130 Going Outside (1/2)

The room instantly turned dark.

All the doors and windows disappeared, nothing but static appeared on the television, and an icy chill filled the dimension.

Many tiny hands reached out from the sofa and grasped every part of Seiji’s body.

Two snake-like chains also slid out and slowly began to wrap around his ankles. It was evident that their purpose was to restrain him.

‘This suddenly turned into a horror film!’ Seiji mentally sighed to himself.

Shika-chan was still crying in front of him. She paid no attention to the changes in the environment and acted like this was natural.

His instincts warned him that if those two chains which were slowly inching around his legs managed to tie him up completely, he would be in grave danger. Despite this, Seiji remained calm!

”Shika-chan...”

He used his left hand, the only moveable part of his body remaining, to pat her head once more. Seiji's mind went into overdrive as he attempted to think of a method to extricate himself from this precarious situation.

He had made a mistake.

He didn’t want Shika-chan to take any risks, but he ignored her feelings.

After her ”brother” left, she waited here by herself for such a long time... Loneliness, worry, and fear—all dark emotions—laid dormant deep within her heart.

He wanted to leave her alone and go out by himself. This stimulated her deepest fears and caused such a situation.

In that case, how should he fix things?

The answer was obvious.

”Sorry... I was wrong,” Seiji apologized sincerely. ”I shouldn’t have tried to leave you alone again and go outside by myself.”

He spoke in the gentlest tone he could manage.

Her crying... died down.

The dark space seemed to brighten ever so slightly.

”I didn’t consider Shika-chan’s feelings. It was my mistake. Please forgive me,” he requested sincerely while patting her head gently.

Shika-chan’s crying stopped.

She wiped her nose and raised her head, looking up at Seiji.

Her pale face was tear-streaked, and her mouth was still pouting. She looked pitiable.

Seiji inwardly smiled. ‘She really is too cute... even her crying face seems so soft and cute!’

The numerous hands which had been reaching out beneath the sofa retracted themselves and disappeared.

The chains wrapped around Seiji’s ankles also stopped moving and disappeared into the floor.

The room lit up again.

Seiji took Shika-chan into his arms and hugged her.

”Do you forgive me, Shika-chan?”

She nodded as the expression on her face became less tense.

”Thank you. Shika-chan really is such a good girl,” Seiji said truthfully.

Shika-chan slowly began smiling again.

”Brother...” She was feeling warmth and comfort from being hugged by her favorite relative.

His gentle voice was also resolute.

If it was risky... then all he had to do was protect her!

Leaving her by herself wasn’t truly protecting her.

Taking her together with him and, if there was danger, using all his effort to ensure her safety was the correct way to protect her!

”Okay... I want to be together with Brother,” Shika-chan answered delightedly.

As long as she could be together with her brother, she was willing to go anywhere.

...

Seiji took Shika-chan outside with him.

It was lighter than Seiji expected outside. It wasn’t dark to the extent of being unable to see more than one meter.

This was due to taking Shika-chan together with him.

Although the sky turned much lighter, the environment was still treacherous.

Snow.

Piles and piles of snow were falling from the sky.

Seiji was now wearing a thick winter jacket. He also made Shika-chan wear the thickest clothes they could find, including gloves and a hat.

He still felt cold, however.