Phylax:
"So, Eucliea… umm, are we clear now?
I mean, you do still consider me your friend… as you said yourself."
In his mind, he silently thanked Zorion.
"Thanks to this guy's unwanted help, I'm saved now."
Eucliea squinted her eyes, puffed her cheeks—thinking deeply… about what, only God knows.
Then she smirked and declared,
"Bring me a cake that says 'I'm sorry' on top, and you're free."
She finished with a short, proud exhale.
Zorion considered staying for a bite too.
But he didn't say it out loud.
Because Zorion was… well, a zombie for free stuff.
Phylax, on the other hand, had mixed feelings.
He was glad the monthly "apologetic phase" was over,
but he knew exactly what Eucliea meant:
a cake from her favorite bakery…
which was a 2–5 hour drive away depending on traffic.
So no—this wasn't something to celebrate.
Still, it was for Eucliea.
So he left.
Zorion (arms folded):
"Hmm, so whatever happened between you two is now settled… under my majestic presence.
I'm special indeed."
Then, mock-worried,
"And when will he be back? I can't leave you here alone.
What if an actual stalker showed up?"
Eucliea:
"So considerate!" (laughs)
"He won't be back before the stadium closes. The bakery's far, remember?"
Zorion (suspicious):
"He never said which bakery he's going to…"
Eucliea (smirking, winking):
"I just… know."
Zorion (shocked):
"Omnipathy!"
Raga (deadpan):
"That's telepathy."
Zorion:
"Same thing."
Eucliea patted Raga's head while laughing at Zorion's miswording.
Zorion (hand behind his head):
"So where are you going? Match is over, so why still here?"
Eucliea (glancing at Raga):
"Evening walk with this little one. Just waiting for the crowd to thin.
What about you?"
Zorion (thinking pose):
"Hmm… oh yeah! My friends said they'll pick me up from the VIP box.
We're heading to the hotel together."
Eucliea (grinning):
"Friend, eh? We can do one thing—group walk!"
Zorion:
"Now that you mention it, we haven't explored the city at all."
Eucliea:
"Great! I'll be your guide."
Zorion:
"You've got a deal."
Eucliea (teasing):
"Wait, shouldn't you confirm with those friends first?"
Zorion (anime villain voice, proud stance):
"Haha! Those 'friends' are my minions—they have no choice."
---
Meanwhile: Merch Queue
Alethea:
"I'm tired of standing."
Sathvic:
"Consider this your training session."
Alethea:
"One—I haven't trained in months.
Two—standing still doesn't count as training."
Sathvic:
"Then lift me. Use me as weights."
Alethea (smirking):
"Was that supposed to be a flirty line?"
Sathvic:
"Yeah. Wasn't it good?"
Alethea (laughs):
"Not at all. But coming from you—it was… okish."
---
Back at the VIP Box
Eucliea's eyes drifted toward the field.
Eucliea (quietly):
"Poor Zahir. Still doing all those captain formalities…
even when he probably just wants to lock himself in a room and cope."
She turned to her left, facing Zorion.
Eucliea:
"You know Zahir is Eirene's brother?"
Zorion:
"Umm… yeah. Eirene told me yesterday."
Eucliea (genuinely surprised):
"Wow. She's talking to you?"
Zorion took two seconds to register that.
Zorion (suspicious side glance):
"What do you mean?"
Eucliea (serious now):
"Eirene doesn't open up to people.
Only me and a few others.
So her saying casual stuff to you is… surprising."
Zorion:
"Is that so…"
Eucliea:
"How was your first interaction with her?"
Zorion's brain:
"Wait—is she an undercover cop here to get me to confess I entered the women's bathroom and have me arrested?"
He didn't say that. But the thought refused to leave.
Zorion :
"That's something even Eirene would tell you not to ask."
Eucliea noticed his slight panic.
Assumed the worst.
"Eirene must've said something mean to him… ugh, that girl."
So, in her mind, she made a decision:
Be extra nice to Zorion… to balance her friend's assumed rudeness.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Eucliea:
"Hello dear readers! I'm Eucliea! Phylax has to drive for hours and buy me a cake just to make me smile...
BUT YOU?
You can make me happy just by giving a Power Stone!"
A hand suddenly drags her chibi face sideways. Eirene appears, arms crossed.
Eirene:
"Stop it. You look dumb. Readers will give Power Stones if they like the story. Begging doesn't change anything."
Eucliea pouts, then zooms over, grabs Eirene's cheeks, and stretches them like mochi.
Eucliea:
"Sometimes asking with love makes the difference, you little realist.
Am I right, guys?
She wouldn't know—because she's never had someone romantically love her!"
Eucliea sticks out her tongue playfully while Eirene's face twitches.
Eirene (grumbling):
"Nor do I need anyone..."