Wait… so he wasn’t trying to mess with me?

He actually just wanted to be friends?

I’d completely misunderstood him—got all prickly, gave him attitude, and kept my guard up for no reason. And all that toward someone who was just being genuine.

The realization hit me like a splash of cold water.

I let go of the invisible wall I’d been quietly building between us and relaxed my furrowed brow. Then I put on the warmest, most harmless smile I could manage, as if nothing awkward had ever happened.

“Oh~ so you just wanted to be friends? You should’ve said so earlier!”

Guess I jumped to conclusions for nothing.

Still, I was secretly relieved. It wasn’t some weird prank or setup. He just wanted to get to know me. And honestly, I knew that feeling all too well—the quiet struggle of wondering how to approach someone, how to strike up a conversation, how to shrink the distance between you and them without making it awkward. I’ve run that simulation in my head enough times to count.

Which is why I felt kind of bad for how I acted earlier.

Suspicious of someone’s good intentions, just because I wasn’t used to them.

“Anyway, I don’t have any friends here yet, so you’re more than welcome~ In fact, I think you’re officially the first friend I’ve made since I got here! Looking forward to hanging out more, buddy~”

I said it with a bit of exaggerated cheer, half to make up for my earlier attitude. Sure, it might’ve seemed weird to switch moods that fast—but whatever. I was doing my best now. And honestly, between someone thinking “What’s up with her sudden energy?” and “She totally hates me,” I’d take the former any day.

Apparently, my sudden shift caught him off guard, too.

Cael blinked at me in stunned silence for a moment, then muttered softly,

“…Yeah.”

…Now that we’re on this track, maybe I should try becoming friends with his friend too—Xion. We were already speaking casually anyway.

But before I could say anything, Cael beat me to it.

“Hey, Xion. Wanna be part of the cool kids’ club too? I’ll let you in, just this once.”

…Wow. The way he phrased that was almost impressive in how annoying it was. I glanced at Xion to see how he’d respond.

And—

“Sure.”

…Huh?

Xion replied so casually, I wondered if I’d misheard.

And just like that, in the span of one lunch break, I somehow ended up making not one, but two new friends.

Grinning to myself, I made my way toward the next class.

‘…Thanks, Cael. If it weren’t for you, I might’ve spent the rest of my school life eating lunch alone.’

Meanwhile, right after Aria skipped off with a spring in her step—

Cael could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter.

“Pfft—HAHAHAHA!”

He doubled over, clutching his stomach, unable to stop laughing. Xion quietly cleared his throat and sipped his water.

“See? I told you. She’s something else, huh? I didn’t think she’d respond like that… Man. I’m really glad I talked to her,” Cael said between laughs.

Xion gave him a sidelong glance and murmured,

“She’s definitely not ordinary.”

“Right? You agree now, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Considering she agreed to be your friend right after all that nonsense… she’s definitely got an unusual personality.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” Cael waved his hands dramatically.

“I’ll have you know, tons of girls are dying to be friends with me!”

Xion stayed quiet for a beat. Then, with a deadpan expression, he added,

“They’re just into your face. Not your—never mind.”

“Whoa, whoa, hold up. What was that?”

“Anyway, that’s why you don’t have any real friends.”

Still grinning, Cael clutched his chest in mock agony.

“Ow, ow, ow! That hit deep, man. Even best friends shouldn’t aim for the heart like that.”

Xion simply looked at him.

“That’s your problem, Cael. You always turn things into a joke. Even when you’re serious, no one ever takes you seriously.”

Cael fell silent, momentarily stunned, before flashing another cheeky smile.

“Thanks for the feedback, dearest friend. I’ll treasure that dagger you just planted in my soul.”

The truth was… Cael was afraid.

Afraid of being rejected, of putting himself out there only to be pushed away.

So instead of speaking honestly, he always hid behind jokes, exaggerations, or deflections—playing things off like he didn’t really mean them.

A shield, disguised as a laugh.

Xion had known that about him for a long time.

Cael had never actually said it aloud, but… Xion had picked up on the signs.

‘It’s probably because of that incident.’

Xion had only heard fragments of the story—overheard bits and pieces from adults when he was younger. One time, out of pure curiosity, he’d brought it up to Cael directly.

And the look on Cael’s face then…

He’d never forget it.

The way his expression froze.

The moment he realized what he looked like—and forced himself to go blank again, brushing it off with a smile and changing the subject like nothing had happened.

That was when Xion understood.

Whatever it was…

It was something he should never bring up again.