Chapter 35: Crying
“Why are you here?”
Looking at Shinichi Sato, who was standing in her living room, drenched and seemingly at a loss, Kazumi asked with a headache.
Although she had indeed considered using Shinichi Sato as a connection to achieve some of her goals in her own plans.
But what was with showing up at her house first thing in the morning to find someone? Are you really a rare animal? Not even using an umbrella in such heavy rain.
“Because I wanted to see Kiyomizu-san, so I came,”
Sensing the girl’s gaze, Shinichi Sato puffed out his chest and said, but then he immediately felt that his words were ambiguous, and he quickly explained.
“No, no, it’s because there’s something very important I need to talk to Kiyomizu-san about!”
[It’s exactly like this, don’t say such strange things!]
The boy’s words were straightforward and carried a hint of silliness, but her body somehow found it endearing.
Forcing down the slight smile that had begun to form, she stood up from the sofa in the living room and looked at Shinichi Sato’s foolish appearance, furrowing her brow as she said.
“Don’t you even bring an umbrella when you go out?”
“Ah, that, because I was in too much of a hurry, so I forgot. I didn’t expect it to start raining on the way here.”
Shinichi Sato awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. He had been so eager that he barely slept, and the moment he heard his alarm clock, he had gotten up and rushed to where Kazumi Shimizu lived.
[Something important? Did [Warhammer] tell him about that? Or did he overhear it himself? Otherwise, there’s no reason for him to be this anxious to come here.]
Kazumi stared at the gray sky outside the window, thinking, then looked down at her wrist, comparing her own build with Shinichi Sato’s.
The boy exercised regularly and looked quite fit. In terms of combat strength, she likely had no chance of winning, but she could rely on her abilities to outsmart him.
Dropping a coffin directly from above would at least incapacitate him. With that, she wouldn’t have to worry about anything happening between them being a man and a woman alone.
After all, there was a big difference between a psychic and a civilian. Someone like the [Sergeant] was just an exception.
Her jet-black eyes darted around as Kazumi considered Shinichi Sato’s purpose for this visit and felt a little relieved.
At the very least, her supposed boyfriend was on her side. This way, she had more cards to play, and now all that was left was to see how she would act.
“Wait here for a bit, I’ll get you some clothes.”
Having finished her mental plan, Kazumi informed Shinichi Sato and walked into another room.
“Here, change into these clothes! They’re my dad’s old clothes, they might be a bit big, but you can wear them for now. I’ll dry your clothes for you later. What was so urgent? What if you catch a cold?”
Taking the clothes and towel handed to her by the girl, Shinichi Sato chuckled foolishly at the slightly complaining question.
“Because anything about Kiyomizu-san is important!”
“Okay, okay, I know it’s important. Change your clothes first, and I’ll make you a cup of hot tea. We’ll talk later.”
Kazumi gave a somewhat perfunctory response to Shinichi Sato, who was always proving his feelings. How much did her past self lack affection to need a boyfriend to this extent…
Kazumi turned around and walked towards the kitchen.
…
“So… you’re saying that Uncle Fukada is part of that evil organization you mentioned?”
The girl’s mouth was slightly ajar, and the surprise and disappointment in her eyes were perfectly conveyed to Shinichi Sato across from her.
“Yes, although I’m very sorry, that’s really how it is. Kiyomizu-san, you can try to contact him. Right now, you probably can’t.”
Shinichi Sato lowered his head guiltily. Through his conversation with Kazumi Shimizu, he had learned that Akihiko Fukada was the one who had raised her and was the person she considered her father. His actions were essentially taking away the girl’s scarce happiness with his own hands.
Kazumi didn’t speak, but simply lowered her head, picked up her phone from the table, and dialed a number marked “Uncle Fukada.” However, the continuous “beeping” sound indicated the credibility of Shinichi Sato’s words.
“Slap—”
The jet-black phone slipped directly from her hand and fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
Shinichi Sato looked up and happened to meet the girl’s slightly reddened, tear-filled eyes.
“Sato-kun…”
“What will happen to Uncle Fukada…”
Seeing the girl who looked like she had lost her entire world, her eyes dull and vacant as if her soul had been lost, Shinichi Sato’s heart felt as if it were being torn apart.
He opened his arms, wanting to comfort her, but he didn’t know how to do it.
He could only stand up, scratch his head, and answer.
“He… he should be fine. When the Association sent people to apprehend him, he had already disappeared. He probably hasn’t been caught yet.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shinichi Sato wished he could slap himself. What was he even saying?
[The Association!]
Upon hearing Shinichi Sato’s fumbling words, a flash of light appeared in Kazumi’s eyes, but it quickly faded. The tears she had been holding back began to well up again.
“Apprehend! How could something happen to Uncle Fukada!”
Listening to Kazumi Shimizu speak with a hint of tears in her voice, Shinichi Sato’s already flustered hands didn’t know where to put them.
“Uncle Fukada is very powerful, he won’t be caught. No, I can’t say that. He will definitely be caught. Bah, bah, bah! What am I saying!!!”
Shinichi Sato was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He approached the girl and awkwardly offered words of comfort, but his poor articulation only ended up making things worse.
Sensing that the time was right, Kazumi bent down with her head lowered, burying it in her arms, and began to sob quietly, making whimpering sounds.
“Sato…-kun, if even Uncle Fukada… gets caught… what should I do?”
“Will I… not be caught too… Woo woo woo—”
The girl’s cat-like crying struck the boy’s soft spot directly. His hesitant expression turned into determination at that moment. He stood up, walked to the girl’s side, patted his chest, and said.
“You won’t be! I will definitely protect Kiyomizu-san!!”
The boy’s oath struck the girl’s heart word by word. Kazumi raised her head, her eyes red like a rabbit’s, her tear-streaked face evoking immense pity.
Her tear-filled eyes looked at the boy facing her, and under Shinichi Sato’s somewhat astonished expression, she threw herself into his arms.
However, in a place he couldn’t see, her face, leaning on Shinichi Sato’s shoulder with faint tear stains, curved into a slightly eerie smile…
