The Wise Child (Hiatus!!)

35. Vigilante

The ground felt uncertain under my feet. Like it was moving where I stood. The grimy concrete creaking around, moving to the pulse of the earth, a sickly beat with no real rhyme.

"You made it." The stapled man, Osamu, spoke, frowning as he walked towards where I was standing, in front of a barely functioning convenience store. He had a strange assortment of features at the moment, a frown on his lips, his eyebrows forced into comfortability while his eyes were narrowed.

"I did. You told me to come."

He hummed. "I guess I did."

"What are we doing? Why not our previous location?" I couldn't help but ask, unsure what training could be done by an old convenience store.

"I had errands to run. Besides, I thought I could use some help patrolling tonight. You understand. Hero things."

"Oh, right, thank you for the experience."

He gave a small shrug, "Don't thank me, you're really doing me a favor. I've actually got someone in mind that we're tracking."

I stared down at his shoes, they were muddied and the fabric had multiple tears. "The internships are supposed to be more simple. I thought they said no combat would be needed. I'm not certain it would be acceptable for me to-"

"You worry too much. Don't. You've got me, and I've seen you in action, I doubt the petty thief we're going after will cause us any trouble."

I nodded slowly, a small twist in my stomach making it cramp, and me to slouch. A sin according to my father. I tried to shake off the feeling of something being wrong. He knew what he was doing, at least better than Uwabami. I was meant to trust him, and I did.

He sighed, patting my hair before turning to go into the store, the action felt familiar. A comfort I had forgotten.

Ignoring the strange mixture of feelings the man gave me, I watched and followed as he entered the store. I stared as he moved with a certain confidence in his step, before he turned back to me, "Go get something to eat. I've got an... let's call her an informant. I'll come get you when we're done."

I nodded, quick to abide by his orders. Still I couldn't help but look through the shelves as he approached the cashier, observing their body language. The girl behind the counter crossed her arms as Osamu leaned in close. She wore a frown and deep eye bags, averting her gaze from his when she could.

At one point she turned her eyes onto mine and I was quick to look at the shelf of foods next to me. I could only imagine the rage my father would feel if I were to just sniff one of the sugary assortments.

From the corner of my eye I watched, certain they were talking about me from the way her gaze remained planted, but Osamu said something and she amended, looking back at him before sighing. My curiosity grew but I knew they would notice if I got any closer to try and hear.

After a few more minutes the man walked back towards me, his eyes scanning the store subtly.

"You get something?" He asked. I shook my head.

He hummed before pulling a Hersheys from the shelf, then walking towards the cashier and giving her what looked to be much more than the three hundred yen it should cost.

"Keep the change." He spoke with a certain authority before leaving the store.

I followed after, giving a weak smile to the cashier. She didn't return it. Instead her eyes remained on the money while she wore a grim expression.

His pace quickened as we entered the street, only bothering to slow a little every few seconds to check I was behind him.

"Who are we going after?" I couldn't help but ask, struggling to breathe evenly.