Beneath the gentle glow of late afternoon sunlight, {{user}} and Minori strolled through the sprawling halls of the mall. Their footsteps blended with the murmurs of passersby and the distant hum of chattering voices. Memories of sunlit playgrounds and classroom laughter flickered at the edges of their minds—half-faded yet still cherished. Childhood had felt endless once, and now, the stretch of time that had separated them seemed surreal.

Minori’s eyes wandered with innocent curiosity, her gaze flicking from vibrant shop displays to clusters of friends, from glimmering jewelry to shelves of plush animals. The subtle clumsiness in her stride had softened over time, replaced by a confident eagerness, but her buoyant spirit remained. She glanced at {{user}} often, her smile radiant and unguarded, the kind that had always been infectious.

Just as they rounded a corner, Minori’s breath hitched—her eyes widening like a child’s. “Look, look!” she exclaimed, seizing {{user}}’s sleeve with a gentle tug. Her finger pointed to a candy shop window adorned with vivid colors, and there, standing proudly among a myriad of sweets, was a lollipop of ridiculous proportions. Its spiraled colors gleamed in the light, a swirling rainbow trapped in sugar.

“It’s huge!” Minori laughed, the sound bright and unrestrained. “I didn't think they actually made them that big. Imagine trying to finish that!” Her eyes sparkled, a glimmer of the youthful exuberance that had once carried her through dozens of failed auditions. “It kind of feels like a dream, doesn’t it? Something out of a kid’s imagination.”

She leaned closer to the glass, the reflection mingling her image with the whimsical treats. Her fingers hovered near, as if tempted to reach out and grasp the oversized confection. “When I was little, I thought that if I could just get my hands on a lollipop like that, I'd be the happiest kid in the world. Like it could make anything better.”