"It's not like eating a strawberry popsicle this time means you can't have a chocolate sundae next time."
The girl with the slanted ponytail winked at the child. "If you have a strawberry popsicle this time, then next time you can ask Mom to buy you a chocolate sundae with a clear conscience."
"Because you had a strawberry popsicle this time."
"Right?"
"Mm."
The little girl was persuaded.
The girl with the slanted ponytail straightened up.
She smiled at the child's mom. "She'll have a strawberry popsicle."
The child's mom still looked somewhat stiff.
But her expression had softened a little.
She nodded.
"One strawberry popsicle."
She spoke to the clerk.
"Sure."
Seeing that the problem was solved, the clerk breathed a sigh of relief.
She nodded with a smile.
"Thank you."
The child's mom took the strawberry popsicle and handed it to the child. As she passed the girl with the slanted ponytail with the child, she spoke softly.
"You're welcome."
The girl with the slanted ponytail smiled.
The voices of the mother and daughter gradually faded as they walked toward the convenience store's entrance.
"...Is the strawberry popsicle good?"
"It's good."
"Mom, the strawberry popsicle is so pretty."
"Mm, it's very pretty."
"Mom, do you want a bite?"
"It's really good."
"No, you eat it."
"Mom, you have a bite too."
"Mom..."
A smile appeared in the girl with the slanted ponytail's eyes.
"Hello..."
She told the clerk which popsicles she wanted.
Soon, the girl with the slanted ponytail left the line, carrying a bag with three popsicles inside.
She furrowed her brows slightly.
Those two...
She'd thought the little girl and the boy would come back to her after that little interruption.
But they hadn't.
She'd asked the clerk