The torrential rain drenched the child in an instant, leaving her soaked to the skin.
The boy rushed forward and yanked the child back.
"What are you doing?!"
The sight of the child's bedraggled state made the boy lose control of his tone.
She'd been sheltering from the rain just fine...
Why had she suddenly run out?
The child didn't react.
Rainwater trickled down her cheeks.
The boy frowned deeply.
He crouched down.
"Yaya."
He turned the child to face him.
"Did you hear me?"
"You—"
The boy's voice cut off abruptly.
The child's face was very pale.
Her eyes were filled with alarm.
She looked as if she'd seen something unbelievable.
"...Yaya."
The boy softened his tone.
"What's wrong?"
The child stared blankly at the boy.
She still seemed not to have come back to her senses.
"Yaya."
The boy raised his voice a little.
"Did you hear me?"
"Yaya!"
The child's pupils contracted sharply.
She suddenly came back to herself.
"Yaya."
The boy softened his tone again.
"You..."
"What's wrong?"
The boy chose his words carefully.
"Did something scare you?"
"Did you..."
"See something?"
The child still didn't say a word.
The boy looked helpless.
"Does Yaya not trust Big Brother?"
"If you don't tell me anything, Big Brother can't help you."
"...All right."
The boy shrugged helplessly. "Looks like the few times we've met weren't enough for Yaya to trust Big Brother."
"I won't ask anymore."
"Where do you live?"
"I'll just get a taxi and take you home."
"You're soaked."
"You need to hurry home, take a bath, and change your clothes."
"Otherwise, you'll catch a cold and get sick."
"Or you can call your parents and ask them to come get you."
Realizing