The sleek car hummed steadily as it cruised through the evening streets, the city's lights twinkling in the distance like a constellation. Inside, Kana was humming, looking at Luna with a playful grin as she gripped the steering wheel.
Luna, leaning back in the passenger seat, sighed contentedly. "Thanks for coming along, Kana. I needed the distraction."
Kana shot her a knowing look. "Distraction from what? Leroy and Emilio's testosterone-filled showdown? Or maybe from the fact that you're way too calm for someone who just witnessed an impromptu fight night in the parking lot?"
Luna smirked, her eyes twinkling. "All of the above. But mostly, I just wanted a night where I didn't have to deal with anything. And I thought you could use a break, too."
Kana's grin widened. "A break, huh? Alright, then. But no more weird fights. Or I'll be bringing pepper spray to dinner."
Luna laughed. "Deal. And hey, speaking of breaks—how about a sleepover after dinner? We can binge-watch something, eat junk food, and complain about life."
Kana raised an eyebrow. "You're asking for a sleepover at your mansion?" She laughed. "I'm in. Let's do this!"
Once they arrived at Luna's mansion, the two women were greeted by the maids.
Luna took a moment to explain to them that Kana would be joining them for dinner and would need something to wear. The maids, always on top of things, quickly provided Kana with a fresh outfit—a simple yet elegant dress that fit her perfectly, with a cozy cardigan draped over it for warmth.
Kana was all smiles, impressed by how well they knew her size.
"Thank you so much! I feel like a VIP," Kana said with a laugh, twirling in front of the full-length mirror.
Luna grinned, admiring her friend's look. "You're welcome. You'll be the most fashionable person at dinner, no doubt."
After changing, the two of them met in the large dining hall, where Emmerich was already seated at the table, his presence as imposing as ever, but his eyes softer when he saw Luna and Kana enter.
"Luna, Kana—good to see you both," Emmerich greeted them warmly, standing up as they approached.
Kana smiled and gave a small bow. "Thank you for having me, Mr. Emmerich."
Luna grinned and teased, "Please, Kana, you don't have to call him Mr. Emmerich. Just 'Mr.CEO' will do."
Emmerich chuckled, shaking his head. "I appreciate the formality, Kana. But I'll let Luna have her fun. Please, sit. Dinner is ready."
The maids brought out a selection of dishes, and the atmosphere in the dining room felt cozy, despite the grand space. There were hearty stews, roasted meats, fresh bread, and an assortment of vegetables. Kana couldn't help but stare at the spread before her.
"Wow, this looks incredible!" Kana said, her eyes wide with admiration.
Luna smiled and took a seat, picking up her fork. "Yeah, I'm pretty lucky. My dad's a perfectionist when it comes to food."
Emmerich gave a small, fond smile as he sat down. "I do what I can. A good meal can make all the difference in how a day goes, don't you think?"
Kana nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. I've been living on takeout for the past few days. This is a blessing."
Luna grinned, her eyes twinkling. "So, now that we're all set—how about we chat a bit about food and places? You know, Kana's always asking for recommendations, and I might need some tips for when I want to escape from this mansion every once in a while."
Emmerich laughed softly. "Well, there are a few places I know. There's an old bistro I frequent downtown—it's a hidden gem, really. Cozy, no tourists, just good food. You should visit when you have the chance."
Kana raised an eyebrow. "Ooh, that sounds like something I'd love. I've got a ton of places I want to visit too. I just need the time to do it."
Luna chimed in, "And to make sure you don't have a horde of fans following you around!"
Kana smirked. "Don't worry, I've learned how to dodge them. But speaking of fans, Luna, you've been making some noise lately. What's the deal with that karaoke video?"
Luna froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. "Karaoke video?" She shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
Emmerich raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You haven't heard, have you?"
Luna felt her cheeks heat up. "I've heard enough about it from Kana already."
Kana smirked and leaned in. "You're basically an overnight sensation. It's not just your voice, Luna. People are loving the mystery of the singer. They want to know who you are."
Luna sighed, trying to play it cool. "It's just a fluke. It'll fade out. But, uh... thanks, I guess."
Emmerich smiled warmly. "You're too humble, Luna. You know, your voice is special. And people notice."
Luna tried to change the subject, her mind still lingering on the video. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying dinner. Dad, Kana—do you guys need any more wine?"
As they continued eating, the atmosphere was light and relaxed. Emmerich shared more stories about the city's hidden food spots, and Kana responded with tales of her modeling experiences, particularly her off-the-beaten-path gigs that had taken her to strange corners of the world.
Luna listened with an easy smile, feeling the comfort of being surrounded by good food, good company, and even better conversation.
Eventually, after dessert was served—vanilla bean ice cream with berries—Emmerich raised his glass.
"To family," he said, with a warm, genuine smile. "And to good friends."
Kana clinked her glass with his. "To family. And, uh, new family, I guess."
Luna smiled at the exchange, her heart lighter than it had been in days.
After dinner, the maids cleaned up as Luna and Kana prepared to head back to the living room for the sleepover. They were ready for a night of laughter, snacks, and catching up.
The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of the flat-screen TV across the bed. Explosions and dramatic music echoed faintly as an action-packed scene played out in the background. Kana, wrapped in a fluffy throw blanket, lounged against a nest of pillows with Milo purring contentedly in her lap. Luna, sprawled out on her stomach across the bed, lazily flicked popcorn into her mouth as she half-watched the movie and half-scrolled through her phone.
The air was warm with comfort and the kind of intimacy only close friends shared. No guards, no drama—just the faint sound of gunfire and snarky commentary between two girls enjoying a rare moment of peace.
"So," Kana suddenly said, breaking the peaceful silence. "Leroy or Emilio?"
Luna didn't even glance away from the screen. "Both."
Kana blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I like them both," Luna repeated calmly, turning onto her back and tucking a hand behind her head. "But differently."
Kana laughed, shaking her head. "You sound like you're trying to write a philosophy thesis on love triangles."
Luna smirked, eyes still on the ceiling. "If I were, I'd ace it. You've seen the chaos I manage daily."
Kana raised an eyebrow. "Okay, smartass. But let's get specific. Leroy—long-standing friend, moody, intense, probably writes poetry to ease his stress."
"He does," Luna deadpanned.
"Ha! I knew it," Kana laughed. "And then there's Emilio—classy, sarcastic, says stuff like 'sweet cakes' with a straight face."
Luna groaned. "Don't remind me."
Kana leaned in closer, her grin widening like a cat who caught the canary. "So which one pulls at the heartstrings more, huh? C'mon, you can tell me. Do we like broody boy or flirty boy?"
Luna laughed quietly. "We like them both… but not like that."
Kana raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Not even a little?"
"Nope," Luna said with a shrug, voice completely honest. "They're… good people. Complicated. But I don't feel that way about either of them."
Kana frowned in mock disapproval. "You're no fun."
"I am fun. Just not the messy kind."
"Lies and slander," Kana muttered, snuggling closer to Milo, who meowed in sleepy agreement.
They fell into a brief silence again, the movie still going—some intense rooftop chase unfolding onscreen.
Then, with perfect timing, Kana struck again. "Alright. If it's not Leroy or Emilio… what about Edward?"
Luna froze.
Kana sat up a little straighter, her smirk absolutely devilish now. "Oooh. That pause. That was suspiciously long."
"It was not," Luna mumbled, staring very hard at the TV now.
"Luna. You literally stared into space like your brain had to reboot."
"I was thinking about the movie."
"The guy just jumped from one building to another with a bazooka strapped to his back."
"It was very moving."
Kana grinned and flopped onto her side to face her. "Edward, huh? The quiet, dangerously competent type? Mysterious. Protective. Secretly a cinnamon roll under all that cold elegance?"
"I didn't say anything," Luna grumbled, pulling a pillow over her face.
"And you didn't have to," Kana sing-songed. "Oh my god. You like Edward."
"I do not," came the muffled protest from under the pillow.
"Luna and Edward, sitting in a tree—"
"Stop it," Luna groaned.
"K-I-S—"
"Kana, I swear I will smother you with Milo."
Kana laughed so hard that Milo grumbled and leapt off her lap with a little annoyed flick of his tail.
Still chuckling, Kana rolled back onto her side. "It's fine, you know. He's… not a bad choice. Better than the chaos guys, anyway."
Luna peeked out from under the pillow, cheeks a bit pink but expression calm. "He's… complicated."
Kana smiled, softer now. "Aren't we all?"
Luna smiled back. "Yeah. I guess we are."
The two of them went quiet again, only the movie filling the space between them. Milo jumped back onto the bed, claimed Luna's leg as his new pillow, and began to purr.
And just like that, the chaos of the day melted into laughter, teasing, and the comfort of having someone who understood—even if they didn't have all the answers just yet.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
The moonlight filtered softly through the tall glass windows of the Emmerich estate, casting long silver streaks across the floor of his quiet, wood-paneled study. Emmerich stood by the bar cart, swirling a glass of brandy but not drinking. His expression was unreadable—composed, cold to some, thoughtful to few. He finally reached for his phone and dialed.
The screen lit up with Edward's name.
The call rang once. Twice.
Then a click.
"Sir," came Edward's crisp, low voice from the other end.
Emmerich stared out the window into the garden, voice calm as ever. "What are your thoughts about the young men who were at the cat café today?"
There was a brief pause.
Edward blinked on his end. That… was not the question he expected. Not from Emmerich Arklight, who was usually all business, all strategy, all protection and contingency plans. Edward had anticipated an update request on Luna's mother or the security audit on the outer estates. Not… this.
"…You're asking about Luna's suitors, sir?" Edward asked carefully.
"Don't call them that." Emmerich's voice was cool. "They are two volatile elements orbiting someone too precious to be pulled into their gravity."
Edward let out a short breath and leaned against the cool marble of his kitchen counter, his usual impassive mask cracking for a second at the irony of this conversation. "To be honest, I only caught the tail end of the situation. I was mostly engaging with Madam Mu when I arrived. The younger one—Leroy—seemed emotional. The other, Emilio, masks more than he reveals. But I haven't seen enough to form a complete profile on either."
Emmerich was silent for a moment, processing. He finally took a sip of his drink. "Emotional isn't what I want around Luna."
"Nor would you want someone too practiced at hiding intentions," Edward added lightly, then hesitated before continuing, "I understand your concern, sir. She's garnering unwanted attention, and trouble might arise from that attention when the world is loud and persistent. And the men around her are becoming louder."
"…Exactly," Emmerich murmured, setting the glass down with a soft click. "Luna doesn't seem to mind their presence. Or perhaps she doesn't yet see what they're angling for. You know how she is—she brushes things off when she wants to focus."
Edward's tone softened a bit. "She's perceptive. But she also likes to keep peace around her. That kind of restraint tends to blur lines."
There was a shared silence between them—an agreement neither had to say aloud.
"I asked you," Emmerich finally said, "because I trust your judgment when it comes to Luna. And because I need someone close to her who will act without hesitation if things turn… messy."
"I already do, sir," Edward replied simply.
Emmerich's gaze narrowed just slightly at the tone in Edward's voice—calm, as always, yet carrying a thread of something unspoken.
"I appreciate that," Emmerich said slowly. "I won't tell you to intervene unless necessary. But you know better than most… not all battles are fought with weapons."
"Of course," Edward replied, and Emmerich could almost picture the faint, knowing smile on the younger man's face.
"Good," Emmerich said, then added almost absently, "Keep your evenings open. Luna's been rising in visibility lately, and I'd prefer we don't get caught unprepared if someone makes the wrong kind of move."
"I'll adjust accordingly."
"And Edward," Emmerich said just before ending the call.
"Yes?"
"…If I ever find you among those 'volatile elements,' I'll deal with you the same as the rest."
Edward chuckled under his breath. "Understood, sir."
The line clicked off.
Emmerich stood still for a moment, eyes trained on the far distance.
He's the most dangerous one of the three, Emmerich thought grimly, because even he hasn't realized what he feels.