(〃〃)
The dust-covered windows were blanketed in moss, blending into the surrounding walls. Unless one looked closely, they were easy to overlook.
Of course, as a Beika Resident who battled wits with the Uzo in the air every day and excelled at running away, Okiya Subaru had noticed these windows long ago.
But he had never considered smashing one open and hiding inside.
First, it would make too much noise. The piercing sound of breaking glass would immediately alert anyone nearby that something was wrong.
Second, he was worried that the homeowner might be an irritable, gun-toting murderer—rather than be chased down by someone with a gun, he would rather risk climbing onto the roof.
However, Okiya Subaru had never expected that before he could push the window open, it would open on its own.
Even more surprisingly, the face that appeared inside belonged to someone he had met once before.
Okiya Subaru stared in shock. "You're..." ...the lifesaver from the airport?!
The woman in black tilted her head and examined him, seemingly seeing his predicament. The next moment, she actually held out a hand to him in friendship.
"Come in and hide for a while."
Her voice was unexpectedly soft and pleasant.
Okiya Subaru had not expected rescue to appear when he had nowhere left to turn. By the time he came to his senses, he had already climbed through the window after taking her hand.
The window clicked shut again.
Outside, the moss on the grimy glass fell away.
But soon, white clay silently crept upward along the previous traces, gradually turning the color of moss.
A gust of wind swept through, rolling the fallen moss into the muddy water below the alley. Every trace vanished in an instant, as though the window had never opened.
From Okiya