Luna's heart raced as she faced the mysterious woman who had materialized out of thin air. The room, once empty except for Luna and White, now held an otherworldly presence. Aisha's eyes bore into Luna's, and the air crackled with tension.
"Who… who are you?" Luna's voice quivered, but her eyes held an unexpected resolve. She faced Aisha, the enigmatic stranger who had appeared without warning. The tension was palpable, yet Luna's fear seemed tempered by curiosity—perhaps because of her eyes, accustomed to perceiving things others could not.
Aisha's lips curved into a wicked smile. "Well, well, well," she drawled. "You're quite clever, Luna. Your deduction skills are commendable." She stepped closer, her movements fluid, almost ethereal. "You've reached a conclusion that most would dismiss as impossible."
Luna's mind raced. How did this stranger know her name? And why did her presence send shivers down her spine? "You… how do you know my name, and—" Luna's words trailed off as Aisha interrupted.
"My name is Aisha," she said, her voice melodic yet chilling. "And you look tired. Perhaps you should take a little nap. Goodnight." With a flick of her finger, Aisha touched Luna's forehead, and darkness enveloped her. Luna collapsed, unconscious.
White caught her, his heart pounding. "What was that?" he demanded, anger simmering. "You promised to take care of Bell when I wasn't home!"
Aisha's eyes held ancient knowledge. "Bell is safe," she assured him. "But Luna… she intrigues me. She solved this phenomenon without evidence or support. Impressive."
White looked down at Luna's unconscious form, struggling to understand. "If what Luna said is true," he began, "then Bell is one of those creatures that consume their hosts. Creatures born from emotions left unchecked."
Aisha shook her head. "You misunderstand. Bell isn't a mere emotion. She's a reflection of your soul—a beacon of happiness. She exists so you can find joy."
"Then what is the meaning of what Luna said? About the creatures… if they remain, they consume their hosts. That means they die," White pressed.
Aisha's eyes softened. "Not always. Imagine an angry husband. His rage births a creature. If he calms himself, the creature fades. But if he doesn't…" She hesitated.
"Kills his wife," White finished, horrified.
"Exactly," Aisha confirmed. "But you don't need to worry too much. An emotion consuming its host is nearly impossible—it takes many things to finally break a soul. People often calm themselves, so the damage remains minimal." She took a final sip of tea, her form dissolving into a thin black mist. "I erased Luna's memories of meeting me and the things she discovered so far. I suggest you stop her from further investigation. If not, it could lead her to danger."
With that, she vanished into the mist.
White was left troubled by Aisha's words. They clarified many things, yet Bell's true nature remained unresolved. She was completely different from those creatures, but…
"Umm…" Luna slowly opened her eyes, looking toward him. "What happened? And why am I so sleepy?" She tried to stand, feeling dizzy, and fell. White caught her again.
"Calm down. Maybe you're tired, which is why you feel dizzy. Perhaps you should go home today," he said with concern.
"I… well, maybe you're right. I should go back now." She retrieved her bag from the table. As she left the room, she paused and said softly, "I'm not able to clarify things now due to my health, but I want you to bring Bell next time you come here."
As White left the club room, his mind raced with thoughts of how to prevent Luna from discovering more. If he lied, she would likely see through it; she was too clever. Lost in thought, he bumped into someone. The boy had dark blue hair, brown eyes, and glasses.
Looking closely, White recognized him as Blake, the vice president of the student council.
"Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought," White apologized. But Blake interrupted, his sharp eyes scrutinizing him.
"You are… White, right? The student who scored 100 on the school test? The one who's never been on top but suddenly achieved something unexpected," Blake questioned, curiously checking him from head to toe.
Worried about the consequences of his earlier mistake, White tried to escape. "Ah, yes, Vice President, but that was a coincidence," he excused himself.
"I saw you just now with Luna. Are you both friends? I've never seen the President talk to someone other than teachers or council members, unless it's related to her duty," Blake said suspiciously.
"Ah… well… she wanted to ask me something about how I improved myself so she can help other students," White offered, hoping Blake would accept the explanation.
"Lie. As far as I know, Luna never thinks about others with such care," Blake asserted.
Stuck and unable to lie convincingly, White wished someone would intervene.
"So, there you are, Blake. I was looking for you," a voice came from behind. A girl with long pink hair and bright pink eyes approached. "Hmm… who is he?" she asked, pointing toward White. She leaned in close, examining him.
Feeling embarrassed by her proximity, White whispered, "Um, you're quite close."
She leaned back and addressed Blake. "I don't know him. Is he your new friend, Blake?"
Blake explained, "No, I just wanted to ask him something about the President."
The pink-haired girl turned to White, smiling cheerfully. "Hi! I'm Claire, the Student Council Secretary. Nice to meet you. You can ignore Blake; he always scares people."
"Um, hello. I'm White," he said, feeling overwhelmed by Claire's aura.
"Ooooooo, so you're White! The one who scored a clean 100 on the test," she exclaimed, shocked.
"Claire, leave us alone for now. I'm talking to him," Blake said, annoyed. But Claire interrupted, "Don't be mean. Why are you always concerned about President Luna? I know she's a little weird, but she's kind. She always treats me well," she rambled on.
"Ahhhh… hey, you. I'll deal with you later, but first, can you stop? I don't want to hear your nonsense," Blake retorted. They continued arguing as White excused himself and headed to his part-time job.