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"Hey, are you awake now?"
Said a girl who was staring at a guy that was lying on the riverbed.
"… Who are you?"
"Me? I'm Minako. That asides, are you fine? Do you feel hurt anywhere?"
The guy nod as he tried to get his body standing up but he didn't have any strength to do so.
"That so? Then that's fine. Anyway what's your name?"
"I'm… Minato."
Minako then smile, as if she was expecting that kind of answer but Minato titled his head, as if he was wondering why did Minako's smiling.
"Anyway, looks like we're both are sent to this town for reason."
Sent? Town?
"Oh, you probably wonder why it sounds like I know the situation. Well, I do. Let's talk while walking, can you stand?"
Minako stand up first, while bending her body, she stretched her hand for Minato which Minato un-hesitantly accepted.
Both of them are inside a town, a small town that had known for its news of serial murderer case a few months ago, Yasoinaba.
When walking on the road of the riverbed, the two somehow ended up in a neighbor of house.
"Dad~ when will big bro coming home? Isn't he gone too long since he visited yesterday?"
"It's only just a day, he's probably in his friend's house, playing or having a bed party or something."
As the two looks at a girl and a middle-aged man walking while holding hands, Minako presume that they are father and daughter.
The both of them soon approach Minako and Minato.
"Hm? Never seen you two around here before."
Said the man as he looks at both of them.
"Ah, yes. We ah…. Are siblings! And we were having a vacation at this town!"
With a tone which can be said a little nervous.
But, maybe due to Minato's quiet attitude, the man had eyes of suspicion directed at them.
"Really? Are you sure you're not some couple that running away from home just because you're parents doesn't approve you?"
"Dad!"
"That's…"
Minako became silence.
It's not because of what the man had said, but it was because the word 'you're parents' seems a little too hard for her.
Although Minato is on the contrary, he step up and then spoke to the man.
"I'm very sorry, but we're really siblings. We do go here by ourselves, though."
"Ahahaha~ I'm sorry, I'm sorry, that was a bad joke. Anyway my name is Dojima Ryotaro, and this is my daughter, Nanako."
"Nice to meet you."
As the girl bow politely.
"… I'm Minato, and this is… Minako. Nice to meet you too."
"Well, as apologizes, why don't both of you eat with us? Our house is right here."
He said while the girl, Nanako, is opening the door to a house right to Minato and Minako.
Even Minako who realize this, couldn't help herself but burst out of laughter for unknown, or maybe no reason, making Minato and Dojima-san, and presumably, Nanako, left in a blank state.
She may be laughing because she's trying to forget the painful memory of her parents.
But, Dojima-san, as if he understands the situation, just playing along by saying:
"He~ it seems the girl's back to normal. So what do you say?"
"Is it really alright for us?"
Ask Minato.
The responses he get is a nod, so Minato look at Minako who is still laughing but giving him a yes sign by nodding.
"Then, we'll gladly take the offer."
Dojima-san smile as he invites them to his house.
Dojima-san's house is not too big but not too small as well.
When Minato and Minako are entering the house, they can see a small table, a TV, a desk filled with many things including the phone, a kitchen, and a sliding door that lead outside.
There is a stairs to the second floor at the right, and a room near it.
"Not too big huh?"
"No, this is a very nice house."
Said Minako while actually looking at all direction.
"Hahaha, I thank you for that. Well, c'mon sit down. Nanako! Can you prepare the food?"
"Right~"
Nanako then went to the kitchen as Minato and Minako sat near the table while Dojima-san sat on a sofa.
"Well then, where are you from Minato, Minako?"
"Us? We're from Port Island."
Answers Minako when she, or the two, were asked that question.
"Port Island? That's one advance city. You said you're on vacation right? Then where do you stay for the night?"
"We-"
Minako's words were cut by Minato.
"We actually just came here this afternoon and haven't found a place to sleep yet."
"Hahaha~ yeah, I can see that happening because Inaba had very many visitors recently. Well, we rarely have anyone here you see… except that when my sister's son, or Nanako's brother, is visiting, then we have many visitors. He was around your age, a high school student."
Minato and Minako just silently listen as Dojima-san keep talking about his sister's son.
"He once lives here due to his parent's works and managed to get some really close friends. He's quite a calm person but can actually do something if he wanted it. He often go to Junes with his friends and he help me save Nanako once. A great guy. You should meet him when he got back."
"Wait… save Nanako-chan once?"
It was Minako, as usual, who said that.
"Yeah. You do hear about the recent serial murderer case that's been happening in this town a few months ago right?"
"Uh-hm."
"Well, actually Nanako is also a victim but he save her and-"
Suddenly a phone was ringing.
It was just when Nanako had put everything on the small table, she take the phone and say "Hello?"
"Dad, it's for you."
"Oh, excuse me for a minute."
As Dojima-san take over the phone, he seems to be talking about something but Minato and Minako couldn't hear him very well due to the sound of the TV.
Nanako sat down, opposite to them.
"Um, is something wrong?"
"It's nothing, just wondering what Dojima-san's job is."
"Dad is a detective."
Minako, and maybe even Minato who said nothing since entering the house, is surprised at that.
Well, maybe they not freak out or something like that, but they definitely didn't expect that for some reason.
"That's interesting. What do you think Minato?"
"It is"
"Yeah, I agree. Dojima-san has an eye that is rather scary if seen directly, and since he asked us back there with quite a suspicion, I should be able to figure out that he had some connections with police."
Minako said while actually praising Dojima-san, but in a way that not even Minato or Nanako could understand.
"Anyway, did you make all this Nanako-chan?"
Just when Minako said that, Dojima-san approaches them and with an apologetic look on his face, he said:
"I'm sorry, but job's calling. You should eat while it's still hot. And if you want to stay, you can use the room upstairs. It seems he won't be back tonight, so it's fine."
After getting his jacket, he walks to the door and after putting on his shoes, he said again:
"Nanako, don't forget to lock the door!"
"I won't!"
With that, Dojima-san left the house with the car he parked next to this house.
"Is your dad always going this late?"
"Sometime he won't be back for 2-3 days."
"Really? Then, what about you?"
"I'm fine by myself. This is already becoming a habit for me."
Although that was an answer that most people would think had answered Minako's question earlier, it's actually not.
"What I mean is, didn't you felt lonely here, all by yourself?"
"No, big bro is here, and even if he don't, Teddie would always play with me. Anyway, let's eat."
"Ah… yeah."
Just when Minako wanted to pick her spoon, she gaze toward Minato who was staring at the food, then she said:
"What's the matter? Haven't seen food for so long?"
"Uhm."
Minato nodded.
Getting that responds Minako giggle before she said again:
"Don't worry, you get use to it again in no time… by the way Minako-chan. I was wondering about this… um…"
"Brother?"
"Ah yeah! You're brother. Dojima-san said that he is his sister's son… does that mean…"
"No… he's my cousin. But I called him big bro because he always here for me whenever I felt alone. Oh right, he also a hard-working person. I remember seeing him in full fishing attire one day and went outside, not going back until midnight. He also do many things such as tutoring someone, working at a hospital as a janitor, and also playing with kindergarten children for extra money. Or so do I heard from Teddie-san."
"Ahahahaha. That's awful. Your brother seems really interesting. Maybe I should wait here until he got home. I want to see your brother's look."
"Sure! I'm sure he's going to be happy meeting someone of the same age!"
Then, as Minako and Nanako talking cheerfully, Minato had already finished his dinner.
After hours passed by, Minako seems to have captured Minako's attention and becoming so friendly despite they only met a few hours ago.
For Minato, he just sat near the table while watching the TV and sometimes dragged by Minako to play with Nanako, so he too had become closer to her.
After quite a time had passed, Nanako then led them to a room upstairs.
"Dad said you can use big bro's room tonight."
"Ah, yes, thanks. What about you Nanako-chan?"
"I'm sleeping in dad's room."
"Oh, I see."
"Well then, good night Minako-nee-san, Minato-nii-san."
"Yeah, good night and have a nice dream."
For Minato, he just responds with a nod.
Well he is a stolid person and this might be rude for some people, but Nanako seems to understand it as she was smiling while descending the stairs.
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