Belated

The festival seems to prefer the moon over the sun. Rather than the sun, which starkly reveals people’s emotions, just being able to hide worries and problems under the night’s lights, even for a little while, makes one feel a bit more free.

A street where the light from makeshift tents and moonlight are mixed. Although there’s not much of the day left, listening to the smell of sauce burning and the sound of laughter mixed in conversations, an atmosphere naturally permeates.

I’m not the type to enjoy festivals with my whole body. I’m the type to step back and enjoy the atmosphere that flows out. Just that alone is enough to enjoy a kind of belonging without any responsibility or problems.

Feeling a bit excited, I bought Luna’s favorite drink and looked around for something to eat for dinner. There are many good choices. Skewers with a variety of sauces to choose from, cube-shaped steak that’s easy to eat, and noodle dishes that you can’t miss at a festival.

As I was pondering for a moment, someone carefully tapped me on the back. Looking over my shoulder, I met warm, brown eyes. It was Navia, holding a large cotton candy, looking like she was enjoying the festival.

Perhaps she changed her style for the evening, but Navia looked very good in a refreshing white dress with her hair tied in a ponytail.

,Hi, looks like you’re alone today?

Navia, who often saw me with club members or Luna, seemed to find it curious.

,Luna didn’t have dinner. So, I’m trying to buy something to eat.

With an ,Oh~, Navia smiled and introduced me to a place that sells popular desserts in the North.

,I was just about to go buy some myself.

There was a long line of people in front of the store. Navia and I stood at the very end. Waiting doesn’t guarantee the taste, but today Navia guaranteed the taste instead.

,I’ve had it a few times before, and it was really the best. I’d say it was the first time I was moved by food.

Trust grew in me at the sight of Navia smiling brightly as if recalling that time. Before I knew it, I nodded. Come to think of it, Navia enjoyed desserts even in the carriage. If so, I should look forward to it as much as I want.

As I was thinking that, Navia turned her head and said to me.

,Ah, they won’t be selling strawberries.

,…?

When I made a face that said I didn’t understand what she meant, Navia tilted her head slightly as if she was rather puzzled by my reaction and asked.

,You said strawberries don’t agree with you, right?

Only then did I remember the conversation I had with Navia in the carriage, in front of the strawberry dessert. She said she would remember my excuse, and it seems she wasn’t just saying it.

,…That’s right.

Navia, with her good observation skills, seemed to notice something strange in my late reply, and glared at me with suspicious eyes.

Wouldn’t it be better to be confident in times like this? Thinking that, I met her gaze with a confident expression, and for some reason, Navia’s face seemed to flush slightly. It seems the night’s light shined on her snow-white skin.

Turning her body away for a moment, Navia, who had been silent, opened her mouth as the people in front of us gradually decreased.

,The recommended menu here is apple mille-feuille, peach pie, grapefruit tart, lemon sablé, and grape pound cake.

,That’s a lot.

If so, I’m thinking of buying one of each kind. Whatever Luna doesn’t eat, the Jjamtiger-nim who’s lying on the club room bed like a corpse these days will take care of it, so there’s no problem.

As if trying to continue the conversation, Navia brought up the game that happened today.

,…I watched today’s game well. I’ll admit that you didn’t become the top freshman in the combat department through tricks.

,You haven’t been admitting it until now? It seems like it’s been a while since I became the top student.

When I asked playfully as if I was feeling wronged, Navia pouted.

,Because you’ve never properly fought with anyone else. I think the other kids think so too? It’s not like you became the top student through a significant fight. Of course, if you include the 모습/moseup you showed in the duel and today’s game, everyone is now in an atmosphere of acknowledging you as the top student in the combat department.

Is that so. Well, if a problem arises before long, they’re the kind of people who will curse at me as if nothing happened. I don’t care about such light recognition.

,But what’s your relationship with Ellie, who you competed with?

Our eyes met. I felt speechless at the question that dug in without context and caught me off guard. With a face that seemed to have noticed something, Navia was staring intently at my eyes as if demanding an explanation. Her observation skills are good as expected. I raised both hands as if surrendering.

,We were childhood friends who lived in the same neighborhood since we were young.

,That’s it?

Navia didn’t miss the opportunity and pressed me, trying to end it with a simple explanation. Ignoring her and closing my mouth would be a good method. But at Navia’s eyes demanding an explanation, I opened my mouth.

,My brother’s girlfriend, and someone I used to have a crush on. So, I broke off the relationship, but thanks to the triathlon, we inevitably became a team.

Navia blinked her eyes and turned her gaze inside the store. Her silver hair tied in one moved back and forth following her head. Is this how a fish feels looking at a fishing hook swaying back and forth? I almost reached out my hand without realizing it.

,Does saying you broke off the relationship mean… you even cut ties?

,Well, something like that. I pretended not to see her even when we passed by. I thought it was better to break up for each other. Because we each have lovers.

To think I have to explain my friendships while coming to buy dessert. The more I think about it, the more bizarre the situation is, but I thought it was the price I paid for forgetting my date with Navia.

Navia thought for a moment, then turned her body and met my gaze. Her eyes were somehow sharp.

,Looks like you’re the only one who thought that.

That’s an accurate point. I wonder if she noticed something from Ellie, with Navia’s good observation skills, she might have found out something I didn’t see.

,Maybe.

I smiled bitterly and answered in a weak voice.

,Be careful. It seems like Ellie isn’t very concerned about crossing the line. She feels a bit dangerous.

,…Thanks for the advice.

Ellie is definitely dangerous. When she’s by my side, I feel unease, not comfort. It’s like having a bomb that could explode at any moment by my side. Thanks to that, I’ve been sighing more.

Finally, the line ended, and I bought two of each kind that Navia recommended.

Navia left after saying she would cheer me on tomorrow as well.

As I was moving my steps back to the club room, I bought dried jerky from a store where the owner was pacing anxiously in front of the store with a frustrated face, perhaps because they hadn’t received a single customer unlike other places.

Dried jerky at a festival, what a terribly senseless owner. I chewed on one of the pieces of jerky they handed me to taste as I hurried my steps. The taste was average.

***

Luna had finished what she was doing and was waiting for me sitting on the sofa after cleaning up the desk. I took out the things I bought and put only the things Luna and I would eat, and put the rest back into the space warehouse.

Luna chose cube steak and dessert. I had dinner, so I was satisfied with dessert.

Navia’s recommendation was correct. Perhaps her observation skills work not only on people but also on food.

When I explained that I met Navia by chance and received her recommendation for the dessert, Luna, who tasted the grapefruit tart, expressed her joy by slightly shaking her shoulders.

A taste where sourness and sweetness are exquisitely harmonized. At this level, you can eat as much as you want without thinking about calories.

I cleaned up what we ate and wiped the table. Looking at the clock, it was past 10 PM. Luna now has to go back to the dormitory.

,Ross, do you think I could meet Ellie tomorrow?

I was just thinking of taking her to the dormitory, so I couldn’t help but be flustered at the sudden request. Especially since Luna trying to meet Ellie is no ordinary matter.

I moistened my lips.

,Why?

At my question, Luna handed me the book in which she had been drawing 술식/sulshik for several days. Her face was full of shyness.

,I felt like I’ve only been receiving from Ross all this time… so I wanted to be helpful this time too. So, I thought of a new type of detection magic that can be used in the second game, the maze.

I felt dazed. When I found out that she had been studying alone in the club room all this time to help me, it felt like something had hit my heart.

While the festival is being held outside, Luna has been working hard for me in the basement 2nd floor club room. That heart is so pretty, my heart is running wild on its own.

,I was stuck all this time, but I got inspiration after seeing Ellie using composite magic in today’s game. So, I was able to complete it fortunately….

For some reason, Luna added in a small voice while looking up at me as if she was reading my face.

,I hope it’s helpful… even just a little.

That’s too much. If you ask like that, my answer can’t help but be full of sincerity. I showed my happy emotions without hiding them and smiled brightly.

,Thank you so much. For working hard for me, and for wanting to be helpful. Everything.

Those were too few words to express my emotions, but I couldn’t help it because I was trying to express my emotions urgently.

Luna smiled brightly as if she had received a compliment at my answer. At that pure 모습/moseup, I couldn’t hide what happened with Ellie any longer.

,Luna, I have something to confess.

Looking straight into Luna’s blue eyes, I explained what happened with Ellie truthfully. And I apologized.

,I’m sorry for telling you so late.

I waited for the answer that would be heard. But Luna only looked at me with teary eyes and didn’t say anything.

The silence, meeting each other’s gaze, was long.

Eventually, Luna smiled slightly and opened her mouth.

,It’s okay. You said it wasn’t what Ross wanted, and you said you definitely refused… I believe in Ross.

Luna, saying that in a tearful voice, looked at the clock hanging on the wall and fussed over me.

,T, time is already like this. Go in and rest quickly. I kept you for too long.

I had the selfish thought that I would rather she swear at me. But Luna only smiles, saying she understands me as always.

,I’ll go alone today… Ross, you should rest quickly too. Then, see you tomorrow.

I tried to grab Luna, who was trying to leave the club room urgently.

But even while trembling her lower lip as if holding back tears, I couldn’t take a step because of Luna’s 모습/moseup, who forced a 괜찮다/gwaenchanhda expression until the end and waved her hand at me.