"Well then, be careful where you tread little boy..." he stares at me for a moment. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned saying I wouldn't make any promises now that I think of it...Shit.
A big brute of a father getting angry with me is not a good idea. I am sure he must be willing to remove me the old-fashioned way if things came down to it. I am unsure of the laws in the world now that I think about it.
"Now Mr. Uchida, don't scare him like that you know kids don't know what they say," she says while crossing her arms. She seems upset with his threat or what he is insinuating.
She is doesn't want to have a big male intimidate a child, especially an orphan of that. As she stares at him from below due to the height difference I feel like it got so quiet to the point the wind was louder.
"Hmm, very well then. I apologize but I do ask you don't speak to my daughter just because I have protection for her safety especially from those of similar ages," he says while bowing forward and standing back straight up. I hope he means he won't hunt me down for even breathing the same air as her. I wonder what's her name.
"Anyways, Ariel please look after her. And keep an eye on the boy as well."
I guess he is leaving now. This is good because it means I can take the chance to speak with this girl here and maybe get to know her a bit. Hopefully, he isn't around the corner secretly but that is unlikely due to his uhm...size.
The door closes and Ariel sighs turning around looking at me. She seems to be unsure how to deal with the situation since a girl was just dropped off and she has an unexpected male guest in the household.
"What to do, what to do...Oh! I have it!" she blurts out loud. and proceeds to run off upstairs just leaving both me and her alone in the same room.
She seems pretty with a ponytail and she seems shy. Maybe I should break the ice and say something. Hopefully, she won't stay silent forever. She looks about maybe my age and height if not shorter by maybe a few inches.
"Hey, I'm Coda. Your friendly neighborhood orphaned Caiman boy." I say with a smile that is not creepy at all. "I hope you and I could be friends," I say holding my hand out a bit. "So?"
Nailed it. I hope she reciprocates my words and accepts me as someone other than a stranger
"I-I don't know you...I-I'm...I am not supposed to speak to you as well like father s-said." She looks down at her feet shy like. Looking at the ground while fiddling with her fingers.
"Well, you're father doesn't need to know right? I mean I mean no harm and I want to be friends since I am all alone as well. So do you think we could at least be friendly if not friends?
"Uhm, so-sure. I am willing to a bit." she looks back up with a warmer smile. So adorable.
"Awesome! So wh-" before I could finish Ariels tarts running back downstairs with a new set of clothes on and a basket. Is she going to go shopping for food? She said she had an idea of what to do, not just up and leave us.
Which I guess I won't mind since she will give us time to get to know one another. Do I even know her name?
"Uhm, sorry to say this now but maybe I am not too weird for it. But what's your name? Your father didn't say it so I am just wondering"
"Lara, Lara Uchida. Thank you for asking me" she says while blushing and looking down.
Did she blush? Tell me no one ever asked her...Never mind her father probably ensures no one ever gets to speak with her for all I know. I guess that gives me a higher chance to bond with her as she has maybe no friends.
As the both of us eventually look into each other eyes it feels like she just exposed herself to someone different from her circle. Maybe she will be my first friend after all.
"Well now that you both are more well acquainted. Let's all go out to the market and shop for food for lunch! How about it?!" She says with much enthusiasm.
"I am up for it, what about you Lara?" I turn to her to get an answer she seems to just eye me for a bit, however.
Did I say something wrong? Was I not supposed to say her name so casually? Oh boy...
But after some looking back at her I realize that she is almost in a dream state just looking at me with eyes of awe in some way. Wait don't tell me she is afraid of me...That can't be!
"Lara? Lara?! Are you okay? as I gently raise my voice to get her attention.
"What? Oh sorry, can you ask the question again? I was just thin-I mean in a daze a bit..."
"Okay? I ask if you wanted up to go out to the market with Ariel as well. She seems very enthusiastic about it so.
"I am true" Ariel responds to my comment.
I hope Lara says yes. It means we can both explore since I have yet to see the city and getting to interact with Lara is a good opportunity. Such a chance I can't pass up at the moment.
-10 minutes later-
We are walking through a part of the market and on the street there are stores and little stations on both sides of the street and the center is where people are walking. There are rows of items I recognize from what a video game would have. From weapons, food, items of jewelry, and accessories. I thought I saw someone selling pets even.
"Wow, I am not tall enough to see everything but I feel like a kid again"
"What?" Lara asks me with a look of confusion from my statement
"What?! Wait look at those flowers they are pretty like you are!" I scream the first thing I think of to drive her attention away from what I said about being a kid. So embarrassing.
"Wh-what? I am not cute or pretty I am just...just." she turns around blushing from what I said to hold her hands in front of herself in embarrassment. Damn, she really is shy. But she is like 5 or something like me so I shouldn't expect anything less than that.
"Sorry, I just had something on my mind and didn't think straight..." I am such a dummy
"Oh..okay, thank you for the compliment though." she says anxiously.
We both look at each other awkwardly realizing I just made a nice visit to the market into an awkward confession of love or something like that. Which wasn't what I intended to do...Going to be a long day.