It's summer time. Everyone was queuing up in line for ice cream crepes. No wonder it's the best in the city. The ice melt inside the crunchy crepe with strawberry on top. I almost spaced out thinking of the excellent taste. At last, it's finally my turn. Lucky me, I got the last one in stock. I reached for my wallet shaped bunny and gave the money to the seller. I spun around to see the girl standing behind me. Interestingly, her hairstyle was just like mine.
"I'm sorry, I think I bought the last one." I apologized while looking at her brown eyes. She wore an orange flannel cloth with cream baggy pants. I don't think she is from around here.
"That's okay." She said, almost swiftly as soon as I finished my sentence. She noticed I felt bad, smile was spread wide on her face, and she changed the subject. "You live around here?"
"Yes, couple blocks away in a building." I answered without hesitation and pointed to her the direction with my forefinger.
"My name is Mikan. Pleasure to meet you." Again she smiled brightly like a sunflower bloomed in the summer.
"Here's your crepe." The seller said and I took it with both of my hands while tiptoeing.
"Do you want to share this crepe with me?" I offered.
"Sure." She replied, almost as if she was looking for a new friend to talk to. "Let's sit over there." She pointed to an empty table at the corner.
I adjust my kimono and sat down. "Oh, my name is Kyoka."
"Are you comfortable with your attire?" Mikan asked out of curiosity. "I used my kimono several times before, but only on special occasion, including fireworks. But you seem okay with it as daily clothes." She giggled.
"I am used to it." I handed her a spoon. She took it with her right hand and took a small pile of ice cream. I ate the strawberry first. "Mikan means tangerine right?" I brought up a discussion.
"Yes. But I do love strawberry as well. Especially strawberry pattern on clothes." Mikan and I changed subjects in turns, it was fun.
That day the weather was pure blue sky, it's a nice day outside with the breeze ruffled some part of my hair. Mikan and I were both chatting about anything random, turns out we have lots of things in common. I could do it all day, but when I thought nothing bad was going to happen… I suddenly felt being watched. I scanned the area from my right to left. Doesn't take a psychology to realize I stopped listening to Mikan's story.
"What's wrong? Were you expecting someone?" Mikan asked and looked around.
I followed Kyoka's eyes but found nothing to see. When I looked back at her, she was shown cautious. Then I heard a repeating noise. Where did it came from? Kyoka didn't seem to realize it though, was it my imagination? It was coming from her little bunny bag. It sounds like…
"Kyoka, I think your cellphone is vibrating." I waved at her and pointed at her bag.
"Oh." She came back to earth from space, but as soon as she saw who was the other person on the line through her cellphone display, her eyes widened. "Mikan, please get away from here, save yourself."
"Get away from what?" I raised my eyebrows, questioning her.
I was not sure about what happened, but Kyoka showed a face full of concern of something or someone might harm us both. If that's the reason then why was she still not doing anything? We could run together for example, but all she did was holding her cellphone tightly with both of her hands, looked more afraid than those who doesn't want their cellphone to fall off from their hands. She was shaking, her face was pale. Kyoka kept staring at her cellphone as if she was afraid of what was within her cellphone.
"Did someone blackmail you? In that case you can tell me."
"You need to run Mikan, get away from me as far as possible."
"Why?"
"I don't have time to explain. Just go!"
I stood up and hugged Kyoka with my arms tightly. She calmed down. She hugged me back as if she was glad I didn't choose to run. I stayed by her side. I tapped her shoulder, "There… there…". Kyoka raised her head that was leaning onto my shoulder.
"I think my phone's broken." She said and put her phone away.
"Why would you say that?" At this point, I didn't even know what she's been saying.
"I thought I would harm you." She said. Harm me how?
"I am fine Kyoka, don't worry." I said.
Hiding in the shadows I saw them both alive and well. Nothing out of ordinary happened. Although, what I found out seems to be worth for a report. I declined the cellphone ongoing call, and called my boss.
"I found her."
"Good, bring her to me Akutagawa."
"Yes, sir."