"You are a brave child, so don't cry." Lucian said with a gentle smile.
"Mm!" The boy puffed his cheeks.
"Ren!" A shout resounded.
A woman ran to them and pulled the kid, Ren, in her embrace.
"W-Where did you go!? Didn't I-I tell you to stay close to me!?"
She scolded him, but her expression betrayed fear.
Fear of losing her kid.
She turned to Lucian, who stood up.
"Thank you, thank you very much." She bowed her head slightly.
"It's fine. It was actually she who saved him."
He pointed at the golden-haired girl, who was staring blackly at Lucian.
'What is up with her?' Lucian frowned.
'Is she shocked?'
He bent down and tapped her shoulder.
"Ah– what?" She finally came to her senses.
"Are you planning on sitting here?"
Listening to his words, she looked around and saw people looking at them curiously. Many men were looking at her while the women were looking at Lucian.
"No, let me…" She tried to stand, but a sting of pain shot up though her ankle.
Just as she was about to fall, Lucian grabbed her.
"Let me help." He helped her stand.
She grabbed his hands, looking at him repeatedly.
Her gaze was intense.
'What is going on?' Lucian frowned slightly.
[Maybe she fell for you.] Akasha's voice chimed in his head.
'Are you kidding me?' His lips twitched.
'What kind of person falls for someone on their first meeting?'
[It's called love at first sight.]
'It is stupidity at first sight. And it is not that. I feel like I have seen her before.'
The woman thanked both of them.
"Don't run away like that, ok?" The golden-haired woman smiled as she gently grabbed Ren's cheeks.
Her smile entranced everyone.
"Yesh!"
His mother: "Say bye to both of them."
"Bye, Big Brother! Bye, Big Sister!" The boy waved at them as they parted.
Silence–
"Are you all done with your photoshoot?" Lucian narrowed his eyes at all of them who stood, mobiles in hand, recording the whole scene.
They all scattered away, some remaining nearby while occasionally looking at them.
"Can you walk?" He turned to the woman, who held his arm tightly.
"What is your name?"
'My name?' He tilted his head, confused by the sudden question, but still answered.
"Lucian… Lucian Foster."
Her eyes widened, then a bright smile appeared on her face as she pulled him in a tight hug.
"Luci!"
"Huh?"
'Who is she?'
He looked at her carefully.
Her Golden hair,
Her face,
Her calling him by his nickname.
Putting all of that together, the face of a cute girl resurfaced– a girl who always had the same bright smile as this one.
"Star?"