Hana shifted her gaze from the morning magazine she was reading leisurely. There, stood someone in white kimono-like clothing that was still exactly the same as last night, with no change whatsoever from his mysterious appearance. Nova looked at her with his characteristic white eyes, his facial expression still displaying the same calmness as usual.
"Ah, you're awake already?" Hana smiled thinly with a slightly surprised tone seeing Nova who had come down to the lower floor. Her eyes glanced at the antique wall clock showing 10:30 AM—a fairly normal time to wake up on a holiday like this. "Very good that you're already awake. Let's go buy some decent sets of clothes for you."
Nova nodded.
"Umm, where will we go?" he asked.
"To the nearest shopping center in this city," Hana answered while neatly folding her magazine and placing it on the coffee table. "You can't keep wearing that kimono forever. You need more varied and suitable clothes for daily activities."
◇◇◇
Kluang Mall stood magnificently and attractively in the city center—a five-story building with modern architecture, dominated by tempered glass materials and sturdy steel structures. A large signboard with bright red neon letters reading "KLUANG MALL" was clearly and prominently displayed at the front of the building, visible from quite a distance. True to its name, this mall was strategically located in the Kluang area, the city where Hana and Nova lived.
Nova stood with an upright posture in front of the wide and magnificent main entrance, his head looking up with slow and amazed movements.
"Waaah, so big!" he exclaimed with a childlike tone. Around them, people of various ages passed by with activities, others walked leisurely while chatting with friends or family, and some stopped momentarily to look at store displays.
Hana smiled slightly with a warm expression seeing Nova's innocent and enthusiastic reaction that was so pure and genuine. "This is your first time at a mall or shopping center like this, right?" she asked with a tone that could already guess the answer.
Nova nodded, his gaze not leaving the crowds and architectural magnificence around him. They stepped inside through the automatic doors.
"Wow, this is really big," said Nova looking around, seeing many stores everywhere around him.
Hana carefully observed how Nova reacted to his new environment.
"Hey, be careful, don't get lost in a place this big," Hana reminded when she saw Nova's eyes constantly wandering here and there without focus.
"Here, give me your hand."
Nova extended his small and pale hand without hesitation. Hana grasped it gently but firmly, ensuring Nova wouldn't escape from her supervision. Nova's hand felt cold like ice and very small in Hana's grip.
"Yes, I'll follow you," Nova answered.
They walked side by side with relaxed steps entering the crowded and busy shopping area.
Not long after, after passing through several corridors filled with various interesting stores, they arrived at a fairly large children's clothing store.
"Well, we've arrived at our destination," said Hana with a satisfied tone, leading Nova into the cool and comfortable air-conditioned store.
Both of them walked into the large store, where there were many people choosing clothes for their children.
"What kind of clothes do you want, Nova?" asked Hana while looking at rows of boys' clothes neatly arranged by size.
"What color do you like? Or is there a particular style that catches your attention?"
Nova looked at the diverse and colorful array of clothes in front of him with his usual flat neutral expression.
"Whatever," he answered with a tone that showed no preference at all, "as long as it can be worn and is comfortable to use."
Hana sighed softly with a patient and understanding smile.
"I see... Alright, let me choose for you." She began selecting several clothes that matched Nova's estimated body size, who looked like a seven-year-old child—several plain t-shirts in neutral colors, casual shirts, long and short pants, and several hoodies.
"Ah, Hana! What a coincidence meeting you here!" a familiar and friendly woman's voice made Hana slightly startled and quickly turn around.
"Huh? Aunt Lina?" "What are you doing here today?"
"Ah, I think our purpose is the same today, haha," Lina answered with a small laugh, her eyes shifting to the pile of clothes that had accumulated in Hana's hands.
"I'm also wanting to buy some clothes for my child." Her gaze then focused with full curiosity on the small figure beside Hana.
"By the way, who is this child? This is really the first time I've seen him."
Lina's eyes observed Nova carefully—his messy black hair and very unusual and striking white eyes, as well as his pale white skin. The child's appearance was too unique and eye-catching not to attract the attention of anyone who saw him.
"Ah, he..." Hana hesitated slightly and paused for a moment before continuing, "he is Nova. From now on he lives with me at home."
"I see..." Lina murmured with a tone showing slight wonder and curiosity in her eyes, but she was wise and experienced enough not to ask further about things that might be sensitive or private.
"Mom, Mom, I want this!" The voice of a little girl was heard from behind Lina. There was a small girl around six or seven years old running with enthusiastic steps approaching them. Her black hair was tied in two ponytails with cute pink ribbons.
"Ah, Nova!" The little girl exclaimed when her eyes caught Nova's figure standing beside Hana.
"Ah," Nova was slightly surprised by the girl's appearance.
"Ah, you already know him, dear?" Lina asked her daughter.
The little girl shook her head.
"Not really well, Mom. I just met him yesterday at Sister Hana's shop," she answered.
"Oohh... I see..." Lina nodded.
"Mom, Mom!" Lina's daughter suddenly pulled at her mother's sleeve. Her small index finger pointed enthusiastically toward outside the store.
"I want to play that game! Can I, Mom? Please!"
Outside the store, not far from where they were standing, there was an arcade game machine that caught attention—a claw machine popularly called UFO Catcher or Crane Game. Inside the transparent glass box of the machine, various cute dolls in bright colors were neatly and attractively arranged, from fat teddy bears, cute cats, adorable dogs, to popular anime characters that were currently trendy.
"Yes, yes... alright, dear," Lina sighed, reaching into her wallet and taking out several bills with enough denomination to play. "Here's the money. Don't play too long, okay? And don't go far from here."
"Okay, Mom! Thank you so much!" The little girl received the money. Her eyes then shifted to Nova.
"Come with me too, Nova! Let's play together!"
Without waiting for approval or response from Nova, Hanah, the energetic little girl immediately pulled Nova's hand enthusiastically, bringing him running toward the game machine outside the store. Nova, who wasn't ready and didn't anticipate the sudden movement, could only follow with slightly staggering steps, his small hand gripped tightly by Hanah.
"Ooh, I think they'll become very good friends," Lina commented with a warm smile, her eyes following the two children running together.
"Maybe," Hana answered with a thin smile that couldn't be hidden on her face.
"By the way," Lina shifted her attention back to Hana with a curious expression, "you didn't open your shop as usual today? This is quite rare because you're usually very consistent."
"Yes, I decided not to open the shop today because I had to buy some clothes for that child," Hana answered while pointing toward Nova who was now standing in front of the game machine with Hanah.
"He really needs decent clothes and it can't be delayed anymore."
"I see..." Lina nodded. "I think that's a very right decision. You also rarely don't open your shop, so it's better to occasionally rest and take care of other important matters. You also need time for yourself and personal affairs."
"Hanah!" Lina then called out loudly enough to her daughter who was busy playing in front of the game machine. "Mom and Hana will be at KFC if you want to meet Mom later, just go straight to KFC, okay? Don't go anywhere else!"
"Okay, Mom! I understand clearly!" Hanah shouted from a distance without turning around, her hands still busy and focused on controlling the machine's lever.
Hana and Lina walked side by side with relaxed steps full of conversation toward KFC located not far from the clothing store. They had finished paying for the selected clothes and put them in large shopping bags.
Near the game machine area, Nova observed carefully and with full concentration how Hanah tried to grab dolls with the machine's claw that turned out to be quite complicated. His white eyes focused on analyzing every machine movement, the often inconsistent claw movement patterns, and strategic positions of the dolls inside the glass box.
*By the way, aren't Sister Hana's name and this girl's name, Hanah, very similar? Only different by one 'h' at the end. Is this just an interesting coincidence?* thought Nova while observing the little girl who now seemed to be getting frustrated and annoyed in front of the game machine.
◇◇◇
Ten minutes later...
"What's wrong with this annoying game?! Why is it so difficult?!" Hanah screamed with a high frustrated tone full of disappointment, her voice mixed with disappointed emotions. Her face, which was usually cheerful and full of smiles, now wrinkled with annoyance with an expression that was almost crying. She had spent almost all the money her mother gave her in vain and without results, but hadn't succeeded in getting a single doll from the machine that seemed easy but turned out to be very difficult and annoying.
Her eyes that were starting to water focused with full longing on one special doll—a large white cat doll with very cute and adorable blue eyes.
*Is it really as difficult as she says? From my observation so far, it seems there are special techniques and strategies needed to succeed,* thought Nova while analyzing game patterns and machine system weaknesses.
Nova, who had been quietly observing patiently and carefully, began to feel sorry and empathetic seeing the expression of despair and deep disappointment on Hanah's face. Without saying anything or giving long explanations, he stepped forward with calm and confident movements, his hand gently extended asking for the last coin still tightly gripped by Hanah with almost lost hope.
"May I try once?" he asked.
Hanah looked at him for a moment with eyes still watery and full of disappointment, there was great doubt and skepticism in her eyes because she had experienced repeated failures too often. But finally, with desperate feelings and no other choice left, she handed her last coin to Nova, "Go ahead... but I've warned you, that game is very difficult and almost impossible. I've tried many times in various ways," she mumbled unenthusiastically and almost giving up completely.
Nova inserted the coin into the machine slot. Cheerful and lively music from the machine began to play at quite a loud volume, and small colorful lights blinked with attractive and hypnotic patterns.
With very calm, precise, and mathematically calculated movements, Nova moved the control lever at constant and controlled speed. His unique white eyes focused with extraordinary high intensity, as if calculating every variable and movement with computer accuracy that was unusual for a child his age. He positioned the claw very precisely above the white cat doll that Hanah wanted, calculating the optimal angle, the required grip strength, and perfect timing with amazing precision.
*Click*.
The red button was pressed with perfect timing and mature calculation. The claw descended slowly with smooth and controlled movement, gripping the doll with ideal strength—not too strong so as to damage or tear the doll, not too weak so the doll would fall midway—and lifting it with very smooth and perfectly controlled movement. Within seconds, the desired white cat doll fell perfectly into the retrieval hole.
Nova only needed one try to get the desired doll with perfect results.
"Here, take it," said Nova.
He handed the large white cat doll with adorable blue eyes to Hanah.
Hanah was silent for a moment with her mouth wide open, not believing what had just happened before her own eyes. Her eyes widened with total shock expression, alternately looking at the doll she really wanted and Nova who stood with a calm expression as if nothing special had happened. Then, she hugged the doll tightly, her face beaming with happiness.
"You're very good at playing this! You're really amazing!" she exclaimed.
"Have you often played games like this before?"
Nova shook his head slowly.
"Not at all, this is really the first time I've played a game like this," he answered.
"Ehhh? How could you only need one try to succeed like that? That's really amazing!" Hanah clearly looked shocked and disbelieving.
"That's because I can understand the pattern and system easily," Nova explained.
"I observed you playing carefully earlier and I could understand how the machine works and the strategy needed to succeed."
"I see... you're really smart and amazing!" Hanah murmured.
Nova looked around the mall, observing the direction where Hana and Lina went earlier.
"By the way, let's go back. Your mother said she's at KFC, right? Is that the place?" Nova pointed with his small finger toward the fast food restaurant with the iconic red-white logo located not far from them, next to the clothing store they visited before.
"Yes, exactly! Let's go there," Hanah invited enthusiastically. She walked in front of Nova with light and happy steps, leading the way while hugging her white cat doll tightly. However, suddenly she stopped and turned to face Nova.
Her sparkling eyes looked at Nova with sincere feelings. A sweet smile that was very adorable adorned her face that was still slightly red from excitement.
"I'm very grateful to you, Nova," she said with a sincere tone full of feeling. "I'm very happy and joyful today thanks to your help."
Nova nodded, his facial expression remaining flat as usual.
"Yes, you're welcome. I'm glad I could help," he answered.