T.A series Volume 2: The Illegitimate Extra

Chapter 11 - Dead End

"We need a navigator. Someone who knows the way around Shibuya city."

Those were the words Shinichi uttered from Takuma's smartphone as tensions were high in the association situated in Teitan Elementary school."Where are we going to find a kid who knows their way around Shibuya!?"Junko spat out as everyone was disoriented over what to do.

Ranran and Shinichi being chased down into Shibuya city, let alone, with a killer seeking to murder them if they don't get to the metropolitan department were not what they were expecting.

"We don't need one, "Ranran took over the conversation as she speaks through the air pod, "We just need someone to use the map, instruct us where to go, and that is about it."

"Like those movies right?!" Takuma suddenly figures, "Where there are characters who shout instructions on which route to escape from a bunch of cops!?"

"Couldn't you have just used your GPS app to navigate your way?"Emiko suggests.

"We can't be using our smartphone to keep check every couple of seconds while trying to avoid hitting cars or motorbikes, right?"Ranran commented.

"Y-You have a point..."Emiko stuttered.

"We just need to switch on our locations on our phone, then share it on some site, then someone tells us where to go."Shinichi discloses their plans to the members.

The kids back in the association stared at each other, that's when everyone spotted the perfect candidate."How about Takuma?"Michio vouch for him.

"What!? Why me?!"The athlete turned to the others, startled.

"Are you not the manager for those footballers in every match, shouting orders on which direction to head to?"Ran suddenly recalls this as Reina, his girlfriend once mentioned this.

"Ran, there is a huge difference between ordering players how to win game matches and directing two lost kids to the police department in a huge city for over, alright?!"Takuma argues.

"But you can keep track of every single player during a chaotic game right?!" Emiko disputes, "If you can keep an eye on 11 players among 22 in a football match, you should be able to handle 2 kids!"

"This isn't the problem of handling 2 kids! It's the problem of trying to locate every single street to take before heading there! If I miss out, they'll both die! Their lives are no matter what, under my hands! I don't have the confidence to pull this off!"The footballer was already pulling his hair in frustration trying to reason himself out of this.

"Listen here-"Ran is about to give the footballer a lecture on human life.

"Enough!"Emiko bangs the table, silencing everyone."Right now isn't the time to argue! Ranran and Shinichi's life is on the line! Either you do it or you don't!"

Her screeching voice is enough to astound everyone to silence, even Ranran and Shinichi.

For a while, they were in a long pause of silence. Finally, Ranran ended up breaking it by saying, "Tak-san, it's ok if you fail."

"Eh?"He turned to the smartphone, and so does everyone.

"In life, there are two ways. You either live long enough to be a coward without taking risks, or you live a short but fulfilling life plus risks. I once...considered living like that."Ranran had a castaway look, Shinichi was surprised she had such admission.

"Really!? That is...surprising." Ran's initial voice filled with bitterness towards Ranran earlier disappeared, "That doesn't sound like you."

"Yeah Ranran, that was something rather unexpected."Junko found herself saying.