Rin was now acting like a child, darting between people, giggling softly as she played small tricks on anyone who crossed her path. She plucked flowers from stalls and made them float in midair. She tied the corners of tablecloths together so that when someone pulled one, the whole row of cups fell over. Every time someone gasped or shouted, Rin would clap a hand over her mouth and snicker, the sound barely louder than the wind.
Selene moved through the crowd with quiet urgency. Her gaze swept over every corner, every shadow. The night was bright with lanterns, but to her, it felt strangely dim. Rin's aura was nowhere to be found. She could not feel her heartbeat, her energy, or even her presence. It was as if Rin had slipped into another plane entirely. For someone like Selene, whose senses could track the faintest breath of life, this kind of silence was impossible and deeply unsettling.
Meanwhile, Rin was having the time of her life. She wandered between the guests, invisible, her laughter hidden behind her small hands. The world around her shimmered like a dream, the lights blurring at the edges as she skipped between tables. Then she stopped.
Someone familiar stood near the refreshment table. Rin blinked once, then twice. "Huh? Shion?" she whispered, tilting her head.
Shion looked different tonight. She wore a long, dress that glimmered under the lanterns. Her hair was pinned neatly, and her expression was one of pure focus, not on the people around her but on the food. Her plate was stacked high, and she was quietly munching away as if nothing else in the world existed.
Rin tiptoed closer, her curiosity lighting up her eyes. She waved a hand in front of Shion's face, still invisible, expecting no reaction. But Shion's eyes flicked up suddenly, sharp as glass. Her gaze cut straight through Rin's invisibility, locking onto her like she had been waiting for her all along.
"Heyyy, Shion!" Rin chirped happily, her voice filled with energy. "What are you doing here? I thought you went on a mission or something!"
Shion frowned, her chopsticks pausing in midair. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes narrowing. "Shoo away, commoner," she said coldly. "No one disturbs me when I'm eating."
Rin blinked in confusion. "Commoner? Wait, what's wrong with you?" she asked, stepping closer and tugging on Shion's sleeve like a stubborn child. Her tone was playful, teasing, but Shion didn't look amused.
Shion sighed softly, turning back to her plate. Her voice carried a strange tone, sharp but distant, like someone else was speaking through her. "Do not touch me, little one."
But Rin only grinned wider. "Selene refuses to kiss me, so you have to kiss me instead!" she declared proudly, puffing her cheeks as she leaned closer. "You're the second lead, so it's only fair!"
Before she could press her lips forward, Shion's hand moved. She grabbed whatever was near, a loaf of bread maybe a cup, and slammed it straight into Rin's face without hesitation.
The invisible girl turned visible as stumbled back, clutching her nose. "Ow! That hurt!" she cried, her voice echoing softly in the air.
Shion dusted her hands and glared in Rin's direction. "You fool. Have you no manners? How dare you try to kiss a queen like me." Her voice was cold and regal, every word laced with pride. Then, as if the incident never happened, she turned back to her food, eating calmly.
Rin stood there, blinking. The air shimmered faintly around her as she rubbed her face. "Queen? What queen?" she mumbled to herself. "Did she just call herself that?"
Before she could question it further, a familiar voice called out behind her.
"Finally caught you."
Rin froze. A hand wrapped firmly around her wrist, stopping her in place. "I'm not letting go of you tonight," Selene said quietly.
Rin turned her head toward her, startled. "Huh? What happened? Who were you talking to?" Selene asked, looking around the refreshments table.
"I was talking to Shion, and then…" Rin trailed off as she turned to point, but Shion was gone. The food table was still there, the cup she'd used was still half full, but the woman herself had vanished completely.
Rin frowned, tilting her head, confusion washing over her face. "Did I… really see her?" she whispered. "Or was I just imagining things?"
Selene didn't respond. Her grip tightened slightly, and she scanned the air around them. Something felt off, a faint residue of strange magic that prickled her skin. Her eyes narrowed.
Akari and Rei rushed back, both a little out of breath. "We couldn't find anything to help," Rei said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "But I was told it should wear off by tomorrow morning."
"So by tomorrow morning, she'll be back to her normal self," Akari added, forcing a small smile as she looked between Rin and Selene. Rin just tilted her head, a faint sparkle still dancing in her eyes.
Selene exhaled slowly. "Whoever made that candy," she muttered, her tone low and dangerous, "I'll find them. I'll make their life miserable, and then I'll freeze them to death." The calm way she said it made Akari's blood run cold. Both girls stood frozen, unsure how serious she was, but the look in her eyes said she wasn't joking.
The silence lingered until Rin suddenly squirmed in Selene's hold, tugging on her arm like a child seeking attention. "My Selene, piggyback me," she whined softly. "I'm tired. My legs hurt."
Selene's expression softened instantly. For a moment, the coldness in her aura melted away. "Piggyback?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. Then a quiet laugh escaped her lips. "Alright, fine."
Without hesitation, she crouched down, letting Rin climb onto her back. Rin squealed happily, wrapping her arms around Selene's neck. The warmth of her small body pressed against Selene's back, and despite herself, Selene found the moment strangely peaceful.
"This is better," Selene murmured, her voice gentle. "And this will stop you from trying to kiss anyone tonight."
Her words were teasing, but there was a faint tenderness hidden beneath them.
Akari stood beside Rei, both too stunned to move. "Is it just me," Akari whispered, "or is the Ice Queen carrying someone without freezing them?"
Rei leaned closer, her eyes wide. "Not just you, baby. This is real," she muttered in disbelief. "What in the world has Rin done to melt her like that?"
Selene said nothing. She just adjusted her hold on Rin, careful not to let her slip. The girl rested her chin on Selene's shoulder, smiling faintly, her eyelids drooping as the night air grew cooler.
Around them, the celebration continued. The music grew louder, a lively rhythm filling the square. Lanterns swayed from the trees, casting soft golden light over the dancers. The scent of fresh food and sweet wine hung in the air. Laughter mixed with the hum of music, and petals drifted down from the garlands above.
Yet in the middle of all that life and sound, one quiet scene stood apart.
Selene, the cold queen, walked slowly through the crowd with Rin on her back. The childlike girl clung to her like a sleepy cat, and Selene didn't seem to mind. Every step she took was gentle, steady, and filled with a calm that didn't belong to someone like her.
Akari and Rei watched them from a distance, unable to hide their smiles. "It's kind of cute," Akari whispered.
Rei nodded, still amazed. "Yeah. Cute… and terrifying," she replied softly.
Selene's gaze softened as she glanced over her shoulder. Rin's eyes were half closed, her smile small but genuine. The sight stirred something deep inside Selene, something she didn't have a name for yet.
The music swelled again, brighter this time, and the laughter of the crowd carried into the stars above. The night continued, warm and alive, wrapping around them like a soft øblanket.
And in the middle of it all, the ice queen carried her Kisaragi through the festimlights, unaware that this moment would stay in everyone's memory for a very long time.