CHAPTER 457: FOOTPRINTS

After Coco, Alhai, and Heiren bought the magical television, Alhai bid them a farewell.

Now, Coco is carrying the television, which is inside of a box that is perched comfortably on Coco’s arms, while Heiren walks ahead of her, looking around.

The two of them decided that it would be best to look around, searching for good priced materials that they can use for tomorrow’s dinner— maybe they’ll fetch something to eat as a snack as well.

Coco and Heiren continued their walk through the city square, passing by various shops that failed to captivate their attention.

The colorful stores and enticing displays failed to draw them in, their focus directed elsewhere.

The sounds of lively chatter filled the air as people hurried on their way, their own errands and preoccupations dictating their paths, but for Coco and Heiren, the city’s bustling energy was merely a backdrop as they continued on their path.

As Coco and Heiren continued their stroll, Heiren suddenly came to a halt, his attention captured by a nearby shop.

The sign above the store read "Kitchenware" and the window display showcased an array of intriguing cooking tools and gadgets.

Heiren’s gaze lingered on the wares on display, causing Coco to pause and follow Heiren’s gaze to the shop window, her eyes widening slightly as she observed the array of kitchenware on display.

"You want to buy something from there?" Coco inquired.

Heiren looked back at Coco, his cheeks tinged with a hint of shyness. "Well.. Only if we have some extra money to spare.."

His words trailed off slightly, indicating that he had taken Coco’s financial situation into account before making the request— it was clear that he was aware of their budget’s limitations, yet his desire for a purchase still lingered, his eyes briefly darting back toward the items displayed in the shop window.

Coco simply smiled warmly at Heiren and gently took his hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze before she led him towards the shop, her grip firm and her steps steady.

"Let’s go in then." She said, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and delight.

The sight of Heiren’s shy yet hopeful expression hardened her resolve, reminding her that sometimes indulging in small desires could bring joy in unexpected ways.

Besides, Heiren’s desire seems to be something that will help them in the house so why would she refuse him?

With Coco’s words, a spark of excitement flickered in Heiren’s eyes which made the tension in his shoulders eased as his hand, held within hers, felt slightly more relaxed, his fingers lightly curling around hers in a subtle gesture of acknowledgment and appreciation.

The corners of his lips curled into a small, almost shy smile, as he followed Coco’s lead towards the entrance of the shop.

Coco stepped through the open shop door and almost immediately , her eyes began to scan the interior, taking in the various kitchenware items on display.

A soft and melodic hum escaped her lips, a subconscious expression of satisfaction and curiosity.

Her gaze darted around the shop, absorbing the colors and designs of the cooking tools laid out on the shelves— the humming continued, making it known to Heiren that it’s completely okay for Coco.

Coco released Heiren’s hand, encouraging him with a gentle smile and a reassuring nod.

"Go on." She said, warmth evident in her voice. "We’ve got a hundred gold coins to spare, so pick whatever you like, okay? Don’t hesitate."

Her words echoed with a sense of generosity, her intention to provide Heiren with an opportunity to explore the shop’s offerings and make a small purchase free of worry— however, Coco’s encouraging gesture was not just a financial support, but also an expression of trust and a shared experience.

Heiren isn’t the type to splurge on useless things after all.

Coco watched Heiren brighten up even more at her words, she couldn’t help, but notice his visible joy.

Then, he quickly took the opportunity, separating from her side and disappearing amongst the shelves of kitchenware and the aisles swallowed him as he hurried along, his eyes eagerly scanning the various items on display.

Coco, left standing where she had been, couldn’t help, but giggle at his eagerness, anticipating what treasures he would come across during his exploration.

Coco stood at the spot where Heiren had vanished, her attention now shifting to the television she still held in her hands and with a gentle gesture, she knelt down and gingerly set the television on the floor.

Her hands lingered for a moment, ensuring the television sat safely in its temporary resting place.

She stood up, her eyes occasionally glancing in the direction Heiren had gone, and while waiting for Heiren to return, Coco found herself scratching the back of her neck, her mind momentarily wandering as thoughts of Lala and Konoha crossed her mind.

She chuckled softly, her concern and curiosity about their whereabouts momentarily taking her thoughts away.

"I wonder what those two are up to." She wondered aloud, her hand still gently rubbing the nape of her neck.

The image of Lala and Konoha engaged in their own activities in her bedroom flashed through her mind, leaving her to ponder about them even more.

Suddenly, Coco’s attention was diverted by the sound of the shop door opening and closing.

She glanced in the direction of the entrance, her awareness shifting from her thoughts to the newly arrived customer and to Coco’s surprise, a woman with distinctive dark blue hair, possibly mistaken for black, swiftly entered and made a beeline straight for the aisle where Heiren had vanished.

Her brisk pace and purposefulness were evident, drawing Coco’s interest immediately.

As the woman with dark blue hair strode purposefully down the aisle, Coco found herself blinking in surprise, her curiosity prompted her to follow, her eyes drawn to the ground.

Then, something caught her eye.. A mysterious colorful footprint.

Coco paused for a moment, her initial surprise replaced with confusion because this wasn’t a mere ordinary print; it was unlike anything she had seen before.

It was vibrant, colorful, and it left an impression that seemed almost magical.

Coco’s frown deepened as her heart began to race, her mind raced with question, her interest piqued by the mysterious woman who had just walked into the store.

"Who could that be?" She wondered, her voice a soft murmur under her breath.

Her curiosity warred with a hint of unease, the unfamiliarity of the situation adding an extra tinge of tension and the colorful footprint still visible on the floor only served to further her feeling that there was more to this woman than met the eye.

You caused quite a stir. The mysterious man’s words crossed her mind, causing her to swallow.

Curious, Coco began to move closer to inspect the colorful footprint more closely, but Heiren suddenly emerged from the aisles, effectively stopping her.

His sudden reappearance caused her to pause in her steps, her gaze shifting from the footprint to Heiren’s newly emerged figure and she decided to Coco turn her attention towards Heiren, her interest in the mysterious footprint momentarily overshadowed by his return.

"What are you doing?" Heiren’s innocent question, accompanied by a tilt of his head, prompted Coco to look downwards.

She observed his empty hands, curiosity piqued by the absence of what he may have wanted.

"Huh?" She voiced her confusion, her eyes flickering between his hands and his face, her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to make sense of the empty hands. "I thought you were picking something to buy?"

Heiren’s shoulders lifted in a shrug, his response casual. "I didn’t see anything I particularly liked.. So.. Let’s go home."

Coco studied him for a moment— she had expected him to find something that may have caught his interest, but his lack of a purchase left her with more questions than answers.

Nevertheless, she nodded in agreement. "Alright, let’s go then."

Coco stooped down, carefully picking up the television she had placed on the floor earlier and cradled it in her arms before she followed after Heiren, exiting the shop in his trail.

The sun’s rays greeted them as they stepped out of the store, their journey home continuing.

What could those footprints possibly mean? Coco’s mind wandered, her thoughts filled with curiosity about the strange woman with the dark blue hair.

Coco unconsciously tightened her grip on the television and she decided to check one more time, her fingers clenching around the box as her gaze shifted back to the store entrance.

She glanced down to look at the floor of the store, expecting to see the colorful footprints that had initially caught her attention, but much to her surprise, they were nowhere to be seen.

The spot where the colorful footprints had previously adorned the floor was now conspicuously devoid of any trace.

Coco froze for a moment, her eyes widening as she took in the odd disappearance.

A wave of bewilderment washed over her. "What..?"