Chapter 4

"S-Shin!"

Kael calls out to the girl standing beside the park, her hair is curled up in bun and she's wearing a white dress that blends in with her bright blue hair.

Shin turn her head and saw him, but her face is showing no sign of recognition.

"Huh? Who are you?"

"W-What? It's me... Kael."

Her eyes widened in shock, "What? This can't be him... The Kael I know has medium-length hair and looks like a nerd." She thought to herself, while inspectioning all side of Kael

Kael's brown hair is in slicked back style, his black t-shirt is standing out and his arms are shredded. His arms are usually not showing considering that he always wear long sleeves in school.

His sling bag is hanging from his shoulder down to the other side of his waist, and his white jeans is perfectly blending in with his black t-shirt.

"If you're really Kael... Then you look really good right now, I didn't recognize you."

"Wait, is she blushing? What should I do? My heart is beating so fast that I could die happily now. And she looks really cute with that curly bun of her."

They both turn their back on each other, blushing. The redness on their face is visible, but then a voice called out to Shin.

"Shin!"

A tall girl is waving in the distance, her expression is happy. And then, there's Rin behind her with the chilly aura.

"Koharu! It's been a while, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing good! And who's that beside you? Is he your boyfriend? He looks handsome."

"Uh... Wait, no! He's not my boyfriend, his name is Kael, a friend..."

"Oohh.. are you sure he's not your boyfriend? Then maybe I can make a move to him."

"P-Please don't!"

Shin suddenly shouts loud, Kael and Koharu raised their eyebrow in surprise. Shin is really flustered right now that she's starting to look like a tomato.

"W-Wait... T-That's not what I meant..."

"Let's stop please."

"Oohh! The boy is protecting his girl... this is what I've been dreaming about ever since I stepped foot in that school!"

Koharu is in her own world now, she's murmuring about something and making weird faces. Then Rin approached both Kael and Shin.

"Let's head to the cafe already."

"What about her?"

Kael asks, pointing at Koharu who's now smiling to herself.

"Just leave her be."

...

Inside the cafe, they are sitting by the window while waiting for their orders. Koharu is saying something to Rin, who looks clearly annoyed.

Kael and Shin are sitting next to each other, still not talking but their face looks reddish.

"I'm the one who invited him, I should talk to him. But I can't! Everytime I look at him, I get flustered! Why does he looked handsome? Wait... He looks handsome with his nerdy look too, is this what they mean to fall in love with the same person twice."

She's getting flustered thinking about it, she quickly take a glance at Kael then look back down. This was supposed to be her thanks to Kael for making her lunch in a whole week, but why is she experiencing butterfly in her stomach?

She takes a deep breath and look at Kael with her usual warm smile. Kael looks back at her and his eyes widened, is he seeing an angel in front of him? That warm smile of her plus the redness on her cheek is a deadly combo.

"Uh... Kael, I must say, thank you for making a lunch for me everyday. I loved how your cooking taste and I really like keeping you company, since you doesn't have any friends in school."

Koharu and Rin stopped their banter to look at Shin. Her face is red and it looks like she's having trouble expressing her feelings.

Kael felt a rush of warmth at Shin's words. Her appreciation was genuine, and it made his heart race. He had always admired her kindness, but now, in this moment, it felt different—intimate.

"U-Uh, thanks, I'm just glad you enjoyed it."

"Do you see that? It's like a scene from a romance movie!"

Koharu nudged Rin dramatically, her blush fixated on her face as she thinks about the possible outcomes.

"Will you shut up already?"

Koharu leaned in to Kael, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, what's your secret? Are you trying to win her over with your cooking skills?"

Kael nearly choked on his drink. "N-No! I just—"

"Nice guys finish last, you know. You have to put some effort into impressing her!"

"I-Is that how it works?"

Kael fumbled with his words, his mind racing as Koharu's teasing made him even more nervous. He glanced at Shin, who looked equally flustered, her face still a shade of pink.

Shin fidgeted with her hands under the table, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. "Does he like me? He's always so kind, and... he even goes out of his way to make me lunch every day."

Kael, on the other hand, was trying his best to stay composed. Koharu's teasing and the atmosphere were making him feel like his emotions were on display for everyone. His eyes flickered to Shin, who seemed lost in thought, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her cup.

Kael's heart pounded as he watched Shin, her delicate movements betraying her inner thoughts. The playful teasing from Koharu made him more conscious of the situation, but all he could focus on was Shin—her warmth, her presence, and the way she made him feel.

Shin glanced up and caught his gaze, their eyes locking for a brief moment. It felt like time slowed, the bustling noise of the café fading into the background. She wanted to say something, but the weight of her emotions held her back.

"This is too much for my heart! I can't take it!"

"Alright, Koharu. We are going to the counter, I've been drinking this water for ten minutes and I want my donuts now."

Koharu sighed dramatically but followed Rin to the counter, leaving Kael and Shin alone once again. The momentary distraction gave them both a chance to breathe, but the tension in the air remained palpable.

"I'm sorry about Koharu, she's always like that."

"It's okay. She's... energetic, to say the least."

"Yeah, she's always been that way since we were kids. But, honestly, I'm glad she's around. Sometimes it feels like she says the things I can't."

Kael tilted his head, curious. "What do you mean?"

"Here we go!" Koharu's voice cut through the moment as she and Rin returned, a tray of donuts and drinks in hand. Koharu practically slammed the tray down on the table with a dramatic flourish. "Donuts! Everyone grab one before Rin eats them all."

"I'm not even that confident in my eating ability..."

Kael chuckled nervously at Rin's deadpan response as he took a donut, and Koharu started digging in with enthusiasm. The lighthearted energy in the café eased some of the tension, but Kael couldn't stop glancing at Shin, who still seemed to be lost in her thoughts.

Kael leaned back in his seat, feeling the tension slowly drain away as the atmosphere lightened.

Koharu, with her mouth half-full of donut, chimed in. "So, Shin, when are you going to introduce him to your mom?"

Shin choked on her drink, eyes wide. "What?! Koharu, stop saying weird things!"

Rin sighed. "Koharu, you're going to cause someone to have a heart attack one day..."

Shin's face is burning, and she's trying to regain her composure. She shot Kael a quick glance, who looked equally mortified but was trying to hide it behind a nervous chuckle.

"You two are just too cute together. If you're not dating, you should be."

"How about we talk about the upcoming summer camp? Have you guys heard about the new attractions they're planning?" Shin suggested, her voice slightly strained but earnest.

Koharu, still munching on her donut, perked up at the new topic. "Oh, summer camp! I've heard they're planning some exciting activities. I'm looking forward to the campfire and maybe even some hiking."

Rin, who had been quietly sipping his drink, quickly interject. "The hiking sounds bad... I'll just stay at the camp..."

Rin's comment caused a few chuckles among the group. Shin, trying to lighten the mood further, turned to Kael.

"Are you excited about the camp activities, Kael?"

"Uhm... I don't know, I never come to that kind of event before, I just usually stay at home."

"Really? Well, you're in for a treat then! The camp has a lot of fun activities planned. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

Kael smiled sheepishly. "I'm looking forward to it. I guess it'll be a new experience for me."

Koharu finished another donut and leaned in eagerly. "You'll have to join us for the campfire. We always have great stories and s'mores. It's a lot of fun! Don't be like Rin, his life is boring."

Rin shot Koharu a glance, though his expression remained deadpan. "Boring is peaceful..." He muttered, taking a slow sip of his drink. Koharu just waved him off, clearly more interested in convincing Kael to join in on the fun.

Shin is sensing Kael's hesitation, chimed in softly. "You'll enjoy it, Kael. It's a great way to unwind after everything at school. Plus, we'll all be together."

Kael smiled at Shin's reassurance, her gentle words always seemed to calm his nerves. "Alright, if you say so, I'll give it a shot."

"Yes! That's the spirit!" Koharu exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat. "Trust me, you'll have the time of your life. We'll make sure of it, right, Shin?"

Shin nodded with a soft smile, her blush still faintly lingering on her cheeks. "Yeah, it'll be fun."

Rin sighed, his usual disinterest evident. "As long as no one drags me on that hiking trip, I suppose it'll be tolerable..."

"Ugh, Rin! You need more excitement in your life,"

"I prefer my excitement to be low-effort..."

Koharu rolled her eyes at Rin's response, waving him off as she continued to talk about the camp's various activities.

"Well, you're going to miss out, Rin. The campfire stories are going to be legendary this year, and who knows, maybe Kael will share something cool, too!"

"I, uh, don't really have any stories like that."

"Oh, don't worry," Shin said softly, giving him a reassuring glance. "You can just enjoy the campfire with us. It's more about the experience than the stories."

Kael nodded, feeling his heart skip a beat at her kindness. He still wasn't used to being the center of attention in this way, especially around people he admired—especially around Shin.

The conversation flowed into various topics about the camp—games, food, and a few humorous memories from past events.

After a while, they finished up their snacks, and Rin checked his watch.

"We should probably head out soon..." Rin said, his expression still calm but his voice tinged with impatience. "I have some stuff to do later..."

"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Boring has a schedule." Koharu teased, but she stood up with a dramatic stretch, her arms high in the air. "Alright, let's go."

As they all walked out of the café, the group parted ways—Rin and Koharu heading in one direction, while Kael and Shin slowly walked toward the park, where they'd met earlier.

The quiet between them felt comfortable, but there was still a nervous energy in the air, the unspoken feelings lingering.

"So... about the camp," Kael began, his voice unsure but filled with curiosity. "I'm really glad you invited me. I don't usually get asked to join stuff like that."

Shin smiled softly, her cheeks still slightly flushed from earlier. "I'm glad you're coming too, Kael. It'll be nice to have you there."

Kael took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. "You know, I wasn't sure about going at first. I mean, I don't usually do things like this."

Shin's eyes sparkled with understanding. "It's okay to try new things. Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to some of the best experiences."

They walked in companionable silence for a moment, the sounds of the park around them creating a peaceful backdrop.

"I guess I'm just worried about fitting in," Kael admitted. "I mean, I've never really been part of a group like this."

"You already fit in just fine," Shin said reassuringly. "Everyone's excited to have you join us. Besides, you've been such a great friend to me—everyone will appreciate that."

Kael's heart warmed at her words. "Thanks, Shin. That means a lot."

As they reached the park entrance, Shin paused and turned to face Kael, her expression thoughtful. "I'm really looking forward to the camp. It feels like it's going to be a special time for all of us."

"Yeah," Kael agreed, his smile growing. "I'm looking forward to it too."

They stood there for a moment, the air filled with a gentle, comfortable silence. Kael took a deep breath, feeling more at ease than he had in a while. Shin's presence had a way of making everything feel a bit more manageable.

Shin finally broke the silence, her voice gentle. "I should probably get going now. It's getting late, and I have some things to take care of."

"Yeah, me too," Kael said, feeling a bit reluctant to part ways. "See you at the school."

"Yeah... See you at school, Kael."