Anice was the first to arrive at his side. Without a moment's hesitation, she flung her arms around him and began to cry. "Thank you, Alie. I knew you wouldn't let them bully me this time." Sniffling into his chest, she repeated in a quieter voice, "I knew you wouldn't let them."
A bit taken aback, he patted her on the head in a comforting manner. "Of course not. As long as I'm around, nobody will bully you again. Either of you."
"I—I'm sorry, Alie."
"What for?"
"Edmun kissed me."
"That wasn't your fault. Besides, why would you apologize to me for that?"
Hearing this, her tears subsided and she pushed him away with a pouting face. "Because he wasn't…because it felt like I should…" Visibly confused, she turned her head and stopped talking.
A cool breeze swept by during the brief quiet that followed.
