Chapter 12: Welcome to Our Party.

As we strolled down the gently sloping hill, a lively scene unfolded a short distance away. Nestled beneath a sprawling tree on the left, a group of kids engaged in animated chatter. Their laughter filled the air, creating a playful ambiance.

Amidst the jovial group, one keen-eyed kid spotted us from a distance and eagerly began waving in our direction. Without hesitation, Don reciprocated the gesture, indicating a familiarity that piqued my curiosity. Following Don's lead, I silently trailed along.

"Hey, guys," Don greeted warmly as we approached the group. With a gentle tug, he guided me closer to the gathering beneath the tree. Four kids, two boys and two girls, formed a close-knit circle, their expressions ranging from curiosity to concern.

The boy closest to the tree, his gaze fixated on Don's appearance, voiced his concern, 

"H-hey, Don. What happened to you? Where did you get those injuries?" His eyes scanned Don's figure, registering the visible signs of wear and tear.

A mischievous grin adorned the cherry-colored hair girl in the group as she chimed in, "Hmph. Knowing Don, he probably went to pick a fight with Mitch again and ended up getting beat up. Again." Her teasing tone added a touch of familiarity to the dynamic, hinting at a history of friendly banter among the group.

Post the events of yesterday, Don bore the aftermath with bandages wrapping his wounds and bruises scattered across his frame—a visual testament to the ordeal he had faced. It didn't take much scrutiny to discern the nature of the encounter.

"S-shut-up!" Don snapped back defensively, a spark of pride in his eyes. "I made sure to show Mitch who is boss. These injuries are just scars of honor," he asserted with bravado. "Y-you should have seen the way he ran off."

I couldn't help but offer a firm and sarcastic nod behind Don at each proclamation. "Heck, you showed him who's boss alright."

"Ho? Is that so?" chimed in the blonde kid with a chuckle. "Well, your black eye says otherwise, though." A smirk played on his lips as he teased Don.

"It's a scar of honor! A scar of honor, I say!" Don quickly countered, defending the legitimacy of his injuries.

The blonde boy, however, dismissed Don's protest with a sneer, prompting a nod of agreement from me. As we exchanged glances, he noticed my subtle acknowledgment of the banter.

The he frowned warily.

Four pairs of eyes fixated on me, the initial cheerfulness replaced by a palpable tension as my presence registered. Don, sensing the shift, turned to acknowledge me. "Oh, right! Guys, this is Reo; we met yesterday. Reo, these are my friends," Don gestured, attempting to ease the awkward atmosphere.

"Uh, um... hi, I'm Reo, pleased to meet you," I stammered, my attempt at a greeting falling flat.

However, the suspicious and unfriendly gazes persisted, leaving me to wonder if I had unwittingly said something peculiar or if it was my appearance that triggered their wariness. A sudden self-consciousness gripped me. 

Was there something on my face?

"Don... who is this?" the blonde kid, who had been casting the most scornful glares, spoke up, intentionally ignoring me.

"Uh, didn't you hear me? This is Reo," Don replied, shooting the blonde kid a look that conveyed, 'did you hit your head or something.'

"No, well, I heard that. I mean, where and how?" the blonde kid persisted, ignoring Don's explanation.

"Ah! W-well, he um..." Don began to awkwardly stutter, caught off guard by the unexpected scrutiny from his friends.

"He... he helped me against Mitch yesterday....though I didn't really need it," Don explained, attempting to diffuse the tension that lingered.

The blonde kid shifted his controversial gaze back to me, prompting me to unconsciously divert my attention to the other girl in the group. She had been quietly positioned behind the cranberry-haired girl, avoiding the unfolding scrutiny.

As my gaze landed on her, my attention was drawn to the girl who hadn't uttered a word until now. She timidly hid behind the other, her navy blue hair cascading down like a waterfall. Sparkling blue eyes awkwardly shifted around as they briefly met mine. Her flushed cheeks hinted at a shyness that contrasted with the tension in the air.

For a moment, I found myself captivated by her, my mind going blank as I closely observed the precise and pristine facial features she possessed. She was undeniably breathtakingly cute.

I was probably staring so hard, till the point the cherry haired girl stepped up defensively.

"What the hell are you staring at?" She growled menacingly, and I involuntarily winced, shifting uncomfortably. On the other side, Don and the blonde kid had distanced themselves slightly from the group, seemingly engaged in resolving some dispute. It was evident from the rapid changes in their expressions and the frequent gesticulation of arms in the air.

The spectacle unfolded for a few more moments, capturing my attention, before the two eventually rejoined the group. Don sported a broad smile as he bounced back, seemingly pleased with the resolution. In stark contrast, the blonde kid appeared visibly exhausted and drained, emitting a tired sigh.

Breaking the tense atmosphere, he spoke up, "Um, Reo, right? Sorry about all that. I'm Leon, nice to meet you as well," extending an outstretched hand. The rest of the group, initially taken aback, decided to follow suit in a somewhat hesitant manner.

Despite his verbal assurance, Leon's eyes told a different story. His deep blue eyes, in stark contrast to his spoken words, seemed to betray a lingering tension. Leon, with his blonde hair and a stature slightly taller than mine, exuded an air of popularity.

He was a come lad among others his age, with looks to put models on earth to shame.

The introductions continued as Don pointed out the others. The coffee-brown-haired guy was Kyle, the red-haired girl was Trise, and the blue-haired, shy girl, who hesitated a bit, turned out to be Lia. Though she remained close to Trise, I managed to steal a glance at her face for a brief moment and couldn't help but find her genuinely cute.

Don, breaking the momentary silence, suddenly declared, "Well then, self-introductions have been made. Reo, you are officially welcomed to our party."