"Alright, from now on, you'll be called Crow One, Crow Two... through Crow Six."
"┗|｀o′|┛ Aooh~"
"Hmm?"
Ho Fei-yu finished naming the six crows and noticed a stir from the lion beneath them. Its face actually showed a human-like look of yearning, as if it wanted him to give it a name, too.
"Fine. How about Lion One?"
"Ao wuu~" The lion, which had been eager moments ago, immediately drooped its face, as if to say it wasn't satisfied with the mundane name Ho Fei-yu had given it.
"Seriously? You're complaining now? Fine, fine. How about Simba?"
"If you're still not satisfied, it's back to Lion One," Ho Fei-yu thought for a moment, recalling a movie he watched on Earth, and said the name aloud. Seeing the lion still looking disappointed, he decided not to indulge it further and threatened.
"Ao wuu." The lion, Simba, finally accepted the name.
"Pfft." Hanasaku Tenkawa had been watching Ho Fei-yu talk to himself, with the lion inside the enclosure occasionally roaring, as if they were genuinely having a conversation. Seeing this hilarious scene, the girl couldn't help but laugh.
"From now on, you will follow me," Ho Fei-yu commanded the crows.
"Alright, let's go see the pandas now." Ho Fei-yu felt he had achieved his goal for the day and was ready to go see the pandas with the girl.
"Ao wuu~ Tsss..."
"You want to follow me too? No, you can't. If you came out now, it would cause a riot." Ho Fei-yu was about to pull the girl away when Simba the lion rushed to the side of the enclosure, its two front paws, the size of a human head, scratching at the bars and making a grating sound. He immediately refused.
"Ao wuu..."
"Don't worry, I'll come back to see you when I have time. Maybe I can even let you out to run wild." Ho Fei-yu saw Simba lower its head sadly, its roar sounding like a whimper, and he consoled it.
In the System Shop, the Doraemon section had a 'Shrinking Ray,' which could shrink anything, but it cost 10,000 points—a price he could not afford right now.
Simba, the lion, hearing Ho Fei-yu's words, bounced twice on the spot happily, then looked at Ho Fei-yu with reluctance.
It didn't know what had happened today. While fighting with the crows over food, it discovered half of a leftover rice ball. Normally, it would disdain such a thing, but it felt as if this half-rice ball was filled with magic. It involuntarily ate the dumpling.
Inexplicably, it had formed a connection with the 'two-legged creature' outside. It was a very strange feeling; it just wanted to obey him, as if he were its creator.
Simba couldn't remember when it arrived at this small place. It had tried to escape many times, but the towering rock walls and dozens of wooden poles harder than trees had shattered its fantasy. Although its living space was cramped, the two-legged creatures fed it every day, and it didn't have to do anything. Slowly, it accepted its fate.
Seasons passed. The tree within its territory had regrown its green leaves multiple times, and it had slowly grown up. It thought it had gotten used to this life, but when it heard the words of the two-legged creature it was connected to, its heart actually filled with anticipation, and a feeling called 'freedom' resurfaced within its body.
"Alright, go rest. Goodbye."
Ho Fei-yu walked away with Hanasaku Tenkawa. He hadn't expected a lion to be so dramatic, but his words were genuine. Since it had eaten his food, it was considered his subordinate. It was only right for a boss to look out for his subordinates. He also felt a little sorry for Simba, seeing its cramped living space, which was only about the size of a classroom, though he wasn't sure if this was genuine empathy or something else.
However, he would only consider exchanging for the Shrinking Ray when he had spare points or when he needed the ray, as everything had to be for his own maximum benefit. Even with The Platinum Heart, he worried about people who could casually stop time just for lewd purposes or those with hypnotic abilities. Not to mention, if monsters like the Taimanin existed in this world, even his Platinum Heart might not be enough, so he had to quickly grow stronger.
"Fei-yu-kun, can you really communicate with that lion?"
"Mhm."
"Wow, that's amazing! If only I could do that, then I wouldn't..." Hanasaku Tenkawa didn't doubt the truth of Ho Fei-yu's words. She only wished she had this ability so she could talk to animals when she was bored.
"Heh heh, I'll give you a surprise when we get home." Ho Fei-yu, seeing the envy on the girl's face, gave her a vague promise.
The two chatted and held hands until they reached the panda viewing area. What greeted them was a sea of people, three layers deep, almost entirely composed of women and children, forming a barricade. Getting a close look was impossible right now.
"Never mind, Fei-yu-kun. Let's just walk around a bit more and then go home," Hanasaku Tenkawa, seeing the crowd, showed a flash of disappointment on her beautiful face, but quickly masked it, smiling at Ho Fei-yu.
"It's okay. Let's go buy some souvenirs first, and then we'll figure something out." Ho Fei-yu noticed the girl's forced smile and knew she really wanted to see the pandas. He didn't have a good solution right now, but seeing a vendor nearby selling panda-related souvenirs, he wanted to get the girl a memento.
He then pulled the girl toward the vendor's stall, where a few people were already browsing. They could still look closely.
"Hanasaku-chan, how about this? It suits you perfectly." Ho Fei-yu picked up a panda-themed hairband. It was quite cute, mostly snow-white with black parts for the panda's body. Paired with the girl's white shirt and hair ribbon, it was the perfect complement.
"Mhm~ o(▽)o"
Ho Fei-yu, after hearing the girl's reply, immediately placed the hairband on her head. He carefully scrutinized the girl, finding it truly suited her. With the hairband, the girl looked like a pure celestial maiden—beautiful and holy.
"Do I look good?" Hanasaku Tenkawa sensed the boy's intense gaze. Remembering the feeling of kissing him, her body felt inexplicably warm. She asked with a blush.
"Gorgeous," Ho Fei-yu replied without hesitation.
"Boss, how much is the total?"
He shifted his attention back to the items displayed at the stall. He also noticed a cute panda-shaped phone strap. He picked up two, and was about to ask the price when the girl preempted him.
"Mhm, the total is 1,170 yen."
"But there's a couple's discount now. If you two are a couple, it's just 1,000 yen."
"Yes, we are a couple. Here you go, this is 1,000 yen." This time, Hanasaku Tenkawa spoke again, pulling out a 1,000 yen note, worried the vendor might change his mind. She then glanced at the boy, and seeing no unusual reaction on his face, she felt a small thrill of joy.
"What's wrong, Hanasaku-chan?" Ho Fei-yu and Hanasaku Tenkawa walked back to their previous spot. Seeing the girl giggling to herself, he asked with some concern.
"No... nothing. Fei-yu-kun, I just said we were a couple. You... you don't mind, right?"
"Silly girl, I couldn't be happier! Why would I mind?"
"And having such a beautiful girlfriend, I'll probably be laughing in my sleep tonight." Ho Fei-yu smiled at the girl, who looked both hopeful and nervous.
"Mmm~" The girl's previously complicated expression was replaced by a smile once more.
"Right, I've figured out a way to see the pandas."
"What way?" Hanasaku Tenkawa looked at Ho Fei-yu with anticipation. No young girl could refuse an adorable panda.
"Close your eyes. Open them in three seconds."
"Oh." The girl obediently closed her eyes, showing she completely trusted Ho Fei-yu.
'The Platinum Heart, stop time now,' Ho Fei-yu thought. The moment he finished, everything around them fell silent.
He looked at Hanasaku Tenkawa. The girl's eyes were closed, her long, curled lashes completely still, casting a beautiful arc on her eyelid. He couldn't resist kissing the girl's closed eyes again, leaving a damp imprint.
"Dammit, how can I be seduced by beauty? Get back to business." Ho Fei-yu, after the kiss, transformed into a sage and began to regret. He scooped up the girl's body in a princess carry. The Platinum Heart moved quickly around him, safely pushing aside the people blocking his path, and then restoring them once he passed, creating a clear route to the innermost viewing area.