The evening streets were as busy as always.
People walked in every direction.
Children laughed while running after each other.
Shopkeepers called customers to their stores.
Cars and bikes filled the roads with endless noise.
Kakashi walked quietly through the crowd with his hands inside the pockets of his black hoodie.
His expression remained calm.
But something…
Didn’t feel right.
He slowed his steps.
“…” A strange feeling settled deep inside him.
It wasn’t fear.
It wasn’t danger.
It was…
Familiar.
He looked around without making it obvious.
The people around him looked completely ordinary.
Office workers.
Students.
Families.
No one seemed suspicious.
“…What is this feeling?” For the first time since arriving in this world…
His instincts were warning him.
Yet he couldn’t understand why.
He continued walking.
Trying to ignore the uneasy feeling.
— Meanwhile…
My younger sister and I finally finished buying everything Mom had written on the shopping list.
I stretched my arms with a smile.
“Done!” Just then, I noticed an ice cream cart nearby.
I looked at my sister with a mischievous grin.
“Want some ice cream?” Her eyes sparkled.
“Really?” “Of course.” She folded her arms dramatically.
“If you’re paying.” I placed a hand over my heart.
“Oh…” “So that’s your condition?” “Fine.” “I’ll buy one for myself.” “You don’t get any.” She immediately grabbed my arm.
“Arre, Didi!” “That’s not fair!” I tried my best not to laugh.
“It was your idea.” She made the cutest puppy face.
“Please…” “I want one too.” I finally laughed.
“Okay, okay.” “I was only teasing you.” She smiled proudly.
“I knew you’d say yes.” “No, you didn’t.” “…Maybe not.” Both of us laughed as we walked toward the ice cream cart.
— Not very far away…
Kakashi continued walking through the crowd.
At that exact moment…
A young man wearing a long black coat walked toward him from the opposite direction.
Neither of them looked up.
For a brief second…
They walked past each other.
Shoulder to shoulder.
The crowd kept moving around them.
Kakashi took two more steps.
Then suddenly stopped.
“…” That strange feeling became stronger.
He slowly looked back.
At the very same moment…
The young man also stopped walking.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither recognized the other.
Yet…
Both felt the same uneasy sensation.
As if they had just walked past someone…
Who didn’t belong in this world.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
“…That feeling…” The young man quietly glanced over his shoulder.
“…Interesting.” Before either of them could think any further…
A cheerful voice echoed across the street.
“Didi!
Which flavor are you buying?” Kakashi instinctively turned toward the sound.
His eyes widened slightly.
“…Niku.” She was standing near the ice cream cart with her younger sister, happily arguing over chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
For a brief moment…
The uneasy feeling disappeared.
“…I should leave.” “If she sees me now…” “…She’ll definitely ask a hundred questions.” With one last glance…
Kakashi quietly disappeared into the crowd.
— The mysterious young man slowly turned around.
His playful smile had faded.
His sharp eyes scanned the busy street.
Only ordinary people.
Nothing unusual.
He frowned.
“…I could’ve sworn…” “I felt a strong magical presence.” The feeling vanished.
He slipped his hands into his coat pockets.
“…Strange.” Then…
He walked away.
Neither of them knew…
That they had just crossed paths for the very first time.
End of Chapter 13