The words that came out of Chloe's mouth felt sharp, yet at the same time mischievous. They seemed to imply something and nothing at the same time.
Cain nodded slowly while giving her a sour smile. He looked down, seeing his last jelly pack.
Ignoring the others, he tore open the wrapper and slurped the contents in one breath. The softness that filled his mouth turned into a bitterness that lingered in his mind.
'If I had known, I would have eaten the chocolate flavor last.'
The boy leaned back in his chair, his expression appearing flat and showing no emotion. It was utterly contrary to his heart, which was pounding rapidly.
This experience opened a new page of emotion that he felt. A fear of a threat from someone stronger or something much bigger behind them.
Cain, who was all alone in a dying world on the brink of destruction. He squeezed his brain trying to find a way for him to get out of this situation.
But just as he was sinking into a black ocean that was about to plunge him into an endless abyss, a gentle tap on his shoulder pulled his consciousness back to the surface.
He turned and saw Luna, her forehead wrinkled, looking worriedly at the boy who had suddenly gone silent.
"What's wrong?"
Her soft voice caressed the tension in his body, which slowly loosened and disappeared entirely.
The boy shook his head, lifted the corner of his lips, and said.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about something."
Cain tried to evade by shifting his gaze to another direction, where the other cadets were deepening their friendships.
Not satisfied with that answer, Luna shifted her gaze to the side and glared at her friend.
"Chloe, don't tease Cain too much."
"Ahaha, sorry, it's just my habit when I see someone interesting. I can't resist teasing them."
Chloe, who was chuckling, raised her palms to extend a line of defense so that the angry Luna would not encroach on her territory.
"Geez, you're always like this."
"What can I do? It's very rare to see the 'Winter Lady' care about someone, you know."
Hearing that sentence, not only Cain, but Rika and Abel, as well as the cadets sitting near their table, turned toward Chloe.
'Winter Lady!?'
Cain turned and widened his eyes as he saw a slight blush on Luna's fair cheeks.
Luna puffed out her cheeks and lowered her head while continuing to eat the chocolate-flavored jelly pack in her hand.
The nickname 'Winter Lady' came about because, from the beginning until recently, the beautiful Luna was often approached by many boys who tried to be her partner.
However, the girl became exasperated and thought that instead of training and thinking about how to improve, they were messing around by trying to court her.
From that point, Luna acted firmly and insulted or challenged anyone who was less disciplined in this training area.
Thanks to her high potential mutation and persistence, Luna became the best in her generation. She caused the boys to withdraw from the race to win her hand because Luna was already too far ahead and had become an untouchable figure.
"Hee, Senior Luna is so cool to have a nickname like that."
The rising tension that was about to envelop the cafeteria area was all shattered by the innocent comment from Abel, who had stars in his blue eyes.
Rika slapped her forehead while letting out a long sigh. She threw her gaze far away, not wanting to be involved in something nerve-wrecking.
Cain could see Luna's face flush and her shoulders tremble. She was unsure how to react, whether to be angry at Abel or embarrassed because the nickname was something like a 'Dark History' she wants to bury for the rest of her life.
"Pffth."
Seeing that, Cain unknowingly spurted his saliva over the atmosphere and turned away, holding his quivering lips.
That gesture immediately attracted Luna's attention. A vein twitched on her forehead as she tensed the muscle in her foot to kick Cain's shin.
"Ouch!"
He felt a jolt that struck his nerve system, followed by a searing pain that spread like thousands of fire ants biting his leg.
With a twisted expression and eyes covered in tears. Cain rubbed his leg and looked at Luna, who had an annoyed expression and was standing up.
"Thank you for the seat. See you next time."
Luna glanced at Cain, but quickly tossed her silver hair and left the dining table alone, fuming.
As her friend was leaving the seat alone. Chloe lifted her hands to cover her gaping mouth. After lowering them, she turned to Cain. Her eyes blazed with a tinge of curiosity.
"You're quite something, Cain, to be able to make someone like Luna sulk."
Cain, who was still holding his leg, met eyes with Chloe. She was grinning from both ears and about to follow her colleague.
"Then, see you later guys. …Way to go Cain."
Chloe leaned down and whispered the last sentence near Cain while patting his shoulder twice. The distinct aroma of citrus stung Cain's nose and made him narrow his eyes.
He massaged his leg before straightening his back. His eyebrows rose when he found his two friends looking at him with half-opened eyes while holding their respective chins, showing a slight smile.
"What's wrong with you two?"
Abel and Rika exchanged glances. Both of them just smiled and immediately stood up from their seats.
"Good luck in your Kenjutsu training as I will do my best too."
"Nothing, see you later in the training shoot, Cain."
'What the hell is wrong with them?'
Cain shook his head and stood up. His body suddenly swayed, and he reached out to the table.
'Damn, the pain still lingers.'
Seeing Abel and Rika, who were already a bit far, a memory from last night popped up in his mind.
'Right, I forgot about that.'
"Abel, Rika, wait up."
Both of them stopped and turned toward him, who was hopping with one leg.
His action immediately became a spectacle for the other cadets, but instead of laughter, he received admiration for being able to make the goddess Luna show her childish side.
After throwing away the trash he had. Cain, who caught up with them, immediately draped his arm over their shoulders.
Abel raised his eyebrow in surprise, while Rika clicked her tongue and glared at him sharply as if she wanted to choke him.
"Abel, Rika, I have a request for you and it's not something I can say in public."
Hearing that from Cain, both nodded slowly and carried Cain away from the cafeteria, which was still filled with commotion.
While walking down the long corridor, Abel opened his mouth.
"So, what is this request of yours?"
Rika tightened her grip, which was clutching Cain's wrist.
Cain smiled slightly when he saw his two comrades, who were not hesitant to help him.
"Well, it's like this…"
He whispered his request so that it wouldn't be heard even by the world. Upon hearing it, Abel and Rika furrowed their eyebrows and simultaneously stared at the boy they were carrying.
"Please, can you two do it, Abel, Rika?"
***
Regardless of the commotion and her childish actions in the cafeteria earlier. In the corridor that led her out of the building, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.
"Luna, wait for me."
Chloe, who was running, arrived beside Luna as she halted her steps. Luna's expression was flat, with a slight black cloud adorning her clear blue eyes.
The handsome girl sighed, patting Luna's back, which was stiff like a statue.
"What's wrong with you? It's not like you to vent your emotions on someone."
"I-I don't know either."
Luna slowly shook her head, her mind filled with complicated, mixed feelings that made her unable to help but be rude like that.
This was the first time Luna had expressed her raw emotion. Because, as far as she could remember, Luna had suppressed her emotions for a long time, especially on that day when she was separated from someone just because of a trivial difference.
She lifted her smartwatch, hoping that by writing a message she could convey her apology. But she put off the idea and glanced at Chloe.
The blue-haired girl grinned, happy about the change happening to her long-time friend.
"Don't overthink it. You'll find the answer yourself later."
"R-Really?"
Luna asked, and the light in her blue eyes returned, shining brightly to see the next day.
"Yes, and I also hope you can express yourself more."
"That is...."
For a moment, the fire in Luna's eyes was extinguished, replaced by an eerie darkness that made even Chloe swallow hard.
"Well, forget it! If you're feeling troubled like this, it's better if we move our bodies, let's go."
A small smile appeared on Luna's beautiful face. However, behind the beauty of her expression lay a thorny vine that entrapped her heart, like a prison confining her emotions.
"You're right."
Both left the building and headed to their respective training spots with light feet.