After getting ready, Sota and Medusa stood at the entrance of the hotel.
The streets were alive.
Voices echoed from every direction—
"Come, come! Only fifteen pennies for a full teddy!"
"Come and see your future! Only five pennies!"
Children ran around happily.
"Mama! Dad! Look at this teddy—it's so cute!"
Carriages rolled across the road, their wheels clattering rhythmically.
Sota's eyes sparkled.
Suddenly, a clown appeared in front of him.
"Hoho~ Hello, kid! Want to see a magic show? Or maybe take one of these colorful balloons?"
Sota's voice turned childlike as he smiled brightly—
"I want a balloon!"
The clown raised his hand dramatically.
"A balloon, hoho! Very good! But which color do you want?"
Sota looked carefully at all the balloons…
then pointed at a white one.
"T-this one…"
The clown pulled out a white balloon and gently placed its string into Sota's hand.
Sota's face lit up like a child's.
"Thank you…!"
Medusa watched silently from the side.
…What is this?
It's just a balloon…
Sota looked at the clown.
"How much is it?"
The clown smiled warmly, patting his head.
"For a grown-up kid like you… it's free."
And just like that, he walked away, dancing into the crowd.
Sota grabbed Medusa's hand and pulled him toward a nearby shop.
They stopped at a teddy shop.
"Sir… how much is this?"
The shopkeeper picked up a large teddy.
"Fifteen pennies."
Sota's smile froze.
The shine in his eyes faded.
I-it's so expensive…
He slowly turned to look at Medusa.
Medusa saw that childish longing in his eyes.
Letting out a quiet sigh, he said—
"I'll take this one."
He paid the money.
Sota held the teddy tightly, pressing it against his face.
"I-it's so soft…!"
As they left the shop, Sota accidentally bumped into a man and fell.
Medusa stood still, unaffected.
As Sota got up, he noticed something that had fallen from the man's pocket.
It looked like money—something unfamiliar to him.
He quickly ran after the man.
The man turned back, startled.
W-why is this kid following me…?
Sota reached him and extended his hand.
"Sir… you dropped this."
The man froze—then relaxed.
"Oh… it fell?"
After a moment, he said—
"You can keep it."
Sota shook his head immediately.
"No… I can't take it. It's yours."
Medusa slowly walked up behind him.
The man smiled.
"Then consider it your reward… for your honesty."
And he left.
Medusa looked at Sota.
"What happened?"
Sota showed him the item.
"He gave me this… but what is it?"
Medusa glanced at it and said—
"It's a dollar."
Sota froze.
"A… a dollar?"
His eyes shone again.
"A real dollar…!"
Medusa looked at him.
"You've never seen one before?"
Sota quickly looked away.
"N-no… I've seen it… just never held one."
Medusa narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Then why didn't you recognize it?"
Sota avoided his gaze.
"It's been a long time… so I forgot."
Medusa leaned slightly closer.
"…Then your memory is weak."
Sota ignored him and walked toward another shop.
The day passed quickly.
They ate at different restaurants, visited shops, and bought things.
Sota bought clothes… and many small things.
As the sun began to set behind the mountains,
a golden light spread across the city.
Shops started closing.
Streetlights flickered on.
People slowly returned to their homes.
Sota and Medusa walked through the street.
Sota's hands were full of bags.
A wide smile remained on his face.
Medusa, also carrying things—including a large teddy—muttered—
"…Why did we buy so much?"
"We spent ten dollars today…"
"…Now we'll have to go hunting again."
Night fell.
The lively streets turned quiet.
Sota smiled.
"Sir… let's eat something good at the hotel today!"
Medusa replied calmly—
"We have somewhere else to go."
Sota turned toward him.
"Where?"
Medusa asked instead—
"How did you like this city?"
Sota smiled brightly.
"This is the best city! I've always lived in a village… I didn't know cities were like this… but this—this is the best!"
Medusa suddenly stopped.
"Are we there?" Sota asked.
Without answering, Medusa turned and walked into a narrow alley.
Sota followed.
The alley was dark—
unnaturally dark.
Cold wind passed through it again and again,
sending chills deep into their bodies.
Sota held tightly onto Medusa.
His lips trembled.
Then—
A faint light appeared ahead.
Medusa spoke quietly—
"We're here."
They stepped into the light.
And what Sota saw—
made his eyes widen in shock.
"…What… is this?"