The Turbo Hero:- Midoribolt

[19] VIGILANTE ENCOUNTER

After the children cleared the field, some headed to their seats while Eri and Satsuki took a different path.

"Where are you going, Eri?" Kota asked, noticing the two girls veering off.

She smiled and replied, "We're just going to the bathroom."

"Oh, okay, see you later," he said, waving them off. As they walked deeper into the stadium, Kota continued to watch them from behind. Suddenly, he felt someone nudge his elbow.

"Aw, is loverboy worried about his princess?" Tamashiro teased with a grin.

"Sh-Shut up!" Kota stammered, his face turning red with embarrassment.

"Consider it payback for kicking me earlier," Tamashiro shot back.

Kota grumbled, glancing back in the direction Eri and Satsuki had gone. "But I am a little worried. I don't even know my way around the stadium, so I hope she doesn't get lost."

"Who? Eri?" Tamashiro asked, surprised. He placed a hand on Kota's shoulder and said, "Come on, man, she's the smartest girl in our class, and Satsuki is right behind her. I'm sure they'll be fine."

Little did he know, at that very moment, Eri and Satsuki had accidentally wandered into a different area and were completely lost.

"Uh, Eri, I think we're lost," Satsuki said, looking around the unfamiliar hallway.

"Oh, uh, I thought the exit sign pointed this way," Eri said, pointing in one direction.

"You mean that way," Satsuki corrected, pointing in the opposite direction.

"Oops," Eri said with an apologetic smile, while Satsuki shook her head disapprovingly.

"If anything, we'll just miss the high schoolers' cavalry battle," Satsuki mumbled.

"Do you girls need some help?" a voice called out from down the hall. Turning their heads in unison, they spotted an older woman approaching them. She had an average height and build, with nice pale skin, and was dressed in a worn black business suit paired with black stockings. However, what really caught their attention were two striking features: her hair, which was impeccably styled and dyed a vibrant pink, and her eyes, which were noticeably different. The right eye mirrored her hair color, while the left was a natural blue. Overall, the woman had a captivating presence that made the two girls admire her.

"She's so pretty," Satsuki remarked.

"I want to look like her when I grow up," Eri said, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Upon hearing their comments, the woman chuckled, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks. "With your lovely hair and red eyes, I think you both will be quite the beauties when you grow up. You'll catch the eye of any boy."

"Catch the eye?" both girls echoed in confusion, not quite grasping the phrase.

"You'll understand soon enough. Anyway, what are you girls doing here?" the woman inquired.

"We were looking for the bathroom and got lost," Satsuki explained, gesturing to Eri. "My friend took a wrong turn."

"I already said oops," Eri pouted, which made the woman laugh.

"Come on, I'll show you the way, and then I'll help you get back to the stadium. If I remember correctly, your event is after the high schoolers," she said, turning to lead them in a different direction.

As the girls followed her, Eri noticed something slip from the woman's skirt pocket.

"Um, you dropped something," she said, picking up a small piece of paper. She glanced at it and read aloud, "PopFEATHERS Production Inc. President: Kazuho Haimawari."