After the exams Kiddy was relaxing at home, he received a notification from the group chat. He opened it to see Sam's message: "Hey, anyone up for hanging out tomorrow?"
Curious, Kiddy replied, "Where to?"
Sam responded excitedly, "I found a great picnic spot near the Rosemary Station. We could have a picnic there, and afterward, we can either hit up the nearby arcade or check out the mall for some shopping!"
Everyone else quickly chimed in, agreeing to Sam's plan. But as they chatted, they noticed that Felia, despite being online, hadn't said anything.
Lily asked, "Felia, don't you want to come?"
Felia hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'd love to, but I have some school projects to finish. I'm not sure if I can make it."
Lily was curious. "Why haven't you done them till now?"
Felia explained, "My grandmother has been sick, and I've been handling all the household chores since my mom has been busy taking care of her. I just haven't had the time."
Kiddy, feeling sympathetic, quickly typed, "Don't worry, Felia. I can help you finish your project after the picnic if you're okay with that."
Ammy, amused, "Have you even finished your own project, you idiot?"
Annoyed but smiling, Kiddy shot back, "Yes, I have, teacher."
The group burst into laughter at their playful banter. Felia, touched by the offer, agreed, "Alright, I'll come, and thanks, Kiddy. I'd appreciate the help."
With that, the plan was set, and everyone was excited for their upcoming picnic.
As Kiddy and the group arrived at the picnic spot, they were surprised by how crowded it was. They scanned the area, trying to find a place to settle down, but every spot seemed occupied. Their eyes turned to Sam, who gave an embarrassed smile and said, "Uh, sorry, guys. I didn't expect it to be this crowded."
Everyone sighed but decided to make the best of the situation. After some searching, they finally found a small open area just big enough for them. They quickly set up their picnic blankets and began unpacking their lunch boxes, ready to enjoy the day.
As they started eating and chatting, it didn't take long for them to realize that Felia was missing. Concerned, they tried calling her, but her phone was out of coverage area. They exchanged worried glances, wondering where she could be.
"Maybe she got lost in the crowd," Lily suggested.
"We can't just sit here and wait," Harry said, frowning. "We need to find her."
They decided to split up and search for Felia, leaving Mando behind to keep an eye on their things. Kiddy and Ammy paired up, while Harry, Sam, and Lily went in the other direction, hoping to spot her somewhere in the sea of people.
As Kiddy and Ammy navigated through the crowded picnic area.
They kept moving, calling out Felia's name and hoping to see her appear any moment.
After searching for a while without any luck, the group reconvened and decided to change their approach. They agreed to split up even further and cover more ground.
"Alright," Kiddy said, trying to take charge, "if anyone finds Felia, just give the rest of us a call, and we'll meet back at the spot."
Everyone nodded in agreement, their concern for Felia pushing them to act quickly. They each chose a direction and set off on their separate paths.
Sam decided to ask the people around if they'd seen Felia. Approaching a group nearby, he described her: "Excuse me, have you seen a girl with long, straight dark hair? She was wearing a light blue top with a white skirt. She's about this tall," he gestured with his hand, "and she had a small backpack with her." Some people shook their heads, and Sam thanked them before moving on to the next group, hoping someone had seen her.
Lily chose to head towards the nearby streets, thinking Felia might have wandered off in search of them. She carefully scanned the sidewalks, checked around parked cars, and looked down alleyways, making sure to be thorough as she moved along.
Harry was trying to navigate through the thickest part of the crowd, weaving in and out, occasionally calling out, "Felia!" His eyes darted around, scanning every face he passed, hoping to spot her familiar figure.
Meanwhile, Kiddy decided to check some shops near the picnic spot, thinking Felia might have gone to get a drink or a snack. He peeked into each store, asking the shopkeepers if they had seen her, but no one seemed to have noticed her.
Ammy, near the original spot, was trying to call Felia repeatedly, hoping she would pick up. She kept her eyes on the group, ensuring she could spot anyone who might find Felia, her worry growing with every unanswered call.
As Kiddy approached the shop near the bridge, he heard faint, muffled voices coming from below. The closer he got, the more he could make out the tone—a heated argument. Concerned, he quietly moved closer to the bridge and carefully peered around to see what was going on.
To his shock, he spotted Felia, her back pressed against a wall, facing off against a guy he recognized—the same person he had seen at the department store near Felia's house. The guy seemed agitated, his voice louder than Felia's, and Kiddy could feel the tension in the air.
"Why are you acting like this, Felia?" the guy demanded, stepping closer to her. "I've been nice to you, and this is how you treat me? Just give me a chance!"
Felia's face was a mix of frustration and discomfort. She stood her ground, her voice firm but shaken. "I already told you, I'm not interested. Stop following me and leave me alone!"
The guy clenched his fists, his expression darkening. "You think you can just ignore me after everything? I've been trying to be patient, but you're making this difficult. Why can't you just say yes?"
Felia's eyes flickered with a mix of fear and defiance. "Because I don't like you that way! Stop trying to force this—YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME!"
The guy's voice grew harsher, almost threatening. "Listen, Felia. I'm not asking anymore. We're going to be together, whether you like it or not. You should stop making this harder than it needs to be."
Kiddy took a step forward, his expression serious as he interrupted the tense scene. "Yo," he said, his voice calm but firm, "what do you think you're doing?"
Both Felia and the guy turned, startled by his sudden appearance. The guy's face twisted with annoyance, but Kiddy didn't flinch, meeting his gaze directly.
"Who the hell are you?" the guy snapped, his tone dripping with irritation. "This is none of your concern, so back off."
Kiddy held his ground. "What?!" He said while laughing, "You're harassing my friend, and you think I'm just going to walk away and pretend I didn't see it." He glanced at Felia, who looked conflicted, then back at the guy. "If you think you can intimidate her into doing what you want, you're mistaken."
Felia shook her head slightly, her voice soft. "Kiddy, this is my problem. You don't have to—"
Kiddy replied, his voice gentle but resolute. "You see Felia, you are my friend and who would want their friends to suffer alone, so now it's my problem too."
The guy's eyes narrowed, his irritation boiling over. "You don't understand the situation, so just stay out of it. This is between me and her."
"From where I'm standing, it looks like you're trying to force someone who doesn't want anything to do with you," Kiddy said. "If you really cared, you'd respect her decision instead of forcing her into something she doesn't want. But I guess respect isn't something you're familiar with."
The guy stepped closer. "You think you're brave, stepping in like this? You're just making things worse for her. Leave before you regret it."
Kiddy's expression remained calm, but his voice grew firmer. "No, you're the one making things worse. This isn't about bravery; it's about decency. If you can't see how wrong this is, then that's on you, not her. But I'm not going anywhere, and if you're smart, you'll realize that pushing this any further is only going to end badly—for you."
The guy's jaw tightened, but Kiddy didn't give him a chance to respond. "You're not in control here. Felia has made it clear she doesn't want this, and if you actually had any respect for her, you'd back off and let it go. So, I'm telling you one last time: walk away. Now!."
The guy lost his patience, his expression twisting into one of rage, and without warning, he charged at Kiddy. Before Kiddy could react, a fist connected with his face, sending him stumbling backward. The impact was harsh, and he felt a sharp pain as his nose began to bleed. Shocked, Kiddy held his nose, trying to stop the blood.
The guy sneered, looking down at Kiddy with contempt. "Did you really think you could take on a boxer?" he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You're pathetic, just like your attempt to play the hero." He raised his leg and stomped down hard on Kiddy's shin, making him cry out in pain. Felia stood frozen, her face pale with fear, unable to move as she watched the scene unfold.
The guy shook his head, chuckling darkly. "You were no challenge at all. What a waste of my time," he spat, kicking dirt toward Kiddy as he turned to leave. But as he started to walk away, a voice stopped him.
"Creep," Kiddy muttered, his voice barely audible but filled with defiance. The guy turned around, surprised to see Kiddy struggling to get back on his feet. His face was pale, his body trembling, but there was a stubborn glint in his eyes.
The guy smirked, mocking Kiddy's efforts. "Still want to play hero, huh? Do you really think you can fight me in that condition?"
Kiddy didn't respond immediately. He took a moment, feeling the pain in his body, but something inside him refused to back down. Slowly, he whispered, "This is my first fight, you know."
The guy frowned, trying to process what Kiddy had just said, but before he could react, Kiddy sprang forward with surprising speed. He brought his leg up and delivered a powerful kick to the guy's head, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the ground. The guy was caught completely off guard, and before he could regain his composure, Kiddy was on him, raining down punches with a raw, unrestrained fury.
Blood trickled from the guy's nose as Kiddy's fists connected over and over. Each hit carried a surge of pent-up emotion, fear, and determination. The guy, overwhelmed by the sudden barrage, tried to push Kiddy off, but Kiddy's grip tightened, his knuckles white with resolve. The guy finally managed to shove Kiddy back, gasping for air as he scrambled to his feet, his mind reeling.
Realizing he couldn't overpower Kiddy directly, the guy made a desperate move. He darted toward Felia, intending to grab her and use her as a shield. But Kiddy reacted quickly, lunging forward and intercepting him before he could reach her. He pinned the guy against a nearby wall, his hands trembling but holding firm.
Kiddy pulled his head back, preparing to slam it into the guy's forehead, but the guy managed to dodge at the last second, and Kiddy's head collided with the wall instead. The pain was instant, and he felt warm blood trickle down his forehead. He staggered, his vision blurring as he struggled to stay conscious.
The guy watched Kiddy collapse to his knees, barely able to keep his eyes open, and let out a small, bitter laugh. "You're done," he said, his voice low and mocking. "I don't have time for this. Consider yourself lucky I'm not in the mood for murder today." He took a step back, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk. "But don't get too comfortable. Next time, you won't be so lucky."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Kiddy kneeling on the ground, blood dripping down his face.
Felia rushed over to Kiddy, who was still kneeling on the ground, panting and shaking. She knelt beside him, her eyes filled with worry. "Why did you do that?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Kiddy, despite his condition, managed a small laugh. "If a friend doesn't help a friend, then what's the point of being friends?" he said, his voice weak but sincere. As he tried to stand up, his legs gave out, and he stumbled, nearly falling again. Felia quickly caught him, tears welling up in her eyes as she supported him, giving him her shoulder to lean on.
She took Kiddy's phone from his pocket and immediately called Ammy. Within minutes, the rest of the group arrived, rushing to Kiddy's side with worried expressions. They helped him sit down on a bench near a shop, and Sam ran off to get water.
"What happened?" Harry asked, his tone urgent. Felia, her voice shaking, explained briefly about the encounter. "It's all my fault... if it weren't for me, Kiddy wouldn't be hurt like this," she said, tears threatening to spill.
Kiddy, still struggling to keep his eyes open, gave her a gentle smile. "Don't worry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be fine."
Ammy, seeing the state he was in, scolded him, "Don't smile, you idiot, you're bleeding everywhere." Her tone was light, but the concern was clear in her eyes.
Lily, noticing Ammy's relaxed demeanor, asked, "Are you not worried about him?"
Ammy nodded, "Of course I am, but I know he'll be fine." She then shared a story, "Back in middle school, Kiddy accidentally punched a wall so hard he broke a finger while messing around with his friends. He was walking around, showing everyone his broken finger, laughing and crying at the same time. That's just how he is—he finds a way to smile, even when he's in pain."
She added, "And don't worry, I called his parents right after Felia told me what happened. They're on their way." Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Sam soon returned with a bottle of water, handing it to Kiddy. He took a few sips, his hands still trembling, but after a few moments, he seemed to calm down, taking a deep breath. "My first fight… that was crazy," he said with a weak grin, trying to lighten the mood.
As Kiddy's parents arrived, his mom immediately noticed his condition. Almost in tears, she scolded him, "Kiddy, what were you thinking?" while his dad turned to Ammy, asking her what had happened. Ammy explained everything, and Kiddy's dad listened attentively. After hearing the story, he smiled and said, "That's exactly what I would've done, son," praising Kiddy for standing up for his friend.
Kiddy's mom, however, scolded his dad for his relaxed attitude. "Are you serious? Look at him! We need to get him to a hospital right away." She then instructed them to take him to a taxi while Kiddy's friends stood by, slightly bewildered by how casually his parents were handling the situation. Kiddy, dazed but still trying to understand everything, felt a bit unhinged by the mix of concern and calmness.
Kiddy's dad gently picked him up onto his back, supporting him as they walked toward the street to hail a taxi. His mom turned to the rest of the group and reassured them, "Don't worry about Kiddy, he'll be fine. You all should head home." She then gave Felia a comforting hug, sensing her guilt, and said, " It's not your fault, and honestly, I would've done the same. If I found out Kiddy didn't help someone in need, I'd give him an earful myself. So, don't worry." Her words brought some relief, then she playfully patted Ammy's head, thanking her for keeping Kiddy safe.
The group said their goodbyes to Kiddy as his parents took him to the hospital. They then headed back to their picnic spot to pack up their things, but as they approached, they saw Mando sitting there, eating and crying. Confused, they rushed over and asked, "Mando, what's wrong?"
Mando immediately clung to Sam, saying, "I was so scared! I thought you all left me here!" The others couldn't help but burst into laughter. They explained what had happened, and Mando's concern shifted to Felia, asking if she was okay, and then to Kiddy, wondering if he would be alright.
Sam reassured him, "Yeah, don't worry. Kiddy's a tough guy; he'll be fine." But then he noticed food and asked, "If you were so worried, why were you eating?" Embarrassed, Mando replied, "I get hungry when I'm scared or worried." That made everyone laugh even harder as they started packing up their belongings.
After they were done, they decided to head to a nearby shop for some ramen to satisfy their hunger. They ate together, chatting and trying to lighten the mood, before heading to the subway station to catch their train home.
During the train ride, they continued to chat and trying to make the best of the day. As they approached Felia's stop, the group said their goodbyes, with Ammy adding, "Take care, and don't worry about Kiddy. He'll bounce back in no time." Felia nodded, grateful for the support, and they parted ways.
After everyone reached their station, they parted ways, saying their goodbyes. Sam walked off with Lily, while Harry and Mando left together, chatting. Ammy, however, went home alone.
As she walked, her mind drifted back to the story she had shared with Lily about Kiddy punching the wall in middle school. She remembered how Kiddy had laughed about it, even though he was hurt, while she had cried, worried sick about him. Today's events replayed in her head, and the sight of Kiddy's face during the fight made her eyes well up with tears. She could no longer hold back and quietly sobbed as she made her way home, feeling a mix of fear, relief, and overwhelming concern.
When she arrived home, her mother immediately noticed her teary eyes and asked, "Ammy, what's wrong?" Without a word, Ammy collapsed into her mother's arms, crying, and told her what had happened. Her mother listened with a gentle smile, thinking to herself how Ammy had always been this way—caring so deeply for others, even when they didn't see the need for it. She held Ammy tightly, letting her cry it out, and reassured her that everything was okay now.
After a while, Ammy calmed down, and her mother softly said, "Alright, sweetie, how about you freshen up and get ready for dinner?" Ammy nodded, grateful for the comfort, and went to wash her face. They had a quiet dinner together, and she followed her usual routine, taking a warm bath to relax before heading to bed.
Just as she was settling down, her phone buzzed with a notification. Curious, she picked it up and saw that Kiddy had posted a photo of himself, his face covered in bandages but with a goofy grin. Seeing him like that, even after everything, made her smile through her tears. She quickly replied to his post, "Idiot. Get some rest," and felt a sense of relief wash over her.
Ammy put down her phone, her heart a little lighter, knowing Kiddy was still his usual self. As she drifted off to sleep, she felt comforted by the thought that, despite everything, things had turned out okay.