He listened to their conversation. She did live with her father. She also seemed to get very annoyed about people asking about him. If she had gone because she was being battered with questions, he really did have a chance to make a connection with her. Even if he failed, the year was long and starting now gave him more room for trying in the future.

He poked at his food unhappily. In truth, he had stashed quite a few bread rolls into his pockets, but he needed an excuse to leave. "Ugh...I feel a little sick. I'll see you guys later." The people around him nodded and a few said things like "See you later." or "Yeah, get better." He slowly walked out, trying to look a little ill at least before he was out of sight. He looked around, trying to find some clue where she might have been...the large doors weren't closed. Well, they were but one door stuck out barely a centimetre. Still, it was enough.

He opened it quietly, slipped through the gap and closed most of the way like how he had found it. If she was new, she probably wouldn't try and go too far out, not in the dark. He heard a slight splashing sound, the fountain not too far ahead of him. He snuck round the side slowly, and she seemed to be distracted so that wasn't too hard. He didn't want the thought he had left just such a small time after her in her mind, so making it look like he had come from the other side would suggest he had left before her.

He walked towards her now, a look of confusion and interest on his face, but not too much. "You're the exchange girl, right?" He let her register his presence before smiling and sitting down beside her. He looked away, then looked back interest now replaced by kind caring eyes. "Are you okay? It's cold out here, wouldn't you rather be inside with everyone else?"

It was easier to try and get the information he had already heard from her if he could. Then asking about those things wouldn't look so weird. Also, he had often found most girls liked to be able to talk about things like that, and liked even more someone who would listen and try to understand.