It was another day of clear skies and no rain.
Lovely weather, a truly fine day.
Mhm, a perfect day to go out and have fun.
The amusement park was bustling and crowded, teeming with children and young people here to play.
The air carried the scent of cotton candy and the buttery aroma of popcorn.
Although there had been considerable unrest in some areas recently, for most ordinary folks, such things were quickly drowned out by the clamor of daily life.
...
Holding Vya's little hand, Elysia and her sister stood out distinctly in the crowd.
Elysia had deliberately dressed simply today in a white t-shirt and a pink skirt, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, looking just like an ordinary college student.
Vya wore a sun hat with bunny ears and a light blue dress, the very picture of a sweet, well-behaved little girl.
"Big sister, what's that big spinning wheel over there?"
Vya stood on her tiptoes, pointing at the Ferris wheel in the distance, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"That's a Ferris wheel~"
Elysia bent down, leaning close to Vya's ear to explain, "We can ride it later and look down from way, way up high~"
Vya nodded excitedly, the little braids Elysia had woven for her that morning bouncing with the motion.
This was her first time at an amusement park, and everything felt fresh and new.
Though Mobius had warned about being careful not to draw attention, Elysia felt the child deserved to experience the joys of an ordinary kid once in a while.
"Ice cream!"
Vya's sharp eyes spotted a colorfully decorated ice cream cart not far away. Ever since trying it that one time, she couldn't stop thinking about that sweet, chilly treat~
"Big sister, I want ice cream~ Can we?"
"Of course~ Let's go!"
Elysia knelt to help Vya adjust her sun hat.
...
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached from behind.
"Rin… slow down!"
A gentle, slightly worried female voice called out.
"Sis, the ice cream cart is right there~"
Behind, a girl with long pink hair looked at her little sister, offering only a somewhat helpless smile.
Vya and Elysia also saw this little girl with her hair in a ponytail, pink like theirs, running over.
She was clutching a pink, fox-shaped balloon.
"Whoops…"
Perhaps running too fast, the little girl suddenly tripped and fell to the ground.
The balloon in her hand flew away.
"Oh no! That big sister fell down!" Vya immediately let go of Elysia's hand and quickly ran over to help the little girl up.
She figured the girl was probably a couple of years older than her, so she called her 'big sister'.
She sped up, running over to help the girl to her feet.
Elysia also hurried forward, leaping up to snatch the balloon back.
"Ow, that hurt a bit… thank you!"
Rin rubbed her knee, looking up at Vya. Hmm, she seems a little younger than me…
"Are you alright, little one~"
Rin took the balloon back, dusting off her clothes, "I'm fine, really! Thank you, sister!"
Elysia reminded her gently, "Do be more careful, okay? It wouldn't be good if you got hurt."
"Mhm, I know!"
Rin said with a smile.
"Rin, I told you to slow down…!"
The young woman with long pink hair quickly caught up from behind. She knelt to carefully check her sister's knee, her tone full of concern rather than reproach.
Only after confirming Rin wasn't hurt did she relax, looking up at Elysia and Vya:
"Thank you both."
Elysia waved her hand with a smile, "It's nothing~ If we see something, we should help, right~"
Elysia smiled at Sakura, her mind already turning…
A beautiful girl with pink hair just like mine~
And it's also a pair of sisters, how wonderful~!
She introduced herself proactively, "My name is Elysia, and this is my little sister, Vya."
"Hello, big sisters~"
Vya greeted them politely.
"I'm Sakura, and this is my sister, Rin."
Sakura responded as well.
But her gaze lingered on Elysia for a few seconds. As a professional assassin, her observations of people were always quite sharp.
This girl calling herself Elysia carried an air about her, evident in her every gesture, that was anything but ordinary.
"So you're Sister Elysia and Little Sister Vya, nice to meet you!"
Rin said very politely too.
"Were you also going to get ice cream? How about we go together?"
Elysia suggested.
"That would be fine."
Sakura agreed readily. Though her instincts kept her wary of strangers, she didn't want to dampen her sister's spirits.
…
Soon, it was their turn to order.
Rin asked for a strawberry ice cream. Vya hesitated for a moment, then pointed at the same kind: "I want that one too!"
"Great! We like the same thing!"
Rin said happily, and the two little girls smiled at each other.
"Since we've met, why don't we all go ride the Ferris wheel together?"
Elysia proposed, looking at Sakura, "I hear you can see the whole city from up there~"
Before Sakura could answer, Rin had already jumped up excitedly: "Yes, yes! Sis, let's do what Sister Elysia says, let's go together!"
She held Vya's hand with one of hers and tugged on Sakura's sleeve with the other, her eyes full of anticipation.
Sakura looked at her sister, then glanced at Elysia, finally nodding lightly with a smile. "Alright."
While the four of them waited in line, Rin and Vya were already getting along like old friends.
That's how children's friendships are… simple.
Rin pointed at Vya's sun hat: "Your hat is so cute, it even has little bunny ears!"
Vya shyly touched the brim: "Sister Elysia picked it for me…"
"Your sister's balloon is really pretty too!"
Vya said with a smile.
"My sister bought it for me!"
A slight smile touched Sakura's lips.
She reached out to smooth Rin's slightly messy bangs, her movements gentle, showing no trace of hands accustomed to holding a blade.
"Vya, Vya! What's your favorite thing at the amusement park?"
Rin asked between licks of her ice cream.
Vya tilted her head, thinking. "Hmm… I haven't played on anything yet. It's my first time here today."
"Really?"
Rin's eyes widened in surprise, "Then I'll be your guide! I know lots of fun rides!"
Though Rin hadn't been many times either, she had always looked forward to coming with her sister, so she was naturally quite familiar.
Watching the two little girls chattering excitedly, Sakura and Elysia shared a smile.
"Your sister is adorable~"
Elysia said softly.
"Thank you. Vya is too."
Sakura replied politely, a hint of softness, barely perceptible, in her tone. Somehow, she felt an inexplicable fondness for Vya as well. Thinking about it, it was probably because she got along so well with her own little sister.
"Do you come to the amusement park often?"
"Not really…"
Sakura shook her head, "My work keeps me quite busy."
"Then we should make sure to have a wonderful time today~"
…
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