43. Calm
"Come now, Rin, stop crying. It's only a stuffed rabbit." Her mother says disdainfully, looking down at her child. "You should have held on to it tighter."
Rin burbles an incoherent response, wailing as she stares at the pink bunny lying in the mud, far beyond saving. She'd been pulled out of the way of a bicyclist, and accidentally let go of the precious toy.
"We'll get you a new one. Now come, I have errands to run." Her mother says, grasping her tiny wrist and tugging. "Let's go."
"B-But this one, L-Len gave me-!" Rin cries hysterically, fighting hard against the older woman's hold. "And I got it all dirty-!"
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Rin." Pursing her lips, Rin's parent crosses her arms. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Rin?"
The girl perks at the familiar voice. "Len?" She says, spotting the young boy running toward her.
"Rin! Why are you crying?!" The blonde boy says with worry, coming over and kneeling to look at her. "Are you hurt?"
"Len, I- I ruined your present-!" Rin hiccups. "Now you'll hate me!"
Len glances at the soiled toy, then back to her with a smooth smile. "I don't hate you, Rin. It was just an accident, right?" He says, to which she nods. "Then you didn't do anything wrong."
"But-"
Len shakes his head at her. "Really."
Rin sniffles. "I ruined your nice present, though… I'm sorry."
"It's okay. In fact, I'll get you another one just like it, if you want." Len offers. "So don't cry anymore about it, alright?"
She nods, her crying finally calmed, and her mother sighs in relief. "Oh, good. Thank you. Come along, now, Rin."
Being pulled again by her mother, Rin looks back at the blonde, and waves.
Len just smiles.