After the trip, the school was buzzing with stories of what had happened. Sam enthusiastically recounted every detail to Lily, while Kiddy approached to tease them again. However, Ammy stepped in, insisting that Kiddy leave them alone. Kiddy, surprisingly agreeable and sat beside Ammy and watched her study quietly.
A little later, Lily comes, dragging Felia along. Confused, Kiddy asked what was going on. Lily explained that Felia was joining their group, revealing that felia had very less friends. This revelation left Kiddy puzzled, but he welcomed her into the group regardless.
Ammy, however, remained skeptical of Felia. Though she allowed Felia to stay, she made it clear she would be watching her closely. Harry and Mando agreed to let her stay, hoping she would fit in well with the rest of the group.
The dynamic of the group subtly shifted, with everyone curious to see how things would unfold with Felia now among them.
As lunchtime approached, Kiddy left his group and walked toward the school playground. He wanted to check if the volleyball net had been replaced, a small detail that mattered to him more than he'd admit. As he neared the court, his thoughts drifted to the games they'd play once the net was fixed. After confirming that the net was indeed changed, he turned to head back but noticed something that caught his eye—Felia, sitting alone on a bench, eating her lunch.
Kiddy hesitated for a moment, watching her from a distance. She seemed so distant, so apart from everyone else. He wondered if maybe she was having a hard time adjusting or if something else was on her mind. Gathering his courage, he approached her, trying to appear casual.
"Hey, Felia," Kiddy said, giving her a friendly smile. "Why don't you come join us? It's always more fun with more people."
Felia looked up from her lunch, her sharp eyes studying him for a moment. She hesitated, then shook her head. "No, thanks," she said quietly. "I'm fine here."
Kiddy wasn't one to give up easily. He sat down beside her, determined to understand why she was so distant. "Is everything okay? You seem... I don't know, like you don't want to be around anyone."
Felia sighed, keeping her gaze on her lunch. "It's not that," she said after a moment. "I just... I'm not used to being in big groups. It's hard for me to fit in."
Kiddy frowned, not entirely understanding but wanting to help. "But you fit in just fine with us. We're not a big group, and everyone likes you."
She gave a small, humorless laugh. "You don't know me well enough to say that."
Kiddy felt a pang of sadness hearing that. He wanted to say something to convince her, to let her know that she didn't have to be alone. But Felia didn't give him the chance.
"Just leave me alone, Kiddy," she said, her voice firmer this time. "I appreciate the gesture, but I'm fine by myself."
Feeling a little hurt but not wanting to push her further, Kiddy nodded slowly. "Alright. But if you ever want to join us, you're always welcome."
With that, he stood up and walked back to his group, his mood noticeably dimmed. When he returned, Ammy immediately noticed the change in his demeanor. She watched him for a while as he sat silently, poking at his food, his usual energy nowhere to be found.
Ammy nudged him gently. "Hey, what's wrong? You're not your usual self today."
Kiddy glanced at her, forcing a smile. "It's nothing, just a stomachache. I'm fine."
Ammy raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced, but before she could press further, Felia appeared in the distance, trailing behind the group. She had finished her lunch and seemed to be heading toward them, though her steps were hesitant.
As the day came to an end and the group began walking home, Felia silently joined them. She didn't say much, just followed along, her presence barely acknowledged by the others. But Kiddy noticed her, his earlier conversation replaying in his mind.
As they walked, Ammy suddenly remembered she had to stop by a nearby store. "You guys go ahead," she said, waving them off. "I'll catch up later."
With Ammy gone, the group slowly dispersed, leaving only Kiddy and Felia walking together. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts and unsolved tensions. Kiddy wanted to ask her again, to see if she'd open up.
As they walked side by side, Kiddy tried to make small talk, asking Felia how she was doing and if everything was okay. Felia, feeling guilty about her earlier behavior, finally decided to open up. She apologized, her voice quiet but sincere. "I'm sorry about earlier, Kiddy. I didn't mean to push you away. It's just... I have a hard time talking to people unless I've known them for a long time. You're one of the few who makes it feel... easier."
Kiddy, surprised by her honesty, responded gently, "It's okay, Felia. Everyone has their own pace. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Felia shook her head, looking down at the ground as they walked. "It's not you. It's just... people like you, who are so loving and caring towards others, are a rare sight for me. I'm not used to it, and I guess it threw me off. It's... nice, though."
Her words hung in the air for a moment, and when Felia finally looked up, she saw Kiddy's face turn bright red. He was completely stunned, unable to find the right words to respond. No girl had ever called him that before, and hearing it from Felia, of all people, left him speechless.
"Uh... thanks, Felia," he managed to stammer out, his heart racing. He didn't know what else to say, and his mind was a jumble of emotions. Realizing he might look silly just standing there blushing, he quickly added, "I'll, um, see you tomorrow?"
Felia nodded, equally flustered by her own boldness. She hadn't meant to say something so personal, and now she was worried that Kiddy might misunderstand her words. "Yeah, see you tomorrow," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the warmth spreading across her cheeks.
With that, Kiddy gave a small wave and hurried off down the street, his mind still spinning from the unexpected compliment. He couldn't believe that Felia, who seemed so distant at first, thought of him that way. It made him feel a strange mix of happiness and embarrassment, and he couldn't stop replaying her words in his head.
Felia watched him go, still blushing from the whole encounter. She sighed, hoping that her words hadn't come across the wrong way. The last thing she wanted was to make things awkward between them. But as she walked home, she realized that maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new. Perhaps she didn't have to be so guarded all the time, especially with someone like Kiddy, who clearly had a kind heart.
As they both went their separate ways, each lost in their own thoughts, one thing was clear: something had shifted between them.