I continued walking along the road. I had no destination. Like a ghost unable to accept its own death, I wandered on without even knowing who I was.
I had discovered a convenient ability. I realized I could control the life force covering this girl's body to some extent. By pulling it into my body as much as possible, my presence as a living being became incredibly thin.
Thanks to this ability, no one called out to me even when I walked through the city. Animals wouldn't even approach. It wasn't that I became invisible, as I didn't bump into pedestrians coming from the front.
It seemed my 'sense of existence' had simply vanished. I was visible, but no interest was directed toward me. It didn't matter if I was there or not. I appeared as nothing more than an insignificant speck. That unnatural way of being perceived made me feel as though I had become something even more alien than a ghost.
When I entered this 'unconcern' state, my physical abilities seemed to drop. I couldn't exert as much power as usual, yet I spent most of the day in this condition. This girl's appearance was conspicuous. Looking like a vagrant or an orphan, I had nearly been reported to the authorities once. I didn't want any trouble with the police.
Above all, it was easy. I could enter the city without worrying about being watched. I could walk through crowds just like anyone else. I felt like I had become a normal human being. I felt like I had become a member of the human herd.
This was despite the fact that the gap between ideal and reality was only growing wider.
Walking day and night, I eventually reached a large city. It was of a scale that could easily be called a metropolis. Buildings lined the streets, cars overflowed the roads, and people moved in a constant, restless flow. I never grew tired of watching it.
"Where is it!? I'm sure I saw it around here... Where did it go-yo!"
I had just spotted a strange person. A man dressed in a black jacket like a biker, wearing sunglasses, silver accessories jingling all over, and fingerless gloves. He was making a scene on the sidewalk. He seemed to be looking for something, glancing around the area incessantly.
Just as I was about to pass by him, a wallet fell from the man's pocket. He was so focused on his search that he didn't seem to notice he had dropped it.
Should I pick it up for him? But I didn't want to get involved. While I was hesitating, one of the pedestrians approached. He was about to pick up the wallet, but his movements were suspicious. He was trying to snatch the wallet quickly and covertly while keeping a side-eye on the man in sunglasses.
That was clearly not the attitude of someone trying to be helpful. On impulse, I reached out and picked up the wallet from the side. The black leather wallet was heavy, bulging with bills. The pedestrian who had been reaching for it was startled to see his target vanish right before his eyes. Then, his gaze turned toward me.
This was bad. The unconcern mode that erased my presence wasn't omnipotent. It didn't make me literally invisible like a ghost. For example, if I bumped into someone, they would obviously notice me. If I took an action that drew attention, the effect of this mode would be halved.
The pedestrian caught sight of me and looked shocked. Then, his eyes shifted to the wallet gripped in my hand.
"Thi... Thief!!!!"
The pedestrian screamed. He grabbed the girl by the scruff of her neck. Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, I was easily captured.
"Hey, you! This brat just pickpocketed your wallet! I saw it happen!"
The pedestrian called out to the man in sunglasses. It was only then that I realized I had been framed. To think he would try to pin the crime on someone else when he was the one trying to steal it. However, given the situation, the man's testimony gained credibility. In fact, I was the one holding the wallet.
The man in sunglasses looked over. At this rate, the police would be called. If I wanted to run, I could, but that would truly lead to a police incident. I wanted to claim my innocence somehow, but I wondered if he would believe me.
"Say! Well done, brother! I'm in your debt-acho!"
The man in sunglasses struck a pose while saying something incomprehensible. The pedestrian and I were overwhelmed by the atmosphere and froze for a moment.
"O-Oh... so, what now? Even if she's a kid, stealing shouldn't be forgiven."
"Say-say! No need for that, brother. Small change like this doesn't matter."
"Huh? Weren't you looking for this wallet?"
"Wrong... What I was looking for was this Cutie Kitty."
The man pushed his sunglasses up to his forehead. His eyes sent a gaze as if he were appraising the girl.
Could he have been looking for me? That meant he knew about me. Had he seen through the unconcern mode, allowing him to get this close?
Memories I didn't want to recall resurfaced in my mind. Mock and Pejjo, who had targeted this girl on Shirosuzume Island—could he be one of them? The purpose of Mock and his group was still unknown, which was exactly why I couldn't rule out the possibility.
If that were the case, staying here doing nothing was dangerous. I had no proof he was an enemy, but if he was, it would be perilous. I immediately attempted to disengage. I shoved aside the pedestrian who was holding me and broke free from the restraint.
"Wait!? Hold on, Beauty Kittyyyyyy!"
Ignoring the voice chasing after me, I fled at full speed.
---
His name was Pomerni. A currently skyrocketing artist and creator. A celebrity who boasted immense popularity among the youth. While being chauffeured in a limousine, he confirmed today's schedule with his manager.
"After this, at 10:00, there is a lecture at Camparage University."
"Say."
"After the luncheon, at 3:00, there is a press release video shoot for Plus Runner Co.'s new product, 'Jumping Hopper-kun'."
"Say."
"Actually, we just received word from the head office that the filming location has been changed suddenly. They want you to wear a swimsuit at the top of the main tower of Tower Bridge."
"Sa... On top of the bridge? In a swimsuit?"
"Yes."
"It's... snowing, though."
"Indeed."
"Okay, brother. No matter, this is just a case of the pre-battle shivers."
As he placed a cigar in his mouth with a trembling hand, the manager immediately lit it from the side.
His name was Pomerni. A superstar with the momentum to bring down a flying bird. A man with truly nothing to fear. A man who had acquired wealth and fame that everyone envied while only in his late twenties.
However, even he had worries. Those who stand at the top bear a corresponding heavy responsibility. He watched the crowds in the city listlessly. A mist of breath formed on the window. He was a man who was absolutely not thinking about how much he didn't want to go to work today—well, only thinking about it a little bit. That was Pomerni.
He was gazing at the cityscape passing by outside the window. In his field of vision, for just an instant, there was a silver brilliance.
"Hey, driver! Stop the car."
"Is it a bathroom break?"
No. He didn't even have time to correct the manager's consideration as he leaped out of the car. Seeing this, the driver worried for him, thinking that if he had just said so sooner, they could have reached a restroom with time to spare.
He ran. He had only caught a glimpse, but she was undoubtedly a diamond in the rough. Different from the nameless masses moving through the crowd. He instinctively knew there was a raw gemstone there.
But he lost sight of her. When he returned to the place where he had spotted her, no one was there. Not much time had passed. He searched around, certain she must be nearby.
"Thief!!!!"