"Hiya, Kiran!"

"Gah! Sharena?!"

Startled by the sudden greeting, Kiran stumbled back a few steps, earning a lighthearted giggle from a certain blonde princess standing right outside of his doorway.

"Whoops! Didn't mean to surprise you there." Sharena apologized with a cheery smile. "I just thought I'd drop by and see just what you were up to! Nobody's seen you all day and Alfonse was getting worried." Her smile transforming into a cheeky grin, Sharena added, "Oh, but don't tell him I said that, teehee!"

"Ah, I get it," Kiran said with a chuckle. "Well, come on in and I'll show you what I've been up to!" Stepping aside, the summoner gestured for Sharena to enter. With an eager grin, Sharena wasted no time in accepting Kiran's invitation, only to immediately gasp as she took in Kiran's room.

"Oh, wow!" Sharena cried with delight as she beheld Kiran's holiday handiwork. "You did all this by yourself, Kiran?" As the summoner nodded, Sharena giggled with glee as she darted around the room, inspecting every decoration as Kiran watched with amusement from his bed. "This is amazing!"

"Alright, alright," Kiran said with a grin. "It's just a little holiday decorating. Nothing to get so worked up about."

"No, really! This is incredible, Kiran!" Sharena continued to gush as she plopped herself down next to Kiran. "From strategizing to interior decorating; is there anything you can't do?!"

"S-seriously," Kiran insisted, his hands fidgeting nervously with each other as Sharena continued to heap praise upon him. "Isn't that enough teasing already?"

"I'm serious, Kiran."

"Huh?" Kiran blinked in shock at the sudden tonal shift in the princess' voice. Looking up from under his hood, the summoner noticed that while a friendly smile remained on Sharena's face, her eyes held a more serious expression.

"I mean it. You're amazing, Kiran." Sharena reiterated, gently taking a stunned Kiran's hand in her own. "You've done so much for us, from leading us to battle to even helping us plan things like our Winter Festival. Alfonse thinks so highly of you, Commander Anna trusts you, even Mother adores you! And don't even get me started on what all the Heroes think of you!"

"Sh-Sharena, where is all of this coming from?" Kiran couldn't help but ask. It was then he noticed the corners of Sharena's mouth twitching ever so slightly, her gaze averted from his as she slowly answered.

"It's just…oh, this is going to sound silly…" Her grip on Kiran's tightening slightly, Sharena returned her gaze to Kiran's as she answered, "I…admire you, Kiran. You and Alfonse both, you're both so amazing. So much so that I…w-well…" Swallowing thickly, Sharena continued. "Sometimes I feel…you two are so far away. That I could never catch up to either of you, no matter how hard I try."

A heavy silence fell upon the pair, neither moving a muscle. Kiran's mouth hung slightly agape as he attempted to process what was just spoken. Before he could say anything, however, Sharena released her grip on his hands as she forced out a giggle.

"S-sorry, Kiran! I didn't mean to dampen the mood. N-not sure what came over me, hehe…" Smoothing out her skirt, Sharena prepared to stand from Kiran's bed. "Well, I'll be on my way! Hope to see you at the festival-"

"Sharena."

"Wha-?!" Sharena gasped as Kiran suddenly reached forward and grabbed her by the shoulders, preventing her from leaving. Sharena's eyes widened as the summoner held her, not too tight as to cause any discomfort, but enough to keep her in place.

"It's you that's amazing, Sharena." Kiran stated, his voice unwavering. "Do you remember when I first arrived here in Askr? Some ordinary guy, yanked from his own world without warning and suddenly told he's now the owner of a magic gun and tasked with saving an entire kingdom?"

Sharena remained silent and still as Kiran continued. "Back then, I was scared out of my wits. Not to mention Alfonse kept me constantly at arm's length, and Anna didn't bother hiding her doubts about whether I really was this 'legendary hero' she claimed I was." A small, sincere smile formed on Kiran's lips. "But there was one person who believed in me. One person who, despite everything, supported me and genuinely believed in me. Not as some savior or great hero…but as a friend."

Releasing his grip on the stunned princess, Kiran cleared his throat as he fidgeted where he sat. "So, I guess what I'm trying to say is thanks, Sharena. Thanks for believing in me…and for being my friend. I really don't think I would've gotten so far without – gah!?"

"O-oh, Kiran!" Sharena hiccupped as she suddenly lunged forward and pulled the startled summoner into a bone-crushing hug. "Y-you big silly! Making me get all emotional!" Releasing the summoner and wiping away a stray tear from her cheek, Sharena said, "You're welcome. Don't you forget, I'll always be your biggest fan, no matter what!"

Kiran chuckled as he adjusted his cloak around him. "Ha, as if I could forget!"

As if reminded by something, Sharena gasped as her eyes widened. "Oh! That reminds me!" Removing one of her gloves, the blonde princess revealed a pair of bracelets encircling her wrist, each decorated with small colored beads and held together with a clasp underneath a circular piece of wood with the emblem of Askr carved into it. Removing one bracelet, Sharena presented it to Kiran with a bright smile. "Ta-da! Happy Winter Festival, Kiran!"

"Wow," Kiran breathed as he gently took the bracelet, holding up to admire it in full. "You made this, Sharena?"

"Yep!" Sharena stated proudly as she held out her wrist. "Hilda gathered the materials and showed me how to make it. They're friendship bracelets!" Her smile softening, she added, "So when it's time for you to go home, you'll always have something to remember your best friend Sharena by."

Fastening the bracelet around his own wrist, Kiran returned Sharena's smile. "Thank you, Sharena. I'll always keep it with me…just like my memories of you."

"Hey, now, don't you get me worked up again!" Sharena jokingly scolded, causing the two to chuckle. "Now, come on. There's a festival going on and we don't want to keep everyone waiting!"

Standing to his own feet, Kiran nodded. "Alright, lead the way." Sharena nodded as she eagerly grasped Kiran's hand and pulled him alongside her. "H-hey, Sharena! Take it easy, will you?"

As the pair exited Kiran's room (with Sharena releasing Kiran's hand to allow him to lock his door), the two quickly made their way to the festival. As they did, Sharena chanced a glance at Kiran's grinning face, not doubting that her own expression matched his. Her heart alight with joy, she grasped Kiran's hand once more as she took the lead, one thought echoing in her mind above Kiran's light protests.

She really was lucky to have such an amazing best friend who believed in her.