35 Walking around

"Be careful, let's not warn the servants" Allen stated. They were alone in the room but outside some servants were guarding them.

"Shouldn't we ask for permission before leaving?" Ayaka said worriedly.

"That would be too boring and we might be negated or needing to wait a long time until they prepare for the outing."

"It may, but..." Ayaka was unsure

"It will only be a short walk nearby, there won't any danger" 'Being so close to the Kamisato State, I doubt that some danger may appear. As it is said planned plans let time to planned attacks.'

"Okay" Ayaka said unsure, giving her hand to Allen who helped her to pass through the windows, leaving to the outer garden without any person in their surroundings.

"It's the first time that I escaped" Ayaka said with a mix of worry and excitement.

"Any place that you like to go?" Allen asked.

"I loved to go to a near garden and see the sakuras bloom with my m-" Ayaka was excited, but suddenly her mood turned sour, lowering her head.

"Let's have a little walk outside" Allen quickly interjected 'She must have gone with her late mother. Better not touch that matter much until she is ready.' "Let's go" Allen said offering his hand.

"Hum" Ayaka nodded, gripping his hand, letting herself be guided by Allen, going outside of the State while avoiding the adults' attention.

Reaching outside, Allen was surprised at how easy it had been, the servants not really paying much attention. If this was normal or there was a special occasion, he had no idea.

While they were walking along the path, Ayaka looked at her surroundings non-stop with a vacant look, making it clear that her mind was in another place, sad thoughts plaguing her mind.

'If she is like that, she won't cheer up. Let's try to stop thinking about at least for a moment' Allen thought.

"Let's see who reaches that tree first!" Allen suddenly shouted excitedly, cutting Ayaka's thoughts as he pointed over a tree at the distance "It's a race!" Allen pushed Ayaka by her back and started running towards the tree.

"Eh?!" Ayaka blinked surprised by the sudden push and race, but seeing Allen already running, she started running "Not so quickly, Niwa-san!" Ayaka said hurriedly seeing Allen going further away.

"You should try a little more or I won't even wait for you" Allen said laughing while he controlled his speed, keeping Ayaka at a close distance. It was impossible to be a truly competition as not only Allen had trained more and have a stronger body, Ayaka even was wearing a yukata that made her movements difficult.

In the end, as expected, Allen reached the tree first, closely followed by a panting Ayaka that looked angrily at Allen "I said to stop."

"And I said it was a race" Allen grinned teasing her "Next time, you should prepare more comfortable clothes to wear."

"Next time, you should warn me in advance and no start before me" She said puffing her cheeks.

"haha" Allen laughed at her.

"Why are you laughing?!" She said pissed. "Don't laugh at me!"

"Sorry, it's only that I'm happy" Allen apolgized.

"For winning the race?" Ayaka asked confused.

"No" Allen shook his head "For seeing such a cute face on you." Ayaka blinked not really knowing how to answer "It suits better than the worried one."

'He knew that I was worried and this was his way to trying to cheer me up.' Ayaka's eyes went wide realizing Allen's intentions 'I really hadn't thought about mother during this time.'

"Thanks to trying to cheer me, Niwa-san" Ayaka said with a genuine smile.

"Your welcome, but really? Niwa-san?" Allen said lifting an eyebrow. "I haven't have that surname for even a week. It sounds really strange."

"So how shall I refer to you?" Ayaka asked ashamed.

"How about simply Allen?" Allen stated.

"But that would be a-" Ayaka tried to refute but Allen interjected "Aren't we having a play date? Aren't we trying to become friends?"

"Friends?" Ayaka said blinking, that word resounding in her mind as she had never truly had one.

"So let's become friends!" Allen said "So we should at least call by our name."

"Yes!" Ayaka nodded her head cheerfully. Then, she made a bow "You can call me Ayaka, Allen."

Allen squinted his eyes and put his hands over Ayaka's shoulders.

"Eh?!" Ayaka shouted surprised, blushing a little at the sudden touch.

Allen approached her and then he... started shaking her body.

"Ah!" Ayaka screamed scared until Allen finally stopped "What are you doing?!" She shouted outraged.

"Please, don't be so formal with me. At least while we are alone, forget about any etiquette and be natural." Allen requested.

"Okay, I'll try to be more casual" Ayaka said, trying to not sound so formal.

"It's not about trying, it's about being yourself" Allen said shaking his head "Or is your true self such a stuck up. Poor girl at such young age" Allen teased.

"I'm not!" Ayaka shouted trying to defend herself, but seeing Allen's big smile she realized that he was playing with her "Please stop!"

"Hahaha!" Allen laughed "I'll try it, but I'm not promising anything."

"Muu!" Ayaka puffed her cheeks, but it wasn't long before she started following Allen in his laugh.

"Let's rest a little before returning" Allen said stopping laughing and sitting over the shadow of the tree.

Ayaka followed him, sitting next to him, both of them resting while watching the sea extending over the horizon from the near rift.

"Allen, thanks" Ayaka said.

"For what?" Allen asked.

"For everything" Ayaka answered "This was the first time since my mum died that I was able to smile and forget my sorrow. Thanks for it."

"We should never stop smiling" Allen answered.

"Allen" Ayaka said shyly and unsure "You are an orphan, how were you able to continue smiling after their death?"

Allen froze for a moment, thinking about it. Allen had been an orphan all his life, never really meeting his parents. If it was about losing one's parents, Joseph's experience would be closer, having lost them once he crossed over this world.

However, the case was far different than Ayaka. He had been 20 years old and he even lived outside his parents' house due to his university. He was sad not being able to see his family again, but it wasn't to the point of not being to endure or create a trauma.

"I suppose that at some point, you must change your mind, focusing on what we had rather than in what we have lost." Allen answered solemnely.

"Losing someone precious is never easy, but we shouldn't drown in sorrow. We may have them always in our hearts, but they shouldn't dictate our future." Allen turned to Ayaka "Please, rest from time to time or you will be burned alive by the pressure."

"I will" Ayaka nodded solemnly remembering the time with her family and finally focusing on her brother.

Then they fell into a nice silent looking at the horizon while not doing anything, simply resting each one leaning on the other.

After some time, Allen stood up, offering his hand to Ayaka "We should start returning or they would find that we are gone and worry about us."

"Yes" Ayaka took his hand, helping her to stand up.

"So, let's go" Allen said stretching his arms, turning his gaze over the branches of the tree "What the!" Allen shouted shocked, his eyes widening.

"What happens?" Ayaka asked curiously, she herself turning her head upwards where Allen was gazing, her eyes opening widely. "Eh?!"

On top of the branches, something similar to a doll resembling a brown daruma with an animal form stood.

"I've been found!" A high-pitched voice of a girl surged from the toy that started shaking.

The toy fell to the ground landing next to Allen and Ayaka, both curiously and shocked looking at it.

"A tanuki?" Allen mumbled seeing what the doll seemed to be.

"Puff!" White smoke surged from the toy, the toy disappearing and being replaced by a young girl that didn't seem to be older than 6 years. She was short and cute, with short blonde hair and pink eyes and was wearing a costume of what it seemed to be a tanuki with hood and tail included.

The little girl puffed her cheeks and signaled at Allen blazingly "Not a tanuki, I'm a Mujina."