Reiji met up with Olivia, both wearing workout clothes. She eyed how good he looked while his compliments motivated her to push the body's limits and the two of them went out on the sidewalk. They decided to go for light jogging but after just a few minutes, Olivia wanted to drop.

"Oh, you want to do sit-ups? Yeah, that should make things better." Embarrassment grew. It was the first time she was wearing a sports bra, her first new friend in a while was on top of her, cheering her on, and in that moment, she wanted to rise up and show him her thanks. Olivia held her hands up to her waist and pushed up and down while Reiji cheered her on.

I have to transform.

Gira nodded at watching the two from afar while Basile suggested they do something similar. Arriving at the grocery store, the two went to pick up any food they could with parts of their guardians salary: milk, eggs, cheese, fish, and two packs of nuts. He went to pick up the meat when she couldn't reach, and received a scream at a younger suburban mother who almost fell from seeing his face. Basile grabbed another one for the woman, but she took her kids and quickly walked away, leaving him to sigh.

Gira was about to start texting obscenities and then just when Basile shook his hand and a finger to his mouth, pointing at the kids.

No bad language, he whispered.

She pouted. "Ignore those like her."

He touched his burn marks and shook his head. "It's not her fault," focusing on getting the last items they needed. When they were done, he handed her the basket she almost dropped from how heavy it was while the security guard was fast approaching them.

"Everyone's afraid of me. So it's best I stay away," lowering his head.

Frustration filled her fists and she fumingly took his hand, walking with him to the cashier and they ordered it together.

"You are not your scars. To me, you are handsome. Screw the others' thoughts."

His eyes widened while the cashier smiled at their dynamics. Just as they were about to finish, the security guard came. She latched your arms around him.

"We're just a normal, high school couple shopping, leave us alone."

"What's with the scars?"

She quickly began typing. "Fire, years ago. Saved me, burnt his face. Me, breathing issues."

The cashier gasped and explained. There was a fire at a massive apartment complex years ago that killed most of the residents and scarred the rest.

"Oh well I apologize, please don't-wait, where'd he go?"

Gira's body darted left and right as she heard the mother telling her crying children she didn't have enough to buy them chocolate.

Basile went over to the cashier and picked up two bars for them with a $5 bill, handing it to them. The two kids hugged and thanked him before he nodded to the woman, both cashiers, and packed all the bags. Once her brain caught up, Gira smiled and stuck out her tongue to the guard and woman before happily skipping over to him.

On their way back, Gira offered to take a bag, trying to lift it up.

"That was really sweet."

"How come you've never been scared?"

"Of you? We've seen hell," reflecting back to when powered through the flame in the apartment to get her out. "You'll always be here," finishing the words before tenderly pointing to her heart.

Words couldn't escape his grasp. Only tears dropped, and suddenly he hugged her, whispering the words thank you. Gira took in all his warmth and the rare sight of his happier vulnerable side. When they continued, he had a question.

"Did we look like a couple? That's what you said, right? That was a smart lie."

She facepalmed hard. "I am your girlfriend, you just haven't realized it, right? Of course we're a cute couple, " only to brainfart after pressing send, hoping he didn't hear it.

His chuckle was silent before taking her phone and typing himself. "Maybe a girl will, like me for who I am too, more than just my scars," nudging her on the head.

She sucked her teeth. "I wasn't joking, Basile I love y-"

She couldn't finish typing as Olivia's screams could be heard from a rolling tire straight towards them. Basile stopped it with one hand, and their classmate fell out of the tire, clearly traumatized.

"I thought I was gonna die," she claimed while Reiji got there in the nick of time.

"How did she-and you-," Gira typed and pressed.

"We were doing tire workouts and one thing left to another," untying the rope on Olivia's torso.

Her eyes darted at both of them. "Do something safer! We got power up cheat codes, eat and drink with us."

The four ended up going to her family's apartment complex, making the food necessary for them to help them gain some strength. They agreed to meet up tomorrow, though any of Reiji's ideas would be immediately rejected much to his dismay.

Basile kept a brief, but intense glare at Reiji. But Olivia's behavior around him quelled his thoughts for now.