When they arrived at the mall, they were taking unnecessary attention, as Key is the only girl among six men. Her small figure, innocent expression, and the way she conversed with Quant who's standing next to her gave them the impression that Key is the 'little sister' of the group.
"We should buy your things first." Quant said and turned to Key who's looking at them calmly
"That's right, but we can't all accompany her." Bright agreed and turned to Key as well
"Hmm, why don't you go with Nico, Key?" Dewy asked her and she looked at him then looked at Nico
"Where will we eat?" Rasheed then asked Dewy upon hearing their manager mention him
"Let's eat in Delicieux Cuisine," El said and the rest nodded their heads
"Yeah, they have good delicacies that I can't help but imagine." Quant said while looking up
"Then it's settled," Dewy clapped his hands and turned sideways to look at Key and Rasheed
"Nico, you go with Key to buy her things. As for the five of us," Dewy looked at the other guys
"Let's check if there are new releases of that collection you're collecting." El told Opal who nodded
"You're collecting things?" Key looked at Opal while asking
"Yeah, Opal's collecting the game's character stuff toys and we're not allowed to touch them." Quant said
"Because they're collections, they're not toys even if they are technically one." Key said, tilting her head
"Ah, at last I found someone who understands my point." Opal said dramatically and placed his arm on Key's shoulder while the rest chuckled along with Key
"Let's go, kid," Key's smile was then replaced with a frown because of what their captain has said
"We'll meet you in the restaurant, okay?" Bright said looking at Key who nodded as a reply
She followed their captain who had walked away, she sighed when she noticed that she's not even closing up their distance no matter how fast she's walking. 'Freaking long legs,' she mumbled in her mind
"Captain," she called him while walking in a quicker pace
He finally stopped walking and turned to her, probably to ask why she called him, and she managed to close their distance and smiled at him as soon as she's already in front of him.
"Walk faster," he said and continued walking towards the elevator
"It's not my fault your legs are too long and you can cover more distance." She muttered with a shrug
"Where?" Rasheed asked as soon as they're inside the elevator
"Hmm, home section," she answered while looking at the list on the wall of the elevator
Rasheed pressed the button for the third floor, they're just silent inside the elevator. They're not speaking, Key decided to just read the list on the wall for the second time around to ease the feeling she feels because of the silence. She's not used with silence, she dislikes being in a place surrounded by silence to be more precise because it doesn't sit well with her.
"Captain," she called him
"Hmm," he replied and she looked at him
"Can I call you Nico?" she doesn't know where that came from but it came out of her mouth
"Uh never mind," she took it back and shook her head
"Why do you want to call me that?" he asked with his hands in his pocket
"Nothing, don't mind it, Captain." She shook her head
When the elevator opened, they went out and stepped into the third floor. She looked around, looking for the home section.
"Key," she looked at their captain when he called her
"Let's go," like an obedient child she followed
'I thought you're a strong independent woman? Why are you following obediently?' she mentally scolded herself for acting like an obedient child
'He's our captain,' a part of her mind reasoned out and an endless debate occurred in her mind, she shook her head when she felt more confused because of the endless banter happening in her mind.
When they reached the home section, she took one basket then followed Rasheed to the aisle where the foot-wears are. She looked around, she's familiar with flip-flops and slippers but she doesn't which is which, she touched each slipper, determining if it's the footwear she's looking for.
"Flip-flops are used outside, slippers are used inside the house." She recited in her mind while browsing
"Here," she looked at Rasheed when he placed a pair of grey cotton footwear on her basket
"Thank you, Captain," she smiled and placed it in the basket
"Um next is…" she looked up trying to recall what she needs to buy next
"Sheets and pillow covers," she said and frowned when she noticed that their captain has left her behind
She quickened her pace to catch up with him and bumped on his back when he stopped, she went beside him and she saw that they're in the aisle with bed covers and pillow covers.
"Oh, blankets, I almost forgot that." She muttered when she realized something
Living in hotels had made her accustomed to not buying anything for her room or decorating it.
She walked on the aisle while looking at every sheets, covers and comforter. She noticed a light blue comforter and began reaching for it but it's too high on the shelf. She sighed and blew the hair strand that had fallen to her face.
"Jumping to reach an item, are you a kid?" She turned to their captain who had reached for the comforter and placed it on her basket
"What else?" He asked her with an irritated expression
"That one and that one," she pointed the indigo bed cover and sky blue pillowcase
"Done?" Rasheed asked her with a bored expression and she nodded
"Thank you, captain." She smiled at him and he turned his back on her
"Let's go," their captain walked ahead
While walking to the counter, Key noticed the glances that some of the shoppers are throwing at them so she looked ahead and that's when she realized why. 'They recognized the captain,' she said in her mind and mentally shook her head. She was surprised when their captain turned to her with a serious expression so she walked quicker until they reached the cashier.
She paid her items using her phone and smiled at the cahier after taking the bag containing her slippers, bed sheets, pillowcases, and comforter, it's a bit heavy and she was surprised when Rasheed suddenly lifted it up and began walking.
"Thank you," she thanked the cashier and began catching up with Rasheed
"Why did you…" she bumped into Rasheed's back again but she didn't get to continue her question when she saw what made their captain stop on his tracks
There are at least three girls and two guys in front of them and they're all smiling while holding their phones. With one look, she immediately understood the situation, these people are the group's or more precisely their Captain's fans, and they definitely won't like it if she sticks too close to Rasheed.
"Oh my, who is she?" one of the girls looked at her and she smiled
"Hello," she smiled and tilted her head bit then waved
"Is she your girlfriend, Rasheed?" her eyes widened with that question
"Do I look like someone who'd date someone who could pass as my little niece?"