The day wasn't too cold or too hot. It had rained earlier in the morning and the sun wasn't too harsh, just partially covered by fuzzy, pompous clouds. Addai's swing was a bit wet due to the rain, so he had to sit on a bench, his feet not reaching the floor.

Addai patiently waited for his new friend, feeling somehow unsure about it. They should have met the day before, but Addai was grounded for arriving late at "home," so it was impossible to fulfill their promise. He was unsure about how his new friend would react, or if he'd come even though Addai hadn't the day before.

The boy, holding the dried flower, looked at it sorrowfully. The patches on his cheeks didn't hurt more than waiting for a friend he didn't know if they'd come. He rubbed his eyes and felt the horizon quite foggy, recalling what the gentle nun told him about an appointment with an ophthalmologist the next week.

Addai was looking up, checking if the clouds could turn into a further "rainy-season issue," when a sound of hasty footsteps coming right into his direction echoed. Pebbles were kicked and leaves were stomped, and, oh, this person seemed to be in such a hurry Addai had to look at them. He squinted his eyes and somehow the horizon turned magically clear, finally identifying the person running.

Addai's eyes unconsciously brightened, and his pupils dilated. "Ah! It's you- eh?" He was startled at the boy's body language. His new friend was running in his direction… ready to jump on him!! "W-w-wait!!!" Addai panicked, waving his hands for his friend to stop.

But it was too late, or his new friend was stubborn enough to ignore his pleas. His new friend had hugged him like a koala, both falling on the floor as the little sun hugged Addai tightly. His head was buried in the taller boy's shoulder. He smelled candy and lavender, a pleasant smell Addai hadn't recorded in his mind.

Addai didn't know where to put his arms. As his new friend hugged him too tightly, unwilling to let go nor speak, he stared at the sky, feeling his ears burn as he tried to think about what to do with his loose arms. That was when his arms moved on their own, wrapping around his friend. His body was smaller, but, after that, he was sure he wasn't weak.

"I was worried to death!!" The little one scolded, his face still buried in Addai's shoulders. "I thought you got drenched in the rain and got sick!!" He explained, sounding more like a scolding as he sniffled.

Oh no. Addai thought. 

Addai didn't know what to do with people crying. Usually, when someone cried at the orphanage, he'd only ignore or mock the child's crying. In better scenarios, he'd toss a napkin to the crying one and grumble, telling them to stop because it was terribly annoying. But now it was different, and he didn't have the suitable configuration to deal with that new situation. His new friend wasn't like the other kids at the orphanage, so he didn't want to treat him like them.

But he didn't know what to do.

"E-erm…" Addai mumbled, trying to sit with that koala attached to his torso. "I w-wasn't sick… I just couldn't come because my… aunties, yes, that sounds right… they grounded me."

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole story. Well, his new friend didn't need to know the sordid details of the things he had done, so it was wise to not say it.

His little friend slowly lifted his damp face with puffy eyes. His long eyelashes were wet like his face, but he tried to keep a frown face but failed when his lips turned into a pout without him knowing. His pink eyes were a true gem, and even though they were glossy, Addai knew they'd be pretty when his friend smiled.

Addai helped his little friend to stand up and sit on the bench. He took a napkin from his pockets and wiped his friend's face and runny nose – casually trying to dry his damp shoulder right after.

The smaller boy sniffled, and more tears fell from his peachy cheeks, but there were so few Addai didn't need to wipe them again.

"I'm happy you're not sick…" the little boy confessed, pouting. "I was worried that you forgot me..."

"I'm sorry," Addai said, hesitating to touch the boy. "I didn't forget about you, look," he took something from his pockets.

It was the dried flower his sunny friend gave him the day they first met. The flower was nearly at the point where it could crumble with a gust of wind. But the little boy didn't need to be worried because Addai cherished that small, dry flower so much it was the flower's fuel to keep it beautiful after drying. The sunny boy looked at the flower and touched its dry petals carefully, feeling the funny texture.

A small smile formed on his lips, and he finally chuckled. "Well, since you explained, apologized, and showed the promise… it's ok!!" He beamed and a snot ran down his nose. Addai cleaned it with a napkin from his pockets by chance and the little one beamed again.

"Hm… and… what's your name?" Addai asked timidly.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself last time hehe… I am Mine and I am six! But my birthday is close, so I'll soon be seven!" Mine smiled happily. "And yours?" He asked, curious.

"Addai… and… I am nine," he answered shyly, cheeks becoming slightly peach-colored.

"It's a cool name!" Mine opened his arms in excitement and the other boy flinched by the sudden move. "It suits you very well, and oh! Your eyes are cool too!" He beamed as he paid attention to Addai's heterochromatic eyes.

"O-oh… t-thanks," Addai blushed a little more and fidgeted.

"You're a pretty boy!" Mine beamed and his eyelashes became the spotlight again, just like the other day.

"Y-you a-also are," Addai flushed entirely, and the little boy chuckled.

Mine rummaged into his pockets and took two wrapped candies, the same he gave Addai the other day. A wide smile sketched on his face as he handed the candies to his friend. "I'll bring one every time we see each other," he beamed. "I wanted to give you something to… you know… something better to symbolize our friendship…" he scratched his head.

"It's enough," Addai warmly smiled, showing his dimples, and stored the new candy in his pockets. "I loved it," he beamed, and the little boy squeezed his cheeks with a joyful laugh.

Mine ran and made the sign for Addai to catch him. Both giggled and had lots of fun at the playground that afternoon. The sun above them and a few clouds made the plays more fun and exciting. Addai taught the boy to do shadow figures with hands and common mana spells. Mine taught him how to do little light orbs floating in the air like fireflies, telling him he'd love to learn how to make mana bunnies someday.