Tokyo Skytree.
I often come here on my days off to take in the vastness of the city. Even from up here, Tokyo stretches endlessly, a sprawl of boxy, concrete buildings.
It's been three months since I moved from my small town in Iwate. I pay my own rent, cook my meals, and earn my salary. This is the life every country boy dreams of.
After taking the elevator up the Skytree, I set my things down on a table at a café to quickly use the restroom. When I return, I spot someone hovering near my backpack. A figure in a cap and hoodie is glancing around, clearly up to something. After checking her surroundings, she starts rummaging through my things.
"Hey!" I shout. Heads turn, but she's too focused on my bag. I rush over and grab her wrist, pulling her hand away.
"Nani shiterundeska!" What are you doing? I demand.
She doesn't say anything and just tries to yank her wrist free.
"A couple fighting?" I hear someone whisper nearby.
"Ow!" I yelp as she bites my hand. Instinctively, I let go, and she bolts toward the exit, pulling her cap lower over her face.
"Wait!" I call after her, rubbing my hand. I grab my stuff and run to the elevators, but she's nowhere to be seen. I circle the entire floor, scanning the crowd. Finally, I spot her—walking hand-in-hand beside a little girl.
"Hey! Thief!" I shout. She startles, letting out a small "Eep!" before muttering something to the girl. Then, without warning, she charges toward me, red in the face. I step back, thrown off by her sudden move, but she grabs my sleeve and pulls me away from the café.
"Hey! Where are you taking me? And why were you digging through my stuff?"
Still no answer.
She leads me about 15 meters away, then finally speaks. "I-It's my little sister's birthday!"
"What?"
She nods, looking down. "Yeah, that's my sister. It's her 12th birthday, but my money card wasn't working. I barely had enough cash for the elevator. I hardly have time off from work, and she can't be away from home for too long, so I got desperate and—"
"You stole from me," I say, finishing her sentence.
"Yeah." She averts her eyes.
"And you dressed like that?" I say, pointing to her cap and hoodie.
"There are... reasons," she mumbles.
"Reasons?"
She hesitates. "Y-Yeah."
"And I'm supposed to believe that?"
She says nothing, her face hidden under the cap.
Her story is believable, but something still feels off. There's one way to check.
"Fine," I say, turning back toward the café. "I'll just ask your sister then."
"Wait!" she calls after me, panicking.
I turn, and she's removed her cap. Her silky brown hair falls over her shoulders. Her hazel eyes, sharp nose, and delicate features stop me in my tracks.
I have to admit, she's quite pretty. But I can't be distracted!
"W-what?" I ask, trying to gather myself.
Her voice softens. "Please don't tell her. If she knew I tried to steal, it would break her heart. I can't do that to her on her birthday."
"And what am I supposed to do? Just give you money?"
