Friday couldn't come soon enough. Though Impa had graciously given him some days off from his training, he was still sore, and the rest of the week still seemed to drag on endlessly. To his relief, however, his father made his cheerful return early Friday evening, bringing a fresh, hot pizza through the door with him. His eyes were a little less sunken, his complexion brighter, and he scooped Aryll into his arms when she ran to him. He regarded Link briefly before opening the pizza box.

"Better than peanut butter and banana sandwiches," he said as he took a slice.

Link shrugged. "You don't know what you're missing."

"I have news for ya, kid," his father said between bites of pizza. "You can't live off of sandwiches and cereal."

"Look who's talking." Link ripped off his own slice, ignoring his father's glare.

"Watch it," his father muttered. "I'll ground you."

Link snorted. "From what? Hero work? You'd be doing me a favor."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Do you know what Impa does to me?"

"I'd rather not know."

"She beats me with a stick."

His father frowned. "I didn't know that was an option."

"Ha. Ha."

"Who's Impa?" Aryll asked as she finished a slice of pizza.

"A crazy old lady," Link said. "She hates me."

Aryll smiled. "Why?"

"Because I'm a lazy, good for nothing disappointment and Hylia should be ashamed of herself."

His father laughed. "If that ain't the truth."

"You know, I'm real tired of everyone being mean," Link hissed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did the truth hurt your feelings?" He grabbed another slice of pizza. "Hylia knows you could use a little discipline."

"Well, that's your fault."

"In my defense, you were a better kid up until you reached high school."

"Well, someone had to raise Ary."

"Touché."

Aryll frowned. "Are you guys fighting?"

Her father smiled down at her. "Never."

But she was not convinced. "Do you still love each other?"

Her father frowned. "Do I have to?"

Aryll's brows knit together. "Yes!"

He nodded. "Oh. Okay." When Link snorted, he grabbed another slice of pizza and pressed it against his son's face.

"Real mature!"

His father and sister laughed together as he wiped at his face with a napkin, muttering to himself. When he was finished, he grabbed another slice of pizza. He stuck his tongue out at them, then shoved the slice into his mouth. Without another word, he left them alone in the kitchen to giggle to themselves. He finished his pizza as he made his way toward his bedroom where he collapsed onto his bed with a sigh.

Aryll had him up early the next morning. He only complained a little as she pulled at his arm and threw the blankets off of him. He groaned before he pushed himself up, and Aryll threw a shirt at him.

"Come on!" she said, digging through the pile of clothes in the corner of his room. "We're going to the park, remember? You promised!"

"Actually," Link started. "Mipha promised."

"Come on, Link! We're all going!"

He sighed. "Alright, alright. Let me get dressed."

She jumped up happily before skipping out of his room. He sat on his bed for a moment further, yawning and rubbing at his eyes before working up the energy to get dressed. When he made his way downstairs, Aryll was waiting impatiently by the door, spinning in circles and laughing when her dress spun out around her.

Aryll skipped by his side as they made their way outside. It didn't take long before they found Mipha, and Aryll skipped energetically to her.

"See? I told ya I could get him up!"

Mipha crossed her arms and grinned. "I'm surprised." Aryll skipped ahead once more, leading them deeper into the city, and Mipha yawned.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who stayed up late," Link said.

Mipha groaned. "I was up all night studying for that stupid test."

Link laughed. "That's your problem."

"Some of us want to go to college," she sneered at him.

"At least I don't study myself to death," he said. "I live my life."

"I hate you," Mipha muttered.

Link grinned and put his arm around her. "No, you don't."

Mipha blushed and turned her face away from him.

"Come on," he said, pulling at her arm and leading her into a nearby coffee shop. "I can't deal with grumpy Mipha."

Mipha inhaled deeply as they stepped inside. The air was cool compared to the warm spring outside. "Coffee," she said. "Wonderful, perfect, blessed coffee."

Aryll skipped to the counter and stood on her tiptoes, her hands on the edge. "I want coffee!"

Link pushed her aside. "You're crazy enough."

"Coffee makes you crazy?"

"Coffee is medicine," Mipha said. "It helps me tolerate your brother."

"Is that why Daddy drinks so much coffee?"

Mipha laughed.

The girl behind the counter smiled at Link. She leaned on her arm against the counter. "What'll it be?"

Mipha frowned. "Coffee," she said. "Please."

The girl looked Mipha over and frowned. "Just coffee? Hot? Iced? How do you want it?"

"I want it in a cup," Mipha said. "So I can drink it."

"Iced," Link said. "She like's crappachinos."

The girl giggled and grabbed a cup from a stack. "Flavor?"

"Caramel," Link said.

"Caramel," Mipha muttered.

Mipha met his gaze, then quickly looked away, smiling sheepishly. He knew her too well. The girl disappeared around the corner as she set to work making the drink.

"Stop being grumpy," Link said as they waited.

"Stop flirting with coffee shop girls."

"I wasn't."

"She was."

Link blinked at her. "She was?"

"Yeah, Link," Aryll said, her hands on her hips. "You're not that funny."

"Shut up," Link said. "You don't know what flirting is."

Aryll rolled her eyes. "Dad says when boys make fun of me it's 'cuz they like me and they're flirting."

"What boys make fun of you?"

The coffee girl slid the drink across the counter. "Anything else?" She smiled down at Aryll. "A donut for your sister?"

Aryll batted her eyelashes at her brother. "Chocolate."

Link sighed. "Fine."

Mipha took her drink quickly and sighed happily as she took a sip. She turned to make her way outside. "Thanks for the coffee," she said to Link, leaving him standing alone at the counter.

"Jerk," he muttered. "You saw that," he said to Aryll. "She owes me."

Aryll bit happily into her donut. "I saw nuffin'."

"You're girlfriend is pretty demanding," the girl said as she took Link's money.

Link laughed sharply. "Yeah, right."

"Don't say that," Aryll said to the girl. "Mipha will get mad."

"Why will she get mad?" Link asked.

Aryll giggled and shrugged. "'Cuz," she said cryptically. She followed Mipha outside, Link on her heels.

"Are you done flirting?" Mipha asked when they got outside.

Link pushed her gently and took her drink from her. He took a sip, then made a face, shoving it into her chest.

"I spit in it," Mipha said.

"Sure," he said. "Drink it and stop being grumpy."

Mipha sighed and returned to sipping at her drink. They continued walking through the bustling city, lively with people enjoying the warm spring day. She sipped loudly until the cup was empty.

"Better?" Aryll asked, grinning up at her.

Mipha shrugged. "I'll need another dose later," she said. "Your brother is extra annoying today."

"Yeah," Aryll said apologetically. "He gets like that sometimes."

"Where we going?" Link asked, ignoring their banter.

"To the park!" Aryll said. "Remember?"

"Oh, yeah." Link looked around absentmindedly until Aryll tugged at his arm.

"Look!" She pointed ahead. "It's the princess!"

Link followed her gaze up the sidewalk. Zelda was walking briskly towards them, her nose in her phone. She looked up briefly and noticed them.

"Oh, hey," she said unenthusiastically to Link, but offered Aryll and Mipha a smile. "Hi."

Mipha offered Zelda a small smile, but avoided her gaze.

"You know the princess?" Aryll said to Link in awe.

Link shrugged. "She's annoying."

Zelda crossed her arms. "You're annoying."

Link smirked. "Good comeback."

"Link," Aryll hissed to him. "You have to be nice to her!"

"He is rude, isn't he?" Zelda said to Aryll. "What's your name?"

Aryll blushed and smiled. "Aryll," she said.

"Well, Aryll, it's nice to meet you." She bent down and offered her hand to the young girl. Aryll shook it and giggled.

"What are you guys up to?" Zelda asked, standing.

"We're going to the park!" Aryll said excitedly.

"Yup," Link said, taking Aryll's hand. "Let's go."

"You should come with us," Aryll said to Zelda. "You're Link's friend, right?"

"I'm sure she has better things to do," Link said.

"Like what?"

Zelda hesitated. "Well," she started, "actually, I'm just studying this weekend."

"Link doesn't know what studying is," Mipha said.

"I'm not surprised," Zelda said with a grin. She turned to Aryll. "Maybe next time. Promise."

This seemed to satisfy Aryll. She waved to the princess and skipped ahead, pulling Link with her, anxiously heading to the park. Still avoiding Zelda's gaze, she muttered a quick goodbye before hurrying to catch up with Aryll and Link.