So, Uchiha Ryo turned to look at the three little ones behind him.
Why did all three of them follow me? Uchiha Ryo didn't understand, but it seemed Hana-chan had invited them.
Shirosaki Hana: "Ryo-oniichan's snacks are delicious. I feel like they're just as good as Mya-nee's."
Hoshino Hinata: "Impossible! Mya-nee is the best!"
Shirosaki Hana smiled. "Then let's go try them and see."
And so, Uchiha Ryo's mission changed from picking up Hana-chan to picking up three little ones. He would also have to call Hinata's and Noa's families later, just in case they thought their kids were lost.
Shirosaki Hana: "Ryo-oniichan, what snacks are we having today?"
Uchiha Ryo thought for a moment. "We can have pudding, or you can wait for me to go back and make snacks with chocolate first."
Shirosaki Hana showed an angelic smile. "I like chocolate."
Himesaka Noa: "I like cookies."
Shirosaki Hana looked thoughtful. "Then let's have chocolate cookies~"
Walking out of the alley and onto the street, Uchiha Ryo was thinking about whether to make chocolate cookies or chocolate cake when he was suddenly called out by Hinata, who was walking at the back.
"Wait, Ryo-oniichan!"
"Hmm?"
The group of four stopped. Hoshino Hinata looked at the sunlight at the intersection and said.
"From now on, an evil virus is spreading outside the shadows. If we step on a place with sunlight, we'll be captured!"
Shirosaki Hana: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Himesaka Noa: "Is this some kind of game?"
Hoshino Hinata held her head high. "What do you think! I just thought of it. Let's play a game. The 'only step on shadows to get home' game!"
What a childish game. Uchiha Ryo didn't really want to play. This kind of game was just right for elementary school students; it was a bit too childish for a high school student like him.
Besides, to get home from here, they had to pass many intersections without any cover from buildings. They should be done with it pretty quickly.
Uchiha Ryo: "Then good luck. I'll just watch you from the side."
Hoshino Hinata: "Eh! Aren't you playing with us, Ryo-oniichan? The sunlight is dangerous. If you step on it... you'll... um... you'll evaporate!"
Although she was only in the fifth grade of elementary school, Hinata already had the budding potential for chunibyo.
Uchiha Ryo thought for a moment, then suddenly looked at Hinata with a serious expression.
"Don't worry, Hinata. The sun virus is only effective on elementary school students. Our high school student bodies are already immune!"
Hoshino Hinata: "Oh, oh! I see."
Himesaka Noa: "Amazing!"
Shirosaki Hana: "...Ryo-oniichan, why are you playing along?"
So, how were they supposed to cross the two-meter-wide stretch of sunlight in front of them?
Noa: "It seems we're stuck on the very first step."
Uchiha Ryo said casually, "I'll just walk over first, and then you can step on my shadow to get across."
Shirosaki Hana: "Is that allowed?"
Hoshino Hinata crossed her arms. "Dame! (No!)"
"That would take all the challenge out of it. So Ryo-oniichan is forbidden from giving us direct help."
Uchiha Ryo helplessly threw up his hands. "Then good luck. I'll wait for you."
With that, Uchiha Ryo walked straight across.
Hoshino Hinata: "Oh~ Ryo-oniichan... he's bathing in the sunlight. He really has overcome the sun!"
Himesaka Noa: "Is this the power of a high school student! So strong—"
Shirosaki Hana said flatly. "....So amazing. (I'm trying my best to play along with your performance.)"
Hoshino Hinata: "Okay, then it's our turn!" She thought of a brilliant idea, then took the small backpack off her back.
That's right. If there were no shadows on the road, just make shadows.
The backpack fell onto the road, and sure enough, it created a shadow just big enough for one person to stand on. Hoshino Hinata also took a big leap and landed on it.
"Hana-chan, Noa-chan, you guys go first!"
The three of them jumped over one after another. Shirosaki Hana then turned her head to look at the backpack on the road.
"So, Hinata, how are you going to get your backpack back?"
Hoshino Hinata: "....."
"Wow! That's right. Then Ryo-oniichan can just go and get it for me."
Accompanying the three little ones as they slowly stepped on shadows, Uchiha Ryo realized they had already reached the vicinity of Shuchiin. Speaking of which, Shuchiin should be out of school by now.
Not far away was another, wider intersection. Hoshino Hinata and the others were blocked. Even if they threw their backpacks, it would probably take three backpacks to get across.
Uchiha Ryo: "Well then, do you need me to be your shadow to get across?"
Himesaka Noa suddenly smiled. "I have an idea! A way to get across without troubling Ryo-oniichan!"
Stars appeared in Hoshino Hinata's pupils. "As expected of Noa. What is it?"
Himesaka Noa: "We just have to ask a passerby to be our shadow and walk us across."
Ask a passerby... How was that different from him walking them across? Uchiha Ryo shook his head, then saw a familiar figure not far behind him.
That's right, I'm going to the apartment. And after Shuchiin lets out, my neighbor also takes this road.
"Target spotted! It's that pretty big sister. I'll use my cuteness to get her to help us across."
Himesaka Noa also saw Yukinoshita Yukino approaching.
Uchiha Ryo turned his head to look at Yukinoshita. "You three just wait here. I'll go call her over. Actually, that 'onee-san' is my... (sound of a truck passing)... friend."
Himesaka Noa: "Hmm? What is that 'onee-san' to Ryo-oniichan?"
Hinata shook her head. "I didn't hear clearly either."
Shirosaki Hana looked at Uchiha Ryo's retreating back. "I guess Ryo-oniichan said 'classmate' or 'friend'."
Hoshino Hinata clapped her hands. "I know! Actually, Ryo-oniichan didn't say anything just now."
Himesaka Noa: "Then let's just secretly watch how they interact. Then we'll know their real relationship."
The three little ones all looked over. Uchiha Ryo had also stopped Yukinoshita, who was preparing to go home from school.
After discovering that the person who had stopped her was Uchiha Ryo, Yukinoshita also asked in confusion.
"Did Toyogasaki let out this early?"
She remembered that the walk from Toyogasaki to here should be much farther than the distance from Shuchiin.
Uchiha Ryo: "No, I actually took the day off today. Um... Yukinoshita-san."
Wait! If I tell her directly that I'm playing a game with kids, will this girl think I'm childish? And I'm too lazy to explain the 'step on shadows' game that Hoshino Hinata came up with.
Yukinoshita: "What's wrong?"
What was wrong with Uchiha Ryo today? He suddenly ran over to stop her, but then didn't say anything.
Uchiha Ryo's expression suddenly became serious.
"Yukinoshita-san, I'll make this quick.... Please become my shadow for a moment!"
Yukinoshita: "Eh?!!"