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Even if Berdly didn't want to embarrass himself more by interrupting their date again. But Kris seems oddly… Annoyed with the way they had their eyes closed and were staring at the ground as if it had personally offended them even then. And maybe Berdly did not like Kris as much as he thought, considering that a week before he would have never imagined in a million years that he would see Kris be friends with the likes of Susie.
But well, a week before, he was also still very into the idea that he must be Noelle's boyfriend, considering they were both the smartest in class and that Noelle was meant to be with him. Natural selection—he would have even dared to call it once. Now he knew better, of course, as much as he knew his and Noelle's smartness would have been great for any hypothetical children that they could have had. Besides, she was far happier with Susie than she would have ever been with Berdly.
That's to say, Kris doesn't seem happier like this; Berdly would even dare to say that they seem worse than ever in the past week than they have ever seen. Even when their brother had left for college, they had never looked this tired and done with life.
Regardless, it shouldn't hurt to approach them; surely they would rather hang with Berdly than to still be alone while Susie and Noelle must be riding the Ferris Wheel. Berdly really, even though so much of the festival was centered around having a partner. Like for the strength mini-game, you had to ring the bell to see how great of a match you were with someone. For the cup thingy, you could only ride with a partner, and for the Ferris Wheel, you could only ride with one extra person! Berdly had never been able to go on the stupid ride because never had someone with him. Well, he had Noelle, but they weren't a thing, and Noelle never seemed to like to want to ride the Ferris Wheel so he didn't press.
Still, a part of him knew how it must feel for Kris to be left alone, if only because of the fact that it meant they couldn't enjoy the brief ride to.
“Hello, my dear frenemy—” Berdly started. Though, as soon as he did, Kris instantly snapped their eyes open and looked at him confused… Maybe Berdly wasn't supposed to approach them after all; he should have figured that Susie's comment was about the whole festival… Perhaps he should go before she and Noelle got off the ride...
They both stare at one another confused, then after a second passes, Kris says, their voice still sounding as odd as it had for the past few days. “Hey…”
“Hey,” Berdly repeated. Then a little more hesitantly added. “I just wanted to offer to ride the Ferris Wheel with you. I truly feel bad for Susan and Noelle having left you out of their amazing first date just because of some rules, as if Susan has ever cared for—”
“Sure.” Kris interrupted, their lips almost forming a smile. Berdly couldn't help but smile at that; that was better than the frown they had moments before.
So Berdly, like the gentleman he was, decided to pay the fee to ride and opened the door for Kris, who only rolled their eyes at the action. As they entered, they gave him a small nudge on his side, as if telling him to stop with his theatrics. As if he would do such a thing! Sure, Kris was not a potential partner, and they were not a lady or a lord in waiting, but Berdly was trying to make them feel better. If they were riding the Ferris Wheel of Love, then Berdly was making sure that Kris had the best experience ever.
Besides, then he could tell Kris that they own him and ask for their help in their minecrap world. Then Kris would complain about having to do all the hard work while Berdly just did other, not as hard stuff, as if building a beautiful home for them both was not as important! But alas, Berdly just wanted Kris to feel better and enjoy the festival at least a bit more than Berdly did.
As usual Kris was silent; it was not too unusual, and by the angel, did Berdly want to say anything to make them talk, maybe try to initiate a fight, to make them laugh about Berdly's obnoxious behavior, but… It felt wrong; there was something clearly in Kris' mind, and it felt wrong to interrupt them, so he stayed silent and just stared at them… They had so much more baggage under their eyes, and he swears he has even seen them struggle to walk at certain times. Or at least last he saw them on Friday evening, they had been slumping a bit, as if hurt.… Had they hurt themselves doing some of their stupid shenanigans? Oh, Berdly would remind them all about how as fun as silly games could be, Kris had to keep themselves safe even then! And-
Berdly probably shouldn't think too hard about it… Kris would hate for him to worry over them.
Eventually as their cabin made its way as high as possible, Kris turned to him, their eyes oddly shiny… “H-how are you okay with rejection?” Kris mumbled, their voice wavered, and they had closed their eyes again.
Berdly was not sure at all why they were asking what they were, but… He could try to answer truthfully.
"It's—" he started, but he hesitated. He needs to tell Kris the whole truth. “I don't really care if to date, I prefer to keep my friends even if it means to know that we won't work romantically. I prefer that too.”
Kris hummed; they were rubbing their eyes furiously. “But, like… Susie didn't want you to hang with us… You are not mad?”
And honestly? Berdly wasn't. He understood that he was never really close with Noelle and that Kris, as much as they liked playing games with him, still hold their relationship with Noelle and Susie on a higher level than their relationship with him.
“Are we still going to play Minecrap every week?” Kris seemed completely thrown off by the question, but they nodded. “Are you still going to make fun of me for not reading instructions properly?” Kris turned their head to the side but nodded a bit more eagerly. “Then no, I'm not mad; you're my friend still. Noelle and I are still going to work together even if she is dating Susie.”
Somehow, what Berdly said seemed to have deeply resonated with Kris. Their mouths had slightly opened in surprise, and they were looking at him in complete amusement. As if he had said the smartest thing in the world. Which he had. Maybe…
But, wow, he had really managed to stunt Kris Cross Applesauce Dreemurr into silence? Now that was definitely a new achievement to get excited for! Way better than the one he would have to cross off his bucket list, he was not ready to have his first kiss. Or to have it be like. Ever.
Unfortunately, they needed to get off the ride, having completed the circle. As they both step out of their cabin, Kris is instantly getting shouted at by Susie, who was a couple of steps away from the ride and glaring somewhat playfully at them. “Yo, Kris! Are you coming!?”
Kris gives her a thumbs up before they turn back to help Berdly get off the cabin. They stare at him for a second before they suddenly hug him and mumble, “Thank you” right into his ear, which is followed by a sharp pain in the back of his head. But before he could even dare to ask what Kris had done, they suddenly decided to press a kiss on his cheek.
He blinked repeatedly and felt his feathers start to puff up as well as to start to blush in embarrassment. What was that about? Why– Just–
What just happened????
But of course before he could even dare to ask, Kris waved him goodbye with a teasing smile on their face.
“Hell of a ride, eh, kid?” The monster at the stand next to Berdly asked; he decided that it was in everyone's interest if he ignored him…
He needed to get home and not think too hard about whatever Kris had just done.
Stupid Kris making Berdly feel all strange about not having dislike that but also not really understanding why he felt this happy and confused about it...