1 [Orange]: "Hey, are you sure you're okay?" Orange asked, he is walking her home, accompanying her on foot to make sure stuff like that doesn't happen to her again.
[Girl]: "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for the healing potion" her reply was filled with gratitude, Orange couldn't sense other emotions other than that.
[Orange]: "If you say so..."
[Girl]: "Also, thanks for walking me home. You're such a kind hearted person, y'know?"
[Orange] "Huh? N-no, anybody would do that!"
Orange waved his hands trying to deny what she said.
She chuckled a bit and look at Orange directly in the eyes. Her gaze is comforting and soft... If he were to compare this girl with someone it would be Alice.
Wait. Alice? On a closer look Orange noticed that this girl looks oddly similar to her. Both has blonde hair and brown eyes. The only difference would be the lack of scar of her left cheek and different hair length.
This girl has short hair. She was wearing a bakery attire, could she be from the bakery Alice wanted to go? Hmm probably not, there a lot of bakery so not possible but the chances aren't zero.
[Girl]: "Not anybody would. Did "anybody" came to help me while I was getting mugged? No, you're the only one. Though... even if you didn't come I'm sure knights would notice it and maybe do something about it. But, putting that aside. You're the only one who did during that time so at least be proud of yourself." she tilted her head a bit and smile.
A clone! Alice's clone!!! Even the way she talk reminded Orange about Alice.
Orange didn't respond. Just nodded.
[Girl]: "Hmm.. I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?"
She stretched her hand out. She's offering Orange a handshake energetically.
[Girl]: "I'm Annette! You saved me so you can call me Anne, I'm 16. Nice to me cha!"
Orange stared at her hand. He shrugged then shook her hand.
[Orange] "Right, nice to meet you... uhm... Anne. Everybody calls me Orange. I'm also 16, it isn't that surprising that we're the same age and I guess I know how to fight a little..."
Annette's eyes widen in surprised.
[Annette]: "A little? What are you talking about? The way you fought back there was really cool! And you used a really strong spell to take those thugs out!" Annette pouted a little and glare at Orange sharply but in a playful way.
[Annette]: "Orange... are you underestimating yourself again?"
Orange sighed. He can't do anything in these type of situations. Pathetic.
[Orange]: "Yeah... I don't want to sound too proud or people might see me as cocky"
It was a lie.
Orange can't do anything so he just decided to play along with it. He got to act like he's a "strong but humble" type of guy now!
Orange himself was confused at what just happened when he was fighting those thugs. He didn't recalled being able fight that skillfully, let alone use magic! Last time Alice checked for him he didn't even have a single ounce of mana, Orange knows Alice is quite good with magic and anything related to that so she couldn't be wrong.
Ever since that "string incident", that's what Orange has named it, he has been experiencing strange things. First it was seeing a vision that felt too real, time pausing before he gets stabbed and a beautiful goddess appearing before him to using magic when he can't!
Orange thinks. Does this means I've unlocked the ability to use magic? With that thought in mind Orange wanted to jump up a strike a victory pose out of excitement but since he's with a girl he couldn't lose his cool. Hopefully it doesn't come with a cost...
Annette smile a bit, then shifted her back to the front. [Annette]: "At least you're being honest with yourself now. Even if people see you as cocky and arrogant as long as you are being who you are I don't mind"
[Orange]: "Why are you acting like we're close..."
Annette paused and turned to Orange. [Annette] "Wait, we aren't?"
[Orange] "Yes"
Her face saddened, the look of disappointment spreaded all across her face. She shook her head, and forced a small smile.
[Annette]: "I guess I was getting ahead of myself..."
[Orange] "I guess you are, Anne" Orange shrugged.
Annette's face instantly lightened after hearing that. She stepped closer to Orange like a happy puppy.
[Annette]: "You called me Anne! That means we're close!"
Orange was in utter disbelief, she's as clueless as Alice. Orange sighed than responded with an even louder voice.
[Orange]: "No, that's not how it works!"
Annette doesn't seems like she'd back out any time.
[Annette] "Yes, it is!"
[Orange]: "No, it isn't"
[Annette]: "Yes, it is!"
[Orange]: "No"
[Annette]: "Yes!"
[Orange]: "No!"
Annette sighed, she was left was no choice but to use her ultimate card! Annette posed suggestively and spoke.
[Annette]: "Please-"
[Orange]: "Absolutely!" Orange responded almost instantly not wasting a single second and not stuttering at all.
[Annette]: "H-huh??"
[Orange]: "I'm sure we are close, sorry for not realizing it sooner"
Annette froze, shocked at the sudden change of heart and what was happening before her.
Orange face has become serious, if not too serious. His face was shining with manliness, He shook his head. His hair moving dramatically and even the slightest movement caused stars to appear.
[Annette]: "O... Oh...."
2 Two of them have arrived at the back of a building. Orange doesn't know what kind of building it is at first but after smelling the scent of freshly baked bread and other pastries Orange assumed this must be the bakery she works at but she said "thanks for accompanying me home" so this must be her house.
Annette opened the back door. The warm air along with more stronger smell of pastries escaped. Seeing what was behind the door it is actually a bakery. Annette gestured Orange to come.
[Annette]: "Come in, I want to treat you something as thanking you for helping me. You will let me express my gratitude, won't you? Hehe.."
Orange followed her without thinking much about it. After all he's going to get free food! Who wouldn't want that? Orange saved her and he's getting food? Easily a win-win situation!
There is a glass display case displaying many breads and pastries. Orange wanted to take some and just eat it. I mean taking some bread wouldn't hurt, right?
Orange shook his head. No! Absolutely not! Orange controlled himself and it stopped him from commiting theft, something he couldn't forgive himself if he did that! Phew..
"Honey, you are back?"
"What took you so long, girl?"
"Darling! Don't call our daughter "girl"!"
"But her name is long!"
"What do you mean?! "Annette" isn't even that long!"
"But when I wanted to call her Andrew you said no!"
"Because that's a boys' name!"..... A fight broke out, some customers were staring confused while some finds it funny.
Annette sighed. She turned to Orange and smiled.
[Annette]: "They're my parents. They're always like that so don't mind them."
A sweat broke down from Orange's head. [Orange]: "Right..."
He noticed the long line. He thought "Are bakeries in kingdoms always this busy?"
Orange looked around. Aside from the display case, there are a lot of things such as wooden cabinets, coffee beans, steel table to roll dough, pedant lights casting a warm glow over this place, two big ovens that looks like mouths opening wide, one of them was broken though. And there is a occasional beep sound coming from one of the machines, orange doesn't know where it was coming and he doesn't bother looking for it. What he was looking for was the "treat" Annette was talking about.
While he was looking around Annette has already went to the counter to serve some customers.
Orange turned to look at Annette, who was now serving a customer at the counter. Annette and the customers seems to know each other.
Orange's curiosity got ahead of him so he decided to walk up.
[Orange]: "Hey, Anne. Can I do something that can... Maybe you know? Help?"
Annette stopped talking and she turned around.
[Annette] "It's fine! Don't worry-"
[???]: "O-Orange??!! What are you doing here?!"
[Orange]: "What?" Orange turned to the customer. They look similar... Wait!
[Orange]: Alice?!
[Alice]: "Yes! I am!- wait, no! Now's not the time for that!"
Orange finally realized this was the bakery Alice took him to. But he hasn't been inside before so he doesn't know what it would look like thereby Orange just thought of it as different bakery.
[Alice]: "Annette, what's Orange doing here with you?"
Annette smirks. She then took Orange's arm and cling on it like her whole life depends on it. She pressed her whole body onto him. His arm buried between her breast.
[Annette]: "Hmm... I guess he prefer being with me than you, big sis"
[Alice]: "Huhh?!!" Alice's face is as red as a tomato right now from the sheer embarrassment and irritation.
Orange was quite shocked by the sudden softness his arm was feeling but he doesn't budge, instead of being flustered he looking up and thanking whoever was up there in his head. He stopped and looked at Alice then Annette with a slightly confused smile.
[Orange]: "You two know each others?"
Annette's lips curled into ယ like a cat. [Annette]: "Yup yup :3"
[Alice]: "Of course! This is my younger cousin I've told you about a few months ago!"
[Annette]: "Hehehe..." Annette does not let go of Orange's arm, in fact she pressed her body so much Orange isn't sure if he'd be able of escape or not. "So big sis are you going to order or what?~"
Alice narrowed her eyes. She glared at Orange then back to Annette. [Alice]: "F- Fine! Just give me what I usually order!" Alice said bashfully.
[Annette]: "Coming right up!" a star ☆ fell from the side of her eye as Annette winked at Orange. "Wait here, Orange~♡"
She left.
Orange's instincts are going off, it's telling him there's a wild beast near him. He could feel the intense glare coming from someone. It was powerful and dangerous, his instincts are telling him to run. That beast was Alice...
Alice was staring at him intensely. It doesn't seem like it would stop, no, it's getting stronger each seconds. The numbers are going higher in his head, It's over 9 thousand! Over 9 thousand?! No way that can be right!
Orange put up a smile. It was awkward. [Orange]: "Hi-"
[Alice]: "Don't "Hi" me! What are you doing with Annette! You said you will come back, I was worried! I thought somebody bad has happened to you but you were here having fun with her the whole time, huh?!! You- I'm mad! You're the worst! You really are the worst!"
Orange sighed. He then look at Alice in the eyes. [Orange]: "My beloved friend! My angelic childhood friend! Yes, I have wronged you! But! I was with Annette but not for fun! Alice... When you appeared rage in your eyes! I felt my heart shatter into exactly 7,452 pieces (I counted). So please don't speak like that anymore, my raging sea, my sun, my moon!
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! Orange wanted to die, he couldn't believe he said something that corny and embarrassing just for sarcasm. But I can feel the goddes of love watching me from above with respect!
A blood vein popped up on Alice. She forces a smiled on. [Alice]: "Do you want me to cut it off?"
[Orange]: "Cut it off..." Orange repeated what she said and he realized. "Wait! No– please don't! That's the only valuable thing I have other than my life!"
[Alice]: "Only, huh? Then you're saying our friendship isn't valuable at all?!" Alice grabbed a nearby scissor and lunged at Orange at high speed, it created a power wind blast as she went off.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Orange let out the highest, loudest and the girliest scream in his whole life.