Halfway up the incline, Yusuri noticed the sun setting in hues of orange and pink, casting a warm glow on the surroundings. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden commotion in front of him. Turning around, he saw a young girl careening down the hill on a bicycle, her eyes wide with panic as she struggled to control her descent.
" SOMEONE!! ANYONE!!! HELP ME!!" a distance plead for help coming from on top of the hill.
" WHAT THE!! She's going down way too fast." said Yamano.
The girl was attempting to slow down her descent, her hands gripping the brake handles with urgency. However, the speed at which she was hurtling down the slope seemed to defy her attempts to control the bicycle.
Yusuri's heart skipped a beat as he saw the girl's struggle unfold. He quickened his pace, concern etched on his face. The once serene hillside became a theater for an unexpected drama.
The girl's eyes widened in panic as the brakes failed to respond effectively. Desperation etched across her face, she attempted to drag her foot along the ground to create friction, a last-ditch effort to regain control. The bicycle wobbled dangerously, and it became evident that slowing down was becoming an increasingly difficult task.
Yusuri's mind raced, contemplating the best way to intervene and prevent a potential disaster. Without hesitation, he picked up his pace, his agile form weaving through the descending girl. The wind howled around them, and the girl's futile attempts to ground her foot were clear signs of the danger she was facing.
Just as Yusuri closed the distance, the girl's balance finally gave way, and she stumbled off the bicycle because of the rock the bicycle hits. Reacting instinctively, Yusuri lunged forward, catching her in his arms just in the nick of time. The momentum from the fall caused them to roll down the hill.
The girl was breathless and trembling. She slowly open her eyes as she checked herself if she got injured or not. " Wait a minute? I'm okay. Thank goodness I'm okay."
The mysterious girl immediately went to check on Yamano who is still on the ground.
"Hey dude. Are you okay? You don't look okay." the girl asked, his concern evident.
Yamano nodded, his words catching in his throat. " Don't worry about me."
As Yamano shifted his attention to the girl, he found himself momentarily captivated by the unexpected encounter. The hillside seemed to hush, leaving only the rustling of leaves and the soft echo of their shared breaths. When their eyes met, there was a moment of silence, a pause in the rhythm of the world.
The girl with an easygoing grin on her face, finally broke the quietude. "You good?" she asked, her voice carrying a tomboyish edge that resonated with her appearance. Her words were laced with a casual coolness that contradicted the precarious situation they had just averted.
Yamano blinked, brought back to the present by her straightforward inquiry. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, a slight smile playing on his lips. "But are you okay? That was quite a ride."
The girl chuckled, a tomboyish swagger in her demeanor. "Yeah, just another thrilling downhill adventure. The brakes decided to take a break, I guess. Stupid brakes!"
As the girl wiped her sweats, she took off her hat, revealing a peculiar sets of ears. Yamano immediately noticed the girl has cat ears.
" Woah. You are a catgirl. Never seen one before in my entire life." Yamano said.
The catgirl felt puzzled for a moment." Wait? I thought catgirl are a common race for monster-girls."
The catgirl offered her hand to help Yamano standing up and immediately cleared the dust off from Yamano's clothes. The man blushed for a moment. " Hey! I can do it myself, you know."
" Well. Suit yourself." said the catgirl.
Yusuri couldn't help but chuckle in response to her nonchalant attitude. "Maybe next time, pick a hill that's a bit friendlier. This one can be tricky."
" Said it yourself. My pops told me to go to the orphanage uphill to spread the words about our newly-opened bakery. But still, I can't understand why they built an orphanage on top of the hill. Who built that place is so dumb." the catgirl told Yamano like she was actually complaining.
Yamano smiled. " I agree. Although, it's home. My home."
The catgirl were shocked to hear Yamano said. " Damn! I'm sorry. Wait a minute? Why the hell you lived in an orphanage full with monster-girls? Are you a pervert? I bet you took a peek at them when they taking a bath."
Immediately, Yamano cut her off. " Hold on now. You got the wrong idea. I'm no pervert. The girls there treated my like a brother."
The catgirl immediately stand up and took her half-destroyed bicycle. " I didn't know I was saved by a pervert. Stay away from me, Human." said the catgirl.
The catgirl immediately stormed off the place, leaving Yamano in the current state of misunderstood embarassment. " Hey! You got the wrong idea!!!"
Yamano saw the catgirl ran away. The man can only sighed, knowing that monster-girls still doubt of human's nature after what happened to the fifteen years ago at that city.
" Well. A simple "thank you" might be suffice. Can't blame them after what happened fifteen years ago." Yamano sighed as he walked back to his cart.
As Yamano went up the hill to the orphanage. Unbeknownst to him, a mysterious figure, cloaked in shadows, observed Yamano's move from a distance. The man's intense gaze followed them as they walked, and he reached for the microphone embedded in his jacket.
"I've located Yamano. Yes. It's Yamano Yusuri" the mysterious man murmured into the microphone, his voice low and shrouded in secrecy.
On the opposite end of the channel, a voice responded with curiosity, "Why haven't you abducted him yet? We've been searching for him for a long time."
The cloaked man hesitated, his eyes never leaving the teenagers in the distance. "It's too risky at the moment. There's another person with him, a catgirl. I can't make a move without drawing attention."
The voice on the other end crackled with impatience. "We can't afford delays. You know the importance of Yamano. Do whatever it takes to bring him in."
" For Humanusia." said the man on the opposite channel.
The mysterious man said the same thing as well. " For Humanusia."
TO BE CONTINUE.