CH 29

It happened a few seconds after Toma had evacuated the breathless woman.

“Ring ring,”

The doorbell announcing a customer’s arrival chimed, and a tall, blonde man showed up in the shop.

“Welcome,”

“Hey, there’s something I want to ask. Did a woman come here alone?”

“A woman, you say?”

“…!”

As soon as the woman heard the man’s voice, she reacted by grabbing the hem of Toma’s pants. Toma immediately realized that this man was the one pursuing the woman in hiding.

“No, she hasn’t come… but what happened? It seems like you’re out of breath.”

“N-no, never mind. Sorry to bother you.”

“Ring ring,”

The blonde man quickly retreated, sticking to his poker face, and the doorbell chimed again as he closed the door.

“Phew… Thank you,”

Just as the woman was about to stand up from the counter, Toma placed his hand on her head and signaled her to “Don’t move.”

“Ring ring,”

The persistent doorbell chimed again, and the man from earlier appeared at the entrance of the shop.

“What can I help you with?”

“Che, nothing.”

The blond man, who had launched a feint with the expectation that there would be a woman in this store, left without hiding his frustration.

If Toma had not noticed the shadow he saw through the crack in the door, he would have been in the worst situation now.

“… “

“…”

-Silence for a while.

“He’s gone now. You can relax.”

“Oh, thank you…”

“No problem.”

The woman crouching at the counter looks up at Toma and they exchange a few words while he lowers his head.

“Um, by the way… Can you remove your hand from my head? I can’t stand up.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

It was an impromptu action to protect the woman, and only now did he realize what he had done after being pointed out.

“Um, it’s not that I didn’t like it, so don’t worry about it. More importantly, I really appreciate your help. I never thought he would try to feint me like that…”

“I didn’t think so either.”

Coughing softly, Toma moves away from the woman behind the counter.

“Excuse me, can I ask you something? Do you have some time now?”

“I do, but why?”

“I thought it might be a good idea for you to stay here for a while to avoid that guy who was just here.”

“Well, I appreciate your offer, but I can’t stay here because I left my wallet at home. Ha ha…”

The woman scratches her cheek, looking apologetic with a downturned corner of her mouth.

She knows there is no doubt that the man is still in the vicinity, but she is putting the store’s convenience first by declining the offer. It is not an easy decision to make.

“Would you like orange juice or apple juice to drink?”

“But, my wallet…”

Yes, that’s why Totsuma couldn’t just abandon her. If he made a decision on his own and upset the owner, Miki, he would have to face her wrath… even if he had to prepare himself for it.

“Which one would you like? Orange juice?”

“Sigh. You have a kind face, but you’re quite pushy, aren’t you?”

“I apologize.”

“Well, I guess I’ll have the orange juice. Thank you so much for everything.”

“You’re welcome, just a moment please.”

After seating the woman at the counter, Toma stepped back behind the counter and retrieved the orange juice from a shelf below the wall. He needed to report to the owner of the bar, Shine, about what had happened.