Chapter 124: A Sudden Disturbance

Kiyono Arisa walked away in a hurry, and Xiao Chun Miura did not have time to call out to stop her.

In just a brief moment, that splash of chestnut color had already gone far away.

Xiao Chun Miura put away the ticket that Kiyono Arisa had given her and chased after the direction the other had left.

The moment she crossed the path, the voices of Kiyono Arisa and another stranger came from ahead.

Xiao Chun Miura’s heart skipped a beat.

She subconsciously quickened her pace.

…Just beside the corner where the path extended, Kiyono Arisa and a young man she did not recognize were standing face to face.

That man was dressed quite fashionably; whether it was his hairstyle or the dyed color, he had the appearance of a frivolous person.

Kiyono Arisa’s face was turned sideways toward Xiao Chun Miura, and her furrowed brows behind her Sunglasses were clearly visible.

Even from a distance, Xiao Chun Miura could see her body trembling violently.

Xiao Chun Miura thought to herself that this was bad.

“I don’t want to… go away—”

Kiyono Arisa spoke fiercely, yet her hand gestures seemed somewhat weak and helpless.

This seemed to instead further stimulate the male youth who looked untrustworthy.

“It’s just having a cup of tea together.”

The man did not restrain himself because of Kiyono Arisa’s resistance; instead, he reached out his hand wanting to pull her. “Is there a need to be this unwilling? I can’t exactly do anything in broad daylight, I just want to spend some time with you.”

“I… stop it!”

The man’s movements paused because of these words, which lacked confidence but revealed sufficient determination.

–Xiao Chun Miura rushed toward the side where Kiyono Arisa and the man were.

She originally didn’t dare to mind other people’s business.

But there was no other way.

Looking at that Girls who kept backing away and shivering, her body moved before her brain did.

–Xiao Chun Miura stood in front of the harassed Kiyono Arisa, staring calmly at that man.

“Being invited by someone you don’t know, it’s very normal to refuse–can’t you see she’s unwilling??”

The man stopped his approaching steps, looking with some dissatisfaction at the other Girls who had suddenly appeared.

“Who are you? Her Friend?”

He waved his hand impatiently, “I just want to invite her for a cup of tea. Like I said, could I really do something bad in front of so many people on the Street? Or is it that someone like me isn’t qualified enough to even have a chance to drink tea together?”

“Making friends shouldn’t be a matter with such a high threshold.”

Xiao Chun Miura retorted firmly, “This is a public place, and right now is her private time–what you are doing is harassment!”

“You shouldn’t just say things like that.”

The man waved his hand, “From the start, I just wanted to make a Friend. To make a Friend, I’m willing to treat her and accompany her to a tea shop to eat something, that’s all.”

“It’s better not to ruin someone’s good business.”

Saying this, the man approached again.

…It wasn’t going to be that easy.

I was too impulsive after all…

But, just leaving everything alone and walking away by myself?

–That was also impossible.

But what should I do now?

This body is just an ordinary girl’s, even thinner than the average, with physical fitness at a lower-middle level.

If a conflict really starts, I definitely won’t have the upper hand.

…Unconsciously, Xiao Chun Miura moved a step back.

Then, her heel scraped against the bluestone of the stone path–her balance vanished instantly.

“Ah!”

“–!” Beside her, Kiyono Arisa also let out a startled cry.

Just when Xiao Chun Miura thought she was going to fall to the ground.

A powerful hand steadily supported her back. Immediately following that, a familiar, refreshing scent surrounded her.

“–I think both of them have made themselves very clear.”

A clear yet cold voice rang out above her head.

“If you still don’t leave, I will call the police.”

Xiao Chun Miura looked up blankly.

What entered her sight was the boy’s well-defined jawline.

Those eyes, which were usually gentle and smiling, were now as cold and serious as ice.

–It was Kanzaki Sou.

….Him?

How did he appear here? I don’t know when he showed up.

Kanzaki Sou supported Xiao Chun Miura with one hand, while the other hand accurately gripped the wrist that the man had raised halfway.

That man, who was already somewhat thin, actually had his wrist squeezed until it turned white by the seemingly equally lean Kanzaki Sou. The expression on his face changed from arrogant to painful.

“It hurts, hurts, hurts… what are you doing! Let go!”

Quickly, the man began to scream.

“Since you can understand words, then please leave immediately.”

Kanzaki Sou did not let go; instead, he increased the force, his tone calm in a way that made people afraid.

“Attacking a woman in a Park and coercing her into non-consensual behavior, this is a crime. If you don’t leave, I will definitely call the police, I mean what I say.”

That man was clearly a coward who bullied the weak but feared the strong. Seeing Kanzaki Sou’s extraordinary demeanor and such a strong aura, he immediately lost his nerve.

He forcefully broke free from Kanzaki Sou’s hand, cursing and swearing while backing away.

“Acting so noble…”

Muttering, he turned and ran. That speed was even faster than when Kiyono Arisa had fled; in the blink of an eye, he disappeared behind the path.

……

The Small Forest regained its silence.

“Are you okay? Miura-san.”

Kanzaki Sou released his hand from supporting her and asked with concern, “Are you hurt?”

“I, I’m fine…”

Xiao Chun Miura stood up straight in a panic, “Why is Kanzaki Classmate here?”

“I just happened to bring the dog from Home for a walk.”

Kanzaki Sou pointed not far away, where a golden retriever was obediently tied near a Long Bench, “I heard the sound of an argument here, so I came over to take a look. I didn’t expect it to be you.”

After saying that, his gaze passed over Xiao Chun Miura and landed on the shivering figure behind her.

“That person is…”

–With just one short unfinished sentence, Xiao Chun Miura’s heart leapt into her throat.

She absolutely could not let him recognize her!

In a flash, Xiao Chun Miura had already made a decision.

She suddenly took a large step sideways, using her own body to tightly block Kiyono Arisa, and began to talk nonsense at high speed.

“Th-This is my cousin!”

“……Cousin?”

Kanzaki Sou was stunned.

“Yes! My distant cousin!”

Xiao Chun Miura felt like her brain was spinning so fast it was about to smoke, “She… her name is Arisu! She came from the countryside to visit me!”

“Be-Because she has a bit of… social anxiety! And a pollen allergy! That’s why she’s wrapped up like this!”

“Just now that man got the wrong person, he mistook her for someone else…”

This reason sounded a bit untrue.

…She even felt embarrassed herself.

The Air solidified for a few seconds.

Behind her, a cold hand quietly grabbed the hem of Xiao Chun Miura’s clothes.

“……Yes.”

A voice as small as a mosquito’s, with a deliberately lowered pitch, came through.

“……I am Arisu.”

That voice contained a sobbing tone that hadn’t dispersed yet. It sounded soft and fragile, appearing pitiful and helpless, completely losing the hedgehog-like sharpness from before.

Kanzaki Sou looked at the Girls who was hiding behind Xiao Chun Miura like a frightened small animal, only revealing a pair of red and swollen eyes.

…The doubt in his eyes slowly dissipated.

In its place was that signature warm and inclusive smile.

“So she’s Miura-san’s sister.”

–He did not go deeper into Kiyono Arisa’s strange outfit.

Kanzaki Sou just acted as usual, treating others with tolerance and gentleness.