The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 30~♫

 A gentle pat on Freya's slumped shoulder brought her back.

"I'll help you. It's my fault that guy got on his feet. Allow me to buy you a new bag and replace your money." Kagetsu's eyes sparkled with haze.

Freya shook her head, slapping him with her hair.

"Please. I came to visit you to thank you for everything you have done for my brothers. I haven't seen them so happy for so long."

With one smooth movement, she put a plaster over the bruise on his cheek, getting up. She gave him a nod with a quiet sigh. 'Who can say no to his puppy eyes?'

"Cool!" He thrust his fists into the air, twitching. "Ouch. Stupid punk. Was it anybody you know?"

She shook her head.

"Did anyone bother you here before?"

The answer was also negative.

"Hmm," he hummed as he found a small analog clock on the wall. Kagetsu stared at them. "Wait! What?" He grabbed his phone from his pocket. "It's seriously 6:57?" His palm crashed into his face. "I've set my alarm too soon. I wanted to visit you around eight before school."

She waved it off.

"Well, I guess me going too early paid off in the end."

She gave him a thumbs-up, and together they left her small apartment.

\\_(''>_<'')_//

As they got closer to the city center, more people showed up. On their way, they didn't see the gang, and Kagetsu cleaned the smashed cake off the pavement. It was his mess, after all.

They took a bus to arrive in front of a big shopping center Paradise. Its walls were made of glass and iron, turning it into a transparent castle. Large LCD panels on the outside played ads, music videos, or short films to promote products, services, or TV series with upcoming movies.

'So huge!' Freya moved closer to Kagetsu as streams of people went in and out. Despite the center's name, Freya's heart turned small and sweat trickled on her forehead as if she arrived in Hell. At best, she visited Non-stop shops or convenience stores. She stopped as she bumped into a person.

"Are you okay? We can go somewhere else."

She shook her head and gave him thumbs up. 'Even if it's huge here, I think this is the only time I would visit this place. I should at least check it here.'

Despite early hours for most people, the center filled with customers looking for sales, special promotions, or seating to eat since the whole top-level had offered a wide range of restaurants, running sushi, and fast-food stores.

Not to mention small snack stops on each floor. They found anything from nuts and fruit dipped in all kinds of chocolate and coverings, pre-made sushi, freshly fried potato chips, pocket burgers or wraps, donuts makers, to simple ice-cream stands. In a nutshell, every place had something unique to offer.