Is that... Nishimiya Yuzuru?
Seeing the girl running out of the apartment from a distance, Sato couldn't help feeling puzzled.
Yuzuru had her head lowered as she rushed out of the building. Even from a brief glance, he could see her tightly bitten lip and her reddened eyes.
She clearly hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings. She was running straight toward him.
As she drew closer, Yuzuru also noticed him. She immediately lowered her head again and silently tried to run past him.
Sato raised an eyebrow. As she passed by, he stepped in front of her and blocked her way.
"Move."
Yuzuru kept her head lowered, making it impossible to see her expression. Night had already fallen, and the darkness around them deepened.
Her low voice carried a trace of coldness.
Sato looked at her without saying anything.
Then he suddenly glanced up toward the apartment building.
On the second-floor corridor, Nishimiya Shouko was anxiously looking down at them. The moment she saw that he had stopped Yuzuru, she visibly relaxed.
Sato nodded to reassure her before looking back at the short-haired girl standing before him with her head lowered.
Yuzuru remained silent, her face hidden beneath her black hair.
"You argued with your mother again?"
"None of your business!"
she snapped coldly, her attitude openly hostile.
She looked up and shot him an icy glance before trying to push past him.
However, Sato's arm remained firmly stretched out in front of her.
Yuzuru grabbed his arm and tried to shove it aside, only to realize that she couldn't move it even a little.
She looked at him in surprise.
Why is this guy so strong?
Smiling faintly, Sato asked,
"It's already this late. Where are you planning to go?"
"Move."
"Yuzuru!"
Just then, Shouko appeared at the apartment entrance and called out anxiously when she saw Yuzuru being stopped by Sato.
The moment Yuzuru saw Shouko, panic flashed across her face. She glared at Sato and pressed her lips together before trying to go around him.
But Sato was faster.
He wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Huh?!"
Yuzuru had only just looked down in shock at the hand around her waist when she suddenly felt an overwhelming force lift her off the ground.
In one smooth motion, Sato tucked her sideways under his arm.
The stars were faint overhead, and only the distant streetlights cast patches of light onto the pavement.
The street was quiet.
Sato carried a shopping bag full of snacks in one hand while effortlessly holding the girl tucked under his other arm by the waist.
Even Shouko, who had been walking over, stared blankly at the scene.
A moment later, Yuzuru finally realized what had happened.
As soon as she became aware of the incredibly embarrassing position she was in, she struggled with all her strength.
"Wh... what are you doing?! Put me down!"
Damn it!
This jerk was actually carrying her like this!
Right now, she looked just like a bag of groceries tucked under the arm of a middle-aged woman after a shopping spree!
Rage burned in Yuzuru's eyes.
Sato glanced at her before carrying her over to Shouko.
"So, what happened this time?"
In the night, a cherry blossom branch stretched out over the wall.
Shouko stood at the entrance of Aoyama Apartments wearing a white set of loungewear. Her pink hair draped over one shoulder onto her chest, and a single cherry blossom petal floated down onto her shoulder.
Shouko glanced at the still-struggling Yuzuru, bit her lip, then slowly explained while looking at Sato with her bright eyes.
"Yuzuru skipped school again. When Mom found out, they got into an argument."
"You skipped school again?"
Sato looked down at Yuzuru.
Grinding her teeth, Yuzuru glared at him defiantly.
"What's it got to do with you? Put me down!"
"What if I don't?"
Sato asked with amusement.
Yuzuru glared at him fiercely and replied coldly,
"If you don't, I'll scream and have people arrest you for being a pervert!"
"That's quite the threat."
Sato smiled as though he didn't care in the slightest.
Copying her fierce expression, he threatened her in return.
"If you dare scream, I'll cover your mouth and carry you straight back to your mother."
"You...!"
Yuzuru was so angry she couldn't even find the words.
From her eyes alone, Sato could see her stubbornness and wild spirit. She looked as though she wanted nothing more than to drink his blood and eat his flesh.
What a ferocious little thing.
Suppressing a smile, Sato turned to Shouko.
"How about coming over to my place for a while?"
Shouko hesitated before finally nodding.
As for Yuzuru, Sato didn't bother asking for her opinion.
...
After they sat down in the apartment, Sato set Yuzuru down on the sofa.
The middle school girl had glossy black short hair, and her blue-gray eyes were as bright as a cat's. Though she was petite and flat-chested, she had put up quite a fight while being carried over.
Now she sat on the sofa with a dark expression, glaring at Sato.
How should he put it?
To Sato, she was like an angry little toy poodle.
Tiny, but with an enormous temper.
He took a can of the drinks they had just bought from the shopping bag and firmly placed it into Yuzuru's hands.
She tried to resist, but Sato simply pried open her hand and forced the can into it.
Looking at her calmly, he said,
"It's already so late. Aren't you afraid of running into danger out there all by yourself?"
"What's it got to do with you?!"
Yuzuru immediately shot back with a gloomy expression.
"It may not have anything to do with me, but does it have nothing to do with Shouko either?"
Sato pointed at Shouko, who was looking at Yuzuru with obvious concern.
Yuzuru glanced at her worried sister.
The dark expression on her face immediately gave way to a look of dejection.
Seeing that, Sato couldn't help smiling.
As expected, although she was rebellious and difficult to deal with, she had an obvious weakness.
"I really can't be bothered to interfere in your affairs. But no matter what, you shouldn't make Shouko worry because of you. I doubt you're willing to go home tonight anyway, so stay here and sleep with Kanna."
"H... here?!"