CH 1

“Here, take it! It’s to commemorate your victory over me!”

A girl handed over a scrap of paper with a large smile on her face.

The boy accepted it and looked it over. His smiling facade dropped, exposing his surprise.

“　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　”1

Through the girl’s next words, the boy learned that for the first time he had lost.

The girl cast a backward glance at the dazed boy, cheerfully bid him farewell, and waved her hand as she disappeared into the alleyway.

The boy hurried after her, but what he saw at the entrance of the alley wasn’t the girl but crowds of people passing through.

—The boy could only tightly grip the scrap of paper, a clue, in his hand.