The mall loomed large in front of us, its massive glass façade glittering under the mid-morning sun. The chatter of excited shoppers filled the air as we gathered at the entrance. Ai stood close beside me, her arm looped through mine, while Natsumi held onto my other arm, practically bouncing in place.
"This place is huge!" Natsumi exclaimed, craning her neck to take it all in. "Onii-chan, can we go to the ice cream stand first? You promised!"
"Patience, Natsumi," Ai said, her voice warm and teasing. "We just got here. Let's explore a little first."
Kenji, hands tucked casually into the pocket of his hoodie, leaned against one of the pillars near the entrance. His usual nonchalant expression didn't hide his disinterest. "If anyone's looking for me, I'll be in the electronics store," he said.
