The run made Lina warm up, and her breathing became irregular from time to time.
『Lina: «What? How is this possible? Where has he gone?» 』
The girl looked around, carefully searching every corner of the street, but found nothing.
She thought the boy had hidden after turning the corner. However, what had really happened was something she could not imagine.
『???: Were you looking for me? 』
A voice came from the top of one of the rooftops, and Lina directed her gaze there.
『Neizan: Thank you for the food. These apples are delicious. 』
The boy, now without the hood, revealed his face while chewing on one of the apples he had stolen.
He was sitting, holding an apple in one hand and resting it on his knees. He had dark eyes with prominent dark circles beneath, and his black hair was a bit long and messy.
He wore blue jeans held up by a brown belt, from which hung a small silver chain. He had a black jacket covering his white shirt and a hooded cloak that draped over his back down to his legs. On his feet were dark shoes, and he wore a watch on his wrist.
A red scarf covered his neck. His skin was brown, and he looked like a young boy, making him quite attractive at first glance.
『Lina: Hey! What are you doing up there? How did you manage to climb? 』
Lina was impressed; she couldn't understand how, in such a short time, the boy had managed to get up to the roof of that house.
『Neizan: Oh, that. Let's just say it was magic. 』
His response, laden with irony, reflected a mix of doubt and mockery as he briefly explained what he had done.
『Lina: Magic? No one in this town knows how to use magic. Are you messing with me? 』
Narrowing her eyes in frustration, she thought the boy was blatantly lying to her.
『Neizan: Maybe. The truth is I was starving, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity you left me, so I took what I wanted. 』
A thief doesn't waste the opportunity to steal when it presents itself, so it was inevitable that this problem would arise for Lina due to her lack of attention while working.
『Lina: Dirty thief! Give me back what you've stolen! 』
Pointing at him with her finger, Lina demanded what belonged to her and her father.
Some might consider it an exaggeration to go to such lengths over a bit of food, but in a village where every year people face difficulties in making their crops and businesses productive, it's understandable that the fruits of hard work are highly valued.
For this reason, a crime like this is not tolerated under any circumstances.
『Neizan: You're right that I'm a thief, but don't call me dirty. I'm quite clean; don't be fooled by appearances. 』
Closing one eye while furrowing his brow with the other, he gestured with his hand and brought the red apple to his mouth to take a bite.
『Lina: What? Cut the nonsense and get down here! I'm going to hit you with the broom until you see stars! 』
Lina threatened the boy, who simply ignored her, looking the other way. After a few seconds, and after eating the apple down to the core, he tossed the rest aside with a carefree gesture.
It was then that the boy looked her in the eyes again and asked:
『Neizan: What do you want? 』
『Lina: I already told you. 』
『Neizan: Well, then I wish you better luck next time. You know, don't fall asleep on the job. 』
He lifted the leg that was hanging off the roof and stood up, grabbing the dark bag he had left to the side and slinging it over his back.
『Lina: You little...! I hope you rot in jail! 』
Seeing this, Lina cursed him, feeling helpless that she couldn't reach him and reclaim what he had stolen, which was now inside that bag.
『Neizan: . . . 』
Observing the girl seriously, the thief turned away and gave her his back. After a moment, Lina realized he had already left, as he was no longer peeking from the roof.
『Lina: Ahh, idiot, idiot, idiot! 』
Frustrated, the girl threw the broom to the ground, jumped on it, and began to stomp on it, hitting it over and over again.
『???: Wow, what a bad temper. 』
Peeking his head back out of curiosity to see what Lina was doing, the boy commented on her attitude as she vented her frustration on the broom.
『Lina: Are you still there?! 』
『Neizan: Hahaha, I know. I'm leaving now. 』
With a mocking laugh at the sight of Lina's expression, he disappeared from that place, this time with no intention of returning.
He escaped effortlessly across the rooftops of the houses that connected with one another.
『Lina: Aaaah, what an idiot I am! What am I going to do now? 』
After venting her frustration, the girl headed back to her father's stall, staring at the ground with a look of regret.
『Lina: «What am I going to tell Dad? Months of hard work are going to waste because of that idiot.» 』
A little while later, Lina's father returned to the shop, dragging a cart full of supplies and merchandise.
When he noticed that many items were missing from the stall, he raised his eyebrows in astonishment and looked at Lina.
『Dad: Oooh, Lina. Who bought so many things from you? Tell me. 』
『Lina: ... 』
Lina fell silent for a moment, unsure of how to respond.
She knew she couldn't lie, even though she had no intention of doing so.
She could come up with an excuse or simply not answer, but she never acted that way with her father; deep down, she always respected him unless there was a clear reason not to.
『Dad: What's with that long face? Are you still angry? 』
The father wondered why Lina looked so downcast, so different from before. It wasn't just anger; it was a feeling of guilt that weighed on her heart.
『Lina: It's not that, I'm sorry. 』
Lina couldn't respond in any way other than with sincere apologies for not fulfilling what her father had entrusted her with.
Taking care of the store was her responsibility, but her naivety in thinking she could take a short break had left her post exposed and vulnerable.
Unfortunately, that had allowed someone to take advantage of her distraction.