Why?
*Why am I showing this expression toward a stranger I've never met before?*
Xiya covered his face, trying to calm his frantic thoughts.
"What's wrong?"
The team members and Tiya, all turned their worried gazes toward him in unison.
"Nothing... nothing's wrong," Xiya finally replied after a long pause, his face returning to normal. "You all go ahead. I have some things to take care of. I need to stay behind for a bit."
He decided to stay and take a look.
To see what kind of person could inspire such seething resentment within him.
Xiya, whose strong nature made him prefer to bottle things up, was well aware of this tendency. Thus, as the others left, Tiya quietly stayed behind without saying a word.
She didn't know how to use affectionate gestures to comfort him, so she opted for this clumsy method—silently staying by his side.
...