Absentminded
"What's wrong?"
the child asked.
The boy hesitated for a moment.
Then he said, "I was just about to fall forward..."
"...but I didn't."
"How strange."
"When I came to my senses..."
"I was already sitting on the ground."
The boy raised a hand and lightly tapped his own head.
"Was my reaction too fast..."
"That I didn't even realize it myself?"
The child was slightly stunned.
She suddenly thought of something.
She abruptly raised her head.
The place where she had seen that familiar figure before... was completely empty.
"What's wrong?!"
The boy was startled by the child's sudden movement.
"You..."
The child hesitated.
Her fingernails dug into her palms.
"Forget it."
In the end, the child shook her head.
"It's nothing."
"Don't do that."
The boy frowned. "If there's something, say it."
"You started talking and then stopped without saying anything... That makes people feel awful."
"No..."
Seeing the boy's displeased expression, the child pressed her lips together.
"You..."
"Just now..."
The child tilted her head. "Did you see anything here?"
The boy tilted his head along with the child.
Here?
"On the fence?"
The boy was startled.
He stared at the fence for a long while, his nerves taut and his entire body tense.
After a while...
The boy decided to give up.
He rubbed his slightly sore eyes and looked at the child in confusion. "What's here?"
"...Nothing."
The child shook her head.
"Maybe I saw wrong."
The boy frowned.
This girl...
Why was she acting so strange?
"Oh."
The boy responded dryly.
"I'm leaving."
The boy noticed the volleyball in the girl's arms. After taking a step, he turned back and reminded her, "Aren't you coming?"
"Your friends have been waiting a long