Chapter 4: A new friend.
When she was done she stood up, thinking:
And now let's go shopping.
"Have you enjoyed your lunch?" Minerva asked.
"Yes thanks. How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing, lunch is free. To make me forgive the slap."
"Thank you."
Leaving the restaurant, she resumed her journey.
And now how do I find the grocery store? It is the first time that I set foot in this place.
She wondered, annoyed.
I will ask someone for information, it is the only way.
Looking around she noticed, not far from her, a red-haired girl tied in two braids and eyes of the same color that was walking in the opposite direction from hers.
"Hey, you!" She called.
The redhead stopped, looking into her eyes.
"Yup?"
"Do you know where the grocery store is located? I'm new to here."
The redhead looked at her from head to toe, then replied:
"I'll take you there, it's a short distance from here."
"You are sure?"
"Of course. Follow me. By the way, my name is Flare."
"Ayano Kosaka."
"Eleven?"
"Japanese."
"The Japanese term is forbidden, as established by Empress Leila."
"Empress Leila is not here."
"As you wish ... But now let's go."
The two girls walked, and chatted a bit on the way.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Tell me well."
"How do you feel about Leila?"
Flare stopped and looked at her sideways.
"What kind of question is it?"
"I just want to know what you think of her."
The girl hesitated a few seconds and looked down before answering, sadly:
"At the beginning I admired her very much ... I was one of those to see her speech. Her words about freedom hit me straight in the heart. But they were lies, only lies. She is a hypocrite and a tyrant! Just look at how she treats her subjects, both European and Japanese!"
"Why did her want to establish an absolute monarchy?"
"When she saw that the people idolized her by invoking her name in a loud voice, she has become ambitious, greedy, cruel and arrogant, and decided to crown herself empress of Europe."
"With dire consequences."
"Exactly ... And you, who are a Japanese, should know more than others. Anyway, here we are." She said, pointing to a building in front of them.
Once through the front door they were greeted by the owners, evidently a married couple: a man with short blonde hair and blue eyes and a woman with long orange hair, yellow eyes and lipstick on her lips.
"Welcome, Flare! Do you need anything? " The latter asked.
"I have a new client." The redhead explained, pointing to Ayano.
"Impossible! I can't sell to Eleven, only to European citizens!" The woman replied, sorry.
We got to this, huh? For his majesty the Japanese can starve!
The swordswoman thought, furious.
"It's not for me, but for Dr. Tasman; he instructed me to shop. "She said.
"Doctor Tasman, huh?"
"Yes."
"Let's see if you're telling the truth or you're a menteur."
Having said that, the blonde put his hand on the phone, dialed a number and waited. After a while he say:
"Strange, nobody answers."
"Look, I don't have much time. Give me the shopping."
"Can you prove that he sent you here?"
"Well, he gave me some money, the list and ..." He rummaged in his right pocket and pulled out a ring with a blue stone on it, probably a sapphire.
"As proof is enough ... Now give me the list."
Although annoyed, Ayano obeyed.
When she left the shop she was holding two shopping bags.
"I hope Dr. Tasman will be satisfied." She said.
"By the way, how do you know him?"
"I met him on my way to town. He asked me to do the shopping because he can't get away from the hospital."
"Strange that he approached a foreigner and not one of his employees."
"They had to take care of the patients."
"I understand ... Are you thinking of going back to the hospital immediately?"
"Yes ... I have nothing else to do."
"I understand ... Well, it was nice to meet you."
"The same goes for me."
Having said that Ayano walked away, greeting her new friend.