ch1-ch20 · 014-ch14

Chapter 14: Because

　I'm Todoroki Haruki, 22 years old.

　A fresh graduate, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, who just started working this spring.

　The job I chose? Transportation services. I go wherever I'm contracted—ryokans, day care centers, amusement parks, banquet halls... and pick up and drop off customers.

　The pay isn't great, but someone like me who's a bit socially awkward could never handle sales or customer service. And I've liked driving since I was a student, so it worked out perfectly.

　My seniors at work are pretty cool too, and I was thinking, yeah, I can make it work here. I was thinking that, anyway.

"...nnn-nnn-nnnn!"

　Next thing I know, my hands and feet are tied, my mouth is gagged with some cloth, and I'm rolling around in the back seat of my car—my partner in work.

　I was just finishing one of today's jobs, the shuttle to the nursing home, and before heading to the next job, I'd parked the car and was grabbing a coffee from a vending machine. Then this really burly old guy started bothering me. I remember up to that point.

　And then... my memory jumps, and next thing I know I'm sitting in the driver's seat, tied up and unable to move. There was some commotion in the back seat, but I couldn't see because I was blindfolded.

　Then my memory jumps again, and here I am now.

　I have no idea what's happening, but one thing is crystal clear.

　...I skipped work...

　Aaaaaargh, it's only been two weeks since I joined the company! I'm definitely getting fired! What is this!?

　Come to think of it, I've always been clumsy, ugly, and unlucky—nothing ever goes right for me.

　And this was the one workplace where I thought maybe, just maybe I could make it work! Dammit, what did I even do!?

　Eh, I was slacking off during work? N-no, that's not it! One of the seniors said it was fine to grab some tea from a vending machine!

　Ugh, what a mess. I grew up in the countryside, so I had no idea that designated cities were this dangerous. If I get fired, I'll just have to go back home... But it's too soon, I wonder if Dad will beat me up.

　Nah, even getting beaten up would be fine. It's better than being caught by some mysterious old guys. Seriously, what do they want with me anyway?

　...Hmm? What are they really planning to do with me?

　Huh? Maybe they're going to steal the car and sell it overseas? I've heard Japanese cars are popular! Come to think of it, those old guys didn't look very Japanese.

　If that's the case, they'd only need the car, so they'd get rid of the nuisance that is me...

"Mmmmmmmph-mmmph-mmph!!"

　―　◆　―

"Hey, something's making a racket in there. We're done with it, right? Should we take care of it?"

"Don't be stupid, we might still need that vehicle. Leave it be. It's just struggling uselessly."

　Saying some pretty terrifying things, the old guys are carrying me and Kiri over their shoulders.

　The reason Kiri and I are being carried so quietly is because the old guys are climbing some steep stairs. We must've climbed about a hundred steps by now. If we struggled and fell in a place like this, we'd crack our heads and die. Besides, our mouths are gagged and our hands are tied.

　We can't tell since we're being carried facing backward, but Yamanai-kun is probably walking in front. He had this vacant expression and was holding a plastic bag. He's probably being controlled, huh.

　And that rattling noise from earlier? That was coming from the white van parked at the bottom of the stairs.

　The driver was tied up, so maybe he's struggling to escape. I hope he manages to escape and call for help... But that's probably impossible. There doesn't seem to be anyone around here.

　These stairs... or rather, this place, I know it too. It's a run-down shrine. A place where people only come during festivals. We drove for about thirty minutes after that and came up into the mountains, but I could just barely manage with my local knowledge.

　While I was thinking about that, the old guy had finished climbing the stairs. Roughly three hundred steps. To climb that effortlessly while carrying a person... They've got some seriously strong legs.

"Big bro! We brought 'em!"

　The ridiculously tanned old guy holding Kiri shouts. We didn't "bring" them, you forcibly kidnapped us! Tell the facts accurately, or you'll get yelled at by your scary big bro.

"You're late."

　The one who emerged from the shadow of the shrine was a seriously intimidating old guy. These two guys are big too, but the "big bro" is even bigger. I bet he's at least 2 meters tall.

"Mmph!"

　Kiri and I are plopped down on the ground in a sitting position, and the big bro walks over with an arrogant stride.

　Then, he grabs my chin and forces my face up. Has there ever been a more unwelcome chin-lift in history?

"...So this is the Black Knight's daughter? She doesn't look like him. She's pretty short."

　Ouch. Called short again. Shut up, I've still got growing to do!

　...Wait, no.

　The shocking truth, revealed so nonchalantly. So Dad really is the knight!

　And he's the "Black Knight" no less. Another word that would make Kiri excited.

　I glance at Kiri out of the corner of my eye. Oh, right, this isn't the time to be excited. Of course, she looks terrified.

　Eh, am I not scared? ...Huh, now that you mention it, I'm not shaking. When I first got caught, I was much more scared.

　But right now, the old guy is too close and I'm worried he's going to spit on me. Get further away.

"Hmph, not shaking, huh? You might look like a pipsqueak, but you're the Black Knight's brat, alright. You've got some nerve."

　The Black Knight... right, so that really is Dad, huh.

　Oh, I've been feeling strangely calm since I saw Dad earlier.

　Since he saved Sumi... no, even before that, since the moment I saw Dad's figure.

　Even though I know that my lanky father couldn't possibly win against these muscular old guys.

　But for some reason, my heart just feels at ease.

　Even though Dad couldn't possibly have gotten here so quickly just because he stepped on the gas. Besides, there's no way he could know we've been brought here.

　Even so, Dad will come.

"---Aaaaaaiiiiiiiii!!"

　See? He's here!

　Not because he's the Black Knight. Because he's my dad!