Another birthday gift for a friend.

Yuri sat in that college classroom, looking at her book deep in thought. She sat in the back, trying to distract herself from her anxiety. She wasn't sure how to start a conversation with the other classmates, so she stuck to herself, even though she wanted to badly to talk to someone, to feel the warmth of an embrace, hear the kind words of a friend, but who would speak to her? Why would anyone speak to her?

Hero was in total shock.

It was her.

That long purple hair, that gentleness of the soul.

It was her!

It was Mari!

...

No.

No it wasn't.

He knew that, but all the same, he had to move on, and he had to move on with someone new. He loved his old friends, nay, his family, but he needed new friends too...

So...

Why not?

"Hi," a voice greeted her. She looked up to see a young man with fluffy brown hair, eyes, a deeper shade of brown, full of kindness and warmth, "What are you reading?"

She is, for a moment, charmed by his smile, unable to speak, before managing to squeak out, "I'm... Yuri... I'm reading Heart of Darkness."

"Ah that's a classic," Hero replies, "Heard it's rather dark though. I've always preferred more upbeat stories."

"I enjoy them with friends but when I'm alone they make me feel more alone," Yuri concedes.

Hero finds the sadness in her eyes slightly worrying. He would much rather see her smile and be happy, just by virtue of her being a person, who like any human being, deserves happiness by default.

Her being cute however doesn't hurt.

"There's this new show called Infinity Train I found," Hero adds, "Maybe we can watch it sometime, together. I've seen the first season, it's great, haven't watch passed that though. We can together, if you want."

"I would like that," Yuri replies, smiling now. Someone to talk to... it's nice.

Henry asks, "May I sit here?"

"Please do."

The two sit by one another and continue to make small talk, eventally the conversation turning to Henry admitting, "I wish I could just hold someone's hand. I just wanna feel that warmth and ease with someone. You know? I haven't in a long time."

Yuri sat there nervously, his hands looked soft and gentle. She wanted him to smile, like he made her smile. She...

She has to go for it.

Henry feels a soothing warmth in his palm. An ease spreads from that calm warm feeling through his body.

"You're pretty confident," Henry smiles, his face red.

"Is that OK?" Yuri inquires, enjoying the warmth of his hands, the sense of peace that brings, her face turning pink from this warmth as it spreads a calm joy through her body.

"Do... do you wanna get coffee or lunch after class?" Hero offers, deciding to go for it, to move on with her, seeing this kind, quiet girl with a confidence hidden by her timidness as someone he can talk to. Someone he can move on with. He... He has hope.

"I would love to," Yuri replies, tightening her grip around his hand, "I... would love to..."