Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818622170177424435
When I woke up, it was still midnight.
I picked up my cell phone and saw on the screen that it was 2:00 am. The room was filled with the quietness characteristic of an early summer night, and I could faintly hear the chirping of insects in the distance.
Did I wake up in the middle of the night, or did I fall asleep in the middle of the night….?
As I turn over with this thought in mind, my gaze shifts to the door of the room.
There, in the pitch-black darkness, the silhouette of a girl holding a pillow floats vaguely in the air, and I involuntarily let out a cry.
“Gyaaaaaahhhh ! ! Ghost ! !”
Incidentally, I’m not very good with ghosts.
I can never watch a horror movie by myself, and when I go to a haunted house, I get scared to death at the entrance.
At the same time as I screamed, the girl’s body shook.
Even ghosts are startled, I thought calmly for a moment.
But the next moment, I heard a small voice say, “Um…” and I hurriedly turned on the light of my phone.
It was Yua chan who was illuminated by the light.
Thinking about it calmly, I thought to myself.
Who else could it be at this hour?
I caught my breath a little and asked, “…What’s wrong?” I looked at her closely and saw that her body was shaking slightly. Was it because I startled her with my loud voice?
“I’m sorry, I suddenly shouted so loudly…I’m sure you were scared.” I apologized, and Yua chan slowly shook her head.
“….No…. I was….having… a nightmare…that I had a long time ago… I thought….I was back in that house…”
Seeing her muttering this in a trembling voice, I felt a tightening in my chest.
Well..having a dream of going back to that house. It’s only been two months, there’s no way she can forget it easily.
No, maybe it’s a scar that will never go away.
“…Okay, let’s just go ahead and sleep together tonight.”
Yua chan nodded her head shyly as she hugged her pillow.
We slept together that night. Of course, we just slept side by side.
Her small sleepy breaths, audible in the futon, melted into the quiet room.
◇
I wake up to the sensation of my body being shaken.
“Um…it’s already…8 o’clock…”
Yua chan’s voice woke me up at once.
“…8 o’clock !? Seriously !?”
I jumped up and checked my watch to see that it really was 8 o’clock.
I hurriedly changed into my suit and hurriedly got ready with the sandwich Yua chan had prepared in my mouth.
A fresh breeze blows in through the window, but I don’t have time to feel that kind of leisure time.
Just then, the intercom rings.
Who is it at this hour…is it Soichi?
I checked the monitor and a sandwich fell out of my mouth.
[Hello,～Yamasaka san. May I talk to you for a moment?]
The two people on the screen were a man in his fifties and a young man about my age.
I recognized them at once from their atmosphere. They were detectives.
They came at the worst possible time.
If I didn’t answer the door, they would get suspicious.
But I don’t think…that old man broke his promise and took the girl?
No, it’s strange that he knew where I lived in the first place.
Was he stalking me?
Various thoughts begin to spin around in my head.
I take a shallow breath and tell Yua chan to stay hidden with my eyes.
She gave a small nod and ducked into a corner of the room. I pressed the call button.
“….Hello. What do you want coming this early? Officer.”
[Oh, hello. I’m sorry for coming so early in the morning. I thought I could certainly talk to you in the morning. Could you open this and have a chat at the entrance?]
“Uh…no, I kind of have to leave soon. Can we talk another time?”
[Are you off to work?]
“Yes. Of course.”
[What do you do for a living?]
You obviously know what I do, but you keep asking.
You’re trying to get on my nerves…?
“I work in finance.”
[Finance…is that right? I’ll come back again in the morning. By the way, the reason I came here today…. Recently, we received a report from a neighbor here…. He said he saw a little girl coming out of your house…. It seems you don’t have any children…Do you take care of relatives’ children?”
“Yes, I do. I was asked to do so by a relative.]
[I see. Well, that’s fine, isn’t it? I heard that she is not in good health and has a bruise on her face. If you don’t mind, may I see the girl sometime?]
“Yes…by all means.”
[Understood. Okay, I’ll see you later.]
The two disappeared from the monitor and their footsteps moved away.
But I can never be too careful.
There is a possibility that they are outside pretending to be back home. If they ask the landlord to enter the room in the meantime, it would be the end.
Today…I had no choice but to take Yua chan with me.
“Yua chan…I’m sorry, but can you change into something that will allow you to go outside now?”
“….Am I…being sent back…?”
Her anxious voice made my heart ache.
I gently pat her head, look her in the eye and say.
“Don’t worry…I won’t let that happen.”
“…..Okay.”
[Illustration.]
https://kakuyomu.jp/users/tanakamatao01/news/16818622170191224045
I won’t let anyone hurt her. I’ll protect her.
◇
Two detectives get into a car in an alleyway.
“…Senpai, are you sure? Letting him go.”
“Hmm? It’s fine. This is just like an exploration. It’s true that if we suddenly break into a house, we may find some evidence. But if nothing is found, we are just trespassing. If that happens, the other side will take the initiative. Just the thought of being watched at any time is enough to make a person’s mind wander. Besides, he won’t be able to leave the girls at home, and it will be easier to read his behavior. Then it’s ours.”
“…I see what you mean.”
“Of course. You don’t want to take a chance on a veteran detective. He’s guilty for sure. After I gather enough evidence, I’ll have him confess.”
With a wry smile on their faces, the two started the car.
The early summer sunlight reflected off the asphalt and drove them away.
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