Chapter 39

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On his way home from the Tendou’s Detective Agency, Shouma took a short detour to Takahagawa Park.

It was a small park in between the residential areas. Now it was empty, the only things he saw were the swings and slides of a nearby playground. Some birds were perched on the telegraphic poles, squawking and making noise, as if they were watching over the park.

Shouma looked around the park. Not a cat that looked like what Kazuha was talking about, could be seen.

“I think it’s best if there is nothing at all.”

It happened just exactly when Shouma said this. A feeble and muffled yowling voice grazed his ears.

“A cat…?”

Shouma, once again turned back down towards the park, this time searching behind the trees, bushes and the thick growth of plants.

It might have been just a cat passing by. Maybe, it was just his imagination that made him think it was a weak cry.

Even then, Shouma couldn’t resist checking.

“Nyaa…”

Relying only on the frail sounds, Shouma tried to look for the animal.

It was not an enormous park, but the cat was nowhere to be found.

“Where are you…?”

That’s when it happened. The tall grass at the edge of the road rustled and shook from some kind of movement. Someone’s back, as that person crouched, could be seen there.

At that moment, Kazuha’s voice floated up in Shouma’s mind.

“The person I asked told me that it was probably some shabby kids from the neighbourhood who had hurt those kittens for fun…”

(Could it be…)

“Hey! What are you doing there?”

At the sound of Shouma’s strong voice, the curled up back gave a little jump.

When that person turned to him, the boy found himself opposite to a small child, probably the same age as Tarou. It was a girl, her hair tied up in two braids. In her arms was a limp kitten.

Just as Kazuha had said, the tendons in the cat’s legs seemed to have been cut.

“That is…”

“This kitten! Um…! It’s not what you think it is…” said the strange girl with a trembling voice, her panicked expression clearly written on her face.

Shouma couldn’t believe that such a small girl had done something to that small kitten. She must have just happened to find the injured animal.

He spread his handkerchief on a nearby bench.

“Bring it over there for now. I’ll take it to the vet if it’s needed!”

“Oh, okay!”

The girl got up with the kitten in her arms, then slowly put the injured creature down on the handkerchief.

Blood smeared on the cloth.

“I wonder where the nearest animal hospital is.”

Shouma took out his smartphone and tried to look up an animal hospital.

The kitten was in such a dreadful situation, that it would be better to take it away immediately.

The girl took out a small bottle from a bag she tied on her tasuki.[1] Inside was a milky-white liquid in a bottle. The girl opened it and put it on her finger, and began to coat it to the cat’s wounds.

“Eh? What are you doing?”

“It’s medicine.”

“Could you use human medicine on a cat? Oi, wait a bit! What if it gets worse…”

Shouma tried impatiently to stop the girl but strangely enough, as the potion had been applied, the kitten’s severe wounds closed up, and it got healed in no time.

That was exactly what had happened… at a speed that was unthinkable under any normal circumstances.

“Wow…”

“Even if one’s arm falls off, this medicine would surely cure it.”

Shouma stared fixedly at the girl beside him. She may have looked like a normal girl, but what she had with herself was anything but normal.

What kind of medicine could heal a falling arm?

From his past experience, Shouma was sure he guessed correctly what she might have been.

“Could it be that you are… a kaii…?”

Instantly, the girl jumped up and distanced herself from Shouma. Her face suddenly turned blue and pale.

“What, what’s this all of sudden!? How do you…”

“Nah, because normal girls don’t go on with medicines like that.”

Hidden behind a tree, the girl stared at Shouma. Her expression was clearly frightened. Combined with her appearance, to a casual observer, it might have looked as if Shouma was the criminal.

The real life picture of a university student attacking a little girl has been perfectly made.

“Ah, it’s alright! I’m a person who knows a lot about that side of the world!”

“…”

“Trust me! I’m not some kind of creep! I mean, I’m nothing but a normal human being and I’m sure you’re stronger than me when you’re serious!”

After Shouma’s rushed explanation, the girl sidled up to him in a fearful manner.

“But for now, could you perhaps hear me out?”

When he said this, the girl beckoned to him without saying anything.

—–

Translator’s Notes:

[1] 襷 A cord (mostly white) which is used for tucking up the sleeves of a kimono. (example)

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