Lydia just hugged him still, smiling to herself. Proud of him. "You stop hiding it. No one is saying you have to go make friends with everyone. Trust is important."

Letting him pull out of the hug if he wanted, she remained close and glanced back at Akane too. "She's right though, you accept this is part of yourself. That's all."

Grinning, she motioned back to include the other girl too. "She was part of the research team, and we can all go to lunch if you'd like. Or just you and me. Because you're my friend Ales, and we can make other friends too."

Yes Akane, she's willing to be friends with you too.