When the boy in costume confided in Yuichi about him being an anti-thief, he was shocked but not that surprised.
" What are you going to do? Will you hand me over to the police?"
…
I stared at the deep injury and the two ripped bones he had. His condition was worsening with each minute lost. My decision had already been made. There was nothing more to think about.
" I'll bring you to the hospital and deliver the painting back to the gallery."
" I said that I couldn't—------------------"
" I heard you perfectly, but the hospital will administer the adequate treatment for you. You have to be treated, no more discussion."
" You don't understand!"
" Yes, I do! You said you'll be caught by the police if you go to the hospital, but that's just your assumption. If you lose the costume, no one will be able to differentiate you. Without the costume, you'll just be a normal human being, and going to the hospital will then become possible."
…
" Will you let me help you, or will you let your stubbornness win over you?"
…
He seemed to be understanding me as well as my concerns. He lost the costume he was wearing, which was constituted with magic energy. His face and appearance were finally revealed to me.
" I'll do as you say for now, as my condition doesn't allow me to do otherwise."
He was about my age at most. He said he was an anti-thief, which made me think about my grandpa's words and what he said about anti-thieves.
" What happened to the boy?"
" Why is he so gravely injured?"
On our way to the hospital, we ran into two police officers, and they noticed apart from the fact that I was supporting an injured boy that I was also holding a painting.
" Why do you have this painting?"
…
(What do I say? I can't say the truth or lie. What's the best course of action?)
" I found this painting laying on the floor."
The police officers stared at me suspiciously, as they couldn't believe me for some reason. Something wasn't adding up in my narration, but I hoped they wouldn't push the matter further.
" What about the boy? Why is he so gravely injured?"
…
(What now? I can't tell them that I found him lying on the floor too. There's no way they'll believe me. I have to make up a plausible story, one they will believe.)
" He was attacked."
" Attacked?"
(As I can't tell the truth, I'll just change the narration a bit.)
" He was attacked as he tried to save a civilian. He took the blow in its stead, and that's why he's so gravely injured."
" What kind of attack?"
They kept asking questions and wouldn't let us go unless all of them were answered. The boy was losing more and more blood. There was no more time to waste.
" Can we do this later? He's losing way too much blood."
…
…
Seeing the seriousness of his condition, they decided to lend us a hand, thanks to which we were able to get him to the hospital much faster.
" It's an emergency! He needs to be treated immediately."
He was brought to the special assistance hospital that specializes especially in magical injuries like the one he had.
He was brought by the nurses to the special assistance room to be treated. I was left with the police officers, who still had some sample questions for me.
" Thanks for helping me bring him to the hospital on time!"
…
(I need to deliver this painting to the gallery.)
" Give us the painting! We'll bring it back to the gallery ourselves."
I was just about to hand over the painting to them, but just as I remembered the boy's words, I stopped at the last moment.
" That won't be necessary! I can do this much by myself, but thanks for proposing."
" Why would you insist on bringing it over yourself? Is there a special reason?"
…
" The boy I brought to the hospital put his life on the line to save this painting, as well as the civilian. He wanted to deliver the painting himself to the gallery, but due to his severe injuries, he asked me to do it on his behalf."
…
" If you have no more questions, may I go?"
…
" We'll drop you there. Let's go!"
" Thank you!"
I was dropped at the gallery faster, thanks to their magical vehicle. Once there, I headed inside to deliver the painting. The personnel was shocked not only to see the painting but also to notice that the dark energy around it was no longer there.
" Thanks for bringing it back!"
" There's no need to thank me. Bringing it back was my duty."
I stepped out of the gallery, but the police officers hadn't yet left.
" I'll be heading back to the hospital now. Thanks for dropping me to the gallery."
" We'll be driving you back."
?
" Officers, you're not doubtful of that boy, are you?"
…
" You want to question him on how he got injured, don't you?"
…
" We have our suspicions and want to make them dissipate. We'll just ask him some questions and then leave."
(They're making this difficult. That's probably why he didn't want to be driven to the hospital. I can't permit them to accompany me back there.)
" I may not have been there when it all started, but let me tell you this much, at least—--------"
…
" A criminal would never put his life on the line to save another, and you know it quite well, don't you?"
…
" If he was a criminal, he wouldn't have saved that civilian, and neither would he have saved the painting. I hope with this, all your suspicions have been cleared for good."
…
…
They had no more questions after that and let me off the hook. They drove back to where they were coming from, and I walked back to the hospital on foot. I got there an hour later.
" How is he, doctor?"
" He has many ripped bones, but other than that, his life isn't in danger."
" Thanks, doctor!"
" Treating a patient is my duty as a doctor. I'll be tending to other patients."
The doctor left, and I headed inside the room to see the boy who had regained consciousness.
" How are you feeling?"
…
" The painting—--------------"
As usual, he was more concerned for the painting than he was for himself.
" Don't worry about the painting! I delivered it back to the art gallery."
" Thank you!"
…
" Do you need something? As you're so badly injured, you won't be able to move by yourself. Tell me if you need anything, and I'll get it for you."
…
" Why?"
?
" Why did you help me?"
?
" It was you who pulled out that smoke, wasn't it?"
…
" Why did you do it?"
…
" It looked to me that you needed a helping hand. I acted without thinking of what I was doing."
" You acted without thinking?"
" It's hard to believe, but that's what happened. I couldn't leave you there to die."
…
" Doesn't it matter that I'm a thief?"
…
" We're regarded as criminals and the police's always tailing us on our missions to catch us. Why did you save me? Why didn't you leave me there to die?"
…
" Why didn't you hand me over to them? Why did you have to lie for my sake?"
…
" That's because you were fighting for what's right. You put your life out there to save that painting from itself. How could I denounce you to the authorities for that?"
…
" Needless to say, you're not a criminal, but a hero. What you did was very heroic, and it deserves nothing but praise."
…
I took care of the injured boy all night, due to which I couldn't go home. When I woke up the following morning, the boy was gone. There was a note left on the bed, and it said: "Thank you again for saving my life. I'll return the favor someday."
(He could've said goodbye instead of leaving like a thief. He didn't even tell me his name before he left.)