Why thank you, Nonny-Mouse!
“Of course. Of course, we’ve lost Masanori again,” Ui mutters.
“Where could he be?” Hairu cranes her neck. “I don’t see him anywhere!”
They push their way through the crowd.
“Maybe he’s in the swings,” Hairu says desperately. She can’t help but fear that someone kidnapped a quarter-ghoul child for vengeance.
“Let’s check his favorite characters,” Ui suggests.
“I have a better idea,” Hairu says weakly. She lifts a shaking finger behind them.
“Huh?” Ui turns around. He shrieks.
Because Masanori is scaling the castle roof.
“Who taught him to climb?” Ui cries.
“Eto is his aunt and Shio and Furuta his uncles; how are you surprised?” Hairu shoots back.
They race towards the castle base, where security is already trying to coax him down.
But, naturally, he doesn’t listen. He just climbs higher.
“Masanori!” Hairu wails.
“You know this kid?” demands a guard.
“He’s our son,” Ui says weakly. Parents walk by, shaking their heads at them.
If they found out he’s part ghoul, they’ll hate him even more. Would the guards even try to rescue him? Ui’s anger ignites. It isn’t fair.
“Do you think you can talk him down? He’s awfully high.” The man is sweating, and Ui kinda hates him.
“What’s he looking at?” Hairu notices a speck on the roof as Masanori hoists himself onto the ledge. Her heart pounds.
He cradles it in his palm and totters back towards the edge of the roof.
“Be careful!” Hairu yells.
“Well, careful for being on the roof of a castle surrounded by security,” Ui says.
Security rushes through with a ladder, and Ui breathes easier. “Hang on, Masanori!”
When Masanori finally reaches the ground again, Hairu and Ui rush over. “What were you doing?”
Masanori holds up a bird with a broken wing. “I saw a birdy fall and I wanted to save it, Mommy.”
Ui sags against Hairu. His boy is truly the best.