"Yuta," the girl said slowly, looking at Yuta with her big, cute eyes as if she were seeing her favorite cartoon character in real life.
"Yes, that's my name. What about you?" Yuta smiled back, being gentle with the girl and asking her name to identify her.
"I... I am... Hmm." The girl cutely tapped her hand to the side while pondering her own name. She looked adorable, but for Yuta, this was a headache. How was he supposed to find out who she was if she couldn't even remember her own name?
"That's fine. Do you know where your parents are? The people who are supposed to look after you?" Yuta smiled and replied, though there was obvious sarcasm in his voice.
"Hmmm, I'm not sure, Yuta," she said, trying hard to remember but finally just shrugging and replying happily.
Sigh.
'Just my luck. Well, I should take her to the police first. Later, I can come back here and search again.'
"Okay, sweetheart, let's go find your Mama and Papa." Yuta couldn't help but smile back when he saw her cutely smiling at him.
The girl blushed, her little face brightening up.
"Come on." Yuta smiled back and moved out of the room to leave the house. He himself didn't want to stay here any longer than necessary.
The girl followed him like a duckling until they reached the entrance but then stopped, not moving anymore.
"What happened? Come on, let's go," Yuta blinked and asked gently.
In response, the girl only shook her head and looked down, as if she were afraid of leaving the house for some reason.
After thinking for a moment, Yuta slowly approached her and crouched down to her level. "Come on, there's nothing to worry about. I'm with you, and I won't let anything happen to you." Yuta smiled as he gently rubbed her head to make sure she was calm and not afraid.
Though he wasn't good at guessing ages by looks, the girl was at best around 5 years old. It was understandable that she was a little afraid.
He could see the girl pursing her lips as if thinking about something, and then she finally looked up at him with her eyes directly meeting his.
"Promise?" she asked, raising her hand towards him.
"Promise. And I never go back on my word. I'm a hero after all." Yuta immediately responded, extending his pinky finger and then wrapping it around the little girl's finger.
"Pinky promise." He replied with a huge smile on his face.
Seeing that the girl was now a little more trusting, he took her hand and once again tried to lead her out of the haunted house.
Of course, the girl was still hesitant, but he was patient with her. After some more coaxing, she finally came out of the door and stayed close to him.
Smiling, Yuta led her to the nearest police station, holding her hand and making sure never to let her go.
The little girl, who had initially been reluctant to go out, started to look around at the new world opening up to her with a sparkle in her eyes.
Only after arriving at the police station did Yuta realize that he should have at least bought her something to eat. He didn't know how long she had been hungry; he had checked the haunted house before and found no food there.
Seeing the police station so close, he sighed and decided it would be better to first talk to the police and then bring her something to eat.
He took her inside the police station, and the girl looked hesitant.
"Don't worry. Look at that uncle over there. He'll help find your Mama and Papa." Rubbing her small head, Yuta reassured her as he guided her into the police station.
The girl hid behind his leg the whole time.
"Excuse me."
The police officer looked at Yuta and then almost paused, reminding Yuta that he was no longer an ordinary boy in this world.
"You are..." The officer began to say something, but Yuta cut him off.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, but I would really appreciate it if you kept that little fact to yourself. I'm here to report this missing child, please." Yuta didn't want to get into that rabbit hole again.
He directed the conversation to the little girl who was tugging on his leg. The officer followed Yuta's gaze and blinked.
"I found her in that abandoned house three blocks north. She was living there all alone," Yuta explained.
The officer looked at the girl, then back to Yuta, then back to the girl, his face showing confusion. Yuta himself wasn't sure what was causing the confusion.
"What girl?" the officer asked with a strange expression.
Blink.
"This girl." Yuta pointed at the girl still hugging his leg, now with even more insistence.
"There is no girl here," the officer replied with a puzzled look.
Yuta turned back to the officer, confused. The girl was still at his leg.
He was about to say more when suddenly a notification appeared.
---
Side Quest: Shocking Love Updated
Follow-Up Quest: Find the Identity of the Girl...
---
Reading this, Yuta paused.
'She is related to the side mission?
What the hell is going on?'
xxx
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