Just the Two of Us in this Vast World

Chapter 1 — The boundary line, the marriage between a girl and a wolf. Part 14

There was a big uproar in the entire school, so sixth period became self-study.

I had nothing better to do so I just gazed listlessly at the ambulance that was carrying Budworm. My appearance was quite peculiar as I was still wearing my sports uniform but no one said anything.

Half of the students were in the rear side of the classroom, consoling Mouse and asking things out of curiosity.

And only a few of the most serious students were studying by themselves.

Not a single one of them spoke to me, but that was to be expected.

I calmly crossed my legs and stroked the window glass with my fingertips.

An invisible wall.

~~~

After classes had ended, I had to be the one to explain what had happened there in place of the female teacher, who had turned almost hysterical.

I was sitting on the leather sofa in the principal’s office, answering the inquiries made by the principal and the police officer sitting in front of me as honestly as I could.

“I don’t completely know what happened, just that a large dog dropped in suddenly and attacked the two of them.”

“I wonder why you were left unharmed though.” The young officer with a gentle appearance casually asked.

“I don’t know,” I answered again. “It must have been some sort of coincidence.”

He didn’t ask anything else after that.

For me, that was the most honest reply that I could give.

~~~

Heading back home, I was once again walking along the familiar road situated at the border between the forest and the city.

I was alone, walking on the asphalt illuminated by the few city lights that managed to infiltrate past the fences of the houses.

The entrance to the toilet had been restricted, so in the end I wasn’t able to recover my uniform and was still in my sports uniform.

Truth be told, I didn’t like my current appearance. It wasn’t a matter of whether it suited me or not, I simply didn’t like it. It was really irritating, and I brushed my hair away for the umpteenth time.

The chilly autumn wind blew pleasantly on my nape.

I walked, stopped for a bit, then walked again.

Together with my pace, a second pair of footsteps stopped, then started again. It was a really conspicuous way to tail someone.

After this repeated for a few times, I was tired of whoever it was.

I turned around and called out.

“Do you need something?”

It was Mouse, alone. On her small braided face, there was panic mixed with invitation.

Perhaps because it was cold, or perhaps because she was afraid, her thin legs were shaking ever so slightly.

“Uhh, umm, yeah, err…”

She seemed to be looking for something as her eyes darted here and there, continuously muttering senseless words. After two… three minutes, she finally got to the point.

“Tsukagi-san, err…” Her fear increased. “Umm, where’s the dog?”

“Dog? As you can see, there’s no dog around here.”

“What I mean is…that dog, it was yours, wasn’t it?”