Volu 3, Chapter 13: Pursuit
Translator : CJYH
Editor : chelly
It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. That was my impression.
Exiting the movie theater, I stretched and nodded.
Well, the movie did match the tone from the trailer, so it didn’t feel like I wasted money. I was able to empathize with the characters, and it did make cry, so I guess I got my money’s worth.
I’ve been working more seriously nowadays, visiting the movie theater less after work. So, watching movies has completely beco an off-day activity.
I entered the cinema before sunset, but now it’s completely dark.
“…I’m hungry.”
It’s a chore to go ho and prepare sothing to eat, so I looked around thinking I’d get dinner near the train station. Co to think of it, the only ti I’ve been to this station was when I watched a movie after I followed Yoshida-senpai, so I’m not familiar with any restaurants in the area.
Trying to decide what to eat, I walked around looking at restaurants. Suddenly, I saw soone familiar.
It was a young girl walking towards with a shopping bag. It was my first ti seeing her in plain clothes, but there’s no doubt it’s Sayu-chan. She was looking downwards, and when she raised her head, her eyes t mine.
“Oh.”
She mouthed but was too far away for to hear her.
Then, she quickly walked over to .
“Yuzuha-san, good evening.”
“Good evening. Went shopping?”
She was wearing skinny jeans, along with a thin white tunic. The outfit emphasized Sayu-chan’s sleek look. I wondered whether these clothes were bought by Yoshida-senpai, but I imdiately stopped myself. Even if they were, what’s wrong with that?
“Yeah. The fridge was empty.”
She said with a wry smile. Sayu-chan looked completely natural holding a grocery bag. Looks like she’s already used to doing the housework for Yoshida-senpai.
“Doing the housework every day, huh? That’s admirable.”
“No… It’s not much.”
Sayu-chan looked embarrassed. It didn’t seem like she was acting humble. I guess she’s just a modest girl.
“Why are you here, Yuzuha-san?”
“Ah, I was watching a movie until now.”
“Do you like movies?”
Now that I think about it, I haven’t had much of a conversation with Sayu-chan before, much less about casual topics like this. Because I’m always conscious of Yoshida-senpai, in the back of my mind I’ve always been conscious of Sayu-chan too. But I don’t know much about her, and she doesn’t know much about either.
“Yeah, I do. I often co to movie theaters around here.”
“I see… That’s why.”
Sayu-chan nodded several tis as if sothing popped into her head. She looked up and was about to say sothing when her expression froze. She stopped moving with her gaze sowhere further behind .
As I tried to turn back and see what she was looking at, Sayu-chan stepped forward and moved closer to .
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
When I asked her, Sayu-chan continued to unnaturally hide her face and spoke with a quivering voice.
“Soone’s looking for . They’re out there, Yuzuha-san.”
“Is it soone you know?”
“…Yes.”
I was about to ask her “You don’t want to be found right?” but stopped. From her reaction alone the answer was obvious.
It’s best to get out of here, but if she goes back to Yoshida-senpai’s house now and gets followed all the way there, it would be bad.
“Did they notice you already?”
“No… They’re not looking over here.”
Sayu-chan said after glancing over my shoulder. I sighed and tapped on Sayu-chan’s shoulder.
“Alright, I’ll hide you for the ti being.”
“Huh?”
“For now, we need to move before they see us. Use to hide from his line of sight. Try to walk naturally but lower your face.”
I described a scene from a movie I watched before, where a criminal tried to escape from the police. Well, the criminal gets caught in the end, but that doesn’t matter right now.
Walking in silence, we passed the train station entrance before I asked Sayu-chan.
“We didn’t get noticed, right?”
“Yeah, probably. It doesn’t look like they chased after us.”
“Well, that’s a relief. My house is just two stations away. We can take shelter there for a bit.”
“T-That’s…”
While walking to the platform, Sayu-chan suddenly stopped.
After hesitating a little, Sayu-chan finally spoke in a low voice.
“Thank you…”
Hearing her gratitude with an apologetic look on her face, I let out a sigh.
“It’s alright.”
I went over to Sayu-chan and patted her on the shoulder.
It seems like she has so childish tendencies. Like when she instinctively hid behind when she saw the person pursuing her, but once she cald down, she beca considerate of others again.
“But… this has nothing to do with you, Yuzuha-san…”
“Hahaha, you’re right about that.”
I thought so too. Honestly, even if Sayu-chan was taken away by whoever it was for whatever reason, it had nothing to do with . On the contrary, it might even be better for if Yoshida-senpai’s main concern were to disappear… Huh? Why did I save this girl? That thought popped into my head but I shrugged it off imdiately.
I had sothing I wanted to say.
“This really has nothing to do with . I’m helping you with a clear conscience, but I make no promises. If that results in Sayu-chan being safe for the ti being, then that’s good.”
After saying that, Sayu-chan looked at with her mouth open for a few seconds before nodding repeatedly.
“O-Oh, thank you.”
Shyly, she put on a smiling face and thanked again.
What I ant was “Don’t ntion it” and that I won’t be responsible for anything that happens after.
I believe she understood both anings, and it was easier for her to accept that.
After all, I had no obligation nor intention to take responsibility for Sayu-chan. If saying so would make it easier for both of us, there’s no harm in saying it.
Thinking along those lines, I felt stupid.
Who the hell am I explaining myself to?
I flashed a bitter smile and looked sideways at Sayu-chan. She had her smartphone out. She looked troubled as she stared at the screen.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, no… It’s just…”
Sayu-chan fidgeted and looked around, before holding up her phone.
“I thought about contacting Yoshida-san, but…”
“Hmm? You should.”
“No, I an… I was wondering what I should tell him.”
I didn’t get it. I racked my brain but I didn’t get it. I tilted my head in confusion.
“Can’t you just tell him what happened? You bumped into by chance, noticed soone looking for you, and you’re hiding at her house for now.”
“That’s…”
Seeing that Sayu-chan was troubled even after I said that, I finally realized.
She probably wants to hide the fact that she’s being pursued from Yoshida-senpai. I didn’t know why she’d want to hide it, but I couldn’t think of any other reason she’d hesitate to contact Yoshida-senpai.
In any case, it’s Sayu-chan. I don’t think she would have any selfish reason not to contact Yoshida-senpai.
Sighing, I took out my smartphone. Sayu-chan watched with her mouth open.
“If we don’t contact him, he’d end up searching around for you again, Sayu-chan.”
“That’s true…”
“So, I’ll just…”
After typing the ssage, I showed it to Sayu-chan.
「 I’m going to borrow Sayu-chan for a bit. If you want her back, co to my house and pick her up. 」
Reading the ssage, Sayu-chan widened her eyes.
“I’ll let him know. At least he won’t be as worried if you’re with . We’re both girls after all.”
Sayu-chan let out a troubled laugh.
“Thank you so much.”
Sighing, I sent the ssage.
It’s just as Yoshida-senpai said. Even though she’s the one in trouble, she keeps thinking about others. She does it instinctively, sothing even adults don’t usually do. I’m neither praising nor criticizing her.
After an announcent on the loudspeaker, the train rolled up to the platform.
The doors opened. After waiting for the exiting passengers, I boarded the train before Sayu-chan. Then, I turned back and held out my hand.
“Co on, princess.”
For the first ti that day, Sayu-chan showed a genuine smile as she took my hand.
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