Even after being caught, the little figure still showed no sign of settling down.
"You still haven't given me the oranges."
"...I lied to you, okay? I don't have any oranges at all."
Seeing that Airi still wanted oranges, the little figure froze for a moment.
But then she righteously declared that she had been lying to her.
Hearing that answer, Airi did not look angry at all.
Instead, she reached into her little shoulder bag, rummaged around, and took out a few candies.
"Then would you like some candy?"
"...Thank you."
Seeing that Airi actually bore no grudge and even gave her candy,
the little figure suddenly felt somewhat guilty.
"Hehe, it's okay. Mama Celia said that when you meet someone who needs help, you can lend them a hand."
"By the way, what's your name?"
Pulling the little figure along, Airi acted as though they had known each other forever and brought her over to sit in a nearby seat.
"I-I don't have a name, but I gave myself one. It's Pardofelis. What about you?"
"My name is Airi. I gave myself that name too. This is Chang Yuan. His father and mother gave him his name."
"..."
Unlike the two little ones chatting away, Chang Yuan fell silent.
So the thirteen Flame-Chasing Heroes being those thirteen people was no coincidence.
Even when she was young, Airi had already met and formed connections with at least a few of them.
"Airi, you're so nice, but if you run into a liar like me in the future, you can't just let your kindness overflow again.
I only wanted something to eat, but I don't know about other people. I heard that some people even eat children."
Because she felt guilty, Pardo spoke up to warn Airi.
After all, a child as innocent as her could really easily run into bad people.
"Hmph, I'm not afraid. Big Brother Chang Yuan will definitely protect me."
With her hands on her hips, Airi cutely raised her head and spoke with pride.
"Um, but I don't think he could beat those people either."
"..."
Objectively speaking, Pardo was freaking right. With his tiny body, he wanted to fight adults? One hard slap would probably send him spinning.
"That's okay too. We're really fast at running away."
"Alright, then you two need to be careful in the future too. I'll be leaving now."
"Goodbye, Pardo. If fate allows, we'll meet again. Remember, my name is Airi. It means a flawless paradise, an eternal land of bliss."
It was unknown whether Pardo heard Airi's introduction, but her departing figure slowly raised a hand and waved.
Lying back down on Chang Yuan's lap, Airi looked up at him and asked, "Big Brother Chang Yuan, do you think we'll really meet again someday?"
"We will. We definitely will."
How could they not? That was Pardo, one of the future group favorites.
"Hmm, you're that sure? Forget it, Big Brother Chang Yuan, can you keep telling me the story you didn't finish?"
"No problem, but remember to use the tissues sparingly. Don't use up all the tissues in your little shoulder bag."
"You've got the nerve to say that. It's all Big Brother Chang Yuan's fault."
Hearing Chang Yuan actually dare to say that, Airi, still lying down, immediately reached out and poked him in the stomach.
"Yes, yes, it's all my fault. But you were the one who wanted to keep listening, weren't you?"
"Hmph~"
She did not answer. Airi merely gave a soft huff and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Chang Yuan continued the story from before.
As he went on, the pink-haired little girl with her head resting on his lap began to softly snore.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Chang Yuan leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as well.
The night passed without incident. After waking up, Airi immediately woke Chang Yuan and went to brush her teeth and wash her face.
Even while traveling outside, Airi still cared about her appearance.
"Mmm~ A wonderful day begins now."
After stretching, Airi began another lively day of traveling.
When they came to a bustling street and saw the fragrant breakfasts on display, Airi's eyes went wide.
Perhaps noticing her gaze, the breakfast stall owner also saw the clothes she was wearing.
He immediately took out a plastic bag and packed several buns into it.
"Little girl, take these and eat them with your brother."
"Huh? These are for me? Thank you, kind uncle."
Taking the plastic bag, Airi thanked him, then pulled out a steaming meat bun and took a bite.
"Mmm, delicious. Big Brother Chang Yuan, you have some too."
Seeing the meat bun Airi offered with her little hand, Chang Yuan accepted it without ceremony.
Was this what it meant to be Airi? No matter where she went, she was so well liked, and no matter where she went, someone would help her.
The two little ones then held hands and continued wandering around.
The years hurried by, and the two little ones traveled outside for two years.
During that time, Chang Yuan had not simply sat around doing nothing. He secretly gathered information about the Flame-Chasing Moth.
But clearly, he did not obtain any useful information.
After all, before the Third Honkai eruption, people knew nothing at all about Honkai. One could imagine just how mysterious the Flame-Chasing Moth was to ordinary people.
Likewise, over those two years, Airi gradually came to understand that boys and girls should keep their distance.
Because of that, they rarely held hands anymore. Only when they needed to run would they grab each other's hands.
As for why they had to run, naturally, it was because human traffickers had set their sights on the two of them.
A handsome boy and a pretty girl, both orphans without parents.
What human trafficker wouldn't be tempted?
Fortunately, Airi had been born with strength far beyond ordinary people, and her stamina was the same.
So every time they ran, she was the one dragging Chang Yuan along.
"Mm-hm~, Brother Chang Yuan, how about we go listen to some music here? I heard today's music is special. It seems someone really amazing is performing."
Looking at the grand opera house before them, Airi showed a longing expression.
Hearing that, Chang Yuan touched his pockets, then took out all the money he had. There was nearly ten thousand in total.
After all, over the years, he had not been idly mooching off others. Wherever they went, he found odd jobs and earned money.
And those employers would agree because of Airi, even giving him a little extra money.
Because of this, Chang Yuan understood why Airi had been able to travel the entire world alone at such a young age.
Good lord, weren't all these benefits basically the same as those wish-fulfillment novel protagonists? Everywhere she went, someone helped her.
"Let's go. Indulging ourselves once in a while isn't a bad thing."
With that, Chang Yuan took Airi's little hand and headed to the ticket booth. Maybe they could even get a discount.
Before you continue