It was like any typical day, Chalk and Crayon were standing in front of a suspicious rundown building with a poorly made neon sign, simply spelling the word "Loan$".

"This place is kinda scary, right?"

"Hmm."

"Are the people here friendly?"

"Hmm."

"That's not really an answer."

"Take this and find a way to occupy yourself."

Chalk handed Crayon some money which she didn't take.

"You're leaving me behind again? Why can't I come in with you?"

"Pens and his gang are a little rougher than Icing and Graffiti. You wouldn't know how to handle yourself."

"I can handle myself, I promise. I'm streetwise now!"

"I strongly insist that you aren't. Now please just stay out."

"But how will I know you'll be okay? What are you even going to do in there?"

"It doesn't matter. Just stay here and out of trouble."

Chalk stepped inside and shut the door behind him, leaving Crayon feeling alone and cold.

Crayon wandered about for a bit, much further than she probably should have. She wouldn't have been able to find her way back, but that thought wasn't on her mind. Why did Chalk keep so much distance? She wished there was a way to get closer. She only wanted him to trust her more, but maybe he simply didn't trust her at all.

Crayon was entirely unaware that she was being watched by several shifty characters contemplating the best way to manipulate such a naïve and careless girl. One took the initiative and finally approached her.

"Hey blondie. Fancy seeing you out here all by yourself."

Crayon was surprised at first, but smiled once she saw the familiar face.

"Ahh! I remember you. You're Chalk's business friend, Icing."

"Yup yup, that's me. Don't let Chalk hear you use the word "friend" though. He hates that. So what're you doing? Lookin' for Chalk?"

Crayon pouted.

"No. He left me behind. So now I just have to wait for him to come out."

"Come out of where?"

Crayon took a look around, and her expression turned to one of childish worry.

"Guh. Where am I?"

She looked to Icing expectantly and teary.

Icing patted her on the head roughly.

"It's alright. If he's around he's probably at Pens' place."

"Pens! That's right! Chalk said he had to talk to his buddy, Pens."

"Did he really use the word "buddy"? Anyway, Pens would've loved you. Chalk is just a jerk. A real gentleman would escort his lady into the Yakuza den properly."

"Yakuza?"

"I dunno. Probably what it is. But if Chalk is gonna be a little punk, just ditch him."

"No! I wouldn't do that. He's the best friend I've ever had. Maybe the only one…"

Icing was covering her mouth with both hands as she stifled a wave of laughter.

"You must have really low standards."

Crayon was too downcast to care though. Feeling guilty and a little awkward, Icing tried to comfort her.

"Hey, whoa. I didn't mean it."

"I'm trying so hard, but sometimes I feel like he's fighting against me."

"Yeah, he'll do that."

"I just wish there was a way to learn more about him. Then maybe I could find out how to be less of a bother to him."

Icing was being genuinely sympathetic at first, but soon an idea hit her, and a high mischievous smile grew on her face.

"Ooooh. Hmmhmm. I think I might know exactly what you need. Ever heard of the psychic of Scratch Street?"

"Umm… no. Where's that?"

"… Here. We're there RIGHT NOW. Just turn around. The psychic's shop's right behind you."

"Oh, I see. What about it?"

"Not even a guess?"

"…"

Icing exhaled, looking vaguely dejected.

"They say there's no question she can't answer."

"…"

"That would include questions about Chalk."

"…Aah! Maybe she'll answer MY questions about him."

"Yeah, maybe... Great idea. Wish I thought of it. Why don't you just go on in?"

"What about Chalk?"

"I'll take care of it. You can trust me."

"Oh. Okay. Thank you so much."

Icing pushed her up to the door. Crayon bowed at Icing and pressed her face against the dark window, before timidly entering. Icing maintained a satisfied expression as she remarked to herself.

"Head full of air, that one. Ah well. At least that was easy."

Elsewhere in a broken down old building, Chalk was sitting on a worn out couch as he talked business with Pens. Large intimidating men loomed around him, but by far the biggest and most imposing was Pens himself. The colossal man towered over Chalk. Over twice his height and nearly 10 times his mass. A true giant if there ever was one. He reclined in his big cushiony chair and carried himself very casually as he gorged on several burgers and hotdogs as if they were bite-sized.

Chalk was making an offer.

"Sound like a good price to you?"

Pens had his feet on the table and was stretching out his arms, easily reaching the ceiling.

"It does. Very good. Very generous. But why don't you just bride him? He's only a quality inspector, little man."

"Bribes are trouble, and I'd rather hire you than give that chump any leverage over me. Besides, with as much as he's been poking around, I get the feeling he might just take his job a little too seriously. If a guy like that starts investigating the unofficial gear floating around town, some of it might lead to me."

"Always looking to stay on top. Just like me, eh little man?"

"Heh, something like that."

"We got a deal. We should celebrate."

"Nah. I gotta somewhere to be."

"Chill, little man. You gotta take a break from the game sometime. Get yourself a lady."

"Funny you say that."

"Hey, hey. Don't tell me you got a girl waiting? Haha! Knew you had it in ya. Don't let ma big self hold ya up. Go, go."

Pens lit himself a cigarette, and waved Chalk away. Pens was only jumping to his own conclusions, but Chalk wasn't going to correct him if it got him out of there without a hassle, especially since Pens' idea of a celebration usually meant a decent sized dent in Chalk's bank account.

Chalk stepped outside, expecting to see Crayon awaiting him nearby.

"Crayon. Hey Crayon!"

He thought to himself, "Where'd she go now?"

Chalk assumed she might have gotten lost whilst wandering around aimlessly, and was just about to track her down, before he heard a familiar voice.

"Hey Chalk."

"Icing?"

He wasn't expecting her to show up so suddenly, but he was too concerned about where Crayon might have ended up.

"I'm guessing you're here for me, but it'll have to wait. I'm a little busy at the moment."

Icing smiled cheekily.

"Hmmhmm. Is that so? Maybe I can help you out. Looking for…? Oh gosh, what was her name?"

"Crayon?!"

Icing snapped her fingers.

"That's the one. I know where she is."

Chalk could tell something was fishy. Icing being here was obviously too convenient. She wasn't just trying to sell him information this time.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing. Apparently a certain friend of hers was being cold lately and freezing her out. I just told her about a local psychic she could consult about her friend's intimacy issues."

"Psychic? You mean Pastel?! Why didn't you tell her she's a fraud?!"

"I forgot."

Icing cocked her head and frowned.

"I've been bad."

Chalk rubbed at his temple and appeared to be mouthing some words to himself. Icing seemed to be delighting in his pain.

"Well, I guess you better go rescue her or something."

"Why do you do this to me?"

Icing shrugged playfully.

"Who knows? But I know that Crayon only wanted to know a little bit more about her little friend. Maybe you could work on that."

Chalk growled and pushed Icing out of his way. He headed down the street toward the psychic's shop, but turned around once before leaving.

"I'm going, but not because you said to."

Icing waved contently.

"Whatever. That was my plan anyway."

On the other end of the block, Crayon sat alone in a very dim room adorned with various mystical-looking ornaments, patiently awaiting her turn. Suddenly a woman came running and screaming hysterically from the main room and out of the building. It gave Crayon enough of a start to jump out of her seat. It was followed very shortly by a nonchalant "Next."

Crayon picked herself off the floor and passed through a curtain of beads into the main room. There was only darkness awaiting her besides the faint glow of an orb of glass. Crayon drew closer to touch it, but before she could, a face unexpectedly popped up from behind it.

It greeted her with a startling, "Welcome!"

At the same time, lights all around her turned on, but they were only barely bright enough to illuminate the table and the woman sitting behind the orb. Crayon could distinguish the objects around her a little better, but she was still frightened. She wished Chalk was there. She unconsciously took a step backwards towards the doorway, but a hand reached out to stop her.

"Take a seat, darling. We have much to discuss."

"W-We do?"

"Oh yes. I sense you have problems that only I can solve."

Crayon sat down at the table, being half dragged down by the woman pulling at her arm. She was able to get a better look at the woman's face from there, but strangely she couldn't tell whether the woman was old or young.

The woman finally released Crayon and introduced herself as she swirled her hands around her orb.

"Good afternoon, my child. I am Madam Pastel, a medium to the spirit world. What is it you seek?"

Crayon frantically searched her brain for the answer. Somehow, in all the excitement, she had forgotten.

Madam Pastel seemed to grow impatient with her.

"Surely, you've come to me for some reason. A question, perhaps?"

"That's right! A question. I have questions about my friend."

"The spirits know all. What is your question?"

Crayon breathed in and leaned forward.

"What's his favorite color? What's his middle name? When's his birthday? Who's his favorite idol? Where was he born? Which way does his toilet paper face?"

Madam Pastel interrupted her by banging on the table.

"Agh! Enough! Such an annoying girl."

Crayon was taken aback by this, and looked like she wanted to leave.

Madam Pastel quickly regained her composure.

"I'm apologize my dear. But it seems you have upset the spirits."

"The spirits? I have?"

"Yes. They tell me these are not the questions you truly wish to ask."

"They aren't?"

"No. I need you to look deeper, and find your true question."

The two endured a long period of silence as Crayon stared at Madam Pastel, completely at a loss.

Madam Pastel grew impatient once again and spoke.

"I sense you have strong feelings for this friend."

"Yes! He's a very important friend to me."

"Mmhmm. I sense an even stronger bond. This friend is closer to you than just a friend."

"He's…. my brother?"

"No!"

Madam Pastel took a deep breath and collected herself.

"I sense you have love for him. And the spirits are speaking to me. They say, he has love for you as well."

"Really?! But that doesn't sound like him…"

"That is merely because he hides a great secret. Aaand…"

Madam Pastel gasped in shock.

"This secret! What horror!"

Crayon stood up, anxious with worry.

"What?! What is it?!"

"It can't be! Yes. Yes! Without my wisdom, his very life is at stake!"

"What's wrong?!"

Madam Pastel shut her eyes and grew silent. She fell back into her seat as if exhausted.

"I'm sorry, but we must stop here."

"W-We can't! What about Chalk?!"

"The danger. The danger is just too great."

"To Chalk?"

"To me! Requesting this much of the spirits would be a great burden."

"Then there's nothing we can do?"

Madam Pastel sighed.

"This is terribly awkward, but now we must discuss payment."

"Oh. Right. How much would it cost for you to help me?"

"I'm afraid you're mistaken."

"Huh?"

"I must ask you to pay for the service I have already provided."

"But we haven't even-"

"I'm afraid I can speak no further until you have paid for the services already provided. It pains me to say so, but I must remind you that Chalk is in great peril."

"Alright. How much would it be?"

"A single fee of 10000 coins."

"10000?! I don't think I can pay that…"

"It's too late for that. I've already provided my assistance. It's only POLITE to speak up much SOONER if you have no intention to pay."

"It's not like that…"

"Don't tell me you would just go and deny me my due payment."

Truthfully, Crayon had the money that Pastel requested. She only had 3500 of her own money, but Chalk had given her 7500 coins to spend. She never thought of Chalk's money as her own and always felt she should return it in full at the end of the day. Madam Pastel was getting very upset and was pressuring Crayon quite a bit. She hated to do it, but Crayon handed over the money, and Pastel tenderly took it from her hands with a pleasant face.

Madam Pastel hid the money away in her blouse.

"Good, good. Now then, let's continue."

"Wait, a minute! I can't pay for anymore. We have to stop here."

"Wait? But your friend. A great shadow of death looms over him. The knowledge I have for you is absolutely vital. His life may very well be in my hands, and yours."

"B-But I can't afford it."

"We'll work something out. A payment plan. But that can wait for later. We must act with great urgency!"

Crayon struggled, but saw there was no other option but to accept.

"Okay…"

Madam Pastel looked very pleased. She licked her lips and began humming ominously.

"Let us now commune with the dark spirits of the dead."

As she rubbed her orb with her sleeves and looked up at Crayon with a dreadful expression, the room suddenly shook with the loud noise of someone slamming the front door open. Pastel was caught off-guard, but Crayon was convinced this was part of the ritual. Crayon went pale as she soon found a hand on her shoulder. She dared not turn around, her face slowly distorting into a silent wail.

The hand began rocking her back and forth, sending a chill through Crayon. But it was accompanied by a comforting voice.

"Crayon, we're going."

Crayon responded with squeaky glee.

"Chalk!"

Madam Pastel was angered by this disturbance.

"Young man, you are interrupting my important work."

"Save it, old lady. We're leaving."

Madam Pastel grit her teeth with a twinge of anger.

"I see. You must be her friend."

"Yeah, nice work psychic. Let's go, Crayon."

Crayon almost stood up, but her eyes met with Pastel's as she glared at Crayon. Crayon remained firmly in her seat.

"I can't yet. Just come back later. I have to hear what she has to say."

Chalk placed his hand over his face in exasperation.

"What could you possibly need to know?"

Madam Pastel shook her head at Crayon. Crayon saw this and clenched her teeth before answering Chalk.

"I… I can't tell you."

Chalk furiously scratched at the hair beneath his beanie.

"Can't you tell that all of this is fake?"

Madam Pastel spoke with condescension.

"What would you know of the mystic world?"

"I know that you're a sham, and you don't know a thing."

"Hmm. I know that your name is Chalk."

"Lucky guess."

Crayon thought that this was a strange thing to point out, because she had mentioned his name a few times, even just a moment ago. She felt that surely Chalk should have picked up on that.

Chalk looked a bit confused.

"What else could you know about me?"

Madam Pastel peered knowingly into her orb.

"I see. I see. You are a very secretive person. You don't share anything about yourself, even with those closest to you."

"How could you know that?"

"Sit down and I can tell you much more."

Chalk looked skeptical but he pulled out a chair beside Crayon.

Madam Pastel closed her eyes and mouthed some words to herself, while she made strange facial expression like she was having a conversation the two couldn't hear.

She opened her eyes with a jolt.

"It's all clear to me now. You, young man, are very concerned about someone close you."

"Uh huh…"

"Mmm, but it is not the girl beside you."

Chalk was instantly intrigued.

Madam Pastel ran her finger around her orb.

"Is it a member of your family?"

"..."

"Ah. Yes, it is."

"This person is… your father."

Chalk made a scrutinizing expression in response.

Seeing this, Madam Pastel swiftly corrected herself.

"No, your mother!"

Chalk's face filled with amazement.

However Crayon, watching the exchange from the outside, couldn't believe how gullible Chalk was being. Pastel was clearly just reading Chalk's reactions to everything. She paused after every statement just to gauge his response, and she was even outright wrong when she mentioned Chalk's father. Even Crayon could tell without Chalk having to say anything. Pastel just changed her answer immediately and Chalk acted like she was never wrong. Why wasn't he noticing any of this? Crayon was dumbfounded. She thought back and remembered that it was only a moment ago that Pastel seemed so genuine. Crayon realized that she must have looked like a complete fool herself, and now she felt terrible for giving away Chalk's money to this trickster. She couldn't let this go on.

Crayon tugged at Chalk's sleeve, trying to get his attention. Madam Pastel immediately interfered, pinning Crayon's arm to the table.

"PLEASE don't interrupt our session, my dear. Your session is over. Now you're putting your friend's future in jeopardy."

Crayon was terrified by the woman's tenacity. Her hand felt like a claw burrowing into Crayon's skin.

Chalk barely glanced back at her.

"Hang on, Crayon. It can wait 'til later. I need to hear this."

Crayon tried to vocalize her thoughts, but she was paralyzed by Pastel's predatory glare.

Chalk looked to Pastel with eager eyes.

"Please go on. What can I do about my mother?"

Pastel traced a strange symbol into her orb.

"I see it. You are in great conflict with her."

"That's exactly right, but what can I do."

"Your problem cannot be solved by regular means. You are very lucky that you found your way to me."

"What do I need to do?"

"Ah. The answer is clear, but I'm afraid I cannot speak it."

"Why not?!"

"The spirits demand another debt be filled."

"What debt?"

"You see, I'm embarrassed to even say it, but your friend has not yet paid her fee."

Crayon was astounded and insulted.

"Hey, wait!"

Pastel slammed on the table.

"I MUST ask that the uninvolved stay silent!"

Crayon angrily stood up, but Chalk held her back. Crayon couldn't take it anymore. She was determined to drag Chalk away if she had to. But he turned to her for brief moment, without saying a word, he winked at her. Crayon sat back down, now unsure of what was going on.

Chalk pleaded with Pastel.

"I'll pay both of our fees. Would that be acceptable?"

"As long as you agree to accept both of your debts."

"I am. Please continue."

"Don't be so hasty, child. My fees are quite expensive."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure I can pay it."

"Very well."

Madam Pastel put on kindly face before letting out cruel words.

"The first fee comes to 100000 coins. The second can be discussed later."

Chalk was aghast.

"I-I don't have that much on me."

"Yes, but you've already agreed to pay. I hope you have some means."

Chalk appeared to be searching his mind for an answer.

"A bank card! I happen to have my mother's card with me. I could withdraw some money, but I don't think she'd let me spend that much…"

"That is troubling news. But backing out of a contract at this point would incur a great curse on the both of you. I cannot be held responsible for whatever misfortune befalls you. You agreed to the conditions willingly."

"But my mother would never approve of this."

"Can't you see, my child? You have no choice. Your future is on the line. She must be a very wicked woman to allow her child to suffer such a fate."

"But I still don't see how I could ever convince her."

"Perhaps you should take fate into your own hands."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't have to accept a fate another has chosen for you. You could take the money and return to me. I would never turn you away."

"But that's stealing…"

"A small sacrifice for your life and spirit. If you cared for your life, you would do whatever you must to pay the debt owed to me. The money means much more to you than it ever could to that wicked woman. It belongs to you, so take it."

Chalk seemed to ruminate on the subject.

"Maybe you're right."

He reached into his pocket, as Crayon watched with dread. She couldn't understand what Chalk could be thinking. She was seconds away from grabbing his hand and running away with the contents, but the wink flashed back into her mind. One clear thought filled her mind. "Chalk wouldn't do this." She held tightly onto her seat and watched on.

Madam Pastel held out her hand to receive her payment, but instead she was only blinded by a flash of light. Chalk wasn't holding his wallet. It was his phone. For some reason, he took a picture of Madam Pastel.

Chalk examined the picture on his phone.

"This'll do."

A venomous smile peeled across his face.

"Well then. Let's start the negotiations."

Madam Pastel laughed nervously.

"What do you mean, my child? I must ask that you do not take pictures without permission. Please delete it right away. Here."

She reached for the phone but Chalk held it back from her.

Pastel leaped forward trying to snatch the phone from him from across the table.

Chalk dangled his phone playfully.

"This? You don't want this."

He tossed the phone to Crayon, and reached into his coat pocket.

"I'm sure what you REALLY want, is this."

Chalk revealed a small audio recorder, still recording.

Madam Pastel froze for a moment and her pupils shrank. Her body grew cold as she realized that it must have recorded their entire conversation. She sprang forth like an animal, clawing at the air trying to grasp the recorder.

"Hand that over, brat!"

Chalk hopped out of his seat and evaded her bony fingers.

"Hmm. I don't know how the police feel about all this psychic mumbo jumbo, but I'm certain they have a problem with extorting money from a minor. Encouraging me to turn to a life of crime to pay your "fees" is no small matter either."

Hearing this, Crayon snorted out a small laugh, but quickly quieted down.

Chalk raised an eyebrow at her, and Crayon apologized with her eyes.

Madam Pastel's voice turned much raspier.

"Fine! I'll forgive your fees. Now hand it over!"

"You didn't charge my friend anything?"

Pastel reached into her gown and pulled out the money, now visibly hanging out, and threw it at Chalk.

"There! Happy?"

Chalk twirled the device around in his hand.

"I dunno. The responsible thing would be to hand this right over to the police with your picture, but I haven't made a single coin all day… Buy it from me."

Pastel was incensed at this demand.

"You're blackmailing me?!"

"You can think of it as a bribe if you want."

"Ergh. I'll give you 2000."

Chalk looked disgusted.

"Really? I should just walk out of here, right now."

"Okay! 5000."

"It's gotta be worth more than that to you."

"How much do you want?!"

"Hmm… How does 500000 sound?"

"Are you insane?!"

"I guess you don't have to pay it. You could weigh your options. Risk getting arrested, pack up and leave town, or pay me off now. I wonder which is cheapest."

Pastel ground her teeth loudly. Her eyes bulging from her head.

"500000, then. And I never want to see you again."

"That's more like it. 500000. Going once, twice. And-"

Crayon abruptly shouted,

"550000!"

Chalk was surprised.

Pastel's jaw hung down like it disconnected from her skull.

"Are you kidding me?!"

Chalk smirked.

"Product goes to the highest bidder."

Pastel clenched her teeth so tightly that a crack appeared.

"This is just plain robbery."

"If you don't have a higher bid, then, once, twice-"

"600000. Is that fine?! You scum."

Crayon tried to yell out another number, but Chalk covered her mouth.

"We've pushed it far enough. Sold."

Chalk left the shop with swagger. He delighted in every bounce he felt in his heavy pocket. However, Crayon, on the other hand, was uncharacteristically gloomy.

She sniffled.

"Thanks for saving me. That could've been really bad. I'm so dumb. You were right? I'm not street smart at all."

"Yeah… Guess that means I should keep a closer eye on you from now on."

"Um. Does that mean you won't leave me outside when you do stuff anymore?"

"That's one interpretation."

"Really? That's great!"

Chalk sighed.

"It feels a bit like you didn't learn anything."

"I learned a little. I learned that psychics are bad and fortunes are illegal."

"…I don't even know what to say to that."

"It's too bad for that liar lady that she tried to fool you. You even told her that you didn't believe in psychics. What was she thinking anyway?"

"I'm sure she didn't think she could fool me, but if she did nothing, she'd lose a customer. Alternatively, if she managed to persuade me, she'd gain a new victim and maybe even keep the old one. It was a long shot, but she had nothing to lose as far as she could see, so she went for it."

"I still can't believe I fell for her obvious tricks so easily."

"It's nothing unusual. Desperate people always lose their head when you tell them what they want to hear. I used the same trick on her. Greedy people never hesitate to take things handed to them, so it was easy to lead her by the nose until she said exactly what I wanted."

"It was lucky you had that recorder on you, huh?"

"I always have at least 3 of those on me at all times."

Chalk pulled another recorder from a secret pocket in his hood.

"Incidentally, two were recording our special conversation."

"Wow! What are you gonna do with the other one? Turn it into the police?"

"Pfft. No. Why would I do that? I wouldn't get a single thing out of it. I'll probably just hang onto it in case I need a little leverage someday. A nice recorder is a little pricey, but they come in handy in unexpected ways."

Crayon grasped Chalk by the hand and bit her lip, looking apologetic.

"I'll pay you back for it, I promise."

Chalk was confused.

"For the recorder?"

"Yeah. I'll pay you back. The 7500 coins too."

"Huh? You mean the 7500 you gave Pastel that I took back from her anyway."

"That's right, and anything else you spent on me too. I'll pay it all back. Just give me time."

Chalk paused in amazement. Then he laughed and clasped Crayon's hand in his.

"I'm not the type to turn down something I want. Sounds good to me. Oh and, completely unrelated… erm…if there's ever something you might want to ask about me, I promise I'll tell you."

Crayon took the lead and started dragging Chalk along with a bright smile.

"I should've known everything she said about you was wrong."

"I wouldn't say that."

"Then does that mean you really do have some big secret? Would you ever tell me?"

"…I will. Not today. But I will."

"Alrighty, I trust you."

"Most people would say you're naïve for that."

"I think when it comes to being naïve, I'm in a league of my own."

She proudly stepped towards the sunset as Chalk sighed, being the only one of the two to realize that home was the other way.