Chapter 4: A Little Girl
Ryuki walked back inside the house briefly, grabbed her coat and sword, and came out again with determined eyes.
Ryuki: "We're leaving."
Orimo: "Where!?"
Ryuki: "To the city."
Orimo (grinning): "Whoa, there's a city? Let's gooo."
She rolled her eyes with a faint smirk, but a hint of amusement showed through.
They stepped into a sleek black car parked near the gate — its surface glimmered under the afternoon sun, a faint hum coming from the engine like it was alive.
Orimo: "By the way, what's your name?"
Ryuki: "Ryuki Onita."
Orimo: "Ohhh, niceee."
Ryuki: "And you?"
Orimo: "I'm Orimo."
She nodded once and started the engine. The car's soft growl filled the silence as they rolled down the dirt road.
Ryuki: "If you want to nap, now's the right time. It's a long drive."
Orimo: "Alright."
The hum of the engine and the rhythm of the tires lulled him to sleep almost instantly.
Ryuki glanced at him for a second, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Ryuki (quietly): "Yeah… you looked tired."
---
When Orimo's eyes fluttered open, the world outside had transformed.
Neon lights shimmered across glass towers. The rain danced along the windows, turning every droplet into a tiny prism of color. The city was alive — pulsing, breathing — like a dream of light and thunder.
Orimo (awestruck): "Whoa… that's beautiful."
Ryuki (softly): "It is. But beauty's only the surface here. There's much more beyond this."
The car slowed.
They stopped at an intersection — puddles reflected the kaleidoscope of signs and passing lights. On the sidewalk stood a little girl, maybe eight or nine. Her clothes were soaked, her eyes wide and lost, clutching a small stuffed toy.
Ryuki (quietly): "Look… that girl. She's alone. Looks like she lost her parents."
She gripped the steering wheel tighter, then accelerated again.
Orimo (confused): "What are you trying to say?"
Ryuki (after a pause): "Nothing."
The rain fell harder. The city lights blurred into streaks of color as they disappeared into the neon night.