Kai and Olivia walked side by side, their steps in sync as they observed Lucas and Grace from a distance. Grace was strolling alongside Carl and Lucas. Carl was engaged in a lively conversation with her, his words drawing out a sincere and thoughtful response from Grace. Meanwhile, Lucas trailed beside her, quiet and seemingly absorbed in his own thoughts, his eyes darting towards Grace every few moments as if he couldn't help himself. The morning exercises had left them all exhausted, but something in Lucas's demeanor was even more draining.

"Lucas has lost it," Kai murmured as they finally reached the riverside track, where the soothing sound of the flowing water provided a stark contrast to the tension in the air.

Olivia glanced over at Lucas, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. "I've noticed that too," she said quietly, a hint of concern in her voice. "Grace is going to be furious and frustrated with this behavior."

"For the past three days, he's been... off," Kai continued, his tone more serious now. "It's like he's just going through the motions."

Olivia turned to Kai, her brows furrowed in curiosity. "What do you mean, just going through the motions?"

Kai sighed, his gaze shifting back to the group ahead of them. "He's there, physically, but that's about it. They don't talk. Grace barely acknowledges his presence, but he sticks to her like glue. From meals to training sessions, even when we're walking to and from the base camp—he's always there, lingering in the background. It's strange, like he's waiting for something, or maybe trying to figure something out. I can't put my finger on it, but something's definitely off. I've got a feeling he's up to something."

Olivia's expression softened, her curiosity now tinged with worry. "And what do you think that something is?"

Kai shrugged, a determined look in his eyes as he watched Lucas and Grace move further down the path. "I'm not sure yet," he admitted, "but I'm going to find out. Something's going on, and I don't like being in the dark. It's like... I can sense trouble brewing, and I'm not going to just sit back and wait for it to hit."

As they continued their walk, the tension between the pairs grew more palpable. Grace's laugh at something Carl said echoed faintly in the distance, but Lucas didn't react, his focus entirely on her, as if she were the only person in the world.

**

"Wait here," Kai instructed, his voice firm yet gentle as he looked down at Lucas, who sat on a large rock, idly fidgeting with a twig. The morning sun cast long shadows across the forest floor, but the light did little to brighten Lucas's exhausted expression.

"Kai, what are you up to?" Lucas asked, his voice heavy with fatigue, as he absently tossed the twig aside.

"Waiting," Kai replied simply, his gaze fixed intently on the dense woods and the narrow trail that wound its way to the hidden campfire circle where they had gathered.

Lucas furrowed his brow, clearly not satisfied with the vague response. "I can see that," he said, "but who are you waiting for?"

Kai sighed, turning slightly to face Lucas. He opened his mouth to reply, but before he could utter a word, the soft rustling of leaves and the sound of hurried footsteps diverted both of their attentions. Kai's eyes flicked back to the trail just in time to see a figure emerging from the trees.

Grace appeared, her pace quickening as she jogged toward them. Without hesitation, she ran directly to Lucas, her eyes wide with concern. "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? Should I get the first aid kit?" she asked, the words tumbling out in a rush as she anxiously scanned Lucas's arms and head for any signs of injury.

Lucas blinked, taken aback by her sudden arrival and concern. "I'm fine," he said, a puzzled look crossing his face. "Why are you asking that?"

From a few feet away, Kai couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. But his amusement was short-lived; he quickly stifled his laughter when both Grace and Lucas shot him questioning glances.

Kai cleared his throat and grinned sheepishly. "Well, since we're all here, why don't we have a little chat?" he suggested, moving to sit on another rock positioned across from Lucas.

Lucas's suspicion grew as he watched Kai settle into his seat. "You did something, didn't you?" he asked, his voice laced with both curiosity and annoyance.

"Who, me? I did nothing," Kai responded, feigning innocence. But Lucas's unrelenting stare eventually wore him down. With a reluctant sigh, Kai confessed, "Alright, fine. I texted Grace that you were hurt and needed help. So, she came rushing over."

Grace's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's a sick joke, Kai," she snapped, her tone a mix of anger and exasperation. She dropped onto the rock between Lucas and Kai, her expression demanding an explanation. "What's the matter with you?"

Kai didn't flinch at her irritation. Instead, he leaned forward, his expression suddenly serious. "That's exactly what I want to know—what's the matter with you two?" he asked, his gaze shifting between Grace and Lucas.

Lucas sighed, clearly frustrated. "Speak clearly, Kai."

Kai crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes narrowing as he studied their faces. "You two are hiding something," he said, his voice low and accusing. "I've noticed the weird shift in your behavior, and I'm not an idiot. I can't stand being kept in the dark, so spill the tea."

Grace exchanged a quick glance with Lucas before turning back to Kai. "There's no tea, Kai," she said calmly, though her voice wavered slightly.

Kai raised a skeptical eyebrow at her, his silence urging them to speak.

Lucas, sensing Kai's persistence, looked to Grace for guidance. When she gave him a small, reluctant nod, he turned back to Kai and spoke. "Alright, look. We've both been through a lot recently, and we came to a conclusion. We can't undo the past, and the impact of what happened... it's affected everyone. We can't go back to who we were before. So, we've decided to start fresh, to give each other some space. We want to rebuild our bond, slowly, over time."

Kai's eyes narrowed further, his skepticism growing. "That's what you're calling a solution?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. "This 'passage of time' thing could drag on forever. That's not a plan—it's a recipe for stagnation. We need to try something else."

Grace's patience was clearly wearing thin. "What exactly are you suggesting, Kai?" she asked, her voice edged with irritation.

Kai stood up, his mind already racing with ideas. He began pacing around the campfire circle, his footsteps crunching on the dry leaves as he mulled over his thoughts. After what felt like an eternity of silence, he suddenly stopped, his eyes lighting up with a spark of inspiration. He turned back to them, a wide grin spreading across his face as he sat down again.

"Three-three-three," Kai announced with a flourish.

Grace and Lucas exchanged bewildered looks. "What?" they asked in unison.

"Three times three," Kai explained, his excitement bubbling over. "You two are going to go on dates. Nine dates, to be exact. The first three will be as friends—I'll arrange those right here at the camp. The next six will be your responsibility. Each of you will plan three dates on alternate days. After the last six, you can decide whether you want to move forward together or not. How does that sound?"

Lucas stared at Kai as if he'd lost his mind. "That's the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard," he said flatly.

Grace shook her head in disbelief. "You've completely lost it, Kai," she said, rising from her seat as if to leave.

But Kai was quick to act. He reached out, gently grabbing her arm to stop her. "Just hear me out," he pleaded, his voice softer now. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Trust me on this. I want to fix things between you two. It was partly my fault things got messed up in the first place, and I want to make it right. Nine dates—what's the harm in trying?"

Grace and Lucas exchanged another look, this one filled with uncertainty and silent communication. They seemed to be weighing Kai's proposal, unsure of how to respond.

Finally, they both turned to face Kai, their expressions softened. Seeing this, Kai couldn't help but smile. He knew he had them on board, at least for now. "So, what do you say?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

Grace sighed, clearly torn, but there was a hint of acceptance in her eyes. "Alright, Kai," she said slowly. "We'll give it a shot. But don't expect miracles."

Lucas nodded in agreement, though his skepticism hadn't entirely faded. "Fine, we'll try it your way. But if this blows up in our faces, it's on you."

Kai beamed, relief and satisfaction washing over him. "Deal," he said, confident that his plan, however unorthodox, might just be the thing to help them all move forward.