Nearly two weeks had passed, and now Alice decided that they should continue their journey immediately.
After sorting out a few things they wanted to bring on the trip, they began to move the items one by one.
However, Maria was currently lying down alone under the trees, mumbling to herself, "I don't want to go... There's so much food here! Why do we have to leave this heaven? Wait, heaven? What is heaven like anyway?" Unconsciously, she forgot about her sadness. Although a few seconds later, she remembered the reason why she was sad. But after that, she would forget again in an instant.
Meanwhile, Joe Walker was carrying a bottle of oil in his left hand. His right hand held a box of food that was already full. Alice also carried a box of food, but she had to use both hands to hold the box because it was large for her small and short body.
The two of them were riding an elevator made by Alex and Violet, which was a secret bookshelf elevator.
"Joe, why are you carrying oil?" Alice asked, looking puzzled.
"Just to be prepared, just in case when our vehicle needs it," Joe replied.
"But we've been using the vehicle for 2 years, and it's still in good condition."
"Hmm, but maybe we'll need it one day, right?"
"You're right, then bring it. But make sure to keep it away from the food box!"
"Of course, I know that! I don't want our food to be contaminated with this liquid!"
Alice was slightly surprised to hear Joe Walker's last sentence. She smiled because she felt happy for some reason.
"Our food?" Alice asked.
"Uh, what's up?... Alice?"
"It's nothing, it's just that you said 'our food' instead of 'your food.'"
"What's wrong with that? Does it bother you? Or do you want to kick me out?" Joe Walker looked panicked.
"It's not like that!" Alice shouted.
"Hehe, I was just kidding."
"Joe!! Stop teasing me like that!"
"It's your fault for being born to be so cute," Joe Walker looked proud and said without hesitation.
Alice blushed and lowered her face, saying, "Th-thank you."
Joe Walker smiled even wider, seeing that, he immediately put down the things he was carrying and started to pat Alice's hair, "You're unbelievable! Why are you so cute?"
"Hey, stop it! My hair will get messy!"
"It's your fault for not wearing a Helmet."
"S-stop it...," Alice hesitated a bit.
"Say it again, and I'll stop for real."
"Huh? Uhh...," Alice was really hesitant at this point.
Not hearing anything from Alice's mouth, Joe Walker felt happy and said, "Alice is indeed a shy and cute girl! I wonder where the fierce Alice went."
"I'm not fierce!"
"See, you just got angry," Joe Walker grinned.
Feeling annoyed for being teased, Alice said, "How long are you going to keep patting my hair? Stop it right now!"
Joe Walker, with a happy face, said, "Ah! I'm scared!!"
"Be quiet! It seems like playing with Maria too often is making you more like her. I feel like I'm traveling with 2 Maria!"
"Does that mean I'm your sister? No, now I'm your brother! Call me 'brother' now, Alice!"
"No way!"
"But..."
"Stop it!"
"Y-yes, mom!"
"I'm not your mom!"
"Hehe..., you're really cute!"
"Enough, stop this and be quiet! If you don't want to, you can go back and play with Maria. Let me move the stuff myself."
"A-alright, I'll be quiet..."
Silence fell between them.
Alice stared ahead quietly without any restlessness.
Meanwhile, Joe Walker couldn't stop looking around out of boredom. He glanced at Alice and saw her still holding the food box with both hands.
"Alice..."
"Be quiet!"
"Uh..."
"I don't want to hear it..."
"Do you hate me?"
"Oh, that's not what I meant!" Alice, feeling guilty, immediately looked at Joe Walker. But she found Joe Walker smiling at her, making her realize that Joe Walker was teasing her again.
Without hesitation, Alice kicked Joe Walker's leg hard. It didn't hurt too much, but it was enough punishment for Joe Walker from Alice.
"Alice, you're so mean!"
"It's your fault for always teasing me like that."
"I just wanted to tell you that you could actually put that food box on the floor."
"Oh, you're right, thank you," Alice started to put the food box she was carrying on the floor nearby.
"See that, right!? I Just want to tell you that."
"But you didn't have to tease me, right?"
"Hmm, I guess you're right?"
"Of course, I am."
Suddenly, they arrived at the top, not even 30 seconds after Alice put down her food box. Alice also felt that it was a futile act.
Joe Walker started to pick up his belongings and took the lead towards their vehicle. But before that, he glanced back at Alice with a smile. Wanting to make small talk, he asked, "Seems like putting it on the floor earlier was pointless, right?"
Joe Walker hoped that Alice would smile and say, "You're right, Joe."
But unfortunately, what he received was Alice's shoe flying towards his face.
"Ouch... it's hurts... Why?"
**********
On the other side, Maria was looking at an 80 square meter strawberry field while deep in thought.
Hmm... how can I bring all of this with Tony?
No, before that, I have to think about how to make Alice accept my idea.
But Alice probably won't accept it...
Maria looked sad, but slowly she became frustrated.
She will probably call me 'stupid' again.
"Sigh...," Maria sighed out of exhaustion from thinking.
But it seems a bit difficult to bring the entire strawberry field.
What if only a portion of it is brought?
Wait, what if I only bring the strawberries Ohhh! That's right! Am I actually a genius?
Ahahaha, I'm a genius!
With a happy heart, she collected some strawberries in the helmet she was wearing.
She also found Alice's helmet nearby.
Ohh! An additional container!
After finishing that, she couldn't stop smiling while humming.
However, she looked back at the strawberry field.
Hmm, there are still some left. But there are no more containers to put them in.
Ohh! I can put them in my stomach!
She began to happily eat the strawberries from the strawberry field