"Fresh fish! Get your fresh fish right here!"
"Would you care to try our new bread?"
"I'll take two dozen orchids please!"
Hana stood in place and took in the surroundings. It wasn't as busy as it could have been, but there were more than enough people. Shopkeepers, workers, all kinds of people shopping and browsing. She began walking through the crowd, taking care not to bump into anyone, something that she had a lot of practice doing over the years. When she first came here as a child, it overwhelmed her so much she began crying. But now, she could confidently walk through the crowds knowing she would be safe. Usually, she wasn't good with crowds, but this market was the only place she felt at ease. Perhaps it was because of the people she had come to know.
"Heads up!"
Hana looked up just as she saw a peach flying in the air and... Towards her?!
"Ah!"
She just barely caught it, juggling the fruit a bit before she firmly grasped it in her hands. She sighed, relieved.
"Nice catch Hana!"
She looked over to see a familiar face. She frowned.
"I should have known it was you, Jeff."
"Of course it was me, I'm the only one who can pull off a sweet arc like that."
He chuckled.
She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stay mad. Jeff was one of the first people she met at the market. In fact, he was the one who helped her that first day; he had given her a peach and talked with her the whole trip to calm her down, and ever since then she'd always go back with a peach in her basket, regardless of whether she'd bought any or not. And if peaches weren't in season, she'd get an apple, orange, pear, grapes, any fruit they were carrying. Jeff's family owned one of the fruit stalls, which Hana thought had the best fruit. Especially their peaches. But Jeff wasn't interested in taking over the business, unlike his sister. He had talked about wanting to know more about the world, more specifically the sky. His fascination with the stars and the moon was unparalleled to anything she'd ever heard him talk about. He was currently studying under a couple of scholars but helped out at the stand after his lessons were done for the day. Hana admired him for wanting to follow his dreams, but she was also jealous that he actually knew what he wanted to do.
The two of them began to walk side by side, catching up.
"So, what does the witch have you shopping for today?"
Hana giggled quietly.
"Sweets. I'm guessing Mimi ate them all, considering I bought some last time I was here."
Jeff chuckled again.
"For a girl that eats so much sugar, you wouldn't think she'd be so bitter, eh?"
The two of them laughed.
"Well you know, my offer still stands, if you get sick of them."
Hana smiled thoughtfully.
"I know, but I can manage. But again, thank you.
Jeff nodded. Ever since the first (and last) time her stepfamily came here, Jeff figured out exactly what kind of situation Hana was living in, and even offered her a place to stay a few years later. But she refused and kept refusing. She couldn't let herself put extra stress on Jeff and his family, especially with some of the crops the past couple seasons being flooded out. Although upset at first, Jeff respected her decision. It wouldn't exactly be simple to just up and leave, especially when she was younger.
A brief silence followed as she and Jeff walked around the stalls looking around and picking out items, until she spotted a circle of people in the market square clapping in time and cheering.
"Is someone performing again?"
Jeff looked over.
"Probably. Let's check it out!"
They walked quickly, what to find out who the street performer today was. But once they had reached the crowd, it was fairly obvious who it was, and he almost didn't give Hana any time to react.
"Well look who it is, shoutout to my girl Hana!"
She turned pink and looked to the ground as people turned around to look at her, embarrassed.
"Luke..."
He laughed.
"My bad!"
Their very first encounter was not ideal (to Hana at least); being dragged into the circle and forced to free verse with him. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. Of course, he apologized, but she was always on guard around Luke. But other than that, he was a pretty cool guy. He finished his verse and the crowd applauded.
"That's it for today folks, see ya tomorrow, and spread that Yungtown love!"
People dispersed from the circle, chatting happily, and Luke walked over to Jeff and Hana.
"Hey Jeff, how's it hanging?" They clasped hands in a firm handshake.
"Sup Luke? Nice freestyling, was that 4 words that rhymed this time?"
"Hahaha. What, no rotten fruit to throw at me today?"
"I would, but that'd be a waste of fruit fresher than you."
"Ouch man, that really got me." Luke clutched at his chest, pretending to cry.
Hana smiled. These two could joke around with each other for hours on end if they could. They'd known each other for years, even before Hana had met them.
Luke turned to Hana, gently caressing her hand.
"So Hana, what brings you here on this lovely spring afternoon?"
Jeff rolled his eyes. Luke had a tendency to smooth talk, even in normal conversation, and with almost every girl he met. The only ones he ever "struck out with big time" with were Mimi, who was absolutely disgusted, and Kakusu, who didn't quite understand what he was doing.
"Shopping for sweets. I think we're having company coming over tonight, and judging by the fact she wants me home early even more so than usual I'd say it's someone important."
"Oh boy, that sounds like a blast." He shook his head as Hana giggled. "Let me help out, the sooner you get this done the better chance you have of seeing daylight tomorrow."
Hana wished he was joking. One time, when she had shown up fifteen minutes late Shizuka had locked her in the cellar until the next night, claiming "she would learn her lesson". Needless to say, it worked; Hana was absolutely terrified by that cellar.
"That would be nice." She motioned him to follow.
The three of them continued to walk through the market, pointing out things to Hana to see if she needed them. There was one thing she was looking for but wasn't sure if it was in.
"Do you think they would have those imported chocolate oranges in?" She looked at Jeff.
"Hm... Not sure. I know imports are supposed to come in today, but I don't know about those."
Hana sighed. Those were her stepfamily's favourite, she knew they'd definitely want those.
"Greetings and salutations my beautiful people. What might I help you look for today?"
The three of them looked in front of them to see a tall man unloading crates from the back of a wagon. She recognized the British accent and brown styled hair.
"Caddy! Is that you?"
He looked at Hana for a moment before breaking into a huge smile.
"My god, Hana Mizuno! It's been a few years I think."
He opened his arms for a hug, in which she ran into excitedly.
"Where'd you go, were you assigned somewhere else?"
"Yeah, they'd put me farther up north for a while there, nice mountains, but bloody cold. But I'm glad to be back."
"Up north?
The two of them chatted for a little while longer until Caddy looked to Jeff and Luke, still standing behind her.
"You wanna introduce me to your friends there?"
"Oh! I'm so sorry, I almost forgot you guys were still here."
She bowed profusely, but Jeff and Luke just laughed.
"Don't worry about it, you seemed to be having a nice talk, we didn't want to interrupt."
She felt her cheeks go red. Forgetting there were people with her and ignoring them, how embarrassing.
"I'm Jeff, my family runs one of the fruit stalls on the west side."
"And I'm Luke, I do a bit of freestyle performing here, not to brag."
"Yeah, if by performing you mean spitting out every word that pops into your head then definitely."
"Well, you're not wrong about that, but it takes talent to make it coherent."
"Well keep at it bud, you might get there one day."
Jeff patted Luke's shoulder comfortingly. He pushed it off jokingly as Jeff laughed.
Hana smiled.
"Oh yeah! Caddy, you wouldn't happen to have those chocolate oranges in today, would you?"
He put a hand to his chin.
"Oranges, oranges..." He turned away and looked through some of the crates. Then he looked back. "Sorry, doesn't look like I have any chocolate oranges."
Hana deflated. "Oh, okay, thank you anyway."
"But," he pulled out a small box from behind his back, which Hana recognized with its sleek black coloring and fancy script, "I do have some chocolat à l'orange , if you're interested." He smiled widely, proud of his joke.
Hana giggled.
"Well, in that case, I'll take some of those please!"
Caddy gladly sold her the chocolates, and she and the boys parted ways with him. After a bit more searching she had all she needed.
"Well, I guess I have everything. But I feel like I just got here."
She looked sheepishly at Luke and Jeff, almost sad that she had to leave. They nodded.
"It can't be helped, your well being's at stake. But it was fun catching up!"
"Definitely! And you gotta get in the circle again at some point, the people love you Hana."
She glared at Luke. "I'll pass thanks."
He chuckled.
She turned towards the way she came in and looked back to wave.
"Bye guys, I'll see you soo-"
But as she was walking she ran into someone, sending her to the ground.
"Ah!"
Her basket rolled along the ground, some of the items emptied on the dirt.
"Hana!" The guys rushed over to her.
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry-"
She looked up and fear shot through her veins. She had just made a huge mistake. Standing in front of her was one of the butchers in the market, but he was different. Unlike the others who had people hired to hunt for the meat that was sold, he did it himself, and he was brutal. So brutal, in fact, that he had even killed a moose that had wandered into the marketplace without blinking an eye, and sold it for foreign trade. Henceforth he was known as-
"BrutalMoose."
The words rolled off her trembling lips as they locked eyes. His stare was so intense you'd think he could set something on fire just by looking at it. Hana couldn't move, fear taking over her body. The guys noticed and began to help her up, eyeing BrutalMoose carefully. He didn't make a single movement towards her, but instead gave her one last glance and walked away. Luke stood beside her while Jeff began picking up the items that fell out of her basket and handed it to her as she started regaining feeling in her limbs.
"Th-thanks..."
"You okay?" Jeff laid a hand on her tense shoulder. She nodded cautiously.
"Man, what is up with that guy?" Luke turned in the direction BrutalMoose had left and shook his head. "It's like he wants people to be afraid of him."
Silence hung in the air as Hana continued to compose herself. Soon the shaking in her legs calmed down and her heart was no longer racing. She took in a deep breath and exhaled. Then she remembered the time.
"Ahh! I've got to get home!" She rushed away, but not before giving a quick goodbye to Luke and Jeff as she raced home.
