Haruto looked at the girl standing before him. Her long, wavy hair was slightly disheveled, and her hazel eyes glinted in the warm, golden light of the evening.
She wore a junior high uniform, complete with a blue bowtie and short blue skirt, her face a mix of anger and concern.
"What do you think you're doing with Julie and Catherine?!" she demanded, raising her fists in a stance that signaled she was ready to strike again.
Her gaze drifted down to the cat carrier on the ground. "And is that Mochi?! Did you kidnap him too?!"
"No, you've got it wro—"
Haruto began, but before he could finish, her fist came flying toward him. He sidestepped the punch, his movements swift and effortless.
She blinked, clearly taken aback by how easily he dodged her.
"Huh, so you're not just some ordinary thief, huh?"
She challenged, spinning around and aiming a sharp kick at him. But Haruto was quicker, catching her foot mid-air.
