They sat together beneath the cinnamonwood tree.

Raveena had quietly asked if they could go somewhere more relaxing, and Aya had agreed without hesitation.

As usual, the cinnamonwood tree was a quiet spot, still tucked just far enough from the busy paths of campus, but still close enough to see the occasional few students walk by.

And walk by, they did.

Some passed with mere glances. Others… still looked with curiosity.

After all, there’s the beloved Aya Ribbuns, sitting beside the infamous Raveena Vesper.

But neither of them seemed to mind.

Raveena hadn’t spoken yet. For a minute. Then two. Her eyes remained fixed somewhere past Aya’s shoulder, not quite watching the people so much as letting them pass through her periphery.

Aya waited.

She always did.

“…So, um…” Aya finally spoke out. “What was it you wanted to talk about?”

Raveena then slowly turned her gaze back to Aya, and smiled. “I didn’t apologize properly.”

Aya tilted her head. “You didn’t—"

“For last week,” Raveena added. “I just kind of… said a few words and hurried off.”

“Oh…”

“I’ve felt off about it ever since. I wanted to eat lunch with you this past week. I really did,” she looked away for a moment, scratching the side of her cheek. “But I just didn’t feel like I could. So I got busy instead. Told myself I was too busy.”

Aya’s heart gave the faintest flutter at Raveena’s explanation.

Because since last week, since that moment. Raveena hadn’t joined her for a single lunch. She hadn’t been around as usual during the breaks, always off somewhere else, somewhere not-here.

Aya didn’t worry too much, but she had wondered.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for, Raveena,” Aya smiled at her. “And if you didn’t feel like eating with me, that’s okay, too. I understand.”

Raveena stared for a bit, like she was still processing the words. Then her eyes narrowed slightly. “…You’re not mad at me at all?”

Aya looked at her then giggled lightly. “Why would I be mad? It wasn’t a big deal to me,” she said. “You just said it was uncomfortable for you, right? I get that.”

Raveena let out a sigh, a relieved kind that eased a bit of weight off her shoulders. She placed a hand over her chest and leaned back a little, eyes fluttering closed for half a second. “Stars, that’s a relief…”

“Well, we’re friends, right? That means we go through things together.”

Raveena cracked one eye open at that, then nodded slowly. “…That’s true. You did say that.”

“Exactly!” Aya said, perking up as she scooted a little closer. “Which is why next time… you should eat lunch with me here again! The cafeteria’s been so packed lately I can barely chew without hearing gossips here and there. It’s much more peaceful here.”

Raveena looked at her, then nodded slowly. “…Sure. Next time.”

“Then it’s settled! It’s a date!”

At those words, Raveena flinched, just a little.

“Wait—! I didn’t mean that kind of date!” Aya squeaked, both hands flying up like she was surrendering to her own words. “I just meant, like—like a friend kind of date! A lunch date! A peaceful lunch date—!”

“I know what you meant,” Raveena deadpanned.

Aya froze up…

Then noticed Raveena staring.

Then realized how hot her cheeks were getting.

Then made the mistake of looking directly at her again.

“…P-please don’t stare,” she squeaked, burying her face halfway behind her hands. “It’s embarrassing…”

Raveena’s shoulders shook a little as she let out a small laugh, along with her kind of smile that almost rarely showed itself. “You’re cute when you get flustered like that.”

Aya let out a tiny squeak, face fully pink now.

Then—pomf, pomf!—she tapped her fists lightly against Raveena’s shoulder in protest. “H-hey! That’s not fair! Don’t just say stuff like that!”

Raveena leaned slightly into the playful hits, smirking. “What? I’m not wrong.”

“You are wrong! Objection!”

“Overruled.”

Aya huffed, defeated, before finally slumping gently forward with a deep breath. She pressed her palms against her lap to calm herself fully.

“…Okay,” she exhaled. “That’s over...”

Raveena raised a brow. “You sure?”

“Mostly,” Aya replied, then peeked up again with a smaller, steadier smile. “Actually… there’s something I wanted to share with you too. And um… I’d like your input on it.”

“Me?”

“Mhm!”

Raveena nodded. “Go for it, then, I’ll listen.”

“Well… earlier today, Professor Barlowe invited me to be part of this group of upperclassmen. We’re supposed to help cater an event in Rosequartz Town.”

Raveena tilted her head. “What kind of event?”

“It’s called the Concorde Summit,” Aya answered. “It’s this big gathering where institutes from all over the Wonderforest send people like professors, researchers, and students to share ideas and talk about education stuff. A few institutes are involved each year.”

“…Never heard of it, sorry,” Raveena said as she frowned a bit and shook her head.

“I hadn’t either until today!”

“That makes two of us then,” Raveena smiled. “Go on.”

Aya nodded quickly. “Okay! So, Saint Maribelle’s is hosting it this year, so they’re sending a team to help with the banquets and meals for the whole week. I guess it’s kind of a big deal, since the chefs from Rosequartz are involved too… and Professor Barlowe said I’d be working side by side with them.”

“…That sounds exhausting.”

“It does, doesn’t it? I mean… I think it’s exciting, but it also sounds really, really busy.”

“I’d die,” Raveena said flatly. “So many people. So much noise. No thanks.”

Aya giggled again. “Exactly. I was hoping it won’t be too much for me either… but I still haven’t answered Professor Barlowe yet. I have until the end of the day to give my answer. So… what do you think?”

“What do I think?” Raveena asked, and Aya nodded.

At that question, Raveena didn’t answer right away. Instead, she leaned back against the cinnamonwood trunk, head tilted up to watch the breeze comb through the canopy as she thought about it.

After a short while, she spoke again. “…I think you’ll be fine.”

“You do?”

Raveena nodded, still looking upward. “Realistically speaking? You’re studying for this kind of thing. Cooking, catering, all of that. At some point, you’re gonna have to go through the real thing.”

Aya chuckled softly. “That’s true… I just hope it won’t get too overwhelming.”

Raveena then looked back down at her with a serious face. “Honestly? You shouldn’t expect it to be easy-going.”

That made Aya blink in wonder. “Huh? Why not?”

Raveena held up a hand gently. “I don’t mean that in a bad way,” she reassured. “But it helps to get used to things going… hectic. If you expect that from the start, you’ll know how to handle it when it does happen.”

Then she gave a soft shrug. “Expect peace, and you’ll freeze the moment things go sideways. But expect chaos, and you’ll already know what to do. Make sense?”

Aya’s ears gave a thoughtful little flick. Then another. She looked down at her lap for a moment, considering Raveena’s words. “…You know, I think that does make sense.”

Raveena smiled and nodded. “Good.”

Aya then looked at her with a warm smile. “…So… is that your way of saying I should go?”

“Yeah. I think you should.”

“Mm~ okay then,” Aya hummed, bouncing her heels lightly against the grass. “Oh! Um—by the way. It actually… starts tomorrow.”

And that made Raveena sit upright almost instantly. “Tomorrow?” she blinked. “Seriously?”

Aya smiled sheepishly. “Y-yes… it’s kind of sudden. They only asked me earlier today, and—well, I’m supposed to give my answer by the end of the day, but if I do go… then I leave in the morning.”

Raveena stared at her in silence.

And then Aya caught it—the way the panther-folk’s ears lowered just a little, and the faint crease forming at her brow.

“…Raveena?” Aya asked gently. “Is something wrong?”

Raveena looked away quickly, and slowly came the faintest blush that was beginning to color her cheeks. “It’s nothing. Sorry. Just… didn’t expect it to be right away, that’s all.”

Aya leaned in and teased. “Aww~ Will you miss me?”

Raveena’s tail twitched behind her, it was her only response, she didn’t answer.

“Oh! And that probably means,” Aya added, “we won’t be able to eat lunch together for, um… maybe a whole week. I’m really sorry…”

Still facing away, Raveena shrugged a little too stiffly. “Well… nothing we can do about it, right? You’re needed for more important things.”

That silenced them for a moment, as each girl focused on her own thoughts. Raveena mostly kept her attention on the grass, tail still, eyes somewhere else.

Then—

“Raveenaaa~” Aya called out sweetly, which caught Raveena slightly off-guard for a moment, making her ears flinch and twitch.

“…What?”

Aya gave her the biggest soft-eyed smile, swaying just a little where she sat. “What say… we eat dinner together? I could cook something for us in the dorm kitchen, and we can eat in my room! Maybe drink a little tea, too.”

“…In your dorm?”

“Yup~!”

“The prey-folk dorms?”

“Yup!” Aya giggled.

Raveena paused once more to think, a much longer pause.

Aya tilted her head as she waited. “Is… that a no?”

That made Raveena snap out of it. “No! No, it’s not—nothing like that. I just… I wouldn’t want to impose or anything. And what if your roommate says something about… well, you know. A panther-folk being there?”

“Oh, silly,” Aya said with a laugh, “I don’t have a roommate!”

“Oh.”

“And besides,” Aya added, leaning in a bit with that warm, insistent tone, “I’m the one inviting you. So you’re not imposing at all. Not even a smidge.”

Raveena stared at her for a moment, then sighed, smiling faintly in defeat. “…You really don’t let people wriggle out of your kindness, do you?”

Aya only smiled wider. “Not if I can help it.”

Raveena exhaled through her nose. “Well then,” she said while folding her arms loosely. “Nothing else for me to do but say yes to that invitation.”

“Yay~!” Aya beamed, her hands clapping together in delight. “Dinner together it is, then! I’m really looking forward to it.”

Raveena gave a nod. “Yeah… me too.”

“Oh wait! I should tell you my room number! I’m on the second floor. Room 214!”

Raveena nodded. “Got it. I’ll head over around dinner time.”

At that, Aya stood, brushing off her skirt with a happy bounce in her step. “Alright then! I should go tell Professor Barlowe my decision now!”

“So… you’ve made up your mind?” Raveena asked as she looked up at Aya.

“Mhm!” Aya nodded eagerly. “I’ll go to the Concorde Summit!”

Raveena stood as well, dusting her skirt and adjusting the fold of her tail. “Then I’ll head back to the dorms for now. Finish up some homework before I come by.”

Aya gave her a cheerful nod. “Okay! I’ll see you later then! Bye, Raveena!”

Raveena smiled back at Aya and raised one hand in a small wave as the rabbit-folk turned to go.

Aya waved back with both hands before skipping lightly down the path, her twin-tailed hair bouncing behind her.

Raveena stood under the cinnamonwood tree a moment longer, watching the rabbit-folk leave. Then, just barely, she whispered.

“…See you later, Aya.”