At that dry word, like autumn leaves, Kisa froze stiff.

A gaze that seemed indifferent to her. It felt just like her slightly intimidating father.

Moreover, seeing it up close, the red hair hidden under the hat came into view.

The hair color identical to the attending physician who had announced her mother’s death. The color Kisa hated.

“Th-that…”

Under the urging gaze, the child opened her mouth as if pushed.

“Well…”

But she closed her mouth without managing to say anything.

The boy then lost interest in Kisa and turned his attention to the newspaper in his hand.

Kisa stood awkwardly in place, observing the boy’s demeanor.

‘He looks smart.’

Though he seemed only three or four years older than Kisa, the boy’s every action was mature, and this sight strangely encouraged Kisa.

She too had to pull herself together. She had to find her precious friend, Whiskers Jack.

“Ah, hello!”

Kisa opened her mouth again and spoke energetically.

“Thanks for helping me earlier. Thanks to you, I wasn’t caught by that man.”

The boy, keeping his eyes fixed on the newspaper, replied without any boasting in his attitude.

“Not really. I was just annoyed by the noise disturbing my thoughts.”

“I-I see? Thanks anyway.”

“Whatever.”

Though the other party showed no intention of continuing the conversation, Kisa persisted and spoke again.

“By the way, have you seen Whiskers Jack?”

“Jack?”

“He hasn’t come to our house since the day before yesterday! Until now, he came to our house every day to eat, but this is the first time this has happened! I wonder if something happened?”

At that, the boy finally lifted his head and met Kisa’s eyes.

“Can’t you just contact him?”

“Can you contact cats too?”

“…When talking about such things, it would be nice if you at least mentioned first that Jack is a cat.”

The boy let out a small sigh and then turned to the next page of the newspaper.

“Anyway, I haven’t seen him. I’m here for the first time today in the first place.”

“I-I see.”

The conversation broke off again, and time passed.

How many minutes had passed? The boy sent a somewhat uncomfortable glance towards Kisa.

“Hey, you. How long are you going to stay like that?”

“Huh?”

“People keep glancing this way because of you.”

“Because of me?”

“Those clothes that look expensive at a glance naturally draw attention. That man from earlier probably followed you thinking he could make a profit seeing your attire.”

At those words, Kisa looked at the clothes she was wearing.

To Kisa, it was an ordinary dress she often wore, but hearing the boy’s words, she realized it did look different from what the people around were wearing.

As Kisa regretted her mistake, the boy shook his head.

“Next time you run away from home, at least get cheap clothes like mine.”

“R-run away? I didn’t run away from home. I just came out for a moment to look for Jack.”

“That’s what people usually call running away. Anyway, if you’re looking for a cat, try somewhere else. It doesn’t seem to be here.”

The answer came after a slight pause.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“I don’t know where to go.”

As Kisa said this with a dejected look, the boy asked in a perplexed voice.

“Where might that cat go?”

“I don’t know.”

“…And you still left home without a plan? You’re as irresponsible as that guy.”

That guy? As Kisa tilted her head in confusion, she realized her legs were aching.

Come to think of it, as soon as she left the Banspelt mansion, she encountered a suspicious man, and feeling instinctive fear at his smile, she ran non-stop to this place.

She had been standing ever since, so it was no wonder her delicate legs were hurting.

As the seat next to the boy was empty, Kisa stood on her tiptoes and sat on the edge of the fountain with an “oof.”

Then, glancing at Kisa who had arbitrarily taken the seat beside him, she asked him something she was curious about.

“Who’s ‘that guy’?”

“There is one. Born from the same parents, but in many ways, incomprehensible.”

If born from the same parents, wasn’t that a sibling?

It seemed the boy referred to his sibling in a somewhat peculiar way.

“I have a younger brother. But this time he stayed in the territory and didn’t come up to the capital with me. Father says there’s no need for a brother without a fiancée to come to the capital yet.”

“So you’re brought along because you need to get close to your fiancée. Well, it must be nice not seeing your brother.”

“It’s not nice. He’s a brat who acts up all the time, but it feels empty without him.”

“Oh, really?”

Kisa looked at the boy answering half-heartedly and carefully asked.

“Did you run away because you dislike your brother?”

“Of course not. Not for such a ridiculous reason.”

“Then?”

The boy wore a disinterested expression as if wondering why he had to explain this, but he answered anyway.

“Adults want children to act mature, but if they act too childish, they find it strange. Sometimes this is necessary too. I learned it from watching that guy.”

What could this mean?

Kisa couldn’t understand what the boy was saying, but not wanting to look stupid, she nodded vaguely.

“I see. I understand.”

Whether Kisa did or not, the boy put down his newspaper and stared at the people passing by on the street, then abruptly asked a question.

“…So? How long are you going to stay here? Weren’t you looking for a cat?”

“Hmm, where could the cat be?”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t even know what the cat looks like.”

“It’s really cute! It meows and usually doesn’t come close, but when you give it food, it quickly approaches and eats deliciously.”

“That’s not a clue at all.”

“And it’s white with black patterns, especially the markings on its nose look like whiskers. Also, there’s a long scar on its right eye.”

“That does sound quite distinctive.”

After a while, thinking her legs must be fine now, Kisa stood up.

Honestly, it was disappointing not to have gotten much information from the boy, but somehow looking at this smart child made her feel like she should make an effort too.

He didn’t seem much older than Kisa, yet he had successfully run away and showed no signs of fear in an unfamiliar place.

‘I should find Jack on my own instead of relying on others!’

With renewed determination, Kisa was about to say goodbye to the boy before leaving.

“Thank you. I’ll be going now. Maybe later-”

“Hey, little one.”

But at that moment, someone approached them and grabbed Kisa’s shoulder.

“Are you lost? Shall I help you find your parents? Come on, tell me your parents’ names.”

The middle-aged woman wore a kind expression, but Kisa’s face stiffened.

It might have been just a feeling, but the woman gave off a similar vibe to the man she had barely avoided earlier with the boy’s help.

“Um… I… that is…”

As Kisa was wondering if she should run away again, she heard a clicking tongue.

The boy, who had stood up, grabbed Kisa’s arm and pulled her towards him.

“She’s my sister, and I’ll take care of her, so you don’t need to worry.”

Taking advantage of the woman’s surprise at his sharp words, the boy quickly led Kisa away from there.

Entering a deserted back alley, he stopped walking and looked down at Kisa, muttering.

“I told you that outfit draws attention.”

As it was indeed her fault, Kisa lowered her head weakly.

But now it was too late to go back home to change clothes and sneak out again, so what should she do?

“Here.”

But the boy suddenly took off the coat he was wearing and handed it to Kisa.

“It’s a long coat, so it should be less noticeable if you wear this.”

“Is it really okay?”

The autumn weather was quite chilly.

“It’s fine. I won’t catch a cold from this much.”

Come to think of it, Daniel too often threw off his coat saying it was stuffy and then ran around playing.

“Thank you.”

Kisa, saying thanks for who knows how many times, put on the boy’s coat.

“Ah.”

In the process, the scarf she had originally been wearing around her neck fell to the ground.

“You’re clumsy.”

The boy picked up the fallen scarf, dusted it off, and then wrapped it around Kisa’s neck.

For some reason feeling shy, Kisa grinned.

The boy looked at Kisa expressionlessly.

“…The young lady of the Banspelt family seems to lack caution.”

“Huh? How did you know our family? Did I mention it?”

“You couldn’t have come far with your pace, and among the families with mansions in this area, there’s only one with a girl about your age.”

Wow. Kisa unconsciously opened her mouth in admiration at the boy’s clever deduction.

‘As expected, this person might quickly find out where Whiskers Jack is!’

Thinking this, Kisa quickly abandoned her earlier firm resolve to find Jack alone and asked the boy with both hands clasped. To find Jack together.

“Hmm.”

The red-haired boy, who seemed like he would refuse immediately, stroked his chin for a moment.

“Alright. I don’t mind going along with you for about two hours from now.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ve finished reading the newspaper anyway, so I have nothing to do. It would be strange to go back home before sunset after running away.”

The boy glanced somewhere as he said this.

“And if I stay still in one place for too long, those people might get restless.”

“Those people?”

“There are some. People secretly watching to make sure the precious young master doesn’t get into trouble.”

Even after the explanation, Kisa looked puzzled, not knowing who he meant, but her mood was soaring nonetheless.

Let’s quickly find Jack.