The Shadow Manipulator

Chapter 46: 夢の デート (Yume's Date)

"So, what are we going to do here, Yume?" I asked as the two of us had afternoon tea in the veranda. "Are there any places worth visiting near here?"

"Yes, there are lots." Yume cheerfully replied. "We won't have enough time to visit them all though. That's why I'm just going to take you to my favorite place. It's not far from here." She said.

"Really?" I wonder what her favorite place looks like. "When are we going,  Yume?"

"Let's go tomorrow." Yume answered. "That place has beautiful scenery and nice atmosphere all throughout the day. I think you'll like it, Hikari." She smiled.

It was already late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set as we finished our afternoon tea prepared by Yume's aunt. I was careful not to talk about anything that would cause a misunderstanding since I could detect Yume's aunt and uncle eavesdropping on our conversation just behind the door. Well, I couldn't help but detect it since I left my sense enhancement to the maximum after realizing that the glares from before are getting closer.

Right now, I could totally feel the glares as if they were right behind my back. If I sense a hint of killing intent coming from any direction, at least I'm ready to strike back. But we're at a disadvantage though, I don't know which direction the attack would come if there are any.

"What's the matter, Hikari?" Yume asked. "Are you okay? You've been spacing out a lot lately."

"I'm so sorry Yume." I told her as serious as I could. "But, since we rode the train here, I've been detecting someone watching us due to my sense enhancement. Seven people, maybe more. That's why I couldn't let my guard down."

"Really?" Yume exclaimed.

"Sorry for not bringing it up on our way here. I didn't want to alarm you." I told her.

"I thought you were spacing out." Yume muttered. "I didn't know, sorry."

"Welll, it's not like we can do anything about it. I couldn't detect their whereabouts no matter how much I focus. I couldn't detect their heat signatures as well, that's why I'm putting my guard up just in case for an attack."

"Why don't we go inside, Hikari?" Yume asked, standing up as she began cleaning up the table. "I think we'll be safer inside than here. After all, aunt and uncle are have shield-type irregularities like me."

"So they were the ones who gave you your irregularity, huh." I said, helping her clean the table. "But how come..."

"No, not really." Yume responded. "I inherited my aunt and uncle's irregularity so my irregularity is more powerful than both of theirs combined. They gave it to me so that I could protect myself in case of emergencies."

 "But why didn't you use it to the girls who bullied you when they locked you up in the locker?" I asked her. "I mean, that was pretty dangerous. You could have suffocated to your death."

"That was a wrong call for me." She replied. "I was thinking whether to use it to them or not but when I've decided, I already found myself inside the locker. That's when I realized that emergencies happen unexpectedly. I should have made the right call that time and used my irregularity."

"It's not like you made a wrong decision that time." I tried to console her. "If you used your irregularity with your emotions, you wouldn't be able to control it. I think you made the right call at first and you didn't hurt anyone. Anyway, it's all bridge under the water. What matters is that you're okay."

"Yeah."

Suddenly, I began hearing a few alarmed indistinct voices coming from inside the house. There were  a lot of noise and a few disordered sounds as if there's a scuffle going on. "Quick!" I could hear Uncle Kirihara's raspy voice as the noise inside began getting louder. Eventually, it became too loud for sense enhancement that even Yume could hear it. One thought occurred to me as I slowly approached the door- someone, or something, must be attacking us from the inside and they're trying to fight with Yume's aunt and uncle. "What's happening?" Yume alarmingly asked as the noise began getting louder.