Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Yamada Ryo peeked out from behind Nekoyashiki Haru.

"Alright, we've arrived. Let's move forward."

"...Did you just hear the door open?"

"I pried it open; we're in front of an abandoned house now."

"...Did we go that far?"

"Believe me."

Yamada Ryo's resolute voice rang out.

Nekoyashiki Haru hesitated for a moment, then stopped talking and walked forward.

"!!"

Seeing Nekoyashiki Haru walking towards her, Ijichi Nijika immediately dodged to the side.

"...She's really inside..."

Feeling the unique texture of the wooden floor beneath her feet, Nekoyashiki Haru remarked in surprise.

"I won't lie to you."

"…Yeah…"

Nekoyashiki Haru tilted her head.

"So what should I do next? Just stay with you?"

"Ah."

Yamada Ryo nodded, then looked at Ijichi Nijika standing to the side.

"!?"

What are you doing?!

His crimson eyes conveyed this message to Yamada Ryo.

Hey.

Yamada Ryo's golden eyes conveyed a smile.

An uncontrollable surge of anger rose in Ijichi Nijika's heart. Suddenly, something was handed to Ijichi Nijika's hand.

"?"

Looking down at the chain in her hand, she looked up to see Yamada Ryo's thumb, then glanced at the chain connecting to Nekoyashiki Haru...

"?!"

Ichi Nijika opened her eyes wide.

Do you want me to lead it?

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Exposure

"...Yamada-kun...are you still there?"

After taking a few steps forward, but not hearing Yamada Ryo's voice, Nekoyashiki Haru felt a little uneasy.

"I'm here, don't worry."

Yamada Ryo, who was standing next to Ichiji Nijika, said.

"That's good. Just don't leave me behind and run away."

Nekoyashiki Haru breathed a sigh of relief.

"... "

Ichi Nijika kept looking down at the chain in her hand.

Holding a kitten on a leash...

There's something... off about it?

Ijichi Seika, sitting on the living room sofa, looked up in confusion.

Then I saw Iji Chi Nikka, who was walking with Nekoyashiki Haru and had a flushed face, and Yamada Ryo, who was expressionless.

"?!?!"

Ijichi Hoshika opened her eyes wide.

“n…”

As soon as she uttered a sound, Yamada Ryo, quick as a flash, pounced on her and covered Ijichi Seika's mouth.

"?!"

The sudden change in the surrounding sounds instantly put Nekoyashiki Haru on alert.

"What's wrong, Yamada-san? Are you in danger? I think I just heard a voice?"

"It was an old cat. It was probably living here in retirement and we scared it away, so it ran away."

"...A cat..."

Nekoyashiki Haru felt slightly relieved.

Ijichi Hoshika glared angrily at Yamada Ryo.

What does "old cat" mean?!?!

Yamada Ryo quickly pointed to Ijichi Nijika.

Ijichi Seika paused for a moment, then looked at Ijichi Nijika.

The girl was gripping the chain tightly, her head down, and remained silent.

"... "

Ijichi Hoshika calmed down.

"... "

Yamada Ryo slowly released his hand.

"Ahem, now we're going to start exploring, little cat, stay close."

Yamada Ryo's voice rang out.

"OK…"

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded, then leaned closer to the chain.

"!"

Suddenly sensing the boy approaching from behind, Ichiji Nijika's eyes widened.

"Okay, let's go."

Yamada Ryo said from the sofa. Ijichi Niji Natsu was taken aback, then pulled Nekoyashiki Haru and walked around.

"...Can inspiration really come from a place like this?"

Nekoyashiki Haru hesitated.

"That's what inspiration is."

Yamada Ryo nodded from the sofa.

"...Is your voice a little far away from me?"

Nekoyashiki Haru suddenly frowned.

"And the direction seems to be..."

"!"

Yamada Ryosuke looked at Ijichi Seika.

"?!"

Why are you looking at me?

Yamada Ryo's lips moved.

[Think of a solution quickly.]

"?!"

Ijichi Seika opened her eyes wide, then turned to look at Ijichi Nijika, who was standing in front of Nekoyashiki Haru looking a little lost.

Tsk…

"Meow...meow!!!"

With a blush on her face, Ijichi Seika shouted loudly, while Yamada Ryo took the opportunity to quietly climb to Nekoyashiki Haru's position and then stood next to Ijichi Nijika.

"...?"

Nekoyashiki Haru tilted her head.

"Old Cat is back."

Yamada Ryo said calmly.

"...Isn't the sound of this cat a little off?"

"Old cats meow like that, they must have a bad voice."

"!"

Click click click…

Ijichi Hoshika clenched her fists tightly.

"...Yamada-kun, you're not kidding me, are you?"

Haru Nekoyashiki already sensed that something was wrong.

"Haven't you finished finding inspiration yet? I want to go back as soon as possible..."