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Berdly has had a problem ever since the world was saved from the Roaring.
Well, perhaps that’s inaccurate. If she stretches her mind, she’s really had this problem ever since she entered the Cyber World. And, well, if she’s being totally honest, she could say it’s been a problem since the start of the school year. The problem was, um, also present during the Summer, so…
So she’s had this problem for a long time. And yes, it was a “problem,” because there was simply no logical explanation for having a crush on Kris Dreemurr.
Well. Okay. It did make sense. Kris was the literal hero of Delta Rune, of their town and the whole world. And… though she was loath to admit it, their gaming skills were… impressive. Even if they wasted their skills on cheats! For anyone to have a crush on Kris, the logic was sound. But Berdly? That was just foolish. Thus, the problem.
The town was surprisingly quiet as she walked towards the library. Unlike everyone else, Noelle and her do intend to finish their group project, even if it’s a bit late. After the roaring, nobody really felt like it mattered anymore, especially with the amount of reconstruction the town needed from the damage the Titans left. But Berdly insisted – grades are still important, even if smarts… aren’t – and Noelle agreed. Although there hasn’t been much progress on account of the constant construction. Which is precisely why it’s weird that it’s quiet! People do seem to be working, as she glances around, but there’s little on this block left to fix. It has been two months, Berdly supposes. Plenty of time to fix a single street up.
She arrives at the library and spots Noelle’s antlers through the door of the computer lab, entering swiftly. “Greetings, Noelle!” She exclaims, dropping her books on the desk with flourish.
“Oh, hi Berdly!” Noelle responds. “Um, I already grabbed the construction paper, so we should be all set to start the poster…” She trails off uncertainly, fidgeting. Hm. Strange. At Berdly’s inquisitive look, she continues, “Sorry, I just… I have a question to ask you, but I’m not really sure how to phrase it.”
It’s so strange to see her so unconfident now that it irks Berdly to see. She takes a seat, spreading out her books. “If it’s not related to the project, you can ask me after we finish it today!”
She huffs a laugh. “Berdly, I really don’t think anyone is expecting us to get this project done…”
“Which is precisely why we should! Extra credit!”
Noelle sighs. “Berdly…” She cuts herself off. Then, staring her down, she asks, “You have a crush on Kris, don’t you?”
Berdly feels her beak drop open. What???? How did she know????
She stammers wordlessly before regaining her composure, thrusting her finger in the air. “Ha! That is! Preposterous! Why would I have a crush on them? I’ve never had a crush on anyone!”
“...Berdly, are you serious –”
“My dear Noelle, you have made a claim that is most supported by evidence! …I mean unsupported! Haha! Yes! Because… it would be silly to…”
Berdly holds her finger in the air for a final moment before slumping down in her seat. “How did you know.”
Noelle smiles sheepishly. “...You keep looking at them. And you just seem very invested in your rivalry - but then your insults always turn into compliments!” She giggles. “Kris and you… It’s sweet!”
“And utterly hopeless,” Berdly groans, her face buried in her wings. Kris is so… unbothered by everything. Not to say they don’t care about things – they clearly do, so much – but… Berdly? Really? What they have is a heated, childhood rivalry, that of epic gamers! …Not… love. “Yes, yes, go ahead and laugh…”
“What? No, I mean it!” She nods encouragingly. “You’re already friends, which is more than Susie and I had! You’d be so cute together. Oh, maybe you could leave a note in their locker –”
“Noelle. Please.” Berdly sighs. “It’s simply not going to happen. Kris would never…”
She avoids Noelle’s eyes, staring dejectedly at the desk instead. Kris is… really incredible. Really. Kind, heroic, brave, clever. And Berdly is annoying and stupid, even if that’s supposed to be fine. No one, maybe besides Noelle, knows her faults better than them. They’re still friends, of course, rivals, but… could it ever be different than that when they are so different from each other?
“...I mean it, Berdly. I really think you have a good chance.” Berdly looks up to find Noelle smiling genuinely. “And there’s no way to know unless you try, right?”
Berdly stares at her determined face for a moment. She’s really a great friend, huh? Noelle was the one who, just a couple weeks ago, helped her come out as a girl. And now she wants to help Berdly with a pointless endeavor, just for her sake?
Berdly laughs and stands triumphantly. “Of course! We must create an elaborate scheme to win them over.” She sobers a bit. “...Thank you, Noelle. We will craft the greatest plan ever in order to win their heart!”
“Uhh! Okay! Sure!” Noelle says, her face slightly bewildered. “Sounds fun!”
Berdly sits back down. “After we finish our project, of course.”
Upon seeing her crazed glare, Berdly changes her mind. They could – they could plan now, sure…
—
The next day, after classes had ended for the day, Berdly approaches Kris before they could leave the classroom with Susie. “Kris! May I speak to you for a moment?”
They share a glance with Susie, who glares back at Berdly. “...Okay,” they say eventually.
“Wonderful! Oh, and Susie, Noelle wanted me to tell you that… what was it? Oh yeah! She wanted to make you work at her house.” …It was something like that.
“...What? Why would she do that?” Susie asks, her face unimpressed.
“Y-you should go ask her! Haha!” Berdly gestures at the door, where Noelle waves through the window. Susie scoffs at Berdly, but leaves the classroom with a “see ya, Kris,” and a small smile on her face. Now it’s just Berdly and them… alone! Ahaha! Their plan really was perfect…!
“Ahem! Kris…” Berdly begins, pointing her finger up. Right on cue, there’s a click of the classroom door’s lock. Berdly glances over to see Noelle give her a thumbs up before scurrying towards a bewildered Susie.
“Gasp! Oh no! It appears the door was MISTAKENLY locked with us two still inside!” Berdly closes her eyes, recalling their script. “Whatever will we do! I suppose we’ll just have to stay in here and talk for a while until somebody eventually –”
The door clicks again, and Berdly opens her eyes. Kris is standing by the door, their hand on the doorknob. …or, more specifically, the lock on the doorknob. …Which is inside the door. Huh. They turn the handle and the door swings open, revealing an empty hallway. Kris leans their head outside.
“Hi, Noelle. Hi again, Susie,” they call. There’s a faint “eep!” before Noelle appears in the doorway.
“Hi! Kris!” She exclaims. Her smile is strained. “I’m… so glad the lock is inside the door! Otherwise I would have accidentally locked you two in there! Fahaha!”
Kris stares blankly at her. She falters under their gaze. “Okay see you tomorrow bye!!”
She disappears from the doorway. Kris glances back at Berdly, a faint, mischievous smile on their face. “...Bye, Berdly.”
“Uh! B-Bye, Kris!” Berdly stammers. Then Kris is gone, and Berdly is alone in the classroom. She quietly grabs her things, disappointment lingering in her chest. She heads home.
—
Text message log between Berdly and My Deerest Noelle:
[17:22] Berdly: Noelle.
[17:22] Berdly: How did we not think of that????
[17:24] My Deerest Noelle: I KNOW!!
[17:24] My Deerest Noelle: I couldn’t focus on my homework with Susie fahaha I was so disappointed in myself
[17:24] Berdly: Don’t fret, Noelle, we share the blame!
[17:25] Berdly: But alas, we must now concoct a new plan!
[17:25] My Deerest Noelle: Actually, I have a new idea!
[17:26] My Deerest Noelle: You can show them your gaming skills by finally beating them in Super Smashing Fighters after school tomorrow!
[17:28] My Deerest Noelle: Berdly?
[17:30] Berdly: Right! Of course!! I can totally do that!!!! Hahaha!!!!!!!
[17:31] My Deerest Noelle: Um… I believe in you! XD
—
After losing for the fifth time in SSF, Berdly admits solemn defeat.
“You only won because of wavedashing! Which is CHEATING! So I actually won!”
She had already exhausted the controller issue; they brought their own controller over to Berdly’s house and Berdly immediately seized it to inspect it. But there was nothing out of the ordinary, which meant. Well. They still must be cheating! Somehow!! She knew their skills were impressive, but this… was just too much!
“Sure. I’ve never seen that strategy of throwing yourself off the map in order to win before.”
“W-Well! I… It’s a great strategy! You’re just too feeble-minded to understand!!”
Kris laughs. Berdly stops her yelling just to listen. It feels like it’s been so long since she’d really heard them laugh, what with… the whole “cage” thing. Berdly still really wasn’t sure what that was about, but… hearing them laugh, she’s never been more grateful that they’re back. That everything worked out in the end, and that they could have this moment at all. Despite…
“...Um, Kris?” Kris stops their attempt to grab Berdly’s controller and looks up at her. “I’m sorry for… attacking you in the Cyber World.”
Kris glances at the TV where their character triumphantly stands over Berdly’s. “...Yeah, that was pretty annoying. But it’s fine. I think I get it.” Berdly waited for them to elaborate, but they just kept staring at the TV screen. She opens her mouth –
“Do you miss Queen?” They ask suddenly. The question drops heavily in the silence. “We never told you about the dark world. In the school closet.” They look into Berdly’s eyes. “You could see her. If you wanted.”
“There’s… still a dark world? I…” Isn’t it… dangerous that a dark world still exists? Especially after the Roaring, but just in general. She’d rather not get controlled by a plug again if she could help it. She has Kris and Susie (and that other monster who she still doesn’t know) to thank for disconnecting her, but… there isn’t much to be done about the nightmares. And, with a grimace, she remembers how she acted throughout the adventure, attacking Kris and their friends and chasing Queen around. Berdly couldn’t help her curiosity, though; what would Queen say? What was she up to? Does she even…?
“...No. I’m alright. But… you should let me know how she’s doing, the next time you visit!”
Kris gives her a long glance. “...Sure.”
The defeated music from the TV keeps playing in their silence. Kris looks away from Berdly, staring down the dark hallway behind her. There was no one else home.
“...Well, congrats on winning, I guess. I’m gonna go home.” Kris slowly stands up, patting down their clothes and looking down at Berdly.
“Huh? You’re already…” But her mind stutters as she realizes what Kris just admitted. “Ah! Aha!! So you admit that I won?! You admit that wavedashing is cheating?! Oh, this is GLORIOUS!”
Kris smirks. “Yeah, sure. Won’t ever do it again.” Berdly beams at them, triumphantly crossing her arms. Kris looks away.
They unplug their controller and head for the door. They open it, but pause there in the sunlight, the wind brushing past their hair to Berdly’s feathers. “Hey, Berdly?”
“Huh? Y-Yes?”
They turn to look back at her. It’s like they’re shining against the doorway, like their eyes peaking through their bangs are illuminated. That deep look in their eyes, contemplative and… genuine. They look just like themself, for the first time in a while. Berdly can feel her face heating up under the scrutiny of their gaze. They’re... so beautiful.
“...See you in school.” They linger a moment longer, holding her gaze, before stepping outside and shutting the door.
Berdly feels her heart flutter in her chest, the image of their eyes lingering in her head. She blinks, slowly turning her head back to the TV, where their character still stands above hers.
She really, really likes Kris. Even from the start, she knew this crush was different from her others. Mostly because she absolutely did not choose to have it. Kris was so kind, so beautiful, so incredible. And despite her developments, and the fact she… totally just won against Kris, Berdly is still just… Berdly.
…So she’ll have to try harder to woo them. This win… wasn’t a true testament to Berdly’s skills. So she must find new ways! She stands up excitedly, running to her room. Noelle and her must brainstorm! There must be a way to win Kris’ heart, and Berdly is determined to find it!
—
“K-Kris! I didn’t see you there!”
“...Are you trying to pick up that popcorn machine?”
“Ah! Haha! Th-that implies that I’m not succeeding! Which I am!!”
“...”
“Kris!? Kris, come back! You’re meant to see how strong I am!!”
—
“Psst, Kris! Kris!”
“...What?”
“Did you know that there’s one letter that doesn’t show up on the periodic table at all?”
“No.”
“It’s J! I just happened to realize it when working on… homework! My intellect is –”
“Berdly, please don’t talk in class…”
“S-Sorry, Ms. Alphys!!
—
“Oh no! Kris! It appears you have fallen into a completely inescapable bush! But not to worry, for I –”
“There’s a branch right there I can grab.”
“...Indeed there is!!! How right you are!!!! Hahaha!!!!!”
—
“Ah, Kris! If you want to find that pencil you dropped on the floor, you’ll have to solve my riddles –”
“No.”
“Okay.”
—
They sit in silence against the garden fence at Noelle’s house, exhausted after another day of failure. The wind blows heavily, the snow lifting off of the ground and dancing around her feathers. It settles heavily onto Berdly’s shoulders. From where she’s sitting, everything ahead just looks blank.
“Maybe you could… help them with their homework?” Noelle suggests, her face furrowed in thought.
“We don’t actually have homework,” Berdly replies dejectedly. “And I think they’d shut the door in my face if I asked to work on the project.”
“Hm. Yeah.” She sat up, crossing her legs. “Are you sure we can’t just… leave a note in their locker? Why not just tell them directly?”
“Noelle, there’s no way they’ll say yes to that! I need to prove that I’m a worthy suitor.” She sighs. “But how? There’s… nothing I can do…”
Noelle is quiet for a moment. Then, “I really meant it when I said you have a chance. I think they’d say yes, Berdly. You just have to try.”
“They wouldn’t, Noelle, they really wouldn’t.” Berdly straightened up from her slumped position. “And there’s no way to woo them, either. We should stop trying, it’s… ridiculous.”
“...Berdly, you’ll never get them if you give up like this –”
“I know, Noelle!” Berdly snaps, pressing her wings against her forehead. “But it’s hopeless! Kris would never like me like that. There’s just… no point.”
“Why wouldn’t they like you? You’re already friends!”
“Because I’m me!” She curls her legs to her chest. “And they’re… them. They’re so cool, and- and kind, and beautiful, and I’m me. Just stupid and annoying. They’re a hero, and I’m just a random NPC! I don’t get why they even tolerate me. I-I don’t even get why you tolerate me.” She shoves her face into her knees, her vision blurring. “Let’s just leave this whole thing behind. It’s useless.”
It’s quiet. Berdly can feel herself shaking as the wind-blown snow settles around them both. Then… a pair of arms encircle her.
“I don’t tolerate you, Berdly, you’re my friend. I-I can’t believe you’d say that… but I guess that conversation we had in Queen’s Mansion was real.” Berdly grimaces. They really hadn’t talked about it much, too focused on homework and reconstruction and confidence and… ignoring it all. But she relaxes a bit into her hold. It’s warm. “You’re a really good friend to me. You’re really nice to talk to, I think because you’re so energetic and passionate about things. It’s not annoying! And you’re not dumb, either. It’s not like I help you cheat or anything, I just help you study… so your grades are still yours to be proud of.” Berdly lifts her head. Noelle smiles at her. “Berdly, you’re my best friend.”
Berdly sniffles loudly and dramatically, rubbing her eyes under her glasses. “...Thank you, Noelle. For everything you’ve done for me. You’re my best friend, too.” She coughs and smiles softly. “If you insist, I suppose I am… pretty great.”
Noelle laughs. “Of course. And I think…” She nudges her. “...that Kris would agree.”
Berdy hums, shrinking a bit. “...Maybe. I don’t know. I-I think we should still take a break from all this. Just until I’m sure they’d actually like me.”
“They do. But… that’s fine. I’ll be here to help once you’re ready.”
Berdly smiles at her again. “Thank you… Truly, you are my greatest friend.” The wind blows up the snow in front of them, and it dances toward Noelle’s house, where the Christmas lights shine upon it in festive colors. It’s quiet, and… maybe she’ll be okay. “Well, I should be going… it must be about time for my shift at the library.”
“Oh, already?” Noelle checks her watch. “Ah! You should hurry! You only have 5 minutes!”
“What?? Really??” Berdly shoots up quickly. She didn’t think it was that soon! “I’ll see you later, Noelle! The people need me!”
“Bye!” Noelle giggles, her voice fading as Berdly rushes off.
—
(Berdly would, of course, have no way of seeing the figure approaching Noelle from the other side of the garden.)
“Hi.” A voice says. Noelle shrieks, jumping up from the ground in terror and whipping around. Then her face drops into a glare.
“Kris! How could you scare me like that? Where did you even come from?”
“The woods.” They shrug, as if that was obvious and normal. “The pencil Berdly hid was yours, so I came to give it back.” They extended their hand, and sure enough, there was a pencil with cartoonish Christmas lights spiraling around it. They avoid her eyes. “I just took a longer route.”
Noelle sighs, gently pushing their hand down. “You can keep that. You didn’t hear anything important, right?”
Kris shrugs again. “...Just the end.” At Noelle’s disbelieving look, they amended this. “...Most of it. But I sort of knew everything already.”
“I can’t believe you’d eavesdrop like that!” Noelle scolds. Kris, to their credit, does look guilty, so she backs down a bit. “You already knew?”
“Sorry. Yeah. I knew she liked me. You guys weren’t…subtle. …But I didn’t really know why, or...” Kris looks away. Are they… blushing? “So I stayed. And… I guess. I realized, I… liked her too.”
Noelle gasps, about ready to jump for joy. “Really? Faha, I knew it would work out! …Wait, does that mean you want my help?”
“...If you wouldn’t mind.”
“Yes!!” Noelle takes a deep breath. “Okay. I think we should play it simple this time…”
—
Berdly’s heart ached of love for the entire day following. Luckily, it was busy enough that she didn’t have to linger on such feelings for too long, and Noelle avoided the topic for her. Especially with another library shift after school, where she most certainly wouldn’t run into them.
The day was still heavy with doubt and hesitance. If she was being honest, she still wanted to try shooting her shot and winning them over somehow. But it was too hard to believe it would ever end well, even if Noelle thought it would. So… she would just have to valiantly pine in silence.
Berdly walks alone to the library, held up by her own offer to clean up the classroom. She pushes open the doors as she arrives, only to be greeted by –
“Kris??” Berdly squawks, nearly dropping her books. “What are you doing here? And…”
Kris stands at the counter in front of… “Noelle? What are you doing at my job??” She points her wing at the them. “You two aren’t conducting a heist, are you?”
“...What would we even steal? It’s a free library…” Noelle says. “No, I just… volunteered to help out today! I figured you could use a break with all that extra, um, work you’ve been doing, and…”
She gestures at Kris, who continues. “I need you to help me find something.”
“...So you want me to take a break by doing Kris’ work instead?”
Noelle stammers. “U-Uh –”
“Yes,” Kris responds flatly. Noelle sheepishly gestures at them again.
Hm…This feels like a set-up of some kind, but… What was there to lose? She gets to spend time with her crush, helping them – maybe this was her chance to prove herself in some way. Maybe. But at the very least, they’d just be spending time together, right? Despite her… worries, this was still a very exciting thing indeed!!. “...Well, if you insist on needing my assistance, I suppose I could lend a wing.”
Kris smiles, and Berdly’s heart stutters. “Cool. Follow me.” They push past Berdly and leave the library.
“Wh–? Don’t order me around!” She runs out after them anyway, a smile on her face.
—
“K-Kris…? Why are we getting drinks??” Berdly had followed Kris straight to the diner, where they sat down and ordered them both milkshakes before she could say a thing.
They smirk, looking out the window beside their booth. “It’s all related to finding what we’re looking for.”
“How could this possibly relate to –”
“Shh. Look.” Kris jabs their finger at the window. Berdly looks to where they are pointing…
“Wh–? ‘Undefeated??’” Kris was pointing to a crude drawing in the fog of the window of them and Berdly standing next to each other, with “undefeated super smashing fighters champion” pointing at Kris. “Ha! Have you already forgotten the game I won just a few weeks ago?”
“That doesn’t count.” Kris smirked. “You said I was cheating. So that means the results were disqualified.”
“What?!” Berdly squawked as her milkshake arrived. She took an angry sip. “That makes no sense.”...But it made perfect sense. Ughhhhhhh. Kris was too good!
Kris only giggled as their milkshake was set down in front of them as well, thanking the waitress. Berdly couldn’t help but smile, hiding it behind her drink.
—
For some reason, once they’d finished their milkshakes and paid (well, Kris paid, ever so kind as Berdly hadn’t seen a reason to bring her wallet to school), they directed her just next door, next to Ice-E’s where the damage was only just starting to be picked up. It was also, coincidentally, where the cotton candy stand was supposed to be.
They quickly discover it’s no longer operational.
“...Hm. I was kinda hoping they fixed that.” Kris lightly kicks the machine laying on the ground, their face growing darker. It’s quiet in comparison to the warm chatter at the diner, and the wind keeps blowing. They shiver. “Would’ve been nice to… hang out here. Before everything.”
Berdly steps towards them as they stare down at the machine. “...Kris –”
“Anyway, let’s keep looking.” They shake their head. Then they turn back… and head the complete opposite direction of where they just came!
“We haven’t even started?? We just got milkshakes??? Why did we come here?????” Berdly stammers. Kris continues up the street. “Kris!!!!!”
—
Berdly finally catches up with them at the picnic area by the river. The sun was already setting, and the light reflected on the water as it flowed past the two of them. She couldn’t help but stare for a moment, and it seemed like Kris was similarly captivated.
“...Okay, what are we looking for?” Berdly says. It lands softly in their silence. She thinks she wouldn’t mind if she didn’t get a response. If the two of them would just stand together, staring at the pale sunset and listening to the river flow, until the stars came out. And even then…
“We’re… looking for a piece of paper.” They eventually mutter, tearing their eyes away from the sky.
“...That’s it?” Berdly asks, looking over at them. Kris shrugs, avoiding her eyes. “Well, what’s on the paper?”
“You’ll just have to find out,” Kris says. Berdly hums, narrowing her eyes. Kris seems… quite nervous, all of a sudden. What could be on this paper?
“...Alright.” She begins to look around, even as Kris stands still at the edge of the water.
Berdly soon reaches the picnic tables after a brief glance at the lack of other things to investigate, and notices a conspicuous thing jabbed into one of the holes. She pulls it out, and it unrolls – it’s a ripped out page of a notebook, with something written in pencil. Berdly uses all of her willpower to not read it and instead goes to bring it to Kris.
“Kris! I think I found – ack!” She runs straight into them, almost toppling them both, though they both manage to grab the table to keep themselves up. Berdly straightens quickly, her face warm, and presents her findings. “A-Ahaha! Anyways!! I believe I’ve found your desired paper!”
They hum, still avoiding her eyes. “No way to know until you read it. So.” They make a vague gesture towards the paper.
“You… want me to read it?” Berdly asks, and they nod. She, however, shakes her head and tries to hand them the paper again. “...Why would I read it? I don’t know what it says, so I wouldn’t know if it’s yours. Here, you read it –”
“Just – just read it.” They gently push Berdly’s wings back toward her. Berdly blinks at them. Is it the light tricking her, or are they… blushing?? “Please.”
…W-Well, who is Berdly to refuse such a request?? She smooths the paper out and takes a look. It’s undeniably Kris’ handwriting – she recognizes it from the notes they used to pass her in class – and scrawled on the lines is…
Berdly gawks at Kris, who still refuses to make eye contact. Is… does this mean what she thinks? There’s no way… because written on the paper is, “Will you be my player 2?”
“Kris…?” She breathes shallowly. “Th-this isn’t a prank, right? What… does this mean?”
Kris takes a deep breath, closing their eyes. “It means… that when we were in the Cyber World, I realized I cared about you more than I thought I did. It means that when you and Noelle were pulling all of those elaborate schemes to… to win me over, I… couldn’t describe what I was feeling, but I was scared. I didn’t know what to do with it, but I liked it, and…” They groan and shake their head. “I-It means when I accidentally overheard you yesterday – um, sorry…” Berdly squirms a bit, but is too dumbfounded to say anything. “... when you were saying I’d never like you… I… realized I did.”
Berdly’s heart beats loudly in her chest. There’s no way. There’s no way Kris Dreemurr… There was no way they were standing here, so brave and kind and Kris, nervously saying that they… “What? But… really?”
“Yes, really.” Finally, they meet Berdly’s eyes, hesitantly stepping forward. The light glows around them. And, despite the shadows, she can really tell they’re blushing. And, despite their grimace, she can really tell… that their eyes are genuine. They grab her wings. “I really do like you. This whole treasure hunt… ughhh, why did I listen to her… it was. To find. Us?”
Berdly stares wide-eyed at Kris. It was impossible to comprehend, but… it really didn’t seem like they were lying or joking. In fact… “...This whole thing.. was a date, huh?”
“Y-Yeah… Noelle talked me into it.” Kris smiles nervously. “So… you accept?”
“I – Of course.” She gawks at them. “You - you really mean it? You actually… like me?”
“I really do.” Hesitantly, Kris lifts their arms and wraps them around Berdly. Berdly gasps, instinctively wrapping her wings around them. “I-It’s crazy you actually think I wouldn’t.”
Berdly laughs. “...I suppose I am pretty great,” She says, and Kris laughs too. “I must be. And… I like you, too.” She smirks as Kris ducks their head into her shoulder.
“Shut up. I’ve known that for weeks.” But the relief in their voice is unmistakable, even as muffled as it is.
Berdly smiles softly over their head, at the sun dipping beneath the horizon and the warm colors coating the snow around them. She can hardly believe that this is real, that they actually like her, but… Kris wouldn’t joke about this. And neither would Noelle, who… she’ll have to thank somehow for setting this up. So… since they really do like her… something about her must be good. Really good. She squeezes them tighter, and they squeeze back, the setting sun casting them both in shadow and pure, warm light.
—
“...Since we’re dating now, do I get split custody of the wins you have in SSF?”
“Let’s not go too far.”