Luna POV:
I slipped off my shoes and skipped into the living room. Mom turned from the stove as soon as she heard me.
"Ah! Welcome home, Luna. How was school today?"
"It was fine, thank you for asking," I said as I swung my bag onto the floor. "How was work today?"
She chuckled, shaking her head. "You don't need to ask me that. You know that work for me is the same every day."
"I know that! But it's still disrespectful if I don't ask back, though."
I grabbed a bottle of juice from the fridge, poured it into a cup, and scurried over to the sofa. After sinking into the cushions, I took a long sip and let out an exaggerated, refreshed sigh.
Mom let out a soft scoff, smiling faintly as she returned to cooking. "So, how was the hangout today?"
"It was fun," I replied easily, mindlessly tapping on the glass. "It's always fun when I hang out with Hoshino and Yu."
At the mention of those two names—specifically his—Mom froze. The clinking of her spatula stopped for a moment too long, filling the room with the sound of the stove fan.
I'm the youngest of four, so Mom's older than most of my friends' parents. But when I mentioned him, her face softened into a strangely lively smile.
"I see… so you were hanging out with him. That's good."
I didn't reply. I just watched the juice swirl in my cup, feeling the cold liquid settle in my stomach. I found myself sinking deeper into the sofa, the weight of the past pressing down on me.
"Of course I was," I whispered to no one in particular. "I don't think I can ever stop being his friend…"
To the world, Hoshino was an anomaly. To me, he was a friend—one that I won't ever be able to repay.
I stared at my reflection in the cup. It's been almost two years since that day, and yet looking at myself… it feels like I haven't aged at all.
***
It was the day before winter break during our first year of high school.
Lunch break had just started, and my friends and I were heading to the cafeteria. Back then—as much as it embarrasses me to admit now—I lived for gossip. And naturally, the people I surrounded myself with were the same.
"Hey, did you hear about what Hoshino did this morning?" one of them leaned in conspiratorially.
I didn't have any direct contact with him back then, but I'd heard the rumours floating around here and there. They weren't "bad," necessarily, but they were enough to make me want to keep my distance.
"What did he do this time?" someone asked.
"Apparently… he showed up to school without wearing his uniform today!"
Everyone gasped. In hindsight, it wasn't that serious—it's just a uniform. Our school was also pretty lenient, so a missing tie or the wrong sweater wasn't a crime. But we were freshmen. Pushing the rules like that was unheard of.
I remained silent as they continued.
"He didn't even wear the pants!" the girl continued. "Usually, if you have the pants, you're excused, but he just… didn't care."
"Hasn't he been doing this stuff a lot?" another chimed in. "I've heard he's been sleeping in class or straight up skipping. The teacher tried to humiliate him by making him solve a question on the board, and he just did it without even fully waking up."
I rolled my eyes. Just what was this supposed to prove? Sure, it made him sound like a terrible student. But as a person? We didn't actually know anything about him. All gossip was usually pointless, but this one felt especially pointless—and boring.
Still, just to be safe, I should probably stay away from him.
We eventually reached the cafeteria. On the way to our usual table, I spotted Remi, a friend from middle school, sitting a bit further away. We didn't share the same friend group, but we were close enough that I'd always say hi.
I gave my friends a quick heads-up before dashing toward Remi. She didn't seem to notice that I was approaching, so I decided to scare her a little. I crept up from behind her until I was a hairsbreadth away.
Gotcha!
I shot my hands forward and covered her eyes. Remi let out a blood-curdling scream that silenced the groups around us. I quickly pulled back. When the noise slowly returned, I glared at her. "What the hell is wrong with you! Do you get that scared that easily?!"
Remi spun around, eyes blazing—then deflated when she saw it was me. "Geez, you scared me!"
"Yeah, no shit I can see that!"
The tension lingered for a second longer before we both burst out laughing. I took a step forward until she was in arm's reach, then hugged her tightly. Just before things could get awkward, I pulled myself back and took a seat at a nearby table while Remi remained standing.
"Well, enough about that, how've you been?" I asked. "It feels like forever since I've seen you!"
"I know, right?! We used to talk to each other every day in middle school," Remi reminisced. "Anyway, high school is so different from what I thought it would be!"
I tilted my head. "Really? I think high school is kinda the same."
A playfully judgmental frown creased Remi's face. "Ughh, Luna, you're missing the vibes. There's no way it's the same! We all have to start getting our acts together for real now!"
A lot of people have been saying this same thing recently. "Be mature." "Be responsible." "Start acting like adults." As a student, I get it, too. But we were still in our first year. We were basically kids.
We can have a little bit of fun while we're at it!
I let out a loud sigh as I waved my hand dismissively. "You can do that. I think I'll have fun for a little longer."
Remi shrugged. "To each their own, I guess."
Before the conversation could begin to stale, a playful, almost girlish grin crossed Remi's face. "Anywayyyy," she said, clasping her hands together and twirling around me. "How are you and your boyfrienddddd?"
The heat rushed to my cheeks instantly. I buried my face in my hands, hanging my head.
"Awwwww, are you embarrassed? You're so cute, Luna!"
She tried to pry my hands away. Since they were occupied protecting my dignity, I retaliated the only way I could—by kicking her.
"Ow! Ow!" she hissed, blocking her knees. "Okay, okay! I'll stop! Just stop kicking me!"
Once we settled down, Remi took a seat next to me, adjusting her skirt in the process. "So how long have you guys been dating?"
"Three months…" I muttered.
Suddenly, a dry, monotonous—yet teasing voice interjected from behind us. "Huh, that's not bad for a high school relationship."
It was a man's voice.
Who the hell…?
Remi and I both turned toward the voice. There stood Hoshino with a juice box hanging from his lips and his hands in the pockets of his hoodie.
Remi crossed her arms and legs with a disgruntled expression. "What took you so long? I was waiting here for a while!"
"My bad," he said without a hint of remorse, careful not to drop his juice box. "I went to grab some juice."
He stepped toward us, seamlessly joining our little circle. Despite being the object of a few rumours recently, he blended into social situations like this with ease.
He took a glance at Remi, then at me. He blinked a few times before giving me a thumbs-up. "Gratz on your relationship, by the way. You probably won't work out, but I wish you the best of luck."
I froze.
…Who the hell is this?
Remi uncrossed her legs and stomped them on the ground. "That's a rude thing to say. Where are your manners?!"
He leisurely scratched the tip of his nose. "Sorry for being honest—I guess."
He turned toward me and gave an overdramatic bow, his hands hanging in the air and everything. "Sorry if I offended you, Miss." Yet, his voice remained as dull as ever.
At that moment, it was almost like I forgot how to breathe—but it wasn't because I was hurt or offended. I just couldn't believe that someone like him even… existed. He was at the same time nothing and everything, like the rumours. He felt detached and overwhelming at the same time.
"Hey, uhhh, are you okay?" he said, waving a hand in front of my face.
I snapped out of it and put on the best smile I could. "O-oh! Uh… I'm Luna. And you are?"
He stuck out his hand, a playful, slightly crooked grin appearing on his face. "My name is Hoshino. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss. And again, sorry for what I said earlier. I was taught that honesty is the best policy."
It was such a stupid line—but somehow, a genuine laugh slipped out of me. "No, it's okay. You're actually pretty funny!"
I returned the handshake. I didn't know it then—but that moment was the beginning of something I never saw coming.
A friendship that should have never happened, but against all odds, did.