Blissful [Shinazugawa Sanemi]

Chapter 8

True to her words, Shiori didn't sleep a blink last night. Even Sanemi fell asleep for an hour or two while leaning on the wall. When he woke up, he found Shiori sitting straight with her eyes open, not moving a bit.

He thought she was sleeping with her eyes open but when she saw him she immediately greeted him.

What a strange girl.

On their second night, Sanemi and Shiori were exploring the woods. The objective of their mission is to find out what's behind the missing people cases that's been reported for several times. Anyone who entered that part of the woods never returned home.

They heard someone's voice from the woods and had to find out who or what was inside. They've been walking for a few minutes but saw nothing suspicious.

"Are we being tricked?" Sanemi mumbled. He definitely sensed someone but no matter how long he searched, he couldn't find anyone.

"Should we split up? If any of us encounter the demon, I don't think we'll have any trouble defeating it." Shiori suggested.

"Sure. Let's get this over quick. I don't wanna spend another night outside." Sanemi mumbled and with that, he disappeared. He already ran to the left, leaving Shiori behind.

Sanemi dashed through the forest. When he heard a rustling noise, he stopped and grabbed his blade.

"Don't fucking hide, just come out." He said.

Sure enough, someone slowly walked out from behind a tree. It was a little girl, a human girl. Sanemi clicked his tongue and released his blade.

"Why is a brat like you inside the forest at midnight?!" He scolded.

"Uh... Um..." The girl fidgeted nervously.

"I have a favor to ask..."

"I don't even know you and you're asking me for a favor?" Sanemi asked disbelief.

"Please follow me!" The girl shouted and ran away.

"HEY BRAT! GET BACK HERE! IT'S DANGEROUS THAT WAY!"

Sanemi had no choice but to follow the girl. The girl stopped abruptly when they arrived at a pond. She looked up at Sanemi.

"Um... My temari ball..." The girl pointed to a ball that was floating on the water surface. But the ball was literally in the middle of the pond.

"Are you kidding me right now?! You can just get a new one!" Sanemi yelled.

"It's from my mom! Please, big brother, can you get it for me?" The girl pleaded.

Sanemi groaned in annoyance. He stepped closer to the pond, narrowing his eyes on the ball. He thought of searching for a stick or anything to use. He was standing too close to the edge of the pond.

So when someone pushed him from behind, his whole body fall forward.

Sanemi could see the little girl's face, with her hands held out after pushing him.

"YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

A loud splashing noise alerted Shiori. She made her way to where Sanemi went earlier. With her speed, she arrived at the pond in just a few seconds.

The little girl was staring at the pond. She gasped when she saw Shiori arriving.

Shiori could see bubbles emerging from below the pond. She stared at the water surface, but all she could see was her own reflection. A pond shouldn't be that deep, she should've been able to ser what's inside.

Shiori felt a pair of small hands pushing her back, but she didn't budge. Shiori turned her head toward the little girl, who stared at her in horror.

"Did you push my friend?" Shiori asked the girl's teared up.