An argument kept spilling out of the shop. Carmine seemed to be fighting with someone, and Kieran's attempts to calm her weren't helping. Akari hadn't said a word, though Mingyou could see that she was inside too.
"What's going on in there?"
Mingyou walked up to Ogerpon and asked her.
"Wum..."
Ogerpon turned toward him and faltered, looking nervous. She couldn't quite explain it. It would be better for Mingyou to go in and hear for himself.
"Hm?"
Puzzled, Mingyou stepped inside.
The shop sold traditional Kitakami sweets. Mingyou remembered it: during the Festival of Masks, he and Akari, who he had only just met, had competed for the last pastry because he wanted it for Ogerpon. This was the shop that had run that stall at the Kitakami Center, and business had been good.
Now, though, the owner seemed to be looking to sell.
Sure enough, Carmine was arguing with the owner inside. Her words were harsh. Akari stood quietly to one side, but she didn't look happy.
"What happened?"
He gave Kieran a gentle nudge and asked.
Seeing him arrive, Kieran explained.
Carmine had heard the shop was up for sale. The owner's son had opened a chain of cake shops in Saffron City, in the Kanto Region.
Business was booming, and he'd recently had a child. He wanted his parents to leave this out-of-the-way corner of Kitakami, move in with him, and help look after the baby.
So Carmine had brought everyone over to ask about it. But when the owner heard Ogerpon wanted the shop, he'd thrown her out, shouted for the "Ogre" to get lost, and insulted Mingyou while he was at it.
"That's what happened. Akari tried to reason with the owner, but he wouldn't listen and kept saying awful things. Then my sister