"I'm hungry. Did you bring any sushi?"
The tense standoff was broken by Hechi's sudden "honesty."
At his words, Xiaojin got up and ran aside, taking a lunchbox wrapped in a checkered cloth from behind a wooden post.
"I made it before coming here this morning. It should still be edible."
Hechi chuckled at that. "Sure, sure. Of course it is."
As he spoke, Hechi plopped down on the ground, grabbed an eel roll with his bare hand, and stuffed it into his mouth.
"What are you standing there for? Aren't you hungry?"
Hechi asked Matsushita, who stood off to the side looking astonished.
"I am!"
"Then come eat with us."
By the time they had finished eating, the sky had long since grown dark. All three lay on the ground, gazing at the river of stars that had emerged overhead.
Everything was silent, their surroundings utterly still.
Suddenly, Hechi said sheepishly to the other two, "I'm sorry."
Xiaojin: ???
Matsushita: ???
Hechi explained, "Actually, I realized it just now. I was too impulsive this afternoon. I shouldn't have attacked you."
Xiaojin smiled at his words.
Matsushita said, "I should apologize too. I shouldn't have doubted you."
"But were you serious when you said I had a short temper?" Hechi frowned and rolled onto his stomach, saying to Matsushita, "Am I usually hotheaded? I've always thought I was pretty easygoing."
"Shameless!" Xiaojin scolded him with a giggle.
Even Matsushita rolled his eyes at him twice upon hearing that, leaving him to figure it out himself.
"What are you two doing? I really am pretty easygoing."
After defending himself, Hechi lay back down and said, "I'm only a little harsh with other people. When have I ever given either of you an attitude?"
After Hechi finished, the three fell silent