How could anyone have eyes like that?
So strange...
An increasingly intense feeling rose in the mushroom-haired little girl's heart... a feeling she didn't know how to describe.
It was a little terrifying.
A little unsettling.
A little nauseating.
The mushroom-haired little girl took a deep breath.
She tried to ease the discomfort in her chest.
When she realized Mom had no intention of stopping, the mushroom-haired little girl panicked.
"Mom!"
She couldn't help peeking out.
A shadow...
Child's Mom didn't say a word.
Nor did she stop walking.
On the contrary, Child's Mom even quickened her pace.
"Mom!"
The mushroom-haired little girl twisted in her arms.
The shadow...
Was getting farther and farther away.
"Mom! Mom!"
The mushroom-haired little girl kept calling, "Stop!"
"Mom!"
Mom ignored the mushroom-haired little girl.
She didn't stop walking, either.
The mushroom-haired little girl stared blankly at the shadow.
The shadow didn't move.
It neither left nor came closer to the mushroom-haired little girl.
It just looked at her.
The mushroom-haired little girl could feel it.
The shadow was watching her.
Mom turned a corner.
The mushroom-haired little girl lost sight of the shadow completely.
The mushroom-haired little girl lay across Mom's shoulder.
Her expression was dazed.
Child's Mom bent down.
She picked up the child's slipper from the stairwell.
So the child hadn't gone out without shoes.
She'd lost one along the way...
Looking at the half-open door, Child's Mom's face twitched slightly.
She pushed it open.
Everything inside was normal.
It seemed no thief had taken advantage of the opportunity.
Child's Mom breathed a little easier.
She set the child down.
The trip here...
Though it hadn't been very far...
It hadn't been short, either.
And it was raining.