The meeting between Jogrin, Zanphia, Zenover, Garty, and Kapel ended soon after Jogrin'd come up with an idea. There were two parts from his scheme. He was certain that, given a perfect opportunity, the first part would work according to his anticipation. The problem was the follow-up, which was the second part of his scheme.
In any case, Jogrin would see how everything played out. For now, Suzannia shall continue to attempt to play with Zanphia and cheer her up. As for Jogrin, he would need to go out more to increase the chance that he encountered Zanphia being picked on by others.
The meeting ended without Zanphia asking what she wanted to. Even so, Jogrin had an inkling about what she wished to know, but he would wait until she mustered up the courage to ask. From how Jogrin perceived it, Zanphia needed to let out her emotions, and she was holding them back because of the presence of Kapel and him.
"Jogrin, it is high time you return to Captain Ryov, lest they be 'forced' to shirk their duties due to your absence." Kapel gazed at Jogrin and gestured him to leave with him.
It appeared that Kapel understood that as well.
'It's impressive that he gets it even without "emotional perception." I know that I wouldn't be able to.' Jogrin thought.
With that, Kapel left the house with Jogrin in tow, leaving Zanphia, Zenover, and Garty in the house. It wasn't surprising that they remained silent as immense awkwardness exuded from them.
"I'm... sorry..." The silence was shattered with apology from Zanphia.
"What are you saying?!" Garty, incredulous, yelled at Zanphia.
"I'm sorry!! Because of me... Only because of me!!" Zanphia shut her eyes tightly and yelled back.
"You two, please calm down..." Zenover tried to break them off and be the mediator, but to no avail, as the two girls continued yelling.
It wasn't like either of them were mad at each other. On the contrary, they were nowhere close to it.
"I dragged you both into this... I'm such a horrible person!!"
"Argh!! Stop saying that already!! You're pissing me off!! You didn't drag us into this, we chose to involve ourselves!!!"
"It's only because of me that you guys are getting estranged as well... It's all my fault!!!"
"POMF!"
An abrupt, dull noise reverberated within the living room of the Maladin household. Zanphia, wide-eyed, realized what had happened. She felt warmth all over her body, and her head was resting on someone else's shoulder. The pair of arms that wrapped around her had firmness, as if not wanting to let go of her. What followed were sobbing noises of another girl.
"Stop saying that, please... It's not your fault..."
"... I'm sorry..."
"You're not allowed to apologize for the rest of today, got it?"
Zanphia, who nodded lightly, also embraced Garty firmly, as the both of them burst into tears. Zenover let out a gentle smile witnessing this scene.
"We'll always be here for you, so cheer up and be the Zanphia that I've always known and loved, OK?"
"Mm..."
"Good girl!"
"I'm not your little sister, you know..."
"Well, you deserve to be pampered like Suzannia sometimes, you know?"
"Hmph..."
Zanphia and Garty held on to each other for a while as Zenover watched on. He felt more and more awkward though.
"Have you calmed down, Zanphia?"
"Yeah... Thank you, Garty. If only you're my little sister as well..."
"Zanphia... What are you on about again..." Zenover put his palms on his face as he said that.
"I mean what I said! And only you can make it come true, Zenover!"
"The moment you cheer up, you start teasing me again..."
"Then, would you rather me not tease you at all...?"
"Please tease me to your heart's content."
Zanphia chuckled at Zenover's reply, while Garty glared at her.
"Ow ow!! It hurts!" Zanphia yelled while laughing.
"This is what you get, you idiot..." Garty spoke so while frowning, but her expression softened almost immediately afterward.
"I'm glad to see you're well."
"Me too."
"Yeah... Thanks guys. You're the best."
The three of them enjoyed their time together. Zanphia seemed to have returned to her normal self, but Zenover and Garty knew that that was simply a facade. Still, they strove to work to make Zanphia cheer up even more.
"Only those two, who'd experienced the bullying as well, could sympathize well with Zanphia, who tends to open up to them more than me or you, or the rest of the Maladins."
"Indeed. You have once again shown me your intelligence, Jogrin."
"You're better at this than I am. After all, I have the aid from 'emotional perception.'"
"I never took you for a humble person."
"Just stating facts."
Standing outside the front door of the house were Jogrin and Kapel, who eavesdropped on the conversation between the trio. Kapel knew it was discourteous to do so, but at the same time, he was concerned about Zanphia. Jogrin wanted to say something about that, but he decided against it, since he'd had enough glares from Kapel.
"I am sure both Zenover and Ms. Baham realize it, that it would take more than just that to allow her to fully recover." Kapel began to walk out of the front gate and head back to the campsite.
"Fully recover, huh?" Jogrin followed after him as he posed a question.
Both of their paces were slow as they anticipated that the conversation would take some time.
"Is something the matter?"
"I'm just wondering, do you really think she can fully recover from all this bullying, that lasted for years even?"
"What are trying to imply?"
"That wasn't a rhetorical question, it was a genuine one. I'm genuinely curious."
"With the right people and how the person involved is treated, it is possible, even for you, Jogrin."
"Not mincing your words on this one, huh?... What makes you think it's possible even for me?"
"Traumas are to be treated gradually. I have had various experience with that."
"You're talking about Proxer? It wasn't bullying for him though?"
"You could say that, but in a sense, they are somewhat similar. If one could recover from them, it would serve to make them stronger."
"It'll be arduous to achieve something like that, no matter how many experiences you've had, especially for my case."
"597 years... I have heard from Proxer. Even so, there is always a way. I have seen Proxer at his lowest twice, and I have always been supporting him, helping him climb out of the pit. Therefore, I know how it feels and what to do."
"Twice? There was another incident other than the 'Telestrophe?'"
"That was a slip of tongue due to my getting sentimental... Forget I said that."
'Could this have something to do with Proxer's actual parents?' Jogrin assumed so.
"... Huh... Anyway, you're saying to leave it all to you?"
"It is good that you understand. While I do believe that you would not actively seek to harm anyone after a full week of observing you, I still do not know whether you would go overboard for Zanphia."
"You think I'd go so far for someone else's sake?"
"I can see it in your eyes, Jogrin. You were planning to help her... There was a look of determination from you."
"I'm sure my expression didn't change at all."
"Your gaze and the way you attentively listened was enough to tell me. If what you said about your capabilities was all true, you could have escaped even me or harm anyone you wish to, but you chose not to do those, but instead opted to stay by Proxer's side, to repay his kindness. Am I wrong?" Kapel stopped and turned to look at Jogrin.
"You're one scary fellow, Grunmyt Kapel."
Jogrin continued to walk and nonchalantly made such a remark. Without laying his eyes on Kapel, he walked past Kapel whose gaze followed him.
"You do not have the right to say that."
Kapel caught up to Jogrin and returned to the campsite with him.