Anya and Becky stood out of their cabin refreshed from the tree planting and ready to go to Midori for lunch.

"Yehey! Much the highlight of our day!" Becky excitedly said.

"I'm excited!"

"Let's go, Anya!"

As the two walked, they saw about four men in black office attire and shades disembark a white van. The two thought they are bodyguards for some respected person. In front of the van was a limousine.

"Is some politician here?" Becky wondered.

"Anya has no idea," Anya replied.

They passed and walked to the restaurant's front door. They were greeted by its cheerful staff who opened the door for them. Anya was amazed to see the interior. The walls were transparent and clean that one can see the outside from within. The ceilings were adorned with vines and hanging plants that dangled from above. Flower plants were planted in different areas which added a hint of color all around. Some butterflies flew, too. The place sends a magical feeling.

"Woooowwww!" Anya exclaimed. Her awestruck face delighted her friend.

"See? I told you it's so nice in here," Becky said. She took her friend's hand and pulled her to the wooden counter. Anya's head looked all over while she let foot walk to follow Becky.

"Blackbell," Emile called. The two girls looked and saw Emile waving at them by the counter. Ewen and Damian were there, too. In front of them were lots of water bottles of white, black, and gray colors.

"What's that?" Anya asked.

"They don't use plastic or styrofoam cups here. They give out reusable cups that serve as souvenirs. Each one of us receives one," Ewen explained.

"Really? Then I want the white one!"

"I thought you'd go for black, Anya! I'm classy, I want the gray one," Becky said.

"Emile and I will be getting black," Ewen said. He turned to Damian, who looked like he is in a bad mood. "How about you, bossman?"

"White," he curtly replied without looking.

Becky immediately noticed his strange behavior.

"What's up Desmond? Earlier you had the nerve to suddenly make an assistant, now you're acting like that," Becky asked Damian.

"Eh? Stop getting on my nerves, Blackbell," Damian responded without looking, to Becky and Anya's surprise.

"Grrr..." Becky's annoyance is flaring.

"Blackbell, shut it," Ewen said.

"Yeah. And don't talk to Damian like that," Emile added.

Concerned about his current attitude, Anya listened to Damian's thoughts.

'I must... I can't... father... Midori... school... not now...' Anya noticed again his jumbled thoughts.

'Something must've happened,' Anya thought. She walked towards Damian. Damian saw her approach.

'Don't come near me,' he thought. Anya heard his mind but refused to pay heed. She stopped to face Damian on his left.

"What, Shrimp? I'm not in the mood to talk right now," Damian said without looking.

"Sy-on boy," Anya held his arm as she tipped her toes to reach his ear, to Damian's surprise. "Did something happen? Are you alright?" she said. Damian finally looked to his left and saw a pair of curious emerald eyes up close.

'Wha- why is she so clueless about personal space?' Damian stammered in his thought as he gazed at the tiptoeing girl beside him. Damian's cheeks started to turn pinkish. Realizing how he's been reacting, he tilted his body to the right in a half-hearted attempt to move away from her.

Meanwhile, a tall man, seemingly in his 50s, approached the bickering children. Anya was startled upon seeing him that she hurriedly let go of Damian's arm and moved to Becky. Damian turned around upon seeing Anya's reaction to check what happened.

"Master Damian," the man said, slightly bowing his head on the small boy. It was the Desmond house butler.

"Yes? I don't remember calling you," Damian said sternly. Damian straightened his posture.

"My apologies, Master Damian, but it looked as though you were being bothered by these girls. May I inquire who they are and how you wish them to be dealt with?"

Damian sighed. There was a slight pause before he was able to answer.

"They're just our classmates. Leave them be."

"As you wish," the butler replied.

"Drinks for Ewen, Emile, Damian, Becky, and Anya!" the man on the wooden counter shouted as he waved to get their attention. The five students walked to him to take their reusable cups with fresh juices.

Without looking at Anya and Becky, Damian took the white cup and left. Emile and Ewen followed him.

"Hmpf, that Desmond! Just when I am starting to change my mind about him," Becky said in an annoyed tone as she reached for her drink.

As Anya and Becky left the counter, the butler approached them.

"My lady," the butler slightly bowed at the two girls. "I kindly ask you not to bother Master Damian. We are reporting his activities directly to his father today," he told them. "Might I inquire your name—"

"I see. I'm so hungry, we'll go get a seat!" Becky suddenly told Anya. She pulled her friend to the farthest table. The butler looked at the two girls as they moved away.

"Sorry I suddenly pulled you back there, Anya," Becky said. 'If they knew her name, they might know she was the one who punched Desmond,' she thought.

Anya read Becky's mind. "It's okay.. thank you for doing that, Becky," Anya said in a rather sad tone.

"Are you alright?" Becky worriedly asked.

"I'm fine... Let's order some food. Anya is really hungry!" Anya said with a rather forced cheer.

"O-okay," Becky replied in agreement to her clearly troubled friend. She decided to let her be for now.

After checking the menu, Becky and Anya pressed a button to call the table attendant.

"Good afternoon and welcome to Midori! Pleased to serve you today. I hope our menu is to your liking. If not, you may tell me any changes you may want for our food to satisfy your palate. You may order one entrée for free care of Midori restaurant for your wonderful service to nature today," the attendant explained with a smile.

"Wow!" Anya said. "Then, Anya would like Gourmet Steak with Roasted Peanuts!"

'She changed the potatoes to peanuts!' Becky giggled.

"Very well. How about you ma'am?" The attendant asked.

"I will take the usual Gourmet Steak with Roasted Potatoes," Becky replied.

"Noted. I will be back with your food in 15 minutes. Please enjoy yourselves. Excuse me," the attendant said. She went to a door and vanished from their sight.

Anya and Becky took a sip of their drink. Anya finally opened up.

"Anya... Anya feels bad about something, but I can't really point out what, Becky," Anya opened up to her friend.

"Hmmm... Do you think it's about how Desmond is behaving this afternoon?" Becky asked.

Anya nodded.

"That Desmond! It's like he's bringing back the distance," Becky said. She was referring to the rift between your groups during the early days of school.

"Uh-huh. Sy-on boy said I was just a classmate. That's sad... because Anya wants to be friends with him too. I thought we're friends already, but... yeah, he never said we were," Anya said sadly.

"Well, after many things that happened the past weeks, his attitude today really puzzles me. I mean, you are at least friends considering the way you interact," Becky said. 'It's actually more than that!' Becky thought to herself.

"Really? Anya wants to be friends with Sy-on boy, like Becky. I want to play in his house too," Anya said.

"Why will you want to play in his house? His toys will be vehicles, balls, robots, and maybe outer space stuff. Nothing fancy for girls there," Becky said.

Anya remembered his father's plan and her mission. And she also thought to herself that it will definitely be fun.

"Anya wants to!" Anya said determinedly. Becky looked bewildered.

"Okay, if you say so," Becky took a sip of her drink. Anya reached for her cup and drank too.

Becky rested her chin on her hand. "This is just like before his birthday, you remember? The whole ignoring thing... except that their butler is here. I wonder what's up."

Anya suddenly realized something.

"Becky, do you think the men in black we saw earlier were his guards too?"

Becky and Anya discreetly glanced in the direction of the guards. They caught the butler speaking to them. Becky whispered to Anya. "See that? Clearly a yes."

"I see. Then Sy-on boy is probably under watch."

"Yeah, how odd. I mean, this is just a simple tree-planting activity and eat out."

Anya nodded. Becky shook her head.

"Anyway... Let's hold ourselves back, for now, Anya. This seems more than him just being moody to me," Becky told her friend.

Anya looked down on her lap.

"Do you think Sy-on boy doesn't want to be seen with people like me?" Anya asked.

Becky took a deep breath and leaned on her matted seat. "People are shallow, Anya," she said. Anya sighed.

Becky then leaned forward and held her friend's hand. "But it's okay! I'll always be here with you, Anya!" She smiled at her friend.

"Becky..." Anya was clearly touched by her friend's reassurance.

"As for Desmond, if he's being like this again, you have the choice to still try to be friends with him or leave him be. He's just really complicated, that's what I can see," Becky said.

She looked Anya in the eye. "So, what would it be?"

Anya was taken aback by the rather direct question of her friend. She pondered for a while. 'I must do this. Papa needs me to do this, and I... really want to be friends with him too.'

Anya took a deep breath from her surroundings to draw the courage to announce what she has decided to do.

"Anya still wants to be friends with Sy-on boy, Becky," Anya very determinedly answered her friend.

"Very well. Then don't give up." Becky winked at her friend.

Anya's face brightened. She enthusiastically nodded her head. "Hmm-mmm!"

Shortly after, the girls' food was served. The two enjoyed their delicious meal together.

~~~~~

"Bossman, are you sure you're going to be like this to Anya?" Ewen asked Damian.

"Ewen, Bossman can't risk exposing himself to his father. We don't know what might happen," Emile said.

Damian clenched his teeth. Ewen noticed his demeanor and immediately apologized.

"S-sorry bossman. We didn't mean to pry," Ewen said.

Damian sighed. He looked at his two friends.

"For now, we keep our distance," he told them. He glanced at his butler and the guards who faced their direction.

'Why do they have to do this? I just went to a school activity. This is too much,' he thought.

The three boys then heard a buzzing noise.

"Buzzzzzzzz..."

"Bossman!" Ewen and Emile gasped.

A bee came buzzing through, seemingly trying to land on their face.

"W-waaa!" Damian reacted.

The three boys scurried away from their table. As soon as they saw it, Damian's butler and one of his guards immediately ran to them to shoo the bee away. The bee continued to buzz as it went to the other tables.

"Tsk," Damian said.

The three boys went back to their seats. The butler and one of the Desmond guards remained just half a meter away, ready to shoo the bee if it ever comes back. The bee continued to bother students on the other tables who were also terrified as they avoid to be stung by it. The three boys found their reactions amusing that they chuckled at their table.

"They-they looked hilarious! Hahaha!" Ewen commented. Emile and Damian continued to laugh.

"Wait, look where the bee is going!" Emile said.

Ewen and Damian looked and saw the bee approaching the chatting Anya and Becky.

"Oh... this is going to be funny!" Damian said. The three boys watched closely as the bee approached the two girls.

Becky first noticed the bee approach them. She squealed.

"Anya!!! A bee!!!" Becky shouted. "Move away quickly, don't let it sting you! It's gonna be really painful!"

The three boys laughed as they saw Becky's terrified face.

At the same time, Anya jerked upon hearing her friend's squeal. The three boys laughed hard when they saw her reaction.

"What are you going to do, Shrimp?" Damian giddily said in a low voice.

Anya immediately left her seat but accidentally brushed off her plate, making the plate break and her steak and peanuts scatter on the floor. Anya held her hands over her mouth as she stood wary of the bee while regretting her wasted food.

"A-Anya... Anya's food..." her eyes water with tears.

Damian saw how Anya's face changed from terror to pure sadness. His chest tightened, his face reddened, and his jaws dropped as he witnessed the tears fall on her cheeks. Ewen and Emile saw the sudden change in Damian's expression and immediately stopped laughing.

Pitying Anya, Damian shouted at his butler and the man in black near him. "Y-you! I order you to take that bee out! Quickly!"

The butler and his four men sprinted towards Anya and Becky's table. They tried to catch and shoo the bee out of the restaurant.

Anya continued to cry at the sight of her food on the floor. Becky ran over to her.

"Anyaaa!" Becky hugged her friend.

"Becky..." Anya tearfully said.

Damian's fist clutched as he struggled to decide whether or not to approach them. Shortly after, he saw his butler approach Anya. Damian decided to stay put.

"My lady, are you alright?" the butler asked.

Anya looked at him. "Y-yes, thank you, sir."

"Hmmm..." he said. He saw the spilled food and called the attendant.

"Please, if you may kindly clean this up. Also, replace their orders anew. Charge everything to us," the butler said.

"Yes sir," the attendant hurriedly went to the kitchen and called the clean-up crew.

Anya wiped her tears and faced the man. "T-thank you, kind sir."

The butler looked at her and replied, "You are welcome." Soon after, the men came back inside the restaurant. They successfully took the bee outside.

"If you may excuse me," the butler slightly bowed to Anya and Becky. He and his men then went back to his position near Damian.

The butler reported to Damian what he did. He gave him a nod. "Hmmm, okay," Damian said. The butler bowed slightly. The boys and everyone in the restaurant went back to eating their delicious lunch.

~~~~~

The attendant led Anya and Becky to a vacant seat in a more exclusive area of Midori.

"We apologize for what happened. Please have your meal in this place instead," the attendant told them. He excused himself after serving the food.

"Wow!" Anya said. They took their seats and consumed their newly-served food. "This tastes even better!" Anya exclaimed.

"Yes, it does!" Becky said, her left hand on her pinkish cheek. "Hmmm!"

The two chuckled. Becky looked at her friend.

"Well, it seems Desmond is just keeping his distance, but he's still concerned. So much for being just a classmate, haha!" she said giddily. "Anyway, just let him be for now," Becky told her friend.

"Uh-huh. Anya will thank Sy-on boy at school!" Anya replied beaming.

~~~~~

The afternoon ended without a word between Anya and Damian since the tree planting. They seated themselves far from each other on the bus. They were all back in Eden Academy by 4 pm.

Anya waved goodbye to Becky as Loid and Yor fetched her. Becky went to her chauffeur.

~~~~~

Damian sat in his couch at the dormitory. His butler stood in front of him.

"This is what we will be reporting to Master Donovan, Master Damian:

- Master Damian worked with his friends and two girls on his team for the tree-planting

- Master Damian was seen enjoying his lunch with his friends at Midori

- Master Damian ordered us to rid of a pesky bee that bothered a pink-haired student

- I have charged to the Desmond group the expenses of a little commotion involving Master Damian's groupmates

- Master Damian traveled with his friends on the bus and refused to be taken back to the academy by the limousine

That is all, Master Damian," the butler discussed.

"I see."

'Why did I intervene?! Father will surely question me when this gets to him,' Damian thought. He was deeply bothered.

"Master Damian," the butler said.

"Yes?"

"Is the pink-haired student the girl named 'Anya Forger', the one who reportedly punched you?" the butler inquired.

Damian froze.

"Y-yes. A-are you going to report it?" he stammered.

"Naturally," the butler said.

Damian clenched his fists.

"Don't report it," Damian said.

"Pardon me, but why sir? I was told to report everything," the butler asked.

'Father mustn't know,' Damian thought. But the poor boy couldn't think of a good reason.

The butler saw Damian's troubled face. He closed his eyes.

"Very well, Master Damian. I will not report this. Would you like me to mention instead that you ordered us to remove the bee for the diners?"

Damian's facial expression shifted to a look of surprise and appreciation. "Yes... Please, I would greatly appreciate that," he told him.

"As you wish," the butler slightly bowed. "I will then take my leave so you can rest, Master Damian." The butler walked to the door when he was suddenly stopped by Damian.

"Wait," Damian said. The butler looked at him.

"Thank you very much."

The butler slightly nodded and left.

Damian let out a big sigh of relief. 'I can't believe it,' he thought to himself. Yet he knew that the butler is a man of his word and can be trusted. He's truly free of his worries.

He reached out for the white cup from Midori and took a sip of the remaining drink when something called his attention.

In the white cup's side was written: 'This cup is for: Anya'.

Blood instantly rushed to his face as he blushed.

'I took Anya's cup from the counter!'

~~~~~

Meanwhile, Anya's empty cup fell as she walked through the hallway of their residence. She quickly picked it up as it rolled. She saw the handwriting on the cup's side.

'This cup is for: Damian'.

She gasped as her cheeks warmed.

'I took Sy-on boy's cup!'

~~~~~

Next Story Arc: Feelings of Jealousy (Ch 20-22)

~~~~~