Segar, Addison, and Sullivan decided to meet up at the only café in Colville with an air conditioner, Autumnus Et Folium. As fancy as it sounds, the cost for one drink at this place is no different from a sidewalk café that you can catch sight of in Asia. That is why this place has won the heart of Coville citizens. The affordability of the drinks is not the only bright side of Autumnus Et Folium, but also its owner, Miss Luna. Well, the word “Miss” is a little too formal here though. 

You see, Luna was Segar’s best friend when they were in middle school. After the first year of high school, unlike Segar, she dropped out. Luna did not have a heart for college, nor the sharp intellect that a scholarship hunter would need. The school was just not meant for her. Despite that, she found her way to soar through the sombre fate waiting at a shabby factory: her talent for running a business. 

Ever since middle school, she had come up with a variety of her so-called “business idea”. Usually, they were lunch boxes or small breakfast portions at a reasonable price. It was really tempting if you take the limited allowance of Coville students into account. And now, with the same strategy, Autumnus Et Folium was born, and it was a huge success. Luna has become the one who is in charge of her destiny since then. A beautiful girl, who runs a lucrative business, there is no question about her being the spotlight of Autumnus Et Folium. Sometimes, people just come so that they can admire her beauty and talents. 

6:15 P.M, The door chime of Autumnus Et Folium’s slight ring shifts Luna’s focus to the front door. Three teenagers are entering. A slight smile appears as she recognizes one of the faces. Luna turns on her service mode and then greets them:

“Oh, my! What an honor! The geniuses of Colville come to my humble café today! How can I serve you, future officers?”

“Well, being my best friend, you surely knew about me going to Gravefield. But you know them too?” - Segar sighs then replies with a plain face. Luna’s humor can never reach him.

“Well, being your best friend for years, I have learned that besides me, your only acquaintances are all geniuses, or in rare cases, smart people. Plus, Lieutenant Montana and I had a chat earlier. She is a frequent customer here.” - Luna answers to Segar, then turns to the other two.

“Hi! I’m Luna, Segar’s best friend since middle school! Who are you might be, future officers?”

“Wow! Segar has a friend, really? I’m Addison. I was Segar’s classmate. Wanted to be his friend though, but never had the chance.” - Addison goes first.

“I’m Sullivan. I was Segar’s classmate too. Glad that I can get to know the only businesswoman in Colville!” - Sullivan replies.

“Drinks are on the house today guys! Take your seat, the menu is on the table. I will come pick up your order.” - Luna turns on her service smile once again while talking to the group.

The three of them move to the table that receives most of the cool air from the AC and then skim through the menu. Segar will go with his all-time favorite: peach tea, while Addison chooses a milkshake, and Sullivan prefers strawberry smoothie. They all agree that only after the drinks are served, will they discuss the paperwork. 

After ten minutes, Luna comes back to the table with their order. She quickly gives it to them and then goes back to the counter. Honestly, she wanted to have more chat with them. But seeing the stacks of documents on the table, her business intuition told her to give them some privacy. 

“Well, I had some minor difficulties in the part where you must summarize changes that happened in your life. I do remember everything, but the format is too complicated.” - Sullivan initiated the talk.

“Huh? You know you could ask me for a scan of my papers right? I have finished mine. Why dragged us here for just that?” - Segar replies.

Sullivan chuckles then answers:

“I will be honest here, I just wanted us to hang out together. You know, establishing our relationship. There will only be the three of us, who are from Colville at Gravefield Academy. We should know each other well.” 

“We definitely should! I finished mine. I just wanna hang out. Especially with Segar haha!” - Addison follows up.

“Whatever.” - Segar sighs. Never has he had to sigh so much like this ever since the day he was admitted to Gravefield Ground Forces Academy.

In the end, Segar decided to stay and have a chat with them. It is not like that he has something to do at home anyway. With Sullivan's problem solved in a matter of seconds as he takes out his phone and captures Segar’s completed work, Luna leaves the counter to join their chat as well.

Nothing really interesting happened during their conversation. The others just kept praising Segar. And Luna, well just being herself, teasing Segar for not having friends. This time, with Addison and Sullivan there, she pulled a new trick and asked them to “adopt” Segar. 

Normally, this kind of chat would just give Segar the urge to let out a sigh. But he enjoyed the nonchalant conversation that they were having. Is this what having friends feels like? How long has it been since the last time Segar could make a new friend? But have Addison and Sullivan considered him as a friend yet? He hoped so. After all, they are all he will have in the far away Gravefield Academy.

Addison and Sullivan are like Autumnus Et Folium in the Colville scorching summer for Segar. Like how cool air hit him when he stepped into the café, they cool his over-blazing heart down, so he can be a teenager without any worries. Like shining sunlight sneaking through the glass door of Autumnus Et Folium, his spark of hope for a brighter future at Gravefield Academy ignited. Like Autumnus Et Folium in a scorching summer, they glow so brightly in the darkness of Colville.

The Moonlight on Summer Day

"Walking on the rough subgrade of summer,

Just like a lone man walking aimlessly in the desert,

Drained, hopeless, and in vain,

My artistic soul shall wither with this town day by day.

Ah… An oasis or my imagination,

Autumnus Et Folium,

Soothes my mind with its chime.

Autumnus Et Folium,

Where Moonlight shines so warm.

To my dearest Moonlight,

Just like a lone man walking aimlessly in the desert,

May your oasis regrow our pitiful soul?" - X.ang - a travelling poet