Chapter 2 - Encounters

The next morning, I was interviewed again and released at noon.

According to what I was told, there was only the girl in the house, the father of the house had passed away, and the mother and daughter were the only women in the house, so the robbery was planned.

"Hah… I'm really glad it's spring break."

However, it's not that great, though.

I'm already a third-year high school student.

"Ah, ah, um…"

"Hmm? What is it?"

When I turned around, there she was, the girl I saved.

"Are you OK?"

"Y-Yes, I'm fine. Are you okay too, Onii-san? It hurt, didn't it?"

"Oh, this?"

I waved my hands in the air as if nothing was wrong so as not to make her worry.

"Don't worry, it's not a problem if I can shake it like this."

"B-But…"

"Hey, Eri!"

Then, I heard a gentle voice from behind me.

"Mom."

"Eri, let's go home… Oh? Are you perhaps…"

"Mom, this is the man who helped me and I owe him a debt of gratitude."

"!!! Thank you so much for your help. Thanks to you, my precious daughter and that house are safe. Thank you so much."

"Ah, no, it's nothing. I'm glad everyone is okay."

It's good to see this reassuring smile.

"..."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Ah, no. It's nothing."

"…Mom? You're holding Onii-san's hand too much."

"Eh… Aah, yes, Eri's right. By the way, when was the last time Eri was this talkative?"

"…Mom. Shut up."

For a moment, there was an air of unease, but the harmonious conversation between mother and daughter warmed my heart.

"Um, I'll get going now."

As soon as I started walking and thought about what I should do when I get home, I noticed that the sleeves of my clothes were being pulled.

"Onii-san… Can you come home with us?"

"Uh, well, you see…"

"Eri even went so far as to say that. Can't you come?"

"Uh, y-yes."

"Fufu, yay!"

Then Eri…chan(?) smiled lightly.

"Well then, let's go!"

Before I knew it, I was already in the car and we were on our way.

"Um, what is Onii-san's name?"

"My name is Yukishiro Sekka."

"Yukishiro-Onii-san."

"Yukishiro-kun, is it…"

They savored and digested my name slowly, as if engraving my existence within themselves.

"But still, that was terrible, Yukishiro-kun. You wouldn't tell your name, and when I asked the police, they wouldn't tell me. If it wasn't for Eri, Yukishiro-kun would have almost escaped."

"Escape is a bit… At least, let me act a little cool."

"What do you mean by 'cool'?"

"Promise you won't laugh?"

"I won't laugh."

I really just wanted to look good.

"It's kind of cool to leave without saying your name, like some kind of professional, isn't it?"

"P…Pfft."

"Mmm, you said you wouldn't laugh."

"Because you were so cute, Yukishiro-kun."

"I'm not cute."

I'm definitely not cute…

More than that…

"Eri-chan? Could you not pinch my thigh? It hurts."

"…I don't care. I don't care about Mom either. Muuu."

Eri-chan turned away.

Um… Have I done something wrong?