[There's a very visible sigh of relief. For a second there, he honestly believed Rise was going through the same thing he did before he met any of the team. That...that would've killed him inside.]

That's good, I'm real glad you made new friends, Rise-chan. I would've bawled like a big baby if no one wanted to play with you.

[Rise was always good at being popular anyhow. Teddie's certain she must've made, like, a million friends.

The thing about Shadows happens to catch him off guard, though.]

Not a single one except maaaaaaybe me, heh...

[But...he doesn't count, right?]