Mizuho held his gaze.
"Is that what you think?" she asked, with a slight edge that hadn't been entirely intentional.
"You look tired," Sora said. Then he added, too late, "I don't mean that in a bad way."
Wow, she thought. That really was direct.
"That's not something I usually hear," she replied.
"I know." He shrugged. "That's why I said it."
Mizuho looked away.
What a troublesome guy.
Mizuho hadn't been sleeping well for several days.
Not because of work, rehearsals, or even the recent concert. She knew how to handle all that. This time was different. Every time she closed her eyes, the same thought came back—persistent, refusing to let her rest.
There's no script for this.
There were no cameras, no stage telling her when to move, when to smile, when to speak. She would be alone with a boy she didn't know, in a situation no one had trained her for.
What am I supposed to do if there's silence?
What if I say something weird?
She had spent hours overthinking it, imagining scenes that hadn't happened, correcting answers that didn't exist yet. And the more she thought about it, the more aware she became of something that made her uncomfortable in a completely new way.
It was her first date.
Not just as an idol—but as a person.
That was why, when she saw him sitting there, waiting, with that distracted posture and the air of someone who seemed to attract trouble without trying, the thought escaped before she could stop it.
Why did it have to be him?
She wasn't disappointed—just confused. Because out of all the scenarios she had imagined during those sleepless nights, none of them included someone she already knew. Least of all him.
She hadn't thought Sora was her fan.
She saw him in class—sometimes from afar, sometimes hidden behind a cap or glasses that weren't part of Luna. He always seemed distracted. Always getting into trouble that didn't seem to look for him.
The memory surfaced before she could stop it.
It hadn't been anything dramatic. Just an ordinary day.
A pair of mocking voices behind her. Careless comments about her hair color—quiet enough to pretend they weren't aimed at anyone, but clear enough to hurt. Mizuho had kept walking. She always did. It wasn't worth reacting.
Until someone stopped.
"Are you done?"
The voice had been calm.
Not angry. Not raised.
When Mizuho turned around, Sora was there.
With that same distracted expression he always wore, as if he didn't quite understand why the atmosphere had suddenly grown tense.
"It's not funny to bother her just because she's prettier than you," he had added casually. "Or smarter, considering you're in a group."
He hadn't made a speech. He hadn't raised his voice. He had simply stayed there, taking up space, until the laughter faded on its own.
After that, he hadn't said anything special.
He had only asked if she was okay.
And yet, ever since that day, every time she saw him, something in her chest tightened in an uncomfortable way.
This is ridiculous, she had told herself back then. I'm exaggerating.
But now, standing beside Sora, her heart beating far too fast for someone who had sung in front of thousands, Mizuho could no longer lie to herself so easily.
I'm nervous because it's him.
The thought formed clearly, without embellishment.
Because she was walking beside him.
Because he was looking at her directly.
Because despite everything, the date felt like it was between him and her.
She swallowed.
I like him.
No… like wasn't enough.
She felt the urge to laugh at herself, but she couldn't do that in front of him.
I'm crazy about Sora.
The confession stayed in her mind, but it still made her tremble.
If he looks at me the way he does in class, I won't be able to pretend.
If he smiles like that—when he doesn't even realize it—I'll forget how to be Luna.
I'll forget everything.
She clenched her fingers against her skirt.
Will I be okay? she thought. I'll have to take control of this.
With that thought, something inside her decided to take charge.
"I was just a little worried," she admitted after a second. "Sitting still isn't really… my thing."
Sora looked at her, surprised.
"Then—"
"Would you mind if I led the date for now?" she said, standing up before he could finish.
She smiled—this time with real energy.
This is better, Sora thought.
And without waiting for an answer, she started walking.
Luna walked one step ahead, not worrying too much about the pace.
It wasn't a big difference—just enough to make Sora follow without realizing it.
She looked at shop windows, stopped briefly in front of eye-catching displays, then resumed walking naturally, as if the route had already been decided.
I hope I don't bore him, Luna thought. Or at least that he doesn't figure me out.
Behind her, Sora tried not to lose sight of her.
She's different, he told himself.
He couldn't quite explain it.
Nothing obvious had changed. The clothes were the same, even her tone of voice was the same. But something about the way she moved no longer felt like Luna. She seemed more present now—more comfortable taking up space.
Maybe she was just nervous before, he thought.
That explanation felt good enough, so he didn't question it.
"Do you like these kinds of stores?" he asked when they stopped in front of one filled with bright colors and eye-catching items.
The same store where he had bought the necklace.
Mizuho turned her head slightly.
"I like looking at them," she replied. "I don't always buy."
She walked in without waiting for confirmation.
The inside was filled with soft music and shelves packed with small items—accessories, rings, chains. Mizuho moved among them with genuine curiosity, picking things up, turning them over, then putting them back.
This is better. Sora watched her quietly. Now she looks… happy.
It wasn't an exaggerated smile, nor something worth a screenshot.
It was simpler than that.
Something that happened when no one was really watching.
"Doesn't it bother you when people look at you?" he asked without thinking too much.
She stopped.
Looked at him.
"Why would it?"
Sora hesitated.
"I mean… you're Luna."
She held his gaze for a second longer.
There it is.
The word didn't bother her. She was used to it. But hearing it from the boy she liked made it sound different. Heavier.
"Right now," she said, resting a finger on one of the shelves, "I'm just me."
He nodded, a little awkwardly.
"Sorry."
"It's okay," she replied—and this time, she meant it.
They continued walking through the store. Luna stopped in front of the necklace display, thinking far too much about it.
I wish I had a keepsake, she thought.
Sora noticed.
"Luna," he said before thinking too much.
"Yes?"
He pulled out the bag, feeling his heart slam awkwardly against his ribs.
"This is… it wasn't planned."
Great, Sora, he thought. Very convincing.
"Well, it was planned, but not as an obligation. I just… thought that—"
He fell silent.
Instead of finishing, he took out the necklace and held it out to her.
"You don't have to accept it if you don't want to," he added quickly. "I just thought you might want one—"
She took it.
First she looked at the necklace. Then at Sora. Then back at it, as if she needed to confirm it was still there.
Luna felt the world stop.
The necklace rested in Sora's hand, and for a second, she couldn't breathe.
A… gift?
The idea didn't fit.
She wasn't prepared for that. Not from him. Not like this. Not now.
Heat rushed to her face.
I'm going to faint, she thought.
Her heart was pounding so loudly she could barely hear what Sora was saying. Her fingers trembled slightly as she closed her hand around the chain.
From the person I like.
The thought appeared without permission.
From the person I love.
She blushed far too much to hide it.
This wasn't part of the plan.
None of this was part of the plan.
And yet, she didn't want to let go.
"It's… really pretty," she said, barely holding back the emotion.
"Yeah."
Sora swallowed.
"I thought… you could wear it anywhere."
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah."
He nodded, a little confused.
They left the store smiling. Mizuho lightly swung the bag as they walked, the necklace now resting against her neck.
This is going better than I thought.
They entered a nearby restaurant shortly after.
A place where people spoke freely and no one paid too much attention to anyone else.
They sat by the window.
Luna ordered without hesitation—something simple but energizing. Sora did the same, without thinking.
While they waited, they talked.
About small things. About stories that didn't really matter. Mizuho spoke more now, gesturing, leaning forward as she talked.
This is who I am, she thought.
Sora listened attentively.
The food arrived. They ate. They laughed once, almost without noticing.
This… this is the real Luna, he realized.
When they finished, Luna rested her elbows on the table and looked at him with open curiosity.
"Sora."
"Yeah?"
"You're weird."
He blinked.
"Thanks."
"I didn't mean it as an insult."
"That doesn't help."
She let out a short laugh.
"I really enjoyed the date. Thank you for spending time with me."
A minute later, Luna stood up slowly.
"Could you wait for me a few minutes?" She paused, searching for the words. "I need to freshen up a bit."
Sora nodded immediately.
"Of course. Take all the time you need."
She smiled and headed toward the restroom.
Sora was left alone.
He looked at the table. The reflection of his empty cup. The glass of the window.
I didn't do anything weird, right? he thought. I just said what I felt.
Even so, his chest felt restless.
Behind the closed door, Luna placed her hands on the sink and took a deep breath.
She held the necklace carefully, as if it might disappear if she squeezed it too hard.
She looked at it for a few seconds, trying to burn it into her memory.
He gave this to me.
Sora gave me this.
She smiled again.
I like it.
No—I love it.
Her heart was beating too fast.
I'm… I'm really happy.
So happy it hurt a little.
He's so sweet.
I'm about to faint.
For a moment, she truly thought she might, which was why she had come to the restroom—to calm herself down.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hat. Her pink hair. Those eyes that weren't hers.
Just then, her phone vibrated.
The sound snapped her back to reality.
She checked the screen.
It was a message from Tsukiho.
"Sayoko says you should rest. We're switching now."
Mizuho pressed the necklace to her chest for one more second.
I don't want to leave yet.
But she knew she had to.
She washed her face carefully—still flushed, still smiling without realizing it.
Minutes later, the switch between the sisters was complete.
"So… Sora."
That was the only information Mizuho had given her.
She hadn't added anything else. There had been no need.
Sora. Her classmate.
The boy who was always late, with that distracted expression that seemed to apologize before he even spoke. The same boy she had scolded more times than she could count—because she was the class representative, because it was her responsibility, because someone had to do it.
And because he never seemed bothered by it.
That was the strange part.
Tsukiho looked at herself in the mirror.
The summer hat hid part of her face. The pink hair fell the same way it always did when she was Luna. The eyes—different from her own—looked back at her with a gaze she didn't quite recognize as hers.
I'm not Tsukiho right now.
The thought was firm.
I'm Luna.
Being the winner changed everything.
Tsukiho had planned a calm date. A small library. A quiet café. Something that didn't require much talking or moving. Something she could maintain effortlessly.
Sora would fit into that easily.
He didn't look athletic. He didn't look loud. He looked like someone who could stay still without thinking too much.
Maybe…
The thought stopped before it finished.
Tsukiho straightened her back.
It doesn't matter.
I'm Luna now.
When she left the restroom, she walked with measured steps—simply different from before. There was less overflowing energy and more restraint, as if every gesture had been reviewed before existing.
Sora looked up immediately.
There she was.
He's looking at me the same way, she thought.
As if nothing had changed.
She sat across from him, carefully placing the bag beside her.
Still, something about her felt different to Sora.
He felt it before he understood it.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
Luna nodded.
"Yes," she replied. "Thank you for waiting."
Her voice was the same.
And it wasn't.
It took Sora a few seconds to adjust to the sensation.
It wasn't something concrete.
He couldn't put it into clear words, but the Luna sitting in front of him now occupied space differently. She sat carefully, placed the bag beside her, and folded her fingers over her lap, as if she needed something physical to stay grounded.
Did she change…?
His gaze drifted to her neck without thinking.
"And the necklace…?"
The question formed on its own.
Luna was nervous.