The Entertainment district was still as lively as ever. A crowd of people filled the place. Balloons stuck out from the crowd, indicating the location of children. Bubbles flown from nearby statue and fun music was played from the speaker attached to the light pole.
The place where dreams gather. It was a fun place. But, Nely did not feel the same excitement from one month ago. Even though the place hasn’t changed in this last month, why did her feeling does?
Had she gotten enough of it from just one visit? Of course not. She hadn’t conquest all the attraction. There were still so many fun things she had yet to try.
No. Now was not the time to think of such meaningless thoughts. She shook her head to clear her mind.
Her reason to visit today was not to play or visit Selv who was on the flower garden beyond. This time too, she was looking for someone. So, she paid the entrance fee and searched. But, her search was not good.
An hour had passed and she sat on a bench with no result. Her breath was arrayed and she wore herself from the going around while constantly squeezing her way because of the crowd. In the first place, this was too much for her. She was by no means big or tall. With her limited field of vision, it was hard to look far away because there were walls of people around her. Moreover, today was a holiday. The number of visitors could not be compared to when she first visited. Searching people by herself was impossible all along.
She wanted a drink to ease her thirst, but once she looked at the line she gave up. She felt that lining up there would make her thirst worsen instead. At least, something cold would be nice, she thought.
At that moment, she received something cold on her stomach. Was it her imagination from longing it too much? Unfortunately, the wet sensation that seeped through her clothes after that was without a doubt real.
She looked at her stomach and saw an ice cream stuck to it. Holding to the cone next to it with a half-teary face was a young girl.
“Uuu, hiks, hiks…”
It was coming. Nely embraced herself.
“Uwaaaaa!!!”
The girl cried. Nely panicked. It was unclear whether she was crying because she lost her ice cream or from the thought that she would get scold by either her mom or Nely. Either way, she clumsily tried to stop her crying but failed.
What should she do? She cannot calm the girl with words and her sign language also useless. In the first place, she had no idea what to do in this situation. She thought while withstanding her crying and in the end, decided to just do what came to her mind. She tapped on the girl’s head to gain her attention. Then, when she looked at her, she flashed her a million-dollar smile, with hands pulling her mouth at the side. The girl blankly looked at her. She thought that was insufficient, so she did it again. Then, the girl finally laughed.
“Sister, your face is strange! Haha.”
She felt slightly hurt from that, so she did it once again and made her laugh further.
“S-stop it. I can’t stop laughing.”
It was unexpectedly fun, so she played around like that for a while. Once the coldness on her clothes gone, she changed and they finally sat and talked.
“Sister, I’m sorry for ruining your clothes. Even though it was such a nice cloth.”
The girl meekly apologized while holding her head down. Nely was not particularly angry or mind about it, so she forgave her. Fortunately, she happened to receive a cloth not long ago. She just needs to change into that, although it will be embarrassing until she gets used to it. Well, it might just not that much of a deal because it fits the amusement park’s costume.
The girl curiously looked at her and asked.
“Sister, why aren’t you speaking?”
As one would expect from a child, they easily asked such question without hesitation. It was a sensitive topic that adults intentionally avoid. Depend on the person that might foul their mood and lashed at the person even if it were children. Nely, however, did not mind it and answer her question as best she could.
“You can’t speak? Then how do you tell others what you want?”
She just answered like they were doing now.
“Ah, you’re right! We’re talking even though sister cannot talk!”
She opened her eyes wide and thought it was a mystery. She was still young to know she was, at some point, did the same thing with her parent.
Nely saw her and remembered the children of the orphanage and the priest. Unlike the adults around her, they interacted with her without minding her handicap. This child, too, was the same. Maybe, because they were like that she did not hate being with them.
“Hey, sister. You know, I went here with my brother. We got up early and went into lots of attraction and it was fun!” She said with bright eyes as she retold her day with her brother. She talked about how fun the merry go round was, how she got scared while waiting for an attraction, how kind her brother was, how she would want to go here again. It was a great day for her. But, at the end, her voice darkened.
“But, I got lost when I looked at the beautiful necklace on the shop. Then, I panicked and desperately searched for him and I slipped and dirty your clothes, sister. I wonder what was brother doing right now? I bet he’s looking for me.”
Seeing her sad face, Nely took her hand.
“Sister?”
Her sudden action confused the girl. But, she continued to pull her along. To her, it was a simple thing. There was no need to think. She just needs to look for her brother.
Even though she could not find the one she was looking for? That was exactly why. She still needs to look for them. While she was at it, she could also look for her brother. Two birds with one stone. Furthermore, her clothes were now standing out.
She turned back and sent her a reassuring smile.
“Okay!”
Whether her message was relayed or not, the girl replied with a smile and obediently followed her. And so, two girls walked around the entertainment district. Hands tied together. From outsider’s view, they look like get-along siblings.
Flashing innocent smile as they strolled side by side. The girl quickly opened up to Nely as they searched the area. At first, the girl followed behind her, but now she was the one being pulled.
“Sister, sister, look! So many balloons!”
The girl pointed her finger at a clown that was giving balloons to children.
“Let’s go, sister!”
Pulled by her, Nely also went and received a balloon alongside her. She hesitated when it was offered to her. Age wise, she was not someone who should receive balloons. It was because of her small figure that she received this treatment.
Well, it was offered to her. So, she had no choice but to accept it, right? It was definitely not because she wanted it. That was why the smile on her face was also for a different reason.
Pulled once again, she returned to herself.
“Ehehe.”
Nely also looked at her own and let out a similar giggle. She wondered why this thing could move her heart this much. But, as she saw the balloon followed her around whether she moves, she thought it did not matter. She just enjoyed her happiness.
The girl pulled her clothes and showed her balloon.
“Sister, we match!”
Nely brought her closer and showed it back with a smile as if to say,
Yeah, we match!
This made both of them laughed. Now with a balloon on their other hands, they walked toward the denser place.
There she spotted people eating something as they walked. It was black and looked like a stick. To be honest, that did not look tasty at all. Yet, people lined up at that food’s stall.
Noticing her wonder, the girl spoke.
“You know that’s churros, I think? It’s sweet and delicious!”
Churros. Nely had no idea that it was a snack mostly made out of flour and sugar. From the color it seemed burned and was covered by pouring sugar on it. She was skeptical and only stared at people eating it with happy faces.
Then, a cute sound was sounded next to her.
“Ah, I’m sorry,” the girl said with a red face while holding her stomach.
Nely took the initiative and started lining up for the snack. The girl seemed apologetic at first because she did not have any money on her. Not that she could help it. She was too young to hold money on her own. That was why all of her expenses were paid by her brother.
Nely gestured that she did not need to mind it. She even pulled up her arm as if to say leave it to her.
After waiting for ten minutes, it was finally their turn.
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“Welcome, sweetie. What will you have?”
The girl looked at Nely. After receiving a nod from her, she said.
“Urm, two apple churros, please!”
“Thank you. It will be 200 coins.”
Nely took out her purse and opened it.
“Wow, it’s full!”
It was just as she said. Nely’s purse was filled with money. Where did she get all that money from? Just before Gilbert left, he had handed her enough pocket money for a while. Considering his job, he received a salary way above average citizen. In relation to that, Nely also received higher pocket money than most children.
As on how high her pocket money way, it was enough to erase one shelve from a cloth shop. Furthermore, her mother was an inventor who keeps making innovative invention one after another. So, although she might not look like it, Nely was a rich girl. Buying churros for two would not hurt her purse in the slightness.
She handed the shop attendant a paper worth of 1000 coin and received two churros and the change. She handed one to the girl and led her to somewhere to sit.
“Delicious!”
The girl said that before stuffing her mouth with another bite of churros again. The apologetic face from before was nowhere to be seen.
Nelly too took a bite. After she bit the surprisingly soft surface, she jolted up.
“Sister?”
What is this?! What is this?! She kept asking herself. The just right hardness of the surface followed by the soft inside with the right sweetness. Spreading the taste of happiness through her mouth with every bite. It did not take long before she took her second bite, third, and forth.
She chewed the piece and gulped it. When she did, a blissful smile naturally appeared on her face. But, she then noticed she had finished her. At that moment, it changed into sadness.
She regretted eating it without savoring it more. If she could turn back time, she would do it this instant.
“Will you buy another one?”
The girl was right. She could just buy another one. After all, she has enough money to rot. Unconsciously, her legs started facing toward the stall. Yet, she managed to keep her desire in check.
She put down her butt and calmed down.
“Why don’t you buy another one? You have that much money, right?”
Nely shook her head. Truth to be told, she wanted to. But, she was harshly taught not to be greedy by her father. Because of that, she was used to frugal life despite the money she has.
Still, she could not lie to herself as her eyes were locked to the stall.
“Then, want to share?”
She turned her head from the word share. No, as expected, she could not do that. She had eaten her share. So, it would be wrong to eat the girl’s share.
“But, you brought it with your money, sister. Let’s share!”
She was right, Nely thought. No. Her dignity as an older sister refuted herself. Her devil allured her by saying she had the right to do so, while the angel objected by pointing it was no longer her once given away.
But, the angel added. It would be bad to ignore other’s goodwill. That was why she ought to take at least a bite. It was questionable whether those two were angel and demon, not a demon and lesser demon.
With that her internal conflict was solved.
She let out a cough and took a peek. She crossed her arms with her chest high as if to say,
If you insist, I will take up on your offer.
Of course, that did not get through to the girl. Feeling embarrassed all by herself, Nely hid it by brushing her hair back with her finger then bent down and took a bite.
The churros with a spice of embarrass tasted strange to her. She should not have done it.
But, humans recover fast from such emotional injury. By the time the girl finished eating, Nely no longer thinks about it.
The sounds of festive, filled with laugh and music, caught their ears. What was it? They turned their head to find out. It wasn’t far. But from vision alone, they had no idea what was going on there. And so they were lured by the sounds and approached the place.
It was a stage. People gathered around the stage. It was merry even for the entertainment district. The girl jumped few times but was even able to catch a glimpse. Obviously, it was the same for Nely.
“Carry!”
The girl begged with her arms spread wide. Nely was hesitant on whether she could carry her or not. Nevertheless, she tried to grant her wish.
She bent down and the girl rode on her back. With a hmph, she straightened her legs. She did it. She managed to carry the girl on her back even though her legs were shaking vigorously right now. It was just barely, but the girl was able to see through the wall of people.
On the stage was people with bright colors peculiar outfit and exotic animals. Giant wolf, pink bird with long legs, fluffy ball looking animal, and many more. They all did some attraction with the tools on the stage. And once they did the audience gave them a big cheer.
Not losing to them, people who were not instructing the animals did tricks on their own. Walking on a tightrope, vanishing from inside a box, spewing fire.
It was what so-called circus.
“Wow, amazing, amazing! That big puppy stands on a big ball! Sister, look at that cute ball thing! I want to hug it! It must feel so fluffy!”
Calm down, she tried to warn her. But, the excited girl did not stop. That caused Nely to lose her balance.
“Ouch!”
Nely fell butt first. Luckily, she was able to become a cushion for the girl so she did not hurt herself.
“Ah!”
However, the fall made both of them let go of their balloons. By the time they noticed, it was already far from their reach. They had no choice but to let it go.
It was at that moment. A shadow flew passed them, grabbed the balloons, and landed a distance away from them.
When he turned around, Nely was able to tell that it was Scond, the person she was looking for.
“Here, return.”
As usual, he talked with a strange gap between an incomplete sentence.
“T-thank you!’
The girl swiftly got off Nely and looked at him with a dreamy gaze. There was even a speck of worry to Nely who had become her pillow left in her mind. Her mind was focused on the boy who had shown an unbelievable physical ability and appeared in front of her like a prince.
Of course, this was all the delusion of a young child whose mind was filled with dreams, hope, and something sweet. Given enough time she should forget everything just like how she wakes up from a dream.
“You, right?”
Nely nodded and got up on her own while thinking she oddly fell a lot today. This was worrying, but she thought there must be a day like this from time to time.
“Scond, where are you? Come back here!”
Someone called him. Scond faced the direction of the voice.
“Got to go.”
He left those words before disappeared into the crowd, leaving Nely and the child, who looked a bit sad for some reason.
Of course, Nely did not stay still. If she lost him now, who knows when she would find him again. That was why she took the girl’s hand and followed after him.
They fought against the passing wave of people that squeezed them without mercy and finally was able to get out into space with fewer people, enough to catch their breath.
“This is…”
The place they reached was the backstage of the stage where they saw the circus. In contrast with the flashy front stage, this place was dull and filled with boxes and equipment Nely had no idea what for. Not to mention, it was filled with people that were throwing harsh words at each other.
“Are you an idiot? You are an idiot!”
In the middle of a heated argument, one girl stood out from the other. Her loud and unique voice, which sounded cute but unlikely to be natural, was one thing, but what truly made her caught Nely’s eyes were her peculiar clothes that could only be said to be colorful, if not distasteful. Even Nely was able to identify her from afar thanks to that. It was Prima.
“Who in the right mind would shoot at the audience with fireworks? Not to mention when it’s not dark enough!” She aimed those words at adults who were at least twice her age with no restraint or fear
“Listen here. Are you underestimating entertainment? Being a jackass doesn’t mean you will entertain people. Sure, you might think that sounds fun. But to me, it has an ‘ny’ attached to it just like your head. Get it? Then laugh, you idiots!”
Normal adults would be mad form her brutal remarks. In truth, they were clenching their hands until it became red to hide their feeling. They had been on the verge of exploding for a while. If not for Scond who was watching over them while moving heavy boxes with one hand, they would jump at her a while back.
Nely’s sight met with her.
“Anyway, trying something new is fine, but don’t cause meaningless trouble that makes others sad. After all, if you make people sad you’re putting the cart before the horse. Done? Okay, there you go.”
She ended the discussion one-sidedly and went toward them.
“Hello~ there. Nely is it? It has been a while. Since we met on the street? That’s about right. How do you do? Fine? As for me, it’s just as you can see. It’s so busy I can’t even take a break.”
Like a broken dam, she swept her with waves of questions before she could answer any.
“Oh, and what business do you have here? It’s not like you came here to play, right? Hoho, you don’t need to answer that. I’ve figured it out myself. It’s about Selv, right?”
Prima said with a smirk.
Nely was unable to keep up with her and only nodded for the last question without thinking much. Hearing that Prima’s smirk further.
“Kukuku, this’s going to be a good scandal in a while,” she said in a low voice for no one to hear. Her face also twisted into an evil grin.
Nely and the girl watched her in wonder.
“Hmm, isn’t it the metal worker’s daughter? What are you doing here?”
Prima finally directed her attention to the girl beside Nely.
“Do you know father?”
“Of course. I know everything about this town. Whether if it’s about how your father lost his wallet last week, how your mother secretly took your father’s salary to go on a trip with the housewife’s group, who’s your brother’s first love, or how wet your bed yesterday. Try me and I will give you any information with a suitable price!”
Prima puffed her chest with great confidence.
“H- how did you know?!”
The girl was shaken from knowing her secret was known to her. How terrifying!
Although she had also said something that was concerning, she did not register it to her brain because it fell in importance.
Nely, on the other hand, raised her expectation. She was unaware of Prima’s role as an information broker. But, if she showed herself with such confidence, there was no she could not buy it. Expectation level, big.
She wanted to ask her right this moment but remembered something she had to do first. She pushed the girl’s back and followed with gestures indicating she needed help.
At first, Prima crocked her head to the side. She had no idea what she as trying to say. Fortunately, the girl caught on and began explaining her situation.
“Actually, I got separated with my brother. Have you seen him?”
“So that’s what this’s about,” she said, putting her hands together. “If it’s about that, give me a second.”
She left those words and went somewhere. Shortly after, an announcement was made through the park’s speaker for everyone to hear with the girl’s name, which appeared to be Lily, and where she could be found.
After ten minutes or so, her brother came to pick her up. He was covered in sweat and his breath was ragged. The first thing he did when after seeing the nonchalant girl was slap her. He scolded her for disappearing and making him worry.
Lily started wailing, but the scolding was not over with just that. She was made to remember the tale about ‘It’ and the lesson behind it. Her brother then apologized for the trouble Lily had caused, bowing his head as low possible.
Nely waved her hand with a troubled smile.
Once he finished his business, he bid his farewell and was about to take Lily back home when Lily told him to wait.
She separated from her brother who was waiting at the exit and went to Nely once again. She wiped her tears and spoke.
“Thank you for accompanying me today. If I was alone, I don’t think I can have much fun today. That’s why it’s thanks to sister that I was able to have fun today!” She said with a smile then ran back to where her brother was and just like that went home.
Nely was deep in thought. Her words made her realized something. Before she knew it, the strange feeling she had at the start was gone. So that was it all about.
It was not like she got bored with the place. Far from it. The source of her problem was the lack of someone by her side. She was lonely so to speak. Even if there were lots of people around, there was no meaning if they did not interact with her. it was the same as being alone, and she found that to be unenjoyable.
That was one thing off her shoulder. Next was the crucial one. She, for the third time today, asked the question.
“Of course,” she replied. “But what will you give me in return? Oh, and I have no interest in the money Gilbert gave you. After all, I've quite loaded myself!”
What she could offer? The first thing that came to mind was the money Prima had mentioned. Other than that, maybe the clothes she was wearing? Of course, she did not mean it in a perverse way. Not that she knew about it.
According to her mother, Astral, the clothes were of a high rarity. Meaning that should qualify as something.
To be honest, she held doubt whether the clothes would be useful. Selv might surprise and go into a nostalgic, but that was it. The thing she was looking for was a weakness where he had no choice but to obey her. With that in mind, Geo’s opinion which was to chase him with a poop might be more effective.
She felt bad for giving away the present from her mother, but she had no choice.
“Yeah, that’s no good. It worth next to nothing to me.”
There went her last offer. She had no mean to obtain the information from her. She could only look down with a slumped shoulder as it went farther away.
Prima grinned before offering her a helping boat.
“Luckily for you. As I said earlier, I’m so busy right now. To the point, I want to borrow a cat’s paw. So, if you just help me with a little thing, I don’t mind giving you that information.”
Nely’s face brightened that instant and nodded without hearing the context first. And that caused Prima’s grin to deepen.