I slumped at my study desk, gazing vacantly at the homework I hadn't even touched.. I had been holding the tip of my pencil for quite a while, yet my mind refused to focus.
The words Mr. Ant had spoken yesterday kept echoing in my head, squeezing my chest with an unexplainable weight I couldn't put into words.
Out of sheer frustration, I placed the pencil between my pouting lips and nose, balancing it there absentmindedly. It was only then that I realized—I hadn't even bothered to comb my hair after my bath. The still-damp strands clung messily against my cheeks.
"So… what should I do now?"I muttered. "Am I just supposed to live normally until this ring comes off on its own? Or… is there some duty tied to it that I have yet to face?"
The ant tribe… it feels like they're hiding some great secret about King Solomon's tale, I thought to myself.
I raised my right hand, letting it rest on the desk. My eyes locked on the faint shimmer of the ring, as if waiting for an answer that would never come.
"Tch, what's wrong, Midori? Why the gloomy face?"
Pirika's casual voice snapped me out of my daze. She was sprawled lazily on my bed, legs crossed in total indifference.
"Your mom's gonna be home soon, you know."
I turned to her, and the pencil I had been balancing on my lips slipped and fell onto the desk with a small tok.
"Hey, Pirika…" I said, my face clouded. "What should I do from now on?"
Pirika narrowed her eyes and let out a long sigh. "So that's what's making you sulk and mope around?"
"Those two people from earlier today… I'm sure they're from the organization that owns this ring. It feels like my life is being haunted!"
My voice cracked, and suddenly I tilted my head back, bursting into loud, exaggerated sobs—uwaaaaa!! Tears streamed down my face in an overly dramatic fashion as I bent and curled my body like a little kid denied their candy.
"What will become of me next?"
Pirika stared at me flatly, as if completely immune to my antics.
"That's exactly why I'm always by your side, isn't it?" she replied casually. "Come on, don't overthink it. Just live as usual. People will only assume your ring is nothing more than a simple accessory."
She even scratched her neck lazily, utterly unfazed by my thunderous wailing.
"But… what if they come to my house? My family doesn't know anything at all…" My voice trembled, my earlier over-the-top sobs turning into anxious whining.
Pirika sat up straight, her pupils gleaming with confidence.
"Huuuuh… if that time ever comes, then I'll be the one to take care of it."
With an air of fake coolness, she thrust a thumbs-up toward me. A faint smile curved on her lips, showing off a pair of tiny, glimmering fangs.
"Pirika… show-off," I muttered sulkily with a pout.
Ding-dong.
The sound of the doorbell rang, and I immediately jumped up with excitement.
"Its Okaa-san!" My smile blossomed in an instant, as if all my complaints had vanished into thin air.
I stood from my chair and dashed out of my room.
At the front entrance, the light of my world finally appeared.
"Tadaimaa~," came that gentle voice—the one I had longed to hear all this time.
"Okaeri, Okaa-san!" I hugged her tightly, my body trembling with emotion.
"Okaa-san… I've missed you so much!" My tears spilled over, streaming down my shoulders.
Mother smiled tenderly, gently stroking my head.
"Forgive me… for making you feel lonely."
Father followed in right after, tilting his head slightly in mild confusion.
"What's the matter, Midori? You're acting as if you haven't seen your mother in years."
I knew he was probably teasing me, but at that moment, all I wanted was to stay in my mother's embrace a little longer… and let out all the longing I had kept inside.
"Thank goodness, Midori…"
How wonderful it felt, to have everything return to the way it used to be.
***
"I guess that's how it is…"
At the crack of dawn, I was already forced out of bed—just to break up a fight between the neighbor's cats. As usual, they were quarreling over territory as if the whole world belonged to the two of them. Even when I tried to separate them, the result was always the same: they'd calm down for a moment, only to resume bickering in another corner.
Behind me, Pirika was rolling on the floor, laughing her head off, her face glowing as if she were watching the funniest comedy show in the world.
Haaah… what a pitiful life I have.
Still, I managed to get up on time. You could see the dark circles under my eyes as I stood in front of the mirror, brushing my teeth with half-shut eyes.
"Ohayou gozaimasu," I greeted as I came down to the dining room.
Father and Mother were already seated at the table. The three of us enjoyed a simple breakfast together. As for Pirika's presence in the house? Strangely enough, they didn't seem to mind at all. Sometimes, they even called her "cute"—though her face almost always looked sour, as if she were constantly upset.
Mother's gaze lingered on me with quiet concern.
"Midori, are you doing alright?"
I gave her a small smile, brushing her worries away.
"I'm fine, really."
"Ittekimasu!" I called out cheerfully as I rose from my seat.
"Itterasshai," Mother replied, her gentle voice carrying the warmth of a prayer.
Since that day, I always went to school on foot. My small steps along the sidewalk were accompanied by the drowsiness still clinging to me, with the occasional yawn slipping out no matter how hard I tried to hold it back.
Actually, Father really wanted to walk me to school. But Mother wouldn't allow it—perhaps there was still a lingering trauma she couldn't shake off.
That's fine… after all, the walk from home to school was only twenty minutes.
As usual, the moment I arrived at school, I was greeted warmly by my friends. They called out cheerfully, though some of them did glance at me with puzzled looks, probably because my face seemed a bit pale.
Especially Megumi—she looked at me with deep concern, almost like an older sister worrying about her little sibling.
"…You've been cold to me since earlier. Is this because of last night?"
Pirika's voice suddenly slipped into my thoughts.
I flinched, hastily replying, "No, it's not like that…"
"Eh? What do you mean?" Megumi, who was walking beside me, turned her head in confusion.
"Oh—ah… it's nothing! I just meant… I'm a little sleepy, that's all."
We walked into the classroom, and as usual, Pirika perched herself on the railing like some cat statue welcoming everyone's arrival.
In front of me, Inui Takumi froze in place. Was he staring at me—or at Pirika? Was he observing? This boy was different from the others; his intuition was surprisingly sharp.
"Ohayo, Hisaka!"
Always cheerful, always full of energy. I couldn't help but return his greeting.
"Ohayo," I replied with a small nod.
The bell rang, and class began.
Today's lesson was Social Studies. The classroom atmosphere was so calm—the only sound was the faint scratching of chalk dancing across the blackboard, echoing softly among the rows of desks.
The lesson went smoothly until the end of the period. No chaos, no disruptions.
Even though I could still hear faint whispers from the animals outside, none of them truly disturbed my school activities—for now.
Could it be… because of Pirika?
I recalled what she had told me.
She said this ring didn't automatically allow me to hear the voices of all living beings at once. I had to focus my mind on a single subject first—only then would the gate to that dual-dimensional world open.
And every animal—every small creature that lived on this earth—possessed its own dimension of language.
A cat would never understand the speech of a bird. An ant would never comprehend the chatter of a dog.
They could only connect with others of their own kind.
The book "Solomon Gate's"… I still hadn't managed to obtain it.
Just imagine… if every living being in this world could understand one another.
Perhaps there would be no more hunters and prey. Cats wouldn't hunt birds. Snakes wouldn't ambush mice. Everyone would talk, everyone would become friends…
Yet, hidden behind that beautiful vision was a bitter reality.
If such a thing were ever to happen… the world would collapse. Everything would perish.
Because the laws of nature had already written their own course.
The food chain was the axis that maintained balance. Without it… the rhythm of life would cease to flow.
I clenched my hand tightly, staring at the classroom window where the midday sunlight streamed in.
We humans… we're different. With reason and higher intellect, we can choose. But… are our choices always the right ones for this world?
Suddenly, a small sparrow fluttered down, landing gently on the edge of the window. The beat of its wings stirred a tiny breeze that set the curtains swaying softly.
The once-quiet classroom instantly erupted with excitement. All eyes turned toward the little bird. Some students gasped in awe, and a few even let out small cheers.
"Wah, it's so cute!"
"How did it get in here?"
They gazed at it with overflowing curiosity.
Unlike my classmates, who were all dazzled, my chest tightened with panic.
"Midori-midori, is there a Midori in this class?"
No way!
I froze on the spot, my heart pounding so loudly it felt like it was about to burst.
How does it know my name!?
The sparrow tilted its head downward, then shook it side to side as if searching for someone.
"Midori-midori, is there a Midori in this class?"
I quickly lowered my head onto my notebook, pretending to be busy scribbling something. My trembling hand gripped the pencil tightly.
This is bad… if I respond to its call, the others will think I'm a total weirdo!
"…Midori? Why do you look so pale?" Megumi whispered from beside me, her brows furrowed in concern.
"Eh? Ah… it's nothing! I just… didn't have time to eat breakfast this morning…" I stammered, forcing an awkward smile.
Meanwhile, the rest of the class was still absorbed in watching the bird by the window.
"Aww, it's so cute!"
"Tweet tweet~"
Their cheerful voices rang out, as if all they heard was the bird's ordinary chirping.
Just what's going on…? How does it know my name? Did something bad happen out there?
What should I do…? Help me, Pirika!
Tap.
The sparrow suddenly flew straight into the classroom and landed right on top of my desk.
I froze. My heart felt like it had stopped beating, my whole body numb—like a stick of chewing gum that had already lost its sweetness.
"At last, I've found you, Midori…" the sparrow said, right in front of me.
Ehhh!? Why did you come here of all places!? Now Inui Takumi will definitely get suspicious!!
I shot a nervous glance behind me.
"See! I knew it!!"
Takumi shouted gleefully, his face lighting up as if he had just won the lottery.
I lowered my gaze back to the bird.
Calm yourself, Hisaka Midori. Don't lose your composure…
Suddenly, a black blur darted past like a shadow. It leapt onto my desk and devoured the sparrow in one swift motion before dashing out through the classroom door.
"Pirika!!"
Megumi and I screamed in unison.
The whole class erupted in chaos, startled cries ringing out everywhere.
I immediately pushed back my chair, jumped to my feet, and sprinted after her. Megumi, looking panicked, quickly followed close behind.
The commotion filled the room with shouts and murmurs all blending together.
But as for this ring… only Pirika and I were allowed to know about it. If anyone else found out, my life would become far more troublesome.
Pirika bolted down the corridor at full speed.
Ahead of her, a teacher who had been on his way to my classroom gasped, quickly stepping aside as Pirika streaked past like a shadow.
His eyes then shifted to me, who was running right after her.
"Hisaka-kun, what on earth is going on?" he asked in bewilderment.
"My cat just ate a bird!" I shouted back without stopping.
"Class is still in session, you know!" the teacher called out half-annoyed, but I had already rushed past him.
A few steps later, he crossed paths with Megumi, who was also running, panting heavily.
"Megumi-chan?" he called.
"I—I'm sorry, sensei…" Megumi replied breathlessly.
"Hey! No running in the hallways!" his scolding voice echoed, but all that remained was the sight of Megumi's back as she disappeared down the corridor.
And just as the teacher was about to turn around, he was startled again—this time by Takumi, who came dashing after us.
"Hey!! Hold it right there! Takumi-kun, where do you think you're going!?" His voice carried clear irritation.
"I—I just need to go to the restroom for a moment!" Takumi blurted as he kept running.
"The restroom isn't even in that direction…!!"
"Sorry, senseii—!"
The teacher let out a heavy sigh, grumbling under his breath, "What on earth is with those kids…? Class is still going on, for crying out loud!"
I caught sight of Pirika leaping down the stairs toward the first floor.
"Pirika! Where are you taking that bird!?"
I shouted as I hurried down the steps after her, but Pirika didn't slow down in the slightest. Before long, her small body slipped right through the main lobby doors and vanished from sight.
"Pirika… just you wait. If you dare eat that bird, I'll never forgive you."
Once I reached the schoolyard outside, I paused for a moment. My breathing was ragged, chest heaving up and down, while my restless eyes swept the area in search.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps came to a halt right behind me.
"Midori-chan… where's Pirika?" Megumi's voice broke between gasps, her breathing ragged.
"Good grief… just what is going on here…?" she muttered in frustration.
I'm really sorry, everyone… for suddenly leaping away while carrying this little bird.
But I had no choice. If I stayed back there, Midori would only get into more trouble.
I don't know what this bird actually wants from her… but my duty is clear—protect Midori.
That's why I decided to bring it to the school playground.
"Hey, you ugly cat! Where are you taking me!? Let go of me!! Tweet—tweet!!"
"Shut it! I don't understand a word you're saying! Just keep quiet!!"
Maybe right now you're screaming for help. In that case, Midori will definitely chase after me.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to eat you…"
…Ah, that's right. You can't understand what I'm saying anyway.
I stopped in the middle of the playground.
Puehh!
I released the tiny bird from my mouth. Its body tumbled down onto the sand. Its wings were ruffled, dampened by my saliva, and its small frame lay trembling weakly. Its eyes fixed on me, heart pounding so hard I could almost feel its fear.
"What the heck is with this ugly cat…? Is he going to eat me or not!?"
Through its eyes, my form must look terrifying—grinning fangs, sharp eyes, my entire body radiating the presence of a predator.
Damn it… all I wanted was to ask that girl named Midori for help.
Pirika lowered her head, her hands supporting the tiny bird's frail body as it lay helpless.
"Hic… are these my final moments in this world…?" whimpered the little sparrow, like an actor putting on a tragic performance.
Tweet… tweet…
"Just in case you try to run away… you'll wait here until Midori arrives. Hang in there."
Pirika stared deeply at the small bird.
From within her mind, a mischievous thought slowly crept in, casting a shadow across her face as a sly grin spread across her lips.
"Now that I think about it… you're actually kind of cute, little one."
Her fingers began poking at the tiny body, nudging it gently to the left and right as if it were some toy.
"Hora-hora… cweet, cweet…"
"Stooop!! Heeelp meee!!"
Tears gushed out like an open faucet, soaking its feathers until it looked as if it had been drenched in rain.
"That's enough."
Someone appeared, halting abruptly behind Pirika—his movement as sudden as a race car slamming on the brakes.
"So it's you, Inui Takumi. Impressive… you managed to find this place even before Midori."
"As expected of the model student."
"Hey, Pirika! You didn't actually try to eat it, did you!?"
Without warning, my body was hoisted high into the air.
"Whaaaah!?" I cried out in shock.
He shook me violently, like a rag doll being rattled without mercy.
"Spit it out! Spit the bird out, now!!" he shouted in panic.
"Oi, brat! What the heck are you doing!?"
My vision spun like a broken top while strange sounds poured out of my mouth, rumbling like giant waves crashing endlessly against the rocks.
"Uweeehh—bubububuuu!!"
Not long after, Midori and Megumi appeared, their footsteps stopping right behind Takumi, who was still shaking me around like a lifeless doll.
"Takumi!!" Midori's voice rang out across the yard.
"Pirika-chan!"
Megumi rushed over and quickly snatched me away from Takumi's grasp.
"Takumi… what on earth are you doing to Pirika-chan?" she said with a scowl, her brows furrowed slightly.
"Yeah, beat him up, Sis Megumi! Accusing a cat for no reason— Hueeek [vomit]"
"Sorry… I really thought she swallowed that sparrow!" Takumi muttered, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, looking sheepish.
While Megumi was still fussing over Pirika, I slowly approached the little sparrow lying on the sand.
"Are you alright?" I asked, crouching down in front of it.
The tiny bird's teary eyes met mine, and then—
"It really is you! You really are Midori! I've been looking for youuuuuu~!!" it wailed dramatically, flapping its weak wings with all its might.
"Sorry… I couldn't answer you in front of everyone. And this here is my cat, Pirika. She only meant to save me, not to scare you," I said a little awkwardly.
My words just now only made its little heart tremble even more. Its tears burst out again, louder than before.
"Tweet-tweeet!"
"I'm sorry," its voice quivered between sobs. "I was just… so happy… when I heard the news from that crow. It said there's a human child named Midori… who can understand the language of animals and insects…"
Its crying slowly softened, though the hiccupping sobs still shook its tiny chest.
I let out a small sigh, then smiled gently to calm it down.
"Alright now, don't cry anymore. What's the reason you went through so much trouble to find me?"
Carefully, I lifted the sparrow and placed it in the palm of my hand. Its body was so small, its feathers messy but still adorably cute.
Megumi leaned closer while still holding Pirika in her arms, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Uwaaah, the bird is so cute! Midori, is it hurt?"
I shook my head lightly.
"Doesn't look like it…"
Takumi, who had been watching with a furrowed brow, finally spoke up.
"This is weird. Normally a sparrow would fly away the second a human comes close. Why is this one staying put like that? And it's not even injured, right?"
My heart skipped a beat. If Takumi kept being suspicious, he might find out that I could talk to animals…
I needed to come up with a believable excuse fast.
"Why is this brat tagging along too? Nosy little pest!" Pirika grumbled, her face suddenly twisting like a jagged blade stabbing at the atmosphere.
I glanced down at the tiny sparrow resting in my palm and spoke with firm conviction, as if the answer had just struck me.
"Maybe… this is a young sparrow that just learned how to fly. From what I read in a book, it's possible it got lost and now it's asking us for help."
Megumi nodded slowly, her expression serious though her eyes still sparkled.
"You're right. Maybe it was blown away from its cage by a strong gust of wind, then tried to save itself until it ended up in our classroom."
Pirika immediately puffed out her chest with pride, as if Megumi's statement was the greatest honor bestowed upon her.
"Little Megumi is so smart!" she declared with her nose in the air, her tail swaying behind her like a victorious banner.
"Oh, I seeee! In that case, let's help this sparrow!" Takumi shouted with burning enthusiasm.
I smiled and looked down at the tiny sparrow resting in my palm.
"In that case, little sparrow… show us where your home is," I said—too honestly, before I could stop myself.
In an instant, Takumi's fiery energy fizzled out. He froze on the spot, then looked at me with the strangest expression—his eyes narrowed, like an ant that had just run out of strength.
"E-eh… like it can even understand…" he muttered flatly, as if all his excitement had just been sucked right out of him.
"Every living being has its own kind of reason," I replied calmly. "Just like cats, dogs, even crows. As long as our hearts are sincere, our voices will surely reach them."
"Amazing… Hisaka, you really know so much," Takumi said, astonished.
"No, it's just something I read in a book about insects," I answered modestly.
I could only hope my words were convincing enough.
"…Alright then. I'll try once more."
I turned my gaze to the little sparrow and said,
"Hey, sparrow. If you really want our help, just show us where you belong."
It was the first time I had ever spoken directly to an animal in front of other people,
and it made me feel just a little nervous.
"I understand, Midori-chan." Tweet-tweet!
With a single flap, the tiny wings quivered gently. The little bird stood tall on the sand, its small head darting around, looking at each of us with curious eyes.
The sparrow took off from my palm, its delicate wings carrying it into the air. The three of us below couldn't help but stare in awe.
"Uwah, it really worked!" Takumi gasped.
"You're amazing, Midori-chan!" Megumi cheered.
"Alright, enough gawking—hurry up and chase it!" Pirika snapped, breaking the moment. Well… even though I was the only one who could actually understand her.
"Come on, let's follow it!" I shouted as I started running.
Takumi and Megumi dashed after me, Pirika still snug in Megumi's arms.
The sparrow flew low, guiding us as we rushed out through the school gate. From inside the classroom window, our teacher glanced out mid-lesson, a puzzled look on his face.
"Where on earth are they going at this time of class…?" he muttered.
We kept running along the sidewalk, chasing after the sparrow that glided just ahead. I led the way, with Megumi slightly behind to my right, and Takumi running beside her.
"Do you think it's still far? We're skipping class, you know," Megumi said with a trace of worry.
"Don't worry. I'll explain everything to sensei later," Takumi replied with confidence.
"Still, it's pretty amazing that little bird could find you, Midori," Pirika chimed in from Megumi's embrace.
"…I don't know either," I answered briefly.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Megumi asked quickly.
"No, it's nothing," I replied quickly.
"Oi, look! The bird just turned left!" Takumi shouted, pointing ahead.
We finally came to a narrow road. Below it ran a small river, cutting deep between steep embankments.
And then, we heard it—
"Mother, please help us…!"
"Mom, where are you… help…!"
"Mother… Father… h-hueee…"
Three baby sparrows cried out in agony. Their voices were eerily similar to the wails of human infants. My chest tightened instantly, the feeling crawling upward until it pressed hard against my throat. I frantically searched for the source of those cries.
The sparrow that had guided us earlier swooped down, landing on a nest bobbing dangerously atop the rushing current. Thankfully, the nest had caught against the corner of the bridge's concrete base.
"Midori-chan! We're here!" the mother sparrow cried out desperately.
Tweet-tweet!
"There! Over there!" Takumi yelled, pointing furiously.
Pirika wriggled in Megumi's arms, asking to be put down. Once on her feet, she strode toward the cliff's edge, her face deadly serious as she peered down.
"Midori, this slope is far too steep. It's dangerous for kids like you."
"What do we do, Midori-chan? It's really dangerous. Let's just go back and ask sensei for help," Megumi said, panicked.
"We can't! If we waste time, the nest might get swept away even farther!"
My eyes stung, tears threatening to spill. I glanced around desperately, hoping to spot an adult nearby. But the area was deserted. Only the roar of passing cars on the main road above us filled the air—none of them stopping.
I turned to the side. Takumi stood frozen, his body trembling ever so slightly. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable. Of course… the cliff was far too steep. Anyone would know the risk of falling here wasn't something to take lightly.
I looked back down. The baby sparrows chirped with joy at the sight of their mother, though the poor bird could only cry helplessly from the edge of the nest. My chest tightened further. Somehow, the image overlapped in my mind—as if I were seeing my own mother desperately trying to save me, yet unable to reach.
I drew in a deep breath, then straightened my back with a reckless resolve.
"I-I'll… I'll go down," I said, my voice trembling.
"No, Midori-chan! That's way too dangerous!" Megumi screamed in panic.
"Hey, Takumi! You're the boy here! You should be the one going down, not Midori! What's wrong with you, just standing there?! Are you even a guy or not?!" Megumi snapped furiously.
Takumi said nothing. His eyes narrowed as if struggling to hold something back. Was it fear? Or… an old wound suddenly clawing its way back to the surface?
"I… I actually want to help," Pirika murmured softly, "but the nest is so big, and it's right in the middle of the current. It would really be best if—"
I never heard the rest of her words. My feet had already carried me toward the edge of the cliff. But as I moved too quickly, my foot caught on a rock.
"Ah—!"
My body crashed against the rough ground. A sharp pain seared through my knee. Fresh blood trickled down, staining my pale skin. I curled up, biting down against the pain, but at last the tears I had been holding back spilled out in a flood.
"Midori!!" Megumi burst into tears as well, her voice breaking.
"Hisaka!!" Takumi shouted, his face pale and stricken. Anxiety and guilt were written all over his expression.
"This is all your fault, Takumi!!" Megumi turned on him, her voice cutting like a whip.
Takumi ground his teeth, his clenched fists trembling. He shut his eyes for a brief moment, as if swallowing down something heavy.
Then—
"Oi, kid!!" Pirika shouted loudly.
"Meoooww~!"
Takumi's eyes flew open. In the next instant, he leapt down. His body shot downward, sliding along the steep cliff until he landed near the rushing stream below.
Once at the bottom, Inui Takumi rubbed the back of his pants. His shirt was smeared with dirt, and there were stains of soil clinging to him. He pushed himself up to his feet.
"I'm fine. I'm totally fine," he said with a bright smile. But the dried traces of tears he had wiped away betrayed him.
"You almost gave me a heart attack…" Pirika exhaled deeply.
Megumi and I were still sitting frozen in place, overwhelmed, wiping away tears with shaky hands.
Forgive me, Hisaka… because of my hesitation, you got hurt.
I, Inui Takumi, walked carefully along the cliff's edge below, drawing closer to the sparrows' nest. The current raged before me, cold and merciless, yet my eyes were fixed only on the nest still caught beneath the bridge.
I crawled slowly, pressing against the slick rock wall. As I neared the small bridge, I crouched down and stretched out my right hand as far as it would go. My left hand gripped tightly onto a rusty iron pipe jutting out beneath the bridge—my only lifeline to keep from being swept away.
"Tweet! Tweet!"
The mother sparrow chirped anxiously, hopping along the edge of her nest as though pleading with me.
"Yeah, it's okay… I'll save you all," I whispered, my chest tight with fear.
The river's current split and swirled, the fragile cage of leaves swaying, on the verge of being swept away. I stretched my hand further, my fingers trembling under the tension.
"Come on… just a little more…"
A splash struck my face. It was only a handspan away now. I steadied my breath, then reached out with all my strength.
Grab!
"Got it!!" I cried, clutching the cage in my wet palm.
My pants were already drenched by the stream, my breathing ragged.
"I'm sorry…" I whispered.
"Tweet-tweet!"
"There's no need to thank me. It's Hisaka who made sure you were saved," I said, my voice filled with emotion.
"Tweet-tweet-tweet!" The mother sparrow hopped along the edge of her nest again, almost as if rejoicing.
I couldn't help but smile. "Ahahaha… I think I'm starting to understand Hisaka's feelings," I murmured, brushing away the tears that gathered at the corners of my eyes.
"Alright then, let's head back up."
I glanced up at the steep cliff. Climbing straight up seemed impossible. "Ah, right. I'll have to go zigzag," I thought, steeling myself as I began to step onto the slick rocks.
"You're pretty impressive, kid," Pirika muttered, his tone half admiring.
Megumi and I stood at once, leaning forward to peer down below.
"Takumi, be careful! Just take it slow!" I shouted in encouragement.
"Takumiii-kun, you can do it!!" Megumi called out, cupping her hands around her mouth.
Carefully edging along the cliffside, Takumi struggled to steady his steps. His legs trembled, and his wet shoes made every foothold slippery. But at last, he was nearly at the top.
"Fuuh… hah-haaah… that was terrifying. But I made it, ahaha!" he shouted proudly, though his breath was ragged.
"Hurry up already! Don't just stand there!" Megumi snapped, hands planted firmly on her hips.
"Wait, let me rest a sec…" Takumi answered wearily.
I took a step closer and reached out my hand. "Takumi…"
He met my gaze, his face brimming with determination. Slowly, he lifted his hand to take mine.
"Hisaka… forgive me—"
Scrrch!
Takumi's soaked soles lost their grip. Pebbles came loose, scattering down the cliffside. His body slipped, his hand missing mine completely.
"Takumiii!!" I cried in panic.
"Hisakaaa!!"
Pirika dashed forward, leaping toward Takumi. "Guess it's my turn now!" he shouted confidently.
Grab!
A strong hand seized Takumi's shirt just before he fell. It wasn't Pirika. It wasn't Megumi. It was unmistakably the hand of an adult.
"Senseiii!!" we all shouted in shock.
"Yeeowch! Hey!! Who's the idiot yanking on my tail?!" Pirika shrieked, his tail thrashing wildly.
"Phew, that was close. Pirika-chan nearly went tumbling into the river too!" Megumi exhaled in relief, pressing a hand to her chest.
"Who in their right mind would want to dive into the river?!" Pirika grumbled, his face twisted in a mix of embarrassment and irritation.
"You three… honestly. I thought it was something serious, but it turns out you skipped class just to save a baby bird." Sensei's voice carried a note of annoyance, though it wasn't overly harsh.
The three of us lowered our heads, none daring to talk back.
But then Sensei's gaze shifted sharply when he noticed my scraped knee.
"Hisaka-kun, your knee… how did it get hurt like that?" Worry was clear in his tone.
Takumi swallowed hard, then stepped forward, his face set with determination.
"Sensei, this is all my fault. I was the one who brought them here. Hisaka got hurt because of me."
"I'll take full responsibility." He bowed deeply.
Takumi's voice rang out strong—shaking, yet filled with courage. It might have been the very first time I saw his true self.
"Takumi…" I could only stare at him in silence.
Megumi covered her mouth in disbelief, but the tears streaming down her cheeks betrayed how deeply she was moved.
"So you really are a true man, huh, brat…!" Pirika covered his face as well, though tears burst forth like twin fountains.
"What matters now is getting Hisaka-kun treated right away! You can explain the whole story later," Sensei declared firmly.
And so, we returned to class. There, the class representative was already waiting, scolding us with a stern face and a long lecture. Afterward, we had no choice but to sit through the lessons we'd missed.
The warm glow of the late afternoon filtered through the leaves, wrapping around us like a gentle curtain of protection. The faint chirps of birds mingled with the evening breeze. The mother sparrow and her chick had been safely placed on a branch near the school—secure, far from danger.
When I glanced at the window, I caught sight of the sparrow, its wings swaying gently as though it whispered a silent gratitude. A small sense of relief welled up inside me. Perhaps… because of this incident, Takumi, Megumi, and I had grown just a little closer than before.
To be continued…