"Huh?"
Her companion tilted her head.
Was that right?
She couldn't quite remember.
"That's right."
The short-haired girl nodded.
"I remember clearly."
She remembered now...
There was no doubt about it.
"Excuse me—"
The girl with the slanted ponytail couldn't wait for their conversation to end.
She hurriedly cut in. "Where did you see the princess?"
"The princess?"
The two girls froze.
The familiar yet unfamiliar title had caught them off guard.
"You mean the child they're looking for in the announcement over the PA."
The girl with the slanted ponytail struggled to keep her emotions in check.
"The child wearing the pink princess dress."
Oh, right.
The two girls suddenly understood.
Yes.
That's right.
The girl with the slanted ponytail tightened her grip on her umbrella handle.
"That child is missing."
The girl with the slanted ponytail spoke slowly and deliberately. "I'm very worried."
"I've already called the police."
"If you know anything about that child..."
"I hope you'll tell me."
"Please!"
The two girls were a little startled and felt somewhat awkward.
The short-haired girl nudged her companion with her elbow.
"Where did you see the child?"
"Tell her quickly."
The short-haired girl furrowed her brow.
"Let me think..."
"Which store did you try on clothes in..."
"Oh."
"You tried clothes on in almost every store..."
"Did not!"
The short-haired girl's companion protested indignantly. "I didn't try on that many things!"
"How did you not—"
Noticing the girl with the slanted ponytail watching her, the short-haired girl immediately gathered herself.
"Let me think..."
"Where did I see that child..."
The short-haired girl had a bit of a headache.
Just as she'd said, since entering the mall, they'd gone into almost every store.
Her friend had even tried