Lifering led his group down to the lakeside where the kayaks were neatly lined up and ready for use. With a cheerful smile, he turned to his group to explain the activity.

"Each kayak is designed for two people, so find a partner! You'll each have a paddle—use it by pushing away from your body at the shoulder and pulling back. It's easy once you get the hang of it. The river forms a big loop around the forest, so you'll circle back here. And to make things exciting, the first team to return wins a night in the luxury cabin!" Lifering gestured towards the cabins with a mischievous grin. "Now, choose your teams!"

Balloon turned to Nickel with a warm smile. He hoped to partner with him, seeing it as a great opportunity for them to work together and possibly win a prize. They would make a formidable team! Plus, Balloon found himself enjoying Nickel's company lately, a stark contrast to just a day ago when he couldn't bear his rude attitude. Now, he relished it. Balloon also wanted to test Fan's theory, did Nickel truly have a crush on him, or was Fan merely being delusional?

"Partners?" Balloon asked with a playful grin.

Nickel huffed softly, offering a weak smile and a nod of agreement. "Yeah... partners," he replied, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension about being alone with Balloon on a boat out on the river. Strange feelings were resurfacing strongly, and Nickel struggled to ignore them. He wanted to push Balloon away again to avoid these confusing emotions, but they had made so much progress in reconnecting as friends after years apart. Nickel couldn't bear the thought of hurting Balloon now. It had been easier to shut Balloon out when they were estranged because any pain was already there, but now that they were repairing their friendship, causing Balloon pain would be devastating. Nickel had to maintain his facade, hiding his true feelings and avoiding any slip-ups that might reveal his emotions.

Paintbrush took it upon themselves to look out for Fan and provide comfort while his girlfriend was away. Knowing how attached Fan was to Test Tube, Paintbrush aimed to help him cope with the separation anxiety.

"Hey Lifering, quick question!" Paintbrush chimed in. "Will the other group be doing the same challenge as us? Do the winners from both groups get the luxury cabin?"

Lifering confirmed with a smile, "That's right! Four lucky winners will enjoy the luxury cabin tonight!"

Excitedly, Paintbrush turned to Fan, sharing a plan. "Fan, if we win, we can strategize with Lightbulb and Test Tube for their turn. If both groups succeed, we could all share the cabin!"

Fan glanced towards Nickel and Balloon behind them. "What about Nickel and Balloon? They'll be alone in that old shack... Is that fair?"

Nickel overheard and interjected, "Unfair? We get a night without you 'loser couples'!" He chuckled lightly.

Balloon couldn't contain his smile at the thought of being alone with Nickel in a quiet setting, without the judgement of the others, maybe Nickel would let him cuddle with him again if they were alone. "I agree! Go for it! Win this, we're rooting for you!" Balloon beamed brightly. "Besides, I just want to have fun with my friend... not win any stupid challenge..." He turned to Nickel and gave him a warm smile.

Nickel blushed as Balloon spoke, feeling flustered. He turned away, covering his face with a hand. His thoughts were jumbled, but one thing was clear—Balloon was just too cute, and it was unfair how much it affected him!

"Alright then! It's settled, Fan, we've got to win this!" Paintbrush exclaimed eagerly. "We can't let Knife and YinYang take it. I have a feeling we can easily beat them. They don't even seem like they've even spoken to each other before!"

YinYang stood with arms crossed, clearly reluctant to partner with Knife.

"I don't want to be their partner, Candle!" YinYang protested to Candle.

"Come on, YinYang. Remember what we talked about? You need to open up and make new friends. Knife will be nice, and you two will have fun," Candle encouraged with a smile directed at Knife, who appeared indifferent but ready to get started.

"Alright, I'm about to start the timer. I'll be here waiting for your return! You need to run to that small shack, put on a life jacket, head to a kayak, and get going. On your marks... get set... GO!" Lifering shouted.

The teams of two hurried towards the shack while Balloon and Nickel strolled leisurely. While the other groups swiftly strapped on their life jackets and raced to their boats, Balloon and Nickel took their time. They truly hoped that Paintbrush and Fan would emerge victorious. As for Test Tube and Lightbulb, they wished for a night away from the couples and their romantic displays.

Balloon carefully secured his life jacket, ensuring it was on properly. He glanced over at Nickel, who was struggling with his clip. Balloon couldn't help but chuckle softly at Nickel's frustration. Moving closer, Balloon offered, "Here, let me help."

Nickel tensed up, feeling his heart race as Balloon came near. He was bewildered by Balloon's kindness. After all the years of Nickel being awful to him, why was Balloon suddenly so forgiving and friendly? Nickel hadn't even apologised for his past behaviour. He didn't feel deserving of Balloon's kindness. Nickel had harboured resentment towards Balloon since middle school, yet Balloon was showing him such care despite their history of conflict. It perplexed Nickel. Why did Balloon care so much about him? Shouldn't Balloon hate him after all these years?

These thoughts consumed Nickel's mind as they paddled down the river in silence for the first 5 minutes, surrounded by the serene forest scenery, the gentle sounds of nature filling the air. Balloon was absorbed in the beauty around them, his strokes gentle and contemplative.

Meanwhile, Nickel struggled to focus, his thoughts and emotions in turmoil. He couldn't comprehend how Balloon could be so forgiving after everything. Part of him wondered if he was overreacting and should just accept Balloon's friendship, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. His mind desperately sought reasons to build a barrier between them, to avoid acknowledging his growing feelings for Balloon. He craved conflict and distance to shield himself from his own emotions. His mind twisted, trying to convince him that Balloon wasn't as kind as he appeared, fueling his frustration at Balloon's unwarranted forgiveness. It felt unjust and unearned, leaving Nickel grappling with a mix of guilt, confusion, and anger.

"I don't understand..." Nickel suddenly grumbled, breaking the silence between them.

Balloon paused his rowing and turned to face Nickel, genuinely puzzled.

"I... I mean, why are you being so nice to me? You don't have to be. Is it because you feel sorry for me? Because you think I'm pathetic and everyone else here hates me, so you're my only option for company? Seriously, what is it? Why do you care so much all of a sudden? Why are you helping me and wanting to spend time with me? What did I do to deserve any of this?" Nickel's frustration poured out. "I've been nothing but awful to you for years, and here you are acting like none of it even happened! You can't erase the past, Balloon. You can't erase how badly I treated you. I made you apologise over and over again, but I never once apologised to you. So what gives? Why are you doing this? If it's out of pity, just stop. I don't need your pity." Nickel snapped, crossing his arms as he turned away to gaze at the forest.

Balloon was left speechless, unable to find the right words to respond to Nickel's outburst. He simply turned back to rowing, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to say.

Nickel huffed and rolled his eyes, convinced that Balloon's kindness stemmed from pity.

Balloon's hands tightened on the paddles, his eyes welling up with tears as his grip began to shake. He felt on the verge of breaking down. Why couldn't Nickel understand? Why was everything always his fault? Balloon had been trying so hard to repair their friendship, and here was Nickel, still making excuses and doubting Balloon's sincerity. Balloon abruptly stopped paddling, slamming the paddles down, and turned to face Nickel.

Nickel's expression froze as he saw the tears in Balloon's eyes...

"Pity? You think this is all about pity? So you still don't trust me? You still believe I have ulterior motives? I thought we were past this!" Balloon's voice cracked with emotion. "Did you ever consider that maybe I'm just tired of us fighting all the time? Maybe I simply want to be your friend again! Perhaps I don't need an apology from you because I know it won't come. Maybe I just wanted things to be easier, to put everything behind us and start anew. I don't care about the past. We both hurt each other, but that's behind us now. I'm trying my best to move forward, for both of us. I don't pity you; I just want us to be friends again. I just want you to like me! I just..." Balloon ran a shaky hand through his curly red locks, his whole body trembling with emotion.

Nickel was caught off guard and overwhelmed with guilt. Balloon's emotional reaction made him realise how unfairly he had treated his friend. Awkwardly, Nickel shifted closer on the wooden seat of the kayak, gently moving Balloon's hands away from his tear-streaked face. Nickel's hands found Balloon's damp, trembling hands, and he held them firmly. Balloon looked up weakly at Nickel, his body trembling with emotion.

"Balloon... I didn't mean it like that, okay? I'm... I'm just angry. Not at you, but at myself. I'm taking my own insecurities out on you because... because you forgive so easily, and you love and trust so quickly. And me? I build stupid walls between the people I care about. I don't forgive easily... I can't do what you do, and I guess... I'm angry because I don't understand how it's so easy for you and so hard for me," Nickel confessed shakily. "I don't feel like I deserve your kindness. I treated you horribly for years, and now you're acting like it never happened. But you did one thing all the way back in middle school, and I held onto that grudge. I was horrible, unlike you... who is kind, honest, and caring. I wish I was like that, and I just get angry that I'm not." Nickel swallowed harshly, feeling vulnerable speaking about his emotions.

Balloon sniffled, his knee trembling as he moved one hand to gently cup Nickel's face, lifting it so they made eye contact.

"We all handle things differently. Some forgive easily, some don't. That doesn't make you a bad person. I hurt you. I broke your trust," Balloon admitted with sincerity. "I shouldn't have pushed for your forgiveness all those years. I should have waited until you were ready instead of getting so frustrated with you. I realise now that we're all different. You don't forgive easily, and that's okay. I should have accepted that instead of constantly pressuring you. I missed you, but that didn't give me the right to force a friendship on you. But please, now that you've forgiven me, let me forgive you. Even if it happened quicker than you wanted, this is how I heal. And maybe if I had let you heal the way you needed, we wouldn't be in this mess. Please, let me forgive you... let's put it in the past finally. I just want my friend back." Balloon spoke shakily, staring directly into Nickel's glassy eyes.

Nickel sniffled and, without thinking, leaned into Balloon's hand, his eyes fixed on the salmon-haired boy. A strange weight seemed to lift from his shoulders. It felt good. Both of their cheeks turned pink with shyness. Balloon found himself noticing how cute Nickel was, but quickly withdrew his hand, feeling a surge of emotions he couldn't quite understand. Was he also falling for Nickel? He wasn't sure...

Nickel wiped away his tears quickly, uncomfortable with showing so much vulnerability. He took a shaky deep breath and picked up his paddle.

"Should we get going? I know we're not aiming to win, but we can't take too long!" He chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood and change the subject.

Balloon chuckled softly, still facing Nickel. "Oh, but my arms hurt! You steer! I'll rest!" Balloon playfully flopped his head into Nickel's lap, peeking up to see Nickel's flushed face. Nickel stiffened, his shoulders tightening and hands gripping the paddles tightly.

"G-Get off! Lazy ass... come on," Nickel playfully pushed Balloon off him, partly to break the flustering moment and partly to keep the playful mood going.

Balloon laughed and sat up, grabbing his paddle. "Alright, fine!"

They both began paddling down the river, using the physical activity to release the pent-up emotions that had been driving them both crazy. Although they hadn't verbally confirmed that they were starting over and rebuilding their friendship, it was evident from their actions and the unspoken understanding between them.

Nickel's mind was still in turmoil. Processing everything they had discussed and the fact that he and Balloon were embarking on a fresh start weighed heavily on him. He was determined not to mess it up. He wanted this renewed friendship to succeed as much as Balloon did, but he feared that he might say or do something to ruin everything. His complicated feelings for Balloon added another layer of anxiety. He desperately wanted to conceal his emotions, especially since Balloon had a knack for doing cute things that made it challenging for Nickel to keep his feelings hidden. Nickel was afraid that one slip-up could create awkwardness between them, and he hoped fervently that it wouldn't happen. He couldn't let Balloon know about his feelings, not now or ever. Little did he know that Balloon had his suspicions.

They continued rowing, the occasional silence broken by Balloon's voice.

"How do you think Suitcase and Baseball will react to knowing we're friends again?" Balloon asked, genuinely curious about their mutual friends' potential reactions.

Nickel shrugged slightly. "Uh, probably glad..."

Balloon smiled faintly. "I think so too... They always tried to get us to get along. Who knew all we needed was some time alone together to sort it out, huh?" Balloon chuckled, finding irony in the situation.

They were halfway around the loop, the other teams nowhere in sight, likely racing against each other for the lead.

"I like hanging out with you... just the two of us," Balloon suddenly murmured shyly. He wanted to gauge Nickel's reaction but also felt the sincerity of his words.

Nickel's throat went dry, his cheeks flushing at Balloon's words and tone. "Yeah... me too," Nickel admitted with a mumble. He genuinely enjoyed their alone time, but a part of him worried that it was fueling his growing feelings for Balloon, giving him more reasons to fall for him.

"I kinda hope that Fan and Paintbrush win this... along with Lightbulb and Test Tube," Balloon hummed softly. "It would be nice without them in the cabin, just the two of us tonight."

Nickel smirked teasingly. "Why? So you have an excuse to cuddle with me, huh?"

Balloon's response caught Nickel off guard. "I suppose..." Balloon murmured, glancing around at the scenery, feeling his heart quicken.

Nickel's expression changed as he blushed, trying to keep up the teasing without making things awkward. "Aww, because you're a big baby who's afraid of the dark~ wah wah!" He laughed nervously.

"Aw, well if you like, you can sleep on the top bunk and I'll take the bottom closer to the window for light! I know how much you love the top bunk," Balloon teased back, giggling.

"Oh, shut up," Nickel scoffed, but then added with a hint of playfulness, "You can cuddle with me, jeez... gaybo."

"Says you!" Balloon retorted, both of them smiling like dorks.

Nickel couldn't quite decipher whether Balloon was flirting or just teasing, but it made him incredibly nervous. He maintained a gruff facade, acting as if everything was fine and attempting to conceal any genuine feelings. Maybe if he could make Balloon appear more interested, he'd back off?

"Oh, look! The shore! And everyone's there... Well, we lost!" Nickel chuckled awkwardly, trying to divert attention.

They paddled over to the other kayaks and stepped onto the shore. It was clear that Paintbrush and Fan had won, celebrating happily, while YinYang and Knife appeared displeased.

"It's about time you two came back! What were you doing? Making out?" Paintbrush teased.

Both Balloon and Nickel blushed slightly, glancing at each other before quickly looking away.

"Ha! Balloon wishes!" Nickel jokes, attempting to mask any deeper feelings.

Balloon let out a squeak and playfully punched Nickel's arm. "Nuh uh!"

Fan observed their interactions closely, noting the way they interacted with each other and their reactions to Paintbrush's teasing. He had a strong suspicion that his theory was correct, but he also sensed that Balloon was developing feelings for Nickel as well.

"Campers! You're all here!" Lifering announced. "Okay, so Paintbrush and Fan won this challenge, so they get the luxury cabin! You'll be sharing with the winners from the other group!" Lifering redirected the group away from the lake. "We're running a bit late, and the other group is probably waiting for the crossover! Off to the kitchen for the barista course!" He clapped his hands, leading the group toward the kitchen.

As they all walked together into the kitchen, they joined their friends from the other group. Excitement filled the air as everyone dispersed into smaller groups, discussing their experiences from the challenge and strategizing for the next activities. Paintbrush and Fan eagerly approached their partners, sharing details about their adventure and emphasising the importance of winning for the luxury cabin.

"Alright, everyone! Before we move on to the next activity, we'll have lunch!" Lifering announced cheerfully. "We have pre-prepared sandwiches and fruits, so gather around the tables and we'll serve the food!" He added.

Lightbulb, Paintbrush, Fan, and Test Tube all sat together, forming a cosy group. Fan was particularly affectionate, holding onto his girlfriend tightly and showering her with affectionate gestures. Test Tube kept her boyfriend close, comforting him with forehead kisses.

Lightbulb and Paintbrush, on the other hand, were less clingy. Paintbrush had their arm around Lightbulb's shoulder, and they were engaged in planning with the others to ensure they could all share the luxury cabin together.

Balloon and Nickel sat together at a separate table, initially alone until Candle, Silver, and YinYang joined them. Lifering and Goo arrived, placing platters of food and paper plates in front of each person. Balloon and Nickel wasted no time in grabbing sandwiches, clearly hungry, and quietly began eating while others around them chatted away.

Candle decided to break the silence and engage the table in conversation. "So, how are you boys liking the camp so far?" she asked calmly, smiling.

Nickel gave a slight shrug as he took another bite of his sandwich. "It's been okay," he replied, not particularly eager to engage in conversation but sensing he would be drawn into it regardless.

"I think it's been great... better than I expected," Balloon chimed in with a smile, glancing briefly at Nickel.

Candle had observed the long-standing feud between these two for years, so seeing them getting along now brought her genuine joy.

"I'm glad," Candle responded warmly, shifting her attention to Silver. "What about you, Silver? I know you're not exactly the camping type. Surprised Mephone managed to convince you to come along for the trip," she teased with a soft giggle.

Silver Spoon's cheeks flushed bright red as he scoffed in response. "I'm offended! I am so the camping type!"

Candle placed a hand on his arm and smiled up at him. "Keep telling yourself that," she joked playfully.

Silver's heart raced with affection for Candle. If only she knew just how much he adored her.

Nickel let out a groan, feeling uncomfortable with the teachers' flirtatious exchange happening right across from them. Without a word, he grabbed Balloon's arm and pulled him away from the table.

"What about YinYang? I'm sure they don't want to sit there and watch their favourite teacher flirt with their most disliked teacher," Balloon remarked.

"Oh please, it doesn't matter as long as they are hanging off Candle, come on, let's just sit somewhere else." Nickel added, leading Balloon to find another place to sit.

Balloon blushed slightly at the close proximity with Nickel, appreciating the shift in their relationship from avoidance to closeness. They settled at another table with their cabin roommates, which caused the table to fall silent, giving them curious looks.

"Yes?" Paintbrush spoke up with a hint of sass.

"What? Do you have a problem?" Nickel retorted, his tone defensive.

Paintbrush growled, clenching their fists in frustration at Nickel's attitude.

"Hey, it's okay. Let's just be nice," Fan intervened, trying to calm Paintbrush down. "After all, they let us win. And Balloon and I are friends," he added, smiling warmly at Balloon, who returned the smile. It felt good to have a friend outside of their usual group, making Balloon feel like they were finally starting to fit in.

"Speaking of friends, want to be a good friend and help me get some glasses and a jug of water for our table?" Fan smiled faintly, trying not to sound too suspicious. It was clear to Balloon that Fan wanted to talk to him in private, likely about their earlier conversation.

"Sure," Balloon agreed, slipping from his seat and following Fan, leaving poor Nickel with a table that seemed to dislike him.

Balloon and Fan headed over to where the jugs of water were displayed, slowly gathering cups and a jug for their table.

"So... how's it going? Have you figured out if Nickel likes you?" Fan asked curiously.

"I have a suspicion," Balloon admitted quietly. "I don't want to assume if I'm not sure... but I've noticed certain things, like how he looks at me or how his face turns red when I playfully tease him." Balloon rambled on, his thoughts spilling out.

"We actually had a little argument when we were on the river, but... it resulted in us finally putting the past behind us. It felt nice," Balloon added, glancing back at Nickel with a soft expression.

Fan smirked mischievously. "I think you're falling for him!" Fan exclaimed teasingly.

Balloon spun around, his cheeks flushing even more. "Fan!! I've never even been in a relationship... I don't know, okay? But... I am enjoying being around him again. I missed it," Balloon sighed, his tone earnest.

"Well, hopefully you'll both have some time alone tonight," Fan grinned mischievously. "Come on, let's get the water back to our table."

Balloon nodded in agreement, feeling the heat in his cheeks as he tried to push back thoughts of possibly liking Nickel. Carrying the glasses, they returned to their table. Balloon carefully placed a glass in front of each person while Fan placed the jug in the middle.

"Took you long enough," Nickel jabbed, quickly grabbing the jug. He couldn't bear another moment alone at the table without Balloon, feeling the judgmental eyes of the group. He was convinced that Paintbrush thought he was a sarcastic jerk, Test Tube had no respect for him because he was a 'bad influence' on Bot, and Lightbulb simply followed along with her friends' opinions of him.

"Five more minutes of lunch, then we'll be breaking off into groups again!" Lifering called out to everyone.

Fan wrapped his arms around Test Tube, planting quick kisses on her face. "Good luck, love. Win this race! And hey, if you don't... I'll stay in the normal cabin with you," he said, running his fingers through her long green hair.

"Aw, Fan, you don't have to do that," Test Tube frowned.

"Well, actually, no way am I going to sleep in a cabin without you," Fan laughed, admittingly.

Test Tube sighed and kissed his head. "I'll try my best to win."

Nickel cringed at the whole exchange and started pretending to gag, which caused Balloon to start giggling uncontrollably. Balloon couldn't help it; Nickel was such a goofy idiot sometimes... Balloon couldn't help himself! Balloon's cheeks flushed as he giggled, and Nickel couldn't help but notice how adorable Balloon looked when he laughed—his smile was so pretty and his giggle so angelic. Nickel felt himself growing warm, unable to tear his eyes away from Balloon. Unbeknownst to himself, Nickel was looking at Balloon with adoration until their eyes met, and then he realised how he must have appeared. Balloon's laughter stopped abruptly, and his face turned bright red.

"Assholes!" Test Tube exclaimed, rolling her eyes at the two.

The sudden comment broke them out of their trance, and they quickly and embarrassingly looked away. Balloon couldn't shake the image of how Nickel had looked at him—with big, loving eyes, almost sparkling. He had never seen Nickel gaze at anyone like that before.

"Sorry, Test Tube," Balloon murmured awkwardly as he anxiously poured himself a glass of water.

Fan witnessed the whole exchange, trying his best not to smirk or say anything. Nickel definitely has a crush on Balloon; there's no way to hide it. And Fan suspects Balloon knows it but is scared to face it.

"Alright! Group time! Group B, go with Goo to the kayaks! Group A, stay here with me!" Lifering suddenly called out.

Fan sighed as he stood up to give his girlfriend one last hug before she had to leave. She kissed the top of his head and said goodbye before departing. Fan then sat back down across from Balloon and Nickel.

Paintbrush also bid farewell to their girlfriend with a kiss on the lips before she left.

Nickel cringed at the kiss and playfully poked his tongue out, mocking the display of affection. Balloon snickered and nudged Nickel to stop.

Paintbrush turned around, scoffing. "You two are so childish..." They rolled their eyes before slipping from the seat and walking over to Lifering, who was standing by the coffee machines.

Fan smiled at Balloon and Nickel for a moment.

"They might be right, but it's wholesome," Fan remarked before slipping from his seat. "It's nice to see you two getting along," he added before joining Lifering and the others.

Nickel's cheeks flushed a little. He felt weird, fuzzy almost. He was sure that Balloon noticed the way he looked at him earlier... he totally messed up, didn't he? Now Balloon knows... he knows how Nickel feels.

"Ready to go?" Balloon asked Nickel curiously as he stood up.

"Uh, yeah," Nickel replied quickly, standing up and following Balloon over to Lifering. Balloon didn't seem like he knew... maybe Nickel was just imagining things or overreacting.

Balloon couldn't shake the image of how Nickel looked at him; it was etched into his mind. Was he just going insane, convincing himself that Nickel liked him? No, because Fan could see it too—Balloon could tell Fan noticed. But how could he be 100% sure? He might be misreading everything and being influenced by Fan, who could also be mistaken. Balloon decided he needed to try harder to find out, to be more subtle in his actions, and to get even closer to Nickel.

Balloon needed to fully break down his wall.