"Come on, open up, ahhh~"
Sakura leaned forward with a bright and eerily sparkling smile, holding a neatly cut piece of Ikameshi between her chopsticks as she hovered it right in front of Lunar's lips, the stuffed squid glistening faintly under the cafeteria lights as if it were being presented like some kind of prize.
Lunar froze for a moment, her eyes flickering from the food to Sakura, and then instinctively drifting around the cafeteria as she became painfully aware of just how many people were within view, her shoulders tensing slightly as she leaned back just a little in hesitation. "…S-Sakura-chan," she began softly, trying to keep her voice low as she attempted to protest, "I can just pick one myself, you don't have to—"
She didn't even get the chance to finish her sentence.
In one smooth, almost practiced motion, Sakura pushed the piece straight into her mouth without a second thought, completely ignoring the attempted refusal as if it had never existed in the first place.
"Mmph—!"
Caught off guard, Lunar instinctively bit down, her words cut off entirely as she was forced to chew properly just to recover from the sudden action, her eyes widening slightly in surprise while Sakura, on the other hand, looked utterly pleased with herself, her expression lighting up in pure satisfaction as if she had just accomplished something incredibly important.
"There we go~!" Sakura chirped cheerfully, her tone light and sing-song as her tail swayed behind her in obvious delight, clearly enjoying the simple act of feeding her friend far more than necessary.
Before Lunar could even process what had just happened, Sakura casually used the same pair of chopsticks to pick up another piece for herself, bringing it to her own mouth and eating it without hesitation.
Lunar swallowed slowly, her expression softening just a little despite herself as she let out a quiet breath. "…It's good," she admitted under her breath, almost absentmindedly, her thoughts briefly drifting elsewhere.
It really was.
Ayaka-onee-san's cooking had always been like this—warm, comforting, and familiar in a way that settled gently in her chest, the kind of taste that carried memories with it, the kind that should have made her feel at ease. And yet…For some reason, her appetite just wasn't there.
Her gaze lowered to her tray, lingering on the neatly arranged food that remained almost completely untouched, her chopsticks resting idly in her hand as if she had forgotten what to do with them.
Slowly, almost cautiously, she lifted her eyes again, letting them drift across the cafeteria—
—and that was when she truly noticed it.
The stares.
They weren't at all subtle anymore, nor were they something she could ignore if she tried, because from nearby tables, from across the room, from angles she hadn't even considered before, there were eyes—so many eyes—all directed toward their table.
Toward her.
Toward Sakura.
Towards the both of them.
And it wasn't just silent observation either, because the whispers had already begun to spread, quiet at first but gradually growing clearer as fragments of conversation reached her ears.
"Is that Sakura-san…?"
"She's actually smiling today…"
"Who's that girl with her?"
"They look really close…"
Lunar's shoulders stiffened ever so slightly as the realization settled in.
It wasn't just her presence alone drawing attention—it was Sakura too, and being seated beside her only seemed to amplify everything, turning what might have been simple curiosity into something far more intense and difficult to ignore.
The gravity of it pressed in on her from all directions, making something as ordinary as eating feel strangely uncomfortable, her fingers tightening just slightly around her chopsticks as her gaze dropped back down to her tray once more, her movements slowing to a near halt.
Why is everyone looking at me…?
She didn't understand it, not fully, not in a way that made sense to her, because ever since she had arrived—from the moment she stepped into the classroom until now—it felt like she had been placed under a spotlight she never asked for, one that followed her no matter where she went.
And now, sitting here beside Sakura, with the attention only growing heavier by the second…
It made even something as simple as taking another bite feel unexpectedly difficult.
Then, almost as if the three goddesses themselves had taken notice of Lunar's quiet distress and decided, in their infinite mercy, to send something—someone—to ease the tension that had begun to settle so heavily around her.
Because just as she sat there, unsure of what to do with herself under the weight of so many watching eyes, a familiar voice cut gently through the noise. "Hey, Lunar—mind if we join you?"
Lunar looked up almost instantly, and the shift in her expression was immediate.
Standing there was Via, tray in hand, her presence as casual and confident as ever, and beside her was another girl with short black hair and soft greyish eyes—someone Lunar recognized almost immediately as the girl who had been sitting next to Via in class earlier.
Before Via could even finish settling the tray in her hands, Lunar was already nodding—quickly, eagerly, almost desperately, as if she had just been offered a lifeline. "Y-yes, of course!" she said, her eyes lighting up in clear relief.
Via didn't miss that reaction, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips as she stepped forward and placed her tray down right across from Lunar before sliding smoothly into the seat, her movements relaxed as always, while her companion followed suit and sat beside her.
For a brief moment, Lunar hesitated, her earlier unease still lingering just slightly, but she pushed through it, offering a small, shy smile toward the girl sitting next to Via. "Hi…"
The girl brightened immediately, returning the smile without hesitation. "Hi!" she greeted back warmly, before sitting up just a little straighter. "I'm Dear Rickey! but you can just call me Rickey. I'm also in junior year," she added cheerfully, before leaning in just a fraction with a playful grin, "and I'm Cerasus Via's number one homework copier."
Via let out an immediate, exhausted scoff, though there was no real bite behind it, only the familiarity of someone who had heard that line far too many times. "You say that like it's something to be proud of," she muttered, shaking her head slightly.
Lunar couldn't help it—a small laugh slipped out, soft but genuine, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little more. But the moment didn't go entirely uninterrupted.
Across from them, Sakura had gone noticeably colder, her gaze shifting between Via and Rickey with clear suspicion, her earlier warmth giving way to something more guarded as she subtly leaned a bit closer toward Lunar, as if instinctively staking her claim.
"…Ah, Sakura-chan," Lunar said gently, turning slightly toward her, her tone soft in an attempt to reassure. "Via is actually my roommate. She's been helping me with a lot of things since I got here."
There was a pause.
Sakura blinked once, her expression flickering as she processed that, the tension in her posture easing just slightly as the explanation settled in, and while she didn't say anything right away, the sharp edge in her gaze softened into something far less defensive.
"…Oh," she murmured quietly, before slowly returning her attention to her food, her movements a little less stiff now, a little more relaxed than before.
Sensing the atmosphere growing lighter, Rickey took it upon herself to keep things moving, leaning forward slightly with renewed enthusiasm as she began chatting with Lunar, her tone easy and friendly as she asked small, casual questions, the kind that didn't demand too much but helped fill the space naturally.
Lunar responded in kind, her answers subdued at first but gradually becoming more comfortable as the conversation flowed, and before long, even Via began chiming in here and there, adding her own comments with that same playful ease she always carried.
Somewhere along the way, without her even realizing when the shift had happened, Lunar found herself reaching for her chopsticks again. This time, when she took a bite, it came a little easier, the earlier hesitation no longer clinging so tightly to her movements. The weight of the stares around her hadn't disappeared entirely, but it no longer pressed in the same suffocating way it had before, softened now by the presence of familiar voices, the gentle rhythm of conversation, and the quiet comfort of sitting in a group
For the first time since she had sat down, she could finally eat properly.
Rickey, who had been happily following the flow of conversation, suddenly leaned forward with a curious tilt of her head, her greyish eyes flicking between Lunar and Sakura as if piecing something together. "So… how did you and Sakura-san become friends in the first place?" she asked, her tone light but clearly interested.
Lunar paused for a moment, her chopsticks hovering just slightly above her tray as she glanced toward Sakura, a faint smile forming almost instinctively at the memory. "We've known each other since we were really little," she began, her voice softening as she spoke. "We used to play together all the time, mostly at the playground near our homes, so we kind of just… grew up together."
Rickey's eyes seemed to sparkle a little at that, clearly enjoying the image already forming in her mind, but she didn't stop there. "Hmm~ but Via told me you moved overseas for a personal reason, right?" she continued, her tone turning just a touch more inquisitive as she leaned in slightly. "Then how come you two still seem this close?"
Her gaze dipped meaningfully toward the space between them—or rather, the complete lack of it. Sakura was practically glued to Lunar's side, their shoulders brushing as if there was no concept of personal space between them, and when paired with the way Sakura had acted earlier in class, it made the question all the more valid.
Lunar followed Rickey's gaze for a second before letting out a small, amused breath. "Well… even after I moved, I made sure we stayed in contact," she explained, her tone casual at first before a hint of mischief slipped in. "Though, to be fair…"
She glanced at Sakura, her smile turning just a little teasing. "…someone cried and begged me not to disappear on her, so I didn't really have much of a choice."
Sakura choked.
Not critically, but enough that she had to cough into her hand, her entire face flushing a vivid shade of red as she struggled to recover. "L-Lunar—!" she sputtered, completely unprepared for that detail to be exposed so casually.
Rickey's expression lit up instantly, her hands clasping together in delight as she leaned forward even more. "Eh~ what a good friendship~" she cooed, her voice practically brimming with amusement. Then, just barely under her breath, though not nearly quiet enough—she added, "So the 'Prickly Cherry Blossom' is actually a crybaby when it comes to her childhood sweetheart…"
Sakura coughed even harder at that, her embarrassment skyrocketing as she visibly shrank into herself, trying—and failing—to hide behind her bento box like it could somehow shield her from the conversation entirely.
Lunar blinked at that, her attention immediately catching on the unfamiliar phrase. "…Prickly Cherry Blossom?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly in curiosity. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Rickey froze for half a second, then looked back at her with mild surprise. "Eh? You don't know?" she asked.
Lunar shook her head slowly. "Sakura never told me anything about it…" she replied, her gaze drifting toward Sakura again, only to find her still hiding behind her lunchbox, refusing to make eye contact as if pretending hard enough would make the situation disappear.
There was a brief pause.
And then—
Via stepped in.
"Well, aside from it being a play on her name," she began casually, resting her chin lightly against her hand as she spoke, her tone easy and matter-of-fact, "it also comes from how people see her. She's considered really beautiful—like a cherry blossom—but…"
She gave a small, helpless shrug, her lips curving faintly. "…approaching her isn't exactly easy."
Lunar let out a soft "Ahh," the explanation clicking into place as her lips curled into a faintly teasing smile. "I see…" Then she turned slightly toward Sakura, her tone light but unmistakably playful. "So that's why everyone's been staring at us this whole time," she said. "You must be pretty popular, huh, Sakura-chan~?"
Sakura's ears turned red almost instantly.
Without saying a word, she lowered her head and began eating—
No.
Not eating.
Inhaling.
The food in her lunchbox was disappearing at a genuinely concerning speed, her movements quick and mechanical as if she could escape the conversation by finishing her food fast enough.
Via snorted softly at the sight, clearly entertained, before adding, "That's part of it, yeah, but it's not just her looks. Her after-race performances are a big factor too—she's basically become a bit of a local idol around here, and her fanbase is… decently sized."
Lunar blinked, the words taking a second to fully register. "…Wait, really?"
The surprise in her voice was unmistakable as she looked back at Sakura, who—quite notably—had never once mentioned anything even remotely close to that.
And yet, here she was.
Apparently popular.
Apparently admired.
Apparently… an idol?
Lunar continued to stare at her for a moment longer, her expression slowly shifting into something caught between disbelief and quiet amusement, the corners of her lips lifting just slightly as realization settled in.
"…You've been hiding a lot from me, haven't you?" she murmured under her breath, just loud enough for Sakura to hear.
Sakura froze for a moment, her chopsticks hovering mid-air as though her entire system had briefly shut down, the earlier attempt to escape the conversation clearly backfiring as all attention circled right back to her. "…I—" she started, only to falter, her gaze flickering toward Lunar for the briefest second before slipping away again, her cheeks still faintly flushed with lingering embarrassment.
A small silence settled between them, just long enough to make her sigh quietly under her breath before she finally gave in.
"…Yeah," she admitted at last, her voice softer now, stripped of its usual energy. "I guess I did hide it…" Her shoulders lifted slightly in a small, almost helpless shrug, as though she wasn't entirely sure how to justify it herself. "…It's just… really embarrassing to talk about."
Lunar blinked, clearly not expecting something so simple, and almost immediately her expression softened in response. "Embarrassing?" she echoed gently, tilting her head ever so slightly, her tone warm with quiet reassurance. "I could never find anything you do embarrassing, Sakura."
Sakura stilled at that, her grip tightening ever so slightly around her chopsticks.
"And besides," Lunar continued, a small, encouraging smile forming on her lips, "if you have that many fans, then you must be really good at it, right?"
Before Sakura could even begin to reply to that—
Rickey suddenly leaned in from across the table, unable to contain herself any longer, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement as she held her phone out between them. "Oh! I have a video!" she announced, her voice bright and eager, clearly thrilled at the chance to contribute.
Lunar leaned forward slightly, curiosity immediately piqued as her gaze dropped to the screen.
The video showed a modest but lively open space, a small raised platform acting as a stage while a cheerful, upbeat song played in the background, its rhythm infectious even through the tiny speakers. And there, right at the center of it all, was Sakura—
Dressed in an adorable white idol outfit, dancing effortlessly in time with the music as she sang, her voice clear and confident while her steps carried a bright, energetic charm that felt almost like a completely different person from the girl sitting beside her now.
The crowd gathered in front of the stage was surprisingly large for a personal Winning Live, packed with a handful of fans who cheered, waved, and called out to her, some already fully immersed in the performance as their voices rose above the music in excitement.
And then, right as the chorus hit, one voice cut through everything else.
A gray-haired uma musume somewhere in the crowd suddenly started jumping up and down with alarming intensity, her arms flailing wildly as she screamed at the top of her lungs, "SAKURA-CHANNNN I LOVE YOUUU—!!"
"…Oh." Lunar blinked.
And right at that exact moment, a hand shot forward and the phone disappeared.
Sakura had grabbed it, and she was gripping it so tightly that, for a split second, Lunar could have sworn she saw the faintest hint of a crack forming along the screen.
Rickey's soul visibly left her body. Her expression went blank, her eyes hollow as she stared at her beloved phone, witnessing something deeply tragic unfold in real time.
"This," Sakura said slowly, her voice coming out through gritted teeth as she held the device in a death grip, "is exactly why I didn't want to show you."
Lunar, caught somewhere between amusement and mild concern, could only offer a small, sheepish smile as she tried to smooth things over. "I mean… that's normal, isn't it?" she said gently, her tone careful as if testing the waters. "I don't think it's weird or anything…"
Silence followed almost immediately, settling over the table in a way that made her realize—perhaps a little too late—that her reassurance hadn't quite landed the way she intended.
"…Well, okay, it's a little weird," she admitted after a beat, glancing back at the memory of the overly enthusiastic fan on Rickey's phone, her expression shifting into something more honest. "But the weird part is definitely the girl shouting, not you."
There was another brief pause.
Sakura blinked.
And then, slowly, almost cautiously—
Her grip loosened.
The phone was released just as smoothly as it had been snatched away, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened at all, her expression settling back into something quieter, less defensive.
Rickey, however, was far from recovered.
With trembling hands, she reached forward and carefully took the phone back, cradling it with exaggerated delicacy as if it were something fragile and irreplaceable, her entire demeanor radiating emotional devastation. "…I'm so sorry…" she whispered, pressing the screen gently against her cheek as though trying to comfort it. "…I should've protected you better…"
She sniffled dramatically, giving the phone another soft squeeze against her face, her voice quivering with theatrical grief. "…Please don't die on me…"
For a brief moment, the table lingered in that light, slightly absurd atmosphere, the tension from earlier softened by Rickey's theatrics. The mood had just begun to settle into something easier, something more relaxed—when Lunar tilted her head slightly, a gentle curiosity surfacing in her expression as a thought formed.
"…Hey, Sakura," she began, her tone soft but inquisitive, "how did all of that even happen in the first place? The whole… idol thing, I mean."
Sakura blinked at the question, clearly not expecting it to be asked so directly, and for a moment she looked almost caught off guard. Her gaze drifted off to the side as if searching for the right words, her fingers idly brushing along the edge of her lunchbox while she tried to piece together an explanation that even she seemed unsure of.
"…Honestly," she admitted after a short pause, her voice quieter now, more reflective, "I'm not even sure myself."
The table grew still, their attention naturally centering on her as she continued, her thoughts slowly taking shape as she spoke.
"All I really remember is… I won my first race," she said, her tone thoughtful, as though replaying the memory in her mind. "And after that, I did the winning live performance like normal, just like everyone else does."
She paused briefly, her brows knitting ever so slightly as she searched for where things had changed. "…But somehow, a clip of it ended up going viral," she continued, her voice carrying a faint note of disbelief even now, as if the whole thing still didn't quite make sense to her. "And then, by the time my next race came around… there were people."
Her gaze lowered slightly, her tone shifting into something more introspective as she tried to put the experience into words. "A lot of people," she added, her voice quieter. "They had banners, signs… and then it just… kept growing from there."
"At first, I didn't really mind it," Sakura admitted, her tone softening as she spoke, the edge in her voice easing just enough to let something more genuine slip through. "Having people cheer for me, having fans who actually believed in me… it felt nice." A faint, almost nostalgic smile found its way onto her lips as she looked down at her lunchbox. "And I've always liked singing and dancing, so having more people to perform for made it even better."
For a brief moment, it sounded like something she truly cherished, like a memory she could have held onto if things had stayed that way. "…But after a while," she continued, her voice dipping slightly as that softness gave way to something more complicated, "I started noticing that the way people treated me changed."
The smile faded completely now, leaving behind a faint tension in its place. "It wasn't just cheering anymore," she said, her brows drawing together as discomfort crept more clearly into her tone. "People started… fawning over me, a lot."
Lunar's expression softened further as she listened.
"Some of the students here got caught up in it too," Sakura went on, her voice quieter now, more restrained as if recalling it still made her uneasy. "I started getting… public love confessions. Out of nowhere. In the hallways, after races… sometimes even during class."
"It just…" Sakura exhaled softly, her fingers tightening just a little against the edge of the table as she searched for the right way to describe it. "…put me in a really weird position. I didn't like it. It felt less like they actually knew me, and more like they were just… projecting something onto me." There was a brief pause before she added, more bluntly this time. "…It made me feel objectified."
"That was kind of the breaking point," Sakura admitted, her tone flattening slightly as if she had already come to terms with it. "After that, I just… stopped trying." Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug, though there was a subtle tension behind the motion that betrayed how much it had actually affected her.
"I started pushing people away," she continued. "If I didn't like something, I made it obvious. If someone annoyed me, I ignored them. It was just… easier that way."
Across the table, Via—who had been quietly eating through most of the exchange—chose that exact moment to speak, her tone calm and grounded as she took another bite of rice before finally chiming in. "Honestly… I kind of get why you act the way you do, Sakura-san," she said.
That alone was enough to make Sakura pause, her attention shifting toward Via with a hint of surprise.
Via swallowed before continuing, finally lifting her gaze to meet hers. "That kind of attention—the constant staring, the noise, people acting… like that," she added, gesturing lightly to reference the fan from the video, "it can get suffocating after a while. So keeping your distance makes sense."
She rested her cheek lightly against her palm, her expression thoughtful but gentle, completely free of criticism. "And honestly, not wanting a deskmate dropped next to you out with the probable chance that they will bother you? That's completely justified too."
Sakura blinked again, clearly caught off guard by the level of understanding being offered so casually.
"…But," Via continued after a short pause, a small, easy smile forming on her lips, "opening up just a little might be better in the long run. Not everyone's going to be… that kind of person, or treat you the same way."
The words lingered in the air for a moment, settling gently over the table as their weight slowly sank in. Sakura didn't respond right away; instead, her gaze drifted, thoughtful and uncertain, before eventually landing on Lunar. There was a quiet question in her eyes, something unspoken, hesitant, as though she wasn't entirely sure how to move forward from here or what the next step was supposed to look like.
Lunar didn't interrupt that moment. She simply met Sakura's gaze and offered a soft, encouraging smile, one that carried a quiet reassurance without the need for words, her expression alone gently urging her onward.
Go on. This is your chance.
Sakura hesitated, the uncertainty still lingering for just a second longer before she exhaled softly, her shoulders lowering ever so slightly as if releasing some of the tension she hadn't realized she was holding. Her chopsticks came to a stop against her lunchbox before she carefully set them down on the table altogether, the small gesture signaling a shift in her mindset—like she had decided to take this a little more seriously.
"Well…" she began, her voice quieter now, more deliberate as she chose her words with care. "…I don't really mind making new friends, I suppose."
Rickey straightened slightly in her seat, her attention sharpening with interest, while Via's expression brightened just a fraction, subtle but noticeable. Across from her, Lunar's smile softened even further, her gaze warm and patient as she listened.
Sakura continued, this time with a level of honesty that didn't seem to come naturally to her. "…It's just that… a lot of people kind of annoy me," she admitted bluntly, her tone carrying a straightforwardness that left no room for misunderstanding. "So I end up giving them the cold shoulder without really thinking about it."
A brief silence followed that statement. Lunar, Rickey, and Via, all three of them visibly shuddered.
"…That was really direct," Rickey muttered under her breath, her expression caught somewhere between impressed and slightly alarmed.
Sakura, however, didn't seem particularly fazed by their reaction. If anything, she simply continued, her tone softening just a little as she elaborated. "But… when it's people I actually enjoy being around," she added, her voice quieter now, more thoughtful, "I think I act pretty normal."
As she said that, her gaze shifted naturally toward Lunar first and she smiled. It was wide and genuine, the kind of smile that reached her eyes, bright and completely unguarded in a way that felt so natural to Lunar but must be quite rare in the eyes of others.
Lunar didn't hesitate to return it, matching that warmth effortlessly.
Then Sakura's gaze moved again, this time toward Via and Rickey, and while her expression wasn't quite as radiant as before, it softened into something gentler, more tentative, yet still undeniably sincere.
"…I get along pretty well with my roommates too," she added, almost as if thinking out loud. "And you two kind of give off a similar vibe, so… I think we can get along as well."
A small pause followed her words, the meaning settling in between them. Via followed through with a small, satisfied smile, clearly pleased, while Rickey, after a brief beat, broke into a bright grin and nodded enthusiastically, her earlier tension completely gone.
Lunar, who had been quietly taking in the conversation up to that point, slowly rested her chin against her hand, her expression softening into something almost dreamy as she let out a small, content sigh. "Ahh… I'm so lucky~" she murmured, her tone light and teasing as her eyes drifted toward Sakura. "My friend is not only a beauty, but also a popular idol with a good personality… what did I even do in my previous life to deserve this~?"
She barely had time to finish the thought—before both of her cheeks were suddenly grabbed.
"—Mmf?!" Her head was yanked to the side without warning, her entire field of vision shifting as she found herself face-to-face with Sakura, now far closer than before. Her brows were drawn into a frown, and her eyes locked on Lunar's with a mixture of frustration and exasperation.
"Enough with calling me beautiful," Sakura shot back almost immediately, her voice carrying that blend of embarrassment and irritation. "Have you ever tried looking in a mirror, Lunar???"
Lunar let out a small, confused squeak, her brain struggling to catch up as Sakura leaned in even closer, close enough that she could feel the faint warmth of her breath with every word that followed.
"Seriously—I didn't even have time to mention this in class earlier, but… how did you even turn out like this?" Sakura continued, her words spilling out faster now as she rode the momentum of her own curiosity. "We were literally on a video call four days ago, and I remember your face perfectly, down to the tiniest details, and you did not look like this back then—what happened?!"
Behind them, Via and Rickey both raised their eyebrows, exchanging a quick glance, but neither managed to intervene as Sakura pressed on.
"I don't remember your features being this… this enhanced," she added, her gaze scanning Lunar's face with alarming intensity. "The symmetry, the proportions, everything looks sharper, more refined… like something's changed, but I can't figure out what!"
She leaned in just a fraction closer as she spoke, completely oblivious to how little space remained between them now.
And when she finally paused, Lunar was already red. Not from the blushes from her makeup. Instead, Her entire face had warmed, her thoughts momentarily scrambled as she tried to process both the words and the closeness.
"…U-Um…" she managed, her voice smaller than she intended as she instinctively leaned back a little, though Sakura's grip kept her from moving fully away. "…Sakura-chan…" She swallowed lightly, her eyes flickering nervously. "…you're way too close…"
It took Sakura a second, a very long second before it all clicked.
Her eyes widened, her grip loosened instantly, and in the next moment she scrambled backward so quickly it was almost impressive, nearly colliding with the edge of the table as she created as much distance as she could.
"S-SORRY—!" she blurted, her voice flustered and uncharacteristically panicked, her face now matching Lunar's in color. "I didn't—I mean—I wasn't thinking—I just—"
Lunar calmed herself, still recovering from the sudden jump, before letting out a small, awkward laugh, rubbing the spot where her cheek had been held. "It's okay," she said gently, though the warmth lingering on her face betrayed just how flustered she still felt.
Even so, the air between them didn't immediately normalize. A subtle pause lingered, stretching a little too long, carrying something unspoken in its silence. The moment replayed quietly in their minds, both unsure how to address it.
Across the table, Via and Rickey had witnessed everything. They sat silently, resting their chins lightly in their hands in eerily synchronized fashion, their expressions thoughtful as if analyzing something profoundly important.
In Via's mind, the thought formed first.
A cute and sweet, doe-eyed idol-type beauty… paired with a cold and fierce attitude…
Rickey's thoughts followed almost seamlessly, picking up where Via's left off.
Mixed with a foreign, cool almond-eyed, princess-type beauty… with a warm and friendly personality…
There was a brief pause. And then, in perfect unison—
This visual and personality chemistry… is simply superb.
Neither of them said a word. But somehow, they both knew exactly what to say.
Rickey was the first to snap out of it, perhaps sensing the lingering awkwardness in the air, and with perfect timing, she clapped her hands together lightly as if resetting the mood. "Anyway!" she chimed, her tone bright and casual as she turned toward Lunar. "By the way, Lunar~ have you ever raced before in Australia?"
The question worked immediately.
Lunar blinked once, then nodded. "Yeah, I have," she replied simply.
That alone was enough to pique both Via and Rickey's interest, their attention sharpening almost instantly.
"Oh?" Rickey leaned forward slightly, her eyes lighting up. "Then how many times have you raced?"
Lunar lifted her hand and held up two fingers.
Rickey's face lit up even more. "Eh? What a coincidence—me too!" she said excitedly, mirroring the gesture with a peace sign of her own. "And I won both of mine! They were both mile races, on dirt."
Lunar's eyes widened slightly in genuine admiration. "Really? That's impressive," she said, her tone warm and sincere.
Rickey visibly brightened at the praise, her posture straightening just a little as she soaked it in before immediately following up. "What about you?" she asked eagerly. "Did you win? What distances were your races?"
Lunar opened her mouth—and paused. "…Well," she began slowly, choosing her words with care, "in Australia, most of the races are on turf, and they focus a lot on sprint distances… so that's what I ran too."
Her voice trailed off slightly as her thoughts drifted back to her first race where she had crossed the finish line so far ahead that the gap had stretched to twenty-four lengths, all without ever truly pushing herself.
Then to her second one where she had overtaken Anonym, who had dominated an entire Group 3 field by herself and Lunar had still managed to win by three clear lengths, leaving no doubt about the outcome.
Her gaze lifted, meeting the eager anticipation in Rickey's eyes, the quiet curiosity in Via's, and then briefly to Sakura, who already knew she had won, but not how.
Lunar smiled. "Yeah… I won them both," she said lightly, her tone almost dismissive as she gave a small shrug. "But it was really close, honestly. Luck probably played the biggest role." She let out a soft, self-conscious laugh, scratching her cheek just slightly. "I just happened to be in the most optimal position at the right time, I guess~"
Rickey's eyes lit up almost immediately after hearing Lunar's answer, her excitement barely contained as she leaned forward just a little. "That's still really impressive, you know!" she said brightly. "I can't wait to see you race someday!"
Via, who had been quietly listening, rested her chin lightly against her hand as she glanced at Lunar with mild curiosity. "So… when do you plan to race here?" she asked, her tone casual but clearly interested.
Lunar shook her head without hesitation, a small, thoughtful smile forming as she answered. "I don't have any plans yet," she admitted. "I literally just arrived, so I think I want to take some time first… get used to everything, see how things work here before jumping into anything serious."
Rickey nodded along, though it didn't take long for another idea to light up her expression. "Oh! Speaking of races," she chimed, turning slightly toward Via with a bright grin, "Via has one coming up in just four days! We should all go watch it together~"
Via froze. Just for a split second. Then she quickly straightened, forcing a slightly strained smile as she scratched the side of her cheek. "H-hey, Rickey…" she started, her voice carrying a hint of unease. "…I mean—if you two want to, then… of course…"
The hesitation lingered faintly in her tone, subtle but unmistakable.
Lunar, however, seemed completely oblivious, her face lighting up instantly. "Really? Then I'd love to go!" she exclaimed without a second thought, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Beside her, Sakura nodded as well, though her response was quieter, more subdued. "…Yeah, I'll come too," she said softly, her tone gentle but clearly in agreement.
Via stared at the pair for a long moment, then let out a heavy sigh, slumping forward so that her forehead nearly touched the table as the weight of the upcoming event settled squarely on her shoulders. "Great…" she muttered under her breath, the words almost lost in the quiet. "Now I have to think about not just running well and winning… but also performing properly afterward too…"
Rickey let out a quiet, mischievous giggle at her friend's predicament, clearly entertained by the pressure Via had just piled onto herself. "You'll be fine~" she teased lightly, her grin growing even wider.
Via groaned in response, mumbling something barely coherent as she lightly banged her head against the table, her frustration palpable.
And as she did—something clicked.
"…Ah." The sound slipped out of Lunar's mouth before she could stop it, quiet but filled with sudden realization.
All three of them immediately turned to her, curious expressions on their faces.
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, tilting her head slightly, her eyes attentive and concerned.
Lunar blinked once, her earlier excitement now replaced with a flat, almost stunned realization. Then, in the most straightforward tone she could manage, "…After-race performances…" she admitted, her voice calm but carrying the weight of panic just beneath the surface. "…I have no clue how to do them..."