With all of the confusion, and the long detour from class, and Susie being a jerk, Kris was fully prepared to hate Ralsei.

It's just that Ralsei was so… nice.

"Great job, Kris! You're a natural!"

I just dodged. Like two projectiles.

"Now let's try fighting! Though it's unnecessary in this world…"

This was a concept that Kris already innately understood somehow. Whatever the enemy was, or did, violence wasn't necessary. Kris had no need to learn to fight. Also…

…

…Kris already knew how to fight anyways, though they couldn't remember where they had before. So fighting this dummy would be a waste of time.

And Kris found it hard to strike anything that looked like Ralsei, anyways.

He's just so fluffy.

Excuses excuses. The urge to snuggle could not be fought off.

"…Kris?! Um, I don't think… This is nice, whatever it is, but not, not what you're supposed to be doing!"

Has he never had a hug before. Well. Better get that average up.

"Kris? Are you trying to give me a tutorial on… this…?"

Heck yeah. Kris reached out again. "It's called a hug."

"I've never been… hugged before," Ralsei said with a squeak.

All of Kris' urges to hug cute things came pouring out. Not an urge they normally had, except with Noelle, but it was hard to resist with this adorable fluffy boi in front of them.

Though all good things had to end sometime. Kris smiled, then utterly failed to stop hugging Ralsei.

…Kris, again, failed to stop hugging Ralsei.

Kris vaguely tried to resist hugging Ralsei?

Kris' mouth turned down slightly as they tried again to let Ralsei go. What the hell?

Slowly, very slowly, they managed to unhook their arms and step back. Ralsei was staring at them with a bright blush they could see even with the shadow under his hat.

Kris mulled this over slightly. He must have just been. So cute that it overrode my desire to stop hugging him. Yes. That must be it. Kris shrugged and went to hug the Ralsei-shaped dummy.

"You're not going to fight?" Ralsei brightened considerably. "Well, that's fine then! Let's try defending now!"

Meeting up with Susie shouldn't have been exciting. Solving a puzzle with her shouldn't have been fun. Seeing her disobey instructions and stick her axe in C. Round's face shouldn't have been disappointing.

It was Susie. It should've been expected.

"Ya keep on blabbing, you're gonna put me to sleep. Yawn."

"Please! Just… think about being peaceful?" Ralsei got close to Kris' ear. "We may have to warn enemies about her."

Kris shrugged in bemusement. Though bemusement was entirely the wrong emotion for this. This is the same girl who slammed me against a locker. And threatened to kill me.

Passing by another light that only they could see, Kris reached out… and

The power of mean girls shines within you.

Kris twitched. Another feeling/idea that didn't make sense. Perhaps Susie was no longer trying to actively torment them, but they shouldn't be feeling confident enough to give Susie commands, nor should they expect her to follow them.

And yet they did.

Perhaps it's the environment? Is it this manner of dressing. Kris had heard about how different clothes could give one confidence and make a person act differently. Certainly wearing armor and carrying a sword was a big confidence booster, right?

But it was Susie. And even forced to work with them, her face was carved from violence.

Not like she would stand a chance against you if you dropped the act. You are human, remember? You could decimate her.

Kris shook that thought away. They weren't touching that idea with a ten-foot pole.

Kris took it back. Bemusement was entirely the correct emotion for this. Susie was participating.

Sure, she was violent, and liked insults, but it became ever-more apparent that there was something underneath that.

And whatever it was, was goofy as all hell.

Fun Gang. We are the Fun Gang. Susie of all people bequeathed upon us the name 'Fun Gang.' This was definitely worth getting up for.

A flash of a bony smile went through Kris' head. They tried to ignore it as they did all the other flashes they'd gotten in the last few minutes, focusing on the scene in front of them.

"And before that, you ate that guy's cake…"

"Cakes are… also my enemy." She caught Kris' deadpan expression. "Shut up, Kris!"

"I am totally holding this over you. When we get back to school."

Susie's face scrunched up. "You better not you little-"

"Susie, whether you like it or not, you're a hero," Ralsei interrupted. "One with the power to bring peace to the future. Could you please start… acting like one?"

The word hero sparked a memory in Kris' thoughts. What are heroes but those who treat others with kindness? That's what F-F-F-F-F-Asriel said. My brother. My so-called "best friend." What. No. Kris shook their head to clear the strange thoughts.

Apparently, Suzie took that as Kris' response to her behavior. "Yeah, when you lay it out like that…" She looked down. "I've been a pretty bad hero, haven't I?"

Ralsei seemed pleased, but Kris knew better. That face was one of malice, not regret. The Prince is naïve. It's kill or be killed. I wonder what he'd look like with his blood spilling out. Kris froze.

"…I'll just be one of the bad guys, instead!"

Kris wasn't paying attention. Where did that thought come from. They knew themselves to be somewhat of a prankster, but never murderous.

"See you guys never."

"Haha! If you even last that long!" Lancer's high-pitched voice rang out.

And it is Ralsei. Friendly. Kind. Sweet. Optimistic.

Foolhardy. Weak. Overly trusting. He will meet his end on my-

"KRIS! Kris? Kris, are you alright?" Ralsei was staring into their eyes.

Kris shook slightly. They opened their mouth, but no words escaped. They nodded, slowly.

The lonely prince slowly reached forwards and took their hand tentatively. When Kris didn't stop him, he perked up. "Oh, good! You just looked a bit… distracted."

"I was. I was just. What happened."

If Kris' bizarre manner of speaking disturbed Ralsei, he didn't show it. "Suzie… left. To be a villain. I may have been a bit hard on her."

Rage.

Ralsei yelped as Kris crushed his hand. That bitch betrayed us.

"Kris! Kris! Let go!"

Used us. We helped her. We guided her. And in the end. She turned on us. Just like HE did.

"Kriiiiiiis!"

Swish, went the blade, about to puncture flesh, and Kris stopped.

Their blade was firmly sheathed. Susie and Lancer, long gone, only just now were starting to walk away. Ralsei turned to Kris. "So. That happened. Maybe… Kris? Kris, are you alright?"

Kris just stared at their hands.

What… What is wrong with me.