Kun stood firm, hands on his hips, staring down the furious baker. "You should have been clearer about the sample policy!"
The baker's face turned red. "WHO TAKES AN ENTIRE CAKE?!"
Alice and Lizzy finally pushed through the growing crowd, taking in the scene before them. Alice's eyes sparkled with amusement, while Lizzy looked like she wanted to die on the spot.
"Kun," Lizzy hissed. "What did you do?"
Kun turned to her, perfectly calm. "I was simply testing the quality of the product."
The vendor threw his hands up. "BY DEVOURING IT?!"
Alice, barely holding back laughter, clapped Kun on the shoulder. "You know, I really admire your dedication to quality control."
Kun grinned. "Thank you—"
"He's NOT helping," Lizzy snapped, grabbing Alice's collar before he could make things worse. She turned back to the vendor, forcing a polite smile. "I deeply apologize for my idiot friend's behavior. How much does he owe you?"
The vendor huffed, crossing his arms. "Four gold coins!"
Kun paled.
Lizzy glared at him.
Alice hesitated. "Okay, but what if we negotiate—"
Lizzy's eye twitched. "Kun, tell me you have money."
Kun blinked. "...Define 'money.'"
Lizzy clenched her fists. "Alice."
Alice beamed. "Oh, I assumed you had money!"
Lizzy took a slow, deep breath. "I am going to strangle both of you."
The vendor cracked his knuckles. "If you don't have money, I'm calling the guards."
Kun and Alice immediately tensed.
Lizzy paled. "No, no, wait—"
But it was too late.
The vendor turned and shouted, "GUARDS!"
Kun grabbed Alice's sleeve. "Time to run."
Alice grinned. "Finally, some action."
Lizzy screamed, "DO NOT RUN!"
Kun and Alice ran.
Lizzy groaned, then ran after them.
—
Kun and Alice darted through the crowded marketplace, weaving between stalls and ducking under awnings. The guards, alerted by the vendor's yelling, immediately gave chase.
"YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER!" one shouted.
Kun smirked. "Wanna bet?"
Alice, sprinting beside him, laughed. "This is so much fun!"
"THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!" Lizzy screeched from behind them.
They dodged around a fruit cart—Kun narrowly avoided knocking over a basket of apples. Alice, however, grabbed one mid-run and took a bite.
Kun gaped at him. "You just yelled at me for cake theft!"
"This is different," Alice said between bites.
"HOW?!"
"Because I'm not the one being chased."
"WE'RE ALL BEING CHASED, YOU IDIOT!"
The guards were gaining.
Lizzy, already out of breath, growled, "We need to lose them!"
Alice spotted a large fabric stand ahead—bolts of silk hanging like a curtain.
"Kun, on my signal—LEFT!"
Kun didn't question it.
Alice suddenly grabbed a roll of cloth from the stall, yanking it down—sending a cascade of colorful fabrics tumbling into the street, right in the guards' path.
Kun and Lizzy swerved left, narrowly dodging the mess. The guards? Not so lucky.
One tripped. Another got tangled. A third faceplanted into a particularly vibrant roll of velvet.
Alice whooped. "That was beautiful!"
Lizzy grabbed him by the collar, dragging him forward. "MOVE BEFORE THEY GET BACK UP!"
They darted into an alley, skidding to a stop.
Kun panted, hands on his knees. "Okay… new rule… no more stealing food."
Alice grinned. "No promises."
Lizzy smacked him.
—
They found temporary refuge behind an old bakery, hidden among crates of flour sacks. Kun leaned against the wall, catching his breath. Lizzy, meanwhile, looked like she was contemplating murder.
Alice, ever cheerful, took another bite of his stolen apple.
Lizzy glared. "If you get us caught, I am personally throwing you into the dungeon."
Alice smiled. "That's assuming they catch me."
Kun wiped sweat from his forehead. "So, uh… what now?"
Lizzy sighed, rubbing her temples. "We stay hidden until the guards stop looking for us."
Alice stretched, unconcerned. "Or we keep exploring."
Kun gave him a look. "You mean causing more problems?"
Alice's smile widened.
Lizzy groaned. "I should've just snitched on both of you."
Kun patted her shoulder. "How rude, I thought you wanted us to be friends?"
Lizzy deadpanned. "That's...THAT'S—."
Alice chuckled, cutting off Lizzy's reply. "Technically, you didn't steal anything, so you're fine!"
Lizzy narrowed her eyes. "I am guilty by association."
Kun crossed his arms. "…So technically, we all committed cake theft."
A pause.
Then Alice held up his apple. "And fruit theft."
Lizzy buried her face in her hands. "I hate both of you."
Kun grinned. "We know."