Chapter 9.5: “The Night Before the Moon, A Time of Decision”
Chapter 9.5: “The Night Before the Moon, A Time of Decision”
The courtyard at lunchtime was filled with the gentle breeze of spring.
Rafaela sat on a bench, her tablet open in her hands, lost in thought. On the screen were several messages:
“Go to prom with me?”
“It would be the greatest honor of my life to stand by your side.”
“I’d love to dance with you, Rafaela!”
She sighed, lifting her drink bottle for a sip—when a cheerful voice called from behind.
“Got a problem? I could listen, you know.”
Turning around, she saw Katie standing casually on the grass, hands stuffed in his pockets, that usual easygoing grin on his face. Rafaela twisted her lips faintly.
“…It’s just about who to go to prom with.”
“Oh? That is a tough one. You must get plenty of invites.”
“That’s the thing. No matter who I choose, someone else will complain. Even a throwaway comment can spark a fight. It’s exhausting to even decide.”
Katie smirked and swung a leg over the backrest of the bench.
“…Then why not gamble on beginner’s luck?”
“Beginner’s luck?”
“Yeah. Pick someone you’d never normally think of. Like—Oliver Jones, for example.”
Rafaela’s brows knit instinctively.
“Oliver? You mean that eccentric who practically lives in the research wing?”
“Exactly. Not bad-looking, decent personality. And the kicker? He’s turned down every girl who’s asked him.”
“…Every girl? Meaning more than one’s tried already.”
“Of course. He’s good-looking, smart, athletic, and keeps to himself. That makes him the most mysterious guy on campus. Tons of girls want to ask him, but he rejects them all. He’d rather be buried in research than go to prom.”
Rafaela twirled her bottle thoughtfully.
“True enough. Smarter than me, not a bad personality. His only flaw is… being a research geek.”
“But that’s the beauty of it—no one would complain if you picked him. He doesn’t run with any clique, doesn’t have enemies. And if I tell him not to refuse you, he won’t. After that…”
Katie locked eyes with her.
“…It’s all up to you.”
Rafaela let out a small laugh and shrugged.
“Heh, feels like I’m being guided into this. But… not a bad idea.”
She rose smoothly from the bench, leaving her tablet behind.
“Alright then. Guess I’ll ask him. How it goes depends on his research theme.”
“Now that’s the spirit.”
Watching her walk away, Katie muttered to himself:
“Well, looks like we’ve got our prom headliners set.”
Another gust of wind swept across the courtyard, rustling the tablet on the bench.
(To be continued in Chapter 10: “Prom Night Under the Moon”)
