Verius lightly padded up to her, just stopping at the edge of the dais. His form was highlighted against the open windows of the temple, his bright yellow fur against the azure skies. His snout reached out to her, delicately touching her forehead.

“I can read one’s heart, and especially yours, my summoner.” Verius gave a deep chuckle, one full of warmth—so different from Corrine’s, whose laughter had been high and sounded like small bells. Even so, Sheena was comforted by the depths of Verius’ voice. “You try to just keep him solely rooted in your heart and nothing more. But such restraint will lead to a terrible ache.”

Sheena could never find it in herself to argue with Verius, not like with anyone else. The soft touch of Verius’ nose that brushed aside her hair prompted her to cup a hand against her friend’s cheek.

“He’s busy with his journey. And… I’m busy taking care of Mizuho. I can’t let my stupid crush get in the way of our responsibilities.”

“And you once had a responsibility to slay a girl who now has become one of your closest friends.” Verius leaned into her touch, once again bringing to mind how Corrine would do something similar so long ago. “Sheena, listen to your heart. It has always led you down the right path.”

Sheena was still worried, too timid, too insecure in her own judgement despite all she had done. But even so, Verius comforted her, giving salve to her feelings that continued to roil in her chest.

--

Sheena lingered around Iselia, even though she had long left the village itself. The woods just outside the gates were rough, with a well-worn trail that went up steep hills, and consisted of uneven, rocky terrain. She found herself walking along it, surprised that Lloyd had traveled such a distance every day for school, past the dry shrubs and even the poison oak that hid in the shade.

She smiled to herself. Actually…it’s a lot like him. Lloyd was always moving, ecstatic to discover something new. She remembered the way to his home, past the now empty Desian ranch, further into the hills. Would Lloyd be there, visiting Dirk while on another pursuit of Exspheres? If she truly wanted, she could have used Mizuho’s information network, tracking down Lloyd’s movements. 

…Except, that sounded creepy if she was doing it for personal reasons.

Agh, I shouldn’t be thinking that! And I shouldn’t be interrupting him while he’s visiting family! 

Sheena took a deep breath as she continued to hike higher. She knew she should be heading back to Mizuho now, but maybe just another walk around the bend, where a broken log lay across a quick-moving stream. She remembered this spot, Lloyd pointing at something enthusiastically, but Raine had kept the group moving along. What was it that he was trying to show…?

So when Sheena stepped through the brush, coming upon a healthy oak tree, she caught the sound. A small splash, and then—

“Damn! Almost had it that time!”

Sheena stopped herself. That couldn’t be right. It was because she had just been talking with Verius, had been thinking about him all this time, and about her own heart… She was probably just wishing for him to be nearby, convenient as it was.

But then, she peered past the tree. Lloyd was there, his back turned to her, the wind lifting up his neck ribbons so that they fluttered like wings.

What was it about Lloyd that always tended to surprise her, even when she found him in a place that was tied to his home?

Lloyd was shin-deep within the stream, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was looking down with intense concentration, or she assumed it was, going by his wavering reflection in the water. Various shadows flitted past his feet, to swim further downstream. The sunlight bounced off his brown hair, giving various shades of auburn, of bronze.

But what really caught Sheena’s attention was the way Lloyd was standing, half-bent, his hands out, like he was about to grab something. He turned slightly, and she could see part of his face, the way his tongue stuck out as he furrowed his brows. His eyes flicked when another shadow in the water swam away.

Wait, is he trying to catch fish? With his hands?

Then, with quick movement, Lloyd shouted as he thrusted both hands into the stream. Water splashed against the front of his jacket and chin. “Yes! Gotcha!”

There was the brief flicker of a dark fin, flapping wildly. But Lloyd’s grip wasn’t sure enough, and so the fish slipped out of his hands, further drenching his face. “Ack! Pft!”

Sheena had to press a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. She had no idea why Lloyd was even doing this, but the sight of it was so silly.

…But also, was she spying on him right now? Sure, that was what ninjas like her did, but she didn’t mean to be doing that! I should leave. He probably wants to be by himself anyway.

Sheena then tried to step away, but when it concerned Lloyd, her stealth instincts seemed to always fly out the window. Her foot stepped on a twig, loudly. It was a mistake that not even a child from Mizuho would have made on their first day of training.

“Huh? Is someone there?” And before she could rush off, she could feel Lloyd’s eyes on her. “Oh hey! Sheena!! Hey!! What are you doing behind that tree?”

Oh no, now she definitely looked like a creep. Zelos would have been laughing his head off by now.

With a nervous laugh, she turned around, giving Lloyd a small wave. “Uh, hi, Lloyd! Didn’t expect to see you here!”

“Huh, really?” Lloyd scratched the back of his head. Water from the stream slid down his cheek. “This is on the way to my house, so not sure why you wouldn’t.”

She was also suddenly really bad at lying when it came to Lloyd too.

It would be silly to try and run away now, so Sheena walked up to the edge of the stream, careful to not accidentally slip into the water because of a wet rock. “Well… I was hoping I’d see you up at your house. But, what exactly are you doing?”

Lloyd grinned. He put his hands on his hips, puffing out his chest in pride. “I’m catching fish! I’ve been practicing for the past few days!”

“Oh!” Sheena paused for a moment. “Why, um, are you doing that?”

“Well…” Lloyd looked to the side. “Last time I visited Mizuho, I saw someone at the river there… and they were catching fish with their hands! They said it was part of training, so I wanted to try it too!”

The soft laughter that left Sheena wasn’t nervous this time. Somehow, this statement from Lloyd didn’t surprise her. “Are you still set on being a ninja yourself one day?”

If Lloyd had flushed just then, she would tell herself that it was just wishful thinking on her part. “I still think it would be cool to be one. And with this, I can get a head start on training!”

Then, his eyes brightened. He looked at Sheena like he suddenly saw her for the first time. His intense gaze made her more aware of herself, of the awkward way she stood and how a few strands of her hair escaped her hair tie. No, no, don’t try to fix it now…

“Maybe you could show me? I’ve been trying to copy the movements, but the fish keep slipping away. I’m sure you’ve caught hundreds of fish!”

“...That’s flattering, but I don’t spend all of my training on trying to catch fish.” Still, she couldn’t help but want to try—especially if it would impress Lloyd!

And he already looked impressed, his fists clenched, his grin wide and happy. “That’s great!”

Well, she might as well try it now…

Careful again to not slip, Sheena quickly untied her boots, then stepped into the water. It was instantly cold, freezing her toes. The stream was so clear now that she was standing in it, the array of small fish dancing around her ankles before flitting away.

She took a breath, stilled her body, and focused on those small shapes beneath. The wind blew through the leaves and lifted her hair. She had one hand up, all fingers pressed together. Another breath, shallower than the last, until she was hardly breathing at all…

A quick splash, soaking her gi only slightly. In her right hand, a small, silver-speckled fish wriggled against her fingers.

Lloyd gawked in awe. “Whoa! You did that so quick!”

Maybe, just maybe, Sheena felt a sense of pride at doing such a technique. She smiled wide. “Hehe! It’s no big deal, really.” She loosened her hold, and the fish splashed back into the stream to join its brethren. “It’s easier to use one hand instead of both.”

Lloyd nodded rapidly, his eyes sparking with inspiration. “Okay, I got it this time! So like…” He squatted lower, holding up his arm above his head like he was about to chop a piece of lumber. “Ya!”

A big splash, one that soaked him completely. He hacked and coughed, which only scared the fish away even more.

Sheena couldn’t hold back now. She laughed louder, her cheeks aching from her grin. But she tried to calm herself down to finally talk again. “Lloyd, you’re not trying to cut the fish in half! Here, I’ll keep showing you.”

--

Before she knew it, hours had gone by.

Sheena didn’t think she’d have so much fun with what amounted to being a childhood game. The sun had moved through the sky until it nearly reached the horizon, and Lloyd stopped splashing all around the stream in a clumsy attempt to catch something.

“Just take easy breaths through your nose. It’s like when you’re sword training.” Sheena brought her hands in, taking a breath as she did so. She stood next to Lloyd in the river, the sunlight glinting off the ripples. “Pace yourself. Don’t grab for the first fish you see.”

“Hmm, okay…” Lloyd mimicked her, concentrating so hard that it nearly made her laugh again. Though she worried he’d find the lesson boring like he did with most things he was initially fascinated by. But even after the first hour, then second, then third, Lloyd was still trying, was still looking to her for advice.

At that point, Sheena was almost glad Lloyd was a bit of a slow learner.

“Oof! I got it! I got— Wait, it’s just a stick.”

Lloyd sighed, tossing the stick back into the water. But instead of giving up, he got into position again. “Okay! This time!”

Sheena grinned, all while she helped adjust his arm, then helped close the fingers of his hand. “Keep it like this. Got it?”

“Y-yeah!” Lloyd said, and again, she wondered if she was just imagining it… No, Lloyd was probably just getting tired, so the red on his face must have been from his exhaustion instead.

A few more adjustments, and even more tries from Lloyd. He was splashing the water a bit less, but the fish kept escaping his hands.

Then, just when Sheena suggested they could maybe take a break (I’m just keeping him here for myself now…) Lloyd tried once more.

His form was in better posture, and his motion was quick and cutting. He barely shifted his feet as he pulled his hand back from the stream, a little carp flopping around in his grip.

“Look! Sheena! I got it!” He held out the fish to her, ecstatic, like he was performing show-and-tell. “Your advice worked!”

Maybe that was enough to finally move away Sheena’s uncertainties. Was it because she was caught up in the moment? Was it because Lloyd’s smile was so bright, and the way his eyes fell on her made her heart beat so badly?

“Lloyd! You really did it!” She laughed, reaching in for a hug, and one that Lloyd also leaned in to while still holding onto his trophy fish. Except, instead of placing her hands on his shoulders, she touched his cheeks instead. In a way, it was similar to how she did so with Verius just that very morning.

Sheena, listen to your heart. It has always led you down the right path.

She wasn’t sure if it was just a memory, or Verius speaking to her heart, connected to her like all the summon spirits. When she held Lloyd’s face, it compelled her to move closer, and closer. She felt the warmth of his lips, cooled slightly by the water of the stream.

Lloyd stilled. There was a splash. The fish had finally slipped out of his hand to swim away.

She noticed how he didn’t step back from the kiss. But maybe that was because he was in shock.

Sheena separated from Lloyd quickly, feeling the rush of the wind against her face. She wanted to stay within the cool air, with the stream rushing around their feet. A miracle that she didn’t trip at all, but suddenly kissing Lloyd out of nowhere was much more mortifying.

“Sorry! Sorry, I just…” She brought a hand nearer her face, wondering whether to cover her eyes or knock herself silly. “That was so dumb of me.”

Then, in the fading sunlight, she saw Lloyd’s expression. The dusk made it clearer than ever. The blush that bloomed from the center of his face, to spread to his nose, to his cheeks, to even his ears.

She wasn’t imagining it. Maybe that was what made it even more frightening.

Like a wilted flower, Sheena moved inward on herself, stepping out of the sun and ready to go back to the shadows where she belonged. 

“I should be going now—”

“Wait.”

When Lloyd stepped forward, he nearly slipped over a hidden rock in the stream. Just a small stumble, but he flailed his arms, catching himself on an invisible ledge. “Agh, damn it. I mean! Don't leave yet! Just, um.”

But if Sheena was clumsy with words, so was Lloyd at this moment. The stream clung to the end of his trousers after hours of staying in the water, making his steps halting.

“I really didn't mean to bother you!” Sheena said quickly, not sure what she was trying to fend off. 

“But you didn't! That's the thing, Sheena. I wanted to tell you that—”

“It's okay. It's okay!” Sheena held up her hands. She couldn't get the feeling of Lloyd's warm lips out of her head. Maybe she could if she left—

A familiar hold over her heart. A comforting weight against her back. A warm voice calming her mind.

Listen to your heart, Sheena.

Because she stopped, Lloyd was able to reach out, to grasp hold of her hands.

“Sheena,” he called out to her once more. And she saw it—a great smile on his face, accompanied by that blush that highlighted all of his features.

She half-smiled in shame and a strange heartache. She really didn't understand herself sometimes. “...You know, if you had done what I just did to you, I would have knocked your teeth in.” Sheena sighed. “I don't know why you put up with this.”

It only made Lloyd laugh, his fingers entwining with hers. “Well, then I'm glad you kissed me first!”

Even so, Lloyd had always been brave, and so open to touch that it still caught her breath. His other hand reached out to cup her cheek, and then leaned in to give her a light kiss over her temple.

In her heart, Verius hummed in satisfaction.