Alonso and Isabella sit down in an alleyway eating their candied-apples. Both of them enjoy it in silence. While their tastebuds tell them to eat it as fast as possible, they both know too well how the regret feels right afterward. So, in silence, they lick the caramel before it can melt and slowly munch on the apple. For normal citizens, eating a candied apple may have taken ten minutes. By the time they are finished, the sun is beginning to set.

     Alonso looks at the stick, disappointed that the meal for the week is gone. He shoves it into one of his many pockets. Isabella does the same.

     If there is ever a positive to living in poverty, it's that one learns to enjoy the little things. The silence that comes after a noisy afternoon. The sun basking on their skin. And the company of friends who know your pain.

     Isabella looks down at Alonso. A small smile forms on her lips and she pats him on the head. 

     Alonso raises his hands to deflect them, but when he sees her soft smile he can't go through with his actions. Instead, looks at the boring wall in front of them as she continues to pat him. 

     The two of them look at that disgusting, rotten wall. 

     "Alonso", she says, her tone motherly, "At this rate, I'll have all the money I'll need in a month. I will be leaving this place in a month".

     Alonso listens intently.

     "I know your mom told you to stay here and I'm not telling you to forget about her", Isabella says, "But realistically, do you think she'll come back?"

     "Yes, I believe she will", Alonso answers without hesitation.

     "...How long are you willing to wait? What if you're a grown man when she comes back?"

     Alonso opens his mouth, but can't find an answer. 

     "I know you love her and she loves you. But living your life for that one person isn't good for anybody. You need to live for yourself, too", she stops patting his head, "I know it'll be hard, but I really think you should come with me to the Wild Area".

     Alonso thinks about her proposal. Images of his mothers, soft hand wrapping around him play through his mind. The times she took him out early in the morning to see the sunrise over the slums. The feeling of both his parents holding his hands, the warmth of it.

     He shakes his head, "I'm sorry, for right now my answer is no".

     Isabella looks at him, her expressions make her unsaid words obvious, but she doesn't push the subject any further. She stands up, her posture breaming with confidence. 

     "You ready?"

     "Uhh, for what exactly?"

     "To go into the Northern Mound, didn't I tell you earlier?"

     Alonso nervously laughs, "Oh, yeah, that---I thought you were joking".

     "I never joke around", she begins to step out of the alley, "Come on, the sun's gonna set soon". 

     Reluctantly, Alonso follows her out of the alley and onto the busy street. They cut through many people, who give them disgusted glares and eventually end up on the opposite side. 

     As they walk towards the slums the little boy can't help but notice how broad Isabella's shoulders are. How many cuts and bruises she has decorated throughout her entire body. It's true, Alonso has seen her lose many fistfights and run away countless times. He blushes and scratches his cheek.

     She never runs away.

     The two friends talk about their lives on the way towards the slums. They laugh and play around with each other. At one point, it almost looked like she had forgotten the point of this walk.

     To Alonso's dismay, she did not.

     They walk into the entrance of the slums also known as, The Southern Mound. 

     "Hey, do you want to check on how that guy is doing?"

     "Yes! Let's do that instead!"

     "You sound a bit too excited", Isabella laughs, "Okay, lead the way captain".

     Alonso practically hops the entire way, the pain from this morning gone from this mind. 

     "Huh, so you live here?"

     "Yup", Alonso says as he points towards his specific shanty house, "I thought I showed you".

     "Nope, this is news to me". 

     "Welp, sorry for never showing you".

     "Expect lots of unexpected and uninvited appearances from me, for a month at least", she says.

     "Please don't", he playfully frowns, "Actually, I'm not home most of the time so go ahead", Alonso squints, "Alright, let's see if bossman is here".

     Alonso and Isabella walk into the home and---

     "Oh, look at that, Alonso says.

     The man is nowhere to be found, the only evidence of his existence is the blood that has tainted the "floor". Besides that, nothing seems to be out of order. Alonso opens the vase and nods. 

     He then lifts up the small desk he has and, "Yeah, for somebody who tried to kill me he's surprisingly-uhh, what's the word?" he ponders for a second, "Oh! he has honor?"

     "Wait, he tried to kill you?"

     "Oh yeah get this. It wasn't just him, there was a total of two people. A new record".

     "What!?"

     "Yeah, it was crazy. Like, I was scared but my body just moved on its own. Oh, yeah look at this", Alonso grabs the arrow, "Uhm, I picked this up during the raid earlier today---pretty cool, right?"

     Isabella listens to the boy retell the story of his close encounter with death. As she does, her expression remains stale, as if she's unsure of what to say. 

     "And well, Mr. Castro saved my bacon back there", he begins to slow down, "But to be honest, I wish there was another option than just killing him outright. But, whatcha gonna do?"

     "Alonso", Isabella says, "I'm glad you're safe", she leans down and gives him a bear-hug".

     He blushes, "S-see? How are you going to survive in the Wild Area if I come along? You'd just be worried about me constantly", he softly pushes her away, "And c'mon, this wasn't my first encounter with death. It was my closest, but not the only one".

     Isabella remains stale, "You know what? For today let's cancel our trip".

     The boy frowns, "Huh?"

     She begins to walk out of his house, "M-maybe I was being a bit too positive. Don't take this the wrong way, but you're still a kid. Now that I think about it, taking you there is a bit too dangerous".

     "I'm not just, a kid", Alonso states, "And---".

     "Just...just for now keep doing you", she says, "Keep being a kid".

     With that, Isabella walks out of the house leaving a confused little boy behind. 

     I didn't want to go, so why?

     He looks down at his fist that has clenched and touches his heart that beats rapidly.

     Why do her words make me so...so mad? Did I actually want to go? 

     Alonso falls on his back and looks at the ceiling. A head full of thoughts he sifts through them as he looks at the ceiling.

     How long are you willing to wait? You need to live for yourself, too. Realistically, do you think she'll come back?

     "I don't know", he whispers, "...Maybe she forgot all about me? I really hope not", he sighs, "That would suck".

     ***

     Kohta sits around a fire and looks at the bright sky. A wall looming in the background.

     The Wild Area is full of noises: the natural wildlife howl into the air, making their voice heard. The trees sway with the harsh wind and the fire crackles in the night.

     THUMP!

     Kohta looks into the forest.

     THUMP!

     He stands up and sighs, "Of course my peaceful dinner time was gonna be interrupted", he readies himself.

     "Alright you Beast", he says, "Come at me".