Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 10 - Trickster (Ⅱ)

Third Person POV:

"R-rooftops?! Are you out of your mind? That's way too dangerous!"

Kazuma shot her a cold, unamused glance. ''Do you want to see your siblings or not? If you're going to be a pussy, you've already failed as their older sister, tch.'' His tone was flat, but the words stung like a slap to the face.

"Think logically, will you? How are we supposed to get across buildings? We don't have superpowers, Kazuma-kun!"

The quintuplets' older sister certainly didn't trust the idea. This was nothing more than a double-edged sword. Which would certainly make it very easy for them to go to this festival area, but on the other hand, it would also bring certain death.

''If it's any consolation, I've used these before plenty of times, and I'm still not dead. Ichika, was it?''

"I-I suppose I don't have much of a choice..."

"The fireworks have already begun. If we take this path, you'll arrive before they end." As Kazuma stand by the door, he awaited Ichika's decision. Who knows what would have happened to this girl if he hadn't been there at that moment.

Ichika swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod. "O-okay... I'm coming!"

Kazuma let out a light sigh, it's always good for him to let go of indecision. Then he turned around and headed for the stairs inside the building. ''Follow.''

''O-okay...''

Ichika immediately followed the man and entered the empty building. She was being a lot more timid than she normally should have been. 

But the inside of the building they entered looked abandoned. Dust-covered handrails and stairs that crackled with every step they tookl ike a scene out of a horror movie. Spider webs in the corners of the building were making the air absolutely unbearable.

Ichika decided to start a conversation when they made their way up the stairs. Sound is always good in such environments, she thought. This boy was already too quiet.

''Kazuma-kun, You said you've used these roads before, right? Do you know what happened to this building?

"Failed investment." He replied curtly, not bothering to look at her. "They were going to turn it into a business center, but the company went bankrupt. The building's been sealed off for about three years."

As they walk upwards, the oldness of the building caught Ichika's eye even more. "I never knew there was a building like this near my workplace, haha."

Kazuma offered no response, his silence a clear sign that he wasn't interested in small talk.

''Aren't you going to ask about me? Hmpf...''

''Do I really need to?''

''Certainly! With a beautiful girl like me right next to you, you should be dying to know more!