Here, This Is Your Reward

Sadness?

Why sadness?!

Don't make that kind of pained expression in front of me.

He was a little surprised.

Psychologically speaking, a criminal caught in the act should first panic and feel guilty, then try to talk their way out of their illegal behavior and excuse themselves.

She should not have looked so pitiful, gazing at him with eyes so pure they seemed almost transparent, like a child who had done something wrong and desperately wanted forgiveness, her face filled with sincere remorse.

It was as though she was not trying to lessen her own crime, but hoping someone could free her from this agonizing struggle.

The hunter lowered his head to examine the prey before him.

She was probably under five foot three, with waist-length pink hair. Her looks were striking, her features delicate and gentle, giving people an immediate sense of warmth. Proper and beautiful, she easily cleared the bar for cute. Her school uniform was spotless, showing how neat and presentable she was in daily life.

The hem of her uniform skirt was neither too long nor too short, with no signs of being cut up or heavily altered. It had probably been issued by the school that way. She had not followed the student trend of changing things every few days in the name of expressing individuality.

She clearly had her own principles and boundaries, unlike the unwritten rule of "cut one strip in first year, two strips in second year, and by third year, bare from the waist to the shoes."

Conclusion—she was a good girl.

But she had indeed done something stupid.

"I'm sorry... I... I..."

She finally forced out a broken apology. The girl clutched the strap of her shoulder bag tightly, and in her lake-clear blue eyes was reflected someone's impartial, stern face.

At least from her frightened perspective, the store security guard was the judge who had first discovered her improper behavior.

Inquisitor Bai Yu said nothing, merely sizing up and staring at the criminal before him.

There was no other reason.

Beautiful girls were always rare, and this was a chance to look at one openly without risking being beaten up as a suspicious person or having an alarm raised.

Naturally, he had to enjoy the view first.

"Cough, cough."

Having skillfully used his authority to satisfy a bit of selfish desire, Bai Yu cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "Miss, could you come with me for a moment?"

"Huh? Uh, okay..."

The pink-haired girl shuddered at his words, then nodded after a brief daze. The polite smile she habitually wore now held a little more guilt and helplessness.

Just as expected...

This had been wrong from the beginning. Even if it was for Maki... no, wrong was wrong.

Following behind the young security guard, Ichinose Honami kept reproaching herself inwardly, recalling the strict lessons her mother had taught her throughout her life.

She immediately felt that she had done something incredibly foolish and unforgivable.

"Why..."

At that very moment.

Countless teachings from her mother swirled through her mind. Every word was like a boulder weighing a thousand pounds. Her limbs felt bound tight by ropes, sinking into a lake together with these stones called "kindness, integrity, strength, and trustworthiness"—plummeting into a bottomless abyss.

[Even if we are poor, we cannot lose our ambition. No matter what we do, as long as we do not violate the laws of the country and survive through our own efforts, we are no worse than anyone else.]

[Don't compare yourself with others. Everyone has something that shines about them, and those precious qualities cannot usually be measured by material things.]

[Honami.]

[You are my pride.]

Drip.

Her eyes, full of tears and long clouded by mist, pushed a teardrop to the corner of her eye. Along with a tiny apology, it carelessly fell.

Fortunately, the sound of leather shoes striking the floor covered the girl's brief sobs. Ichinose Honami tried hard to compose herself.

Since it had already happened, she had to take responsibility.

That was also what her mother had taught her.

Admitting her mistake might not make up for the harm she had caused others, but it could at least show them her attitude and bring herself a little peace of mind.

She kept her head lowered as she followed close behind the part-time worker, until she absentmindedly bumped into his waist and back.

The momentum made her immediately step back to a proper distance, and she offered an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I got distracted."

"It's fine."

Bai Yu took out a pack of tissues from his pocket and briskly held it out to her. "Here."

"Huh?"

The boy wore opaque sunglasses, so she could not see the light in his eyes, much less guess what he was thinking.

Logically, if something had been stolen from the store he was responsible for, shouldn't he have angrily scolded the person who had committed such a despicable act on the spot?

He had specifically brought her here and had even noticed that, despite her efforts to restrain herself, she still could not completely steady her emotions.

Was this...

Ichinose Honami took the tissues and lightly held them in her hand, blinking several times before driving away the hazy mist clinging to her eyes.

Once her vision was clear enough, she looked ahead again.

Bai Yu leaned against the wall with his weight on one leg. Though his gaze seemed to wander over the street outside while he waited, his focus remained on the girl silently wiping away her tears.

When she seemed to have adjusted her state of mind, he resumed his duties as a jewelry store security guard and casually asked in a concise, calm tone.

"First offense?"

"Mm..."

Ichinose Honami took off her shoulder bag, unzipped it, and removed the exquisite hair clip inside. She held it out to the boy before her along with a sincere gaze.

"I'm truly very sorry! I'll apologize to the jewelry store owner in person and write a sincere letter of self-criticism..."

"If that still isn't enough, after I graduate, I can work at this mall for free as labor. I hope you can forgive me!"

Every word of her apology was filled with sincerity.

Bai Yu pondered for a moment upon hearing that, then tilted his head and continued questioning her like a police officer following procedure. "Your motive?"

"My motive..."

Ichinose Honami was briefly confused. After hesitating and thinking for a while, she still chose to tell the truth.

"I wanted to bring my little sister a gift she liked."

"Oh? No wonder."

"No... no wonder?"

Ichinose Honami was even more confused. It took less than a second for her to go from restless unease to complete bewilderment.

Her clear, bright eyes blinked unconsciously, fluttering with confusion like a pair of slimes that had chosen the wrong evolutionary path.

The clerk's reaction was a little strange. He did not seem quite normal.

Bai Yu shifted and turned around to face the girl directly. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said with considerable satisfaction.

"Alright, I forgive you!"

"Huh?" Ichinose Honami slowly widened her eyes. Just that easily...

Bai Yu reached into his pocket again and searched around with some effort, then pulled out the ten thousand-yen bills he had received that morning.

Natsume Soseki on the bills gazed gently, giving one a sense of reassurance.

"Here, this is your reward."

"A reward?!"

It was certain now. This clerk was definitely not normal!

The anxiety Ichinose Honami had been carrying vanished like mist and bubbles in that instant, forcefully scattered by a passing gust of wind.

The gust was utterly wild, arriving out of nowhere and leaving her completely baffled.

Bai Yu casually spread the bills before the girl, seeing that she was entirely at a loss.

His lips curved as he said brightly and decisively.

"Shouldn't answering a question earn you a reward? Isn't that only natural?"