A tense silence settled over the trio, broken only by the steady fall of rain—shhhhh—and the distant murmur of the waterfall—splash-splash.
Charles, still on the ground with Kaira sitting on him, felt the air grow heavier.
'Please… don't let her be another fight-crazed maniac,' he thought, wincing internally.
The blue-haired girl watched them with curiosity, but her annoyance was clear, her piercing blue eyes boring into them.
Kaira, frowning, broke the silence first.
"Sorry… are you Saria?" she said, recognizing the girl.
Saria tilted her head, clearly confused.
"Yeah, who're you?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.
Kaira crossed her arms, still naked and drenched, showing no hint of embarrassment.
"What? You don't remember?" she said, waving her hands. "We've eaten together a bunch of times with Lira."
Saria paused, staring at the sky as if trying to recall.
'It's been a while since I ate with Lira… let alone with someone else. Or maybe I did, and I forgot…?'
