"Don't walk so fast, Class Monitor. It's just a doll, surely no one's going to snatch it?"
Shouko and Takagi followed Ayumi, a little out of breath. Seeing Ayumi still trying to pick up the pace, Shouko quickly reached out to pull her back.
Takagi, seeing this, grabbed Ayumi's other hand and chimed in:
"Shouko's right. Class Monitor, I've never even heard of that Godzilla doll you're talking about. There's no way it'll sell out that fast."
"It's a Chickenzilla doll, Takagi!" Ayumi puffed her cheeks, but slowed her pace.
She had actually planned to go straight to the store, buy the doll first, and then hang out with them—but that clearly wasn't happening now. All she could do was silently pray in her heart.
The three girls eventually reached the newly built commercial street. Ayumi didn't waste time—she pulled them straight toward the shop.
"This doll looks so silly…" Shouko held the plush with its glazed eyes and tongue sticking out. She couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, not exactly the fearsome kaiju I was expecting," Takagi chuckled.
"It's Chickenzilla, Takagi!" Ayumi hugged her prize protectively.
Shouko carefully tucked the doll into her school bag and smiled. "Thanks for the gift, Class Monitor."
Takagi quickly echoed her thanks.
"Haha, I should be the one thanking you two for coming with me." Ayumi waved them off and smiled faintly. "Come on, let's go find some snacks."
Shouko took Ayumi's hand, Ayumi took Takagi's, and the three walked off hand-in-hand.
Meanwhile, at the Miyamura house, Shizuka Miyamura was halfway through a drama in the living room.
During the commercial break, she glanced at the clock—just shy of 4:00 PM.
"That's strange. Why aren't those two back yet?" she murmured. Even Hachiko had been taken out by Yuzuru for over twenty minutes, yet neither Akira nor Shouko had returned.
Normally, if something came up, Akira would have called…
She debated pulling out her phone, but the commercials ended and the drama pulled her attention back.
"They're thirteen now, not little kids," she reassured herself. "Akira has his watch, and both of them carry stun guns. They're probably just wandering around that new commercial street."
And with that, she focused back on the TV.
"Click…"
"I'm back!"
"Miyamura Auntie! Akira! I brought snacks!"
Shizuka stepped out from the kitchen. "Shouko, isn't Akira with you?"
Shouko paused mid-step, confused. She handed the snack bags to Shizuka and bent to change her shoes.
"No, we split after school. I went to the commercial street with my classmates. Hasn't Akira come home yet?"
Shouko peeked behind Shizuka, thinking it was a joke.
"I'll call him," Shizuka said, placing the snacks on the dining table and fishing out her phone.
The time read 17:31.
Shouko trailed after her, a knot of unease forming. When she'd stepped inside just now, she hadn't seen Akira's shoes in the entryway.
At that same time, Akira was silently tailing Mr. Nishimiya. His watch read 15:34.
Switching it to silent mode, he quickened his pace. The man was definitely heading toward the commercial street, though he kept taking oddly deserted side paths.
Eighty percent chance he's up to no good, Akira thought.
"Bang!"
Mr. Nishimiya froze and turned. Seeing nothing, he started to step back—until a dog barked from behind a knocked-over trash can.
"Tch. Just a dog," Nishimiya muttered, shaking his head and moving on.
Akira shot the mutt a glare. "Damn it, stupid dog."
Once Nishimiya rounded a corner, Akira hurried after him—and almost ran straight into him. The man was lighting a cigarette and speaking into his phone:
"I'm here. Stop wasting words. If you're not here in ten minutes, you know what'll happen."
Akira ducked back, heart pounding. That had been close.
By the time he checked his watch again, it was 15:56.
A few minutes later, Nishimiya moved on—and Akira's eyes widened.
"Aunt Yaeko?!"
Nishimiya Yaeko had suddenly appeared and was speaking with the man, her face tense. Akira could only catch bits of their conversation from this distance.
After a short exchange, they began walking together.
Akira crept closer, but when they turned another corner—
"Where—?!"
They were gone. He scanned the area, wondering if they'd slipped into another side street.
"Bang!"
Pain exploded at the back of his head. His vision went black.
And then—nothing.
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