Chereads / star thieves / Chapter 5 - research

Chapter 5 - research

In an old and dilapidated house, a young girl is preparing dinner.

"Sister Yona, when will my brother Neir come back?"

The girl asks while stirring the soup.

"He said he'd be back after the festival, so don't worry,"

Answers an older girl with long black hair in two braids, sitting on a chair fixing something. Her name seems to be Yona.

"Do you know, I've always wondered why my brother is interested in that Judge Holl. He seems like an evil person to me, with that scar under his eye and those serious expressions,"

Yona stands up and pats the girl's head.

"Haha, me too, but as long as Neir respects him, I will respect him as well."

"But aren't you thieves?"

Yona is silent for a moment.

"… You know what? I think I'll go check on Neir. Linda, don't forget to remind the brothers to buy groceries."

Yona leaves the house.

On her way out, she bumps into someone.

"Oh, sorry."

"No problem."

She passes by him without even seeing him.

Yona arrives at the festival location.

"Is this where the festival is?"

She crosses the festival gate.

Why is no one here? Isn't the festival supposed to be crowded? Isn't Holl supposed to be an important person or something?

"Excuse me, ma'am, you are not allowed to enter. There's a bomb here,"

One of the police officers stops her.

"What? A bomb?"

"Yes, it seems a terrorist is planning to ruin this beautiful festival. We need your cooperation to leave."

Yona quietly leaves with a hint of tension.

Wait, so where is Neir?

She remembers Lilith and starts rushing to find him. She goes left and right, checking every alley she knows.

Where did that fool go?

Yona stops by a blacksmith.

"Hey, Mr. John."

"Oh, Yona, what do you want? Are you trying to sell me one of your gadgets again? I told you I won't buy them."

"N-no, I wanted to ask you something. Have you seen Neir around?"

Mr. John strokes his chin for a moment.

"Hmm, yes, I saw him with some girl."

"A-a girl? Do you know her? Can you describe her to me?"

"Sorry, it's the first time I saw her. She's a short girl with short white hair, wearing a hoodie."

Yona tries to picture her.

A girl? With Neir? Don't tell me Neir lied to me. Maybe he didn't go to the festival but used it as an excuse to spend time with this girl. But who is she? Is she his girlfriend?

I shouldn't jump to conclusions.

"Do you know where they went?"

Mr. John is about to answer, but then he pauses and says,

"Well, if you give me 100 coins, I'll tell you."

"What? Seriously?"

"Yes, that's my offer."

Yona sighs deeply and reaches into her pocket, searching frantically.

Wait, where's my wallet?

She searches all her pockets but to no avail.

Where is my wallet?

Panicked, Lilith dashes around, asking everyone she knows in the area.

"I can't believe it, all my money was in that wallet."

Night falls as she searches. Yona gives up and sits on a bench, regretting the money she lost. She forgets about Neir and the money, remembering that she didn't return home. Her siblings must be worried about her. Neir is probably home too.

I've lost all my money. What should I do?

She covers her face in despair.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Someone asks, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She raises her head, and it's Sunny asking her,

"N-nothing, I'm just tired."

"Tired of what? Do you need help?"

"No, I'm really fine—"

Her stomach growls, and Yona feels embarrassed at that moment.

Sunny quickly responds,

"Umm, how about we go to a restaurant? I'll pay."

Yona, blushing, quietly says,

"O-okay."

At the restaurant, Yona eats like a beast. She tells Sunny everything about how hard it is to make a living for herself and her siblings, eating and crying.

"It's painful, isn't it?"

"Y-yes."

Sunny is a patient listener.

Sunny says,

"Can I ask you something too? You see, I also have a sister named Lilith. I'm looking for her; she disappeared this morning."

"Okay, can you at least describe her?"

"Sure, she's a short girl with short white hair and wears a hoodie."

Yona's spoon drops from her hand after hearing that.

"Is that what your sister looks like?"

"Yes, why do you ask?"

Yona thinks for a moment before saying anything.

Don't tell me that's his sister.

Does this mean my assumption is correct?

Are they really dating?

Should I really tell him this?

He seems like a nice person.

"Umm, s-sorry, I don't know anything."

Sunny sighs briefly.

"Thanks anyway. I'll go pay now."

He gets up to pay, and as he reaches into his pocket, he pulls out a familiar wallet.

"..... Wait, isn't that my wallet?"

Yona shouts so loudly that Sunny hears her.

He throws money at the cashier and quickly runs away.

Yona chases after him.

"Give—give me back my money, you trickster!"

As Sunny runs, he glances back and sees Yona crying as she chases him.

"Please give me back my money. I trusted you, don't you feel ashamed?"

His conscience stirs a bit. He turns around and says,

"Promise me you won't hurt me if I return the money."

"W-what? But you stole my money and spent it."

"Well, technically, I didn't spend anything. I used the money to buy you food, so technically, you spent it."

"But… you're technically right. O-okay, I promise I won't hurt you. Just stop and give me back what's left of the money."

Sunny stops and returns the money to her.

"I didn't expect you to do something like this. So, everything you told me was a lie, even about your sister?"

"No, I didn't know you were the one I stole from, but I am really looking for my sister."

Sunny walks away from her.

"W-wait!"

Yona shouts.

"I think I know where your sister is."