The girl in the kimono reclined on the sofa, her eyes closed in a light nap.
On the backrest, her wavy black hair was scattered wildly, like a waterfall cascading down a mountain stream on a quiet moonlit night. Her crow-feather eyelashes trembled from time to time, and her small heart-shaped face was full of tranquility.
Click—Bang.
The sound of a door being pushed open broke the silence in the tea room.
The door was pulled open, and a little Boy with a bowl cut ran in shouting, his small feet stomping on the floor with a thudding sound.
"Sister Yuesha! It's bad! They're here again!" The Boy looked panicked.
Sen Getsusa slowly opened her eyes.
The dignified aura that originally matched her white kimono suddenly vanished—her pupils, as cold as a winter spring, focused, and a small tear mole hung at the corner of her light red eyes.
Like a fox waking up from a snowdrift.
The girl adjusted the maru-obi of her kimono with some discomfort, sat up straight, and then asked, "They're here again?"
"Again?"
"What have you and Aria been hiding from me?"
The Boy named Oishi looked embarrassed and stammered without saying a word, then pulled Sen Getsusa's sleeve with an anxious face: "Go quickly, Sister, go quickly, Aria has already gone over!"
Aria is the director of this orphanage and also the name of a female protagonist in a magical girl anime... What can you do? The children liked it, so that's what they called her.
That old lady, who was used to spoiling children, didn't take offense either. She would agree with a smile every time. Over time, people called her by her real name less and less.
In the end, only 'Aria' was left.
To be honest, Sen Getsusa quite liked the name too.
She rubbed her shoulders, stood up, and adjusted the state of her kimono—if it weren't for the strong demand of that kimono freak Chitose Murase, Sen Getsusa wouldn't walk around the streets in such a thing, let alone wear it to the orphanage.
I always feel a bit drafty... (〃?〃)
On the way to the main gate, being dragged by the Boy, after a round of 'threats and bribes' from Sen Getsusa, she finally understood what had happened.
"They said they were going to tear down the orphanage and build some kind of circle..."
"A commercial district."
"Yes! Aria told us not to tell you... She wanted to ask for more money for our school fees."
Sen Getsusa blinked, puzzled: "Didn't I say, I have money—"
"Aria said we can't always use your money."
Sen Getsusa understood, clenched her fists, and led Oishi to push open the front door.
In the yard, the children from the orphanage were huddled together, quietly peeking around the side of the wall. Seeing Sen Getsusa walking over gracefully, they all showed expressions of relief.
"Sister Yuesha, look, look, it's that bad guy!"
The girl speaking was named Miko. She was a Child abandoned at the orphanage entrance six years ago.
The girl had two braids hanging down her back. She waved to Sen Getsusa, and when she knelt down, she whispered in her ear:
"That bad guy even tried to hit Aria last time! If you ask me, we should just move. Oishi and the others haven't dared to go out to play lately."
"They've been banging on the door at night for the past few days."
The girl's words were full of protective intent, which didn't surprise Sen Getsusa.
This orphanage wasn't big, but the children were very united. As the oldest orphan here, she knew them all too well.
Perhaps this was also what Aria was most proud of.
—Ever since her adoptive parents died in a plane crash and her relationship failed, she had been in a daze for a while.
Even the children at the orphanage, including Aria, had been neglected by her.
Otherwise, she should have discovered this kind of thing much earlier.
Thinking this, the self-reproachful Sen Getsusa had no time to delve into the details. She gently pushed aside the children surrounding her and stepped out.
At the entrance, people were gathered in small groups. Sen Getsusa spotted Aria immediately.
She was wearing an old sweater and yellow corduroy pants, her silver hair coiled at the back of her head, looking at the man in front of her with a pleading face.
"Mr. Fujimoto Matsu, please give us a few more days! Besides, the money you're offering is too little! Our yard is worth more than this! Even if we sell it—"
The old woman clutched the hem of her clothes with both hands, her back hunched, looking pleading.
The man opposite her wasn't buying it. He and the men behind him were all wearing black suits, their white shirt collars wide open, revealing the silver necklaces inside.
They looked like they were all cast from the same mold.
Listening to the old woman's weak words, Fujimoto Matsu impatiently twisted his earring and waved his hand in disgust: "Old lady, act like an old lady. Don't get so close, the old person smell is wafting over."
"Also, I remember making it very clear last time: the price stays the same, move out within a week. You're bargaining with me?"
Fujimoto Matsu lowered his head menacingly, staring at the wrinkled old woman—he suddenly reached out and snatched the hairpin from her head!
Her long silver hair fell down, and the old woman stepped back two paces in terror.
"Hahahaha! Old lady, if you don't leave, I'll put this thing in 'there'!"
Fujimoto Matsu held up the short wooden stick-like hairpin, waving it in the Sun, then laughed and cursed jokingly at the lackeys behind him, making a lewd gesture towards the old woman.
Behind him, a few men holding iron bars looked at their boss, but then their expressions gradually turned to fear—
"Big Brother Fujimoto! Behind you—"
Smack!
Bang! Bang!
Before the words could finish.
Fujimoto Matsu flew out with his head back, like an antelope being torn apart in the mouth of a lion or tiger, and rolled twice upon landing.
The thugs stepped back a few paces, like chickens with their necks squeezed, and fell silent. The entrance of the orphanage suddenly became quiet.
In their sight, a girl in a white kimono, like a cheetah waking up from a nap in the bright Sun, grabbed the hem of her kimono, vigorously closed in on Fujimoto Matsu, and kicked him flying!
Then she reached out and caught the short hairpin.
All in one smooth motion!
Without waiting for anyone to check on Fujimoto Matsu's injuries, or for them to speak and continue their threats, Sen Getsusa lowered her body and suddenly charged at them!
Several men gripped their iron bars, only to see a fair fist flying towards their faces at extreme speed—
Smack!
The black-haired figure closed in, dodged a swinging club, and knocked a man down with a clean swing. Then, turning around, she kicked another person who was approaching with a side kick!
Two men down!
The others were about to surround her, but saw her quickly twist and charge straight at a lone short man!
First a low sweep, then her hands pushed like bullets towards the wobbling man's chin!
After knocking him down, she turned her hips and side-kicked another guy who was trying to sneak up on her.
Bang!
Four men down!
The last image in Fujimoto Matsu's consciousness was only those sharp, dangerous eyes and the people lying all over the ground.
The girl stood where she was, looking down at him.
After that, everything went dark.
Ten seconds, finished.
"Who are they?"
Sen Getsusa smoothed her messy hair, adjusted her kimono with a small frown, and then bent down to pick up the iron bar from the ground.
She weighed it a few times and snapped it with a crack.
Then she spoke with a smile.
---------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!