WAITING

The rustling sounds in the corner made Kogami Ren turn around instantly.

“Who’s there?” his cold voice swept over the area.

The rustling sound stopped for a second and then grew louder.

Ren’s right hand went behind his back, almost touching the holster.

Just then, a familiar face came out of the bushes.

“Ah… Kogami-san!” the person said.

“Nanami, is it? What are you doing here?” Ren directly asked.

Since he didn’t beat around the bush, Nanami stated, “I left my keys. I remembered after going home. I came to get it but you weren’t here. So, I was waiting for you.”

Ren scanned her up and down. She was wearing an oversized coat over her sleeping pajamas. She didn’t look like she was lying.

“Come inside,” he said. He unlocked the door and let her in.

He went straight to the kitchen and offered her a glass of warm water.

“Thank you,” Nanami took the glass and chugged it down.

She was slightly trembling due to staying out in the cold for so long. She felt better after drinking water.

“You should’ve waited till morning. It’s dangerous right now,” Ren finally shared his thoughts.

“I know but I didn’t think I would have to wait that long. Moreover, I had nothing else to do.” She quickly changed the subject, “By the way, you haven’t met the gardener yet, did you?”

Ren replied, “Nope.”

Nanami said, “Then, I have to come here in the morning. If Ito-san comes and sees you, I’m sure he will be surprised. If I’m here, there won’t be any misunderstanding.”

“I’d appreciate it,” Ren responded expressionlessly. “The gardener, Ito-san, has he been working here for a long time?”

Nanami answered, “As far as I remember. I’ve seen him since I was ten. Auntie hired him at that time. He is very loyal to Hiro’s family.”

Ren slowly inquired, “What about a caretaker?”

“There was a maid who worked here but she left a year ago. Later, auntie didn’t want to hire anyone else since Hiro decided to study abroad. The whole family moved there a month later.”

After a pause, Nanami probed, “But why are you asking me all these? Aren’t you their relatives?”

Ren casually answered, “I usually don’t talk to people about their private life.”

“You are talking to me about their private life though?” Nanami narrowed her eyes, not believing everything he was saying.

Ren realized that she wouldn’t let him off the hook if he didn’t respond properly.

He said, “I suddenly became curious.”

“I see…” Nanami still didn't believe him. “I’ll go and find the keys.”

She turned around and left the kitchen. She went upstairs and walked directly to Hiro’s room.

The room was dark. She turned on the light and scanned the room. She found the keys on the table.

She grabbed the keys. Before she left, she glanced over at a photo frame.

There was a photo of Hiro and her. It was their first day in high school. They were wearing uniforms. Both of them were grinning toward the camera.

A gentle smile captured her face. She couldn't help reminiscing the days with her childhood crush.

When she came down, she met Ren in the corridor. He was leaning against the wall.

“Were you waiting for me to leave? That’s very kind of you.” Nanami felt touched.

“I will take you home,” Ren told her.

Nanami was surprised. “That’s not necessary…”

Ren cut her off saying, “A killer is on the loose. It’s not safe.”

He didn’t want to negotiate with her.

A beautiful teenager walking around wearing pajamas. Even if the killer didn’t hunt her down, some perverts would.

Nanami didn’t push him any further. She could also understand it would be better for someone to escort her home.

She went out first. Standing in front of the gate, she looked around.

Ren locked the door and came forward. “What are you searching for?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

It was a twenty-minute walk from Hiro’s house. The whole time, they didn’t speak much.

Sometimes, Ren would ask her about the neighborhood. She would reply vaguely.

‘What’s with him? Is he so paranoid about the murder that he has to ask about every single neighbor we have?’ Nanami wondered.

When they reached their destination, she turned toward him and slightly bowed.

“Thank you so much for sending me back.”

“My pleasure.” Ren looked at the two-storied building and noticed that the whole house was dark.

“Where are your parents?” he asked.

“Oh, they went to a party,” Nanami told him. “They will come back soon. Don’t worry about it. Since no one is home, I can’t bring you inside for a cup of tea. Forgive my rudeness.”

“It’s okay. I have no intention of going inside. You better go ahead before you freeze.”

“Yes!” Nanami quickly unlocked the door and went inside. Before closing the door, she waved at him. “Good night, Kogami-san!”

Ren waved back and waited until she closed the door. When he saw the lights upstairs turn on, he left.

After taking the third step, he suddenly paused and turned back around.

He looked at the dark bushes around Nanami’s house with sharp eyes.

‘I had a feeling someone was watching me,’ he thought.

He intensely stared at the bushes for some time.

When he noticed the movement of lights, he looked up and saw Nanami standing next to the window.

She grinned at him when their eyes were locked.

“So, it was her. I was worried for nothing,” Ren muttered.

His figure disappeared behind a house. A dark figure came out of the bushes. A pair of eyes stared at where Ren had left.

The next day, Nanami went to Hiro’s house in the morning.

When she reached the gate, she noticed the gardener was standing outside the gate and looking at Ren with confusion written all over his face.

Ren was wearing a set of blue-colored sports clothes. He was sweating. It looked like he went out for a morning jog.

“Ito-san, good morning,” Nanami greeted him.

Ito-san looked at her and smiled. “Good morning. Nanami-chan. You are early today. Do you know this person? He is saying that he lives here.”

As he pointed at Ren, Nanami said, “After you left, Kogami-san came to the house. To make sure, I called Hiro. He said Kogami-san is his distant relative. He will stay here for a couple of months.”

“Oh, is that so?” Ito-san looked at Kogami and bowed politely, “It’s an honor to meet a relative of Yoshida-san.”

“The honor is mine.” Ren bowed to him in response.

Nanami pressed her hands on her waist and asked, “Since I’m already here, who wants a delicious warm breakfast?”