As a member of the discipline committee, Reiko Kujo took her duties seriously. After escorting a dozen first-graders safely home, she grabbed Alex's hand and started toward her house.
"Onii-chan, have dinner with me tonight," she said, her lips pursed in a pitiful pout. "Ever since you moved out, I've been eating alone every night. It's so lonely."
"I…" Alex hesitated, guilt flickering across his face. "The izakaya's open tonight. I have to head back soon."
"…I was just kidding," Reiko said, forcing a smile. "Mom and Dad come home at night. I'm not that lonely."
Alex knew better. His aunt and uncle, both prosecutors at the Public Prosecutor's Office, were swamped with work. In his memory, they rarely made it home before ten. Reiko's brave front was clearly for his sake.
"Reiko, just hang in there for one more year," he said, gently ruffling her hair. "Next year, when you start junior high, you can move in with me."
"Really?" Her eyes widened, sparkling with disbelief. "You're not tricking me, are you, Onii-chan?"
"Of course not," Alex said with a grin. "My place is closer to your junior high anyway. It'll make your commute easier."
"Yes!" Reiko squealed, launching herself into his arms.
"You're getting too big for this," Alex teased, catching her and spinning her around before setting her down. "No shame at all."
"Hehe!" Beaming, she stuck out her hand. "It's a deal, Onii-chan. No take-backs. Pinky swear!"
Alex hooked his pinky with hers. "If I break my promise, I'll swallow a thousand—"
"No, that's too scary!" Reiko interrupted, clapping her hand over his mouth. She thought for a moment. "If you break it, Eri-neechan and Yukiko-neechan will never talk to you again!"
"Fine, whatever you say," Alex said, chuckling as he wiggled their linked pinkies.
The siblings continued toward the Kujo house, but Reiko's expression turned thoughtful. "Onii-chan, maybe you should break the promise."
Alex laughed, seeing right through her. He flicked her forehead lightly. "Nice try. Have I ever gone back on my word to you?"
By now, they'd reached the Kujo residence, a two-story house with a small garden. Alex had lived here after his parents' death, only moving out a week ago.
"Onii-chan, not coming in?" Reiko asked, unlocking the front door.
"Can't. The izakaya's waiting," Alex said, waving. "Stay safe on your own."
"Don't worry about me," Reiko said, flexing her fist. "You taught me how to fight. If a burglar shows up, I'll take him down!"
After a few more warnings, Alex turned to leave. Reiko lingered at the door, watching until his figure vanished, then stepped inside and locked it.
"Next year, I'll live with Onii-chan…" Humming happily, she skipped toward the stairs—only to freeze.
At the top stood a scruffy man, his clothes filthy, his face shadowed by stubble. He clapped his hands, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, my lucky day. The kid's right here."
He lunged down the stairs toward her.
Reiko snapped out of her shock and bolted for the door, screaming, "Onii-chan!"
Alex was too far to hear her cries, muffled by the house's walls. But as he walked, something nagged at him, and he stopped.
Something's off. I was right at the door, and lucky didn't come bounding out of the garden?
Lucky, their mixed-breed dog, had a keen nose. Whenever Alex came home from school in the past, the dog would race out to greet him from fifty meters away, waiting by the door. But just now? No bark, no sign of him.
Is he sick, or… did someone knock him out?
The thought sent a chill through him. He spun around and hurried back.
At the Kujo house, Alex avoided the front door. With no idea what was happening inside, barging in could alert an intruder. Instead, he circled to the back, scaled the low garden wall, and landed softly in the yard near lucky's doghouse.
Crouching, he checked on the dog. Lucky was out cold, a half-eaten meat bun in his mouth.
Stupid mutt, you're gonna get yourself poisoned one day, Alex thought, irritation masking his worry. He glanced at the house, his heart sinking. Someone's inside, and Reiko just went in…
No time to waste. He crept toward the house, peering through the first-floor sliding glass door. No one in sight. Using a card from his wallet, he quietly jimmied the lock and slipped inside.
As he entered, a man's voice echoed from upstairs.
"Hey, little girl, don't be scared. Come on out."
"I'm a friend of your parents. I'm just here to ask them for a favor."
Relief washed over Alex—the intruder hadn't found Reiko yet. He raced toward the stairs.
Upstairs, the scruffy man prowled the hallway, his face dark with frustration, clutching a schoolbag. He'd grabbed Reiko's bag downstairs, thinking he could use her as leverage against her prosecutor parents. But the girl had slipped out of it like a turtle shedding its shell and fled to the second floor.
He'd blocked the front door, trapping her upstairs.
"Little girl, I'm not a bad guy," he called, his voice syrupy. "I even know your parents' names. Your dad's Yoshiyuki Kujo, and your mom's Kinna Kujo…"
He checked each room methodically. At the end of the hall were two doors: Reiko's bedroom on the left, Alex's old room on the right. Though Alex had moved out, his room remained unchanged, neatly kept as if he'd never left.
Reiko was hiding in her bedroom closet, curled up with her knees to her chest. Despite her bold personality, she was still just a young girl, terrified by the intruder. Onii-chan… she prayed silently, hoping for rescue.
Then, a click—the sound of her bedroom door unlocking. Footsteps entered the room.
(Chapter End)
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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