Chapitre 52: Even on Sundays
It was now Sunday, and Arata just finished a date with Yukari. He was supposed to take Attori out for a stroll in the city, but she passed and disappeared to who knows where. He would ask for her location, but all she would message her was a bunch of 'I am okay' and a bit of other reminders like 'have your eaten' or 'it's too warm today so eat ice cream.' She was good in hiding her business from Arata, always looking for a perfect offering as she would call it.
That was also why he asked Yukari to have ice cream pops with him. Since the last few days made the city humid, the heat was terrible. They were sitting on a bench in Lumen Park, watching children play in the sandbox just steps away from them. Arata watched them in a daze as if remembering a piece of his childhood where the bullies would come and destroy his sand castles.
"—ping. Arata, your ice pop!"
Yukari's voice broke his trance. Before he knew it, his blue ice pop had dripped all over his hand and on the ground under him. It was good he was leaning against his knees or else his crotch would be sticky. He hurriedly transferred the ice pop to the other hand, shoving it inside his mouth to avoid more spill.
"Geez, Arata, you were in such a good mood earlier." The best friend huffed as she shuffled to get tissues for his hand. She was staring at his fingers the entire time she was wiping it clean. If only they were not in a public place, she would have tried to lick the ice cream off of his fingers. As she wiped it, she noticed the tissue ripping against the sticky area. Then it dawned upon her. "This won't do. Let's wash your hand in the sink over there!"
She gripped on his hand with the tissue and pulled him to the stone sink at the side. With the ice pop numbing his mouth, he could not complain at the movements. The girl washed his hand under the water warmed by the weather. As if it was an enjoyable task, she wore a nice smile. She soon patted it dry with her handkerchief.
"Be more careful, Arata! You're lucky we're in the park!" She started to scold the player who was just keeping his mouth shut. She knew he was still dissolving the cream inside his mouth, but she could notice his hidden giggles. She glared at him, leaning closer to intimidate him. "What are you thinking about, huh? Isn't it too early for anything lewd?"
"Lewd thoughts rise whenever they want," he cracked a joke, talking with a closed mouth. The crack that followed made him wince though. He consoled the top part of his head that Yukari hit in a zap. "Don't get used to beating me up."
"That'll help, right? In making you stronger." She huffed as she placed her hands on her hips. "I know you look good and your body feels good, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't be working out at least." She crossed her arms before her with a gleeful grin, contrary to her pose. "Let's hit the arcade! You have to play the punching game until your arms grow sore!"
Arata chuckled as he followed her as she walked away from the park. She had no idea Arata cleared the last boss without much effort. Then again, it was Tohru who started it from the first stage.
The two walked through the busy streets of the city. It was a Sunday morning, and so most people would be going around to take a walk with their parents or children, their lovers, or even just by themselves. Arata held Yukari's hand as they walked amidst the thin sea of people. They were headed to the arcade when a group of people started crowding around an electronics shop. Of course, they ended up seeing what was happening.
It was because the televisions were showing a flash report about the third victim of the 'ghost' that was going around the area. Yukari gasped and covered her face with a hand while Arata recalled what Attori deduced two nights ago. The ghost was nothing but a succubus who feeds on men. However, the current victim was a female, aged twenty-five. It was either the 'ghost' was something else, or that this was more than just a night hunt. He had no idea why the succubus came to their city after all.
"How scary." Yukari hummed as her grip on his hand tightened. "Something is killing people in the city... and it's someone I don't know."
"Would it make you feel better if it was someone you do?"
"Well, at least, I can negotiate... I think." Yukari chuckled before she urged him to continue walking towards the arcade which was on the next block. "That doesn't matter anymore. Let's hit the arcade! Arcade! Arcade!"
The next couple of hours were spent gathering points for a Samoyed plushie Yukari spotted in the prize counter. Being a master of games and having the backing of a strong RNG luck, the god of the living managed to rake as much points as he could. He even managed to complete the punching game Tohru played before. Of course, he gained mixed gazes of envy and admiration. However, there was a set of eyes that remained almost every game he played for the girl.
As Yukari verified that they have enough points, she fell on line and waited for her turn to get the plushie. Arata stood by the side as if resting. The weird set of eyes were still on him— the feeling make him shiver. It could be the game's way of making him know someone in-game was watching him. He then started to look around, soon spotting a kid who was just standing in front of a crane machine.
Her hair was pulled up in two high ponytails in both sides of her head. Some baby hairs fell on her nape which was exposed well by her dress. It was a hot day, so even the child was wearing a dress without much back. She had her hands on the crane machine, but it was not active. Her stiffness also gave away the fact that she was just pretending to be standing there. Even though it was weird for an almost adult to approach a lone child, he did so.
"Hello?" Arata spoke as he stood next to the crane machine. He still had a few tokens so he would probably play some. If the child ended up to be not the person responsible for the weird gaze, at least he got gifts for the date-ables. "Are you using this?"
The child only lifted her head, and tears formed at the corner of her eyes. Arata flinched at what she looked like— more when he noticed her nose and cheeks were redder than normal. The child had been crying, and she might continue at any given time.
"Is something wrong? Are you lost?" Arata kneeled down next to the child. However, he received a shake of her head. "Did you hurt yourself?" Shake. "Did you lost your toy?" Shake. "Did you eat something bad?" Shake. "Did you lose your mother somewhere?" Shake. "Did you drop your tokens?" Shake. "Did you leave your tongue at home?"
Instead of a shaking head, she flashed her teeth like an angry dog. However, she was still on the verge of crying. She then kept on glancing at the crane machine. Arata looked at the crane machine intently this time. There were only four toys left in the small glass box. It seemed to be one of each available to be won. He knocked on the glass with a finger. She nodded.
Finally. Something he could work with.
Using no words, he ushered the child to stand to the side so he could get the toys. With the last four tokens he had in his pocket, he was able to fish all of it in one go. In fact, he had taken five of these beforehand. Now that he thought about it, it was also before the weird gaze started irking him.
'So this kid wants the toys that I got for Yukari...' The player scratched his head as he watched the child hug her toys, shaking her body side to side and swinging her ponytails.
"Miyu?! Miyu?!" A loud voice of a man came from the distance. It took Miyu's attention, but she did not have the time to turn to the source of the sound. The man suddenly came from behind the crane game and swooped to the girl's side as if protecting her. "Miyu! What did I say about running—?!" He looked up at the man before them. "Aren't you...?"
Even Arata flinched again as he saw the guy. It was the same guy who Attori talked to and exchanged numbers with yesterday. He was able to recall him quickly since the college guy had a weird streak of blue in his black hair— like it was a ribbon lace glued on the strands. The player frowned at the man as he thought of the suspicious coincidence.
"Ritsu-sempai, right?" He slightly nodded at the man who ended up standing while still trying to hold the girl close to him. "Is she your little sister?"
"N-No, she's my niece." He felt awkward talking to the man. They knew they both had seen each other somewhere, but he felt rather strange behaving like proper acquaintances. Then again, he twitched before clearing his throat. After a second, he was the confident college boy. "Yes, my name is Ritsu Yoshitaka. I saw you walk with Attori-san yesterday. Are you friends?"
The player had no idea how to react. He knew that there was something hidden in that glint in his eyes. He did not expected that the college guy she just met once would be interested in her— to the point of trying to acquaint himself with her friends. She did give her number to him first after all. Whether he shoots the guy down or tricks him was out of the question. No one was there to prove he was indeed Attori's boyfriend after all. He doubted Yukari would say the truth to a stranger as well.
"Y-Yeah." He chose to let the mistake slide for now. "Why?"
"Ah, then is she with you?" He looked around and saw a girl walking towards them. It was one of the girls with Arata that time as well. He only nodded to Yukari as if acknowledging her. "I guess not."
'Wow, this guy knows a lot of pretty girls.' Yoshitaka watched the secret admirer get closer. 'She must be this guy's girlfriend. Getting on a double date with them is fine, too...' His face started to get redder as he thought of his delusional advances.
Yukari frowned at the weird face Yoshitaka was making. She turned to Arata who turned to her after feeling her gaze. She gestured a finger towards the other guy and mouthed 'why is he here?' She then noticed the kid the older guy was holding. She then smiled at her, fishing from the other toys in her arms. She reached out a small bear. "I have too much of them. Would you like to be his friend instead?"
The kid nodded and received an addition to her new toys. Her movement dragged Yoshitaka back to reality. His daydream was forced to end, and he remembered the existence of the three other people around him. He flushed in embarrassment. "S-Sorry, I hope no one was talking to me!"
"No worries." Yukari placed the toys in her prize bag. She tucked the Samoyed under her arm as she hid the rest. "So? What's going on here?"
"Nothing really. This kid was following us around because she wants me to get her toys from the crane machine." Arata scratched his head. He bent down to pet the child. "Next time, don't be too scared to approach people, okay?"
"Arata?" A familiar voice called out his name.
The player lifted his face like a shooting bullet. His eyes widened as he realized he ran into Momoka again who was in a casual dress. He knew Yukari would be surprised and confused, but he did not even have the time to react properly. Not after he heard how the two other people address the newcomer.
"Sis!"
"(Mama!)"
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droopyghost I'll be starting a job so updates per week might decrease. QuQ Thank you for understanding.