"It—"
Lele's voice cut off abruptly.
She whipped her head around, looking in every direction.
"...It's g-gone?!"
She hurried forward a few steps.
She didn't notice that a few of the children took a step back as she approached.
"...It's gone..."
After searching around, she realized the other really had disappeared...
Lele let out a huge sigh of relief.
It was so, so terrifying.
She had just locked eyes with that terrifying monster.
She felt as if she'd fallen into an icy pit.
The image of the monster eating someone yesterday surfaced in her mind.
Her whole body began to tremble.
Lele suddenly sat down on the ground.
She'd been too tense.
Once she confirmed the other had left, all the strength drained from her stiff body.
Her legs gave out.
Lele lowered her head and panted heavily.
After a long while, Lele pressed a hand firmly against her chest.
Her heart was still beating somewhat rapidly and erratically.
Hm?
Lele seemed to have only just realized something...
Why was it so quiet?
It was as if she were the only one there.
But that wasn't... the case.
Lele looked up.
The next second, she froze.
For the first time, she saw...
her friends looking at her like that.
Her lips trembled a few times.
At last, she managed to speak.
"...You guys..."
Lele seemed to have so many questions.
But when the words reached her lips, she seemed to forget them all.
Lele furrowed her brows in frustration.
"Give me a hand."
Lele held out her hand.
Her whole body felt weak.
There was no way she could get up on her own.
She needed someone to pull her up.
"Let's get out of here. Now."
She really had wanted to come