Hard Enough Chapter 258 - Enjoyable experiences

Swimming is a great activity if you have a young family as it usually results in extrely compliant children for the rest of the day.

This usually leads to young kids who are much more manageable, and you can prod them into naps and other ‘quiet’ activities that let you get so actual work done.

The only issue with this was that we’d perhaps gone to the beach a little too early so they were drooping and starting to complain already. And it was only just ti for lunch, so this was going to be an issue.

Thankfully, there was a plan in place for this.

I’d fill them with sweets and lemonades, and dump them at a playground which usually Mr Mi’s restaurant happened to have as one of their facilities. If that fails?

Flint could look after them.

Well, in truth, there were more than enough parents around to take turns, but when one family makes up almost half the children quota of the group, you’d expect that group’s parents to do their fair share.

We herded our small tribe into a Mr Mi’s restaurant with the kids perking up at all the bright colours and the play area off to the side. “Can we go in there?” echoed from at least five little mouths only to be denied as parents attempted to shove sothing that passed for food into their hungry little monsters.

“Hi! Welco to Mr Mi’s! What can I get for you today?” asked the attendant who was wearing a cap that was stylised like a Mr Mi’s hairstyle. Each employee also wore an apron over their normal clothes with small pink points at the shoulders, stomach and hips.

Blue slippers with curled-up toes were worn on their feet to create the impression of a bunch of Mr Mi serving in the kitchen if you didn’t look too closely. Around the restaurant there were also statues and play stations that were all modelled with Mr Mi thes.

Kids could play gas of Mr Mi mirrors against what looked like a video ga that reminded of Dance Dance Revolution, while the playground had kids sliding down the curly shoes of a Mr Mi.

I didn’t even have to glance at the nu to know what I needed. “I’ll have two of the Encore Ensembles for the Mr Mi Mimic als with two sides of nuggets both as als. The drinks will all be soda pop,” I said with an even tone.

The cashier dutifully tapped that out and with the air of soone used to reading off a spiel that she’d long since ingrained, she said, “Do you want the—”

“We want the toys,” I said, very much aware of the eyes that were watching .

The woman nodded. “And can I interest you in super sizing yo—”

“We’ll be alright with the kids nu,” I said.

“Do you want the desse—” said the woman, only for to quickly cut her off. I wanted to give the kids a shot of sugar, not a flood.

“No thank you!” I managed to interrupt, which caused so of the younger kids to tilt their heads curiously, but I ignored the looks and instead directed them into the playground as fast as I could

Yolanda, who’d claid a set of tables for us, watched the younger kids run off to play around. I was amused to see Salvadore trying to beat the high score on the Mr Mi mirror ga with Olga taking the other position for herself.

“So, what are we having?” asked my more responsible sister.

Sabrina appeared with a flash and deposited salad bowls that had a nice dressing and so at in it and broken up noodles.

“Thanks,” I said, taking a bite.

Yolanda glanced at our food before pointing at the rest of the restaurant. “Should you be bringing in food from outside to eat?” she asked.

I chuckled. “Yolanda, I’d be impressed if a worker here gave enough of a damn to call us out on it,” I said. “The only people you have to worry about are the managers, and they’ll care more that we just spent almost seventy pokedollars for our family alone.”

Yolanda’s eyes flicked over my shoulder. “And if they do care?” she asked with a twitch of her lips that let know the manager was behind .

I sighed and looked over to find a portly man with sweat dripping down his forehead. “Company policy is that we need to ask you to lea—”

I enlarged a pokeball. “Solve this the traditional way?” I asked and the man coughed.

Then he perked up. “If we get photos… and you go easy on ,” he said quietly as he glanced back to find most of his servers and cooks watching on with clear amusent.

I nodded. “What badges did you get?” I asked as I rose and walked out to the carpark,

“I got five on my Journey,” he said. “Fuchsia, Celadon, Saffron for the fighting Gym, Cerulean and Pewter,” he continued proudly.

“Well done,” I said earnestly as I selected Cradily for this match. I was rather amused when the manager responded with Muk.

There was just sothing about a manager for a fast food restaurant using a Muk of all pokemon.

“Muuuuuuk!” roared the giant mass of poison and toxins as it advanced on my ancient flower pokemon.

“Earthquake, but keep it tight,” I ordered, deciding to sandbag the first move hard while also being mindful that we were near a building. Cradily nodded and shifted her weight just enough to cause a shaking of the earth that I swayed in ti with to ignore.

Around people grabbed tables and more than a few children shrieked in delight as they were bounced higher in the ball pit.

Muk wobbled, absorbing the attack and surging on so that it engulfed Cradily.

“Hahahaha! Body Slam for the win! Spam it till death!” roared the manager, suddenly acting like a much younger man as a spark entered his eyes.

I chuckled, and signalled for Cradily to slam Stone Edge into the poison-type pokemon. With the battle turning into a close-range slug fest I wasn’t surprised when Cradily and Muk both slumped at the sa ti.

While Cradily was well-trained and had been able to handle a lot, the poison of Muk’s body must have piled up over ti. So if anything, through sheer stubborn pride, the Manager had been able to snatch a draw for himself and I hadn’t embarrassed him.

I counted that as a solid win-win.

The man stepped back into the restaurant with a spring in his step and a gleam in his eyes. “I should do that more often!” he said happily. He splayed his hand out with a huge smile. “I should set this up as a draw card! Fight and win, and you get a free al!”

His eyes had stars in them, and I made a little fist-pumping motion to show I was supporting his upbeat attitude.

“Let’s make it so!” he said and within monts a sign was up on the window and he looked extrely proud of himself.

I humd, wondering if this wasn’t rushing things, but I decided to shrug and move back to Sabrina and my family who had received their orders.

Before I had a chance to sit down the door slamd open as soone kicked it open. “I’m here for the free food!” shouted a familiar voice. I looked up and waved as a familiar face noticed .

“Gym Leader Brock sir!” Mia shouted happily.

I waved and made to greet her, only for the Manager to slide in front of . “None shall disturb my diners! So, you’re challenging ? You vandal! Very well prepare yourself,” said the man, apparently feeling very fired up now that he’d gotten a draw with .

I bit my lip as Mia sized him up before shrugging. “Sure? One-on-one fine?” she asked, her hand dipping to her pokebelt with practised ease. “Gary! You’re acting as my referee!” she announced to her travelling partner before he could march up to the front counter.

“Eh?” said Gary, only to lock eyes with . Mia snagged his arm and dragged him out of the building. “Wait! No! I don’t accept! I reject this! Mia no!”

“Mia yes!” I heard Mia shout as she set Gary up.

The Manager strode out to the front lot once more and I observed Mia as she set up across from her foe. She had a glint in her eye that let know she very much wasn’t going to be pulling her punches like I had.

She looked like she’d done well on her Journey.

Gone was the basic attire that she’d worn when she’d started out. Now she had stylished clothes with a pokebelt that hung artfully over one hip. She had her colour sche matching that of Silly Mouse which… worked with her hair having previously been rather mousy brown.

Now it was brown, but you wouldn’t consider it mousy with how she’d styled it into a single long ponytail that she’d wrapped with bandages.

It stood out to as a morable look that was quite iconic.

I sat with Sabrina and watched as the Manager sent out a Starmie as his second pokemon only for Mia to match with Bouncer, her Azumarill.

Gary’s team of Cheerleaders slunk up next to us and eyed our als. “How can we get so of that?” one asked.

Sabrina considered them for a mont before handing them a nu from another restaurant. “Call and make an order. I’ll have my pokemon pick it up for you,” she said and the cheerleaders quickly huddled around the nu.

I snorted, amused that the pack of bodyguards were comfortable enough to leave Gary outside with Mia.

Hmmm, did that say they trusted Gary not to get hurt, or was it a statent of Mia’s capabilities?

I settled in to watch to get a better idea of at least Mia’s capabilities as Gary swung his arm down to signal that the match should start.

The Manager had enough ti for his mouth to open, only for Mia to snap her hand forward and bark out a string of orders in a rapid fire sequence.

“Bubblebeam Bounce into blasting bombardnt!” she announced quickly.

With the first word, her pokemon unleashed a torrent of bubbles that were of various sizes.

The first thing I noticed was how she used the bubbles to create a field of overlapping visual distortions with Bouncer hopping up and it appeared that he was leaping up into several bubbles all at once despite them being spaced apart.

Starmie shifted from side to side, unsure where to target and the Manager was likewise struck dumb which only led to Mia chaining her moves to unleash a powerful Hydro Pump from the side before closing and hamring Starmie with what looked like Play Rough to win the match.

And, also apparently a free lunch as she happily led the downtrodden Manager to the front counter. “He says our order is on his tab!” Mia announced. Then her smile turned evil. “I’ll have five Encore Ensembles please! And Supersize !” she said with relish.

The manager choked. “Young lady! The Encore Ensembles are sets designed for families by themselves! It was one al! Not five als!”

Mia gave him a pointed look. “I’m a growing girl,” she said flatly. She then leaned in, sizing him up. “And are you really going to argue semantics?”

When the Manager looked like he was going to say that he was planning to argue Mia turned to Gary. “Put this on Pokechat! People should avoid thi—”

“Fine! Fine!” the man said, looking like he regretted his earlier open statent of a ‘al’ instead of stating just a set of food.

The kids nodded happily and turned back to the clerk.

Mia smiled winningly at the dull-eyed teen. “Hi! I’ll have the five Encore Ensembles please!” When the Manager muttered sothing, she continued with, “It’s for and my friend along with our pokemon teams,” she clarified.

The manager looked slightly relieved. “Oh thank goodness, I thought I’d have to call the ambulance for kids that had eyes bigger than their stomachs,” he said.

Then he rembered that he was about to pay out what would probably be a hundred or more pokedollars over a match that lasted maybe a minute tops.

At this rate, Mia eating her al would take her longer. He shook his head and moved to adjust the sign hanging in the window with a small subtext that had a small asterisk with the words terms and conditions applied written clearly.

If you co across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from . Please report it.

I chuckled as Mia marched over and claid a swathe of tables near our group. With her and Gary and the Cheerleaders, we now had every seat in the restaurant to ourselves.

This did not make it any calr as kids regained their energy and took off shouting and screaming as young kids were wont to do.

Silly Mouse scampered into Mia’s lap to avoid grasping hands while other pokemon endured the adoration of small children. So pokemon got more attention than others though.

“You have a Dragonair?” said Yolanda as she gazed up at the tall draconic serpent.

Greta had her pokedex out instantly.

Greta then turned her attention to each of Gary’s team causing the other Pallet town trainer to gain a smug look.

“Impressed with what a proper team looks like?” he said proudly.

Greta nodded. “Mia has an impressive set up,” she said without missing a beat.

She then ignored Gary and his pout.

I chuckled at their byplay, and both trainer and pokemon grinned at impishly. I decided to soothe Gary’s ego by sweeping my eyes over both their teams. “It seems you’ve been doing well for yourself,” I said.

Mia had a Raticate, Farfetch’d, Houndoom, Azumarill, Dragonair, and an Exeggutor.

Gary, on the other hand, had Blastoise, Electabuzz, Pinsir, Growlithe, Nidoking, and an Eevee.

Mia bead. “I have! I’ve lost a ton of matches lately since coming to this island! I knew there wasn’t a pokemon Gym here, so Gary was being all whiny at first but then we got into a ton of hard matches!”

“So of them were alright,” scoffed Gary from around what looked like a triple cheeseburger. At his side his Electabuzz was scarfing down a huge plate of fries so quickly I felt obliged to remind it that indigestion was still possible, only to think better of it.

Pokemon weren’t humans after all. They had slightly stronger stomachs, although I wasn’t sure that binge eating fast food was good for them.

“Do this often?” I said, waving a hand at the restaurant.

Gary nodded. “After every Gym victory, if I can!” he said.

His cheerleaders nodded sadly. “We tried to stop it,” one of them said. “Then Mia tipped the scales,” said another.

I laughed. “Ha, you’re not going to get fine dining from them at this point in their lives,” I said. “I suppose this is a nice way to hang out with your pokemon,” I asked.

Both young trainers nodded their heads.

“So, how have you been?” I asked and instantly Mia began regaling of her adventures.

“So we’ve been having a great ti! Everything has been work to prepare and make our teams stronger. Gary has been going on a bit of a catching spree lately, though, cause his grandfather told us how Ash caught like thirty pokemon the other day!”

“Thirty pokemon?” I asked, sothing about that tickled at my brain. There was an instance in the ani where Ash was shown to catch a lot of pokemon although for so countries the actual episode was never shown due to Team Rocket getting threatened with a pistol.

It was the herd of Tauros, wasn’t it?

Gary grimaced. “He apparently did it in one day!” he said with a slight whine.

I bit my lips, deciding not to reveal the trick. I doubted that Sam knew this would be the response but having more pokemon technically wasn’t a bad thing, so long as Gary could care for them.

“Any pokemon that you’ve been looking for to add to your teams?” I asked.

“Hmmm, I’m taking it as they co,” said Mia. “I might see if I can win sothing fun at so of the local stalls,” she admitted after a mont of thought.

Gary huffed. “I wouldn’t mind a Tyranitar, or a Dragonite if you had one to spare,” he asked sardonically.

I shook my head. “Yeah, not happening,” I said. “Do well enough in the tournant and you might get access to Mt Silver, but otherwise you’ll need to hunt around the Safari zone,” I said.

Gary blinked at that. “The Safari Zone? Why there?”

I shrugged. “Lots of pokemon to try your luck at,” I said casually, “But also all sorts of pokemon end up there,” I said.

Gary humd. “I already had a run through there, it’s where I got my Pinsir, but… maybe another look might not hurt. You keen to co this ti? You can afford it so stop being cheap!” Gary said.

Mia shrugged. “I just like pokemon with personalities more than just hunting strong pokemon I guess, but sure, I’ll co for an adventure and see who I find.”

“You could always take a flute or a musical instrunt and see who cos around if you’re looking for personalities,” I suggested.

Mia grinned. “Heh! I like the sound of that!”

I smiled. “So, will you be coming back for the end of circuit training camp?” I asked her.

“Sure! Gary and I will be there!” she said proudly.

Gary coughed, his eyes darted towards the ground as he showed his age, “That is… if it’s alright for to co along?” he asked.

Mia shot an imploring look, and I nodded. “You’re welco, Gary. Although you’re still one badge away from earning yourself that pokemon you were hoping for,” I pointed out.

“You rember?” Gary said as his head snapped up to . “I can have an Electric Geodude if I beat her?”

“Yeah, if you can do it with the Gauntlet,” I said. “Think you can do it?” I asked.

Gary turned his gaze to Sabrina. “I’m booked in next week, expect to co with my best!” he said firmly.

Sabrina nodded. “I have foreseen it,” she said with a mysterious tone lacing her voice that made Gary and Mia lean back and swallow nervously.

“Hmpf! Well, I’m sure you’ve seen that my victory cos next!” Gary announced firmly and his pokemon all roused at this cheering their nas along with him.

Sabrina gave Gary a cool look and stared him down.

Gary matched her.

After a mont, a small twitch ford in his cheek, but he mastered himself with a clenched fist as he straightened his back further.

Sabrina smiled. “There is a possibility I saw that,” she said neutrally.

“We shall see next week,” she proclaid before she took a sip from her drink, visibly dismissing him, which caused him to bristle a little.

Mia giggled. “Sounds like we’re in for a fun ti next week!” she said to her own pokemon. She then picked up her tray and deposited it to the side, having demolished her al while we’d been talking. “Alright! We’re not going to win fights by sitting around! We need to get out there and fight and fight and fight so more! Let’s go Gary if we’re lucky, we’ll find Jessadia for you to have a rematch against her Mawile!”

“Urgh! Hold your Ponyta! I’m not done!” Gary said, hunkering down over his burger.

Mia groaned and tapped her foot. Gary narrowed his eyes and began eating slower, his mouth slowly working through each cheating action before he swallowed. He then took a tiny sip from his drink just to aggravate Mia further.

“Urgh! Fine! I’ll find my own fun!” she said only to turn slightly to the side and grin at Greta. “Hi there! Want to fight?” she said with clenched fists.

Greta glanced at her own finished al before nodding. “Yes, I think that would be nice,” she said.

Greta stomped outside with Yolanda, Crystal, Salvadore and Olga all moving to watch on.

I glanced towards Sabrina, who’d finished her own al. “Do we have much ti until the door prize?”

Sabrina considered the group outside and shook her head. “They will not impact our chances too much, but we will need to leave soon.”

“Door prize?” Gary asked with so fries hanging out of his mouth. With Mia gone he’d resud eating at what I’d consider a normal speed for young boys, which sadly ant he was stuffing the food into his mouth instead of taking any ti to eat properly.

I had to bite my lip to not snap at him to not talk with his mouth full much to Sabrina’s knowing amusent. She shot a smirk as she nodded. “I am looking to collect the Door prize doll that will be on offer later this afternoon.”

“Urgh, you’re like my sister then. She likes things like that. Has a collection of hundreds of dolls. Doesn’t even take them out of the box most of the ti,” Gary said with a shake of his head while raising his hands in a ‘what can you do about so people’ gesture.

Sabrina gave Gary a pointed look. “Hundreds you say?” Sabrina laced her fingers together. “I will have to put together sothing to entice her to sell—”

“She won’t sell them or anything. She once thrashed so bad Gramps had to rescue ! It was all just because I played with one and she got super mad!” Gary said, shooting his hands across his body with an X.

“Daisy? The girl that’s always sweet as anything?” I asked with disbelief.

“Yeah! Don’t trust that mask she puts on! It’s a lie!” Gary said.

“I will keep that in mind,” Sabrina said, firming her gaze while looking past him in a manner that let know she was currently using her powers to attempt to look into sothing.

A mont later, she stiffened and her hair began to float around her as her eyes glowed with psychic might. It got so bad that cutlery around the restaurant began to float upwards.

“Daisy Oak is my rival!” Sabrina snarled.

I blinked. “Uhmmm alright? Why is that dear?” I asked as I reached out to pat her consolingly.

“She has seven limited edition dolls of the Miko-Miko series! Each one is unique! I only have five of that series!”

“Oh, well maybe you can find a way to trade them around?” I asked.

Sabrina gave a dubious look before sighing, which caused all the floating implents to float down and clatter as they ca to rest. “Oh Brock, you just don’t understand Doll collecting. You’ll have a better idea when we get to the shopping district,” she said.

She then checked her watch. “Speaking of which,” Then she stood up and called out “Brock family and friends! We need to move out!” When the kids and parents only blinked at her in surprise, she frowned before reconsidering her approach. “Who wants to go buy so new toys!” she tried again while punching her fist into the air.

Instantly, all the kids were surging for the door, leading to the parents being pushed and shoved to get moving. The parents shot Sabrina a disbelieving look but Sabrina ignored them as she led the procession down the street.

I sighed and made a sweep of the restaurant with a few other parents well used to knowing that small children often left things behind such as favoured toys, drink bottles and even clothes. I saw one parent approach the manager and bow while making gestures towards the ball pit.

The Manager’s face turned a shade of green, but otherwise, he just sighed and shook away the parents’ apologies while signalling a worker to set about sanitising the ball pit.

Gary followed out the door with his drink still in hand. “Man, I forgot that Sabrina’s just a girl,” he said with the airs of a kid trying to be wise.

I raised an eyebrow. “Just a girl?” I asked.

Gary nodded. “All weird and stuff about dolls.”

I shrugged. “She is just passionate. She always had this love for dolls but she’s only opened up about it in recent years. It’s a good thing to be open about hobbies like this. Nothing weird or girly about it,” I said, my mind turning to the obscene amounts of money that I knew people spent in my past life on collectibles, models from certain ga stores, or even pokemon cards.

Damn, I wish I’d kept my Generation One trading cards and had half a clue back then.

I’d never gotten a shiny Charizard, but I had found a shiny Alakazam from a trading deck.

Gary nodded. “I an, I guess I feel that way about pokemon so it’s not that weird when you put it that way,” he said.

I nodded, glad that I could help Gary understand.

We caught up with our group right as we reached the shopping district. There was obviously a commotion going on with the entrance having a huge arch over the street announcing the door prizes for various shops, along with certain bargains.

Gary whistled. “Oh nice, pokeflutes are on special with a pre-recorded song! I know of a pokemon that’d work great on!” he said darting off forward. “Mia! I’m gonna upgrade so gear! See you later!” he called towards Mia.

It took a mont to look around, only to find her fighting with what looked like a Hoenn trainer that had sent out a Roselia, only for Mia to counter with her Dragonair.

I joined our group, and we all marched as one under the archway. To the side, I could see a woman frantically clicking on a counter as her eyes tracked our group.

“Two thousand four hundred and ninety-nine, and two thousand five hundred!” she said right as she slamd her fist on a button that sent confetti raining down on top of us.

The woman advanced on us, and I glanced around to see who’d been the lucky door entran,t only for the woman to approach . “Congratulations Gym Leader Brock! You just won a fabulous choice of prize! Would you like—” I didn’t need to hear the woman’s list of items as at that mont Sabrina stepped up to with a delirious smile that was rather new for .

“The doll, please?” I said not even paying attention to the other woman as I kept my eyes on Sabrina as she bounced slightly on the spot.

The woman then produced the doll, still in a plastic case I noticed.

I gave the doll a look over, only to be surprised at how big it was. It was easily a tre tall in the bo,x but I could see that a lot of careful stitching had gone into it.

Sabrina’s hands tightened on my arm, and she shifted her eyes, darting from to the doll and back again. “It’s all yours,” I said, and Sabrina made a cute little noise of delight as she scooped the doll up and vanished in a teleport.

She ca back a mont later and glomped with a hug.

She then gave a searing kiss before breaking away. “I still want to buy more dolls that are here, but you are an amazing partner,” she said happily.

I felt my heart surge. Damn, did I even need to take her on dates to know that I wanted to marry her when she made feel this good from just a kiss and a smile?

Well, I wasn’t about to drop onto one knee here and now. I needed a proper ring first.

I laced my fingers with hers and tugged her into my side. “Lead on,” I said rrily.

Then again, there wasn’t a need to rush things right now. I was in a good place. We’d go on our date later, enjoy ourselves and deepen our bond.

And while we weren’t pokemon, I knew that the bonds we made in our lives were the real prize.

You just needed to take the mont to enjoy them.

I had to conclude that while the tournant had been exciting and fulfilling in new ways for , it was the days after that I was able to truly enjoy myself.

Sadly, there was only one more day after this, and then I would head ho but for now, now I just wanted to enjoy my ti with my girlfriend and my family.

Just before we entered a shop together, I stiffened as I felt soone’s gaze settle on with a palpable weight behind it.

Sabrina also felt it and we both snapped our heads to the sky where a small purplish dot was hovering.

The dot vanished a mont later and if I didn’t know any better I would have thought I’d imagined it. I glanced at Sabrina. “He’s still watching us?” I asked.

Sabrina nodded. “He sent an impression of curiosity,” she said before blushing. “He found it rather odd that I got so happy that you gave that doll.” She glanced shyly at . “He apparently also felt your happiness.”

I rubbed at my nose not denying it before shooting the sky another look. “Still trying to understand bonds?” I asked.

Sabrina nodded. “Yes, I think he’s taken to watching you because you bring out the best in people and pokemon,” she said with a casual certainty that made blink.

“That’s… a big call,” I said feeling slightly nervous that wtwo was using as an example of goodness. What if I ssed up? I couldn’t claim to be always so jolly.

Sabrina nudged . “Don’t question it, you’re more wonderful than you realise. I should know. I’ve spent years with you now,” she said.

I chuckled and decided to not overthink things, instead, I leaned down and pecked Sabrina on the lips.

Hopefully, nothing too crazy would co from wtwo watching for ideas about bonds.

I put that concept in the too hard for to handle right now basket and instead just tried to relax.

With Sabrina at my side, that was easy.

A mont later, Sabrina stiffened. “They’ve started the sale! Blast, wtwo distracted !” she said before rushing forward leaving standing with my hand out as she telekinetically grabbed an old woman and hurled her into a pile of pillows.

“Ah! The Kanto Queen is here! Quick! Stop her!” cried another woman.

“They have a na for her?” I said, only to watch in shock as anarchy descended on the shop with gangs of won forming up to purchase as few as two or three dolls each.

Blockers would orbit the girls holding the dolls; anwhile, other won working by themselves had to elbow and even bite to make their way through the pell-ll to make their purchases.

Sabrina hovered above it all, snatching any stray dolls and inspecting them for damage. I noted that she bought duplicates where possible but the paired set usually always had one that was damaged.

Even standing on the side wasn’t safe as an elderly woman was hurled at .

I caught her and she elbowed out of instinct. “Don’t try and hold back but thank you!” snarled the granny as she stord back into the shopping frenzy, fixing her outfit as she went. She lay into the woman who threw her with her purse.

The clerks all stood behind glass screens at the checkouts and accepted the dolls and the money. In return, they gave back proof of purchase docunts to each woman.

This, I noted, caused any aggressors to not target the won as they usually exited the shop with their spoils.

As soon as the won were outside, they relaxed and even smiled and started complinting each other in a manner that seed all too casual for my liking.

Brock, stand here,” Sabrina said as she descended with her haul. She had stand behind her as she made her purchases and I blocked any won who might attempt a late steal. Not that any tried after one woman darted forward only to be grabbed telekinetically by her cuff and hurled into the pillows.

Sabrina collected her dolls, and they vanished in a flash of light. Then she huffed in satisfaction before sliding her hand into mine. “Excellent, I now have another seven unique dolls, while I have added a duplicate for another eight,” she said, leading to the door of the shop.

“Oh, Sabrina! Hello! Will we see you at the next sale in a week’s ti?” chirped one woman as we exited the shop. I could tell the woman wasn’t Sabrina’s friend by the venom in her glare and the plastic manner of her smile.

Sabrina gave her a victorious smile. “I know about the sale later this afternoon, don’t try that on Hannah,” she said.

The woman clicked her tongue and turned away. Sabrina humd happily as she led to a teahouse. I blinked and shot her a look.

“What… was that?” I asked, indicating the shop behind .

“Doll Collecting,” said Sabrina as if that explained it.

I opened and closed my mouth only to shake my head.

Only in an ani world would that make sense. I found myself slightly worried, though. Hadn’t Sabrina said this was going to take most of the afternoon?

Oh dear.