The rain stopped at four in the morning, and we didn't have any supply of eggs in the fridge. The ground was damp after the midnight rain that only stopped an hour earlier. I planned to go to the nearby convenience store since it is the only open establishment at this moment. But as I passed the nearby park, an intersection away from our house.
Am I lost? Do those who get lost ever truly find their way back on track, or do they discover new paths instead? I always asked this question every time I visited this place.
A dark-haired newborn cat always welcomed me on a bench under a tree, expecting me to open the pack of cat food I brought. I placed the cat food beside me, my gaze fixed on the emotionless cat who didn't find joy in eating the food, only necessities.
Ever since she was born, the cat didn't leave its place, waiting for her family to return. After countless roundtrips around Ningyocho, the place where I suffer monthly rents, she may have given up on her search. Noticing this in the past, I always provided food for this cat in my free time every other day.
I named her Sphinx, representing the cat's breed, yet she wasn't very talkative. She only half-meowed when seeing the pink-colored packaging I always bought for her. She already knew what's inside it. I would be a demon if I replaced the food inside and opened the pack in front of her eyes.
"I'm jealous of your patience, far different from I was. I always blame what I lack for not chasing my dreams. My promise to Mimirin is to be the perfect manager for her career, but I may not even reach that. I have no other experience with managing, and there's no one willing to accept me as one. If only I could gain experience by becoming one, but no one was willing to accept me. I'm lost like you do, waiting until death for the right opportunity to achieve my goals. I couldn't apologize to Mimirin, knowing how far she was from me."
Meow. The cat finished his meal and glared at me for another serving. I picked another pack from my pocket, a reserve, already knowing this cat could only be satisfied with two servings a day.
"You're a cunning one. I would adopt you only if my place allows pets. Don't people give you food because you're black? Racist retards. They sure give the public unwanted misconceptions. It's not like you're the one to blame when someone gets unlucky for a day. We're also the same in that aspect. We're just creatures that are unlucky, not given by God the satisfaction until we die of old age. What would happen to you if I wasn't here?"
This bench was always left available for me and the cat. No one dared to sit there, assuming they would be flooded with misfortune for a whole day because of this wonderful creature's color of fur. But for me, visiting this cat always provided me luck, even in Gatcha games.
"You know, Sphynx-san, I might be in a pinch… But I'm not blaming you, you know! I'm just thinking about how karma was accurate. When Mom knew that the figurine's clothes were removable, she scolded me like what she always did with my father. I suddenly lost my will to live. I did save someone so they shouldn't experience what I went through, but I think it didn't feel worth it. I couldn't even focus on the Mangas and Animes I binged yesterday."
"Why would Mom care for that stranger with no name? That girl just left Mom paying her million yen ruckus without any forms of gratitude. She's driving me nuts. Even if she's a Shizu-sama lookalike, she's still a thief. It's a fact that she benefited from us without anything in exchange, literally a win-win for her."
Meow. Meow. Meow. My eyes widened after the cat responded to my rants. Usually, she would climb up the tree and hide. It was the first time for me to witness this.
"What meow meow? Are you still hungry? You're really a cunning one. I didn't expect you to be so talkative– Wait, where are you going?"
The cat stepped down the bench and walked towards the nearby playground. She entered the bottom end of the enclosed spiral tube slide. I felt that she was nudging towards a hint, hence I followed her. When another set of meows caught my attention, I peeked into the hole in anticipation of finding treasure from a hidden side quest. Yet, what I witnessed instead was a disaster of a sleeping woman whose clothes were partially wet.
Her see-through dress showed the bright glow of her chest's skin color, indicating that she didn't have any underwear on her top. She unconsciously shivered, wrapping herself with only her arms. Even with her mouth closed, her chattering teeth made repetitive sounds.
"M–Masochistic Shizu-sama thief!" My face blushing, I shrieked. My loud squeak called the girl out of her sleep.
She groaned and scratched her red-appearing eyes after waking up. When she sat up straight, her head bumped into the roof of the slide. "Aw!" Covering her head, she hissed to ease the pain on her forehead.
"W–What are you doing here!? Don't you have a home?" I asked, my eyes fixated at her chest subconsciously.
"You… YOU!?" Widening her eyes, when Sera noticed my gaze, her arms flew before her chest, her cheeks appearing red out of embarrassment. "W–W–Where are you looking at!?"
Pouting and averting my eyes, I replied, "N-Nothing? Literally nothing in there. Weren't you cold? It must be a pain sleeping in wet clothes throughout the night."
"That's none of your business!" She exclaimed. The loud growling of her stomach accompanied it, making her blush more.
I sighed. "Without food, clothing, and shelter, you're so pitiful. You haven't even said any hints of thankfulness yesterday. I thought you're going back home?"
"I…" Lost in thought, she pressed her lips and averted her gaze. I didn't know that she lost her way home. However, I couldn't let go of how she's currently suffering.
"Wait here, don't leave. Also, don't eat the cat."
"Are you… bringing those scary guys again?"
"Heck, no. Other than scary, they would be best to help you go back home. Those guys won't bother you unless you're found guilty. However, I still don't trust you."
I left her to buy an egg meal, a meat-flavored bun, a cup of hot chocolate, and a bottle of water at the nearby convenience store. When I came back, I saw the girl and the cat sitting beside each other at the end of the slide. While she caressed the cat, they both stared into nothingness.
I waved the bottle of water before her eyes and said, "Here, take this. Don't worry about the price. I have a personal discount."
The bun heat emitted a fragrance so plain, she couldn't believe it was food. When she took it, its warmth stopped her hands from shivering. Her teary hollowed-out eyes looked at the bun with doubt, but judging from her whispery voice couldn't hide the hunger that had lasted for a day.
"T… Thank you."
"See? It's better to say thanks when you're grateful."
At her first bite, the hidden flavor from the bun's core savored the sweetness of the meat in her mouth. Her once-dead emerald eyes softened, filling itself with an inner glow and outside with tears. All of her limbs sensed a tingling warmth, like it was her first time eating a bun. From her second bite, she rapidly munched the bun which soon vanished after a few seconds. She coughed after.
"H–Hey! Eat slowly. You don't want to see those white guys in hospitals, a place filled with trauma, or at least based on my experience," I advised while rubbing her back and giving her the opened bottle of water.
She gulped the water to cleanse her throat. After drinking, she exhaled and said with a cracking voice, "T… Thank you very much… I have never tasted something like this before… It's delicious…"
"Here's choco to warm yourself."
She took the hot chocolate and blew it before sipping. Its warmth radiated throughout the plastic cup. After her first taste, her widened eyes glimmered and her cheeks reddened. The sweetness soon made her shiver and eliminated the cold she felt.
"This… This must have been expensive. How can I repay you for your kindness?"
I shook my head. "You don't need to pay me back. It's the cheapest one out there. Since we're always collided by fate, may I know what your name is? Mom wanted to know your name before you left."
After a sip, she pressed her lips. "... Sera."
I thought it was Shizu… "Sera, hmm…. By the way, I'm Kou–" Wait… I seem to be forgetting something! "Aha! That's your pity strategy, eh? You devious woman! Your unnatural charm benefits you from others… like a vampire! Everything's in your favor! You're not even considering how much you take advantage of others–"
Sera stood up, covered her chest with her one arm, and her other hand… she slapped me with it. Tears accompanied her protruding eyes in her reddened face. Her noisy breathing was the only thing I could hear, her teeth baring. Her shaking hand stayed up. That's when I realized… I stepped over the line.
"ALL IN MY FAVOR!? YOU SAY THAT LIKE I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN! Do you ever feel lost? You have a satisfying life, and your family is still here. You don't have a say with what I'm feeling or what I should feel! Your needs are all within reach. But I…" Slowly, she lowered her head as her fists clenched. "I don't even know where I am… I don't know what to do…"
Sera… I shouldn't have said that. I wanted to say that, but her crossed arms signalled me not to approach her. I'm such an idiot. It's my obliviousness to reality that made me think that she's pranking me.
When she asked me about the feeling of being lost, I didn't have an answer either. But her situation made me realize that I've also been lost within myself. I'm still struggling to find my path, but hating the idea of being a stray made me ignore it. I've always been an incomplete man, and I will never be complete.
Guilty of my words, I turned away and left her sobbing in the middle of the park, my gaze lowered down the wet ground. There are no words that I could say to comfort her right now.
I went home with the egg meal, and Mom immediately applied a cold compress to my face. When I lied that I only slipped, she laughed hard realizing that there's no such thing as a hand-shaped rock where I could have fallen onto.
I prepared to set off to school after eating. On my walk, countless people still crowded the place. Though our place is in the middle of Tokyo, this part wasn't popular. Yet the crowd density makes the sidewalks feel narrow. However, the crowd's attention was directed to a certain scene of a beautiful girl asking for directions. Her partly-torn dress marked the public's interest.
That was Sera.
Hastily with her feverish eyes, she asked hundreds of pedestrians for directions in what seemed like hours, emphasizing the 'Pencyne' kingdom specifically. However, most of them ignored her inquiry. Although some replied, they provided the same negative response.
"Pencyne? I've never heard such a complex name before. And kingdoms don't exist in the modern world."
"Are you a foreigner? You don't look like you're from here."
"You stink of improperly dried clothes and lack of a bath! Get away from me!"
"Are you Vlogging? I'm sure you're doing this for your roleplay content. There are hidden cameras, aren't there?"
"What a creep! Wearing revealing clothes in public… hide yourself in your shell so kids won't see you! What an improper woman!"
Ignored, bypassed, humiliated, and looked down… Sera's body collapsed in on itself. Kneeling on the floor with a bowed head, with her shoulders curling over her chest, she saw her tears falling on the ground she was facing. Everyone avoided her, even her gaze, but only I was focused on her from a distance.
Hearing these comments, it felt like I'm the one who was struck by knives to the heart. If I'm in her situation, I would give up immediately, just like what happened when I was a kid. But she was not like me, she didn't give up. After being hurt by the public's words, she persevered.
I failed to recognize her strength in pursuing going back to her home. She didn't even shed a tear now. I would like to help her, but I'm assured that she didn't forget what happened earlier. Her hate for me was uncanny. If I approach, I would probably only disturb her.
I sat in the back row of my literature class, concentratedly reading a book that had the same cover as the other books that students were reading. No one knew that from all the books the class had, I had a different one.
What was my book? That would be the For Dummies book accompanying the limited-edition figurine from Akiba. I printed a copy of their literature book's cover and wrapped it around as a disguise. Though the size doesn't exactly match, it was enough to fool everyone.
However, my facade didn't last. Their teacher discussed a certain folk story's plot point and planned to ask for class participation. When I gazed at the board, I found that the topic was about Tsuru no Ongaeshi (The Crane's Gratitude).
"Based on the readings, when the lost woman appeared on the poor old man's door, what did she offer? Sugiyama, stand up. It's the first time that I've seen you studying this hard."
Oh sheesh! Did he notice? I slowly stood up and wandered around to look for answers, but the board only wrote the title of the book. Also, nobody's notes were open, only their books. I blinked rapidly as I fiddled my fingers. Even though the room is air-conditioned, I could feel my sweat bursting out my pores. I don't know the answer!
I chattered my teeth uncontrollably before I planned to speak random nonsense. But before I did, the girl beside me raised her hand and shouted, "Sir!"
"Hase again? Was anybody listening in my class beside her? By the way, you may answer the question, Hase."
When I looked to my left, my once childhood friend, Izumi Hase, stood up in her seat beside the window. She stood 5'4" tall, and had sunken hazel-brown eyes, round acne-less face, and twin-tailed crimson-red hair. She was one of the cutest in the whole school, and every man hated me for sitting beside her.
No one knew we were childhood friends, and I even wanted to forget what happened. However, she was also my neighbor, so I can't escape her sight. I used to call her Izumi before, but that was in the past. I admit that she was beautiful, but I don't feel anything when I look at her, unlike other men. Maybe God never wanted us to go to a different class since grade school.
She answered, "The woman assured the old man that she'll support him with a sack of rice that never goes empty, his need. Even though he's poor, the woman provided his needs, even his wealth, without him knowing that she's the crane the man saved."
Her tone of voice made every student clap their hands, even I who only joined the conformity. Our teacher even praised her, "Very good, Hase! I'm glad that there are people who are willing to take my lessons. Sugiyama and Hase, please sit down."
The moment we sat down, she clenched her fist and smiled at me like she was telling me You got this! Was she paying attention to me? Does she think that I'm having a hard time catching up to my lessons? It's already been a habit of mine to ignore her. I'm the only shadow where her brightest light won't shine.
Since I'm safe from the recitation trap, I continued to research my self-development. It didn't take long until the bell rang and the class was dismissed. As usual, I eat alone in my seat, while a group surrounds Izumi. They include men who plan on courting her and women who treat her as their best friend.
I don't belong to any groups. There is one for Otakus, but they only exist for clout. They're not diehards. There are also the group of gyarus, lolitas, and even Salon boys. The only one I noticed being left out was the sleepy student, Rise Amamiya. She had lots of freckles and acne in her face, a reason why no one wanted to approach her. To hide her face, she took the sleepy girl role in class.
I always overhear the conversations from the group beside me. Everyday, it was only cycling on praising, teasing, and even courting Izumi. I'm surprised that she wasn't annoyed by it… I went back to my own world not until a commotion caught my attention.
"What is she doing?" Izumi asked, staring outside the window. The group also shifted their gaze towards the grounds of the school.
"What are those clothes? That's too torn and revealing."
"Are those elf ears? Is she cosplaying?"
"Maybe she's doing a vlog to go viral. That's what influencers are nowadays."
That is certainly someone I know! I rushed at the window and looked at the clueless girl exploring the personless school grounds out of innocence. I gasped, my mouth falling apart, my eyes widening. Sera…
What is she doing here!?