Shangri La Pt. 1

110: Feeling Guilty

'Wow~' 

Izumi couldn't believe how lively and joyous the city was as they were entering the city. Children running through the busy crowd laughing happily, shops open with all kinds of goods, and people enjoying the beautiful day before them. 

'In the East... I can't remember seeing people this happy just to work, as everyone was just trying not to suffer through the hard times. This place... is the complete opposite!' 

"You seem to like it so far." 

"Ah–" 

Izumi jerked her attention to the blond standing right next to her to see him smiling at her. 

"Right?" 

"O-Oh– I-It is different, far different from the East. Oh–" 

Izumi stopped herself when she noticed something they were soon approaching where many people were located. It was a beautifully carved water fountain filled with fresh clean water flowing out.

"W-What's... that?"

 "That's a water fountain." 

"A water... fountain?" 

"You told me in the East that not everyone gets the chance to use or drink water, but it's free here." Katsuki answered. 

"Oh–" 

"It's so free here, that people are allowed to take hot baths and drink clean water without any worries of getting sick." he added. 

"I-I see... No wonder I was able to take a hot bath when we arrived here yesterday. A-And you said it's clean water?" 

"Yup." 

"Amazing... It truly is different here." Izumi mumbled. 

"Hmph, that ain't the only thing different here from there, follow me." he stated as he senselessly grabbed her hand and forced her to follow him. 

This wasn't the first time he'd grabbed her hand before, but Izumi still couldn't handle her heart beating out of her chest every time she felt his touch.

'A... shop?' she thought, as this wasn't something new–or even different–to her. 

'What could be different here then what I've already seen?' 

"C'mon." 

"Hm?" 

When she looked over at the blond, she wasn't anticipating seeing the blond holding the door open for her to enter. 

"Maybe you'll find something you like here." he insisted, as Izumi had no choice but to enter. 

As she entered the shop–thinking it was just a simple clothes shop or something–Izumi's eyes lit up to see this was not just some shop. It was a place filled with all different kinds of woods of all colors, shapes and sizes. 

'Oh–' 

"Welcome." a man spoke. Izumi turned her head to see a man with red hair and brown eyes with glasses over his eyes staring at her. 

'What... What is this place?'

"You seemed to be doing well, Shin." Katsuki broke out as he closed the door behind him as his disguised black hair turned back to blond. 

'Eh? Shin? Does Katsuki know this man?' 

"Hah~ Seems after all these years, you've finally called me without that old title of mine." the man sighed as he crossed his arms.