I looked over the fox-eared girl in front of me.
Her face was adorable. A fluffy tail swayed behind her, and between shoulder-length jet-black hair rose a pair of slender fox ears. Round amber eyes were brushed with red shadow, and a tiny fang peeked out when she opened her mouth. There was a youthful charm to her.
Her outfit was flashy. A sailor uniform underneath, topped with a brightly colored kimono. The left sleeve of the kimono was tucked entirely into her sash, exposing her shoulder and an arm clad in ninja gloves and an elbow guard.
A long pink scarf trailed behind her. Several kunai were strapped to her right leg over a black thigh-high; on her left leg, fishnet stockings created an asymmetrical look.
All in all… the culprit was actually kind of cute.
Suddenly, being knocked down didn't feel like such a loss.
While I was examining the little fox girl, she was also examining me.
Her gaze moved uncertainly between my face and my leg, and she pulled a tearful expression.
"C-Could it be… did I run into one of those fake injury scams…?"
Innocent. Easily fooled.
I put on a stern face and scolded her.
"What are you talking about! I'm not asking for money. I'm only asking you to take responsibility and escort me to my destination since your recklessness left me unable to move freely!"
The little fox shrank her neck.
"But… if your leg really hurts, how are you standing…?"
"Through sheer willpower. Why? Is that not allowed?"
"W-Willpower…"
Her ears twitched as she thought it over, genuinely starting to believe my nonsense.
And that was when trouble appeared.
"Stop! You're not escaping this time!"
A familiar, energetic shout rang out from not far away.
Then a breathless, gentle voice followed.
"Kaede… Kaede-chan, wait… haah… haah… you're too… too fast…"
I looked toward the voices and immediately recognized three silhouettes hurrying in my direction...
A tiny ball of energy in the lead, a cherry-blossom Yamato Nadeshiko struggling behind her, and farther back, a sleepwalker who looked half-dreaming.
The Inner Discipline Club? What were they shouting about? Were they chasing a criminal?
I raised a hand, ready to greet them, when the fox-eared girl beside me whispered in panic:
"Ah, they've caught up already!"
She grew frantic. "W-What should I do...!?"
… So the Inner Discipline Club's target was her?
That explained why she had been running blindly enough to crash straight into me.
"There she is! Mimori-senpai, over there!"
Kaede pointed right at us, then froze a little when she noticed me standing next to the fox girl.
At the same time, the fox girl stiffened, her ears shooting upright. After a moment of hesitation, she bit her lip, muttered an apology, turned around, and bolted.
I called after her,
"Hey∼ you're just going to abandon me like that∼?"
Her back seemed to flinch.
Humanity really was in decline.
I dropped my hand and stayed where I was, with no intention of chasing after her.
I knew perfectly well how useless I'd be in a situation like this, so the shout was nothing more than playful teasing.
I was just about to greet the Inner Discipline Club girls when....
My hand was suddenly grabbed. The fox girl had returned, pulling me urgently as she turned her back to me.
"As a ninja, I can't abandon someone dragged into my situation! Hurry and get on, before the bad guys catch us!"
Ninja… and she was calling the Inner Discipline Club bad guys?
Well, this was getting interesting. My sleepiness vanished completely.
I made a fast decision. Explaining things wouldn't work now. Better to go along with this, figure out what was really going on, then decide how to proceed.
Besides, how often does a cute girl offer you a piggyback ride? No way I was wasting that.
With that thought, I climbed onto the back of the still-unnamed fox girl. After steadying me, she sprinted off.
She was fast. Her turns were sharp but smooth, her steps unbelievably stable. Being carried by her hardly bounced at all.
I couldn't help missing the White Wolf bike.
Knowing the streets well, she darted through alleys and corners. After a dozen quick turns, I glanced back, she'd left the Inner Discipline Club far behind.
So I pulled out my phone.
Me: Mimori, who exactly was that girl you were chasing?
Mimori: Sensei, Kaede really did see you!
Mimori: …Hmm. From your tone, it seems you're not aware of the situation.
Mimori: In short,
Mimori: That girl is a delinquent who intends to disrupt the Cherry Blossom Festival.
A delinquent?
Judging by her flashy clothing, it did kind of fit.
But considering how she referred to the Inner Discipline Club, this wasn't that simple.
There had to be a misunderstanding.
"Um… Sensei, what are you doing on Izuna's back? You keep moving around, and it's hard to run…"
Izuna, that must be her name.
Murmuring it in my mind, I suddenly recalled a certain request email sent to Schale… one that had fizzled out.
I kept my expression neutral.
"I'm just bored, so I'm checking my phone."
"Wha..! How could you!"
Izuna complained loudly, then ran another dozen steps before ducking into a quiet alley. After setting me down, she rested her hands on her knees and caught her breath. She wiped her forehead.
"It should be safe here."
Then she looked up at me with tearful eyes, lips quivering.
"That's so mean. Izuna was doing her best to help you escape, but you did something like that!"
"They're not just after you, are they?"
"That's not it."
Izuna shook her head with solemn seriousness.
"When a ninja is being hunted by enemies, even innocent civilians who get involved with her are captured and tortured as accomplices… I read that in a manga!"
…You literally said it was from a manga.
I twitched my mouth. She was almost certainly the Izuna who sent that old request.
She really was easy to fool.
"Anyway," I said, wisely changing the topic. I looked around, checked my phone's map, and frowned.
"Where exactly did you take me…? We're even farther from my destination!"
"Eh?! S-Sorry! Ah, but where is your destination?"
"Forget it. No rush."
I walked to the alley entrance and squinted at the bustling festival street. Then I turned back and invited her.
"Before that, keep me company for a bit. Let's walk around the Cherry Blossom Festival."
But Izuna fell silent. For a long moment she just stared, then her eyes filled with tears as she spoke in a trembling voice:
"You… you really are a bad adult!"