Chapter 4: A Girl and Her Dennies!!!

Round silver coins clinked inside the Directress's wallet as she fished out coins one by one to give to each child standing around her.

The orphanage's front lobby was buzzing with excited kids, dog Thirens with floppy ears and long fluffy tails, human kids with snot-covered cheeks and noses, and even a cat boy who kept trying to trade his Denny for snacks. It was finally reward day, and that meant payment for chores done and homework actually turned in.

The Directress, Amelie, dressed in her usual deep navy cardigan and neat pencil skirt, handed out the small silver Denny coins with a warm and kind smile.

"One for helping the Bangboo find the charging port, another for watering the flowers without breaking the hose... again. Another for finishing your math sheet. And none for whoever tied my chair to the ceiling fan this morning. I'm looking at you, Kip."

Kip, the orange-haired fox Thiren, gave a proud grin and a shrug. "Eh, worth it," he said, not knowing it would be his responsibility to wash the dishes for the next three days.

Then came the last girl in line, a tiny figure with pink twin-tails tied high behind her head with two black ribbons. Her outfit was one given to every child in the orphanage: a plain gray skirt and black blouse, the cuffs and collar lined with clean white.

The Directress smiled. "And finally, for our shining star of the week—Nicole, for helping Kip get unstuck from the stairway bars." Kip let out an unsatisfied grunt, clearly still embarrassed by the incident.

Nicole held out her hands slowly, shyly, and received her first ever Denny.

The second the coin hit her palm, time seemed to slow. It was small. Light. A little warm from the Directress's fingers. But did it shine!

Shinier than a mirror. Glossier than the candy counter at Jello Jack's. It gleamed even in the orphanage's dull lights, catching her reflection and bending it like magic.

Nicole stared at the coin, then smiled. She was in love. Yep—her first love was a Denny. This coin. This round, beautiful, perfect little thing, it was hers. She'd earned it. And in that moment, Nicole Damara, age seven, made a solemn vow in her heart:

She'd collect more. As many as she could. But first… she had someone special she wanted to show it to.

With her new treasure clutched tightly, she took off down the hallway. The walls were covered in rainbow-colored crayon art, dinosaurs, smiling rainbows and robot cats. She ran past the playroom, past the library, toward the innermost wing of the orphanage.

---

Mia's Room.

She slowed her steps near the door. Light crept out from the crack of the open doorway. As she got closer, Nicole heard voices from inside—the familiar but now weak voice of her best friend.

"…Can I go outside today?" asked a frail girl's voice, raspy and hoarse. Nicole froze, leaning slightly toward the door. She didn't make a peep.

"I'll try...and see what I can do," a man's voice replied heavily. It was the doctor assigned to Mia's care—Dr. Halvorsen.

He was a kind man, exhausted, and always trying to do the impossible with scraps. His voice cracked slightly. "I'll talk to the sponsors again. Maybe we can get that protective suit soon. Just hang on a little longer, okay?"

The girl gave a weak laugh, it dry and soft. "You're kidding, right?" she said, almost playfully. "That'd cost more than the whole orphanage. I'm already eating up too much medicine. Don't worry about that."

There was a long silence. Then the sound of quiet crying, the doctor's, not hers.

Nicole's throat tightened, her hand clenched around her treasure.

"…I just wanna see the sun," Mia whispered. "Just once."

Nicole stared down at the coin in her hand. Light from the half-open door made it gleam again, flashing like a tiny star of...

If money is all she needs to help her best friend see the sun…

Nicole clenched the coin harder. Then she turned on her heel and ran—making sure not to disturb her friend or the doctor.

---

The next morning, Sixth Street saw a troupe of mini treasure hunters lined up outside the orphanage.

Nicole stood in front of the orphanage gates with a box, a small clear baggie, and her usual cunning expression. "Okay!" she barked to the other kids. "We're collecting Dennies! Bottle caps, lost change, even good trading cards—whatever can be sold!"

"Why?" asked a scruffy cat Thiren with dirt on his nose.

Nicole held up her silver Denny. "Because my best friend wants to see the sun. And she's your friend too."

That was all she needed to say. They all understood—and immediately agreed.

Half the kids didn't even wait for her to finish before they ran off, charging into alleyways, searching under vending machines, checking between sidewalk cracks. One even used his tail to reach into the sewers.

Nicole also started looking for Dennies, so that her friend could see the sun.

-----

Tata strolled down the sidewalks of Sixth Street with a bit of swagger in his step, one hand in the pocket of his baggy shorts, and the other lazily flicking a single, gleaming coin into the air.

A one-hundred Denny coin.

His last one.

He'd spent almost everything helping Mister T pull off the book club event—everything went to baking supplies, mittens, and replacement mixing blades, courtesy of Tupa accidentally turning the mixer into a rocket. Every coin saved from birthdays and extra chores had gone into that.

But this one coin? This was snack money. A warm bag of curry puffs and maybe a mango soda. He deserved it, right? Of course he did.

Flick. Catch. Flick. Catch.

Until—

Flick.

Miss.

"???" With a confused expression, he looked at his empty hand, then the ground.

Clink… clinkclinkclink…

The coin slipped through his fingers, hit the sidewalk, and spun in mocking little circles before rolling off down the sloped street.

"..."

Tata froze.

He stared at his hand… then at the runaway coin now zipping down the hill.

His expression aged 40 years.

"NOOOOOO—!"

Tightening the cloth strap holding the long, wrapped item on his back, he bolted after it.

At the bottom of the hill, Nicole squatted low, peeking under a vending machine. Her fingers were smudged with sidewalk grime, and her ponytails had frizzed from the wind. But her pouch jingled with a dozen collected coins.

Clink. Huh?

She turned and spotted something shiny roll to a stop nearby.

Her eyes lit up. "A hundred Denny coin?! Score!"

But just as she reached for it, a voice echoed down the hill.

"HEEEEEEEEEY—!!"

She turned to see a small blur in a red hoodie charging full speed toward her.

"Have you seen a runaway coin?! Round, shiny, about this big, rolled down this way?"

Nicole tilted her head, slipping the coin behind her back with a subtle flick of her wrist. "Hmm… nope. Haven't seen a hundred Denny coin anywhere."

"Really? Dammit, where did that thing go, mh? Oh, here—you have some dirt on your face," he said, noticing how dirty she was and handing her a tissue.

"Oh, thank you. Well, I haven't seen your coin. Good luck looking for it," Nicole said before walking away.

"Yeah, thanks anyway. Now where could that coin have..."

Tata froze. Tata blinked. "Wait...how'd you know it was a hundred?"

But by the time he connected the dots and turned back—she was gone.

"…Oi!" A vein popped on his forehead as he chuckled to himself. "You wanna play that type of game, huh? Game on!!"

Going on all fours, he sniffed the ground and air before picking up her scent. He growled before sprinting in the direction of the trail.

A granny who had seen the whole thing transpire couldn't help but think, 'What are you, a bloodhound?' If Enzo were there, he would have nodded.

---

He followed the scent—dust, pavement, faint hints of strawberry shampoo.

Tata dashed through alleyways, slid under stairwells, even leapt over a building until finally, he spotted her crouched behind a low wall, stuffing the coin into her pouch.

"AHA! I got you!!!"

She yelped as he tackled her to the ground. They tumbled into a pile, dirt and gravel scattering around them. Tata pinned her down as she panted.

"Why'd you lie?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Nicole looked away with a huff, cheeks pink. "I needed it," she muttered. Then, reluctantly, she pulled the coin from her pouch and tossed it back at him. "Here."

He caught it. Looked at it. Then looked at her again. "…Why go through all that trouble? It's just a coin."

Nicole didn't answer right away. She sat up, brushing off her skirt, dirt streaked across one cheek.

"I need all the coins I can get," she said quietly. "Every single one. I have a promise to keep... I'm sorry I took your coin." She looked away, intending to leave.

Tata held out his arm. "Wait. If you tell me why you need it, I'll give it to you," he said with a semi-serious expression. Nicole was surprised but truthfully told him why she took the coin.

When Tata learned the reason—why she was doing all this, who it was for—he didn't hesitate. He even offered to help her.

"Really?! You'll help, even after I lied to you?" Nicole asked, surprised. She hadn't expected anything, to be honest, but this was definitely not it.

"Yep! Tata Barbosa at your service. No rock or Bangboo shall be left unturned. What are you waiting for? Let's go." Grabbing her hand, he led her around, joining the Denny hunt alongside Nicole and the other kids.

---

Tata had also rallied other kids he knew in the area from the nearby blocks to help out. The Great Denny Hunt had suddenly gained a second wind.

From under railings to alley drains, behind broken vending machines and cracks in the pavement, they searched every nook and cranny they could.

The group split up across Sixth, Seventh, even dipping into part of Fifth. Unfortunately, they couldn't go too far from the orphanage.

By the time the sun hovered just above the rooftops, the kids had reconvened at a dusty crossroads behind a noodle shop.

Shoes scuffed. Knees bruised. Elbows scraped. Hair tangled and skin dusty. They were completely exhausted.

Nicole's once-neat outfit was covered in smudges, her skirt wrinkled and messy, a streak of dirt trailing along her cheek. She hated being messy, absolutely hated it. But she didn't care this time.

She dropped onto the sidewalk, back to the wall, and looked down at the small clear pouch hanging from her belt.

It jingled heavily with silver Dennies and some bottle caps. She'd filled it. Every last bit of space. Top to bottom. But… that was it.

The other kids flopped around nearby, hands on knees or lying flat on the ground. One had even passed out with his face in a bush. Obviously Kip.

Nicole stared at the pouch.

"…Let's just forget it," one of the kids mumbled.

"What?" Tata turned to them, blinking.

"It's not enough," another said, voice even sadder. "This won't even buy a scrap of fabric from those suits. I looked them up once. They're stupid expensive. Like… fancy-adult-shoes expensive."

Tata frowned but stayed quiet.

'I thought… if we worked hard enough, tried long enough, maybe'… Nicole looked down at the small bag she had.

A tall boy with a band-aid on his nose spoke up. "The sun's about to set anyway."

"Yeah," another added. "We can't stop it."

Nicole knew that. Of course she did.

Mia's window would stay dark. Always would. And this, this tiny bag of coins wouldn't change that.

Tata stared at the sky for a moment. The golden-orange hue blanketed the clouds as the sun began to dip behind the city buildings.

He sighed. "It's too bad…"

Nicole looked over at him.

Tata scratched the back of his neck. "Too bad we couldn't make a sun for your friend."

Nicole blinked. She sat up a little straighter. Then her eyes widened as the rays of the setting sun passed through the gaps in the buildings and hit the shiny metal coin.

An idea sparked to life.

Make a sun.

Why hadn't she thought of that before?

Nicole Damara had always been smart. She wasn't the tallest, or the strongest, or even the best at math. But when she wanted something badly enough, her brain clicked into gear like clockwork.

And right now?

Click

Her mind flooded with an idea. She stood up suddenly, startling the other kids.

Tata blinked. "Uh… you okay?"

Nicole turned toward him with a grin that hadn't been there all day.

She looked around at the tired, dirty faces of her friends. Some sat on curbs, others leaned against walls, heads low and spirits lower.

"You're right," she said finally, voice quiet. "We won't be able to get enough to buy that suit."

The words settled heavily over the group.

One of the girls, eyes glassy, whispered, "Then… should we go back? There should still be time. To say goodbye."

"No," Nicole said, standing tall. "We can't afford a protective suit…"

Everyone looked up.

"…But we can still make one."

She pointed to the sun, glowing like a coin in the sky. "That round piece of metal, shinier than a mirror, that's what Mia wanted to see. So we'll bring it to her."

Nicole grinned and started barking orders. "You! Over there — that corner! You three, line up along the west wall! Anyone with clean coins, hold them like this!" She cupped her hands and tilted them just so, showing how to angle the Dennies like mirrors.

Confused but inspired, the kids followed. They spread out along the alleyways, holding up their precious, scuffed coins, catching the last of the sun's light.

The plan was simple: a chain of tiny reflections, bouncing rays off each Denny until it shone directly through Mia's window.

All the kids coordinated, lifting the coins and lining up along the alley that pointed straight at Mia's room.

---

Inside, Nicole burst through the front door of the orphanage, calling out for the doctor and Directress.

"Wake her up!" she cried. "We've got a surprise!"

The Directress blinked, startled. "Nicole, please, wait—what are you talking about?"

Nicole quickly explained the plan, panting with excitement. The Directress gave her a motherly headpat, eyes soft.

"You truly are a kind child."

Normally, the Directress wouldn't want to disturb Mia, especially since these could be her final days...but this was different.

Soon, Nicole stood inside Mia's dim little room, at the foot of her bed. The frail girl slowly opened her eyes, head turning to see her best friend.

"What's going on… Nicole?" she rasped, confused but happy.

Nicole smiled nervously. "We couldn't afford the suit. I'm sorry. But… we still wanted you to see the sun."

She turned and pointed at the window.

"..."

But there was nothing. No light. No glow.

Nicole's breath caught.

Everyone was in position. So why…?

Then it hit her. The sun had dipped below the skyline.

It was too late.

Her heart sank as Mia watched, waiting in quiet anticipation.

What do I do? What should I do?!

Even the Directress and the doctor looked uncertain. Nicole stared at her best friend's face, desperate. She bit her lip, trying to think — anything, anything at all—

And then, a soft golden glow.

It burst through the window like magic.

Warm and bright like the sun.

Mia gasped. Her thin fingers reached forward, trembling, as the sunlight kissed her skin.

"I… I can feel it…" she whispered, tears running down her cheeks. "It's warm…"

-----

Outside, Nicole ran. She needed to know how.

She scrambled up the side of the orphanage, darting toward the alley where the others were.

And there, standing tall on the opposite rooftop like a hero — was Tata.

His sword, Lighter, blazed with flames, held high above his head. The radiant light bounced from his blade, striking the line of coins just right — casting a golden ray all the way into Mia's room.

Nicole stood in awe.

The kids below cheered, clapping and jumping in joy.

"HAHAHA!" Tata barked out a laugh, clearly reveling in the moment. "You make sure to get my good angle!" he shouted down at the fox Thiren holding his phone, he'd given it to him earlier just to record this moment... and brag to his old man later.

Nicole looked at him, then turned back to the glowing window.

She smiled, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Mia was finally seeing the sun.

---

A few days later, the sun rose quietly over the orphanage.

The halls were still. The walls, once bursting with laughter and small footsteps, felt quiet.

Mia had passed away in her sleep.

But she had gone with a smile on her face.

She had seen the sun.

Nicole stood outside the orphanage gates, holding a small flower in her hands. Her eyes were red, but her expression was peaceful. Tata stood beside her, hands in his pockets, his red hoodie fluttering in the wind.

"I'm… really gonna miss her," Nicole said softly.

"I know," Tata replied. "But she got her wish. You gave her that. So stand proud."

Nicole nodded, staring off into the sky.

Tupa gently placed his hand on hers. She appreciated it.

Down the road, a car pulled up. Enzo called out, waving. "Tata, let's go! The ship's leaving soon!"

"Coming!" Tata shouted back.

He turned to Nicole, grinning. "I'm gonna be gone for a bit. Traveling with the old man. But hey, when I come back, we'll hang out, yeah?"

Nicole nodded. "Yeah."

Tata stepped forward, turned, and flicked something shiny through the air. "Oh! I forgot to give you this, Cotton Candy."

She caught it.

It was the 100-Denny coin she'd taken from him days ago. "Heh. I figure you earned it," he said with a grin. "And anyway… you're my friend. Now."

Nicole clutched the coin, smiling. "Promise?"

"Promise."

"Good. And stop calling me Cotton Candy. I hate that nickname," she said with a huff.

"No promises, hehe!"

With one last wave, Tata turned and ran off toward his dad, Tupa bouncing behind him.

Nicole stood alone for a moment, holding the coin up to the sun.

It gleamed in the light.

'This round piece of metal… shinier than a mirror,' she thought. 'Its weight in my hand — so reassuring. Because of it… I helped my best friend's wish come true.'

She held the coin close to her chest. She looked up, eyes filled with warmth.

This is when she truly fell in love with Dennies.

'They can even let you buy… hope.'

-----

A.N

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