[Third Person's PoV]
Clark strolled leisurely through the vibrant streets of Kyoto, weaving his way past small clusters of people. His camera was tilted skyward, its lens capturing the towering billboards flashing with animated ads that lit up the evening sky with neon hues. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he adjusted the focus, snapping a few shots of a distant, ornately decorated shrine perched atop a quiet hill in the distance.
Drawn by the peaceful aesthetic, Clark made his way to the base of the shrine and slowly ascended the stone steps. He eventually found a spot to sit, right on the steps themselves, where he could enjoy a moment of calm. With a satisfied sigh, he began scrolling through the collection of photos he had taken throughout the day. The tranquil skyline, the colorful streets, the old wooden architecture—each shot felt like a captured memory.
Just as he was reviewing a shot of a cherry blossom tree reflected in a shop window, the sudden rustling of fabric caught his attention. A woman in an outrageously frilly dress, complete with ribbons and lace, stormed past him. Her outfit was topped off with a bonnet that looked straight out of a Victorian play.
She abruptly turned around, her eyes locking onto Clark with fury. "Did you just take my picture?!" she screamed, her voice high-pitched and full of accusation.
Clark blinked, clearly caught off guard. "What?" he asked, brows furrowed in confusion. "No, I was just checking—"
"That was a spy shot! You just took a photo of me without asking!" she shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at him as if he'd just committed a felony.
"HUH?!" Clark snarled, his tone suddenly flipping to one of sharp irritation. "Don't go accusing me of something without any proof! Why the hell would I take a picture of your ugly mug? Lady, I'm here to take photos of beautiful landscapes and architecture—not the local troll wandering the streets!"
"The local troll?!" she screamed so loudly that several nearby tourists paused to look. The patrolling officers nearby took notice and began making his way toward the scene.
Her face turned crimson with rage, looking just a moment away from lunging at Clark. But before she could say anything else, the officer stepped in.
"What seems to be the problem here?" the officer asked, his tone calm but firm.
Seizing the moment, Clark sprang to his feet and turned toward the officer with the most pitiful expression he could muster. "Oh officer! I'm so glad you're here!" he sobbed dramatically, rubbing at his eyes with exaggerated despair. "That woman started talking to me and asked if I was here alone. When I told her I was, she said she was going to take me away—that she was going to be my new mommy and that we'd have lots of 'fun' together. She even tried to lure me with candy! I was so scared! And when I said I didn't want to go with her, she started screaming at me!"
The woman stood frozen, her mouth hanging open in stunned disbelief at the fantastical lie that had just unfolded.
"You liar!" she finally shouted. "Like hell I'd say something like that! He took my picture without asking! Check his camera!"
The two officers exchanged glances. One quietly reached for a pair of handcuffs while the other stepped behind her and took hold of her arm.
"You are under arrest for the attempted coercion and illicit behavior toward a minor," the officer stated coldly. "Please do not resist. Any further action will only worsen your situation."
"No! Wait! You don't understand, he's making this up! Check his photos! I'm telling the truth!" she cried out in desperation as the cuffs clicked around her wrists.
But the officers weren't listening anymore. They began leading her away, with one of them pausing to check on Clark.
"Are you alright, young man? Are you with anyone?"
Clark sniffled, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye. "No sir. I'm just sightseeing. Thank you for protecting me from that pervert."
The officers gave him a nod and a tip of their hats before escorting the furious, flailing woman toward the patrol car. She shrieked and thrashed, trying to twist away, but their grip held firm.
Just before being shoved into the backseat, she managed to turn around and cast Clark a venomous glare—only to see him silently cackling, sticking out his tongue, pulling down his eyelid with one finger, and flipping her the bird with the other hand.
Her rage exploded anew, and she tried to kick at the car door as they forced her inside and drove away.
Clark leaned back on the steps, laughing to himself.
From further up the stairs, a bright, giggling voice echoed down.
"Hahahahahaha! Oh wow! What a sight! I can't believe you just did that! That was hilarious!"
Clark looked up in surprise and spotted a girl about his age leaning against the railing. She was doubled over with laughter, one hand gripping her stomach as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Her light pink hair spilled forward, partially covering her face as she tried to catch her breath.
Clark grew slightly embarrassed as he realized someone had witnessed the entire encounter. "How much of that did you see?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
"All of it!" the girl chirped, flipping her hair with a smug smile. "Since you called her the Local Troll! Hahaha—seriously, that was just too funny!"
Clark scoffed. "She got what she deserved for accusing me of something so ridiculous."
Not wanting to drag the conversation out with a stranger—especially a nosy little girl—he turned away and began walking, wanting to keep their extraction brief. He hoped that would be the end of it.
But after a few minutes, he noticed footsteps behind him. Annoyed, he turned around and asked, "Why are you following me?"
The girl in the summer dress clasped her hands behind her back and smiled up at him. "Because you're interesting."
Clark groaned. "Go find something else to be interested in."
She pouted, puffing her cheeks. "Don't be rude."
"Don't tell me what to do," he shot back.
"You really have no manners"
"I just couldn't care less, go bother someone else"
"Now who's telling who what to do?"
"I am. So shoo, skedaddle"
"Well I don't wanna, I'm keep following you"
"Girly, you're annoying as hell and already getting on my nerves"
"My name isn't girly! It's Nino."
"Well, NI-NO Go bother someone who cares"
"It's not NI-NO but Nino, get it right! It's rude to make fun of someone's name, since I shared mine, what's yours?"
"...Clark"
"Well Clarky–"
"Don't call me that"
"See, it's not funny is it?" She said with a huff, puffing her chest as if she had just won the argument.
Clark just looked up at the sky, groaning in exasperation, 'Why do you test me, lord'
"Ooooh! Look!" Nino suddenly shouted, pointing ahead. "Good luck charms! Let's get some!"
She grabbed his arm and tugged, trying to pull him toward the nearby stand. Her legs skidded against the pavement, but Clark didn't budge an inch.
"Ah!" she squealed, stumbling back from the failed attempt to move him.
She glared up at him, surprised. "Come on, don't be such a party pooper!"
Nino kept pulling, even pushing against his side with all her strength. But Clark remained completely stationary, his expression unreadable.
"It's just a good luck charm! A fun souvenir!" she pleaded, still shoving with little success.
At the mention of a souvenir, Clark thought of Momo. 'Maybe she'd like one.'
"Fine," he muttered in a monotone, taking a step forward.
"Wah!" Nino yelped, suddenly losing her balance and falling forward. But before she could hit the ground, she felt a strong grip around her waist.
She looked back, her face inches from the ground, to see Clark holding her effortlessly with one hand. His expression was calm, almost bored.
Nino's face turned bright red. She quickly stood up as he pushed her upright again and continued walking toward the charm stall.
"I'm alright, thank you," she mumbled, brushing off her dress, still a little flustered.
"I didn't ask," Clark replied flatly.
"You really are rude," Nino pouted, though her lips soon curled into a grin. She happily skipped after him, her mood undeterred.
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