After going to the fourth floor of the shopping mall to buy things, Sora got the shopping receipt. He originally planned to browse a bit longer, but faced with the gluttonous girl's sparkling, expectant eyes, he ultimately rode the escalator downstairs with Anna.
"Sortie!" Anna made a fist with her right hand, her smile bright and radiant. "Target: snack gift bag!"
"The maze might not be that easy." Sora looked at the customers coming out of the mirror maze. Many of them were empty-handed. "Although the snack gift bag is the lowest third prize, not everyone can get it."
Poke—
Anna extended a slender, jade-like finger and lightly poked Sora's waist.
"The big battle is imminent, and you're shaking morale. Sora is going to be punished for this."
Sora feigned turning away. "Then should I leave?"
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. Sora-sama, please forgive me." Anna hurriedly grabbed the hem of Sora's shirt, offering a decisive triple apology. "Let's go, let's go, let's go challenge the maze."
"..."
The two chatted as they walked over to the event booth.
"Good afternoon, valued customers."
A female staff member quickly stood up to receive them. After checking their shopping receipt with a smile, she handed them a number tag. "Once you enter the mirror maze, we will start the timer. After you come out, please return the number tag to me promptly to avoid affecting your prize ranking."
Anna looked over curiously, her voice sweet and charming:
"Excuse me, how many people have gotten the third prize?"
Anna had already taken a look. The snack gift bag lived up to its name; it contained many types of common snacks. Taking it back and rationing it out over the next few days would easily tide her over until her mom gave her pocket money next time.
"Currently, about half of the customers are able to get a prize." The staff member's smile remained unchanged as she gently reminded them, "The two of you must be a couple. You can enter the mirror maze through the same door and don't need to separate. However, you can only claim two rewards if you find two treasure cards."
"C-C-Couple..."
The ahoge on top of Anna's head trembled slightly, and her pretty face flushed red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Ehehe... Do Sora and I really look like a couple currently dating in the eyes of others?"
"As expected, thieving cats will never amount to anything. In this world, childhood friends reign supreme!"
"..."
"Stop giggling foolishly." Looking at the gluttonous girl holding her face and giggling foolishly, Sora said helplessly. "Do you still want the snack gift bag or not?"
Anna instantly snapped back to reality. "Snack gift bag, here we come."
Sora took the number tag, put it on his wrist, and then, led by the staff lady, arrived at entrance number six of the mirror maze.
"You may push the door and enter." The staff lady held a black timer, speaking with a smile. "It doesn't matter which door you come out of. After exiting, please be sure to return the number tag to me promptly. I will stop the timer, and then you can redeem your prizes with the treasure cards... Do you have any other questions?"
"No more." Sora gave a slight nod. "We've memorized it all."
Ultimately, it was just a promotional event for the shopping mall. The rules were very simple; even an elementary school student could go in and play.
"Anna." Sora looked at the girl beside him, who was already itching with anticipation. "Let's enter the maze."
Anna clenched her pink fists. "Barbara, charge!"
"..."
Pushing the door open to enter the maze, a wide variety of mirrors instantly met their eyes.
Below their feet, above their heads, front, back, left, right... it was a world entirely made of mirrors.
Sora's and Anna's figures appeared simultaneously in countless mirrors. It looked bizarre, dazzling, and exceptionally magical.
"Amazing." Anna widened her beautiful eyes, looking left and right, like a silly roe deer stumbling into a peach blossom spring. "There are so many Soras and me in the mirrors."
Sora looked around, remaining calm and collected. "Creating a complex and confusing path using the principle of mirror reflection shouldn't be too difficult. Just be careful not to bump into the mirrors."
"With Sora by my side, I'm not afraid." Anna's voice was crisp, her trust level maxed out. "When we played mazes as kids, Sora could always find the way out quickly."
"Don't confuse a real-life maze with a tabletop maze." Sora couldn't help but complain. "Anyway, let's keep moving forward and see. We also need to keep an eye out for the treasure cards. Just finding the exit isn't enough; we have to get the cards to claim the prize."
Anna's expression turned serious. "I'll look for the treasure cards!"
Sora stepped forward, and Anna followed closely behind, her beautiful eyes wide open, looking left and right for traces of the treasure cards.
He originally thought there would be no danger in the maze, but before long, Sora realized he was completely wrong.
Thump.
A muffled sound reached Sora's ears.
"I-It hurts..."
Anna covered her forehead with both hands, looking at Sora with teary eyes:
"Sora, hurry up and blow on it for me..."
Sora helplessly reached out his right hand and rubbed Anna's head:
"That's the third time you've bumped your head. You're not doing this on purpose, are you?"
"I'm not." Anna sniffled, teary-eyed. "There was clearly nothing around me. I don't know why I bumped into the mirror... I can't tell, I really can't tell!"
"Be careful and attentive. Don't look around."
"Oh..."
Anna agreed verbally, turning around to hide behind Sora.
And then...
Thump.
A muffled sound echoed again.
"Ugh..."
Anna squatted down tearfully, covering her reddened forehead with both hands. "Mirror mazes are too much! My head is spinning!"
Sora's tone was deep. "I think I know why Anna keeps bumping into mirrors."
"Eh, why?"
"Because you've been directionally challenged since you were little."
For someone who is directionally challenged, figuring out directions in a mirror maze is undoubtedly a very difficult task.
"If I keep walking, my head is going to break..." Anna looked up pitifully, like a deer begging a kind person for charity. "Sora, can you hold my hand?"
Sora silently extended his right hand. "Give me your hand."
"Thank you, Sora~"
Anna quickly stood up and placed her soft hand into Sora's palm.
Warmth and heat quietly enveloped her. Anna's face subtly flushed, her gaze slightly erratic, but the smile on her lips was exceptionally sweet and happy.
"Sora, you have to hold on tight. Don't let go, otherwise I'll definitely get lost in the mirror maze and never be able to find my way home."
"It's not that exaggerated." Sora complained. "There are definitely surveillance cameras in the maze. If you really don't want to play anymore, just yell a few times and staff will come rescue you."
"Eh, that's so mean." Anna hurriedly looked around nervously, muttering quietly. "There are actually cameras... Looks like I can't keep teasing Sora."
That's right.
Bumping into mirrors was real, but wanting to take the opportunity to hold hands was also real...