episode_0108

Just as the sun began to set. Momiji was parting ways with her friends. “Well then, see you tomorrow, Momiji.” “Mm-hmm, goodbye, Takuya-kun…” “Am I invisible, Momiji~?” “S-Sorry! Goodbye to you too, Sōta-kun!” At Momiji’s words, Takuya and Sōta chuckled, waved their hands, and headed towards their homes. Momiji also waved vigorously towards Takuya and Sōta as they parted. And so, Momiji headed home today, slowly, truly slowly. Momiji disliked her home. To be precise, she was afraid of her home. Because when she went home, her mother would coldly stare at her with a tired face, saying nothing, and her father would come home enraged by the debt collectors’ calls after losing all his money at pachinko. Therefore, for Momiji, home was not a sanctuary, but a painful space. But still, if she went in too late, her mother would scold her. That’s why she was walking as slowly as possible. Momiji was making her way home at a snail’s pace, slowly, even more slowly.

—*Thud*.

Momiji suddenly stopped in the middle of the road and glanced back. When she looked back, all she saw was an empty, deserted street. At the sight, Momiji subtly shifted her gaze forward again and resumed walking. As if nothing had happened, just like before. However, despite Momiji’s outward appearance, her inner state was completely different. *Thump— thump— thump—* ‘Again, it’s happening again.’ Momiji clutched her pounding heart and thought. ‘Someone’s watching me again…’ For the past few days, Momiji had constantly felt as if someone was watching her on her way home from school. At first, Momiji naturally thought it was just her being overly self-conscious. But that only lasts a day or two; when it kept repeating, she couldn’t help but think someone was watching her. One might call it her imagination, but Momiji, who had become sensitive to surrounding gazes from a young age to avoid bullying and violence, knew for sure. This was the gaze of someone watching her. And not just any gaze. ‘It, it feels awful…’ It was a sticky gaze, clearly imbued with malice. Because of it, for the past few days, Momiji had been going home filled with fear and disgust. Honestly, she wanted to report it somewhere, but since nothing had actually happened yet, reporting it would be a nuisance to the police officers, and if her parents found out, they’d surely scold her again, and besides… For these reasons, Momiji simply walked with her head bowed. ‘It, it’ll be okay.’ She brainwashed herself with these thoughts. Momiji quickened her steps for a moment. Suddenly, Momiji recalled what Takuya, who had once saved her from bullying, had said.

[Momiji, why did you just stand there back then? Even your homeroom teacher isn’t a bad person, they would have helped you.] [I-I thought it would be a nuisance to cause trouble….]

[No one thinks that. Ask for help next time.]

[B-But my parents said it would be a nuisance….]

It wasn’t that Momiji hadn’t told anyone about being bullied. She had once told her mother and father about being bullied.

[What, should I go make a scene for you?]

[Why would children do that without reason? You just need to be careful.]

They weren’t particularly interested. On the contrary, she only received scolding not to cause unnecessary commotion at school. And from that day on, Momiji never told anyone else that she was being bullied. Hearing Momiji’s story, Takuya was silent for a moment, then gently stroked her head and said.

[Then tell me.]

[Huh?]

At his gentle touch and voice, Momiji unconsciously asked again, and Takuya replied.

[I’ll definitely help you when you’re in a difficult situation.]

He said with a mischievous yet trustworthy smile.

[If it’s hard, you must tell me.]

Why did these words come to mind now? Momiji pondered for a moment, but surprisingly, the answer was simple. ‘Th-This can’t go on.’ Because if she let it continue, the same thing that happened when she was bullied might happen again. Therefore, Momiji decided. ‘I need to talk to Takuya-kun for advice.’ She decided to ask Takuya-kun for help. Remembering Takuya-kun, who had told her to definitely tell him if she needed help, Momiji resolved to ask Takuya tomorrow. At the same time, Momiji had no idea. That Momiji’s thoughts…

“Haa… Mii-tan, you’re so beautiful today too… *gasp*…”

—*Click*.

—*Click*.

How they would change her life. And.

“Mii-tan is mine… I can’t let anyone else have her… So.”

*Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* * * * * *Click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click—*

“Let’s definitely be together, Mii-tan? *Hehe*…”

***

The next day, after a crazy good game of soccer, I was pouring water over my back at the faucet to cool down my sweat.

“T-Takuya-kun, do you perhaps have time— *gasp*?!”

For some reason, Momiji subtly approached me. Her face seemed to redden a bit, probably because she saw a man’s bare upper body, but anyway. I spoke to Momiji, who had approached me so suddenly, while my upper body was still half-exposed.

“I have time, why? Is something wrong? Are those kids bullying you again?”

At my rapid-fire questions, Momiji shook her head and said.

“N-No, I’m getting along well with Hime’s group now.”

“Hime (Princess) group?”

“Mm-hmm, the kid who used to bully me is called Hime.”

‘Hime, huh…’

Considering her spoiled, problematic behavior, the name Hime (meaning ‘princess,’ more precisely, a tomboyish one) actually suited her well. Anyway, if it’s not about that Hime or whatever kid, then what’s wrong?

“Then why?”

When I spoke with a face full of curiosity, Momiji hesitated for a moment, then explained what had been happening to her.

“…W-Well, that’s what happened, so could you possibly help me…?”

And hearing that, I naturally.

“Of course. I told you I’d help you in the first place.”

accepted Momiji’s request. After all, I had told her to tell me if things were hard; if I didn’t keep that promise, what kind of person would I be? Therefore, I accepted Momiji’s request. When I accepted Momiji’s request, she smiled as if delighted. Pleased by Momiji’s expression, I stroked her head and said.

“First, since you said you feel like you’re being stalked, let’s go to and from school together. What time do you leave in the morning?”

“Mm-hmm, a-around 7 AM?”

“Hmm? Didn’t you usually go to school a bit after 8 AM, Momiji?”

“I-I just don’t like being at home, so I come out early.”

“Okay, I understand. I’ll come pick you up, so wait right in front of your house without moving.”

“Okay!”

After roughly adjusting the schedule with Momiji, we talked as we entered the classroom. After entering the classroom, I sat next to Sōta, my seatmate, who no longer even tried to hide how pretty he was.

“Takuya, you’re a bit late. What were you talking about with Momiji?”

“Uh, it seems some strange guy has latched onto Momiji.”

“What do you mean?”

I gave Sōta a rough explanation about Momiji, and Sōta also seemed to take it seriously.

“Wouldn’t it be good to tell the police?”

“Even so, we haven’t found anyone yet; it would be difficult to do that, realistically.”

“Right.”

Anyway, after finishing my conversation with Sōta, I endured the boring class, and soon it was time to go home. Normally, we would have parted ways midway, but today was a little different. Momiji, Sōta, and I all walked home together. Incidentally, the reason Sōta came along was simple.

“I’m coming too?”

“Even though you’re a boy, you’re pretty. Just in case, I’ll see you home.”

“U-Uh-huh. Thank you♡”

He might not be a girl, but he’s pretty like one. Just in case, I’m taking him along. After walking for a while, I arrived in front of Momiji’s house and said.

“Momiji, from now on, contact me whenever you go somewhere.”

“Mm-hmm, b-but I don’t have a phone…”

“Really? Hold on.”

I handed Momiji a spare flip phone (I carry two spare ones).

“You’ll find my family’s numbers and Sōta’s number on it. So contact me whenever you go out. By the way, I’m lending this to you, not giving it to you, so use it carefully.”

“Okay! I understand!”

After confirming that Momiji was entering her house, nodding vigorously and smiling brightly in front of me, I said to Sōta.

“Alright, let’s go now, Sōta.”

“Okay.”

At my words, Sōta stuck close behind me and followed. Honestly, to the point of being a little unsettling.

‘If his face wasn’t so pretty, I would’ve thought he was gay and punched him.’

Anyway, after heading towards Sōta’s house for a while.

“But, just out of pure curiosity, why are you so good to Momiji, Takuya?”

Sōta suddenly asked this question. At Sōta’s question, I thought for a moment. Why was I helping her? There were several answers. Because she’s a child. Because she’s pitiful. Because she’s a friend. They were vague reasons, but also certain ones. And my answer was similar. More precisely, it wasn’t because she was a pitiful child, but rather…

[Mister, Mister, you’ll save our village, right?]

[Not mister, I’m Oppa…. And I’m a soldier, not a hero….]

[Liar! You have so much beard! And so many wrinkles, how are you not a mister?! And you flew in the sky just now!]

[That was a jump, and my face… *Good grief*.]

It’s just that.

[Hehe! See you again, Mister!]

The sight of children’s despairing faces wasn’t my thing.

***

But what about what I did to Sōta? I glanced at Sōta for a moment.

“Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

Well, he doesn’t know. So, it’s probably fine, right? I decided to think that.