章 303: Sub-Heroine [Sumire]

There was nothing more she could do, so she turned around and marched past the woman without looking at her. The thought that the padlock might be visible nagged at her, but she forced herself to ignore it. The absence of stares from people passing by reassured her, and she managed to relax a little.

She knew she couldn't afford to fall again, so she slowed down, paying closer attention to each step. Her feet and legs ached, a sharp reminder of how far she had pushed herself. She realized she had lingered too long at the exhibition.

The thrill of her daring adventure in public had been so exhilarating that she'd lost track of time and strayed far from her original plan. Now, she felt the need to visit a restroom, not urgent, but insistent enough to remind her that it was time to wrap this up and not waste any more time.