The female dormitory building stayed much quieter than the busy streets outside.
Up on one of the upper floors, a soft desk lamp lit up a tidy corner of the room. Books on monster biology and combat techniques sat neatly stacked next to a small spear maintenance kit.
Luna sat at the desk, slowly wiping down her blade. The metal caught the light with a faint shine as she worked. Her movements stayed steady and focused, the same careful rhythm she followed every night.
Across the room the mood felt completely different.
Her roommate Hina lay sprawled on her bed, phone held high above her face. Every few seconds she let out a dramatic gasp, rolled over, and gasped again even louder.
Finally she could not hold it in.
"Luna!"
Luna did not look up.
"Yes?"
Hina sat bolt upright, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"The academy forum is going crazy right now!"
Luna kept wiping the blade.
"It usually does after training days."
Hina waved her phone like it was on fire.
"No, this is different! Way different!"
Luna set the cloth down and glanced over.
"What happened?"
Hina grinned wide enough to show all her teeth.
"Word is that E-rank Laborer from your group killed a Stoneback Bear today."
Luna's expression shifted just a little.
Hina spotted it immediately.
"Oh?"
Her grin grew even bigger.
"You already knew about this."
Luna picked the cloth back up.
"It happened during the training run."
Hina jumped off the bed and hurried over, leaning against the desk with barely contained energy.
"So it is true. You were right there, weren't you?"
Luna paused for a second, then answered.
"Yes."
Hina clutched her head with both hands, mouth hanging open.
"An E-rank Laborer took down a level six Stoneback Bear? By himself?"
She started pacing the room in quick circles.
"This place has officially gone insane."
Luna went back to cleaning her blade. Yet Hina suddenly stopped, narrowing her eyes as she studied her roommate's face more closely.
"You seem awfully calm about all of this."
"He reacted fast," Luna said.
Hina leaned in closer, not buying it.
"That's really all you have to say?"
Luna stayed quiet.
Hina stared at her for another heartbeat, then pointed suddenly.
"Aha!"
Luna blinked.
"What?"
"You just blushed. I saw it."
Luna's hand paused mid-wipe. She said nothing. Hina burst out laughing.
"I knew it! Look at you, all cool and collected on the outside, but your cheeks are giving you away."
Luna's voice stayed even.
"That is not true."
Hina grinned like she had won a prize and leaned forward.
"Luna, you never talk about boys. Yet here we are. Some mysterious Laborer hero shows up in your training group and suddenly you go all quiet. Admit it. You're curious about him."
"You are imagining things."
Hina held up her phone and waved it.
"Then explain this."
The forum headline glowed brightly on the screen. Hundreds of comments poured in underneath it.
Luna looked at the screen for a moment, then turned away. Hina kept watching her face, a slow sly smile spreading across her lips.
"You are curious about him."
Luna did not deny it. After a short silence she reached out and took the phone. Hina's eyes widened.
"Wait… what are you doing?"
Luna opened the academy social app without looking up.
"FabBook."
Hina leaned in close, voice dropping to a whisper.
"No way…"
Luna typed a name into the search bar.
Aaron Emegrey.
His profile popped up almost instantly. Simple photo. Almost no information. Very few friends.
Hina gasped.
"You are actually sending him a request?!"
Luna pressed the button calmly.
Friend Request Sent.
Hina stared like she had just watched history being made.
"The coldest girl in the entire academy just sent a friend request to a boy…"
Luna set the phone down.
"It is only a question."
Hina crossed her arms, her grin returning full strength.
"Of course it is." She tilted her head with a knowing look. "We both know exactly what kind of question that is. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me… for now."
....
Meanwhile in the male dormitory building…
Aaron lay on his bed, scrolling through the academy forums on his phone.
The rumors had already spread farther than he expected.
He sighed lightly.
"So much noise over one bear…"
Just then a notification popped up.
Luna Sane sent you a friend request.
Aaron blinked once.
"Well… that is unexpected."
He pressed Accept.
A message appeared almost right away.
Luna: You're Aaron?
Aaron: Last time I checked.
There was a short pause, then another message.
Luna: The rumors about the Stoneback Bear…
Aaron: Ah. That.
The chat stayed quiet for a moment. Then Luna typed again.
Luna: Are you planning to attend the academy tournament?
Aaron leaned back against the pillow. Her question came straight to the point, yet he kept his reply casual.
Aaron: Of course.
Luna: Why?
Another brief pause.
Luna: I will also participate.
Aaron raised an eyebrow and typed back.
Aaron: Then we might meet in the arena.
There was a longer pause this time. Finally the next message came through.
Luna: If that happens…
Aaron waited.
Luna: I will not hold back.
Aaron laughed quietly to himself and sent a final reply.
Aaron: Good.
Luna: I would not want you to.
In the girls' dormitory Hina watched Luna staring at her phone.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"You are definitely interested."
Luna calmly turned off the screen and rolled to the opposite side of her bed, her face carrying a faint warmth she tried to hide.
Outside, the night lights of the academy continued to glow softly while the city walls stood tall and silent against the dark sky, hiding the wilderness that waited beyond them.