Alone
After saying that, Simoya suddenly fell silent. Though she still had a great deal she wanted to say, a complicated feeling made her stop. She did not like playing the harsh one, yet around Hesta, she seemed to slip into that role more and more easily.
Hesta sensed that something was off as well. She vaguely felt that Simoya was waiting for her to ask, "What kind of person did you think I was?" As though Simoya would only continue the subject if Hesta took the initiative and asked that question.
The two stared at each other in silence. Simoya was practically holding back internal injuries as she said indignantly, "Are you even listening to me?"
"I am."
"Don't you want to know what kind of person you used to be in my eyes?"
Hesta suddenly laughed. "...Sounds like I used to be a very good person."
"Don't joke around! I'm being very serious—"
"Simoya," Hesta said, leaning a little closer, "don't be angry. In my eyes, you're a very good person too."
Simoya froze, once again forgetting to finish the rest of what she had been saying. She sighed softly, turned away, and pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Come on, let's hurry up and finish this meal." Hesta pointed ahead. "We need to go back and rest this afternoon, change clothes, and get ourselves into shape before Kendall's invitation."
"...Stop changing the subject." Simoya was somewhat thrown by the sudden compliment. She tried hard to compose herself and return to the state of slight anger and righteous severity she had been in moments ago. "Has no one ever warned you? Quicksilver Needles should not interfere too deeply in Habitable Zone affairs. Every major district has its own customs and character. The deeper Quicksilver Needles get involved, the