"We're almost there, hold on a little bit more, I promise!"
Nate heard Cloey say that loudly to the people behind her as she attempted to catch up to Sam.
Ever since the final bell rang that marked the end of the school day, Quad Four rushed out of the academic building and walked to the route where Honoway Mall was located.
Cloey and Sam were the ones who were ahead of the group; the others who were lagging were Sam, Sheila, and Manson.
Those two are really excited about this. Heh, just like every time we go to the mall.
"How far is this again? I haven't been there for a while, because I had things to do at my home," Manson said as he huffed and puffed from exhaustion.
"I think my legs are starting to really hurt. It's much more than aching..." Sheila commented offhandedly.
"YES! Hey guys! I spot Honoway Mall. That means we're gonna be right there," Sam shouted as he pointed out in front. "Let's go over there and chow down some grub while there's less people in the line!"
Without saying another word, Sam jetted out of there with the speed of a racing dog, leaving the other members of Quad Four behind.
Manson facepalmed as he sighed. "So much for this 'group walk activity' as Sam called it, and I thought he had baseball practice after school. Was it all canceled, or what?"
"I don't know about that, but I could eat something from the Martshop. My family gets these healthy snacks and meals, and it's not that I hate it or anything, but a guy has to try out different things once in a while..." Nate replied to him.
"Don't want to get too hungry..." Sheila stated to the group. "Additionally, I do hope that this day will be well worth it."
Sheila gracefully made a smile, as it made Nate smile in return. This is what Nate wanted Quad Four to experience: the joy of everyday life. At least the memory wiping thing that happened back at Vivid Forest didn't take away their most important memories, or even change who their entire individual selves.
Manson Allert is artsy yet snarky whenever he's annoyed by the unnecessary adventures. Sheila Orbison is the quiet individual who pays attention to her surroundings. Sam Davis is a hot-headed baseball player with heroic tendencies. Cloey Taffel is the heart of the group and would always lend her caring hand to someone in need. And then Quad Four has Nate Elfirm, someone with a desire to have an ordinary life, but gained a power from a certain crystalline incident.
The three of them walked a couple more minutes, where they were met with Sam and Cloey with open arms, as if they were presenting the place behind them for the first time with their friends.
Cloey was the first one to speak.
"Ta-dah! Welcome to the place of store-bought dreams and endless entertainment...!"
"... and the mall is also one of our hangout spots!" Sam announced shortly after her.
"I thought the spot at Vivid Forest was alright. I guess it's just our lesser hideout from now on. And what is with this grand presentation?!" Nate heard Manson whisper to himself, with a hint of disbelief in his tone.
"Now let us have some fun by going to Martshop first!" Sam and Cloey both happily shouted. Even some people around them turned their heads to see what the commotion was about.
But they were probably right to present it like that. Nate observed the whole entrance to the place. It didn't change that much to begin with. Honoway Mall was really one of the few places that could be considered unusual in Standart City.
With a rather large parking lot at its side, a seemingly endless flow of automobiles searches for any potential spaces to park. The main building was spread wide, the deep reddish color panoramic from the outside walls as it curved to meet the entrance, a sole spectacle itself for anyone to view and adore. Electronic posters switch through advertisements, with their primary purpose to show the products and the people holding them to those walking nearby. It was a mall that almost everyone that Nate knew went to often, so naturally, they had to take advantage of the foot traffic.
The fountain, surrounded by the glossy panoramic walls, was also a sight to behold. A long line stretched from the corner of the block, all of them dying for a chance to take a picture of the Honoway's signature decor.
"Looks like the fountain is getting its daily intake of selfies already..." Nate commented.
"You remember the time that we first went here by ourselves without any of our parents?"
Cloey pulled out her phone and presented the brightened screen towards the rest of Quad Four. A younger version of the group, the subjects in the middle, including Cloey, Sam, Manson, and Nate himself-were at the front of the fountain with the mall in the backdrop. The photo was a bit blurry, as if water had soaked through the digital screen somehow.
"Y'know, I really wish that you were here with us in this pic. There were so many things we did in Honoway, like the food at Tasty Pasty Pizza," Cloey said directly to Sheila.
Sheila, in turn, observed the mall itself. "Maybe if I had moved in here with you guys earlier, then I would've been in the picture."
She only met Nate and the rest of Quad Four in their first year of high school as freshmen, unlike the other four, which they met each other since kindergarten. Currently, she lives in the residence of Aliana's family, and based on what Cloey told Nate, Aliana and Sheila are both roommates.
"Come on, guys! What are you waiting for? Let's go in before more people show up," Manson said in a concerned voice as he attempted to push-guide Manson towards the front revolving door of the building. "I don't want foot traffic to prevent me from getting the newly released Hypercosmic Battleground!"
"Uh... a what?" Sam sounded unimpressed with a mix of swirling confusion.
"The game, Hypercosmic Battleground?! Known by many people online as the game that will redefine first-person space shooters as a whole? Have you really not heard of it?"
"Uh, sorry, Manson, I-Uh, not really that much of an expert in videogames. I just like to play baseball with my team in the fields."
"Oh, right, your brain always thinks of sports..."
Cloey stepped into the conversation. "Well, you can go get your game after we get a seat in a restaurant that we will pick, so don't think of us as stopping you from going there, okay?"
With nothing else for anyone to add to the conversation outside. They walked through the doors of Honoway. The smell of sweets and savory delicacies hit Nate, with the cool air from the ventilation systems bouncing on his warm skin. And with that, all five of them were met with the view of the place... The kind of place that makes memories there hard to forget.
- - -
Honoway Mall looked to be the same as ever, with visitors from all sides trickling into each department room. The possible ways for someone to ascend to the higher levels of the mall, each floor containing more valuable and expensive stores than the last.
From where Nate was, the area he was currently standing on was the hub area for those who needed a rest. Rows of chairs stretched throughout the place. An informational reception stand can be seen firsthand, along with bathrooms and a security room next to it. Whenever Quad Four needed to hang out to take a break, they would just plop their tired bodies on the empty seats.
The smell was something to look forward to, like every restaurant and store of sweet goodies decided to meet and mingle in the entrance of the mall, hoping to spread its uplifting scent to everyone with a nose.
Just by stepping inside, Nate could tell that Tasty Pasty Pizza, Buncha Burger, and even the assortment of food present inside Pete's Buffet Range. Pointing out the obvious, it was a food-eater's dream.
Cloey took a sniff of the air. "I've always liked the smell here. It's like a whole new world."
"I'll have to agree with you on that; the times that we spent together give a hint of enough nostalgia," Manson replied.
"Well... there's more here to experience. If we stay, then we'll be too late, so I say we move then," Nate said.
Quad Four looked at him, confusion at first, but determination swept through them like a wave.
Sam pumped his fist into the air. "Nate's right! We hafta get seats for Tasty Pasty before the seats are full!"
"Oh! Good point, then let's hurry on, guys!" Cloey said as she was the first to go ahead, with Sam right after her. The ones who were trailing behind them were the leftovers... once again.
Nate, Sheila, and Manson gradually increased their walking speed, frantically avoiding people coming in their direction while trying to spot Cloey and Sam through the sea of bodies.
Simultaneously, Nate occasionally spotted the many stores lined up across him. There were the LuBasticial Pharmacy (owned by the mystical-sounding Aemir LuBasticial), the ULTiSA Beauty Products (which a classmate or two of his may be into the products), and even the chocolate store that his mom usually shopped around to give herself and Ollie some gifts.
His family sometimes visited the stores here in Honoway, going to the bookstores and all that, not just Nate himself going.
After crossing over the various crowds, Nate could see a glimpse of orange among the hair colors of brown, yellow, and black. "Over here," he called to Manson and Sheila, where they marched forward to the others.
All of them were now standing behind Tasty Pasty Pizza. A parlor serving
Cloey looked thrilled as she surveyed the half-empty area.
"Nice, there are still some free tables!"
"Took you guys long enough, what's with the holdup?" Sam demanded to know as he turned to see the others.
"It's not... It's not our fault you guys are so hyperactive and-and fast... Oh god, can we sit down-are there seats at least?"
Sheila pointed towards an empty table. Out of all the tables presented under the purple neon light, the one she chose to draw attention to was the one with the cleanest, with no stains to disturb their meals at all.
"Let's try this spot..." she told the group.
Cloey beamed once again. When would there be a time if she were not? "Oh, I wouldn't mind being here. And there aren't a lot of dirty napkins on the floor."
"Good eye, Sheila. Let's go sit, Cloe."
Sam ushered Cloey first to her seat, the part of the table seating where the cushion looked spotless and not devoid of any cushioning. Sam followed on seat to pick, while the rest had to make do with the leftovers.
"Ahhh... this is the legitimately the life of life," Sam said with his arms all out. "Just having a delicious pizza with my best buds over here."
Manson got up from his seat and faced the group.
"Alright then, guys. I'm just gonna go do a little exploring at the electronics store for you guys to know if you need to find me. I'll settle for veggie, any veggie toppings will do."
"Will do, my guy," Sam told him.
"Don't be out there too long, or else the food'll be cold," Cloey said.
"Yeah, yeah-I'll be here shortly after I get my game."
Manson departed from Tasty Pasty and was gone the next moment. Quad Four was now actually its namesake.
After a couple of minutes waiting, they chose the toppings and flavors from the available menu next to the tissue dispenser. Someone who worked here came to the table with a notepad in his hand.
"Hello, you all... My name is Jami, and welcome to Tasty Pasty Pizza. May I get your order?"
Sam went first with his order. "Yeah, uh, I'll have the one with the most meat, any meaty toppings will do. Just a slice."
"And I'll have the barbecue chicken pizza, please," Cloey mentioned innocently.
Now it was Nate's turn. I'll have a plain cheese, if that's okay?"
The Tasty Pasty employee recorded his order in his notepad.
"And for you...?" He glanced towards Sheila.
"Um, can I get the pepperoni pizza with a side of ketc-"
"OH!" Cloey yelped loudly as she stood up on her feet, startling everyone around the table in the process. "I almost forgot! Manson will have a pizza slice with the vegetables. He will be so disappointed if he doesn't have his favorite pizza ready for him. Make it the veggie-looking pizza there is to it, Mr. Pizza man!"
"Er-okay, got it. We'll be right there with your order."
The employee left without another word as he went into the back.
"Man, the bad thing about being here is that we have to wait for soooo long. My stomach is already rumbling," Sam announced. He rubbed his stomach as if to calm the starving creature within him.
"For real..." Nate said. It was hard to concentrate with his empty stomach in the way.
"Me too..." Cloey said. "But the wait will be worth it, I'm sure!"
"Yeah... You're right, Cloe! It will make my day a blast much more. High five to the sky with both hands!"
"Woohoo!"
Both Cloey and Sam gave themselves high-fives. A noticeable clap vibrated throughout the restaurant. They were always excited about everything, especially when doing something involved the two of them together.
As Cloey and Sam chattered to each other about their days, along with Sheila gluing her eyes into her own personal mini-journal, Nate pondered outside of Tasty Pasty Pizza. Throughout the parlor, he gazed on endlessly, hoping for the view to be the same. It was like blankly staring gave him a feeling of tranquility and nostalgia towards the architecture of Honoway.
- - -
The Honoway Mall was stuffed with hundreds of visitors, with the number still increasing. The majority of the inside of the whole building was entertainment and shopping, but regarding the few spots that almost no human being had seen, a beast lurked freely, unhindered by anything in particular.
More importantly, the keyword being "human", that was something needed for emphasis.
The walls were slowly eroding, providing more room for whoever was taking advantage to make a personal spot. The stains on the floor gave off a scent of dread.
But for some reason, whatever it was... that thing in there, it won't attack. It might be something dangerous, or nothing at all. However, some should stay cautious around these parts of the area of the mall.
Especially when taking into account the recent freak weather that was happening in Standart City. A connection born from the patterns of the weather to an unknown beast was something of a provoking thought.