Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

"Ah ~ Time flies!" Kiyokaze Tanaka said.

"It's already the second half of the semester."

She rested her chin on one hand and leaned lazily on Kanna Tomosuke's desk as usual.

Kanna Tomosuke nodded absent-mindedly. Her gray eyes stared blankly at the blue sky outside the window.

For her, her life in junior high was unbelievably peaceful.

Kanna didn't have a teacher who was filled with prejudice and anger towards her. She didn't have any classmates who treated her like air. Nor did she have Hoshi Hana who constantly wanted to make things difficult for her. Kanna's rather slow personality didn't seem to be the same as when she was in elementary school. Although she still didn't have many new friends, at the very least, she was no longer isolated or bullied. Sometimes, she even felt that the gray period of her past was nothing more than an overly realistic dream.

But the fear of the cat's meowing and the fireworks still reminded her that it was never a dream.

[Tsk, why am I daydreaming again?]

Kanna Tomosuke shook her head and stopped her wandering thoughts.

She looked down at the autumn uniform she was wearing. It was no longer the luxurious style of Yinghao Primary. It was just a simple sailor's uniform.

The environment had changed, and the pain was far away. Kanna Tomosuke couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, time has passed too quickly," she said softly.

"It's already autumn."

As she said that, she turned her head slightly and looked at Young Retainer, Bombardment Scorch, who was copying notes not far away.

[Well, there's still a long way to go.]

Kanna Tomosuke thought.

The second half of the first semester of junior high came without anyone noticing.

"Xiao Hong, let's go to Little Rock for the social practice this time!" Kanna Tomosuke said to Bombardment Scorch on the way back to school.

"Speaking of which, the last time Xiao Hong went there was a few weeks ago. Little Zongjie said something like 'Brother Scorching And Freezing will be angry if he doesn't come.'" She vividly imitated the boy's tone and successfully made Bombardment Scorch laugh.

"That kid …" Bombardment Scorch thought of the first time he saw the boy named Zongjie.

Both of his eyes had been removed, and he looked at him pitifully with two black eye sockets. His severely deformed face could not even make a simple smile.

He hugged himself and pulled at the corner of his clothes like a little beast begging for food, hopelessly and longingly waiting for even the slightest bit of care.

"Brother Scorching And Freezing!

Brother Scorching And Freezing! "

He always called himself that. His broken teeth and deformed face made his words unclear, but no one could mistake the joy and anticipation that overflowed from his words.

"Okay." He heard himself say that.

After a few weeks, he also hoped to see those strong little guys again.

"That's great!" Kanna Tomosuke was very happy. "Then this Saturday?

Grandma Suzuki said that she plans to take the older children to the Ocean Park this weekend. She said that if they have more contact with animals like dolphins and seals, it might be good for Xiao Ye and Xiao Ying — the two siblings with autism, do you still remember? "

"Also, Grandma Suzuki has already booked the tickets. She also left some for the two of us," she said excitedly.

"Okay." Bombardment Scorch also seemed to be interested. He nodded.

"Do you need me to prepare anything?"

Kanna Tomosuke shook her head.

"Just prepare yourself!"

Saying that, she revealed a sly smile. Her two small canine teeth made her look like a little fox.

Hong Jiao Leng was also driven to laugh.

"Okay, let's meet at the usual place?"

"Okay!"

However, on Saturday, at the agreed place — the bus stop not far from home that would allow them to catch a bus to the suburbs — Kanna Tomosuke did not see Bombardment Scorch.

The bus to the destination passed by one after another, but the figure of Young Retainer, who was never late, did not appear in front of her.

"Beep — Beep — Sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable." A mechanical response came from the phone.

Kanna Tomosuke sighed and put down the phone.

The phone could not be reached either.

Did something happen?

She thought worriedly.

The bus that had already been booked would pick up the children and the director at the designated time. She could not delay any longer.

Kanna Tomosuke took a deep breath and decided to go to Bombardment Scorch's house to take a look.

However, no matter how she knocked on Bombardment Scorch's window, no one answered.

In the end, it was Bombardment Scorch's sister, Hong Dongmei, who found Kanna Tomosuke.

"Kana Kobayashi, let's go. Don't wait. Father is checking the results of Scorching And Freezing's training." She whispered.

Kanna Tomosuke finally understood.

She didn't ask any more questions and quietly left the Hong Clan's residence.

Finally, she got on the bus to the social welfare center.

After thinking about it, she finally sent a message to Bombardment Scorch.

"I heard that Little Hong is training … I'm sorry, I can't help you with anything, but …" At this point, she stopped to think.

"Don't worry!

I'll help you stamp your social practice! "Her fingertips tapped lightly on the screen.

She pressed the "send" button.

Kanna Tomosuke put down her phone and looked out the window.

Well, it's a pity, but it doesn't matter.

There will always be a chance in the future.

She comforted herself.

…

When she finally arrived, the rented minibus was already waiting for her at the door.

The hospital director and the nurses were gathering the children who could not hide their excitement. After all, this was a rare benefit that the hospital director had saved up for a long time to give to the children.

"Ah, good morning. Kana Kobayashi is finally here!" The dean, who was standing at the gate, saw Kanna Tomosuke and greeted her warmly.

"The children were just asking … I was also worried that Kana Kobayashi would not come today."

"Hey, didn't Little Scorching And Freezing say that he would come today?" The dean looked behind Kanna Tomosuke and asked with some doubts.

"Ahahaha …" Kanna Tomosuke laughed dryly.

"He suddenly had something urgent to do today, so he can't come."

"But …" As she spoke, she moved closer to the dean and revealed a sly smile. "Grandma Suzuki ~ But as for Xiao Hong's social practice seal, I'll have to trouble you!

I'll make it up later!

Please! "After that, she put her hands together with a flattering look.

Suzuki couldn't help but laugh.

She stretched out a finger and poked Kanna Tomosuke's forehead, "You child … Well, I'll help you this time!

Next time, you must let Little Scorching And Freezing make it up, okay? "

Actually, she really liked how relaxed and lively Kanna was now. That was why she was willing to help her out with such a small favor.

"Okay!" Kanna Tomosuke nodded seriously.

The children laughed and joked around as they finally sat down on the minibus under the escort of the president and Kanna.

"Okay, children!

Are you ready to go to Ocean Park? "The dean clapped her hands and asked with a kind smile.

"We're ready!"

The children responded in unison, happily waving their thin and malnourished arms. Their thin and small faces were all brimming with the light of hope.

"Then, Master, we can go now!"

Kanna Tomosuke sat in her seat and said to the driver in the driver's seat with the same enthusiasm.

But the driver seemed to be completely unaffected by the joyful atmosphere in the car.

He just silently started the car and drove away from the orphanage.

In a flash, Kanna Tomosuke saw the man quickly glancing at her through the rearview mirror.

Those turbid and cold eyes were immersed in the shadows, revealing a vague and gloomy malice.

Kanna Tomosuke shuddered.

But when she looked at the rearview mirror again, the driver had already looked away.

His expression was blurred in the shadow of the visor, and nothing could be seen clearly.

Just now … Was it an illusion?

Kanna Tomosuke's heart suddenly surged with a bad premonition.

— She just hoped that nothing bad would happen.

Looking at the dean who had begun to squint his eyes and the children who were excitedly looking out of the window, Kanna Tomosuke could not help but frown and pray.

…

However, God did not seem to hear her prayer.

The bus did not go to the beach as they expected.

Thirty minutes later, the situation became more and more wrong.

The scenery outside the window became more and more desolate — the bus seemed to be speeding all the way out of the city.

"Sir, this is not the way to Ocean Park." Kanna Tomosuke reminded in a trembling voice.

She looked down at the mobile phone that could not receive the signal, and glanced at the scenery outside the window in a panic.

The bus was too fast.

If something really happened, it was impossible to jump out of the bus like in the movie — not to mention, there was still Grandma Suzuki and the children.

The road was in disrepair and had been abandoned for a long time. The galloping wheels ran over the broken road, and the old bus shook violently while stirring up billowing smoke.

Kanna was unable to see any signs of human habitation through the dust.

This made her even more uneasy.

The driver was silent for a second and stepped on the accelerator.

The engine of the bus made a buzzing roar, and his voice could not be heard clearly, "This is the way to Ocean Park — there won't be any traffic jams. It's close." He answered perfunctorily.

Hearing this, Kanai became more and more confused.

It was true that she had been to Ocean Park, but that was also a childhood memory — not to mention that this was the first time she set off from such a remote orphanage to go there.

For Kanna Tomosuke, who had lived near her home since she was a child, the periphery of the expanding city was as strange as another world.

… So, was this really the way to Ocean Park?

She was skeptical.

But after walking for so long, she did not even see the coast. Was this really normal?

There was also a mobile phone that could not receive a signal …

However, this was the bus rented by Grandma Suzuki.

She had always been reliable and always made the best choice for the children — so this time … there should be no problem, right?

With such a naive and lucky thought, Kanna Tomosuke stood up slightly and glanced in the direction of Grandma Suzuki, who was sitting in the front row.

Grandma Suzuki was a few rows away from Kanna, who was sitting in the middle, so Kanna couldn't see her face clearly. She could only vaguely confirm that Grandma Suzuki was still sitting in her seat, as if she was trying to prove to Kanna that she had been overthinking things.

Kanna Tomosuke looked around at the children in the bus.

They sat obediently in their seats, their curious eyes rolling around as they looked out the window, oblivious to her uneasiness and impatience.

While she was looking around, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes focusing on her.

She turned her head abruptly to look at the source of the gaze, but only saw the constantly retreating scenery reflected in the rearview mirror.

…

However, Dean Suzuki was not as calm as Kanai thought at the moment.

She closed her eyes slightly, trying to control her rapid breathing and heartbeat, and her old hands trembled under the cheap and rough fabric.

In fact, when Kanai asked that question and woke her up from the sleepiness of an old person, she already knew that things were not good. This was definitely not the way to Ocean Park, and the man driving the car did not look like a good person.

Why did she take advantage of the situation and believe this person's words?

She could not help but blame herself.

Why couldn't she be more suspicious of the price that was much lower than the market price?

"Hope to make a small contribution to charity" … The people living in the old district did not even have enough to eat. When did they become so generous?

…

I'm really old … I actually made such a fatal mistake.

She frowned and looked out of the window.

If something were to happen to the children, it would be his responsibility.

She could not help but think so.

Looking at the scenery outside the window, Dean Suzuki tried to recall her memories of the city over the past few decades.

Based on this route, the driver might take her and the children to the industrial area that was preparing to be demolished due to urban expansion. The workers there had already evacuated, and the empty factory buildings were waiting to be demolished. Then a new city district would be built on the empty space left behind.

She did not know what this person wanted to do by kidnapping these children.

She did not dare to think about it.

Dean Suzuki had quietly checked her phone. Obviously, there was no signal.

Without a signal, she could not call the police, and she could not get help from the heroes. Could she really protect the children?

Dean Suzuki thought bitterly.

If only … if only my sister could live longer.

Such a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

Her personality [Telepathy] was limited to real-time communication with her twin sister, unaffected by distance and environment. In the past, with this ability, she and her sister could support each other no matter how far apart they were.

In this way, it seemed that no matter how difficult or dangerous the situation was, they could safely pass through it.

But her sister passed away a few months ago.

Now, she had no one to rely on.

The pillar that supported her all her life had disappeared.

She, who was left behind, could only stagger alone in this bumpy world with her old legs.

However, how far could he go in such a state?

Could she really let the children escape from danger?

Just by relying on this old and sickly body of his?

Dean Suzuki once again questioned her heart.

She felt a sense of powerlessness that almost drowned her.

She took a deep breath.

If people knew that Dean Suzuki, who had always been firm and calm in front of others, was actually such a weak old woman, Kana Kobayashi would probably be surprised.

She could not help but laugh at herself in her heart.

Calm down, Grandma Dean.

She said to herself.

Now is not the time to be sad. Those children are still counting on you.

She clenched her hands, and the force of her nails digging into her palms helped her summon a little courage.

I have to find a way to make that person stop the car and call the police. I have to do something, old woman. You are not so old that you can't move. Do something!

Dean Suzuki thought so, quietly held the pepper spray in her handbag in her hand, and lifted the safety cap.

The next second, as if to embolden herself, she jumped up from her seat and stretched out her hand holding the pepper spray in the direction of the driver.

Before the driver could react, the irritating mist-like liquid had already landed on his face.

The driver groaned.

The car was still moving, but the route became chaotic.

The children in the car felt the unusual bumps and began to scream.

Success!

Dean Suzuki was overjoyed.

She blinked her teary eyes hard and endured the stimulation of her respiratory tract by the pepper spray in the air.

She tried to hold the steering wheel, trying to regain control of the minibus.

But her inexperience made her forget to check the driver's condition again.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

She did not even have time to figure out what happened.

In the midst of the screams, she saw a hideous face covered with green scales appear in front of her.

The two eyes on the face were covered with a layer of lizard-like membrane. At first glance, it looked like the eyes were rolled up.

She felt that she was pushed violently, and then her body fell to the ground uncontrollably.

There was only a moment of pain, and she could hear her decaying bones groaning.

She fell down the stairs on her back, and her head hit the glass of the front door heavily.

Blood dyed her white hair red, but she could no longer feel the pain.

In her last blurry vision, she seemed to see her sister's face — a face as wrinkled as hers.

"I'm sorry." She struggled to take another look at the children on the bus, but it was all in vain.

Her old heart beat violently for a while under the influence of the last adrenaline, and then suddenly stopped.

Her lifeless eyes were still staring at the shaking gray roof, and her hand was still holding the pepper spray that she had only used once.

"Grandma Suzuki?!" Everything happened too fast.

In just a few minutes, the atmosphere of panic began to spread uncontrollably in the car.

Kanna Tomosuke's eyes widened.

Everything that happened now was beyond her expectations and imagination.

She stared blankly at the man in front of her who had completely changed, and the blood in her body seemed to be completely frozen.