Hikari doesn't exactly mean to be outside the group, but it's not his friends' fault either. If he pointed it out to the others, they'd either insist it wasn't true or get upset.
It's just...he can't quite manage the same level of noise as them. He has plenty of imagination, but they're all so...cheerful. And talkative. It's tiring to be around them, no matter how much he loves them.
If he tries to hide in his room, they get worried and come find him. Which is kind of nice, even as it's annoying. It's nice to know that no matter what happens, his friends will find him and feed him and hug him and worry about him.
Sometimes he does sit with them. He knows it makes them happy and he wants his friends to be happy, so he eats Mio's birthday cake at the table with them and joins them for breakfast sometimes.
He loves them even more when they bring him food at his bench without complaint. He loves them when they leave him to read instead of dragging him along on another one of Right's and Kagura's endless food expeditions.
They probably don't know how much he loves to sit and listen to them, because none of them could imagine not participating in a conversation. Hikari prefers to listen to them argue and tease and laugh, because it makes him feel warm inside.
Right's enthusiasm and Tokatti's persistence and Mio's strength and Kagura's bravery...they're beautiful to observe. And if he sometimes wonders what they see in him...well, that's only natural.
Then they call him their shadow leader and he remembers. He might not be fun or cheerful or outgoing, but he could protect. He could use his logical mind to watch over his friends and try to keep their enthusiasm and trusting natures from getting them killed.
It's a difficult job, but Hikari accepts it wholeheartedly, because together their strengths will defeat the Shadow Line.
And together they will finally go home.
-end-
