I followed the address Sanae had sent me, a journey that spanned four stations from mine. The train ride itself was only about twenty minutes, but that wasn't the end. A short bus ride of another ten minutes led me to my destination, and from there, a brief ten-minute walk brought me to the front of a house. The nameplate outside read "Yamada," leaving no room for doubt—it was her place.
The house itself was a modest, modern two-story dwelling, similar to mine but a bit smaller. I doubted they had purchased it; after all, Sanae had mentioned that her mother had been relocated here due to a promotion, which meant they were likely renting for the time being.
I took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly to steady myself, then reached out and pressed the doorbell. Within seconds, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from behind the door. It creaked open—and there she was.
Sanae stood before me, her expression bright and welcoming, dressed in a simple yet charming light blue one-piece that perfectly complemented both her eye color and her soft personality.
Her eyes visibly lit up the moment she saw me.
"W-Welcome, Hayato… I-I can't believe you actually came," she said, her voice tinged with shyness, though the joy in her tone was impossible to hide.
On the other hand, I wasn't doing much better. It took everything in me not to pull her into a tight hug right then and there. I was genuinely, overwhelmingly glad to see her again.
"Didn't I say I wanted to see you?" I replied with a calm smile, trying to keep my emotions in check.
"True… A-Anyway, please come in," she said, stepping aside and gesturing me in.
I nodded and entered without hesitation, my steps light but my resolve steady. As much as I was happy to see her, I hadn't forgotten the reason I came here today.
"Mom, h-he's Amane Hayato," Sanae said, her voice a little nervous as she introduced me to her mother, who was lounging in the living room, casually flipping through a magazine. Judging by the faint aroma lingering in the air, they had probably just finished lunch.
Sanae bore a striking resemblance to her mother—same facial features, same gentle aura. The only difference was her eye color, likely a gift from her father.
"Hello, aunty. Sorry for the intrusion," I greeted politely, offering a slight bow.
She set the magazine aside and gave me a warm, welcoming smile.
"Oh, please don't apologize. Make yourself comfortable. I've heard quite a lot about you from Sae-chan—including how much you've helped her. Honestly, I'm ashamed of myself for not being there when she needed someone, and I can't thank you enough," she said sincerely before rising to her feet and bowing slightly, a gesture full of gratitude and positivity.
It was clear she truly loved her daughter.
Sae-chan, huh? That nickname rolled off her tongue so naturally… and it sounded kind of cute.
Should I try calling her that sometime—maybe just to see her reaction? Might be fun to tease her with it.
"N-No, Aunty, please raise your head. It was only natural for me to help her," I said quickly, gently urging her back up.
(AN: I really hate the cliche line "Anyone would have done the same" LOL.)
She let out a soft chuckle, then turned her gaze to Sanae, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"So he was the reason you asked me to—"
"M-Mom, stop!" Sanae yelped, her voice rising in panic as she cut her off mid-sentence.
That reaction was... suspicious. Way too suspicious. She was definitely hiding something- something she didn't want me to find out. And somehow, my instincts were screaming that it might be best if I never did.
Her mother laughed heartily, clearly amused by Sanae's flustered reaction.
"Okay, okay, my bad. You two go on and do whatever you want," she said with a playful wave of her hand. "Let this old lady get some rest—I'm exhausted from all the work."
I couldn't help but wonder—Why is she so trusting of me?
Could it be… because I didn't make any moves on Sanae, even after spending a night under the same roof with her? Maybe, in her eyes, that was proof enough that I wasn't the type to take advantage of her daughter.
Anyway, what now?
I came here with a purpose—to catch the culprit and save them. But with no clear leads and no sign of danger yet, I'm left with nothing but time... and uncertainty.
Until they make their move, I'm stuck playing the waiting game. And honestly? I have no idea what I'm supposed to do in the meantime. Tch. This part of the job is always the hardest—when you know something's coming, but you don't know when.
Sanae shyly tugged on my sleeve, her fingers brushing against me with a delicate hesitation. Her cheeks were tinged with a faint red, and she avoided meeting my eyes as she spoke.
"D-Do you… want to go to my room, Hayato?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
That one question hit harder than it should've. The nervous glance, the faint blush, the way she said my name—it was almost too much.
Another room invitation, huh?
To be honest, I was a little scared—not of her, but of what this might mean. Of what could happen. Still, standing around here aimlessly wouldn't help anyone.
Besides… it's not like she'd actually do anything. I shouldn't get ahead of myself.
"Sure, let's go," I replied, and with a small, bashful smile, she led me upstairs.
Her room was exactly what you'd expect from someone like Sanae—unapologetically girly in the most sincere way. The walls were a soft blue, clean and neat, exuding a calming warmth. A subtle, sweet scent hung in the air—one that closely resembled her natural fragrance, making it feel like I had just stepped into "her" world entirely.
Stuffed animals were neatly arranged throughout the room, each one seemingly well cared for. But what caught my eye the most… was the panda plushie I had given her.
It was placed carefully to the side of her bed, not buried among the others, but standing apart—like it held a special place.
Did she like it that much? Does she… sleep with it at night?
"Feel free to sit on the bed," Sanae said softly, her voice barely above a murmur.
I nodded and sat down without thinking much of it. But what I didn't expect was for her to follow immediately after—sitting right beside me. Really close.
Before I could process it, her arm gently wrapped around mine, and then—her head rested on my shoulder.
My entire body stiffened.
What is she trying to do? What is she thinking? My mind raced, but I didn't dare move. Her warmth seeped through me, calm and comforting, yet all I could focus on was the sudden intimacy of it all.
However, minutes passed… and we just stayed like that. No sudden moves, no whispered words—just the quiet presence of each other, her head resting gently on my shoulder.
Honestly, I felt embarrassed at myself. Was I overthinking it? That incident with Yuka must've really gotten into my head, making me see tension where there was none.
Trying to shake off the unnecessary thoughts, I reached for the glass of chilled oolong tea Sanae had brought earlier. I picked it up with my left hand and took a slow sip, letting the cool, earthy bitterness ground me—pulling my mind out of the gutter and back into the moment.
She's just acting like usual.
Suddenly, Sanae broke the silence.
"I-I never had friends coming to my house, so I don't really know how to entertain them…"
Her voice was soft, almost uncertain—like she was blaming herself. "You must be really bored, right?"
I turned to look at her, catching the faint hint of worry in her eyes. A small smile tugged at my lips as I answered gently,
"Nah… I actually enjoy sitting in silence sometimes. It's peaceful."
Then I glanced down at our still-linked arms, the way her head rested on my shoulder.
"And besides, I'm not alone here—you're with me. So why would I feel bored?"
Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, the tension in the air melted into something warmer—something quietly content.
"Really?" she asked, looking up at me with those sincere, searching eyes.
"Yeah," I replied without hesitation.
She went quiet for a moment, clearly thinking about something, before asking softly,
"What did you three do today at your house?"
I gave a playful hum and placed a finger on my chin in an exaggerated thinking gesture, trying to lighten the mood.
"Let me think… We played Old Maids, ate lunch—cooked by Yuka, with Misaki helping her, some small talks—and… nothing else."
I kept my tone casual, light, and intentionally left out the parts that didn't need to be said.
"Sounds kind of fun to me… I wish I could've cooked something for you too," Sanae said, puffing her cheeks in a cute little pout.
I chuckled softly, turning my head slightly toward her. "You can do that anytime you want—and I'd absolutely love that," I said playfully, though deep down, I meant every word.
She let out a small huff, her expression shifting into something a bit more shy. "Don't get your hopes up… I'm not that good of a cook," she added, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"Even so, I look forward to it," I added with a soft smile, watching her cheeks tint just a little.
But then, something clicked in my memory—something she didn't know, but I did. A promise I had already made to her… back then. It's only natural I follow through with it.
"By the way," I began casually, trying not to sound too eager, "do you want to go somewhere with me?"
She blinked, a little surprised.
"I mean… you couldn't make it to my house, so I was thinking maybe we could hang out sometime." I glanced at her face, then quickly added, "Only if you want to, of course."
Her eyes instantly lit up like a child offered candy. "Eh, really? You're not joking, right?"
I let out a soft chuckle. "Of course not. Should I invite Yuka and Misaki too—?"
Before I could finish, she gently press her one hand on my cheek , guiding my gaze to hers. Her touch was soft, but firm enough that I couldn't look away.
"C-Can I be a little selfish this time?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "I want it to be just the two of us."
Caught off guard, my breath hitched. Even though I couldn't turn my face away, I instinctively averted my eyes, the warmth spreading across my cheeks betraying how flustered I felt.
"T-That's fine too," I muttered.
"Yee!" she squealed in excitement, snuggling even closer to me until I could feel the warmth of her body against my side. Then in a quiet, dreamy whisper, she added, "I can't wait…"
Time passed naturally after that. We didn't need words—just existing in each other's presence was enough. But before I realized it, the sky outside had already begun to turn orange. Evening was fast approaching.
Still… no sign. No shadow. No presence. Whoever might be targeting them hadn't shown themselves.
My instincts stirred uneasily. Something wasn't right.
Is it because I'm still here? Are they watching from a distance, waiting until the mother and daughter are alone again?
It was the only logical conclusion. If the threat was truly real, then my presence may be the only thing keeping them at bay.
Tch… in that case—I need to leave. If I want to catch them… I have to give them the illusion that the coast is clear.
"Eh? Hayato, you're already leaving?" Sanae's mother called out as she noticed me putting on my shoes. "You could've stayed for dinner with us."
I offered her a warm smile. "It's okay, Aunty. I've already stayed longer than I intended."
Then I turned to Sanae, who stood by the door looking just a little disappointed. I gently placed my hand on her head and said, "See you at school tomorrow."
She gave a small nod in return. With those parting words, I stepped outside, they also told me to visit again.
After leaving their house, I kept walking—slow, steady steps echoing on the pavement. But the moment I turned a corner, I stopped. Pressing my back against the wall, I peeked around carefully, eyes locked on the Yamada residence.
And then—I saw it.
A silhouette.
A figure slipping through their front gate with caution.
My pulse quickened. My fist clenched tight, nails digging into my palm. I could feel the surge of heat rising inside me, but my expression turned cold.
"You motherfucker," I muttered under my breath, voice low and venomous. "I'll punch your face beyond recognition… I promise."