Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter1

Chapter 1 - Runaway Hideout

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Q: Select the appropriate words to fill in the blank

[ ] x [ ] x [ ] = [ ]

[Getting hit on in a comic store]

[Mifune Ryuuko]

[A runaway highschool girl]

[It's not 'cuz I straightened my hair!]

[A boy who emits particles]

[Self-proclaimed alien]

[Shoes in a basket]

[Space Observatory]

[Mysterious Experience during Spring break]

Clank clank! I hafta try and make something in my heart match the wheels. Bang bang bang, the onomatopoeia surrounded me!

Running away! Get Out To Home! Y'know what I mean!

I felt like I was passing in the centre of a highway while passing by the sidewalk. The wheels occasionally squeaked, as if they symbolized... I dunno? Love, hate and sadness. It's like eating a mouthful of sand after having shellfish.

In the town at dawn, devoid of even the bustling of trains, the only thing moving was me. It was darker than midnight, and some pubs and stores had their lights on still.

I thought I heard the sound of basketball bouncing on the gym floor; whatever sleepiness I had was blown away by the freezing air.

The third semester. Ending ceremony. March 25th. Yesterday.

I, Mifune Ryuuoko, was dumped by a guy not even my boyfriend. Sorry, that was a lie. I just wanted to make it sound dramatic.

He was almost just a classmate. We were equal, like a parallel line. Completely, horizon. Not even a hill!

Clank clank clank! The wheel of my mind spun as well. Ka-dung, Ka-dung (Train simulation). Sugars drained from my head from all the suppression — nay, repairing of emotions. It's a strange feeling of being disheartened and motivated. Glucose don't come flying, do they? Actually, why did I even run away from home?!

The cause of the future was in the past. Not that either of them were that far off!

Behind the school yard, I used my 'I like you beam!' on one of the boys in the basketball club! Pow pow! With the exact same sound, I emitted about thirty times the usual power! But that was my very first! Since high school started! And he said 'I'm sorry!'

A multiplying effect, primarily negative, was observed upon the deflection.

In other words not love, but self-loathing: the opposite of narcissism.

A deep pang ached in me. The bones of my feet seemed to collapsed without me knowing. I had no idea of how I got home on the day that's too far away from the warmth of spring, yet steeped by the tail of winter. By the time I realized, it was already around three of clock in the afternoon; I rolled around on my bed, troubled. Somehow I still had my helmet on, which hurt every time I flipped. The rhythmic pain was my revelation! Which resulted in me losing control.

Assume that I enter a university, in the sixth of the seven spring breaks. March 26th. Today. First day of being heartbroken.

I left a memo on the desk, shoved some clothes and change into my bag (almost brought my phone), and snuck out of the house a little before four o'clock.

Since it was my first ever runaway, my chest expanded rapidly from the beating heart! I didn't have the luxury of expecting something like that to happen; the words he rejected me with echoed in my head. Ring~ Ring~! Like knocking on a bell, it shook my ear drums endlessly.

Had I fallen asleep everything would have fell apart, so I held out until it was time to go. My face felt like it was someone who just returned from space: heavy. Since I've been riding against the wind, however, I should be able to make it to the place without falling asleep.

First, find a place to sleep. Right, and, um... Go on a journey to find myself?

Because the me here is useless! She belongs in a parade! I have to go find a different me! I have to find a fancier me! Because a person is her face! At least seventy or eighty percent anyway!

Skipping club on the first day of spring break — the journey began.

"There's no way I can go!!"

The guy who rejected me practises right next to us!

"The 25th will keep wrecking my head!"

Since no one would react to whatever I do, I did whatever I wanted.

I think I understand now just a little what goes through the head of the drunk men screaming and passing by my house.

First I entered the comic store in front of the station that I've designated as my abode; I went into the room with three hours on the clock.

I slept for about twelve hours — they took a lot of late fees for that.

The sun set on the first day of running away. Sitting on the dilapidated bench outside of the comic store, I watched the road, buildings and vending machine. Cars aside, I thought the other things were also avoiding me. Was I still dreaming?

The sun sunk; I couldn't tell if its path was the same as the orange sky, and my motivation burnt away as well. The right leg that cramped while I was riding didn't hurt as long as I kept moving. Since I fell asleep, however, my overworked brain tensed up. Especially the right hemisphere, it probably looked like Italy. The left brain would be Shikoku.

I yelled, like 'Geebee~' But I think it came out like a weird moan 'Bogehh~' I was able to transform into a strange being using the girl-power I've saved up. In a way, I got a lot of that stuff from yesterday.

The town I live in ranks about sixty in the urban-ness scale. There's no need to ride a train to buy grocery like the country side, but it's still a little different than your typical city.

People often report seeing aliens here. It's like the Rosswell of Japan. And it's not just UFO — people emphasise that they saw real, breathing aliens.

And so the souvenir stores often sell wormhole honey cakes, space pancakes etc. I would totally buy a cute Grey doll though.

After I followed the high school couples riding doubt on bicycle with my eyes, I returned to the comic store. Just like before, the blonde attendant chatted on with the other clerks. After paying about five times the usual fee for being late, I again order three more hours. At this point, about thirty percent of my tiny allowance was devoured by this register in front of me.

Getting my hair done two days ago pretty much killed my wallet. I went and curled it up as preparation for the confession. I feel more murdered now after that.

Hunger, thirst, depression and other similarly terrible things appeared, so I decided to take care of things as soon as possible. Before entering the room, I bought a cup Ramen at the vending machine and added the complementary hot water. Since the store doesn't sell vegetables, I had to make due with noodles. After filling the paper cup with Oolong tea, I entered booth 14.

A Television, a computer and a video game console. There was no shortage of equipment there. I did not turn on anything, however, instead setting my bag down onto the floor.

Head on my knees, I awaited for the three minutes of cooking.

"......"

It's kinda like watching the candle on a birthday cake like I used to do.

Staring at the cover of the noodles, I felt my sight blur.

My bubbling organs felt slow, and my pain dulled.

So now's a good time to ask: Why did I runaway?

I could try to ignore him, but I know that won't work. It's just his head, and that awkward grin. That's the face he had when he rejected me.

There's no way I could just be, like, 'Heya!' and go into the club gleefully.

I didn't want to mope in a room or try to get ride of the gloominess. I want to feel easier: I want to be more positive. That much I know at least.

So for that purpose, what should I do before heading back? Mm~ I didn't think that far ahead, so dunno. 'Not thinking far ahead' simply meant, 'I didn't think at all, but here's what I have.'

I'm so dumb.

Despite leaving home, I didn't go anywhere unfamiliar on a train or anything. I stayed in this town I know, because I'm scared. I don't leave town often.

I don't have money to live in a hotel, and camping is... Well, it's asking too much for a city kid.

Mm... Doesn't this feel more like going out, rather than running away?

Gulp, gulp... The thought disappeared with the tea.

Putting the paper cup onto the desk, I stared at the me inside of that grey screen.

Her gaze wasn't warm, like the emotion was still with the yet-ended winter air.

I looked for things to do. Since I was in a comic store, I spaced out reading some manga.

I'm a rather normal person, without any remarkable characteristics. I even failed on making he notice me, and my brain only has two halves... Ugh, self-harming fouled against esteem five times, so she's out of the game.

All in all I just couldn't stay away from the words 'comic store.' I just sat here, reading manga, all while mixing a whole buncha drinks.

If something interesting, like, totally captures my eyes, then I'll feel slightly better for myself, like I'm the one who did it. Sadly, Ryuuko is not that good at practical problems. I rolled up on the chair. Squirm~ I look just like a panel in my comic.

As I finished the fifth book in a row, I decided to return them. It was eleven o'clock outside now, and the road outside of the window shone with lights of the passing cars. Mm... It's a station known for accidents. It's not too far from where I live... Well, it is basically where I live.

An officer probably won't need twenty minutes to find me. And there would go the game of hide and seek. My parents are pretty lenient though, or maybe they just don't care... My head filled with selfish thoughts.

Walking in the hall, I passed by other customers and the attendant lazily mopping the floor. Even this late in the night, many kinds of people were in.

For example, the couples who couldn't be older than high schoolers, and the such... And the such... Okay, I feel empty inside, so that's all I will say. Actually, pretty sure that the store said that minors couldn't be in here after ten o'clock.

I'm a sixteen years old young'n too. Wow, how flexible. Someone used that as a catch phrase before. It was an expression of shock, but I forget his name or even the meaning of the words. Oh well, two years before the exams anyway.

I walked through the magazines, drinks and vending machines and arrived at the young adult section.

It was then I saw a striking (eye-catching?) person at the section of the books I just marathoned through. "Whoa..." I subtly exhaled before sucking the breath back in.

A striking boy with long, long hair that seemed to have fragments of light falling from it stood.

From the slits between his bangs he looked up the shelf, seemingly searching with an open hand for the place the books he held in his hand. He stepped on his shoes, without socks on.

He was a super hot guy. Like, literally the most beautiful person on planet earth, made by the aliens.

Not sayin' I have proofs or anything, but fairies seemed to live on his head to give him this dramatic glow. Also, some sort of the prettiest butterflies must inhabit the same place too, so he wouldn't need a light in the dark.

If it were before I got dumped, I would have fell hard for him. That's how hot he was.

He's probably a little younger than I. About half a head taller than I was, he emanated from his brows or cheeks a youthful aura. Ah... That must be the youth I've lost... A middle schooler? But isn't that bad for him to be out here instead of home? I was both at a lost and in disbelief. It is surprising, compare to me when I was at the age.. Ah... That must be the youth I've lost... A middle schooler? But isn't that bad for him to be out here instead of home? I was both at a lost and in disbelief. It is surprising, compare to me when I was at the age.

Since my spot was near the boy, I went up to him. With a glance, he noticed my intention and moved to the side. His sight, however, did not move, and instead followed my hand.

'About half a head taller than I was, he emanated from his brows or cheeks a youthful aura.'

"Ah, that's the volumes I'm looking for. Onee-san, you're reading it? Are you putting them back?"

He spoke in a clingy way. Must be because he's still developing, his voice's pitch changed when he speaks. Sounded synthetic. He leaned forward, face closing onto my hand. Usually I don't say anything to strangers passing by, so this put me off.

"Ah... Yeah. Here ya.. go."

I stiffly handed the books stacked on my hands to him. The boy thanked me lightly and traded the comic on his hand with me. I took it.

I know I said we traded, by I wonder why he put the book back into my hand instead of the shelf.

"See ya~" The handsome boy waved and walked off with laughable footsteps. I swear there were still lights lingering from where he stood.

Once I breathed deeply again, the sheen slipped away from between the pages of the book.

"Why?" Why did he hand the book to me? I came for the next volumes, so why would I take the previous ones?

Ah, a lady passing by (an OL, I think. An older woman with professional attire) just turned her head. That's pretty much glaring at this point. The guy, on the other hand, didn't even bat an eye and continued on until he disappeared at the corner. Mm... Guess my standard of beauty is just normal.

Grade, normal. Mien, normal. Look, b-better than average, I think! Basically I am just normal.

What is normal? The question boggles me, but if I had to ask myself, I'll probably just stop working with my head tilted.

I never had the chance to stand out. The person I confessed is at most 'some guy I talk to occasionally,' and our relationship can pretty much be summarized by a bunch of random words. So I couldn't whine or anything, only get depressed.

I want to have something. I want to be treated differently. It's a childish thought, but it's almost what I really want.

To me, a good-looking guy like him will actually incur my jealousy across the gender! Dangit! I'm clutching my pearls! I want to curse at someone!

Then I went back ('cuz I'm a Ryuushi 粒子) to my room to read my book.

It's a pretty funny series, but since I didn't use my head, the flower known as my purpose withered.

I kept reading till the next day; as I went to take a shower, I bumped into that boy again.

Again, in front of that shelf, he stood there with his shoes on.

It's not like I was trying to avoid this so-called conversation with him, but I still couldn't ignore him completely. I am actually quite the stoic person. Seriously: I'm so hardcore that I prefer harder rice too.

“Hey? We meet again.”

Like a hardcore person, he turned abruptly; he initiated the conversation after coming up to me. He had one more book, so I ended up here first.

Why did he speak to me? If he's the type of guy who likes to cling onto girls with his voice and words, than he'd probably hit on the OL lady (temporary name) too, right? She was clearly entranced by him.

Maybe I attract aliens like this guy. Yet my destiny will never notice me.

I know another person who can produce light and can sharpened the lens of people's eyeballs. She was my classmate; a girl who was a friend until a time I don't remember. She's now a mattress expert.

In a way she was untouchable. Nothing could make it into that futon.

“Could you recommend me anything else?”

His kind tone was as if we were friends for many years, so I pretended to wonder, 'Well…' to scout him out. Every time his neck turned, his bangs would follow; the particles of light would fall like harvest.

Mm…

First time meeting → Never met him before → He talked to me → Ah!

Conclusion.

Is this… the rumoured… H-hitting on girls?

Ya are late by a day… Ah, two days. Cough, cough. I felt my once-in-the-life chance's late arrival!

Too slow! Ya are way too slow! Can't ya learn a thing or two from Santa?

“Um? You don't have anything?”

“I-I do! One just popped out!”

“What? Just popped out?”

Thanks to reality and my thoughts combining, I confused the situation even more.

“No way. That's not the name, is it?” He kept the smile, but the blinking increased.

“Don't mind me. Uh, um… The, uh, comic...” What do you want?

My cheeks burnt from reasons other than being tempted, and I wondered. It's our first time meeting, so it's hard to ask these first-time questions. I couldn't shoot him a mean glance, asking him 'what dya want?' I'm a weak person like that.

In some way, this boy was a resident of a different world.

I wasn't drawn to 'special' people like him, since I am aware of how normal I am. If some were to say that, I'd rebuke right away. People get upset when the truth is pointed out. Back to what I was saying. How do I put it? It's a matter of compatibility.

Even if a black white television suddenly get a patch of colour, it's still considered broken.

It's a little rude to the person who might like me, but I like people who are more normal.

His lashes are very long. Every time he blinks it's like they'd fall into his eyes and tear him up.

“Right, I was gonna ask you about something...”

Like an easy-to-chew mochi, his manner was opposite to mine.

“Mm?” It's gonna be hard to leave now that he's so nice to me.

“Onee-san, how long have you been here?”

The boy suddenly tried to invade into my mind with words.

My focus blurred, but I still looked up to him.

From the side, his slightly curved upper lip made him seem somewhat inhuman.

“Don't look so spooked, it's too obvious.”

“…….” He went from hitting on me to a creepy stalker.

Things have been cut short to my height! Jk.

“Well, as you can see I have a little more height here. I could see a little inside the booths. You've been sleeping since this morning, haven't you, Onee-san?”

The transition into a smile fit this guy. It's a relaxing smile that squints the eyes into lines. The moment I saw his face made me wonder if he was wearing a fox mask.

“Ya are a bad boy for peeking into a lady's room.”

I teased him first. I was going to scream 'pervert!!' at five times the volume, but thinking about it calmly, there's nothing funny about that.

“If I wasn't peeking, can I just look?”

If he could see into the room from above, that means it's not just him, but many others saw me sleeping too. Gah… Now that's embarrassing…

“You came here to sleep in the morning; you didn't go home last night either, so what are you up to? This isn't somewhere a minor can be in late.”

“Same goes for ya, right?'

“Hm?”

“If ya saw me in the morning, that means ya were also here in the morning.”

Using the same evidence, I turned the table all while putting the comic back.

The boy went 'Ah!' while scratching his chin. His skin was very pale, and clear.

“Yep, that's right. I see.”

He looked not at me, but the spines of the book listed on the shelf, and lightly retracted his chin. Mm… So he's in the same boat as I? A.k.a another runaway boy. He was rejected too… I'm just being bitter.

Also, 'he looks young, but is in fact twenty years old' theory has disappeared. Let it go.

“Onee-san, you're not… running away from home, are you?”

He got me first. I wanted to ask, 'you too, eh?' but I ended up looking at him silently. This guy's grin could affect any who looked his way.

“You look a little young to be a jobless refugee. Rather… Are you even an Onee-san?”

Between the first and the last part of his line, he clearly had on a different expression.

It's like it was courtesy words at the beginning, then pure doubt near the end. What was he projecting onto?

How did this kid, with his eyes covered by his hair, end up thinking this way?

“I'm a… sixteen year old-looking eighteen years old.”

There are ears behind the wall, and attendants by the register. Adult's world is filled with lies.

The boy chuckled; 'I see,' he whispered.

“Didn't think you're the same as I. I'm eighteen too, but I can probably get a middle school discount at a theater with this look.” He opened his hands to express his age.

“My, we're both young, aren't we? I thought you looked young… Must be my maternal instinct!”

“Right? Guess I will be calling you Onee-san.”

Hahaha, we're already buddies just by appearance.

“What about you?” It was time to do the questioning.

“What do you mean?” Still laughing, he did not resist.

“Runaway boy. Whatever you used on me, I can use on you.”

Due to my marathoning of the comics about people who's mind and body were not in sync, I obtained traits of a detective. I will steal the mushrooms growing behind the people.

Since until just now, I had been lying down on the chair; I grew tire just standing. I felt stiff from head to toe; lying down was my only respite. I've successfully degenerated.

I was supposed to grow from leaving my home though.

“Me? I'm actually just an alien. Came from the Hair Constellation.”

He introduced himself with a joking and light-hearted manner. I knew it was meant to make his opponent drop interest, or to laugh it off. For me, however, this reminded me of something. I am, after all, someone who goes to a certain high school here.

“Mmmm~”

“What? Why the silence? Was it that lame?” His smile disappeared. The boy looked away with a slightly sombre look.

“Nah. I was just thinking that maybe a perfect person just has an obligation to call himself an alien.”

“Wha~?”

He shrugged and scratched the back of his head. He looked good doing anything. If he were to fall asleep and wake up in class with a dumbstruck look, nobody would hate him.

“Oh yeah. Did you leave home just to read comics, Onee-san?”

He went on despite me never confirming his accusation. “Well? Well?” He so exhorted me, staring me on the tip of the nose.

I felt my skin heating up from also the heater.

“Mm~ If that could get me there, can you blame me?”

My goal is to find a way to go from painting my room 'Blue~ Blue' to 'Happy~ Happy~' Reflect the vector. The arrow's age of rebellion. If it's an antimatter that could help me get there, I don't care what it is or what it does.

For example, this guy right here. So far, he managed to remind me of that friend, but nothing positive.

“You're stuttering. So you've not done what you set out to do?”

“Wouldn't I be home if I did?”

“That's true, but I only left so I can go home.”

He said such an incomprehensible and easily-misunderstood thing.

“Onee-san, are you bored?”

“Mm~ Well… I guess.” It doesn't carry much weight when you ran away from home home.

It's spring break, and I couldn't go enjoy my youth in the club (I forgot about this), so even if I was home I'd probably just laze like a worm.

The boy grinned as though he'd heard something interesting — a mischievous smile. He really only knows how to smile, the darn happy face. Was I envious or jealous? Probably both.

“Ah… How about this? It's getting hot in here, so why don't we...”

He bent down and match his eyes with mine.

It's like he's dealing with a kid… His soft smile appeared before I could think even that.

Looking closely at his face, I thought again, 'Gee, the world isn't fair.'

Lights danced by my skin, spreading like fireworks in the sky.

For a moment I thought I was a heroine in a shoujo manga.

“...Sneak into the place closest to the stars in this town?”

“Wha?”

This city plus alien way of picking up girls is way too avant-garde for me.

I left the comic rental with the boy.

Five hours of the special eight-hour deal was wasted by us walking in the dark.

I asked where we were going later, and though I thought that maybe it's dangerous if he was a bad person trying to bring me somewhere no one is… After some consideration, I figured I just got rejected two days ago and nobody would pay me any heed, and thus lowered my guard for my own needs.

Another mysterious impetus was the boy's strange mien. He's not like me, and I thought he was someone on a mission. Hazily I wished to be the sidekick of another special being. As for the main character… I gave up after a little thought.

This guy's intention intrigued me… I was a little excited.

It reminded me of childhood.

I circled to the side of the store. The theatre next door that had just closed down already lost all lights of people and lives; the vending machine shone as the only lumination to the road.

Placed there was a bicycle lot used by few. Next to the building within was what seemed to be an abandoned bicycle. The paint, as well as the basket in front, fell off long ago.

“Oh… You ride a bicycle, Onee-san?”

“Yeah, comes in handy.”

I rode the same bike that was gifted to me in celebration to graduating into middle school. The inspection sticker given during that time was still stuck on the back wheel.

The bike was unlocked and prepared. Mm… Really not trying to hide my trace or anything, having a bike with my name on it parked outside.

Yet the guy just stood there, shaking as though regretting his thin clothes.

“Mm… Where's your bike?” Is that a place we can walk to? We're not changing destination, are we?

“I walk… Well, I just don't have a bike. Walking, huh… Guess we can ride together.”

An undisguised look of anticipation. To prevent the possible sparks between our eyes, I looked to the sides. To see if there were officers out patrolling.

“Then are we riding double? I only have a helmet for myself. It's really scary, y'know.”

I reminded him like I was his senior and put on and adjusted the helmet.

Oh, right… I'm a second year now, so I'll have juniors in the club now.

“What's so scary? Do people in blue shoot you if you don't wear helmet in this town?”

“No, it's so that if a boar runs into ya, your scalps will not be destroyed.”

“I see. So just don't fall.”

He dismissed the notion with a pained expression before straddling onto the luggage rack.

Mm… Such reckless bravery is youth. Wait, am I pedalling?

As I imagined, he hugged my waist as soon as I sat on the seat. From the tip of my toes I felt all sense of calm leaving, like a hamster wheel inside of me had begin spinning.

Ah, my heart accelerated on its own. Don't waste my life! I couldn't take a shower earlier, does he not mind the smell or whatever? Plus having physical contact with a guy is already rare for me. Feels like a dream, riding a bike together.

But since holding onto my shoulder meant skin-to-skin contact, so it actually made me a little more relaxed, then I thought, oh well, this is okay.

“Whoa! You're thin! Are you eating enough?”

The end of his sentence rose in pitch like a mom's; he's skin and bone too, so I wondered if his mom said the same thing. I didn't say it though since I didn't want to hear about another alien.

“Onee-san, why did you run away from home? You're not one of those 'self-searching' people, right? Don't tell me you had an argument with your parents.”

“Reason?” I inadvertently shut my eyes from the sudden darkness.

Swish~ Darkness entered the depth of my head; I exhaled deeply.

'Cuz I was dumped. I was cut in half. That's why I said I was on a journey of life. I'm not even brave enough to do a double-dribble. But how does this fit into the equation? Well…

“Scar.”

“Hm?”

“A scar like a knife wound doesn't recover well if it's cut in the same place a lot, right?”

“Hmm? Is this a metaphor?”

“Heheh, that's how it is if ya wanna be smart.” I put up a smug expression to brag to the boy who thought we were the same age.

“It does sound elegant if you put it so jadedly. Hmm. Did someone hurt you?”

“Most people who leave home have been.”

“Do you hate someone now?”

“I don't. Because I don't want to make others hate me too.”

It is true that I left because I was hurt.

Because I thought about him in the room, and even put his name down on the note when we're studying.

“We'll leave this for later. Let's go, Onee-san. I have this funny feeling that an alien of high status had told others to start navigating.”

He'd fit right in in this town, but we already have a futon person here… Therefore he needs the tin foil. Roasted, too. I'm drooling… Since I'd been awake I am hungry now. My stomach might growl if I kept still, so I frantically began moving forward; the sound of wind grew beside the ears.

Headwind blew beneath the earlobes like waves.

My breath, though, exited intermittently and shallowly.

What was my goal? What was I after? The silhouette blurred. I didn't even have a real reason to hang around this guy: at most I just went along with him. It's unclear if it's something I should feel proud about.

But I won't deny that I followed him because this handsome guy hit on me.

Mm~ that's still not all of it. I cannot rebuke one-hundred percent.

Maybe I'm just a girl who wanted someone to spoil me? I hope not.

I don't want just anybody… Well, until yesterday.

Was it anticipation, mindfulness, laziness, or hopefullness?

Which was the primary motivation to keep me from stopping?

In the dark, I searched for the cause while pedalling.

The well-kept light that drove the darkness away elated me.

When I was a child much more naive than I am now, there was much around that was as terrifying as they were fascinating.

There was that empty lot behind the super market. Even if nothing was there, for some reason it's always been scary. I saw a wild cat living there years later.

There's also the underground stair case behind my elementary school. It led to a room that we're not suppose to go in. Putting your ear onto the door revealed whirling of machines behind.

The world has many places my hands and knowledge cannot yet reach. I thoughts every grown-ups knew about that, and believe that there are many more out in the world.

And because I wanted to learn more, I gathered the kids around to discover and investigate the town. There are a lot of strange facilities around here, so everywhere had something that both intrigued and scared us. I guess it's probably because of that one strange old lady in a shop who lies to the kids with a straight face.

Us kids used this so-called snack store as our secret hideout. The adults didn't like that too much because the store openly displayed the taxidermy of a tsuchinoko and a signature of an alien.

The most mysterious had to be the observatory though. Some kids called it the bathroom, but observatory sounded more exciting with the 'beep beep' (sfx) and 'boop boop' (electronic sounds), so most kids called it that.

It had a huge plot of land and several concrete buildings; like a JSDF base, even the wall carried a heavy aura. I recalled us mistaking the place as a rocket launch site and getting all excited for it.

Placed in the courtyard-like location was a giant telescope most popular as a school trip destination, free for anyone to visit. I've seen it several times before. I thought that the universe itself existed in the scope, since that's where the stars can be seen clearly. Still, the kids weren't interested in the scope, but the places forbidden to trespass.

Everyone spoke of the existence of aliens in the facilities. Or that it was the alien's hideout, mmm…and that people were brought there to be experimented on. There was also a T.V. special of alien dissection video tape and such; we were probably more terrified because of all that.

I personally think the staffs' lab coats are frightening: It must be from the memories I had from dentists, or doctors giving me a shot. I still hold a bias against people in scrubs and glasses, wary that they're secretly doing some experiments or making new drugs. Back to what I was saying. I don't really know what I was saying, but as I was saying!

“Whoa! W-why did you go hands-free?! This isn't safe when you have a passenger!”

“Hey! Hah! Heya! Hoh!” Please imagine my zigzag line with just the line itself.

“Why are you raising your arms? Ventura?”

“Pay no mind!” With a calm voice like a video game notification, I said.

Cough… So, in other words… The place we were headed was the space observatory.

The boy said he was going to 'discover a way back.' He sounded just like that old lady from the snack shop; laughter escaped my lips when I heard that.

'Cuz… A boy who was younger than I am is desperately trying to pick me up… It sounds cute when I put it that way, but that's not what it was: It had a strange mien, but also a little serious. I wanted to know the kind of person he was, so I followed behind.

We began infiltrating that impenetrable place.

Mm… I wanted to play ninja while eating chikuwa. The old team was three guys and three girls. People used to laugh when boys and girls played together; it's a common sight, but fortunately our group was, in a good way, separated from everyone else in our little space. In the end we went our own ways after an awkward fight.

Uwah~ I got lotsa bad memories with people. We almost ran straight into the road. “Gah!” I'll leave it up to you to imagine whose scream that was, but we almost got hit by a scooter. Maybe I'll just give up on thinking, wouldn't wanna be on the news.

But, just one last thing.

Our group wanted to sneak into the staff's building; it was all yes for the three boys, and no for the girls. The girls thought their parents would get mad at them so they didn't want to go. I didn't think my parents would get that angry, but I was afraid of the researchers capturing and doing operations to make me into Ryuushi V2.

Truth is I really wanted to play ninja, so now's the perfect time for me to realise my childhood dream!

Since my parents are going to yell at me for running off anyway, might as well do a lil sumthing before the sun comes up. Let's go, to make up for the two traumas by sneaking in!

It's only about twenty minutes on bike from where I live, and the traffic so little we could ignore the lights. We successfully arrived. This must be what a leaf in a river feels like. Six bicycles came by here everyday during my childhood to scout this familiar road; perhaps because it was the first time done in the dark, nostalgia did not wake. It was practically a different road.

But the destination remained unchanged.

“Whoa...” I'd agree with that if I came here before the night.

Faint light diffused from the building's windows; the telescope watched the sky motionlessly. The trees hid its shape, and the atmosphere dead silent. The smell disjointed from the living seemed to drift over in line with uncanny experiments.

What an unsettling smell. The territory of science, yet formless and eerie.

An old excitement rose, possibly wiping off a little of the melancholy.

First I parked the bike near the farm field just a road away from the wall of the research facility. 'Here we are~' I said while wiping my forehead. In truth, due to the chill brought in by the winter, even the people who live here could feel this cold that froze even the season spring. Plus it's not like it's far enough to get me sweating.

I took out my jacket and wore it. The boy wore his own over a mere shirt, but his face showed no sign of discomfort; he's obviously okay.

Guess being cold isn't a problem in space anyway. Gotta hand it to the so-called alien.

“Aight, let's go.” I held the key to my bike lock in my mouth. What if I swallow it?

“Hey, aren't you going to take off that useless helmet?”

“I don't feel safe empty-handed.”

Actually my hair just gets messy after I take off the helmet.

“What is that, some kind of setting? Alien and ninja do sound good together though.”

“Ya are not supposed to say that...” That signalled the end of the character-change.

I'd changed in ten years of time; I'd lost my compatriots, and only my sense of shame grew.

Around the facility was — rare even for this town — farm fields. Not many lived near, reinforcing further the sense of isolation and mysticism. There's no convenient store around either, so the guys inside probably don't like that too much.

“Could there really be alien fossils or mummies?”

“Onee-san, there's one right here. You're really hyped though.”

“Mm? You…? Ya have pupils, and ya aren't glowing either so ya don't count.”

“I'm not some cat alien. Frankly your expectation is a little too much.”

He said so lightheartedly while walking along the building's wall. After about a quarter of the parameter, he shifted from chatting to questioning.

“You look like you know your way around. Don't tell me: You come here all the time?”

“Hmhmhm. It's like a backyard for people who grew up here.” I crossed my arms proudly.

But this might be a Tsuchinoko territory. So it's more like a backyard that's not well-maintained.

“I see. You wouldn't know the people inside, would you?” He scratched his cheek while asking.

“Well, maybe not that far. But we once had this guy come up to us all gleefully. We ran away 'cuz we thought he was lying and was gonna kidnap us!”

The only one who thought it was truly dangerous was me, but we all bolted. It's the only way to make our bodies, or rather, things move forward. It's actually pretty boring just staring; we even got so tired we ended up playing dodge ball in the field.

That must be why the boys wanted to open that forbidden door.

“Oh yeah. This isn't a midnight stroll, right? Ya got business here?”

This door should be shut closed during this time, and only staffs can enter. There were also security at what seemed like the backdoor; they're the reason why us kids thought the place was suspicious.

“Yeah, I do.”

He answered cheerfully with a crisp smile. I almost thought the frigid air was going to freeze his lips there — it was that cold.

And I was still starving, so that might have made it colder. I also lost my handwarmer. After another quarter circle, we stopped at the exact opposite place to where the bicycle was parked; the boy then said, 'it's around here' and started feeling the wall. Like a salamander he fiddled the vertical part. I wanted to interrupt him by hitting the wall, but in the end I decided to wait quietly.

I don't wanna be too normal, but normal is what I do. Normal people don't trespass though… Not that it's something to be proud of.

“Here, found it.” He pulled away a part of the wall and revealed a passage. Looks like he merely removed the cover disguising the broken part of the parameter.

The boy looked back smugly, 'the way's opened.'

“Did ya do this beforehand?”

“Nope, it was the staffs inside. The front door's too far away so they made this shortcut. Heard it was convenient when you're running late.”

“Really? Ya know quite a bit. Do you work here?”

“I can't just ignore the Japanese branch office of the Alien's planetary invasion.”

He spoke in a way matching my own to hide his identity as well as his involvement. “Let's go.”

The boy crawled into the hole first. Once inside, I'd be totally trespassing. Mm, I'd be able to go ahead if I still was an impulsive youth, but I came here with this sense of listlessness. I sometimes find myself unaware of my feet's movement, especially during repetition exercise, when we're training. It's kinda like that now, right? My body clearly wasn't listening.

“Mm? What's up? Gonna give up?”

The boy who was about to enter paused looking back with his right leg raised. It's kinda like that lil white guy on the emergency exit sign (that's what I called the man made of a circle and rectangles).

“It's more like there's a few things that I'm worried about.”

“I hope you figure out soon, because someone might come.”

He looked around several times and hurried me. I know, but I wanna get things cleared up so I don't feel unmotivated. That's what live taught me.

“Why me? And don't ya joke about how ya fell in love at first sight.”

I drew the line first. At least that way he'd forget about thinking me as a hopeless girl who was expecting something to happen. I hope. I'm not the same person I was yesterday, but mostly in a bad way.

“Hm? Because I think it's a good opportunity.”

He took another big step to keep his balance.

“Isn't it boring to have a home to go back to when you're running away? With a backup and all, even if you don't an income, you'd live for a few days. That's why I thought you'd come with me.”

“…...” He pointed out how immature the way I do things is.

He might have jabbed where it hurt, but it's just a vibration to my numbed heart.

And he's probably just brushing me off.

“Ok, I'll set that aside for now, but is there no other reason why you wanted me here?”

“Hm? That's because I'm scared of going in alone.”

His voice was calm, but since it was dark, neither of us could see each others' face. Thankfully no one saw us; he sighed.

“I'm serious. I'm a sad alien who can't do anything on my own.”

I thought about recommending him learning super powers like an E.T. then come back.

“Who knows what they'd do to me in the underground lab if they caught me here.”

“Right… Ya are an alien.” Hahah… I laughed weakly. It's different than tiredly.

“Wait, you believe me now?” He raised his leg further up like he was about to do a backflip.

“I'm one of those who believe aliens 'can exist,' so I don't think much of it. It's whatever, really, but can I ask another question?”

“Sure. Make it quick though, if you can.”

“Why are you really here for?”

“Onee-san, why did you come with me?”

It's like having a mail that hasn't been read sent straight back to you. That's pretty annoying. There wasn't strength left in my tummy to rebuke this guy though. The empty stomach protested something else.

“I'm, uh… Whacha call it? I'd probably be happy just seeing the inside.”

Not sure if I will wake up from the dream or be glad from achieving my goal. But if possible, I want to at least be happy for a bit.

But I was both out of breath and without a recipient. Uwah, do I actually want someone to be with? My reason of being sad hasn't change since long ago. Back then too… If the boys and girls who liked each others were evenly split up, we might have been better friends.

“Sigh, for realsies...” I palmed my face, sneaking a glance at the past between my fingers.

If it's hard for me to forget, I will jump over it.

Just make something up when there's nothing; just pretend the opportunity is already upon me.

Bet everything here.

It's a little dramatic, but this will be the start of everything.

Just for a moment, I returned to being the six year old Mifune Ryuuko.

'If you don't wanna be scolded, just don't get caught!'

Yep, that's what boy B said at that time. Great thinking, but that's isn't the reason why I liked him!

And so I crossed the wall and trespassed.

The guy can finally rest his right leg.

Then I snapped. I mean, gave up. This was my decision: I ripped the strings of rejection from my back and sprinted like a 100 meter dasher. Step, step… I started doing time mark for some reason. A pleasant rustle came beneath from the grass. This might have been the sound of footstep that I've not noticed outside of a gym in a long, long time.

“Not sure if you're just pent up or something.”

“All right!” Ignoring the boy I smacked my cheeks. Didn't like that sound, so here's another. Smack! Smack! Sounded off, so one more! Not this time because my skin's foundation didn't feel too good! I can dreams too! Smack!

“Awww~” Hurts. Sleepiness and laziness both died like the thing you slap with a slipper. The edge of my eyes flashed and hurt; eye lashes felt like hedgehogs.

“Um… Onee-san, you trying to wake up? Or just hurting yourself?”

He pulled up; the building shimmered, emanating his silhouette.

“What? I'm just trynna get rid of my Shoujo points from my head. You might turn inta girl if ya stay too close.”

With a daring expression, I suavely (No idea what that means) warned him. Crossing the wall itself is pretty much half of what I came for, and the rest is all bonus.

So I don't care what else happens.

“And what would happen if I am?”

“Yer eyes get oogly.” Or something like that. “Or you get puffy eyelashes” and such. “You shoot particles out.” Kinda like salmon eggs.

All those apply for me already… Dangit… A naive girl and self-appointed runaway alien boy. This is not one of those word fillers you see in a school essay.

“Why the stare?”

“Ding ding ding~ I'm rebellious like that?”

“…...”

He's giving me the 'wow if she's normal, she's just an idiot' look. I also couldn't call him a pervert, not with that cold stare he's giving me.

But he still resumed the conversation with me.

“I was a little worried why you're suddenly so giddy, but now you got my attention too. Onee-san, you've got a lovely smile.”

Hehe~ Wink~ This is known as crab (heart going sideways).

“Mm...”

“What? Trying to hide with a growl?”

“Don't gimme that good looking face just 'cuz ya are good lookin'!”

“S-sorry?” The boy backed off.

“I'm like a black-n-white television! I don't needa learn to hide my presence! Hahaha!” And so I charged into the building close by. This was where the door with the warning was; we'd seen it so many times that I am confident I could make it with my eyes closed.

The boy trailed along and came to my side with a wry grin.

“Onee-san, you too must have a lot of… Well, wonders around you.”

“Wu… Wu… Wu...”

“Like making crabs fall for you.”

“You tellin' me to go back to the sea?”

“The river is fine too.”

Splash! I sunk. Sunk into the depth of heart; sunk into the abyss. My grief rippled outward.

“Right, infiltration successful thus far.”

“Oh, she's back.”

“Keep eyes on not just around ya, but also above ya.”

“You don't have to be so 3D about it, do you? What are we looking out for?'

“It's a space facility, so if a rock or laser beam came I got my helmet to protect me! It's ta make sure my scalp is safe!”

“Onee-san, your space's got scale but not much power.”

“Peace is the best.” Whether it be Earth or mind. My wallet is staying skinny for the next two months though.

The boy and I stepped through the grass and pebbles, approaching the grey, iron door with 'No Trespassing' written on. A mysterious machine surrounded by a metallic fence hummed on the side. What appeared to be tubings connected into the interior of the building tastefully.

Just like the outside brother of my house's AC — every adult's delusion is to use their myopic understanding when faced with facts.

“Wow! This is intense! To be honest… This door was my first love.”

“I see.”

“Uh, could ya not rain on my parade? Ya are supposed to react to my joke. It's already so cold, ya dig?”

It's not like I was wrong or anything, so this lack of reaction embarrassed me so much.

In a broader sense, the word 'Trespassing' was what moved me.

But this guy wasn't even hyped for anything — he even seemed tired. His eyes were fidgeting though.

“What's up? Wanna bit of my hype?”

“It's fine, I'm just a little nervous. I'll try to be like you... Actually no, I like my own brain.”

“I see. We will become balance-partners then! Let's go!”

I finally felt the right to hold this door knob, so I squeezed. “Gawah!” The static trap activated. Felt like getting cut by a nail clipper beneath your nail.

Darn this dry air… I cupped my mouth and checked if there was movements around. Mm, don't think so.

Once again, with breath held, I turned the knob.

A terrible sound of metallic parts grinding against one another emitted from the door; it opened like the door to the library.

I pushed with my shoulder and plastered my back to the wall. Fuu… Fuu… I carefully masked my breathing, and warned the boy who came in normally.

“Careful: there must be infrared scanner on the wall.” Whisper… Whisper…

Please pretend our conversation was carried out telepathically.

“Infra...red?”

“Mm… What cha call it? It's, um… A lotta colours put together and ya can see people.”

“Right, you can see temperature with that.”

“Right. What are ya talking about?”

“Um...” We pondered. Thinking and thinking… The Heisei board of education has failed.

After the atmosphere of spreading your arms out and surrounded by wind on an open field had passed, the air assumed it's gloomy and unnoticeable stance again. The hall, supported by thin lights, allowed me to see its entirety.

A hallway silent, yet solidly build by man-made material. Deeper in was a dark orange, or rather, an unassuming wall with a warm hue. A plant pot sat quietly by the corner, single-sidedly thinking the earth as its friend. I too grinned embarrassedly at my phony behaviours.

The interior was no different than the free-to-enter building decorated with descriptions of the stars or telescope. My opinion made my brain think otherwise of the atmosphere, however.

Something flowing out of my guts rang in my ear. It's like having a machine going in and out of your ear canal. This proved the nervous trembling beneath my stomach, churning the acid and souring my mouth.

As someone who's never walked in campus during night, I now stood in the building that I used to stared curiously and warily at. Within the darkness lights diffused out of the rooms.

My sight sharpened with the excitement. The dark means nothing to me! My prefrontal cortex coiled, so much that it hurt my brain; my throat managed to hold my impulse of moaning and collapsing back. If this goes on, I'll metamorphose into an insect from the anxiousness.

I must complete the mission and escape before such things happen… What's the mission? Was there one?

Hiyah! I stepped forward. The sound of a foot hitting the hard floor dispersed at 340 meters per second.

I froze, like I was some kind of ballet dancer standing on her toes, and turned to look at the boy. He had a 'hm?' face. It would appear my ear drums had become so sensitised that it's a little feralised. Disregard that I wanna go T#rzan in the concrete jungle.

Then I slowly rest my sole down; only after my heel touched ground did I exhale in relief.

“Mm, it's probably okay if we just walk quietly.”

“Whoa… It's like that's the only thing we do when we run into trouble.”

“Guess I'm done with what I came for. I'm leavin'.”

“You're not a runaway Onee-san any more: you're now a night stroller.”

Man, I forgot. I'm not in a position to go anywhere.

I'll just have to move on aimlessly.

“You know, I find it a little harder to think of you as my older.”

“'S that out of love?”

“Nope, just worried that someone is lying about her age.”

That's troubling. But I'm pretending we're the same age anyway, so I didn't care.

I don't mind being a little reckless as thanks for his willingness to be involved with me.

Hands on the wall with thought of leaving my footsteps behind, I secretly proceeded. I thought maybe that sneaking around would be easier, but I noticed something as I felt a cramp building up in my foot: I had shoes on. I turned, and saw the boy was the same and even left foot prints.

I frantically take the shoes off and put them in my bag. 'You too,' I lipped. The boy noticed and casually kicked his shoes off. Bare feet.

“Cold?”

“I levitate about 3 millimetres from the ground anyway, so I don't know.”

“That's not an alien — that's a futurstic robot.”

We chatted while going forward.

Dun dun~ Dun dun~ Dundundundun~ dundundundundun~

The music leaked out in my head. Sneaking about in a research building in the night — just hearing those words would put anyone in suspense.

But faint sounds of footsteps came from behind, so I'm a little scared. It's not the levitating kind either.

We passed and held off on the stairs and continued deeper into the hallway. I looked back in front of the room with lights seeping through the frosted glass.

“Heads up, someone's there.”

“Why have you occasionally used manly words since earlier?'

“If we get found… Mm… Are we gonna get mad at?”

“No, we'd get tortured. Shocked for sure.”

“Shoot… I'd get an afro. Will the helmet help?”

“No, but button mashing may help. Who knows.”

“”Hmm.””

Troubled teens X 2. After imagining the electrocution, we bent our waist down.

We kept a posture like a baseball player about to go for a slide to carefully erase our footsteps while passing by. I heard slippers or something inside, how boring. Felt pretty realistic though. We could only keep our gait strictly at a one-two order. A slow-mo recap of the end of a one-hundred meter dash would probably look like me now.

Meanwhile the boy nonchalantly passed me with calm steps and overcame this challenge of a door. He placed a hand onto the wall, watching while waiting.

I was going to yell at him for being so cocky, but I was in front of door so I had to quietly go through the rebar in my mind. Keep still.. Keep still… Keep still… I'd like to erase the periods, but reality is a cruel mistress.

After spending five hundred percent more time than the boy, I rested from just a little away from the door. By slapping the trembling knees I attempted to train them.

“No tricks allowed.”

“You're the one who acted alone.”

“No talking back either.”

As a person about to enter second year, I am able to educate my juniors. That's my plan on not being looked down by the young'uns. During middle school… Now's the time to turn failure into drive.

The boy moved behind and let me lead; it seems that the lecture worked. If only my juniors are obedient like he.

We progressed slowly, with a half-crouching pose that seemed to sooth the nerve.

As we closed onto the wall at the end.

A sound came from the door we were just at; I spun my head around. The boy also leaned back to stare at the door. Time slowly drifted, but to no one's assurance.

The door opened; when I saw the handholding the knob appeared, I let my knees touch the ground. I thought if we were to run the footsteps would expose us, so I didn't move.

On the side of the hallway I silently curled up. Just in case I could run, I pushed my toes against the floor to ease the weight off the legs.

Slightly afloat the legs, and become a chair, a stick… There's a lot of thing I could be, but I mostly want to be a rock.

Almost like an old man hiding in a Tanuki costume — a round and pink creature. I want to mould into a stone to hide my already thin presence.

Movement grew everywhere; from the epicentre of the heart, places like beneath the chin, neck, side of the stomach started beating like a school child banging mindlessly on a castanet. I wanna move.

Pitter, patter… The sound of slipper dragging on the floor joined us in the hall.

The forehead plastered onto the floor could almost feel the footstep distancing from us. I don't blame my shoulders slacking, but I kept the same pose.

“I think we're good.” I raised my hat and sat down after the boy shook my shoulders.

“Phew~ My life's just got shorter.”

“Same. Thankfully they weren't coming this way.”

“Actually, since we didn't get caught, our lives actually grew.”

“That's optimistic. So why did you runaway?”

Leave me alone. Even without facing backward, sad things were still coming from the front.

I stood up and dusted my butt, all while letting the cramp building in my legs out.

That person may have been going to the second floor, as the echoes of staircase resonated in the long hall. Now our steps could be disguised, going forward would be easier. Yet since we knew someone is with us, the tension grew.

“Foot...step… With the sound of hard floor, and the unreliable light of the hand torch...”

“Dust floating about, and the pungent smell grew stronger. The floor gathered with ashes left footprints other than our own.”

“The report of alien lifeforms left by the vanished researchers had its date stopped from weeks ago...”

“Well, not everyone alien look like freaks.”

He looked intrigued too, and you can tell from just his mien; but his changed the attitude just to disagree with me.

The corner was ahead. I moved slowly with wall to my back. Something kept bumping onto me so it hurt, but we arrived.

I leaned to see the deep end. Whoa ho…

“I've spotted the stairs to the hidden facility. We did it, Jeff.”

“Really? Give me the details, Paula.”

We arbitrarily gave each others spy names. Now we're on the same page.

Mm? Oh yeah, we'd never introduced ourselves, never mind the names.

But we've been doing things, and even came here together. It's pretty amazing from a bystander point of view. In a way it's a space-class interaction — something strange that shouldn't exist in my daily life.

“Mm? I see something below that has the name. I can't see from the lack of vitamin A though.”

“What I could see that the cowardly Onee-san couldn't seems to be the storage for materials.”

Mm… Material of the aliens? There might even be UFO artefact or element XYZ in there gathering dust.

That or something that cannot be publicised because it's an alien production plant. In order to improve the numbers that the natural breed lack, they want to appeal to the public with cheap, tube-grown type… This isn't about fishes, by the way. Oh yeah, natural beef is hard to find too, but since I don't like it I don't care.

“Alright, let's check it out.”

“Finally, to save my imprisoned brethren.”

“Mm…?” Was that the setting?

Walking along the wall I moved closer to the stair, still confused. I began sneaking down the stairs.

After about three steps down, the distant footstep disappeared. From the dispersal of the sound, the uneasiness faded; I moved my tongue.

“Mr. Alien.”

“What's wrong, Earthling Onee-san?”

“Are ya a tea-buddy with the alien that's supposed ta be in this underground facility?”

“He usually makes Nikujaga and shares with me.”

“For real? I didn't think potatoes are the hots in space. Potatoes are pretty cool then.”

“So...”

“Mm?”

“Do you believe in the existence of aliens?”

He asked me something that's didn't bother me too much, and quite earnestly.

I paused in the middle of the staircase while staring at the boy. On his strange expression were eyes that seemed to store energy drinks, bobbing back and forth and looking mighty drinkable.

“Mm… Well, I do… But I don't think they're here.”

I ended up denying the boy's insistence that he's an alien. It didn't work.

“Correct, I am actually a real alien.”

“…...” What was I to do to such a serious face.

“A lot of aliens came here and never returned. I've came to investigate.”

“Uh, that's what we're rolling with?”

He smiled emptily to my question. It should have felt weak, but from the darkness and his own handsomeness, it looked pretty cool.

“I also happened to have been given whatever they failed to accomplish. It's pretty cliché, but we were supposed to investigate how Earthlings live. Top brass wanted us to figure out if you were good or bad.

Ahahah… I laughed lightly. Calm thyself. Be at least a little scared.

The old lady used to have us come up closely to her and tell us about this kind of things. I cringed as the wind of common sense blew onto my skin.

My old friend always end up ignoring others when she couldn't win a debate. Was that why she ended up wrapping herself in a futon? It looks like a giant asparagus roll-up.

I'm drooling…

“If humans kept capturing aliens to conduct experiments, then we probably can't be friends.”

“Oh? So that's why you came here. Great work...”

“It's okay.” He paid no mind to it. Tough guy, this one.

“So were you lying about looking for a way to go home here?”

“No. I really don't know how. For some reason I can't.”

He shrugged. Um, can I really handle this guy? It's gonna take a bit to crack this one.

“So what happens when ya decide we're all bad? Make a meteor hit us?”

I immediately held my helmet. I wasn't concerned with me being the only survivor: There should be other good kids who ride their bikes correctly.

And I will lead those children to rebuild Japan. I plan on becoming the worker of the new world.

“Even if they're not friendly, we don't plan on harming them. You'll probably end up killing yourselves if we leave you be anyway. We think if there's a possibility, we'd take the chance to be friends though.”

“Oh~ That's kinda willy nilly.”

Although the gaze from above bothered me, I've figured something out.

Mm… I see where he's coming from.

“Mm, I get it. I know your name now.”

“What?”

“You're Echoes, right? Mm!”

Heheh, that brings me back. When I was still in grade school, we loved that stuff. During Autumn, we have reading time before the morning classes, and that was my favourite books at the time.

“Echoes? What do you mean?” He replied with a stiff smile.

“Mm? Is that not from your time? I was for sure that that was where ya got your inspiration...”

“Inspiration… Ahaha… You don't believe me.”

The sad grin appeared disappointed. It's not real, but I wonder how much of that was the truth.

“Don't be so sad. So do ya like Earth?”

“Um~ I like you, Onee-san, so I guess I like it.”

“Oh? Like Japanophiles?”

“I guess.”

His expression recovered along with a kind smile.

Hehe! I've captivated a cutie who I don't like. It's a strange happiness that is nonetheless better than none.

After the stairs was a room even more uncanny than the strange facility.

I'd finally arrived within five meter radius of an alien. If I told those five people about this, 'oh~ We did play that kinda game before. You're still doing that, Ryuushi?”

I'm not Ryuushi.

“Mm...” I curled my knees and observed the object hiding in the dark.

A light oozed from between the door; it was so weak that it could hardly be seen unless from close by.

“They should have all left by now.”

“Wanna take a peek inside?”

“Hm? That's a great but dangerous idea.”

“Uwoh!!” The edge of the door and wall flattened my face. My face was remodelled into a pout, but now's not the time for shipping. This meant the door opened from the inside.

“Gahhhhh!”

The staff in there freaked out. Well, we did sneak in here knowing that people are in here, but they would think we're some ghosts.

I didn't realize that until I pulled my face out and started running. But it wasn't the time to calmly assess the situation.

I hit beneath my shin on the top of the stairs, flailing and almost tripped.

Because of that the shoes in my bag fell down the stairs.

“Ah! Shoes! Pain! But my shoes… Ugh… Gosh! Seriously!”

I stopped myself there, and ran back upstairs after giving up.

“W-w-what do we do! Where do we go! Are we running?! We're running, right?!”

I spoke at twice the usual speed and didn't even stop when I bit my tongue. Some said words are weightless, but I definitely felt it on my tongue. It tastes of metal, and bitterness.

“No, I'm going to the second floor too!”

“Wha dya say?!” A lot was mixed up in this moment of crisis.

In any case we ran to the stairwell we were just at. What if an alarm went off? The lungs weren't working amidst the strange happening.

The guy really wanted to go upstairs, so he turned left midway. I hurriedly grabbed his arm. It's a twig. Of course it'd be a twig on a handsome guy! Err, or is it because he's skinny he's good looking? Huh? I donno!

“We've been walking straight, so why are ya lost?! We're only 2D here!”

“Unlike you, I still have something I have to do.”

“Get lost, alien!” I chopped his forehead. It landed beautifully on his hairline.

The boy showed a pained face with a grin joyfully. At this kind of time!

“You still don't buy my story: you're the perfect example of a xenophobic Japanese. This is going to be the last, so I might as well show you.”

“Shut it and run!”

“Do you really want to run, Onee-san? After all that work?”

“Huh?” His counter questioning shocked me.

Was he making me run up here with the possibility of dying looking for aliens?

If I believed in that, I would have listened to everything you had to say.

Um… So? I didn't find the answer behind me even after broadening my spectrum.

The six year old me who had yet grown to hate my straight hair kicked me above the waist.

She's trying so hard with her tiny legs to force me to see this alien. I experienced being the parents who were forced to an amusement park by their children. What do I do?

How did dad handle a child as capricious as me?

Mm…

There's an inverted age limit here.

I have a lot of things I want to do now.

The dreams that I had when I was young contained little.

My first love was also not with me any more.

They all disappeared once I realized.

Even the last straw had withered, with nothing left to show.

I have to go back: I can't stay at a place with nothing.

But you can stay.

I looked down and felt my bangs, letting myself grow up.

I let go of the boy's hand and waved mine next to my face.

“Sorry. I want to go.”

I have to run away from the researchers in scrubs, and the young me. I want to run to a place with something.

“Hm… That so.”

He looked down sentimentally. But I was already ready to run because of the circumstance.

I'd already begun bidding him farewell from up close.

“Thank you for coming along with me! Thank you for sending me here! I'll tell my boss about this, Onee-san, and I will arrange some help to your friends in the future! See you!”

As if those were the last words, he showed that middle schooler's smile that fits his face so well. While it banished the unique mysteriousness, something else replaced and highlighted his charm.

“Got it! Bye bye!”

I sent off the boy, who was hopping at two stairs a step, with a voice loud enough to be heard from the deepest depth of the hall with an exaggerated gesture.

Until his silhouette disappeared from the corner of the stair case, I kept an eye on his intrepid advance. New footsteps echoed from further in in the hallway, so it was my time to leave.

Ok. How am I suppose to find excess energy from outside my stomach?

A power came from my feet and kicked me off the floor.

'I let go of the boy's hand and waved mine next to my face.'

I left the boy and the six year old me back there.

The sixteen year old me ran to the curious outside world.

“Phew… Phew… Phew...”

When I'm nervous, I get this fatigue that's unrelated with my usual health.

My heart is tired. The wound from yesterday has yet heal.

I came to the field outside, heaving and out of breath, and I wanted to lie down to let the fatigue in my mind fill with blood. Phew… Phew… I heard only my breathes.

Head lowered with arms on my knees, I dragged my feet to turn toward the research building. No one's following me or after me. Even though I do have a partner.

“Phew… Phew… Phew...”

I chewed on my breath trying to stop the heaving. Air seeped from between my teeth, kind of disgusting. If someone saw me they'd think I'm here to dig to find subterraneans.

“Ahem!” I gave up on that to indulge in breathing.

Once my panting settled, I looked to the light coming from the windows.

“Mm… He's okay, right?”

We didn't infiltrate a military base, so it shouldn't be too bad, but that mysteriousness that I felt when I was young still incited my anxiousness. Ugh, stomach hurts.

Ah, I never asked his name. Mm? What a rude way of interacting.

Though hard to let go (m-my curled hair, that is), I returned to my bike traversing on the rigid soil. “Oh! It's cold.” Was it angry? The seat was freezing; this harmed my self esteem as a bench player in the club. Mm?

“Eh?”

I yelped strangely with widened eyes. Mm, It'd be embarrassing to imagine the actual image.

The shoes I lost sat unassumingly in the basket.

“No way!” I looked closer. The subtle wear on the tip, the size, the colour and lack of sheen… They're my shoes, no doubt about it. Did they run off from their master and came back?

“No… way...” Could it be that the alien's elementary technology is teleportation…? “I don't think so either...”

My lower half froze from the phenomenon, but I still rigidly picked up the shoes.

Mm… There's only one other person who would know these are mine…

With that conclusion I naturally scanned around. There was nothing. No one was here to harvest the skinny carrots, or a person with sharp eyes floating in the air with white tights and a mysterious aura. Did the boy already leave? He was the one who brought them back. It's the only possibility.

But how? He went upstairs while I ran out. Was he operating at a speed that beat even mine? Maybe he's actually a Ninja (the American kind).

“Or maybe...” He threw the shoes down when he's going home on an UFO?

I looked for a note in the shoes, but they only end up becoming my gloves. I smacked the shoes together before taking my hands out. I realised I still had mud on my feet, so I just put them on.

“Haha… Haha… Haha…”

I inadvertently laughed at myself. It's so funny I hugged my belly.

The aliens weren't captured here. It has to be a lie.

He's just wondering, so he came here with the Earth representative, me, and found nothing.

The loss of drive and the misunderstanding drove me beet red.

So that's why the boy returned what I lost to me.

He wanted to use that as a cover for his slip-up, so he wouldn't badmouth us when he's reporting.

I must have saved Earth itself.

“Oh? So I'mma hero. I wonder if a questionnaire will ask this?”

Of course, I won't question anything even if he wasn't levitating from three millemetres above ground.

Even if he just explained to the staffs, and then ran off as fast as he could, passed me and tossed my shoes in there, and then ran off almost like a human.

It doesn't matter if he walked on land, or returned to space from the endless sky.

As long as we appreciate the destination, there's a home we can go back to.

“I hope other aliens are just like ya.”

Being in contact with other people gave me a proper sense of pain and passion.

Mm~ That's the best kind of things.

I will for sure fall in love with someone else in second year.

And I will make the person I liked yesterday a scar in my memory.

Ryuuko's night, the spring break of UMA, has just begun! So I must hurry back home.

My runaway trip ended in two days.

I straddled onto the bicycle's seat and adjusted my helmet.

And began peddling slowly.

The night on the brink of winter's end chilled the air that blew on my face.

But I clearly saw the road.

I stepped hard and accelerated. Even if it's the usual speed, I will keep the wheels turning to orchestrate that sound.

I tried to let this possibly invisible alien catch up.

The messy hair and wind cutting by became my speedometer.

To leave the self-deprecation that chased me behind, I sought to have my speed higher than my temperature.

Translator's Notes and References

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