Nanako-chan SOS: Prerequisite 1
"Hmm... Arihiko's house, eh? But... why...?"
I wonder at myself as I head over to Arihiko's without any particular reason.
I do sometimes visit after school to pass time, but in the morning?
"Well... I guess once in a while won't hurt..."
Life is interesting because of these random impulses.
Music: Play track 14
I ring the bell.
Ding dong! After a few minutes the main door opens with a ghastly creak.
"Who?"
Asks the woman who only pokes half her face out of the door.
"Hello, Ichigo-san. If you're coming out, does that mean Arihiko-kun's already left?"
"Ah? That idiot didn't come home yesterday."
The woman, in deep thought now, steps out of the doorway.
"What… I was wondering who it was, and it turns out to be you, Arima. Do excuse me. I finally fell asleep after three days of work."
"I'm sorry to wake you up. It's been a while, Ichigo-san."
"Yeah. You haven't changed much from being an awkward teenager."
She puffs out a smoke. And smiles a mysteriously indescribable smile.
------Inui Ichigo-san.
Inui. Her last name implies that she's Arihiko's big sister.
Profession unknown, says Arihiko.
"Hey, Tohno, I know you're in a special deal with Takada-kun, but listen to me."
`"Okay, what is it?"
`"The truth is... I thought my sister was a detective when I was in elementary school."
`"Heeeeh? Meaning she's not? That's unexpected."
`"Aaah... so from middle school onward I thought maybe she was a novelist... but that wasn't it, either."
`"Hmm? She's not a novelist, either? Your second guess failed as well? Then... what does she do?"
"Yeah… from high school on I thought maybe she was a journalist. What do you think?"
"Mmm… anyway, don't cross into my territory… A special deal doesn't work that way."
… Or something like that.
Anyway, the point is that what Ichigo-san does will always remain a mystery.
"So, what's up today? Did the family idiot do something stupid again?"
"No. I don't know whether he's in trouble. Anyway, I wasn't affected by it. Well, I just thought maybe it'd be good to go to school together once in a while."
"Mmm. Sorry that you got to know him. He only confides in you, and you don't brush him off, either."
"Aah… I wouldn't brush him off.
So… where is Arihiko?"
"I don't really know. I think he was at Dachi's. I'll tell him to go to school, so if he skips, please let me know."
I consent.
"------"
Ichigo-san looks my way for a while and then,
"Arima, let me see your hand."
She says curtly.
"What is it?"
I show her my hand unconditionally.
And on the outstretched hand, Ichigo-san puts something.
"Here. When you're free, come again. I'll buy you dinner."
She waves and goes into the house.
".................."
Alone, I look at my hand.
And on there was a half-empty tube of gold acrylic paint.