Page 19

He took the lead, and she kept a few footsteps behind, silent, over-analyzing everything.

Did I offend him? What if he retracts his offer to let me stay with him?

It’s fine.

Everything is fine.

I can stay at an inn?—

Her heart clenched, as if someone reached through her chest and fisted it.

No inns.

Not after what happened with the last one she stayed in.

Sighing, she swept another look around the bustling festival grounds from person to person, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Aside from the difference in attire and hairstyles, back from when she first emerged on mortal soil centuries ago, nothing caught her attention.

Ronin slowed his pace, and Naia nearly stepped on his heels as he came to a stop.

She followed his gaze to a particular stand straight ahead.

“Shaved ice?” She read the lopsided sign across the top. “Sounds promising. Though, what exactly is it?”

“It’s blended ice, usually topped with syrups and fruits.” His voice sounded strange. Coated with an emotion akin to discomfort, but something deeper.

“I assume you’ve had one before?” Naia stepped up to his side, wanting to get a look at his face.

He handed her a wad of cash and turned away. “I’ll wait over there. Go grab yourself one.”

Without giving her a chance to respond, he turned his back on her and took off towards the edge of the bluff.

Did he hear her question, or did something she say nip a nerve in him? His transition was immediate—the halt of his witty banter, his nonchalant demeanor hardening with a tense line of his shoulders.

While waiting in line, she gave a quick glance at the shaved ice stand. Unlike the tents pitched up and down the street, this was a small structure, painted red with a mural of a seascape along the bottom brim beneath the large opening where the workers took orders. She skimmed the list of flavors running down one side of the exterior. There were two options: build her own or order a special.

When it was her turn in line, she recalled Yuki’s words of wisdom. “I suppose I will have the special with condensed milk and…” She tilted her head, pronouncing the foreign word carefully. “Azuki beans.”

The woman, taking her order, paused tapping on a screen, larger than the cell phones, and brought her gaze up onto Naia. Blue and yellow glitter sparkled around her eyes and all over her cheeks. Tropical flowers decorated her dark hair. “Have you ever had azuki beans?”

Naia shook her head, fidgeting with the bills in her hand between her fingers.

“They are red beans boiled in sugar. They have a decent level of sweetness to them.”

“Say no more.” Naia handed her the cash. “I love sweet treats.”

The woman laughed, accepting the money from Naia.

Within a matter of minutes, she handed her a large bowl. Bedded between a globe-shaped scoop of flaked, green marble ice, and ice cream was a burgundy, brown layer of azuki beans. Surrounding the masterpiece were four round treats the color of snow.

A tumultuous wave of excitement flooded her as she stepped out of the line, rushing to open the plastic spoon from its casing.

One bite turned into four. The sweet vanilla bean ice cream and the creamy, earthy flavor the ice provided were the perfect, rich combination of tastes. Naia was barely focusing on where she was going as she made her way back to Ronin’s side.

He stood on the tip of the bluff where tourists were oohing and awing, holding their cellphones pointed towards the seascape view.

“Your sister is brilliant,” Naia said with a mouthful. “Condensed milk is heavenly. Though I am unsure what these small treats down here are.” She poked at one. It was squishy.

She expected another smile or a silent chuckle from him, but he was squinting out into the horizon as if he had not heard her.