2. Enthusiasm
"Len! Len! Len!"
"What?!" The blonde boy sighs in angry frustration at the girl bobbing up and down in front of him, grinning wider than the Cheshire Cat. He keeps dying in his video game because Rin's been standing here interrupting, and it's really getting annoying.
Unfazed by his snappy reply, Rin holds out a sloppily wrapped object topped with an orange bow. "Here, Len! I made this for you!"
He blinks. "You got me something?" He says, surprised.
She shakes her head emphatically. "No! I made you something!" Rin corrects him.
Glancing from the girl to the present, he gives her a smile, feeling a bit guilty now for his attitude. She actually made him a present; it's really sweet. "Ah, thanks Rin!" He tears open the wrapping he's sure Rin painstakingly put together, and finds…
"What is it?" He can't help the disbelief and confusion that colors his tone.
Offended, Rin takes the… thing from his hand, and frowns at him. "It's you and me! See?" She points to the deformed stick figures, touching the yellow yarn on one end. "This is our hair, and I drew on the faces and the clothes! We're even holding hands, see?" She gestures to two glued-together toothpicks attached to both of 'them'.
Len knows Rin isn't very good with arts and crafts, but he tries to show appreciation for the gift. Rin went out of her way to make it for him, and he doesn't want her mad at him. He goes for a cheerful tone, but the words fall too short and sound unconvincing even to himself. "Wow, Rin, it's really… something."
He knows his attempt has instantly failed as he sees Rin's suddenly hurt expression. "You don't like it, do you?" She says sadly, her pride obviously wounded.
"No, no! I love them!" Len backtracks quickly, taking the pair of stick figures from her and smiling at the girl. "I'll keep them and treat them like treasure." He promises.
"Really?" Rin asks, perking up a bit.
"Yeah, really! Thanks, Rin!" He says, reaching over and ruffling her hair and poofy white bow, grinning.
The blonde girl throws her arms around him and hugs him happily, but mumbles into his shirt.
"I know you don't really like it… but thanks for being a good friend, Len. It means a lot."
At this, the twelve year old boy turns tomato red.