered, his words collapsing on his tongue. Does this kid even realize that his friend has the ring we're after?
At last, Takao spoke up, his voice trembling. "Boss… that green-eyed kid… he has the ring we've been searching for all this time."
Eguchi's eyes narrowed coldly. "A ring? That's the kind of thing anyone could own. Don't use such a ridiculous excuse to cover up your filthy habits."
"We—we swear on it, boss!" Masao gulped, his voice trembling. "That ring… it looks exactly like the one we've been searching for!"
Eguchi narrowed his eyes, then let out a faint smile.
"In that case… why don't you just ask her directly?"
"A-actually… we already did. And she said the ring was a gift from her father," Takao explained, stumbling over his words.
Eguchi crossed his arms. "Then the answer is already clear, isn't it? So why are you still after him?"
"…Y-yeah, you're right. How foolish of you, Masao! Ah-haha…" Takao awkwardly patted his partner's shoulder.
"E-ehh?! Why am I the one getting blamed?!" Masao nearly jumped.
Eguchi's gaze suddenly sharpened—cold, piercing, like a blade in the dark.
"Let me make this clear. Don't even think about tailing her again. If I so much as catch you at it once more…" He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper,
"…you know very well what the consequences will be, don't you?"
Masao and Takao froze, their knees trembling.
"P-please forgive us, boss!" they cried out in unison, bowing deeply.
Eguchi sighed, then flicked his hand dismissively, as though shooing away flies.
"Enough. Go."
"Understood, boss!" After giving a quick salute, the two bolted off at full speed, fleeing like the wind.
The sky began to glow orange, painting the city in the gentle hues of twilight. Midori walked home with Pirika at her side until she finally arrived at her house. Greeting her father and mother warmly, she then hurried upstairs toward her room.
Click—the door creaked open.
The orange light of sunset poured through the open window, casting a warm glow across the room.
There, perched proudly upon the window frame, was a black crow, its feathers gleaming faintly under the fading rays of the evening sun.
And then, a voice like that of a grown woman resounded—
"Okaerinasai, Midori-chan."
The deep voice, laced with an otherworldly aura, echoed from the figure of the crow.
To be continued…