Still during recess.
"Are you okay?" Clark asked, noticing that Blackfire was just staring at her tray.
"Hm… yes," she replied quietly. "I'm just not hungry."
"You can't leave your food untouched like that," Clark said, a little worried. "At least eat half of it."
"I can't," Blackfire muttered. "I feel so unmotivated that just thinking about eating already makes my stomach feel full."
Clark frowned.
"Are you sure you're really okay?"
"I am, Clark," she said softly. "Don't worry."
Clark finished his meal, but Blackfire barely moved. Her gaze slowly drifted toward the large window beside them, which overlooked the school garden.
Her thoughts wandered.
And then she noticed something.
Under the shadow of a tree, far from the rest of the students…
A girl.
She was sitting on the ground, hugging her knees tightly, her head lowered. From where Blackfire stood, she couldn't tell if the girl was sleeping… or crying.
Curious—and uneasy—Blackfire stood up from the table.
"Where are you going?" Clark asked.
"I want to check something," she replied. "I'll see you in class."
Before he could say anything else, she walked away.
The girl had long black hair, and a strange white fringe that contrasted sharply against it. She really was crying, hiding beneath the tree where the shadows were thickest.
Suddenly, footsteps grew louder on the grass.
The girl quickly wiped her tears and curled in on herself, hiding her face between her arms and knees.
Blackfire stopped a few steps away.
"H-Hi," she said gently. "My name is Komand'r. What's yours?"
The girl didn't respond.
"You don't need to hide from me," Blackfire continued softly. "I won't hurt you…"
She carefully reached out and placed her hand on the girl's head.
Slowly, hesitantly, the girl lifted her face.
Blackfire froze.
One of the girl's eyes was bruised and swollen, dark purple. The corner of her mouth was bleeding.
"…What did they do to you?" Blackfire whispered, shocked.
"Leave me alone," the girl snapped.
"I want to help you. Who did this to—"
"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!"
The girl screamed and suddenly ran toward the school building.
Blackfire stood there, frozen, unable to react.
Moments later, the school alarm echoed through the grounds, signaling the end of recess.
Back in the classroom, Blackfire dragged a chair and sat beside Clark while the lesson hadn't started yet.
"Clark… do you know any girl here with black hair and a white fringe?" she asked quietly.
"Black hair and white bangs?" he thought for a moment. "Honestly… no. I don't remember seeing anyone like that. Why?"
"I found a girl in the garden earlier," Blackfire said. "She was hurt. Really badly. She ran away when I tried to help."
"That's… strange," Clark replied. "I really didn't notice anyone like that."
"It's okay," Blackfire said softly. "Thanks."
She leaned back in her chair and stared out the window again, her mind replaying the image of the girl's bruised face.
What if I brought her something to help her heal? she thought. Maybe… an apology.
When the final bell rang, Blackfire ran toward the school gate and waited, watching every student who passed by.
One by one, they left.
But the girl never appeared.
Her chest tightened.
Afraid she might never see her again, Blackfire hurried to the cafeteria and prepared a small bag—a sandwich and a juice. Then she stopped by the infirmary and grabbed an ice pack from the freezer.
As she rushed through the halls toward the garden, she nearly collided with someone.
"Komand'r?" Clark said, startled. "Why are you still here? And what's all that?"
"I'm looking for the girl from earlier," she said breathlessly.
"But why?" he asked, confused.
"I just want to help her," Blackfire said—and immediately ran off again.
She pushed the garden door open and ran straight to the tree where she had seen the girl before.
Nothing.
No one.
Exhausted, Blackfire sank onto the grass, struggling to catch her breath. After a moment, she stood up again, her shoulders slumped.
As she walked through the now-empty school corridors, her footsteps echoed loudly.
Then—
A figure stepped out of the girls' bathroom.
Blackfire lifted her head.
It was her.
The same girl—now wearing a disposable eyepatch over her right eye and bandages on her lips.
They stopped.
And stared at each other.
"…Hi," the girl said quietly.
"H-Hi," Blackfire replied, unsure of what to do.
Silence stretched between them.
Then Blackfire slowly lifted the bag she was holding.
"I was looking for you," she said. "I made this… for you."
"…For me?" the girl asked, confused. "Why?"
"I wanted to help," Blackfire said. "You looked hurt."
The girl took a step back and turned away.
"Wait—please," Blackfire said quickly. "Don't go. I want you to have this."
The girl hesitated, then turned back.
"You're a princess," she said. "Why don't you just go home? You have responsibilities."
"I want to help you," Blackfire said. "I don't want you to stay like that."
She swallowed hard.
"And… and I want—"
The girl turned fully toward her.
"I WANT YOU TO BE MY FRIEND!"
Blackfire blurted out, completely embarrassed.
"…F-Friend?" the girl whispered, stunned.
She walked closer.
Blackfire stood still, frozen.
Suddenly, the girl opened her arms and hugged her tightly.
"…Friend."
Blackfire didn't move. She didn't hug back.
She just let it happen.
The girl pulled away and smiled.
"It's okay, Princess," she said warmly. "I want to be your friend."
Blackfire smiled and handed her the bag.
Later, in the empty school courtyard at sunset, the two sat together at a table, eating and talking.
"I brought this ice pack from the infirmary," Blackfire said. "For your injuries."
"Thank you," the girl said softly. "Really. Thank you."
"…Who did this to you?" Blackfire asked.
The girl fell silent.
"…Some girls," she admitted. "They hurt me because I'm different."
"Different?" Blackfire asked.
"I was born into a lower class by Tamaran standards," she said. "My powers haven't fully developed yet."
Blackfire nodded slowly.
"I understand," she said. "Mine haven't either."
"…What?" the girl blinked. "You're serious?"
"Yes," Blackfire said quietly. "I still can't fly."
"…Wow," the girl murmured. "I didn't expect that from someone like you."
Blackfire sighed and stood up.
"Well… I should go now."
"O-Okay…"
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Blackfire asked, throwing away the trash.
"…Y-Yes."
"Oh—what class are you in?" Blackfire asked.
"3-C. End of the hallway."
"I'm in 1-A," Blackfire smiled. "I'll come get you so we can spend recess together."
"O-Okay… I'll wait."
"Great! See you tomorrow!"
"See you!"
As Blackfire walked toward the school gate, the girl suddenly stood up and called out—
"KOMAND'R!"
Blackfire turned.
"My name is… Judha."
Blackfire smiled brightly.
"Judha? That's a nice name. See you tomorrow, Judha!"
She left.
Judha remained standing, smiling softly as she looked up at the golden sky.
"…Komand'r," she whispered.
"For the first time… I finally have a friend."