Clueless Bonds

As they continued their walk through the dense forest, Lilith's sharp eyes caught a glint of light reflecting off the necklace around Eleo's neck. Curiosity got the better of her, and she crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.

"Hey, bunny boy," she said, her tone laced with sarcasm and curiosity, "what's that thing around your neck? The fox-looking thing?"

Eleo instinctively reached up, grabbing the small fox pendant and holding it close to his chest. His expression softened, a warm smile spreading across his face. "This? This is Abby."

Lilith raised an eyebrow, her aloof demeanor faltering slightly. "Abby? You're carrying around some girl named Abby?"

Eleo nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! She gave this to me before I left. She said it would help me remember her."

Lilith's expression darkened slightly, and she let out a faint "Oh," almost under her breath. Her usual sharp tone softened as she added, "So... she's your girlfriend, then?"

Eleo blinked, tilting his head like a confused puppy. "Uh... girlfriend? I thought it was called 'only friend.' That's what Abby said we were."

Lilith stopped in her tracks, her prideful nature kicking in as she put her hands on her hips. "You're serious right now? You don't know what a girlfriend is?"

Eleo scratched his head, clearly puzzled. "Nope. What's that? Some kind of special friend? Like... a super friend?"

Lilith groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "No, bunny boy, it's not a super friend." She let out an exaggerated sigh, masking something more subtle. "A girlfriend is... ugh, how do I even explain this to you?"

"Just tell me straight!" Eleo said cheerfully. "I like learning new things!"

Lilith crossed her arms, a faint pink hue creeping onto her cheeks. "Fine. A girlfriend is someone you're romantically involved with. You know, someone you like a lot. More than just a regular friend."

Eleo furrowed his brow, trying to process her explanation. "So... Abby is someone I like a lot. I guess that makes her my girlfriend!"

Lilith's eyes widened, and she stomped her foot. "No, you idiot! It's not just about liking someone! It's... it's different!"

"How's it different?" Eleo asked, genuinely curious, his wide eyes fixed on her.

Lilith groaned again, flustered. "It's—it's about feelings, okay? Special feelings! Like, you want to spend time with them, protect them, maybe even hold their hand—"

"Hold their hand?" Eleo interrupted, his eyes lighting up. "I hold hands with lots of people! Does that mean they're all my girlfriends?"

Lilith slapped her forehead, muttering under her breath, "Why is this so hard to explain to this dense rabbit?" Taking a deep breath, she glared at him. "No, bunny boy. It's not just holding hands. It's about being close to someone in a way that's... romantic!"

"Romantic?" Eleo repeated, still not quite understanding. "Like... giving them carrots or something?"

Lilith groaned loudly, her face burning with frustration. "Forget it! You're hopeless!" She turned away, her ponytails swinging as she stomped ahead, mumbling to herself.

Eleo jogged to catch up, still holding the fox necklace. "Hey, Lilith, thanks for explaining. I think I kinda get it now. Abby's not my girlfriend. She's just my 'only friend,' like she said."

Lilith glanced back at him, her expression softening despite her irritation. "Yeah, sure, whatever," she said, her voice quieter than before. She couldn't help but feel a pang of relief but quickly masked it with her usual sarcasm. "Just don't go throwing that 'girlfriend' word around like candy, okay? You'll embarrass yourself."

"Got it!" Eleo replied cheerfully. "Thanks, Lilith! You're pretty smart!"

Lilith rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smirk from forming on her lips. "You're lucky you're so clueless, bunny boy."

They continued walking, Eleo humming a tune while Lilith kept sneaking glances at the necklace, her mind racing with thoughts she wouldn't dare share out loud.

As they walked, the trees thinned out, revealing a dirt path that led to a clearing. Eleo's ears perked up as he caught sight of wooden rooftops in the distance, smoke curling from chimneys, and the faint sounds of chatter. His face lit up with excitement.

"Lilith, look! It's town! I knew you weren't lying!" he exclaimed, bouncing on his feet like an overexcited child.

Lilith blinked, staring ahead. "We actually found it?" she muttered under her breath, surprised. Then, quickly realizing what she said, she straightened her posture with a prideful huff. "I mean, hahahaha! Of course we did! I told you I knew where I was going. I'm smart, after all."

Without warning, Eleo grabbed her hand, his energy as infectious as ever. "Let's go!"

"W-Wha—hey, don't just grab my hand like that!" Lilith stammered, her cheeks turning a faint pink as he pulled her along.

"But we'll get there faster this way!" Eleo laughed, practically skipping as he dragged her down the path.

Lilith tried to maintain her aloof demeanor, but her flustered protests were drowned out by his laughter and the rush of the moment. As they approached the edge of the town, the sounds of bustling activity grew louder—vendors shouting, children playing, and carts creaking along the cobblestone streets.

When they finally stepped onto the town's outskirts, Eleo let go of her hand, raising his arms in triumph. "We made it!" he cheered.

Lilith, brushing herself off and trying to hide her embarrassment, smirked. "Told you I could get us here."

Eleo turned to her, grinning. "You're the best, Lilith! Come on, let's check it out!"

As Eleo and Lilith wandered through the bustling town square, they paused at the sight of a massive line snaking its way around a booth with a large sign that read, "Sign-Up for Fighting the Strongest Person in the World!"

Eleo groaned, slumping his shoulders dramatically. "Aww, man, that line is way too long! I'll be waiting forever!"

Lilith smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned slightly closer. "I could… you know, take care of that line for you," she said, her voice dripping with sarcastic mischief. "A little fire here, a few sliced ropes there, and poof! Problem solved. You'd just need to beg me first."

Eleo turned to her, his carefree smile unwavering. "Nah, it's fine. I'll wait in line. But, uh… thanks for offering, I guess?" He rubbed the back of his head, completely missing the way Lilith's confident smirk faltered for a second.

She straightened up, a faint pink creeping onto her cheeks. "W-Whatever. I wasn't being serious anyway. I don't care what you do."

Eleo laughed, turning back to the line. "I'll just wait. You don't have to stick around if you don't want to. This could take hours."

Lilith's eyes widened slightly before narrowing again, her pride flaring up. "Excuse me? Who said I was leaving? I'm not going anywhere."

Eleo tilted his head, genuinely curious. "Why, though? It's gonna be boring."

Lilith hesitated for a moment, shifting her weight as she tried to come up with an excuse. "Because…" she began, her tone defensive. "Because I don't trust you to not mess this up! You'd probably get distracted by something shiny and end up at the wrong booth or something."

Eleo blinked, then chuckled. "You really think that little of me, huh?"

She huffed, crossing her arms tightly. "I'm just stating facts, Bunny Boy. You'd be lost without me."

Eleo smiled warmly. "Well, I'm glad you're here, Lilith. It's more fun with someone to talk to."

Lilith turned her face away quickly, hiding the growing blush on her cheeks. "Tch, don't read too much into it. I'm only staying because… because you're hopeless without me."

"Got it," Eleo replied with a grin, completely oblivious to her true feelings.

The two settled into the long line together, Eleo humming a cheerful tune while Lilith stood next to him, rolling her eyes every time he started tapping his feet or craning his neck to peek at the front of the line. Despite her protests, she didn't move an inch, staying right by his side.