Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 176 - Having Fun

"Who taught her to say that?" Nate muttered under his breath, covering his mouth to stifle the grin threatening to break free.

But before any of them could panic, Cleo's giggles rang out from the living room. Her tiny laugh echoed through the house as the sounds of cartoons resumed from her iPad speakers.

Nate exhaled and shook his head, relieved she wasn't actually upset.

His mom finished her food quietly, then stood up and collected her dishes. "Nate," she said as she wiped her hands, "don't leave the house today. I need to head out for a while."

He raised a brow. "Something important?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Besides, you know the girls aren't familiar with the area around here yet. I don't want them getting lost if they go out on their own."

"Got it," Nate replied with a casual nod. "I'll keep an eye on them."

His mom patted his shoulder before leaving the room, leaving Nate and Sera sitting there in silence for a moment.

Later that afternoon, the house had settled into a lazy rhythm.

Cleo stayed glued to her iPad in the living room, eyes wide as she watched animated characters zip across the screen. Occasionally, she'd burst into laughter, completely oblivious to the world around her.

Meanwhile, Sera lounged on the couch with her legs crossed, resting her chin on her palm. She didn't seem bored, but there was a quiet patience to her gaze as she alternated between watching Cleo, stealing glances at Nate, and zoning out at the TV.

Nate, leaning against the wall near the stairs, scrolled lazily through his phone. A conversation with Alice filled the screen. She was sending him random memes as usual, keeping the mood light.

Finally, Nate sighed, typing a quick "I gotta go" before slipping his phone into his pocket.

He pushed himself off the wall, stretching his arms as he casually glanced over at Sera and Cleo.

Time to figure out what to do next.

Nate smiled to himself as a simple but perfect idea came to mind. "Hey," he said, turning toward Sera, "wanna go have some fun?"

Sera blinked, surprised by the sudden offer. "Fun?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nate nodded with a grin, already walking toward the stairs. "Yeah, give me a sec."

He headed upstairs and rummaged through their things, pulling out clothes that he thought would suit both of them best. After a bit of shuffling around, he returned downstairs and handed them the outfits. "Go get changed," he told them. "Trust me."

Still confused, but intrigued, Sera and Cleo exchanged glances before heading off to their rooms to get dressed. Nate waited patiently at the foot of the stairs. A few minutes later, both girls came back looking ready for whatever adventure he had planned.

Sera wore a simple but stylish outfit—a white top tucked into high-waisted jeans, paired with comfortable sneakers. Cleo, on the other hand, wore a cute dress with leggings and her favorite pair of light-up shoes.

"Perfect," Nate said with a nod, grabbing his keys. "Let's go."

The first stop was a nearby football stadium. Nate had noticed Sera secretly watching games at home now and then, and figured it might be something she'd enjoy seeing live. The energy of the crowd, the chants, the vibrant colors—it was a different experience entirely.

Sera's face lit up as they entered the stadium, her eyes darting around, soaking in the excitement. She didn't say much at first, but Nate could see how invested she became as the game kicked off.

Cleo, however, was another story.

She slouched in her seat, pouting, and every few minutes she muttered, "Boring. Boring. Boring."

Nate couldn't help but laugh under his breath, glancing at Sera who gave him a helpless shrug.

After the game, they left the stadium and Nate took them to explore more of the city.

They visited a nearby amusement park where the trio snapped pictures in front of colorful rides and carnival booths. Cleo finally lit up when Nate won her a small prize at a ring toss game, and from there, her mood started to shift. They played a few arcade games in a gaming center, with Nate and Sera teaming up to challenge Cleo to racing games, basketball shootouts, and even air hockey.

"Cheaters!" Cleo shouted after Nate blocked her final shot in air hockey. But she was grinning wide, clearly having fun.

Afterward, they grabbed ice cream from a nearby stand. Sera chose a classic vanilla cone, Nate went for chocolate, while Cleo demanded a ridiculous triple-scoop rainbow combo, which ended up dripping all over her hands as she tried to eat faster than gravity could pull it down.

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"You're a mess," Sera chuckled, handing Cleo napkins.

Later, they took a stroll through a peaceful park. The sun was starting to set, casting a soft orange glow over the walking paths and trees. Nate snapped a photo of the two sisters sitting on a bench under a large tree, Cleo resting her head lazily on Sera's shoulder as they finished their snacks.

Finally, as they passed a small toy shop on the way back, Cleo's eyes locked onto something inside the window. A massive teddy bear, easily bigger than her, sat in the display with a goofy smile stitched onto its face.

"You want that, don't you?" Nate asked knowingly.

Cleo just nodded furiously.

Without hesitation, Nate stepped inside and bought it for her. When he returned holding the giant bear, Cleo's jaw dropped. She hugged it immediately, though it nearly swallowed her whole.

Sera, smiling, offered, "Cleo, want me to help you carry it?"

Before the words could fully leave her mouth, Cleo snapped her teeth playfully and gave a warning glare. "Mine!" she said stubbornly, dragging the oversized teddy along the sidewalk like a warrior pulling a trophy behind them.

Nate laughed as Sera threw her hands up. "Fine, fine. All yours."

They walked together as the sun set fully, streetlights blinking on one by one. Despite the tiring day, Nate could tell both Sera and Cleo were glowing with happiness.

As they headed home, Nate felt a quiet satisfaction settle in his chest. For once, everything just felt… normal.