Evening and Winter (夕方と冬)

The Orphanage

It has been a few days since Taylor left the hospital and Chifuyu took the week off, he returned to his home and took Maru with him, leaving the room he used to use in the Andersons' residence empty.

"Surely is quiet without Tsuguha-kun around, huh?" Taylor broke the silence of his office.

"Huh?" Eve turned to her father, pausing from sorting the books on the shelf.

"Don't worry, he'll start coming again tomorrow." Taylor smiled as he continued to read the file he was reading.

"Right," Eve turned back to the pile of books, "I'm excited... I don't see him out on the streets, it really has been a full week since I last saw him." She thought, unconsciously smiling.

"I'm going to investigate, make sure you lock all windows and doors, okay?" Taylor stood up from his chair, "Stay awake until I get home, is that okay?" he asked as he wore his coat.

"Oh, okay." Eve didn't question and simply nodded, allowing her father to leave.

Eve went to her room after an hour in Taylor's office, and she somehow has an urge to open her bedroom window, with hopes that Chifuyu would magically appear sitting on the roof outside her window. She did exactly that and to her surprise, Chifuyu was sitting on the roof outside her window with his ferret, moving his ferret to hold in his hands to stop Maru from biting his chain earring.

"I already told you, didn't I? My earring's not a toy," Chifuyu told Maru, holding him in his hands in front of his face then lowering his pet to his lap before spacing out, the wind blowing his earring and black hair. But his peace and quiet was broken when he felt a paper ball hit his head, Maru jumped to sit on his shoulder when Chifuyu picked up the ball, then turning his head to see Eve from the opened bedroom window waving to him. "This girl..." Chifuyu sighed as he stood up, then jumped to her window with his ferret.

"It's been a while, Chifuyu-kun." Eve seemed happy to see him.

"It's only been a week, what are you talking about?" Chifuyu furrowed his brows, and Maru squeaked as Eve's face turned red.

"I-I... I-It's, uh..." Eve was flustered, she had no idea what to respond.

"Hey, you shouldn't randomly open your window anymore." Chifuyu changed the topic, "Haven't you heard of the recent kidnapper, Simon Dills? Isn't your old man taking care of that case right now?" he asked Eve.

"Yeah, I've heard. I feel so bad for the girls who got assaulted by that despicable man," Eve nodded, "Are you not going to investigate too?" she asked him.

"It's my week off, why would I?" Chifuyu rolled his eyes, "And it's not like my help is necessary, Simon Dills is only on the run and the police are trying to catch him, that's it." He sighed.

"I see," Eve couldn't really disagree.

"Remember, keep your windows locked, chill out when he's already caught." Chifuyu told her the same thing her father told her, "You can't keep your window opened like you always do for the time being, better make sure creepers like him don't get in." Chifuyu added with an annoyed tone.

"But you're the only one who can come up here," Eve said.

"Get your head out of the clouds, idiot." Chifuyu flicked his finger to Eve's forehead, "Have you ever heard of ladders before? They could easily get up here through the alley on this side if they want to, don't underestimate kidnappers these days. Besides, I might not be the only one who can jump up here." He sounded somewhat irritated, which made Eve pause in confusion.

"A-Are you mad...?" Eve was hesitant to ask, "You're as grumpy as you are a week ago, what's up with that?" she pouted, filling her voice with confidence.