Two People

She sat with a group of people her age on a wet, low rock. The transparent rain shield on her hat brim was speckled with raindrops, just blocking her eyes from view.

Hesta stopped walking. She suddenly realized she had not actually prepared anything to talk about. She seemed to have thought of many things on the way over, but now she could not remember a single one.

A gust of wind passed, and Ksenia looked up.

When their eyes met, Hesta clearly sensed a flicker of tremor in her. Then Ksenia smiled. The people beside her noticed Hesta too and loudly invited her over to sit with them.

Though they enthusiastically called her by name, most of the faces here were utterly unfamiliar to Hesta. They handed her plump, fresh soft persimmons. Everyone's hands were smeared with moist orange-red pulp, but no one minded in the rain.

Holding three or four persimmons, Hesta sat down beside Ksenia for no particular reason.

Ksenia had just been about to say something when she suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit. All the persimmons in Hesta's hands fell to the ground, and everyone hurried over.

About five minutes later, Ksenia's coughing finally subsided. Half commanding, half joking, she told everyone to disperse and return to their seats.

Once the first wave of commotion had passed, Hesta leaned slightly toward Ksenia. "Are you really okay?"

Ksenia smiled. Instead of answering, she lowered her gaze and peeled away a calyx. Her fingernail pierced the flesh, splitting the persimmon in two.

"Want some?"

"...Thanks." Hesta accepted it. "Are these all your friends?"

"Yeah, friends from the club, and my roommates too."

"Why do they all know me?"

"You're really famous now!" Ksenia laughed again. "You shut Zuo Wentao down in class again yesterday, didn't you?