Судьба/Ночь схватки:День 1 сцена 14

Я всё еще не поблагодарил Сакуру за старания на кухне. Пойду, найду её!

"К тому же поздно. Нужно проводить до дома."

Уже успев прибраться в гостиной, Сакура собирается домой.

"Ох, сэмпай? Думала, ты принимаешь ванную." "Нет, ванна потом. Я пришел проводить тебя." "Эээ? Проводить?"

"Верно. В последнее время не спокойно и живёшь ты далеко. Позволь сделать хотя бы это в знак благодарности. Ведь тебе приходится ходить сюда." "......"

Прикусив губу, Сакура уходит в себя. Выглядит, будто сделал что-то не то.

"…Извини. Мне очень приятно, но будет лучше, если ты отдохнёшь, сэмпай. До дома ходить привыкла, справлюсь одна."

"Но в последнее время опасно, не забывай. Я немного провожу тебя." "…Но если… брат увидит, у тебя возникнут трудности."

"Ох…" Верно. Брат Сакуры, Синдзи не одобряет её приходы в этот дом.

Официально, сестра ходит к Фуджи-нээ и поэтому он особо не возражает. Но что если увидит меня с ней? Ладно, меня обвинит или не так поймет, но провоцировать ссору между братом и сестрой хорошего мало.

"А если на полпути разойдёмся, нормально ведь? До перекрёстка Синдзи не встретим."

"Um, I'd feel bad letting you do that..." "It's fine. You're always helping me out, so let me at least walk you home. Or do you want to go home on your own?"

"Eh? No, it's not that, but..." "Then it'll be fine. I'm confident in my skills. I should be able to fight off most assailants, so you should make use of me at times like this. I'll protect you, whatever happens." I nudge Sakura towards the hallway with a glance.

"Senpai...? Is it really okay? You might get into a fight with Nii-san again." "I don't care. It's only right for guys to fight, and it's best when we talk honestly like that. He doesn't like to hide things, so it's best if he just comes out with any complaints he has." Sakura looks surprised for some reason.

"What? Did I say something strange?" "No, you didn't. I'm just glad you're such good friends with Nii-san." "Hm? No, I don't think that's right. I'm probably the only one who feels better from it, and it might be the opposite for Shinji."

"Perhaps. But you know, Nii-san always talks to you no matter many times you two fight. He probably finds it hard to deal with you, but he likes you more than other people, so he's always concerned about you. He's not honest, so he likes people he doesn't like."

"...Uh. I can't really reply to that." "Yes. I envy you, so I thought I'd trouble you a bit." Sakura smiles.

"Uh...." Seeing that smile, I hold my breath without realizing it. Would you call that a big smile? I think it's the first time I've seen her smile like that.

"A-Anyway, I'm taking you home. I don't care if Shinji sees me. I walked his sister home, so he shouldn't be complaining."

"You're right. It might be better to do it that way rather than to hide it. Then could you, Senpai?" "Of course. I'll act like your Senpai for once." I smack my chest. Sakura smiles warmly at my gesture of "trust me".

We go down the hill and reach the intersection. There's no one around, and the familiar residential district feels desolate.

«...» It's not even ten o'clock yet, but the town is asleep. ...The silence is strange. Even though there have been nasty incidents, should night really steal this much life?

"Senpai...? Uh, my house is this way." "Huh? Oh, sorry, I was just thinking. Your house is the very top one on that side, right?" "No, the top one is Tohsaka-Senpai's house. My house is up there too, but not at the top."

"Oh, was that it? ...Wait, by Tohsaka, you mean...?" "Yes, Tohsaka Rin of the second year. Do you not like her, Senpai?" She must have read my reaction, as her comment is accurate. Ugh... was I making that kind of a face?

"No, I don't dislike her. I've never talked to her, so I don't know much about her. But she's famous, right? She stands out wherever she goes, so I know her just like everyone else." "......"

"What about you, Sakura? You have the same Western-style mansion, so do you guys have a neighborly relationship?" "No. We're certainly neighbors, but her house is up on top of the hill. But how did you know her house was Western-style, Senpai?" Sakura asks quietly.

"Oh, it's just something I heard. Something about Tohsaka's place being a haunted house and all that. A haunted house has to be a Western-style house, right?"

"That's true. It seems Tohsaka-san and the house itself like to be alone. When I was a child, I was told that a scary sorcerer lived up on the hill."

"A scary sorcerer, huh? I heard rumors like that too. Though, saying that, all Western-style houses seem to have sorcerers living in them.[vr] So, did you believe the story, Sakura?"

"I did, because I was small. That's why I always thought I shouldn't go up to the top of the hill." Sakura answers my joking question seriously.

We go up the hill. It's a residential district rather opposite to mine, but the habits are the same.

There are fewer and fewer buildings and more trees as you ascend the hill. It's only natural, as most of the town's facilities are at the bottom of the hill. In all that, one of the few buildings near the top of the hill is Sakura's house.

"Oh..." Sakura stops suddenly. "Hm? Did you forget something?" "Oh... no, it's not that, but... Senpai, is there someone standing near my house?" She looks around uneasily.

"Hm?" I look around too, but there's no one here except us.

"There no one... did you see something?" "Oh... no, if you didn't see anyone, then it's fine. I've been noticing a strange person around my house recently, so I just wondered if he'd be here again today."

"What? Isn't that a bit dangerous?[l] What kind of guy was he?" "Um... he was a blond, good-looking person. He looked like a model, so I'm sure you'd be surprised too if you saw him." Sakura says so with a blush, as if recalling him.

"......" ...Sakura. I don't know if that's something I should be worried about.

"Oh, so it's not like he's suspicious?" "...I don't know. It's just that no one has moved here recently, so I thought it was strange."

"...Hm. Well, it is a bit strange. All right, if you see him around again, tell me or Shinji. We'll get him and make him tell us what he's up to."

"Yes, I'll be counting on you. But please don't do anything rough. I don't want you to get into a fight." Sakura says so while smiling straight at me.

"...Uh. I-It's all right. I'll ask questions first, so you shouldn't worry about it." I look away from Sakura's smile as I answer.

"......" ...Geez. Sakura's gestures captivate me often these days. It would have been nothing a while ago, so I feel like I'm acting weird.

Maybe it's because Sakura has grown, or maybe just because I finally noticed it. ...Well, I do think Sakura has become really beautiful. That on it's own is great, but I don't think it's cool for a Senpai to have to be careful where he's looking.

"Good night then, Senpai. I'm glad you walked me home." "I-Idiot. Don't thank me. You're the one making me dinner, so I should be the one thanking you." Sakura just smiles with satisfaction.

"...Geez. If this is all it takes, I'll make a habit of it from tomorrow." "Please do. It's fine if you only do it once in a while when you feel like it, but please do walk home with me. Nii-san will get mad, but I like being with you."

"Senpai, see you tomorrow! Thank you for today!" Sakura calls back enthusiastically and disappears into her house.

"Well." I should head home too. I left Fuji-Nee at the house, and to be honest, that's what worries me. "...Huh?" Did I just hear something?

...I can hear it. The sound of a creaking swing. It takes me a while to realize it's the sound of some bug.

"...I wonder what kind of bug it is? It's well out of season, certainly." I imagine a longhorn beetle in the dark, under the cold winter sky.

Then, I notice. "...Huh? There are three rooms with lights on." The one that just lit up is Sakura's room. ...The light on the first floor is Shinji's room, so what's the light from the third room?

"...? Only Shinji and Sakura should be living in that place..." Maybe it's a guest, or Shinji's in that room. Anyway, I've been here many times, but this is the first time I've seen the light on in that room.

"......" Well, it's a big house. It's not strange for a light to be on somewhere in such a house. It's not strange, but.... "...What's this? I still feel uneasy." I feel something, like a presence or a bad feeling.

In the cold air, the unseasonal sound echoes. If there's such a thing as a hunch... The bug hidden in the bushes feels very ominous.