Chapter 8: A Rumor in the Neighborhood

After leaving the school, the two leisurely made their way back home.

They walked in silence. Most people might have considered the situation awkward, but Theo didn’t mind. In fact, he had a content smile plastered onto his face. With the setting sun in the background and Shirley by his side, he truly believed that this world was one hundred times better than the hell called Mistelhan.

He fondly recalled the route that they used to take to get to his house.

It was a twenty-minute walk that guided them through a few of the neighborhood’s ‘landmarks’, if you could really call them that. The first notable location was the miniature man-made lake. It was a popular destination for many young couples and elderly citizens. After passing the lake and taking a few more turns around the neighborhood, they would then arrive at a small playground. The playground was relatively old, but surprisingly well maintained.

Theo had several memories of him as a child playing in that playground, although most of those memories were vague and uncertain, long eroded by the passage of time.

They quickly arrived at the lake. The water’s surface was tainted with soft orange light. A couple of geese rested along the shore. To his surprise, there were no young couples discreetly making out or elderly old men feeding the fowl.

He did not pay it much attention before the two continued on their way. Just as he was about to take the first turn towards the playground, Shirley suddenly tugged on his sleeve.

“Not there,” She shook her head and pointed in another direction. “We should go the other way, in the direction of the swimming pool.”

He subconsciously frowned. If he was remembering things correctly, then the new route that took them towards the pool was considerably longer than the former. In fact, it would add an additional fifteen minutes to reach home that way. Why would Shirley insist on taking the longer way home?

It surely isn’t because she wants to spend more time with me, right?

“But don’t we usually cut through the park?” He straightforwardly asked. “It should be quicker that way.”

She shook her head again. “Well, I know its quicker, but… things changed. We can’t go there.”

“Why though?”

Shirley hesitated for a moment. She pursed her lips, before she eventually said, “It’s not safe there anymore.”

“Not safe? What, the park?”

“Yeah,” she nodded. “You might not know this because you’ve been gone for so long, but lately, the neighborhood’s been a little dangerous. In fact, it’s not just the neighborhood. I’m pretty sure that almost half the district’s unsafe these days.”

“Alright, quit trying to be vague.” He dismissively responded. “Why is it so dangerous?”

Theo’s picture of danger involved seven-headed dragons and armies of inhuman abominations. If it didn’t have at least two or three undead necromancers, then it couldn’t really be counted as anything too dangerous. He truly couldn’t imagine what sort of danger existed within this seemingly peaceful neighborhood.

Hearing his contemptuous response, Shirley pursed her lips. She bitterly glared at his face, before saying, “Delinquents.”

“Delinquents?” Theo scrunched his brow in confusion. “You mean like thugs? The ones that pick on kids and smoke cigarettes behind the school building? That type of delinquent? Seriously?”

She punched his shoulder in irritation. Why can’t this blockhead understand?

“What do you mean, ‘seriously’?” Delinquents are plenty dangerous!” She retorted, openly despising Theo’s carefree attitude. She hesitated for a moment, before she explained, “Most public schools have a few delinquents, that’s not really a big secret. Even a private school like Valery Heights is no exception, but lately… lately, it feels like the number’s been increasing, like there are more delinquents walking around town than there are actual normal people. Also, there’s been rumors. They say that mobsters have settled down in the area. Near the neighborhoods and supermarkets. The mob’s been actively extorting the district, and even recruiting more members into their gang.”

“What’s with that? It sounds like something straight out of a movie.” Theo couldn’t help but comment.

“Well, it’s one hundred percent serious! Could you please at least act like you’re a little bit worried?”

“Well, I’m not really worried.” He lightly responded. Please, what sort of Hero would I be if some two-bit gang could scare me so easily like that?

Just then, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. Theo’s expression grew somber as he turned towards Shirley. After a moment’s pause, he seriously asked, “Have they done anything to you?”

“Me?” She widened her eyes in surprise. “No, they haven’t. I’m not stupid, I know how to be careful, but…” She abruptly lowered her voice and leaned closer to his ear, “S-some students have already gotten hit on their way home from school. Even a few teachers were targeted. Most get robbed or extorted, but sometimes, the female students, they do... um, other… other stuff…”

“Alright, I know what you mean, no need to say anything else.” Theo hurriedly interrupted, as he dismissively waved his hand in the air.

Shirley’s expression reddened. She lowered her head and stared at the passing sidewalk. She inwardly counted her footsteps.

The duo walked in silence for a while.

A small frown twisted his lips. As time passed, his frown only grew deeper. Eventually, he could not control himself any longer. He suddenly said, “It really doesn’t sound safe walking around here in the afternoon. Shirley, are you sure you’re fine? Don't you walk home every day? Also, you have club, don’t you? Doesn’t that mean you’re going home later and later?”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine, aren’t I?” Shirley patted her chest reassuringly. Theo instinctively stared. He couldn’t quite tell how large it was on account of her baggy sweater, but he was more than certain that Shirley had undergone quite a major growth spurt during his seven months of absence. Calling her a well-endowed young lady wasn’t that much of an exaggeration anymore.

Unaware of the thoughts that plagued his mind, she continued, “Besides, the club president usually drives me home after school. In fact, today’s actually the first time I’ve walked home in a while. See, you don’t have to worry about a thing.”

Club President?

For some reason, Theo pictured a stereotypical guy in glasses. Someone with good conversational skills and even better grades. Neatly dressed, a sideswiped haircut, and maybe just a little bit more handsome than average.

Such a guy… was Shirley really spending her afternoons hanging out with a guy like that?

Imagining Shirley with someone, with someone other than him, with a guy other than him… to his surprise, he felt a lot more uncomfortable about that idea than he first anticipated. Was it jealousy, or was he simply being overprotective towards his one and only childhood friend? Before he could answer that question, Shirley suddenly chimed in.

She looked over at Theo’s sinking facial expression, and simply assumed that he had not been convinced by her earlier argument. She tried once more to reassure him.

She turned towards Theo and let out a small smile. “Really, you’ve always been a worrywart, Theo. Come on, trust me. I survived while you were gone for seven months, I know how to handle myself.”

Knowing exactly the sort of personality that she possessed, Theo was more than just a little reluctant to agree with her statement. Plus, there was still that whole issue with the unknown club president guy that she hung out all the damn time. After an extended period of silence, he eventually nodded his head, albeit begrudgingly. “I can’t say that I’ll completely stop worrying, but I’ll at least try to worry less.”

“And that’s all I ask for.” She smiled sweetly and clung onto his arm even tighter than before.

He shook his head in response. Despite agreeing with her just a second ago, Theo’s inner thoughts played out quite differently. Once I get some of my abilities back, I should probably place a tracking spell on her or maybe a sigil of warning…

“I’m actually a bit more worried about you.” Shirley suddenly commented.

“Me?”

“Yeah, you were gone for a long time. Is your body okay? Did you go to the hospital to get your physical yet? Have you been eating properly? I feel like you’ve lost a bit of weight since the last time I saw you.”

Theo couldn’t help but laugh at her concern. She sounded like a nagging stay-at-home mother evaluating her child after he had just gotten back from summer camp. “And what about you? Are you sure you haven’t been eating a little bit too much?”

He chuckled to himself, his gaze ambiguously staring at her body.

Shirley tilted her head in confusion for a moment, before she followed his gaze, and quickly realized just what it was he was looking at. Her face immediately blushed. A tinge of red colored her cheeks and crept all the way up to the tips of her ears.

She reflexively released his arm and covered her chest with both of her hands. Shirley glared hatefully at the rather lecherous expression on his face, all the while saying, “It looks like your disappearance turned you into a big pervert.”

Theo simply shrugged at her comment. If you only knew the sort of thing I experienced, then you’d quickly realize that kind of comment is already me being reserved.

Shirley let out a quiet “Hmph!”, before she turned her head away and distanced herself from Theo. Of course, her anger did not last long. About half a minute later, the two were already back to walking side by side.

After a while, the duo suddenly stopped. A gloomy expression colored both of their faces.

“w-why are they here?” Shirley worriedly stated, as she subconsciously grabbed onto the hem of Theo’s shirt.

As for Theo, he bitterly laughed to himself. “Wow… honestly, what sort of shitty luck do I have?” He straightforwardly stared at the sight before his eyes.

The back of his head throbbed. He could feel it. Something seriously annoying was about to happen.