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The store owners who knew Kassel’s face because they ran slightly bigger stores loved Aika, yet they couldn’t say anything about Kassel.
Otherwise, they were very fond of Aika.
Even the one thing that made them nervous when they saw the name tag.
She even shouted over and over again when people scrambled all over the place, “Excuse me-! I’ll be passing by for a bit! Thank you!” but her bones all hurt.
It was the first time Aika had gone out for such a long time, but it was also the first for Kassel to go out so crudely.
Then Aika stopped at a large store.
It was a store that sold toys and dolls.
Another flash of light flashed in her eyes and she headed towards the store as if she was possessed.
“U-Uncle, I’ll just take a look!”
Aika took the lead, not wanting to be refused.
Seeing that expression, Kassel wanted to tease her again, but he remained silent, thinking that it would be much more efficient to spend the time in the store.
As her short legs have good stamina and already circulated more than half of the market.
She will follow him on her own, so even if he told her to go with Zenda, she would hold his hand and not let go.
Seria once said, children disappear in an instant and must be watched at all times.
Aika grabbed Kassel’s fingers first, as if she snatched it right away when he let go even for a second.
He didn’t seem to have anything to lose.
There was also a larger toy store in the downtown area, but since it was her first time, he thought it would be okay to take a tour of the small store.
But how come she’s acting like she’s never seen a toy before when she started babbling, he wonders.
Didn’t she get one from her mom?
Now I can’t even ask if you got all the toys I gave you.
“Take a look, then.”
“Thanks, Uncle!”
As soon as permission was granted from Kassel, Aika let go of his fingers and went into the store like lightning.
“Hello! Can I see the doll?”
He saw her putting her hands together and bowing loudly.
“…I’m at a loss with her greeting spirit.”
Kassel shook his head and followed in.
Aika’s decision to just take a look didn’t last long.
She hesitated in front of a doll that looked like her, then gestured.
“Uncle, I want this.”
Perhaps she remembered her words to just take a look, her voice was weak.
“You said you’d just take a look.”
Then, in an instant, a dark cloud forms over her face.
Kassel held back the corners of her lips from rising.
“I’ll listen to you, so can’t you buy it for me?”
“When did you listen to me?”
“I meant to listen to you from now on! Uncle has a lot of money.”
“Uncle is a beggar. You can just make money and buy it.”
Kassel didn’t readily agree, crookedly crossing his arms.
It’s time to roll her little brain and tumble her feet.
“Y-You’re lying! And I, I… can’t work yet, though? If Uncle buys it for me, I will pay it back later when I grow up!”
“Then buy it when you grow up.”
Aika’s eyes shook like an earthquake as he shrugged leisurely.
Then she raised her hands and folded her fingers one by one to count something.
She folded one hand, then as she crossed the sixth finger on the other side, she looked up again.
“What if that thing disappears when I grow up?”
“Then there is nothing you can do.”
“It can’t be…”
“Then we can make the same thing at that time.”
Aika’s eyes widened again.
Now it’s time for her special move to come out.
The all-round special move, old man.
“I want it now, Uncle. Uncle has a lot of money. Grandpa said I could tell Uncle anything I wanted!”
“That’s something Uncle doesn’t know.”
At those words, Aika’s round eyes pouted.
Whoa, that’s too picky. Uncle.
It was written all over her face.
Her cheeks were swollen with dissatisfaction, but because she wanted something, she couldn’t even show a pout.
Zenda and Gerard laughed inwardly when they saw her timidly fiddling with the hair of the doll.
She was even choosing the most ridiculous among the dolls.
Among those many dolls.
It wasn’t a dog, nor a bear, nor a cat, but its fur was white.
Does that one also think wearing a necklace is the same as me?
Anyway, her taste was strange for once.
The owner, who was worried that he wouldn’t be able to raise sales, smiled brightly and pretended not to know when Gerard secretly said something.
The only person in the store who didn’t notice was Aika.
***
We really didn’t buy it!
I left the store in vain.
It was a little doll! Such a tiny doll, though!
Of course, there are hundreds of dolls in the house, but none of them look exactly like that one.
I have slept hugging each of the other dolls, so it was time for a new one.
It was perfect, though!
Uncle didn’t buy me anything, saying he had no money.
Liar.
I’ll just ask him to exchange it for the necklace.
I shouldn’t have said I was just taking a look when I first entered.
I should’ve said I would pick just one item.
I should’ve listened to him yesterday.
No, if I hadn’t followed him to the banquet hall…
No, before that…
I gave up after biting his tail.
Although I tried begging Uncle again, it didn’t work at all.
I instinctively knew too.
He will never buy it for me this time.
I had no choice but to give up and head to the flower shop.
But Gerard was nowhere to be seen.
Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen him since we left the toy store.
“What about Gerard?”
“He’ll figure it out.”
“What if he gets lost?”
“Is he you?”
“He will follow us soon, Miss.”
“Yes!”
I left my disappointment behind and went to the flower shop.
Hmm… But where did we need to go from here?
Because I only went to the flower shop each time, it was the first time I went after looking around the market like this.
It seemed like I would have to go back to the carriage rental to find my way.
However, it seemed that if I did that, Uncle would jump into the carriage and leave right away.
Clearly like that.
I held Uncle’s hand tightly and set out to find a similar distance as possible.
After wandering around a few times, I found the flower shop I always go to.
“Uncle, over there!”
I pointed to a flower shop with a small sign in the distance.
“Go ahead and buy it.”
Uncle pushed me and said.
“Is Uncle not going? I always bought flowers with Mom there. There’s a very nice and pretty sister.”
“I told you earlier. It’s annoying, so hurry up and buy it. Zenda, take the kid and buy it on your own.”
Eventually, instead of Uncle, I joined hands with Zenda and headed to the flower shop.
“I wanted to go with Uncle.”
“He must be tired. We’ll quickly buy it and go back.”
“Mm! Although I wanted to tell Uncle about that flower shop, I can’t.”
Next time, we really need to come here without stopping anywhere else.
I took Zenda’s hand and went to the flower shop.
“Welcome, uh, Aika…? How…”
“Hello, Sister!”
I greeted Pretty Sister whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.
I heard that a carriage accident was the trigger for Mom to get to know this flower shop sister.
Mom said that on her way home from work late, Sister, who was coming out of the alley, bumped into the carriage.
She was fortunately not seriously injured, but Mom provided treatment and lodging, she said, knowing that Sister had just moved up to the capital and had no place to stay.
Since then, as they continued to be close, Mom provided Sister with her shop, and Mom stubbornly insisted on her running a flower shop here despite Sister’s decline.
In fact, I haven’t seen Sister more than ten times in total, but every time I come, she welcomes me.
She always gave me one of the prettiest flowers that bloomed that day.
Sister, who spotted me, approached me, putting down the flowers and gardening shears.
Sitting on her knees in front of me, the flower shop sister stared at me for a long time.
“…Aika. How have you been?”
Somehow, it looked like she was about to cry.
I guess I know why Sister was making that face.
Because Sister was also close with Mom.