She was a girl not much older than him.
She begged, screamed, and even cried as she tried to kneel, but the other person refused to let it go and insisted on taking her to the Police Station.
He didn't know what happened afterward.
He only saw the onlookers' expressions, some sympathetic and some satisfied.
And he heard—
"Who knows if she's just putting on an act?"
"She's so young, and already going down the wrong path."
"I wonder how her parents raised her."
"She's just a child. Since nothing was stolen, a few words would've been enough. This... seems a bit much, doesn't it?"
"She needs to learn a serious lesson, or she might do it again."
"Maybe she's a habitual thief."
That time, he understood deeply just how much people hated theft.
If he hadn't truly been out of options, if he hadn't seen that banknote sticking out and briefly lost his senses, he thought he probably never would have had the courage to steal in broad daylight.
So when someone grabbed his hand, for that instant, he felt as if his heart had stopped beating.
He began struggling wildly.
He had to get away!
But the person before him was stronger than he could have imagined.
He knew his own capabilities.
He was thin and not very tall, but he was fairly strong.
Even as he struggled with all his might, the other person didn't budge. He even had time to tell him not to swear.
The other person even dodged his later sneak attack.
His attempt to escape had naturally failed.
Maybe it was only because the other person had everything under control—
But to him, the other person's unfailingly calm manner, and the patience and good temper he showed toward such an