episode_0088

“Rita… A nice name. So, have you decided what to do?”

With her coat tightly wrapped around herself, Rita looked up at the sky and began to speak.

“…Up until now, I’ve just… blindly run forward without looking back. So, I’m not sure how to accept the current situation… or what choices to make.”

“…”

I can’t know what she’s feeling right now.

But I do understand why she’s saying these things.

It must be fear.

Fear of turning back, fear of taking a different path.

A new path has opened up for her, someone who has only ever moved straight ahead.

When faced with choices they’ve never seen before, people hesitate to choose.

It’s natural to feel scared and hesitant about a path you haven’t taken before.

However, the moment of choice will come eventually.

Whether the outcome of that choice is good or bad, ultimately, one must make a choice.

Life is a series of choices.

We are always compelled to choose.

So, all we can do is this:

To not regret our choices and to do our best.

That’s all.

And so, the two of us stood there in silence.

Just gazing at the moon hanging in the sky.

“Rita probably needs some time to think.”

As we looked at the spotless sky without a cloud, Rita turned to me and continued speaking.

“…Still, even so… I hope I haven’t lived a life as difficult as my sister’s.”

“…”

“Bern, we just met today… and I still don’t really know what kind of person you are. In truth, I’m a bit scared. You might have ulterior motives for approaching me.”

“…”

“But… if I can help my sister escape from this miserable life, I don’t care if you’re a demon. So, I need your help.”

“…”

“Of course, I’m not asking for it for free… I’ll find a way to repay you… It’s truly shameless, but please. Bern… help me.”

“…”

Receiving no response from me, Rita handed me back the coat she had been holding onto and said,

“…Sorry, was I being too insensitive? I lashed out at you for no reason and said harsh things… It’s shameful to act like this… So, can we just pretend you didn’t hear what I said earlier?”

She was smiling, but her hands were trembling slightly.

‘…Is she pretending everything is fine even in this situation?’

“Rita, just stand up for a moment.”

“Huh? Why, what’s going on…?”

I took out some clothes from my inventory and handed them to her.

“Here, clothes.”

“What, what is this for…?”

“Since they’re loose-fitting, they should fit you well. Oh, and I did the laundry yesterday, so they’re not dirty.”

“No, that’s not what I mean! Why are you giving me these clothes!”

Was that what she meant?

I put the coat back in my inventory and took out a jacket to give to her.

“If you go to your sister wearing clothes stained with blood, won’t she worry? So, change into these.”

“These are almost like new clothes… Can I really accept these?”

“Just take them when offered.”

Upon which, Rita smiled widely and accepted the clothes I handed her.

“Oh, okay..!! I’ll gladly accept them!!”

Indeed, seeing someone smile is a sight to behold.

People look their best when they smile.

Feeling content inside, she suddenly made an unexpected move.

After receiving the new clothes, wasn’t she starting to undress in front of a tall man watching her!

“Rita! What, what are you doing!!”

Realizing something was amiss, she also seemed to sense it.

Her face turned bright red as she started to stammer heavily.

“Ah, ah…! S-sorry!! I-I got too excited without realizing it..!! S-so, just turn around for a moment! I’ll c-change quickly…!”

“Alright, be careful then.”

“Y-yes!!”

…Sigh, really.

So careless, so careless.

I almost blew the whole concept.

“….”

First things first, I need to deal with Number 1 and Number 2.

····

“So, Number 1 and Number 2, you guys need to stay in the trash can for a while.”

“”Y-yes…?””

The two men tied up with ropes seemed startled but responded simultaneously.

“Just in case. The best way to ensure you don’t escape is by tying your ankles, but… I’m sure you wouldn’t want that.”

“”….””

“No answer, huh.”

“”W-we’ll go in!!””

“Good.”

Approaching Number 1, I sprayed medicine on his severely injured nose.

Gradually, his distorted nose began to regain its original shape, returning Number 1’s face to normal.

It was a bit crude, to be honest.

Can’t be helped.

The medicine isn’t that great, and it’s not a cure-all.

After putting away the empty vial in my inventory, Number 1 asked me, “W-why..”

Looking at me with a puffy face, he started to gaze at me with eyes filled with incomprehensible emotions.

I helped both Number 1 and Number 2 stand up and replied, “You’re going to meet your boss, so your faces should look presentable.”

“….”

“Then, until I return. Wait here.”

Saying so, I pushed them into the trash can.

-Thud!

With a loud noise, the lid of the trash can closed.

“One down, for now.”

The trash can was quite large, and there wasn’t much garbage inside, enough space for two adult men to fit in.

“Now, it’s time to move on to the next step.”

By now, Rita must have changed her clothes.

Thinking so, I turned around to look at Rita.

She was wearing the hoodie I gave her, but it seemed a bit big for her.

Her pants looked almost non-existent.

‘Is this the trend of missing bottoms..’

Rita’s pants were indeed quite short, more than I expected.

Moreover, she wasn’t wearing stockings, which accentuated her bare legs, creating quite an impact.

Golden hair, light blue eyes.

And the harmony of golden tail and ears.

In many ways, it brought a fresh shock.

Anyway.

“Rita, seems like you’ve changed everything.”

“Uh, um… yeah.”

Rita hesitated slightly, then covered her face with her small hands and asked me, “..D-do I look strange? The clothes are too big for me than I thought..”

“No, it suits you well.”

“…Thank you.”

Then, her tail, which had been tucked until recently, began to sway gently from side to side.

Turning back to her, I faced her directly and spoke again.

“So, Rita.”

“Yeah?”

“Since going alone could be risky, I’ll escort you all the way home.”

····

Rita and I are currently on our way to the house where she and her sibling live.

“….”

“….”

Perhaps because it’s night, the streets were deserted and very quiet.

Just the cool breeze blowing through.

Continuing to walk without exchanging words, Rita, who had been walking closely beside me, finally spoke up.

“Bern, can I ask you something?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well.. we only met today, right? But why are you helping me so much.. giving me new clothes, taking care of those thugs earlier.. h-honestly, I don’t quite understand..”

Earlier, I mentioned that it was just for self-satisfaction, but does that not count as an answer?

I sighed and replied to her.

“It’s really tough to protect someone even at the cost of sacrificing yourself.”

“…”

“Seeing how you wanted to protect your younger sibling, I wanted to help lessen the burden you carry, even if just a little.”

“…”

“So, I couldn’t just walk away.”

And then, Rita’s appearance overlapped with mine.

Her helpless stance, taking blows without being able to do anything, her struggling figure.

It reminded me of when I failed to protect Silia not long ago.

I couldn’t just pass by easily.

That’s why we were walking together under the night sky.

She suddenly stopped in her tracks, looking up at me.

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Just thought Bern is actually a very affectionate person.”

“···?”

“To be honest, initially, his expression seemed so stern and intimidating. But I think I misjudged. Despite his somewhat scary look… he seems like a very affectionate person.”

Bathed in moonlight, her radiant smile shining even brighter.

Somehow, I felt like I might start smiling too.

“But, Bern.”

“What is it?”

“You’re a student at the academy, right?”

“I’m in my second year now. But why do you ask?”

“Oh, no.. Just envious. If I had lived a normal life like everyone else, could I have had good friends like Bern..?”

“Rita, we are already friends. And after we resolve this issue, I’ll introduce you to my other friends. Don’t get too down on yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, you look most beautiful when you smile. Rita, you look the prettiest when you’re smiling.”

“T-Thank you..!! But, Bern, you’re quite bold, aren’t you..? Saying such things so casually..”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, it’s nothing..!!”

Not long after that, we arrived at the house where Rita and her younger sibling lived.

····

“Ronnie! Big sis is here!”

– Big sis?

– Tadadak!

From beyond the shabby door, the sound of someone running towards us could be heard.

And not long after, there was a click from the door.

The ear of the person inside popped out next to the door.

“Big sis!! I’ve been waiting for you so much!! Why are you so late!”

“Ronnie, sorry. Did big sis keep you waiting for a long time?”

The boy who popped out from inside seemed to be around 8 to 10 years old.

‘He looks exactly like Rita.’

Golden hair, golden tail and ears, and even light blue eyes.

To the extent that one would think, ‘If Rita were a boy, would she look like this?’

As I watched the heartwarming reunion of the siblings,

The little boy hugging Rita whispered softly to her.

The problem was that I could hear it too.

“Big sis.. So, who is that man? He looks like he’s making lots of girls cry..?”

“S-stop it, Ronnie! That’s a terrible thing to say!! Where did you learn such words? Yes, Bern may look a bit like that, but he’s not a bad guy!!”

Wait, what are you two even talking about?