"…Aya? What're you doing here?"
Aya giggled as she skipped over with light steps. Raveena noticed that she was wearing a completely different outfit now, perhaps those were her original clothes before that… whatever rabbit-folk accident happened.
"Oh! The culinary team didn't have to help with dinner tonight," Aya explained cheerfully. "So I used the time to get cleaned up, and… well…"
She held out a neatly folded bundle in both arms. It was the clothes that Raveena lent her.
"I managed to tidy your clothes! I'm sorry I couldn't wash them though…" she added with a small sheepish wince.
Raveena stared at her for a moment, before she hurriedly reached for the bundle. "A-Ah… thanks."
Aya tilted her head. "Hmm? Is something wrong?"
Raveena looked down at the bundle in her arms, then back up at her. "I mean… is this just a coincidence, or…"
Aya didn't give her an answer right away. Instead, she smiled softly and sat down beside Raveena on the bench. "Well… first things first. Are you okay?"
"What?"
Aya puffed her cheeks. "Are you okay, Raveena?" she repeated, this time poking Raveena's cheek with a light boop of her finger.
"What do you mean?" the panther-folk asked.
"I saw you heading out of the venue earlier," she said with concern in her voice. "I was with Petra and the others and… well, you looked upset. So, I got worried."
Raveena turned her head away slightly, hoping that Aya wouldn't ask more about what had happened.
"I figured I'd go grab the clothes I cleaned too, since I promised to return them. But really, I just wanted to find you."
"I'm sorry if I worried you," Raveena answered, unprepared for the rabbit-folk's concern for her. She couldn't say anything else that would give Aya a much clearer picture of what she felt earlier without having said too much.
Especially since she hadn't expected to see Aya again so soon tonight.
Hadn't dared to hope for it, really. But now that she was here…
Stars, was it a welcome surprise.
"…But I'm fine," Raveena added, forcing a small smile as she subtly tucked her bandaged hand away behind the bundle of clothes. "Don't worry."
But before she could hide it fully, Aya snatched it gently, holding her wrist with both hands, causing Raveena to flinch. "Wha—?"
Aya gasped, eyes widening at the faint but undeniable stain of red on the handkerchief wrap. "What happened to your hand?!"
Raveena scratched awkwardly behind her ear and looked away. "It's… just—well. I got a little out of control… squeezed too hard."
"Really, Raveena, you…" Aya huffed, "why'd you have to go and hurt yourself like that?"
Raveena chuckled in slight shame. "I didn't even realize I did it until someone pointed it out."
Aya sighed. It was one of those big, full-body sighs that somehow still sounded cute. "Still… you should take care of it."
"My bad."
"Are you at least gonna go to the medical room? Get it wrapped up properly?"
"There's a place like that here?"
"Of course, silly! This is a big event! Where else would people go if they suddenly got sick or something?"
"…A clinic? A healer's hut?"
"That would be quite the walk from the venue," Aya replied. "What if you collapse before you get there?"
"…Oh."
"Now you know! I don't know where exactly it is, I just know there's one. You should ask the front desk where it is so they can take a look at that properly."
Raveena sighed, resigned. "Fine, I'll try."
"Don't try," Aya leaned closer. "Do! What if it gets infected?"
Raveena stared at her once again. This time, she really stared.
At how Aya's nose crinkled when she was serious. How her ears stood stiff with each word like they were fighting for her point too.
And then, Raveena felt delighted and embarrassed at the same time.
Slowly, she reached out and gently poked Aya on the nose with the tip of her finger. "Alright, alright. Stop being so cute, Aya."
Aya made a startled little squeak, eyes wide as her nose scrunched.
"Don't worry too much about me, okay?" Raveena then smiled.
Aya sat frozen for a moment, ears now tilted all the way back, and her face very pink.
Raveena then placed her other hand over her wrapped one, and Aya watched with wide, flustered eyes as the panther-folk began unwrapping it.
"A passerby gave me this earlier," she said, pulling out the tiny glass bottle that hybrid-folk Kir had given her. She held it up between them, then uncorked it. "Said it's a healing salve. Figured I'd use this before I go hunting for that medical room."
Then she glanced sideways at Aya. "Will that make you worry less?"
Aya looked down, glimpsing the angry red marks left behind by Raveena's nails. "…Yes. A lot less. Greatly, actually."
Raveena smiled, then dabbed the salve onto her hand, wincing lightly at the sting. Then, she wrapped the cloth over it again. "There. Happy?"
Aya nodded. "Mhm. Thank you."
Hearing that, Raveena let herself relax a little. "So... is that all you needed me for?"
"Well—yes! I mean. Mostly," Aya quickly answered, fidgeting with her fingers. "…But there is one more thing."
Raveena raised a brow. "Go ahead."
"Well, since we're both here already, and I do want to save us both the trouble of having to look for each other again. I was wondering if… you might be free tomorrow around lunchtime? You know, so we can hang out. Like we talked about?"
"Hmm… I'm not sure if I'm free."
Aya's ears drooped. "Oh…?"
"But perhaps…"
"Perhaps?"
"Maybe I can convince Professor Vask that I need a longer break time." Raveena shrugged.
"Really?!" Aya exclaimed as her face lit up instantly. Her voice nearly startled Raveena.
"Y-Yeah, I should be able to convince her."
Aya happily gave tiny little claps at the answer. "Yay! I'm looking forward to it then! So do you want to go see some entertainment spots? Or maybe try Rosequartz Town's local food?"
Raveena chuckled. "Anywhere you want to go, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. You're the one who got here first, after all. And you've got a pretty excellent track record in surprising me. If that wasn't obvious already."
Aya's cheeks puffed slightly as she gave a shy, giddy little laugh. "W-Well, I'm not that good with surprises."
"Sure you're not."
Then, Aya stood up and dusted off her skirt. "Oh, I should head back to my friends now," she said. "But… should we meet here tomorrow if you can go? Around one-thirty?"
Raveena nodded. "Sure. I'll be here."
"Okay! I'll see you then!" Aya gave a cheerful wave, turning on her heel with the lightest bounce in her step as she started walking along the path.
"Be careful on the way back," Raveena called after her.
"I will!" Aya said as she turned around for one last wave and a nod. "And make sure to get your hand treated, okay?"
Raveena rolled her eyes fondly. "Will do."
Aya smiled before she disappeared around the bend.
When she no longer felt Aya nearby, Raveena let out a huge exhale, her shoulders dropping as she slouched forward, elbows resting on her knees.
She buried her face in her hands for a moment just to let things settle down inside her. Then she looked up and stared at the stars overhead.
"…That was a weird emotional ride," she muttered. "Too much. Way too much."
She then leaned back on the bench, taking in the cool evening air.
"…Professor Vask's probably gonna yell at me," she mumbled before she closed her eyes, smiled to herself, and sank a little deeper into the quiet. "Eh. Might as well enjoy the air while I can."