After the intense emotions on the rooftop, things between Luna and Rina felt... different.
The air around them was lighter, but also filled with a strange, sweet tension. They weren't just rivals anymore. They were... something else. Something closer.
Rina was walking to the gate, holding her bag and hugging her new books close to her chest. She was still smiling to herself, thinking about being Number 1.
Suddenly, a familiar figure fell into step beside her.
"Hey, Top 1," Luna said smoothly, hands in her pockets, looking effortlessly cool as always.
Rina looked up and smiled automatically. "Hey. Are you going home already?"
"Not yet," Luna stopped walking and turned to face her. She took a deep breath, trying to look casual even though her heart was doing backflips inside her chest. 'Don't mess this up, Luna. Just ask her normally.'
"I was thinking..." Luna started, putting on her most charming smile. "Since you finally achieved your goal and became the Queen of the school... shouldn't we celebrate?"
Rina blinked. "Celebrate?"
"Yeah," Luna shrugged, trying to sound like it was no big deal. "You beat me fair and square (well, almost). The least you deserve is a treat. My treat, of course."
Luna pointed her thumb towards the town direction.
"How about... coffee? There's a nice café nearby. They say their latte is good, and I know you like sweet things."
Rina's eyes widened slightly. 'Coffee? Together? Alone?'
She felt her cheeks heat up. "A-Ah... right now? But I need to go home and tell my parents... "
"Just for an hour!" Luna quickly added, leaning in slightly with pleading eyes that she tried to hide behind a smirk. "Come on. I want to hear how it feels to be number one. And besides... I still have something to give you."
"Something to give me?" Rina tilted her head curiously.
"Yep. So? Yes or no, Miss Top Student?" Luna raised an eyebrow, looking at her with that intense gaze that made Rina weak in the knees.
Rina looked at Luna's face. She remembered how Luna sacrificed her rank just to see her happy. She remembered the warm hugs and the soft words.
'It's just coffee,' Rina told herself. 'It's just a celebration. It's normal.'
"Okay," Rina nodded, trying to sound serious but failing because of her small smile. "Fine. But just one cup! And then I have to go home."
"Yes!" Luna cheered silently inside, but outwardly she just grinned victoriously. "Great choice. Let's go."
૮(˶ᵔᵕᵔ˶)ა
They walked to the café. It was a cozy little shop with warm lights and soft music. When they entered, the smell of coffee and bread filled the air.
They sat by the window. Luna pulled out the chair for Rina like a gentlewoman, making Rina blush even more.
'Oh my god, she's sitting right in front of me,' Luna screamed internally, staring at Rina who was looking around shyly. 'She looks so pretty in this light. I'm gonna die.'
"So," Luna said, opening the menu. "What do you want? I recommend the Caramel Macchiato. Sweet, just like you."
Rina rolled her eyes but smiled. "Stop teasing me! Just give me a regular latte."
"Coming right up."
Luna ordered for both of them. When the drinks arrived, Luna pushed a plate of waffles towards Rina too.
"Eat. You need energy to maintain your rank," Luna said softly.
They started eating and talking. At first, it was about school and exams, but slowly, the conversation got deeper.
"Seriously though," Rina said, holding her warm cup. "Thank you, Luna. For everything. If you didn't help me study... and if you didn't believe in me... I wouldn't be here."
Luna looked at her over the rim of her cup, her eyes soft and gentle.
"I told you, you did all the hard work. I just... cheered you on from the side."
Rina looked down at her coffee, stirring it slowly.
"Luna..." she whispered. "Why are you so nice to me? I was always so competitive and sometimes I was mean to you..."
Luna put down her cup and leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, looking deeply into Rina's eyes.
"Because you're you, Rina," Luna said simply, her voice low and sincere. "Your passion, your hard work, your seriousness... everything about you is interesting to me. I like... watching you."
Rina's heart skipped a beat. The café seemed to get hotter all of a sudden.
'Interesting? Watching me?'
"L-Like a rival?" Rina asked cautiously, hoping but also afraid of the answer.
Luna smirked, enjoying seeing Rina flustered.
"Maybe more than that~" she teased, winking. "But let's just say... you are my favorite person in this whole school."
Rina quickly took a sip of her coffee to hide her burning face. "Y-You are so weird! Stop saying confusing things!"
Luna laughed, a warm, happy sound. She was enjoying every second of this. This was way better than being number 1.
❀(⸝⸝•ᴗ•⸝⸝)❀
After they finished, it was getting late. They walked outside, the evening breeze cool against their skin.
"Thank you for the treat," Rina said, feeling full and happy. "It was... really fun."
"Of course," Luna smiled. Then she remembered something and reached into her bag. "Oh right! I said I had something to give you."
She pulled out a small, cute keychain. It was a tiny, white cat wearing glasses.
"Here," Luna handed it to her. "For your bag. So you remember this day... and remember that you are the best."
Rina took it carefully. It was so soft and cute.
"It's adorable..." Rina hugged it close. "Thank you, Luna. I'll put it on right away."
They stood there in front of Rina's subdivision gate, not wanting to say goodbye just yet.
"So," Luna put her hands back in her pockets, looking down at her. "Same time tomorrow? For a walk?"
Rina looked up, surprised, but then she smiled—a bright, genuine smile that made Luna's heart melt.
"Only if you're buying again," Rina teased back.
"Deal," Luna grinned. "Goodnight, Rina. Sleep well."
"Goodnight, Luna."
As Rina walked away, Luna stood there watching her leave, touching her own chest where her heart was beating wildly.
"Date successful! Oh my god, we went on a date!!" Luna whispered excitedly, doing a little happy jump.
And Rina, walking home, looked at the keychain in her hand, then touched her own warm cheeks.
"Why does my heart feel so happy?" she whispered. "Is this... what they call liking someone?"
To be continued in chapter 7 >>(˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)