Siera had been in her new home for a month. Despite not being used to A’s overwhelming energy, she found herself spending time with him as part of her daily routine.
“…I’m sleepy.”
The two walked side by side from the bus stop towards their homes after school. A yawn escaped A as he walked with half-closed eyes, while Siera watched him with an anxious gaze, unsteady on his feet.
“It’s because you kept sleeping at school and on the bus.”
“I couldn’t sleep last night because they were showing my favorite anime special on TV.”
“That’s your fault. Are you going to tell Mom?”
“Ugh…”
A had dozed off during classes and on the bus due to staying up late to watch an anime special the previous night. The accumulated drowsiness was too much for him to handle.
Unable to refute that A had stayed up watching TV, Siera grimaced at the thought of having to tell her mom.
“You played around at lunchtime when you were so tired.”
“We play when we can.”
Even during lunchtime when sufficient rest could be taken, A rushed through his meal and darted off to the playground. His condition was unpredictable, and Siera, who often followed him around lately, felt responsible for checking on him.
“Let’s go to bed early today.”
“It’s Sunday tomorrow, so it’s okay to stay up late.”
“I really will tell Mom.”
“Don’t.”
Though Siera didn’t like being nagged, she wanted to avoid mentioning that she had stayed up late to her mother.
As they walked briskly toward home with their bags, a city-bound bus passed them, and A watched it go by.
“Siera.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to go to the city?”
“Huh?”
They lived in a relatively remote area. There were no tall buildings or companies nearby, and reaching the bustling city center required transportation.
The only means of transport they used around town was the school bus. Although A was active, he lacked the resolve to venture alone into unfamiliar city areas.
Most importantly, lacking a reliable means of communication, A believed he would find it difficult to go to the city on his own.
“You’ve never been there before, right?”
“Not really…”
Even though A spent a lot of time with his parents, trips to the city weren’t frequent. He always played in the neighborhood, and whenever they went to the city, his parents usually just went shopping and returned.
Unlike A, Siera, who spent less time with her parents, had not ventured beyond her neighborhood since moving a month ago. While curiosity sparked, the unease of exploring the city alone without adults was greater.
“Shall we go together?”
“What if we get lost?”
“Siera has a mobile phone, so it’ll be fine, won’t it?”
Although young A didn’t have a mobile phone, Siera did, as she needed a way to communicate with her parents. If they got lost, she could use the phone to call for help.
Of course, they might still get scolded, but if they maintained their composure and didn’t lose their way, they could enjoy themselves in the city.
Despite lingering unease, Siera began to think it might be worth trying as solutions started to emerge.
“How are we going to get there? We need money for the bus. And Mom and Dad will surely say no if we ask for pocket money.”
While going to the city to play sounded fun, finding a way there was the first priority. They didn’t need to pay when taking the school bus, but for the city bus, they needed money.
Unsettled, Siera listed out the barriers, but A stopped, crossed his arms confidently, and said:
“I can use my savings.”
“Savings?”
“Yeah. I’ve been saving the money Mom and Dad gave us to buy something tasty.”
With the cost covered and a means of communication secured, Siera fell silent as the barriers to going vanished. Seeing this as an opportunity, A took Siera’s hand and looked at her with bright eyes.
“Let’s go together. It’ll be fun with Siera!”
“Really?”
Though she wasn’t entirely comfortable playing with A, she was slowly getting used to it. The prospect of doing something more enjoyable made her waver.
“If we go together tomorrow, we can go to bed early today.”
“Okay.”
Finally giving in to A’s persistent urging, Siera nodded with a sigh.
“Alright, but we must go to bed early.”
“Okay!”
At A’s enthusiastic response, Siera smiled widely.
The next day.
After making plans to go to the city, they played all day. Worried about whether A would go to bed early, Siera was relieved when he arrived at the meeting spot earlier than expected the next morning.
Since Sundays meant waking up early to play, neither of their parents objected to their outings.
Neither Siera nor A had any issues with their parents leaving for work early.
“Did you go to bed early yesterday?”
“Yeah. I was excited and couldn’t sleep.”
Feeling like it was the day before a field trip, both were filled with anticipation. Siera felt similarly, but also wondered if everything would be okay.
“We have our money ready.”
Showing off his wallet full of coins, A led the way confidently. Siera glanced at A’s house and hurried to catch up.
The neighborhood was quiet as they waited at the bus stop for an unknown bus.
“There’s lots of yummy food in the city. So many fun things too.”
Excited about going to the city, A explained enthusiastically what he remembered from their previous visit. For Siera, this was her first time in the city since moving, and she listened intently.
Soon, a bus arrived. A stood up first and offered his hand, which Siera grabbed.
On the bus, A paid, and they sat down, watching the changing scenery outside and expressing their excitement.
How long had they been on the bus? As familiar cityscapes appeared, they got off and looked up at the towering buildings in the city center.
“Wow…”
Though not the first time seeing tall buildings, Siera was amazed by the novelty of it all.
“See? It was a good idea to come.”
Proud of Siera’s amazement, A grinned and surveyed their surroundings.
“Over there.”
Spotting a market alley they had visited with their parents, Siera followed A, holding his hand. Unaware of what lay ahead, Siera relied on A’s guidance.
Entering the market, pungent aromas assaulted their senses.
“A, what’s that?”
Stalls lined up selling various foods, including many unfamiliar items.
Eager to explore, Siera asked A about each new item, and A, having visited the city several times, answered confidently.
“They sell skewers there. It’s a shop that sells fried chicken with a delicious sauce. Last time, Dad secretly bought some for me, and Mom scolded him. But it was really tasty.”
“Wow…”
“Want to try it?”
“Sure!”
Recalling the deliciousness, A described it happily, captivating Siera. Encouraged by Siera’s eager gaze, A bought two skewers and headed to another stall.
They filled their hands with treats and sat down on a park bench near the market.
!!!
Siera took a big bite of the skewer, surprised by its crisp texture and sweet sauce. Seeing Siera enjoy it, A finally relaxed and took a bite himself.
“There are so many fun things to do. Let’s go play after eating.”
“Okay.”
Gobbling down the food happily, Siera nodded. Despite feeling full, they couldn’t let their joy be dampened.
“A, what’s that?”
Afterward, they explored various places. They visited an electronics store and admired gadgets they had never seen or used.
When accompanied by their parents, the arcade seemed magical. They played games for a long time and watched street performances with interest. Whenever Siera saw something new, she asked A, who explained to the best of his ability and enjoyed discovering things together.
The more fun they had, the more excited they became. A, who had suggested the trip, was thrilled. Initially uneasy, Siera found herself enjoying the new experiences and raised her voice in excitement.
Even though A was also unfamiliar with some things, he felt no worry with Siera by his side. Siera, despite feeling more overwhelmed, felt secure with A beside her.
“A, what’s this?”
They had been walking around, looking at each other until…
“A?”
Excitedly surveying the area, Siera called out for A again and realized that A had disappeared from her side.
She couldn’t tell when or where he had gone, and panicking, she scanned the surroundings.
In the middle of the city, numerous people surrounded them, and A was nowhere to be seen.
Having played for a while, it was now afternoon. On a Sunday, amidst the crowded streets, finding A seemed impossible.
“A…”
The fear of being left alone in an unfamiliar place washed over her. Whispering A’s name, she searched frantically.
Voices, loud music from shops, and the flashing lights of billboards—everything that had once been exciting now turned into sources of fear when she was alone.
Paralyzed, she couldn’t move, and her heart raced with anxiety. She feared calling out loudly, as fear froze her voice.
Then, she took a step.
“Siera.”
Lowering her head, she looked up at the voice. Two police officers stood in front of her on the bench. Terrified, she froze.
“Why are you here alone? Did you lose your parents?”
The officers approached, thinking she might be a missing child, but for Siera, meeting them in this situation was anything but comforting.
Afraid of being scolded, Siera’s lips trembled as she considered telling them about going out alone with A.
“Is she a lost child?”
“She might be. Do you know any number to contact your parents?”
The officers tried to reassure Siera, but she remained silent.
“We should take her to the station for protection and find her parents.”
Hearing this, Siera’s heart sank.
“I, I…”
To avoid going to the station, she opened her mouth, and the officers’ attention shifted to her as the silent child spoke.
Tense under the gaze of strangers, her voice quivered.
“Siera!”
A loud, familiar voice called out. Turning, she saw A rushing toward her.
“A!”
Seeing him, her anxiety vanished, and she called out loudly. Grabbing her hand, A addressed the officers.
“We came out to play together!”
Exhausted from running, he caught his breath. Seeing the two together, the officers confirmed they weren’t missing children and nodded.
“Good. Play carefully and come back safely.”
Watching the officers leave, A saw Siera. Seeing her trembling eyes, he felt relieved that he had found her and sat down next to her.
“Thank goodness. I was looking for you for a long time and thought you were really gone.”
“I was worried when I couldn’t find you either.”
Their anxiety overshadowed the enjoyment they had experienced before.
“A, shouldn’t we go home now?”
Worried about getting lost again, Siera didn’t feel like playing anymore. Nodding, A agreed.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Taking her hand, they walked to the bus stop together.
Silent on the bus but holding hands tightly, they reassured each other they wouldn’t get separated.
Finally, the bus arrived. Relieved to be going home, Siera smiled. Before boarding, A reached into his pocket for his wallet.
“Huh?”
Hearing a sound, Siera looked at A. Frozen, he stared at his empty pocket.
“It’s gone…”
Just moments ago, his wallet had been there.
