The next day, Stargirl is subdued. She eats lunch with Dori and friends but does not play her ukulele or do anything unusual. Leo discovers that only he and the kids in Stargirl’s homeroom received a valentine from her. When Stargirl heads toward his lunch table, Leo abruptly gets up to leave. Stargirl says hi to Leo, but he runs from the lunchroom and avoids Stargirl the rest of the day. At home, he ponders the valentine and replays Stargirl’s greeting in his head. Saturday morning, Leo, Kevin, and others tell Archie about the basketball game and tomato episode. Archie compares their loss to that of the creature whose ancient skull he holds; the creature lost its winning streak—and its existence—after ten million years. 

Though fearful, Leo musters the courage to thank Stargirl for the valentine. Her smile makes Leo both happy and jittery. After school, Leo looks for Stargirl but cannot find her. He overhears other girls saying Stargirl was kicked off the cheerleading team. They greet Leo, calling him “Starboy,” which secretly thrills him. Leo walks to Stargirl’s surprisingly ordinary house and hangs around outside. When the door opens and Stargirl comes out, he hides behind a car.