Lala and I, after finishing the move, decided to head into town. The streets were lively, filled with cheerful voices. We made our way to the shopping mall.

At the mall’s entrance, there were large glass doors, and beyond them, rows of colorful shops awaited. Bright lights illuminated the interiors, and the glass windows displayed vibrant clothes and accessories. Lala, excited, grabbed my hand and led me through various stores, peeking inside one after another.

“There are so many stylish clothes!” she said, her eyes sparkling like a child’s. She gazed at the dresses and accessories in the windows with awe. I couldn’t help but join her, leaning closer to see the cute dresses and colorful bags on display.

Since we didn’t have much money, we decided to enjoy window shopping. In the music store, the gleaming saxophone reeds and sparkling note-shaped accessories caught our eye. At the bookstore, we browsed through new novels and sheet music, picking them up and peeking inside.

“Look at this!” Lala exclaimed, holding up a colorful notepad shaped like animals. We both laughed like kids, and my anxieties began to melt away. Shopping with girls is fun!

“Hey, let’s check out that store next!” Lala pointed toward a shop filled with all kinds of trinkets and toys. We eagerly started walking toward it, but suddenly, Lala stopped and pointed ahead.

“Look, that kid’s crying.”

There, a small boy, maybe about five years old, stood crying, big tears rolling down his cheeks as he frantically looked around.

“Do you think he got separated from his mom?”

I rushed over to him, careful not to show too much as I crouched down, bringing myself to his level. Gently, I asked, “Hey, are you lost?”

The boy looked up at me, sniffling. “I… I can’t find my mommy…”

Hearing that tugged at my heart. I softly took his hand, offering a comforting warmth.

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“It’s okay, we’ll take you to the lost-and-found station, alright?”

Lala placed her hand on his shoulder, smiling kindly like a big sister. We began walking through the mall with the boy, searching for the lost-and-found station.

After navigating around, we finally arrived, just as a worried-looking woman rushed toward us.

“Thank you so much! I told you not to run off like that!” She embraced the boy, scolding him gently.

“Thank you, big sister,” the boy said to me. His words warmed my heart, and though being called “big sister” felt strange as a boy, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

After seeing them off, we left the shopping mall and headed back toward the dorm. We passed through the lively city center and entered a quiet back alley, where the mood shifted.

The surrounding buildings were old, with graffiti covering the brick walls. Trash was scattered on the ground, and the silence felt eerie, as if we had entered a forgotten part of the world.

Lala, looking scared, clutched my sleeve. Her hand was cold and trembling, so I gently squeezed it back.

“Hey, isn’t that… a demon?”

“Go back to the demon world!”

Humans and demons had been at war just a few decades ago, and while the war had ended, bitterness remained. Some humans still harbored resentment, and discrimination against demons wasn’t uncommon.

The sudden voice broke the silence, and a man passing by glared coldly at Lala. She flinched, her shoulders shaking. I wanted to protect her but didn’t know how, so I just squeezed her hand tighter.

“Don’t worry. I’m on your side. You are you,” I whispered, holding her cold hand tightly. I couldn’t see her expression, but I could feel her trembling.

As I turned to look at her, my movement caused Lala to stumble, and she bumped into someone ahead.

“S-sorry…”

Looking up, I saw a group of tough-looking boys towering over us with sneers.

“Ugh, a demon’s dirty hands touched me.”

“Hey! You’re gonna pay for that. How about some compensation?”

The boys tugged at Lala’s necklace. She clutched it tightly, her face filled with tears.

“This… this is from my mom…”

“Well, consider it payment.”

“No…”

Lala’s tears rolled down her cheeks. Seeing my friend in this situation made my chest tighten. I felt helpless, unable to do anything. Just then, a voice cut through the tension.

“What’s going on here?”

A bright, lively voice rang out, and a girl with short hair and a mini-skirted version of the school uniform approached. She smirked as she eyed the boys.

“Doesn’t look like you’re having much fun,” she said with a playful grin.

Her words shifted the atmosphere. The boys looked startled for a moment before glaring at her.

“Who the hell are you?! Name yourself!”

“Me? The name’s Sharp. Nice to meet you,” she replied, smiling confidently as she stood between us and the boys, like she had everything under control.