Contact me anytime you wish to talk.
With those final words, the man handed Kenji a business card and left the convenience store. Kenji was about to tear the card up immediately, but an unexplainable sense of unease made him decide to keep it for now.
'He said it was an organization.'
If it was an organization and not an individual... that meant there were more freaks like that guy gathered together. Wasn't that quite dangerous? If a group were to target individual students, the individual would certainly have a poor chance of fending them off.
No matter how close to superhumans the students here were, that black-suited bastard just now was completely unfazed by bullets. His combat ability was unknown, but his durability was certainly outstanding. What if a whole group of guys like that ganged up to kidnap someone?
'Though they probably wouldn't use such a crude method.'
But the possibility couldn't be ignored. From the way he spoke, it sounded like an organization of pure lunatics, and those kinds of people are capable of anything when cornered. It would be foolish to think it was impossible.
"...Mika, Nagisa, Seia."
Kenji muttered the names of those closest to him and let out a sigh.
If any of those three were to become a target of Gematria... just the thought of it made him want to vomit. A dark, murderous intent coldly sliced through his chest. But was there anything he could do? With this goddamn body that becomes crippled by a single bullet?
"Fuuuck."
A thick curse escaped his lips. He let out a long breath, whoo, and swept his bangs back. At the same time, the convenience store door opened. With the jingle of the bell, a customer entered. Thinking it might be that black-suited bastard again, he opened his eyes with a murderous glare, but it wasn't him.
A familiar girl. The one with the impressive fox ears on her head walked briskly towards the counter.
"...Seia."
"Greetings."
"Yeah, what brings you here?"
"Is there any other reason to come to a convenience store? I came to buy something."
Seia replied, then noticed Kenji's stiff expression and frowned slightly.
"...Is something wrong? You don't look well."
"Didn't you see it in a prophetic dream?"
"The future I see in my dreams isn't what I wish to see. Perhaps later, but I'm not yet skilled enough with my abilities."
"Is that so? What an inconvenient power."
"Mm. Anyway, is something the matter?"
"No. I just ate something bad for lunch."
Seia narrowed her eyes at Kenji's lie. But she didn't say anything. She had already learned from multiple experiences that she wouldn't get anything out of interrogating him when he had that sly smile on his face.
"...When do you get off work?"
"At five. Why, you need a favor?"
"Not exactly... but there's a new cafe nearby that's getting rave reviews, and I was looking for someone to go with."
"So you're asking me to go with you?"
Seia nodded. Kenji looked down at her short stature, then let out a chuckle and said bluntly.
"Don't you have any friends?"
"..."
"Sorry."
Seeing Seia's expression grow increasingly grim, Kenji immediately apologized. Hitting her with a sudden fact like that was worth an apology.
"I'll go to the cafe with you. I've been craving something sweet for a while now, too."
"Since I suggested it, I shall be the one to pay."
"It's fine. I get paid today, so I'll treat you. It's not like I have anywhere else to spend the money anyway."
"I cannot allow that. This is something I cannot yield on."
"Tsk. When an adult offers to buy you something, you're supposed to just say 'yes, thank you' and accept it."
"What do you mean, adult? You're the same age as me."
"Oh? Talking back?"
After a few minutes of bickering, they decided to go dutch. Seia nodded in satisfaction, and Kenji smacked his lips.
And so, time passed, and it was five in the afternoon.
Kenji took off his convenience store uniform and put it away, swapping shifts with the store owner who had just arrived. His wages were deposited on the spot. The balance on his smartphone showed about 2 million yen. In the two years he had worked, all he had bought was a smartphone and a few sets of clothes, so he had an amount of money that was unfitting for his age.
In the first place, the money he earned from his part-time job was not insignificant, so he earned more than he spent. If he hadn't taken breaks in between, he probably could have earned another million yen.
"Thank you, boss. Work hard!"
"Yeah, you too. Get home safe~"
The Shiba Inu owner saw Kenji off. Kenji left him behind and walked towards the park where Seia was waiting. Just then, the smartphone in his pocket vibrated. Nagisa, finished with school, had sent him a message.
[Where are you? I came to your workplace, but you're not here.]
[You always wait until Mika-san or I arrive, why did you leave early today?]
[By the way, what would you like for dinner tonight?]
[That kimchi jjigae you made last time? Would that be alright? I'm in the mood for cooking today.] - 17:25
[I'm coming home late today.]
[Why? You didn't have plans with Mika-san, did you?]
[I'm on a date with a girl right now hehe] - 17:26
[What?]
[What did you say.]
[Kenji-san.]
[Answer me. What did you just say.]
[A date? A date?]
[With Mika-san? No, Mika-san is right next to me.]
[Then who is it. Is it someone I know?]
[Is it Torimune-san? Is that it?]
[Why are you not answering. Answer me.]
[I am about to lose my composure.]
[Answer.]
[Don't ignore me, answer.]
[Who is it. Who are you with.]
[What's her name? Is she a student from my middle school?]
[Answer me.]
[Answer me.]
[Answer.]
[Why are you being so scary. I'll probably be back before it gets too late, though.] - 17:27
[No, who are you with.]
[I'll contact you later.]
[Wait a minute.]
[Kenji-san.]
[Kenji-san.]
[Kenji-san.]
He put the smartphone in his pocket, but it vibrated with every step he took. In the end, he switched his phone to silent mode and entered the park. Seia, who was staring blankly at the sky, came into his view.
"Seia."
"Hm? Ah, you've come."
Seia turned to Kenji and waved. Kenji stood behind her, kneaded her shoulders, and replied.
"Yeah. Should we go straight there? Or wander around a bit first?"
"The timing is a bit awkward, so how about we eat first and then go to the cafe?"
"Whatever's comfortable."
"Then let's go to the restaurant first. I shall guide you to a place I frequent."
"Okay."
Kenji followed behind Seia as she took the lead. Just a few years ago, he had been shorter than her, but now he was much taller. He was probably close to 180cm. Since he ate well and slept well, he grew in no time.
Mika, who had been the tallest of the three up until elementary school, was now the weakest. Kenji, who she used to tease for being short, had become the strongest in their world, and Nagisa had become average. Only Mika, unable to escape her past glory, would shriek about it.
Kenji would look down at the shrieking Mika with a superior gaze, drilling the height difference into her. After that happened a few times, Mika stopped shrieking. Instead, she would puff out her cheeks and lightly tap Kenji's chest.
Though it was only a light tap from Mika's perspective, Kenji would groan every time he was hit.
"We're here."
They had arrived at the restaurant while he was reminiscing.
The restaurant was an ordinary donburi place.
The overall appearance of the Trinity district was like a mix of British aristocratic society and Christianity, but most of the goods and restaurants were Japanese. The use of yen was another example. He had heard that they used to use the imperial system in the past, but he wasn't sure why it had changed.
In fact, it might have been an unavoidable change. You know how there's a widespread perception that British food is terrible. The same must have been true for Trinity, which was modeled after the British Empire. And they probably knew it themselves, so it was possible that they had imported food from other regions, except for tea and desserts.
Or maybe not.
'Whatever works, works.'
Whatever the reason, it was a welcome development for Kenji. Did she know how fortunate he was to be able to eat galbi-don instead of fish and chips? And so, Kenji smiled brightly and entered the restaurant with Seia.
From the various menu items, Kenji ordered the pork galbi donburi, and Seia ordered the shrimp donburi.
Not long after, their food arrived. It was decent enough. Considering the price, it was quite good. The complimentary dumplings weren't bad either.
After their meal, they took a short walk to aid digestion. Since it was late autumn, the sun set earlier than he expected.
6:30 PM.
After the sun had completely set, Kenji and Seia entered the cafe. Kenji, being an 'iced-americano-even-in-winter' type, ordered an iced americano, while Seia ordered a sweet cocoa, a light shortcake, a cheesecake, a few macarons, and the couples-only chocolate parfait.
"Why are you ordering so much?"
"I don't know when I'll be back, so I have to try a variety of things, don't I? And that americano, isn't that just dirty water? I don't know what you see in it."
"Are you disrespecting the treasure of the United States of America, the very lifeblood of General Eugene Kim?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It's a thing."
Seia stared at Kenji with a dubious look, then let out a deep sigh and relaxed. It wasn't the first time Kenji had said something strange. She didn't think much of it and waited for their desserts. A short while later, a staff member called their order number.
Kenji stopped Seia, who was about to get up, and stood up himself. He returned the pager he had received when they ordered and took the tray with two drinks and a plate full of desserts with both hands. Then he turned around to go back to his seat.
"..."
And their eyes met.
Through the large glass wall of the cafe.
With pupils devoid of light, Nagisa and Mika were staring straight at Kenji.
And then, their lips parted. He couldn't hear their voices, but Kenji knew exactly what the two of them were saying.
-Found you.
-Wa-o. Two drinks☆
A shiver ran down his spine.