A child whose whole face was smeared with dirt came running forward, tottering.
Crash.
But only for a moment. The child tripped over a stone and tumbled helplessly. Tears welled in the child's big eyes, and just as the face twisted as if about to burst into tears.
"Up we go."
A hand suddenly appeared from somewhere, slipped under the fallen child's arms, and easily lifted the child up.
"Mustn't cry."
"Uh..."
The child, having forgotten it was about to cry, stared blankly at the person before it. Is he a scary person?
Or...
Though he was smiling faintly, he did not look entirely kind. When the child did not know what to do, the man placed his hand on the child's head.
"Where's your mother?"
"Uh, Mom... Mom."
Tears began to fill the child's eyes again. The man, a little flustered, rubbed his own face dry with one hand.
"Don't cry, don't cry. I was wrong. Your mother will be safe, so please don't cry."
The man quickly tucked the child under his arm.
"Got to hurry. Let's go find your mother, right?"
When the child looked up at him without understanding, the man lightly covered the child's face with the hem of his clothes.
"This is something better not seen."