| Sho followed Sadie in the back to her office while holding onto Kusano's hand. Once they reached her office, Sadie opened the door, holding it open for Sho and Kusano to enter first while following suit behind them. She made sure to close the door behind her as well. Sadie's office wasn't extravagant but spacious enough for multiple people to fit in. Her office is where she normally held her interviews when she felt the store was in need of an extra pair of hands. It was decorated with her favorite things, but of course, it was work-appropriate. She had fake plants in her office, but she had a clothing rack set off to the side with her favorite outfits she loved to wear during certain times of the year. All the outfits were neatly organized in order for such occasions. She also had a small round desk set off in the corner of her office with a small fake plant sitting in the middle of it and three chairs circled around it.
Sho carefully sat the food he'd bought for Kusano on the table first and then picked her up in his arms, pulled out one of the chairs and sat her down in it. Gently, he rubbed her atop her head while smiling. "You can sit here and eat while me and Sadie-san talk, okay?" he said to her before leaving her to eat and headed toward Sadie's desk, where he sat down in a chair across from her. He felt a tad exhausted, but that was from the previous activity of his current work day finally settling in and catching up with him. It didn't look like he'd be doing much today since he needed to keep an eye on Kusano. The poor child was really scared, and he didn't want to leave her alone. He couldn't ask Sadie to do that since she had her own work to do as well. That wouldn't be right. The most he could do right now is discuss what to do going forward.
In the meantime, Sadie was already seated with one leg crossed over the other as she glanced in Kusano's direction briefly, then shifted her gaze back onto Sho. "Well, I have to say, you're pretty amazing, Sho-tan, for not leaving that little girl alone," she started but continued further, "But did she tell you anything? Where was she from? Where are her parents?" Sadie asked. As commemorable as it is that Sho found the child and brought her with him so she wouldn't get taken by any strangers, there was still the concern of if they were to reach out to the police, could they really help? They had to give something to the officers for them to be able to help properly. Of course, they would still take the child and make sure she was properly cared for, but Sadie was still worried they'd ask more questions that neither she nor Sho could answer. It's why she was prodding him with questions now because the police would do the same thing.
Sho expected that question, but he shook his head and placed his hands in his lap, sighing tiredly. "A-Ano, she didn't say anything about her parents," he told her, but continued, "But she did say something to me when I found her that has me a little concerned." He frowned. He didn't know how to really explain it, but telling Sadie what Kusano said to him earlier may put her on edge. They might've unintentionally gotten involved in something that has nothing to do with them but everything to do with Kusano and her friends, whom he'd yet to find.
Sadie raised her brow at Sho's words. "Oh? What did she say to you?"
"I offered to take her to the security booth to help her find her family, but she didn't want me to do that. She said she didn't want the 'bad' people to find her and her friends. So, there's more than just here that's alone here in the mall. I don't know how many because she didn't tell me. She clearly didn't want any attention drawn to her." Sho had stopped speaking, taking a moment to look behind him to check on Kusano, who was still sitting at the table where he'd placed her so she could eat along with her kitten. He then turned to focus his attention back on Sadie. "Sadie-san ... I don't like assuming the worst, but I just really think that someone is after her and her friends," he told her.
Sadie listened to Sho and could tell through his words that he was worried about the little girl he found. What he said next surprised her. The sandy-haired blonde didn't know what to say to that. Who could be after children and why? Outside of creepy pedophiles, that's the only thing that came to mind. 'That's such a generic reason to be after children. There's something more going on here, but if she didn't tell Sho-tan much, we don't have anything to go off of to tell the police. Would it even be safe to do that, depending on who is after her and her friends? Hmm.' Sadie let her thoughts ponder, but she had to find out what the little girl said for Sho to come to the conclusion that he did. The expression on her face was serious as she looked at him. "Sho-tan, did this child say something in particular that would make you think that? Also, were she and her friends with any adults before you found her? If she mentioned it that is,'" she asked him.
Sho frowned, expecting Sadie to ask that question, but he knew there was no way around answering it. He only had what Kusano said to him when he first suggested reaching out for help to find whomever she was with. "She said she didn't want me to call anyone because she didn't want the 'bad people' to find her and her friends. I believe ... she was only with her friends. She only mentioned her parents when I asked her about her kitten. She never was able to give it a name after they gave it to her. I don't think they were with her and her friends. I think they were here alone and running away from 'bad people'," he explained.
Sadie would be lying to say she was surprised. She wasn't. There were too many holes and not enough information to go off of, but she knew something was amiss with this little girl. Not only that, but there were other children involved besides her. They needed to be found so she could find out what was happening. After all, they can't just roam around the mall by themselves. That alone would draw attention onto them even if they were running away from 'bad people'. "Give me a moment, would you, Sho-tan?" she finally spoke up after a long moment of silence. Sadie got up from her desk and headed toward the table where Kusano was seated. There was no telling how long she was alone and separated from her friends, but if they were in trouble, they needed to find them and keep them somewhere safe. She knelt down to Kusano's height and flashed her a warm smile. "Hey, sweetie, my name is Sadie, and I want to be able to help you. Sho-tan tells me you and your friends are in trouble. Can you tell me what kind? Maybe we can do something to protect you guys and get you somewhere safe," she said to Kusano.
Sho said nothing. He watched as Sadie tried to talk to Kusano to see if she could get more information from her so they could figure out how to help her and her friends once they found where they were. |