"Oh my, are you lost?"

A boy drenched in the rain stilled. At an alley where no common people would pass through, it was a dirty passage where vagrants settled in for a lonesome night. Even with the advancement of technology, poverty still existed. Conflicts still existed, and much to his chagrin, he was no longer troubled by it all.

He had already accepted his fate.

Without a home to return to. Without friends or family to look for. Only living as is, scavenging food and being asked for 'errands' by the adults who were willing to hesr his pleas. He had already become a part of business behind the doors at this point.

The orphan stared at the pair of red orbs reflecting his unseemly figure. Then, they lowered down, the eyes' owner squatting down to match the level of their eyes.

"Hey, hey! What's your name?" The person with strange rabbit ears asked, her bright-colored parasol spinning slowly in her hands.

"...none." The child no older than 5 years old answered.

He wondered why. He had lost everything, had nothing to fight for and fated to die like a street rat he was. In fact, it was easy to imagine his own death but... He wasn't sure why he gave an answer. Why, of all things possible, did he respond to this stranger's question? It was just odd.

"I see, I see." The girl's purple hair fluttered. "Hey, if you've got nothing to name yourself..."

The girl grabbed his wrist. In a matter of an instance, they stood with little space between them, their hands joined together.

"Nice to meet you, 'Ro-kun'!"

She exclaimed shamelessly. With her dazzling smile that choked him, the child reflexively repeated, "'Ro-kun'...?"

"Yep! Your name from now on is 'Shinkurou', and your petname is 'Ro-kun'! Aren't I a genius?" The girl puffed her chest proudly.

He wondered if that was the case. To be honest, he began to question her sanity, considering how all the people around here had natural black hair. To call him as 'True Black' when he was already black-haired seemed reptetive, condescending, and also discriminating.

"Tabane! There you are...! The driver is waiting, you fool!" A stern voice suddenly emerged.

The girl rubbed the back of her head with a nasty smile. So she was called 'Tabane' huh...?

"Whoops, Chi-chan... Howdy there!" Tabane waved a hand at an approaching girl with raven-black hair.

She was beautiful. Even by his standard, the raven-haired girl was a league on her own. Wearing a sailor uniform, black thighs and holding a colorless umbrella, the girl with mature countenance felt a bit too mature for being a student.

But this time, he was slightly intimidated by how sharp the glare she gave. Who was this person?

"Fooling around like this... hm?" The girl made a sound upon noticing him.

With a quick glance, the already sharp glare intensified. If a glance could kill, the girl would've destroyed the city with that gaze of hers alone. The boy was thankful he had nothing to lose, but he felt intimidated since it was rare for him to ever taste murderous intent at full brunt.

"Chi-chan, this is Shinkurou aka Ro-kun!" Tabane introduced exaggerated ly.

"...are you trying to pick up another stray, Tabane?" The girl crossed her arms and huffed.

"But he's interesting...!"

The child slackened his jaw at the casual reason Tabane had. Since when did he become as low as stray cat. Sadly, his hand was gripped tighter than before, causing him to look at the purple-haired girl. Despite hiding it with a smile and cute pouts, he felt like she was nervous around the raven-haired girl.

Why would she be afraid...?

"Chi-chan, it'd be very lonely when we get in the lab...! Don't you know rabbits will die if left alone?" Tabane asked, her mechanical bunny ears went up and down with inorganic ...

"Listen, you... Tabane, you can't even do anything other than pilfering bolts and screws. What the hell do you know about taking care children?"

The boy winced a little, and as he had expected, the bunny-eared girl turned crestfallen. Her friend certainly didn't mince words.

"Chi-chan, I can take care of children just fine!"

"Let's see how will your sister answer if asked then."

With a refined and decisive blow, the bunny-eared girl teared up and ran away, screaming 'Chi-chan is an idiioooottt! I'll spread words about you doting on Ikkun beyond siblings would!' like a child throwing tantrums.

...no. She certainly DID throw tantrums like an immature kid.

"Wait, Tabane...!? Hey!" Before she could finish, the girl-in-question had already vanished into the crowds.

It prompted 'Chi-chan' to exhale with a hand on her forehead. Her umbrella shook off droplets of water that refused to fall to the wet concrete.

"Good grief... Just what have I done to deserve her as a friend..?"

Probably some divine intervention, the street rat bemused in his mind. His idle thoughts, however, were soon broken off by what seemed to be as the middle-school student.

"Hey, you..." She called out. "Don't you have some place to lodge in? A home?"

"...I don't have any." The boy replied, that girl from before must have been messing around with him. But at least that was considerably tamer than what he usually experienced...

For some reasons, the girl sighed and rubbed her temple. It seemed she has a headache to deal with and expected there would be more incoming. But unlike her friend, the girl was more composed and adult-like compared to how her looks suggested as. Also, her glare was absolutely inhuman.

"Come with me. We still have to catch that mad rabbit so I'll have you go along." She waved a hand, gesturing him to enter the area below the umbrella.

...what? Was she dragging him along? For what reason? Even though he was just a street urchin on top of being a stranger to her...?

"Hurry up. I don't want NASA to knock on my front door. The faster we catch Tabane, the faster you can have a proper treatment and meal." The girl urged with a glare.

To her intimidation, all the boy could do was think. One option was to ignore her and find some meaningless death on the roadside, the other was to accompany these two young girls without knowing why and for what reason. If he was dead, nobody would grieve for him. But going along with strangers meant he was entrusting his life to their hands. He was fine in choosing one of them and he had no qualm whatsoever even if he died horribly, but—

"Tch. Get going already!" The raven-haired girl snapped, took the boy's wrist and dragged him out of the alley.

He was without shoes and his clothing was dirty as well as torn. He could feel the stares from the surroundings on him, and he shivered in fear as he recognized those disgusted eyes for too many times to count for.

Despite that.

Despite feeling as if the world had come crashing down upon him, he felt a prickling pain coming from his hand; his black eyes rolled down to know why.

That wrist of him which was held by the girl. Her sharp gaze dispelled the terrifying gazes away. Her determination filled her every step and her every movement as she dragged him by the hand.

"Are you alone?" The girl asked as the two traversed through the crowds.

The boy didn't answer but the girl held his hand tighter than before.

"While Tabane isn't someone that I'd like to define as 'sane', she doesn't have anything against you. You have her attention so you can at least trust her to care for you," she spoke out. "You will reach your home soon."

The nameless vagrant stared at the back of the girl.

He wasn't sure what to say as a response. Did he hate it, the way she reassured him? Yes. Was he feeling repulsed and suspicious over her straightforward attitude? Absolutely.

But still—

Even though that was the case—

Even though all of this might as well be a dream... a spark of doubt emerged in his worn out heart.

He had no one to teach him about the world, or the people around him. No longer was there anyone to dote on him, no longer was there anyone to shower him with love or comforting him when he was sad. Only violent people and fellow vagrants were around to scold him, jeer at him, beating him senseless and never giving the reward for his efforts.

Living a rough and painful life, unable to buy even medicine if he was sick. He scavenged trash and ate whatever leftover he found regardless of their states. Only to survive for another harsh day.

Tonight seemed to be a cold night. The rain became downpour and worsened his health. He was cold, incredibly cold his teeth sometimes chattered.

It's fine, he told himself. He was used to this already. I'm sure it won't change anything.

It's alright, he reminded himself. He knew that he would end up stranded somewhere, the same like always.

But... somehow. For now...

This strong hand holding his... It feels warm.