An Outing With Friends? Part II

Yare, yare, Kuriko thinks and sighs heavily, gazing up at the cloudless sky. Such nice weather. If only she could enjoy it in the peace and quiet she deserves.

A subtle grimace twists her lips and furrows her brows at a screech of enthusiasm right next to her ear before she's able to mask her irritation. The crowd is slowly growing and Kuriko has fallen into a defensive trance, trying her utmost to ignore the world around her. Seaweed green eyes stare up listlessly at the vast sky as the flow of bodies push her further and further away from Teruhashi.

Saturday afternoon is a busy time in the shopping district. It's something most people can come to terms with. However, Saturday afternoons in the shopping district with one of the Teruhashi siblings is like going to a live concert and being stuck in a crowd of adoring fans trying to storm the stage.

Kuriko will never know how Teruhashi does it, but somehow there is an invincible shield around the girl that keeps the adoring fans from reaching her. Like a goddess transcending humanity, she remains just out of reach. Seen but untouchable. A superpower preserved for only the Teruhashi family.

Having finally been pushed to the edges of the crowd and deposited well out of reach of the rabbit fans, Kuriko can take her time to appreciate the oddness of esper power. Because there can be no mistaking the golden aura surrounding Teruhashi as anything but. And Kuriko would be jealous, but she's never wanted the sort of attention that strokes the ever growing ego of Teruhashi Kokomi. The girl is absolutely basking in the attention. A devil hidden behind the smile of an angel. And the only reason Kuriko knows this, is thanks to the ever-present thoughts from the blue haired girl that filters through the many other voices in Kuriko's head, ringing out loud and clear, an angel's voice in the crowd of millions.

It's practically obnoxious.

You would dare to give me only one rose. Clearly I am someone deserving of a whole bouquet. No, not a bouquet. A whole garden dedicated to me!

The image is fleeting, but nonetheless there. Of Teruhashi-queen-standing proudly in a Western palace garden surrounded by only the most beautiful of flowers. Then, Kuriko blinks, shuffles the thought to the side and destroys any future plot that can be built on that.

"Yo, seems like you managed to escape okay."

Aiura, it seems, has managed to avoid being crowded. Now, she stands just behind Kuriko with a half-lidded, almost drugged gaze looking through the circle created by her thumb and pointer finger at Teruhashi. "That's one impressive aura. Think I can steal some of it?"

'Steal?' She blinks, confused. 'Why would you steal anyone's aura?'

"Aw, don't be cute Kusuo, of course the weak would steal from the strong. Guess you've never had to think about it, being as powerful as you are."

It's a disturbing thought. What if her brother learns to siphon power off of her in the future. Ugh, how annoying that would be. Kuriko might just have to let the world end like it's seemingly supposed to.

'What if you end up with adoring fans?'

Aiura brightens upon hearing the thoughtful question.

"Oh Gosh, Kuriko, you say the nicest things," Aiura says, clasping her hands in front of her, eyes distant, clearly imagining a famous life.

'Never mind.'

Sighing heavily, Kuriko turns away from the crowd and the daydreaming Aiura and heads towards the now quieter corner cafe she can see at the edge of the mall.

"So," Aiura starts, laughing lightly, "are we, like, ditching her, or what?"

'I don't care.'

As long as Kuriko can get some sweets out of her brother before he blocks the card with some ridiculous excuse of protecting her feminine figure, she doesn't care whether Teruhashi and Aiura tag along or not. Honestly, they can remain far away from her if all they are going to do is bring trouble.

The cute bell over the door chimes brightly when Kuriko pushes the door open. The customary greeting from the service staff doesn't come, however. Frowning, she looks around, letting her x-ray vision cut through the cafe just to realize that it's empty. A fleeting voice in the loud crowd makes its way into her head.

I don't care if all the money in the cash register gets stolen. This is the happiest day of my life. The Goddess smiled at me!

'That's it! I'm going home.'

"Wait, Kuriko, what about shopping?"

But Kuriko is already gone. There is a pudding parfait with her name on it waiting at home. She had been saving it for another day, but she was in desperate need of alone time and sweets, and if the only place she can get that is at home, then home is where she will go.