"Gotcha!" Misha exclaimed, a plan clicking into place just as they reached the mall entrance. Pikon—the sound effect played in her head.
"Sweetheart, can I borrow your phone for a sec?"
"Sure, but no peeking at my photos."
"Now you've made me curious."
Misha swiped to the weather app. "Perfect. We should reach Crystal Flower Park by evening. And it's sunny all day, so the flower exhibition is safe."
Alain couldn't help but smile, watching her earnestly navigate for him, even factoring in real-world concerns like rain—things outside the scope of their game.
"Alright, let's head in."
They entered with the throng of shoppers, Misha still clinging to the edge of Alain's shirt. He glanced sideways, noticing her slightly furrowed brow. After a moment's thought, he offered her his hand.
Misha, still surveying the crowded scene, felt her hand suddenly enveloped by his. She looked up at him instinctively. Alain, as if nothing unusual had happened, held her hand and steered them deeper into the mall.
"Let's take a look around, okay? I need to pick something up too."
The warmth radiating from his palm felt like a ray of winter sunshine, wrapping her in a comforting glow. She followed his lead, her gaze fixed on his broad back, the corners of her lips tilting upward almost imperceptibly.
Time seemed to flow through their joined hands. Soon, Alain found an area that looked like a gift section.
The sign wasn't directly facing him, but the items on display strongly suggested he was in the right place. He was thinking of getting that wicked woman some kind of food—something she could enjoy multiple times. Each time she ate it, she'd think of him, a subtle way to nudge that progress bar.
As for something more expensive... he wasn't sure if Crazy Mita would greet him with a hatchet or a conversation. Best to test the waters with something inexpensive.
"Alain, what is this place...?"
Misha, trailing behind him, looked around with wide-eyed curiosity, seemingly fascinated by everything. Then, she saw what Alain was looking at further back on the shelves.
Her face instantly flushed crimson.
"Huh?" Alain noticed the sudden rise in temperature of Misha's hand in his. He turned to her, concerned. "What's wrong?"
"...N-Nothing." She clutched her arm, deliberately averting her gaze, avoiding his line of sight.
"?" Alain was thoroughly confused, but decided to focus on choosing a gift first.
He picked up a package of candy. It looked like an import; he couldn't read the text. The packaging featured a heart and a rather... suggestive pink label. "Why is candy so suggestive these days?" he muttered. The price was reasonable, though.
"Hello, sir. Can I help you with anything?"
A shop assistant approached, taking a knowing glance at the young man and the girl he was holding hands with. She instantly understood the situation.
Alain was puzzled by her look, but asked, "How does this candy taste?"
"...Taste?" The assistant was momentarily taken aback. Did people actually worry about the taste when buying this kind of thing? She recovered quickly, falling back on her professional training. "It's delicious."
Perfect. This candy would be his initial test of Crazy Mita's reaction.
He paid, then continued through the mall, Misha's hand still in his.
Misha, however, had caught the knowing look in the shop assistant's eyes. And she'd seen the items behind that "food" shelf: a variety of... decidedly adult products. She squeezed her skirt, her gaze, through her eyelashes, lingering on the "candy" in Alain's hand.
As a Mita, she knew a bit of Japanese, and Russian, among other languages. The candy's packaging clearly stated: [A Moment of Passion].
Misha, having dabbled in slightly more... mature reading material, understood its implications perfectly. It likely had effects similar to those "pocket watches" and "APPs"...
The candy itself wasn't the issue. The real question was... Alain, who had personally brought her here, and the intent behind his actions. He probably found it difficult to express those kinds of words, so he was using actions as a direct hint.
"Phew..." The girl exhaled a hot breath, her cheeks burning.
So, when would he make his move?
Alain was her player, that was undeniable. And everything he'd done had already sparked a... different kind of feeling within her. This emotion wasn't simply the connection between a Mita and their player. It was something more fundamental, deeper, something she couldn't quite articulate...
Misha was confused. Since coming to reality, there were many things she didn't understand. But this, this she especially didn't understand.
He'd saved her from that prison cell. And ultimately, for her safety, he'd brought her to the real world.
Throughout it all, he'd gone out of his way to help her. He'd given her a name, a home, food, shelter, and helped her adjust to this new world.
Alain was a very good person. A very good player, and she wondered... was he also a very good man?
Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night, when Alain had called out her name in his sleep. What kind of image did she hold in his dreams?
"What are you... thinking about?"
Her heart was pounding. The thoughts in her head must have been too intense. She'd been able to look at Alain normally before, but that candy, and the shop assistant's look... it was like a switch had been flipped, painting her world in shades of pink.
She hadn't even noticed that Alain had already bought her toiletries and was heading towards the clothing section.
It wasn't until Alain waved his hand in front of her eyes a couple of times that the swirling ocean of her thoughts began to calm.
Misha lifted her head, meeting his clear, dark eyes. They were completely devoid of any hidden meaning, making her feel like the foolish one.
Could it be that Alain was unexpectedly experienced?
Or, had he, he... already... done it with that crazy woman?
The thought sent a pang of gloom through her heart, and her small hand clenched tightly.
"What were you thinking about? You didn't even answer when I asked you which toothbrush cup you liked. This time, you have to choose your own clothes."
Seeing Misha's somewhat distant expression, Alain couldn't help but worry. "What's wrong? Your face is really red."
He reached out towards Misha.
The girl, at that moment, froze completely. She could only stare at his approaching hand, her mind spiraling off into unknown territory.
Misha's lips parted slightly, and her eyes began to swirl. She felt her body heating up, as if some kind of glitch had occurred.
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