Hearing Noa's proud declaration, Hana remained silent for a second.
She didn't know how to react.
So she just stared him down, judging his real intentions.
On one hand, she was excited to experience what Noa had just promised. Yet something also stirred in her tiny heart.
Yes, she was only a child, but even she could tell how poor they were.
The endless hours of work Noa endured, his worn clothes, and the lack of cookies lately proved how dire their situation was.
That's why her expression shifted, looking at Noa apologetically.
"I was joking," she said, rubbing her teary eyes. "I am already grown up. I don't need you to play with me."
Hana tried really hard to hold her tears back.
She wanted to look strong before her brother and help him however she could.
So she put on a strong front. "Now go. You will miss your bus. I promise I will play with you when I get a job. I will even take you to eat the most delicious ice cream of your life."
With that, she nudged Noa, forcing him to move.
He, however, couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing her blatant statements.
Then he patted her head, smiling. "We are going out, and that's final," Noa declared, leaving no room for negotiations. "As for my stupid jobs, I decided to ditch them all."
This time, Hana's eyes widened in surprise.
Even she knew how important work was for adults, yet Noa didn't seem to be lying.
What's more, his great mood hadn't changed.
"Why?" Hana barely uttered, her interest piqued.
"I don't need to go there," Noa said proudly. "And our lives are about to change. Let's just go and do all the things we couldn't before."
Though Hana still needed some convincing, Noa still managed to persuade her.
Of course, he had to use cookies and toys as a bargaining chip, but a deal was a deal. Five minutes later, the siblings left their shabby apartment and headed towards the nearest mall.
Hana loved that place.
It had shiny stores with expensive-looking goodies, an enormous toy supply, and restaurants they couldn't afford.
Still, Noa had taken her there a couple of times before.
Mainly to look around the shops or watch foreign movies when he found the tickets for cheap.
But now, his objective was different.
He wanted to do everything and buy everything Hana chose, and like the best big brother, he would ensure she had the day of her life.
With that in mind, he reached the mall eagerly, holding Hana's tiny hand tightly.
The automatic doors slid open, revealing a bustling world before them.
Her eyes darted, noticing shiny toys hidden behind the glass windows, racks of high-class clothes, and rows of items she had only seen in cartoons.
'I have seen this place so many times. But I could only dream of shopping here with $10,000 to spend in a day.'
Hana's mouth opened in eagerness.
She, too, was excited and wanted to visit every store before them. "Are… are we even allowed to enter?"
Noa snorted. "What are you talking about? We aren't here to sightsee. I told you, you can pick whatever you want, and we will get that. As for the money, you don't have to worry about that."
Her eyes peered deep into him.
She was still skeptical and wanted to argue, but Noa's warm smile made her eyes shine like never before.
Even Noa had a hard time contemplating his own words.
Ten thousand dollars. More than enough to change their lives. And that wasn't even the end, as thanks to his mysterious system, Noa knew he could get far more than that.
A moment later, Hana timidly approached the first store.
It was a toy store filled with dolls, mecha robots, Legos, and stuffed animals twice her size.
Soon, she selected something—a fluffy penguin almost as big as she was. She was carrying it in her arms, her lips trembling with excitement.
But a hint of worry also appeared on her face.
She didn't want Noa to scold her for taking a stupid, useless toy or think of her as an immature brat.
Contrary to her worries, he didn't even hesitate to march to the counter and take out his card. "We will take it."
The clerk was stunned because of his sudden actions.
Still, she blinked politely. "Would you like a bag, sir?"
Hugging her new friend tightly, Hana whispered in Noa's ear, looking embarrassed. "I will carry him."
Noa couldn't help but squeeze her adorable cheeks, then paid $114 like it was pocket change and stormed out of the store to spend even more.
That was only the beginning.
From there, Noa followed Hana like a knight, fulfilling her every wish.
Be it sweets, sneakers, or a new console she wanted to play with him—Noa bought them without asking questions or price.
Thankfully, the mall had a private closet to store the new items.
The last place Hana took him was a fancy clothes store, boasting high-quality materials and fashionable outfits for all ages.
One look was enough for Noa to tell that this store stood above the rest.
This was where the truly rich came to buy or tailor their clothes.
Stepping inside, Noa felt like he was in a completely new world. The air smelled fresh, and the polished floor glowed like clean water.
Because of the sharp gazes, Hana lowered her head and hugged her penguin.
She felt out of place, feeling the judging eyes that made her uncomfortable.
The clerks had no intention of hiding their displeasure—especially after noticing how worn out Noa's clothes looked.
One of them even muttered loud enough for him to hear.
"Another broke window-shoppers. Let them dream for a while and then kick them out. We can't have people think this place is for commoners."
Hearing this, Noa grinned faintly.
Oh, he had experienced such treatment countless times before.
Being looked down upon for being poor was nothing new to him, but he hated the idea of Hana going through the same thing.
Luckily for him, he was about to prove these rude clerks wrong.
So he squeezed Hana's hand, reassuring her. Then, without hesitation, he strolled towards a short collection of hats with golden ornaments.
It was only a hat, barely weighing half a pound.
Still, it screamed prestige and money, and after putting it over Hana's head, he nodded.
The price tag of $930 would have given him a heart attack only a day before. But not today.
The clerk, meanwhile, forced a smile. "Sir, this might be way above your price range. Why don't you go and find something more suitable for you?"
She was mocking Noa.
Her voice was dripping with clear hostility.
Noa, on the other hand, remained unaffected. His grin widened as if he couldn't hear her previous statement. "Wrap it up."