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Sakura: Welcome home, Master!
Finished with the day's classes, I head home in a good mood, and Sakura is there to greet me just outside the house.
Reiji: I'm home. It's a little unusual for you to meet me here.
Sakura: Eheehee~
Sakura laughs as if she's planning something, and rubs her arms together behind her back as she approaches me.
Sakura: Actually, I wanted you to go on patrol with me, and I waited here a long time.
Reiji: With you?
Sakura: Yes. Master, you went out with Sayuki-chan yesterday and searched.
Sakura: You two just went off and left me, it's unfair!
...I see.
Apparently yesterday, Sakura was a little annoyed that Sayuki and I went on patrol without her, like we left her behind intentionally.
Reiji: It's fine isn't it? After all, you were with us when we went on patrol the other day weren't you?
Sakura: Sayuki-chan was there that day as well!
Sakura: Am I only able to go half the time?! If that's so, than you should treat Sayuki-chan the same!
...Somehow, I think she's getting things a little mixed up.
Reiji: (Sigh) I got it.
With a relieving sigh I move forward and lightly pop Sakura on the head.
Reiji: I'll go along on patrol with you today. Give me just a minute so I can change clothes.
Sakura: Really?! Yay!
Sakura bounces up and down innocently.
...We're not going out to mess around, we're going on patrol. I don't get why she looks so happy.
Sakura: Ah, look Master! It's a horned beetle!
Reiji: There's no way that kind of beetle is around here.
Sakura: It really is! Here, look!
Sakura: ...Ahaha, it's really disgusting~
Reiji: You...Aren't you a Sakura spirit? I didn't think you'd say such things to insects...
The beetle in question is on a tree by the side of the road, and Sakura goes over to it and pokes it with her finger like a
child would.
It's not unusual for something completely random on this island to capture Sakura's eye,
and every time it just ends up wasting time.
Sakura: (Stretch) Patrolling is fun.
At last seemingly satisfied, Sakura returns to me and stretches.
Reiji: ...Are you satisfied?
Sakura: Nn!
Sakura: (SMACK) Ow!
Reiji: I was being sarcastic...We're supposed to be seriously patrolling, not screwing around.
I turn to look at Sakura and give her a wide smile, and we start moving forward again.
Sakura: Uuuuuu. But, I'm just really happy that you're spending time with me, Master...
Reiji: Sorry to inform you, but I didn't come along to play with you.
With that, I hasten my pace to a slight trot, and Sakura has to quickly run after me to keep up.
Sakura: Well than, If I'm good on our patrol from now on, can we play later?
Reiji: Huh?
When I turn around, I find that Sakura is directly behind me, as she looks up at me and almost grabs my shirt.
Reiji: ...You have way too much free time on your hands while Sayuki and I are at school...
Because she looks so desperate for attention, those words involuntarily spill out of my mouth in sympathy.
Reiji: I got it...If we can play a bit today, will you promise to take this patrol seriously?
I raise my arms in a gesture of giving up, since I'm too tired to deal with her like this right now.
Sakura: Really? When would be a good time?
Reiji: Right now.
Sakura: Now is no good! I want you to promise me a better time!
Reiji: You're a little too close...
Apparently not happy with my answer, Sakura's face closes in close to mine.
Sakura: How about tomorrow?
Since I appear to be so indecisive, Sakura suggests that to me.
Certainly, tomorrow is Founder's Day, so there would be plenty of time. However...
Reiji: Sorry, but tomorrow is out. I'm going to the sea tomorrow.
Sakura: ...Eh?
Hearing my answer, Sakura stops moving.
After a moment...
Sakura: EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHH?!
She shouts an ear-splitting scream right at my face.
Sakura: Y-You're going alone?!
Reiji: Of course I'm not going to the sea alone, that would be lonely...I'm defintely not going by myself.
Sakura: Y-You can't just go on a date to the sea just like that! Just who are you going with, Master?!
Reiji: Hey, who said I was going with only one other person? I'm going to sea with a number of people.
Sakura: Than, who are you going with?!
Reiji: Let's see...There's Satomura, Suzushiro and Amamiya, and also Sayuki and Miki...
Reiji: Oh, and Ryuichi as well.
Sakura: That's everyone!!! That's nearly everyone I know!!!
Holding her head, Sakura moves around strangely.
Sakura: ...(Gasp) Everyone else is gathered, but why was I the only one not invited?!
Reiji: Well, you weren't there, were you?
Sakura: I wasn't there?! If I knew, I would have immediately come running! I'll even be everyone's parasol!
Reiji: You wouldn't be welcome if you played such a role.
Apparently thinking she was intentionally left out, Sakura's eyes are watering, and her eyes and body language are literally
saying "please take me, please take me".
Reiji: ...Do you really want to go?
Sakura: I want to go!
Sakura immediately moves closer to me with a smile as she says that.
Reiji: But still, it's not like I should decide something like this by myself...
Sakura: It'll be fine! If you're worried about an extra seat or something, I'll just sit with you, Master!
Reiji: What the hell are you talking about...
As we come to the front of the Kajiura Shrine, Sakura is still talking about the sea.
Sakura: Please, Master! I really want to go to the sea with everyone!
Reiji: (Sigh)
I sigh, my patience finally having worn out.
Reiji: It can't be helped. I'll ask Satomura if you can come.
Sakura: Really?!
Reiji: I'm sure she'll say she won't like it, but she'll probably let you come.
Sakura: Yay! Thank you Master!!
Shouting that, Sakura runs about me in complete joy.
...Well, it is my fault for carelessly talking about the sea in front of Sakura.
Considering that she's really wanted to go there, and than to be left out (even if unintentionally)
I can see why she's so happy now.
Reiji: I got it, but please don't too carried away alright? Think of everyone else around you.
Sakura: Roger!
Sakura: ...Feh?
Reiji: Than, if you find something strange tomorrow, please don't chase after it, alright?
Reiji: If you get lost or something you'll only end up being a nuisance to everyone, not just me...Wait, what?
While I'm talking about the sea, and explaining how I don't want her to behave, Sakura runs away towards something.
Reiji: What is it, Sakura? ...Is it an enemy?!
Saying that, I immediately settle into a guarded stance.
...However.
Sakura: Ahahahaha! How cute~~
In a completely carefree voice, Sakura shouts that happily.
Reiji: What the, and I thought it was a threat...Don't go running off like that, I'll think it's something serious...
Sakura: Here Master, look-look!
While I approach, grumbling and complaining, Sakura points to her feet.
Reiji: Alright, let's just see exactly what this is...
Reiji: ...Oh?
At Sakura's feet is a dog.
Sakura: Ahaha! Master, it's a dog! A dog!
Sakura: Look-look, it's REALLY cute~~~
Sakura's eyes sparkle like stars. Apparently she really loves small animals.
Reiji: You look really happy...Do you like dogs?
Sakura: Nn! I love dogs!
Sakura looks so excited she's about to jump out of her skin, and she reaches a hand out to the dog.
Reiji: Hey, that's dangerous.
Sakura: It's alright. This one is really quiet right? I've sure he'll forgive me if I pet him a little bit~
Certainly the dog doesn't appear agitated, and because we're at the Shrine he looks like a guardian almost.
Maybe he's already used to being around people?
Sakura: Eheehee, He's so calm.
Sakura says so and pats the dog's head.
However...
Sakura: TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
Reiji: Ooh?!
The dog suddenly opens it's mouth and clamps down on Sakura's hand like a steel trap.
Sakura: It hurts! It hurts!! Help me Master!!!
Sakura stands up and tries to shake the dog loose, but the dog doesn't come loose.
Even though at first it looks like it's really bad for the dog, being shaken like that,
in truth Sakura isn't shaking all that hard.
Reiji: Geez, that's why I told you it was dangerous...Here, let go.
When I help, Sakura's hand is easily freed from the dog's mouth.
Sakura: Huuu...That was like hell...
Sakura cried as she rubbed the hand the dog had bitten.
Reiji: You're the one at fault here. It's because your a total stranger to that dog.
Sakura: Uuu...I only tried to pet him on the head, and a dog that I love bit my hand...
Sakura: I can't live anymore!!
Apparently the shock was really large for her, and Sakura looks like she just wants to die at any moment.
Reiji: I got it...I understand your feelings, but don't die. If you die, I go with you remember?
I comfort Sakura as we head back to the house.
After all, it seems this patrol was a failure anyway...That, and I can't exactly expect to have a meaningful search if I have
Sakura crying into the cuff of my shirt the whole way. That would be really cruel.