Summer Blues

Chapter Four: New Things Learned

Kairi led me to a small but cozy diner somewhere outside our particular district. It was, surprisingly, not much of a long walk, but that could probably be attributed to my friend talking nonstop on the way. Somewhere about halfway there, we were joined by Xion, who lived nearby, and Hayner, who jokingly pointed out that he was the only guy in our group.

"So, Hayner," Xion slyly began, just as the diner came into sight. "How're things with Olette?"

Judging by the immediate blush on the blonde's cheeks, I gathered that there must be something going on with them, too. We laughed at his reaction as he spluttered out, "N-nothing! What makes you think a-anything is happening?"

"Don't you like her?" Xion continued, raising an eyebrow, obviously amused.

"W-who likes who?" Hayner replied indignantly.

"You do." Xion could barely contain her ensuing giggles.

"He what?" It was a new voice this time, and I realized we'd arrived at the diner. The words The 13th Side glared down in white from the sign above the door. The others were all there, but I did a quick scan to see where Roxas was. There. He was talking to… Axel? What was Axel doing here?

"Hi, guys!" Sora bounded up to us, his usual grin in place. He was the one who had spoken. "This place is okay, right?"

I blinked, surprised at being asked. I didn't know this place in the first place. Thankfully, Kairi answered for me, saying, "Sora, she doesn't know anywhere here yet. But you don't mind, do you, Nam? This is the best place to get some chow."

I smiled, shaking my head, as I followed them through the glass doors, noticing a bell tinkling somewhere. "No," I told them, wondering what was available here.

"Oh, hey, you're back!" a cheerful voice piped up. I glanced at the speaker, noting layered blonde hair and blue eyes, and that the girl had a tan. She looked back at me curiously, her interest poorly masked. Not that she was trying to hide it, anyway. A corner of my mouth pulled up hesitantly in a smile. She grinned. "Hi! Are you new? I'm Rikku, I work here, and I'm usually these guys' waitress."

"I'm Naminé," I replied shyly. "I'm visiting Kairi."

"Cool! Hope to see you here often, we serve the best grub 'round here!" Her enthusiasm had me laughing; I giggled. She turned to my other companions. "The usual, all of you? What'll Naminé have?"

"I'll have whatever Kairi's having," I answered. The others mumbled their assent and they herded me off to a table big anough to fit all of us. For some insane reason, I was seated in the middle of Kairi and, well, Roxas. I think this was Kairi's fault. I noticed Axel heading a ways off, to a table with a blond girl, the blond boy I saw tending the smoothie bar a while ago, a pink-haired man, and a boy with dark hair falling over one eye. I wondered if they were part of the gang Kairi had mentioned Axel was part of.

Talk at the table was loud and lively, and I joined in once in a while, when asked. Mostly I just sat back and observed, noting points here and there; like how Kairi and Sora were always included in the same conversations; Olette blushing when she would accidentally have to face Hayner, who was beside here, during a lull in her conversation (which led me to think that she felt the same about him as he did with her); things like that.

When our food arrived, I ate slowly, still focused on other conversations that I ddin't even notice my food (much; at least I knew it was some kind of pasta), until a soft material came into contact with my chin.

"You should pay attention to your food, Naminé," Roxas told me, chuckling. I blinked as he pulled his hand back from my face. He was holding a napkin. I blushed then, realizing that I had gotten some sauce on my chin.

"Sorry," I said, embarassed. "Everyone else is just so… interesting."

"I know what you mean," he replied, grinning. "But you shouldn't neglect what you're doing."

Being told off by an attractive boy did not agree with my heart. I tried to steady my breathing, at least. "O-okay." I was blushing. Get a grip, Naminé!

"Hey, guys! I have an idea!" We all turned to Xion now, who was waving her fork around. She grinned. "Why don't we all go to the beach the day after the next?"

The others murmured in approval. "Good idea, Xi," Riku said. "But why not tomorrow?"

"Oh." Xion's face darkened just a bit. "Uh, I don't all of us can make it tomorrow."

"Another run? Seriously, Xi." Kairi clucked her tongue.

"Not my fault," Xion replied defensively, shrugging. "Seifer called in another battle. He's such a bloodhound." In an attempt to lighten the mood, she added, "And a pervert."

Everyone in the table laughed, obviously used to this kind of thing. I was still wondering what she meant. "Who's Seifer?" I asked Kairi. She glanced at me, still chuckling.

"Oh, he's part of a group who's against the XIII. Actually, it's not even a group, there are just three of them. Seifer, Rai, and Fuu," she said, counting it off on three fingers. Then she giggled again. "Seifer's stupid enough to pick fights even if they have such a small number. It never escalates to anything major, but he's stubborn like that."

I was really curious about the XIII now. Hm…

"Don't let it get to you, Nam," Kairi continued offhandedly. "Both Xion and Roxas are part of that, and they don't get damaged. They're fine."

Wait. Roxas was part of the XIII? I turned to him curiously. He grinned at me, obviously having eavesdropped on the conversation. "We don't do anything bad, Naminé. Kairi's right, we're not the 'bad' type of gang." I opened my mouth to ask him a question, but then was distracted by Sora and Hayner's shouting.

"I bet I can beat you!"

"No, you can't!"

"Can too!"

"No way!"

Riku, who was between the two, was rolling his eyes. "Alright, break it up, children," he said pushing both away from each other. "Both of you can eat the pie fast. Now let's move on and actually eat dessert."

Everyone burst into laughter at this and I stared down at my dessert—which had been set down in front of me while I was distracted by Kairi and Roxas—to find that it was a curious, yellow, star-shaped fruit. I poked it with my fork, momentarily distracted, just making another mental note to prod Kairi more later. "…What is this?"

It was Selphie who answere leaning forward eagerly from her place across from me. "That's a paopu fruit, Naminé!" she told me excitedly. "Has Kairi ever told you about it?"

I tilted my head to the side. "Not yet, but she's mentioned it," I answered.

"Have you heard about its legendary power? They say that if you share a paopu with someone you really care for—"

"It binds you forever and ever through eternity!" Tidus continued in a high voice, teasing.

Selphie elbowed her boyfriend. "Shut up! That was my line!" She said it laughing, indicating she wasn't mad at him at all. Indeed, it seemed that everyone at the table was used to this particular speech of Selphie's. She turned back to me. "Isn't it romantic?" she sighed dreamily.

Part of me agreed with her, while another was skeptical of the actual legend. "I guess," I said, giggling.

"You don't have to listen to Selphie," Tidus told me. "Try it, though, it's good."

I speared a piece with my fork, lifting it to my mouth. I tasted sweet and tangy, and overall, very good. Mm… Light banter continued on throughout the table, leaving me to ponder about the paopu legend. Was it true? Who would I shar eit with, if I had the chance anway?

Before I knew it, it was time to head home. I said my goodbyes warmly, thourougly having enjoyed the evening out.

"We'll totally laze around tomorrow, Nam," Kairi told me on the way home. "We've got to bond a bit. Maybe you could come with me when I visit my grandma?"

I was a bit surprised about the surprise visit, but I told her, "Sure, why not?" After all, I had nothing to do.

"Great!"

I grinned when she did, anticipating a good day. Maybe I'd get to see Roxas sometime later… After his what I supposed was a mission. I smiled wider at the tought.

A/N: Okay, I'm sorry about the rushed ending. :C We're kind of hurrying here now, since we're about to leave for the city (that's where I go to school). Heehee. Love, people, I'll explain a little bit more next chapter, since I don't have much time. I'll update next weekend, promise!

Review, please! Thanks to everyone who's reading!

-Hikari

P.S. I totally stole Selphie's actual lines from the game. XD