So, I guess my hobbies are very strange.
I have been training daily for an unobtainable thing, and I don't even happen to fully want that "thing".
But, I do happen to have taken a liking to Fencing, as much as I would dislike to admit so.
As one of the most popular European arts, it's quite a privilege to have a space filled to the brim with such equipment. The only downside is that it is utterly used by an amateur, who only does so for fun.
—I stare at the pink box in my cold hands.
The icing smiles at me through the circular plastic film.
In a way, baking is a fighting art, right?
Although I'm not outright clashing blades with the oven, the act of making sure every detail is exact must be on par with the precision of a real battle.
Like a basic stance, one's mind must be open to failure in baking. It's a mindset that should be defaulted to every baker.
You will probably mess up, so keep that in your mind. Not in the back of your mind, but as a sheet drawn over your mind as a whole.
"—Ah, Kota's teachings are actually getting to me…"
I say it like it's a bad thing, but it's really not.
—I arrive at the center of Shukufuku, which is a circular, plaza-like place. There are three paths to go down:
The north path to the residential district.
The east path to the traditional district, where most of the rich families live.
And the south path, which I had just walked out of, where most of the buildings and department stores are.
"I really shouldn't have stayed so late…"
I scolded myself quietly.
Even if all the victims were women, it's really not a good idea to be out when a city-wide crime spree is happening.
It seems like most sane people agreed with my thought process, since all the lights are completely off.
It's pretty unsettling, having such a big place be completely silent…even the street lights are off, which is rare.
Usually they're on for twenty four hours, but if even those are off, the situation must be serious.
Locally known as the "Woman Killer", almost forty women have gone missing in the past month. Nobody has found any of the bodies, and nobody has a clue who the perpetrator is.
All that's known is that humans of the female sex are in constant danger at nighttime.
It's widely speculated that the kidnapper is a man, but there isn't any evidence to deduce that.
The only supporting detail is that all of the women were said to have been beautiful and have nicely proportioned bodies, so it only makes sense a man would go after such a type.
…To be honest, isn't it a bit dangerous for Taka to be out at a time like this…?
She is a woman, after all, and she is quite pretty.
With long black hair that frames her face and a slim body, it's quite a surprise she hasn't wound up with a partner yet.
"...Hm."
I make a weird sound.
She really might not be safe, so I should hurry home.
I run into the northern wing, and quickly jog down into Neighborhood B.
In about seven minutes, I've already arrived at my street.
I walk past the Makoto family's residence, where all the lights are off as well. Just like the city square, this place is eerily quiet.
…But, to be honest, was the Makoto residence always this big?
The house could be considered a mansion at this point.
With a grandiose garage and massive frontal estate, the building sticks out compared to the other houses.
It's possible that the family has been conducting some renovations for the place, since the house originally was made over eighty years ago.
"—Maybe it's just your brain fog acting up again, Aron."