It was as they expected, Suzume began to consider her wish and twist it around. Ah… So Emiko does like me, she's just too shy? I suppose that makes sense. Then she must want me to keep asking her to do things with me… Ah, but she always rejects me… Oh! She must just want me to walk her home without asking!!!
This, of course, would have been fine. However, walking with Emiko somehow changed into following Emiko without her permission.
After class, Suzume decided she would "walk back" with Emiko. Before she left the room, she gave a wink to Emiko who scowled with a hint of confusion. Suzume noticed Emiko staying back and decided to hide behind a pillar as she waited for her. She silently watched her as she picked up all her things and got up to leave. Suzume snuck through the campus following behind her. Emiko stopped at a vending machine and stared at the drink choices. Suzume stood hiding behind a bush as she waited for her to finish.
"What are you doing?"
Suzume jumped to see Yuki standing behind her with a concerned look. Suzume raised a finger to her lips, "Shhh! You are going to alert her!"
"Alert her?" Suzume pulled Yuki to hide behind the bush with her. She pointed at Emiko who was getting ready to leave. Yuki frowned, "Are you spying on her?"
"I'm not spying. I'm just watching."
"…Um. Why?"
"Because she wants me too."
Yuki couldn't believe what she was hearing, "She wants you to… To watch her."
"Yes."
"While hiding."
"Yes. What is so hard to understand?"
Yuki raised an eyebrow, "So you are saying that she explicitly told you to hide and watch her?"
Suzume hesitated with a slight frown. Her voice was low, "Well… Maybe not in those exact words…. But the meaning was obvious."
"Oh, Suzume…" Yuki shook her head, "You've finally snapped. You became a stalker."
"I'm not a stalker."
"Does she know you are doing this?"
"…No…"
"Then you are a stalker."
Suzume shook her head, "No, no. Trust me. She wants me to do this."
Yuki looked at her without hiding her concern, "I think that's what all stalkers believe…"
Suzume pushed her along, "Don't worry so much. It's not like I am going to do anything bad. Now leave before she catches me!!"
Yuki mumbled to herself, "Should I call the police?"
Yuki was pushed away just as Emiko grabbed her drink after paying. Emiko paid them no attention as she left. Without sparing Yuki another thought, Suzume rushed after her victim. As she followed her, she would occasionally jump to hide behind a bench, tree, or any other thing that would hide her. Emiko stopped in front of a convenience store and stepped inside. Suzume waited outside while frowning.
The creature that had only been attached to Emiko's feet was now clinging to her shoulders. This worried Suzume, but there was really nothing she could do. She could probably scare the creature off, but the creature would return as soon as she left Emiko's side. There was little she could do to ward it off.
After Emiko left the convenience store with the bag, Suzume followed after her. As she walked behind her, she couldn't help but admire the other girl's charms. Her long black hair never seemed out of place even when the wind blew. Even the way she walked was so dignified. Seeing her swaying hips, Suzume immediately craved a peach.
Emiko walked along the sidewalk clueless about the perverted girl that followed her.
The creature on Emiko let out an eerie crackling laugh that sounded more like someone was choking. It lowered its hands and untied her shoes as she walked. Emiko's eyes widened as she felt her shoelaces get caught and caused her to stumble forward. She dropped the bag in her hands as she panicked to catch herself.
Suzume let out a panicked yell as she watched Emiko fall forward into oncoming traffic.
Without wasting a second, Suzume sprinted forward with inhuman speed and caught her wrist. She pulled her back barely saving Emiko in time from the honking car. Emiko gasped in surprise from almost having been killed and turned to look at her savior. She frowned, "Matsuda-san?"
Suzume froze before grinning, "Please call me Suzume."
Emiko gradually caught her breath and looked at her in suspicion, "Matsuda-san. What are you doing here?"
"I… Was…" Suzume glanced around trying to come up with an answer, "I was just visiting a friend."
"Oh… I see…"
"Yup."
Emiko looked down at Suzume's hand which was still clinging to her wrist. She spoke slowly, "Well… Thanks for saving me…"
"Not a problem."
Emiko looked at her strange grin and back at the hand still attached. She pulled her hand back, but Suzume didn't let her go. She frowned and pulled it again. And again. And again.
She cleared her throat, "Matsuda-san?"
"Hm?"
Emiko motioned to her hand, "Please let go…"
"Oh!" She pulled her hand off quickly, "Sorry."
Emiko raised an eyebrow and bent down to pick up the bag and the contents that had spilled. The bag was filled with convenience food and energy drinks. Suzume tilted her head and gave a threatening smile to the creature on Emiko's back. The creature noticed she was staring and slunk down as it trembled. It melted to the ground barely clinging to Emiko's feet hoping that Suzume wouldn't notice.
Suzume spoke up, "Ah! Emiko. Your shoes are untied."
"Oh. Thank you-"
"Let me get that for you." Before Emiko could decline, Suzume bent down and began to tie her shoes. With her head turned down, Suzume's eyes flashed a deadly red at the creature on Emiko's feet. It let out a terrified yelp and squirmed away from her sight. The creature rushed away and disappeared into the ground. Suzume grunted in approval as she finished tying her shoes. "There you go."
Emiko watched her in confusion, "Thanks…"
Suzume felt herself squirm under that sharp stare. She bit down on her lip to avoid jumping the girl on the street. She forced out a cheerful voice, "What are you doing right now?"
"…Going home."
"Great! So you aren't busy!" Suzume grabbed her arm and started pulling her away before she could decline. She giggled, "I will treat you to some real food!"
"Ah! Wait!" Suzume dragged back to her home without listening to her complaints. Emiko looked around noticing the shrine, "You live here?"
"Yup. I live with my grandparents. They own and take care of the shrine." She ran inside shouting, "GRANDMOTHER! PREPARE ANOTHER PLATE! WE HAVE COMPANY!"
Emiko frowned as she followed her inside. Suzume's grandmother shouted back, "I'm just old dear! I'm not deaf!" She walked out to greet the girl, "Oh! My lovely granddaughter actually brought someone home for once. It's nice to meet you."
"My name is Hamada Emiko." After bowing, Emiko tilted up an eyebrow, "She doesn't bring anyone home?"
Her grandmother chuckled, "Nope. You are the first one."
Emiko looked back at Suzume who was setting another plate at the table. Suzume noticed her staring and grinned, "I usually visit my friends at their houses. Not too many people like coming to my home since there is not much to do except pray to the gods."
Her grandmother flicked her forehead, "Those gods protect you. Be respectful."
Suzume stuck out her tongue, "They don't protect me. They annoy me. The lot of them are whiny little babies."
"Tsk. Unfilial child. Keep speaking like that and they will come for revenge."
"Pah! I would like to see them try." Suzume flexed her thin arm which barely had any muscle, "I will beat them into oblivion."
"You couldn't even do one push-up. What makes you think you could beat them into oblivion?"
"Heh…" Emiko had a faint smile on her face as she chuckled. Suzume and her grandmother looked at Emiko in surprise. Suzume gulped feeling as though her throat had gone dry.
Her grandmother grinned, "Please sit down, Hamada-chan. I have more than enough food for you."
Emiko gave a slight bow, "I would hate to trouble you…"
She pushed her down into a seat, "Nonsense. I miss having a normal meal. This little one eats in a way that always seems to put me off my meal. It would be nice to have someone who eats food like a normal human."
Suzume frowned, "Grandmother…"
She chuckled and rubbed her head, "Stop pouting. You know I am joking." She shouted, "Dear. Bring out the food already."
A hunched-over elderly man came out of the kitchen holding several plates. He clicked his tongue, "Don't rush me."
Suzume sat down next to Emiko glancing at the plates, "Grandfather… You didn't cook this right?"
"Hmph. As if your grandmother would let me."
The food was quickly set out. A raw steak dripping with blood was dropped on the plate in front of Suzume. She licked her lips and didn't hesitate to devour it. Emiko sat next to her watching in disgust. Suzume's grandmother chuckled, "See what I mean?"
Emiko understood completely. Suddenly her cooked steak was looking unappetizing. However, they did seem to put a lot of work into it. She didn't think she could decline such a well-prepared meal. Plus, it was better than convenience store food. Emiko took a bite and felt herself smiling faintly. Suzume's grandparents looked at each other and exchanged a smile. Together, they all ate in harmony.
Suzume's grandmother spoke, "Are you from this city, Hamada-chan?"
She shook her head, "No. I moved here for college."
"Ah. I see. Well, I'm glad you became friends with Suzume. You know, when she first came to live with us, she wasn't sociable at all. She kept biting people and behaving like a feral dog. You wouldn't have been able to guess that by how she behaves now."
When she first came to live with them? Emiko wanted to ask about it, but she didn't think it would be good to pry into Suzume's personal life.
Suzume seemed to sense her question and spoke, "I'm adopted."
"Adopted?" Emiko blinked in surprise.
Suzume nodded then turned to her grandmother with a pout, "Also, don't tell her those things Grandmother! I haven't bitten anyone in a while!"
Her grandmother chuckled and turned to Emiko, "Would you like to hear more embarrassing stories about Suzume?"
Emiko nodded, "Yes please."
Suzume whined, "Grandmother…"
After hours filled with laughter and storytelling, it was beginning to turn dark outside. Emiko stood up to excuse herself to go home. Suzume grinned at her, "Let me walk you home."
Emiko shook her head, "That's unnecessary."
Suzume took her hand, "I think it's very necessary. I don't want you to get hurt. From now on I will pick you up before school and take you home."