Hikari fumbled in the plastic bag, and took out the scuffs. She looked hard
at the backs of them in her hands.
"The sizes are different," Hikari smiled at the man, leaning her elbows upon
the table. "Look," she said to him, putting the backs of scuffs together. "It
cannot be mistaken."
She sometimes received harassment. Again, when the scuffs she purchased were found to be uneven immediately, she guessed it must be the salesclerk who can have done it.
Suddenly the man turning pale in alarm jumped to his feet, snatched the scuffs from her hands, and started running toward the door grabbing them together. She was dumbfounded. The eyes of waitpersons and visitors returned through the windows after searching for the man's figure stabbed her cheeks.
"You shall die." She browbeat in her heart the enemy when the head of the snake was observed in the middle of the dish. But she did not really mean it. She had no idea who should be convicted: waiter, or someone in the kitchen. Public attention also worried her. There was a possibility of being an innocent unfortunate fault left. She did not have the courage for finding out the truth. If you respond to every bad turn, you'll injure your health. The idea worked as her excuse not to take actions. However, there is no way that she can forgive the man. He gave a helping hand to her. Then, he went away without warning when she was getting to trust him.
Although Madoka tried to choose the way where she is able to live better, the purpose broke down because of the hesitation of none other than Hikari. To atone for it, Hikari is required to commit a brutality Madoka did. But she still cannot make up her mind as to carry it out actually. The sudden encounter with the unpardonable man was considered a good chance, for she was looking for a reason to carry it out. Running after the man within hailing distance, Hikari made the resolution.
The man ran to the edge of the pier. Brightness like a blade of a razor flashed beyond his back. A fish uses its tail and weaves through sea surface. The man released smoothly the scuffs to the sea.
