Two weeks had passed.
Like usual, Suzannia brought Zanphia and Zenover out to play after school. The difference in that regard would be that she also invited her friends from her elementary school as well. While everyone other than Suzannia was full of trepidation at first, they eventually warmed up to one another. Still, Zenover, being the only guy, felt somewhat awkward being surrounded by girls much younger than him. He yearned for Jogrin's presence, but he knew it was a tall story.
Speaking of Jogrin, though he would like to go outside more, to boost even the slightest chance of him running into Zanphia's bully in action, he was only able to do so once for the past two weeks, under the supervision of Kapel, and Fron, who volunteered to take someone else's shift to accompany Jogrin's outing. While they procured some supplies, there were only very few, because they bought them at a different store from last time, which sold them at a higher price.
Kapel told Fron that he needed the previous store owner to wait longer so that he'd think that he missed a great opportunity in nabbing a lot of money, so when they returned there to buy from him, he'd show little to no hesitation to sell. It would also give him more time to get more supplies to make the deal possible. Both Fron and Jogrin were impressed by Kapel's chain of thought.
Just like the last outing, Jogrin attracted the attention of many, especially teenage girls. Like always, Jogrin didn't really pay them any mind. He could locate the girls who tried to demean Zanphia last time with "emotional perception," but they didn't come close to him, so he just let them be.
Other than that time, all Jogrin did was either sitting on the couch or being called to the campsite to chat with Kapel, Captain Ryov, Proxer, or all of them together.
Currently, it was another weekend and Kapel's shift. Kron, Fron's twin brother, was with Kapel today.
"It feels like ages since we've gone out to eat as a family." Proxer muttered to himself.
"You're right about that. Hey! It's not often that Uncle Grunmyt is here with us. Why don't we do that tonight?" Naytia, who heard him, suggested so enthusiastically.
"Huh?" Proxer let out a silly voice as he was flabbergasted.
"Yay!! Let's go!!!" Suzannia screamed in excitement. "Zanphia, Zenover!! Let's go!!!"
However, it seemed that Zanphia was a little reluctant about that. Knowing the reason behind it, Proxer and Naytia felt discouraged and a little remorseful.
"You guys can go without me..."
"Zanphia..."
"But if you don't go, not everyone will enjoy eating together!!" Suzannia pouted.
"Sorry, Suzannia, I'm not feeling too well..."
"Jogrin will come too! You will, right? Then Zanphia will join us!!"
Suzannia hit Jogrin with her baby-doll eyes, attempting to get her way. Even though he had fallen victim to such an attack, he wasn't about to let it happen again.
"I've established before that I don't eat, so there's no point of me going. Besides, I always attract unwanted attention whenever I go out, so I don't think it's a good idea to include me."
Jogrin laid out his reasons for declining the invitation, but o course Suzannia wouldn't listen. She dashed at him and held his left hand as tightly as she can, before dragging him with full force. Due to Jogrin's lack of strength, he easily toppled over. Fortunately, Proxer was next to him so he prevented that.
"Suzannia! Calm down!" Proxer yelled at Suzannia in the heat of the moment.
He didn't mean to, but he scared Suzannia. In response to that, instead of grabbing Jogrin's hand, she hugged him and hid her face behind Jogrin's arm. Unable to overpower her, Jogrin could only let her do as she wished.
Nonplussed, Proxer and Naytia didn't know how to tackle this situation. Jogrin patted her head to comfort her. Soon after, Suzannia gazed at Jogrin with eyes of anticipation, only for him to shake his head. Knowing that she was in the wrong, Suzannia continued to have her arms wrapped with Jogrin's, softly muttered.
"I'm sorry... Can you join us, please?" Her tone changed into a meek one, as she invited Jogrin again, this time politely.
"I can't do that, sorry about that."
"Suzannia, I'll come, so don't be sad, OK?" Zanphia changed her mind after seeing how down Suzannia was.
Everyone just had a soft spot for the youngest one in the house.
"Allow me to apologize, since Jogrin will not be joining you, I have to stay in the house since it is my duty to watch over him." Kapel also declined the invitation.
"Um, guys? Can I say something?"
Zenover, who was sitting at the dining table with a pile of books in front of him, put down his pen and breathed a sigh of relief and spoke up. It appeared that he had just completed his homework. Speaking of homework, Zanphia had already finished her yesterday.
Everyone turned their heads at Zenover and waited for him to continue.
"How about we do a... 'dinner picnic?'"
"Oh~"
Proxer, Naytia, and Suzannia was amazed by this novel idea. Zanphia also seemed intrigued by Zenover's suggestion.
"Then Jogrin can join us without worrying about drawing too much attention!" Naytia clasped her hands together and giddily said.
In the next moment, everyone's gazes were cast on Jogrin. Noticing them, Jogrin shrugged and sighed, before nodding wryly.
"YAY!!!" Suzannia jumped zealously and leapt toward Proxer and hugged him.
Proxer was glad that his little daughter wasn't actually afraid him, so he lifted her up and carried her.
"Nice one, Zenover! Now Jogrin and Father can come with us!"
"I suppose it will be fine in this case. I will gladly accept your invitation. Thank you for having me."
"Let me start preparing then. We still have the curry from last night, and..."
"Let me help!"
As Naytia was pondering over what to have for the dinner picnic, Suzannia volunteered to give Naytia a hand.
"Alright, I'll help out too. We gotta have a big feast tonight!"
"WAHAHA!!!"
Proxer, carrying Suzannia, made a dash toward the kitchen, and Suzannia laughed heartily as she lifted up both her arms. Zenover and Naytia followed after them, leaving only Jogrin, Kapel, Zanphia, and Kron behind.
"I-I think I'll go help too-"
"Zanphia. I've been waiting for you to ask the question since two weeks ago. I think you've been postponing it enough." Jogrin called out to Zanphia who froze in response. "Well, I know what it is you want to ask, so ask away."
"But that's going to bring up bad memories for you..."
"How about this then? This is your final opportunity. I'll never answer you if you ask if ever again."
"That's harsh..."
"Sometimes, people need a push in some way. So?"
Kapel and Kron watched on as the conversation between Jogrin and Zanphia unfolded. It seemed that Kapel had no plans to stop it. He even gave Zanphia a nod of approval. Zanphia gulped nervously, still unsure of whether it was appropriate for her to ask, but since Jogrin had put it that way, she thought perhaps it wouldn't hurt to actually ask.
"Then... if you don't mind..."
"I don't."
Zanphia stared at Jogrin with a pair of earnest eyes, breathed in, and spoke up.
"... How did you endure hundreds of years of bullying...?"