As they walked together down the quiet streets, Aliana kept a close eye on Star. He was stiff, his hood still drawn low over his face.
But he was moving - taking small, hesitant steps alongside the three new "friends."
Kade kept asking random questions - like why Star always looked so serious, why they were handcuffed, and if Star had ever smiled before.
Star answered none of them.
Nia, on the other hand, kept sneaking concerned glances at Star's neck, where the faint glow of the curse mark was just barely visible under his collar.
She didn't say anything but Aliana noticed her curiosity.
Lila mostly stayed quiet, more focused on twirling a strand of her hair than the conversation - though she did ask Aliana:
"Why is it so important to have exactly nine friends?"
Aliana hesitated for a second. "It's complicated."
----
Eventually, they reached a small, secluded part of town - an open park with a few empty benches and a view of the forest beyond.
It was quiet here - the kind of quiet Star was used to.
He felt more at ease, though the presence of the three teens still gnawed at his mind.
They weren't mindless.
They weren't like his "friends" back home.
He didn't know what to do with that.
Aliana, sensing his discomfort, tugged gently on the chain between them. "Star... we've got three now. That's a good start, right?"
Star didn't answer.
Instead, he whispered: "We still need six more."
Kade flopped onto a bench dramatically probably hearing the whisper. "So... where are you planning to find the other six?"
Aliana opened her mouth to answer - but Star spoke first.
"I... I don't know."
And for a brief second, his voice held a flicker of something - fear?
Kade blinked. "Well... that's reassuring."
Nia shot him a glare. "Kade."
----
As the group sat in the park, Aliana turned to Star, keeping her voice soft.
"We're not alone this time," she whispered. "We have three now - and we'll find more."
Star's eyes met hers.
"What if we don't?" he asked, his voice a fragile thread.
Aliana tightened her grip on the chain. "Then we figure something out. Together."
Star's heart twisted.
Together.
A word his master never used.
----
Kade suddenly clapped his hands.
"Alright! So what's the plan? Are we just gonna wander around until we bump into six more people?"
Aliana sighed. "Something like that."
Star remained silent - his mind fixated on the curse mark.
And for the first time, he wondered...
Was this what hope felt like?
Time was running out.
And yet - a spark remained.
_ _ _
The park's stillness was suddenly broken by the sound of hurried footsteps.
A boy, about 17 - the same age as Star sprinted into view, his chest heaving, eyes darting in panic. His short, brown hair stuck to his forehead from sweat. Without a word, he dove under the playground slide, pressing himself into the shadows.
"Don't... say... a word," he hissed at the group, his voice shaky but urgent. "Please... not a word to the cops."
Kade blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Wait, what-"
Before he could finish, two uniformed police officers appeared at the park's edge, scanning the area with flashlights.
"Hey, you kids!" one officer barked. "Did you see a boy run through here? Brown hair, about this tall?" He gestured to his shoulder.
Aliana's heart thudded.
She could feel Star trembling next to her - his handcuffed wrist pulling slightly at hers. His head was lowered, his breathing shallow.
He thinks they'll kill him.
The fear in his eyes was raw - as if any figure of authority meant danger. His master's influence still haunted him.
Aliana quickly stepped forward, forcing a confident smile.
"Yeah," she said, pointing vaguely toward the opposite end of the park. "He went that way - looked like he was heading for the woods."
The officers narrowed their eyes. One of them glanced at Star - at the handcuffs.
"What's going on here?" the second officer asked suspiciously. "Why are you two... tied together?"
Star flinched, his mind racing - would they arrest him for this too? Would the master find out? Would he die right here?
But Aliana, without missing a beat, laughed nervously.
"Oh, this?" She raised their linked wrists. "It's just a dumb game. A... trust exercise! You know, team bonding stuff."
Kade, catching on, smirked. "Yeah. They're trying to see how long they can stay tied together without going nuts."
The cops exchanged skeptical looks - but after a long pause, the first officer muttered, "Teenagers..." shaking his head.
"Stay out of trouble," the second cop added.
And with that, they turned and headed into the woods.
The moment they were gone, Star staggered backward, still trembling, his face pale.
"They... they didn't kill me..." he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
Aliana gently squeezed his hand. "Of course they didn't."
From under the slide, the boy slowly crawled out, brushing dirt off his worn-out jacket.
He grinned at the group.
"You guys are lifesavers."
Aliana tilted her head. "So... what's your deal?"
The boy shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. "Name's Jake. I'm a... thief, I guess."
Star's expression didn't change, but his body stiffened at the word.
"A thief?" Nia repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Jake smirked. "I don't steal from just anyone - only from the rich. They've got more than enough money, so a few missing bills won't kill them."
Kade chuckled. "So... a noble thief?"
Jake shrugged again. "Something like that. I gotta eat somehow."
Aliana studied him carefully. He was cocky - but his ragged clothes, scuffed shoes, and the slight hollowness under his eyes told her he wasn't stealing for fun.
He was surviving.
Jake's gaze flicked back to Star, lingering on the handcuffs. "So what's your story? You a runaway or something?"
Star didn't answer. His mind was still reeling from the cop encounter, his fear of the master, and the fact that people like Jake even existed - people who broke rules for survival, not because they were ordered to.
Aliana stepped in. "We're... gathering friends."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Friends?"
"Nine of them," Aliana said softly. "We have four now."
Jake blinked, then let out a short laugh. "That's the weirdest thing I've heard all week... but hey, I owe you for not ratting me out." He grinned. "I'm in."
Star's stomach twisted.
Another friend.
Not mind-controlled.
Not silent and obedient.
But another person with emotions, opinions, and unpredictability.
It unsettled him - but also... intrigued him.
----
As the group started walking again, now five strong, Aliana whispered to Star:
"That's four. We're almost halfway."
Star's fingers grazed his curse mark.
But with each new person - the world seemed a little louder, a little less predictable.
The group wandered through the bustling streets of the town once more, the addition of Jake making the atmosphere even more chaotic - at least for Star.
He stayed close to Aliana, their handcuffed wrists keeping them tethered together. Every time someone brushed past him, Star flinched slightly, his gaze darting to their faces, his mind racing with the fear of what if one of them tells the master I'm outside during the day?
Jake, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease - stuffing his hands into his pockets, whistling a tune as if getting chased by cops was just a normal part of his daily routine.
Kade leaned toward Aliana and whispered, "Are we just collecting strays now?"
She shot him a playful glare. "We're collecting friends."
Jake smirked. "I like 'stray' better."
But despite the banter, Aliana noticed Star's discomfort. His expression remained blank, as always, but his fingers were nervously tugging at the fabric of his sleeve, and his posture was stiff - like he was bracing for something bad to happen at any moment.
She gave his wrist a reassuring squeeze. "You're not alone. I'm right here."
Star blinked, staring down at their linked hands for a moment before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod.
----
After a while, they stopped at a quiet corner of the town, a small fountain trickling in the center of the square.
Jake flopped onto a bench. "So... how exactly are we finding these 'friends' of yours?"
Aliana pursed her lips. "We just... talk to people."
Kade raised an eyebrow. "That's the plan?"
"It worked for you guys," she shot back.
Jake chuckled. "If by 'worked' you mean you almost saved me from getting arrested and convinced me to join-"
Aliana ignored him and turned to Star.
"Is there anyone you remember from... before?" she asked gently. "Someone who wasn't mind-controlled - anyone who was just... there?"
Star's face remained blank, but his fingers twitched again.
He was quiet for a long moment before finally speaking.
"I... don't know anyone like that," he said softly. "The only people I knew... were the friends I made for the Master."
There was a cold finality in his words.
Jake gave a low whistle not knowing the reality of the situation. "Man... that's a bit weird. Making friends for someone else and mind control? Never even heard of that. Where did I involve myself this time?"
Aliana's heart sank.
Of course, Star wouldn't have real memories of friends - his entire life was a cycle of gathering "friends" for his master, only for them to become lifeless, hypnotized followers.
The concept of choosing someone to trust was still so alien to him.
Jake finally muttered "You two had been talking about some strange stuff."
Lila being suspicious told. "Yeah, I noticed it too."
Nia said in a softer tone. "You were discussing something about mind control, making friends for Master."
Aliana froze.
Star awkwardly muttered in nervousness. "Um, yeah, its-"
Aliana interrupted."It's a long story. He is a fan of a weird TV show featuring making friends via mind control. And he is imagining himself as the MC and... "
Jake shouted. "Enough. I am not in a mood to hear such a weirdly long story."
The others shaked it off somehow convinced by that. Though fragments of suspicions still remained.
_ _ _
Just then, the faint sound of music floated through the square.
A young girl, probably 14 stood at the fountain's edge, strumming a small, worn-out guitar. Her fingers danced along the strings, playing a soft, melancholic tune.
She played quietly like someone trying to keep their heart from falling apart. A small hat lay at her feet with only a few coins inside.
People passed by without a second glance.
Star's gaze locked onto her.
Not because of the music - but because of the way she looked... alone.
The way her voice wavered, like she was singing more for herself than for the people around her.
Aliana noticed Star's focus and smiled softly.
"Do you... want to talk to her?" she asked.
Star didn't move.
"She's... like me," he said blankly.
Jake tilted his head. "Don't tell me she's a weirdo like you?"
Star shook his head. "She's... lonely."
The group fell silent for a moment.
Aliana gently tugged at their handcuffs. "Let's go talk to her."
Star hesitated but didn't resist as Aliana led the way - the others trailing behind.
As they approached, the girl kept playing - though her gaze flicked nervously to them, clearly wary.
When they stopped in front of her, she strummed the last note and clutched her guitar tightly.
"I'm not begging," she said quickly. "I'm earning."
Aliana raised her hands. "We're not here to bother you."
The girl's grip on the guitar didn't loosen. "Then what do you want?"
There was a familiar coldness in her voice - the same detached tone Star often spoke with.
Before Aliana could answer, Star spoke up.
"Are you lonely?"
The girl blinked, stunned by the bluntness of the question.
Jake facepalmed. "Real smooth, man."
But Star didn't seem to notice - his empty eyes locked on hers.
The girl was silent for a long moment before her shoulders slumped, and she muttered, "What's it to you?"
Aliana stepped forward. "We're... making friends."
The girl stared at them - first at Aliana, then Kade, then Jake - before her eyes landed back on Star.
"And you... you're trying to make a friend?" she asked, almost disbelieving.
Star slowly nodded.
The girl scoffed. "People don't just... make friends."
Aliana smiled softly. "We do."
_ _
The girl stood frozen for a moment, her fingers still curled around the neck of her worn-out guitar.
The disbelief in her eyes was plain - as if the idea of "making friends" without an ulterior motive was a language she didn't speak.
Star, still handcuffed to Aliana, didn't break eye contact. His blank expression never wavered, but there was something new flickering behind his dark eyes - a quiet curiosity.
Aliana stepped forward again, keeping her voice soft.
"We don't have a reason," she said simply. "We just... want to know you."
The girl's gaze darted to their linked wrists. "Is this... some weird couple thing?"
Jake stifled a laugh. "Oh, they're definitely not a couple."
Aliana's cheeks flushed, but she quickly shook her head. "We're not- It's not-" She took a breath. "This is Star. He's..." She paused, unsure how much to say.
Kade leaned in. "He's... got some stuff going on."
The girl's stare hardened again. "You're all a bunch of weirdos."
Jake smirked. "Accurate."
Finally, Star spoke again - his voice quiet, almost hesitant.
"Do you... want to be my friend?"
The girl blinked. "What?"
"I need... friends," Star said, his words slow, like he was still piecing together the idea himself. "Not the kind the master wants... but the kind Aliana says are... real."
There was a beat of silence.
Then the girl laughed - not a kind laugh, but a sharp, bitter one.
"You can't just ask someone to be your friend," she said. "That's not how it works."
Aliana opened her mouth to respond, but Star - surprisingly - beat her to it.
"Why not?" he asked, genuinely confused.
The girl stared.
Jake muttered, "He's got a point."
Aliana tried again, her voice gentler. "What's your name?"
The girl hesitated before muttering, "Luna."
"Luna." Aliana smiled. "We're not asking for anything. Just... talk to us for a while."
Luna's grip on her guitar loosened slightly, but the wariness didn't leave her eyes. "I don't need friends."
Star tilted his head. "Are you lonely?"
Another sharp question - straight to the heart of it.
Luna flinched, her lips parting, but no words came out.
Her silence was answer enough.
----
After a long pause, she muttered, "If I talk to you... will you give me something?"
Aliana frowned. "We're not here to buy your time."
But Star surprised them all again.
He reached into his pocket - the same pocket where he always kept the keys to the house, the cup noodles the master gave him and pulled out the only thing he had: a small, smooth rock.
It was an ordinary stone, dark and round, but polished from how much he'd absentmindedly fiddled with it over time.
He held it out to Luna.
"This is... all I have," he said flatly. "It's... mine."
Aliana's eyes widened slightly - because Star never had anything that belonged to him. Everything was either for the master or for the "friends" he collected. But this rock... it was his.
Luna looked at the rock, then at Star. "You're... giving me a rock?"
Star nodded. "For being my friend."
Jake snickered. "Smooth, man. Real smooth."
Kade elbowed him.
There was a long silence.
Then - to everyone's surprise, Luna reached out and took the rock.
She didn't smile, but she didn't scoff either.
She just pocketed it and said softly,
"I guess I'm your friend now."
Star blinked. "...You are?"
She shrugged. "I guess."
It was small, tentative... but it was a start.
Aliana beamed.
Jake clapped Star on the back. "Congrats, buddy. You just made your first voluntary friend. We now officially added another weirdo in our already weird bunch."
Star didn't react - but there was something... lighter about his blank expression.
As if, for the first time, he was starting to understand what friendship without magic really was.
And Luna - still clutching her guitar - didn't walk away.
She stayed.
Maybe, just maybe... because she needed a friend too.
After a long moment, Star whispered to Aliana, a hint of weariness in his voice but also a flicker of confidence:
"Let's go home. It's already night... and I'm tired. I think we can find the rest tomorrow."
Aliana nodded, then turned to the group and smiled.
"Alright, everyone let's go to Star's house."