Once there, Natsu parked the car in the parking lot.
Lara asked, "You coming?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Natsu replied, "No," his tone indifferent.
Lara pouted in response, her enthusiasm momentarily dampened. "I will give you a treat," she promised, trying to persuade him.
Natsu remained unmoved. "No," he repeated, his voice firm.
Lara's pout deepened, but she didn't give up. "Fine," she said. She then rushed out of the car, determined to make the most of her shopping spree.
"You have till 4," Natsu said.
Lara, in a rush, replied, "I will be back!" before disappearing into the mall.
Natsu watched her energetic figure disappear into the bustling crowd.
"Kid," he mumbled, closing his eyes.
3:15 PM
Natsu was waiting patiently in the car when his phone rang. An unknown number flashed on the screen. He ignored the first two calls but answered on the third attempt.
"Help! I'm in trouble!" Lara's panicked voice echoed through the phone.
"What?" Natsu's voice rose in alarm.
"Come fast! Fourth floor, please help me!" Lara pleaded before the call ended abruptly.
"Now what happened?" he muttered to himself, a sense of urgency propelling him into action. He quickly got out of the car and rushed towards the mall entrance.
Natsu rushed to the fourth floor, the location of the women's clothing section. As he entered, all eyes turned to him, a sea of curious gazes following his every move.
"Ughh," he muttered, his discomfort growing. He pulled out his phone and dialled Lara's number.
Just as he was about to connect the call, Lara appeared from a nearby store, her arms laden with shopping bags. "Help me with my bags," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.
Natsu sighed, his patience wearing thin. "You called me for this?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Lara, oblivious to his frustration, simply replied, "Bingo," her eyes sparkling with amusement. She took a step closer to him, her arms outstretched, offering him the heavy bags.
Without a word, Natsu took the bags from her, his expression a mix of annoyance and resignation.
Lara's eyes darted towards another store, a sparkle of excitement returning to her eyes. "Wait!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with anticipation.
Before Natsu could respond, she had already disappeared into the store, leaving him alone with the shopping bags.
Natsu leaned back against the wall.
As Natsu leaned against the wall, lost in thought, a scene unfolded before him. A young child, hand in hand with their parents, was humming a cheerful tune. The child's innocence and joy were infectious, and Natsu found himself drawn to the heartwarming moment.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he closed his eyes, the melody transporting him back to his childhood. He could almost hear his own voice, humming the same tune in their old apartment.
The illusion was shattered by the child's voice, "Mom, I want a toy!"
The child's mother responded with a gentle, "Okay, honey, sure."
Natsu remembered a similar incident with Nen. They were walking out of a toy store, and Nen's eyes were fixed on a particular toy. The little boy looked at Natsu, his eyes filled with desire, but then he turned away, shaking his head.
"Let's go," he had said, his voice small but resolute.
When Natsu had asked him if he wanted the toy, Nen had simply replied, "We don't have enough money right now, so Nen will save Pa-chan money."
The memory of his selfless act brought a warm smile to Natsu's face. He had hugged Nen tightly, his heart filled with pride and love.
After what felt like an eternity, Lara emerged from the store, a shopping bag swinging from her hand. "I'm back," she announced, her voice filled with excitement.
She looked around for Natsu but found the parking spot empty. "Did he leave?" she muttered to herself.
Just as she was about to call him, Natsu reappeared, his face expressionless. "Washroom," he explained briefly.
Lara nodded, understanding. "Oh," she replied, her voice trailing off.
"It's about to be 4," Natsu reminded her, his tone firm.
Lara asked, "Do you have something important to do at 4?" Her curiosity was piqued.
Natsu replied, "Yes," his tone firm.
Lara suggested, "Why don't we go and eat something?" Her voice was filled with hope.
Natsu responded, "No, go if you want," his indifference clear.
Lara teased, "Well, never mind, I don't want you to be late or else you will be angry again." She mimicked Natsu's serious tone.
With that, Lara took the lead, walking ahead with a determined stride. Natsu followed behind, the weight of the shopping bags adding to his growing irritation.
Natsu carefully placed all the shopping bags in the car's trunk, a sense of relief washing over him. He started the car, the engine roaring to life.
Natsu and Lara were in the car, driving back from the mall.