Lunch period.

Under the cinnamonwood tree, Raveena sat with her lunchbox open, spoon in hand. However, instead of eating properly, she was caught between chewing and staring at nothing, eighty percent lost in thought, and twenty percent idly pushing food around.

Because after what Aya did earlier, how was she supposed to ignore it?

“A bunny’s kiss? What even was that supposed to mean? Some sort of rabbit-folk tradition?”

She knew rabbit-folk were naturally affectionate, her mother had once told her as much, but Raveena had never cared to look deeper into the details of other animal-folk. Until now. Because now, she was left replaying that moment again and again, wondering if that was just Aya being Aya… or something else entirely.

“Raveena!”

Her ears flicked as she caught the sound of Aya’s voice calling out to her.

“Raveenaaa!”

“What was I even supposed to think of that?”

“Raveena!”

She flinched hard at the last call, jolting back to the present. The spoon slipped, and the carrot she’d been holding plopped straight back into her lunchbox.

Eyes wide in surprise, she turned her head. Aya was settled beside her, her lunch perched neatly on her lap.

Right… lunch with Aya. She’d almost forgotten.

“What’s wrong? Is something on your mind?” Aya asked.

Raveena opened her mouth, just about to say something. Part of her wanted to ask and demand what Aya’s little “bunny’s kiss” was supposed to mean. But just as quickly, her eyes looked past Aya… and landed on the last person she wanted to see sitting there.

Mizu Angel.

The cat-folk was seated at Aya’s other side, crunching into a stalk of raw celery. She didn’t even dare to look Raveena’s way, her face unreadable, unreadable except for that expression in her face that made her look… slightly drunk.

Civil, maybe, but still clearly under whatever trace left of that potion Aya said she was on.

Raveena shut her mouth again and forced herself to swallow down the question.

Now wasn’t the time.

Instead, she shook her head. “…It’s nothing. Just thinking about the arcane quiz later.”

“Ooh! What’s it about?”

“Mostly the basics,” Raveena answered, grateful for the safer subject. “Arcane Tech students have to study spell theory alongside the technical stuff. So we’re expected to know standard spellwork, at least the fundamentals.”

“Right! I never asked before! Can you do magic, Raveena?”

Before she could answer, Mizu spoke out in an annoyed tone. “What kind of question is that? Aya, almost everyone born in the Wonderforest has mana. Even that primitive cat over there does. Unfortunately.”

Raveena sighed. “…That’s the answer.”

Aya frowned at Mizu’s jab, then turned back. “So… do you use magic much? For your projects, or just daily things?”

Raveena shook her head. “Not really. Basic spells are only useful in emergencies now. Everything else? I’ve always managed fine on my own. If magic can do it, I can usually find another way.”

“That’s because most people today don’t have the aptitude to move beyond the basics. Now? Anything past that requires a license, and good luck with that if your reserves can’t even sustain it.”

Raveena nodded, surprised that she found herself agreeing with Mizu. “She’s right. For most of us, the basics are all we’ll ever use.”

“Unless of course, you were born in the Far Realms. But that’s… unlikely,” Mizu added.

“Right! So that explains why the professors are always so astonished with Mizu’s magic,” Aya proudly said.

“They are?” Raveena raised a brow before eyeing Mizu. “Doesn’t look like it, honestly.”

Aya giggled. “She may not look the part, but Mizu’s actually amazing.”

“That’s quite the praise,” Mizu sighed.

Aya leaned toward her. “But it’s true, right? You are amazing.”

The cat-folk stared at her for moment as if she was trying to study why Aya was praising her. “…Sure.”

Raveena gave a short snort. “She’s skilled, I’ll give her that. But ‘amazing’? Not the word I’d use. Not when our first meeting was her hurling Rory out of the dorm room into the hallway wall. And then throwing a book at her face.”

Aya’s ears shot up. “Mizu! You did that?!”

“Darned tattletale,” Mizu said, clicking her tongue. “It was non-lethal force.”

“Someone got hurt. Calling it ‘non-lethal’ doesn’t magically make it acceptable.”

Aya frowned, looking between them. “She’s right, Mizu… you can’t just hurt people!”

Mizu rolled her eyes. “I didn’t. I cast protective magic on that fox before she hit the wall.”

Raveena folded her arms. “You also nailed her in the face with a book. She was bleeding. And

“…Fine. That part, I couldn’t prevent in time.”

Aya’s cheeks puffed, her little hands gripping her lunch. “Mizu! That’s horrible!”

“Relax. She and I already crossed paths again this Monday in the infirmary. She’d gotten herself injured, ended up there. When she woke up and saw me, no hostility. Almost like…” her ears angled back slightly, “…this thing people call ‘friends.’”

Raveena scoffed. “Yeah? Because that same night Rory came to me complaining you pricked her with some experimental serum.”

Mizu turned a glare on her. “Keyword: healing. She was hurt. I sped up her recovery.”

“The poor thing’s terrified of needles,” Raveena answered back. “At least try to be considerate!”

“She looked like she was faking it to dodge the medicine.”

“Faking?!”

“That’s enough!”

Aya’s voice suddenly cut through the growing argument sharply. Both Raveena and Mizu stopped, then they looked at her in surprise.

“This is lunch!” Aya scolded, her eyes looking between the feline-folk. “We’re supposed to be relaxing together. Food doesn’t taste good if you’re both just growling at each other! We’re here to help you both make amends after what happened earlier!”

Raveena folded her ears in resignation and bowed her head a little as she said softly, “…Sorry,” before quietly returning to her lunch, poking at her rice with her fork.

Aya turned to Mizu next, and she gave her a much firm scolding as well. “And you. Raveena’s right. If Rory really got hurt, you should’ve shown some consideration. Forcing an injection into her arm wasn’t nice either! What if she has… like some trauma with needles?”

Mizu gave a short, derisive scoff. “Sure. Trauma.”

“Mizu.” Aya’s pout deepened. “I’m serious!”

Mizu clicked her tongue and stood, brushing debris off her coat. “…Whatever. I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Mizu, where are you going?”

“Back to my lab. The first potion’s effects wore off too soon, so something’s wrong. I need to recalibrate. And besides…” she glanced sideways at Raveena, “…this way you can go back to mooching around with your new cat. Unbelievable.”

“Mizu, don’t be like tha—"

But before she could finish, Mizu cast her magic. As she walked, each edge of her form slowly broke into motes of light until she vanished completely.

Aya could only stare at the empty space where her friend had stood.

Then Raveena slid closer to Aya, asking gently, “…Why is she like that? Really?”

Aya sighed, her ears drooping as she set her lunch aside. “I don’t know. She’s not usually like this…”

Raveena frowned, her tail tapping against the grass. “Is it… because of me?”

“No!” Aya’s head shot up quick. “Goodness, no, Raveena. Don’t think that. I’m sure it’s something else, something on her mind that she won’t say out loud. And for whatever reason, she’s venting it all on you.”

Raveena studied her for a moment, then let out a small sigh as she showed her an almost reluctant smile. “If you say so. I’ll leave it to you then.”

“…I’ll keep talking to her. I promise,” Aya nodded, smiling back.

“Just… don’t push your heart too hard over it, Aya.”

Aya waved her hand quickly. “Oh, it’s nothing, I’ll be fine,” then her eyes lit up. “Oh! That reminds me. Raveena, are you interested in going to the Happy Hearts Day festival next week? On the fourteenth?”

Raveena nodded with curiosity. “…Rory mentioned something about that, yeah. But what exactly happens during it?”

Aya chuckled, leaning closer. “For starters, the entire academy will be buzzing! It’s held out on the greater outdoor grounds, with rows and rows of stalls and games. And… if somebody likes someone, they can gift them something during the festival. It’s like… tradition.”

“A gift-giving day, huh? …So basically. A celebration for couples.”

“Yes, the focus is on couples and potential couples. But anyone can enjoy it! Even a small group of friends! That’s the fun part.”

“Ah…” Raveena nodded slowly, considering whether she’ll go.

Sooo… Raveena. Does anyone come to mind when you think about celebrating Happy Hearts Day?”

“What?” The question caught Raveena so off-guard she nearly dropped her spoon. She stared at Aya, blushing, “N–Not really…”

Aya pouted. “No one at all?”

Raveena hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. I mean, no. Not exactly. Actually… maybe I do. But I’m not sure if it… fits the Happy Hearts Day mood.”

Aya’s eyes widened and sparkled. “Ooh! So you’re still figuring things out?”

Raveena exhaled, her shoulders relaxing. “…Guess you could call it that.”

Then, realizing how close she was skirting to her own thoughts, she shook her head quickly and forced a small chuckle. “Enough about me. What about you? You have anyone in mind?”

Aya pressed a finger to her lips, humming to think. Then her face lit up with a bright smile. “Mmhm! Yes, there is one!”

Raveena hadn’t expected Aya to answer so readily. “Really? As in… someone you like?”

Aya nodded cheerfully. “Something like that, yes!”

“Oh… well. Whoever that is… they’re in for a surprise. Knowing you, Aya, you won’t hold back on being sweet.”

“That person… I spent such a good time with during the Concorde Summit!”

Raveena’s eyes lowered, and she couldn’t stop herself listing possibilities. “Me? Or someone from the culinary team? Must be one of them.”

After a moment, she forced a smile, though something tugged at her chest. “Oh? So… a fresh crush, then?”

Aya beamed, nodding rapidly. “Yup! But…” slowly, a blush formed on Aya’s face. “I realized just recently… that I think I really like them.”

Hearing that, Raveena let one question play out in her head.

“Could it be… me?”

Her memories replayed in an instant: their walk through Rosequartz, the meal they shared, how they talked about many topics, and how they enjoyed the day.

But then her doubt quickly followed.

“No… she must’ve spent time with others too. People I never saw. Bold of me to assume it’s me.”

“Oh… I just can’t wait for Happy Hearts Day to come! Maybe you and I can go around the festival too, if you’re not busy?”

Raveena stiffened slightly, caught off guard. “…Oh? You’re not going with the person you like?”

Aya shook her head quickly, smiling so bright it nearly made Raveena’s chest ache. “All I want to do is give this person a sweet treat and tell them that I appreciate them. That’s it! Afterwards, I’ll be free!”

“You’re not confessing?”

“Oh crumbs, I only intend to let them know that they’re appreciated enough. Even though I like this person, I can’t be too confident that they feel the same. Frankly, I’m afraid that it’ll feel… embarrassing to me.”

Raveena’s thoughts twisted even more.

“Right… if she’s inviting me, then it can’t possibly be me. No way. What was I even thinking…”

She let out a small, dry chuckle. “Sure. If you’re alright with it… I’ll make time.”

At Raveena’s answer, Aya clapped her hands lightly, ears bouncing. “Yay! I’m looking forward to it!”

With that, she tucked back into her lunch, humming a mellow tune as she ate.

Raveena stared at the rabbit-folk for a bit longer, her chest heavy with something unnameable, before sighing quietly and returning to focus on her meal.