'Did I see that wrong?'
What stood there was a person who was yellow from head to toe.
'No, was that even a person to begin with?'
There was no way a person with a ridiculous face like that and an entirely yellow body could exist.
'More importantly, that overall appearance looks familiar. Where have I seen it before?'
"...Homu?"
Right. It was Homu.
Unlike the Homu I knew, there were bandages wrapped all over its body, and it wore an eyepatch over one eye, but it was definitely Homu.
Only then did I realize that the Homu before me was a person wearing a full-body costume.
Perhaps because I knew I was doing something wrong, I had panicked like a guilty thief and only noticed it belatedly.
Embarrassed by my strange misconception, I hurriedly tried to pull my hand free, but its grip on my wrist was far firmer than I had expected. All I could do was make a show of trying to wrench it away.
Frowning at that person's rudeness, I lifted my head to meet its gaze—and unconsciously swallowed.
There was an inexplicable pressure in the eyes looking down at me.
The pressure was enough to make my hands and feet tremble instinctively, enough to make me want to free my wrist and turn around to run. But as though it had realized I was about to flee, it gripped my wrist even tighter than before.
Then, with its free hand, it deftly opened a sketchbook and showed me the words written inside.
[Now then, young lady. Minors should not be buying cigarettes.]
"...?!"
At those words, I unconsciously took a step back.
'How does this person know I'm a minor?'
[I was merely testing you, but it seems I was right.]
"!"
I had been had.
Its actions were as though it could see straight through my thoughts, and I unconsciously held my breath.
Even if I had been startled, I should not have reacted that way.
I should not have let my guard down the instant I got what I wanted.
Until I arrived home, no matter what anyone said to me, I should have remained calm and pretended that nothing was wrong.
...Though it was already too late for regrets.
In any case, I could not turn back time, so I needed to quickly consider my next move.
'How can I get out of this situation?'
And with the cigarettes I had obtained, too.
[If you are thinking of running away, you would do well to give up on that idea.]
At those words, which once again seemed to see right through my thoughts, I silently stared at its face.
'Just who is this person?'
"...Who are you?"
[People call me the Homu Sword Saint.]
I frowned at those words.
It had practically admitted that the name was an alias without me needing to give it any thought.
"You know that isn't what I asked, don't you?"
[That does not make it an incorrect answer.]
Without a word, I glared at its face.
As though I could bore right through it with my gaze.
It would be nice if I could just see through the costume and see its face.
'Still, the Homu Sword Saint...'
At least, it was a Homu name I had never heard before.
People at school talked about and showed me Homu so often that I knew a fair amount about the various kinds, but I had never heard of a Homu called the Homu Sword Saint.
'...No, that isn't what matters.'
The problem was how to get away from this person.
"How long do you intend to keep this up?"
[I am sorry, but having seen this, I cannot simply let it slide.]
With a sigh, I answered as though conceding defeat.
"Fine. I won't run away, so please let go of my arm."
[That would be difficult.]
"Why?"
[Because your eyes are not the eyes of someone who has given up.]
...It truly felt as if it could see through my thoughts.
'No, is it because I am still inexperienced and let my emotions show?'
Considering what it had just said, it meant my thoughts and emotions had shown in my eyes.
That did not mean I had failed to hide them properly, but perhaps I simply lacked the experience needed to deceive this person.
I needed to gain more experience.
But I could not suddenly become more experienced right now, so there was no other way but to create a situation where this person had no choice but to let go.
"If you won't let go, I'll scream."
[Then we can pay the police station a visit together. Did you know? Seolleongtang eaten behind bars is surprisingly rich.]
'...Is this person serious?'
Its attitude made it seem as though it had no intention of letting me go, regardless of what happened. I considered it for a moment.
Yes, only for a moment.
When I thought about it, my purpose had not simply been to buy cigarettes and smoke them.
'My goal is to make Father come.'
The cigarettes were only a means to an end. If I could make Father come through another means, there was no reason to cling to this.
If it would achieve that result, then on calm reflection, even this situation was worth using.
'Because I am a minor.'
If I went to the police station legally, my father, as my guardian, would have no choice but to come.
Then he would have no choice but to look at me.
Even if he scolded me for this, even if he looked at me with cold eyes, I desperately wanted Father's gaze to fall on me at least once.
A child who did not fear being scolded but actually looked forward to it—what terrible filial impiety.
But I had grown so parched for Father's affection and attention that I wanted even that kind of attention from him.
[Good grief.]
"Mmph?!"
It happened right then.
The Homu Sword Saint suddenly and swiftly covered my mouth with a hand.
It was a quick, precise movement, as though it had predicted that I would scream.
I somehow managed to pry away the hand covering my mouth and opened my mouth to cry out. At that instant, a powerful blow struck the back of my neck, and I lost consciousness on the spot.
And yet—
'Why was it?'
For some reason, I felt as though I had been held in a very warm embrace that I dearly missed.
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