"Okay, we get to ask each other three questions. Just three," Selene said, raising her hand with perfect composure, three fingers lifted as if she were swearing an oath.
Her tone was serious—like she was sealing a deal.
"But… I have so many questions to ask," I blurted out without thinking.
Her eyes flicked to mine. "Just three," she repeated, firmer this time, her fingers still held up like a warning sign.
I pouted and let out a little huff. Fine. If that's how she wanted to play this…
The first question popped out before I could even sort through the mess of thoughts in my head.
"Why does your castle look so empty?"
The words tumbled before I could stop them. I needed to know. Readers needed to know.
Selene didn't answer right away. She just sat there on the edge of the bed across from me, her back straight, her gaze calm yet distant. Between us, Ice had already fallen asleep. Just like that. He didn't even try to resist it—one moment he was curled between us, the next he was gone, like someone flipped his switch to sleep mode.
I fiddled with a strand of my hair, glancing at Selene, who still hadn't spoken. My chest tightened a little. Maybe I'd gone too far?
"If you don't want to talk about it, Selene, that's fi—"
"No."
Her voice cut in, firm but soft, and I froze.
"It's your question. I have to answer." She lowered her gaze, her voice shifting—slowing, deepening, as though each word carried a weight only she could feel. "I made it this way. My kingdom is empty because I chose to. It was the only way to protect them."
The moonlight hit her face as she lifted her chin, pale light outlining her cheekbones. For a moment she looked like a painting—lonely, unshakable, but fragile in ways no one could see.
Her tone carried something else too. Something unsaid. Like shadows hiding behind her words.
"From what exactly?" I asked before I could stop myself, leaning forward just a little.
She turned her head sharply, her eyes catching mine. "Hey! It's my turn to ask the next question."
"Oh." I blinked, caught off guard. "Right. Sorry. Go ahead."
She tilted her head slightly, lips curving—not quite a smirk, not quite a smile. Her lashes lowered, and then, in the most casual voice possible, she asked:
"What do you like in a girlfriend?"
My brain stopped.
My jaw actually dropped.
My face went hot—like someone had just dumped a bucket of lava over my head. So… that's where she's going with this?!
"Nothing," I blurted instantly, turning my head so fast I almost pulled a muscle. There was no way I was meeting her eyes right now.
Her tone lightened, playful, teasing. "Come on. That's not fair. You have to answer honestly."
"What I like in a girl…?" I muttered, my voice coming out awkwardly small. My fingers twisted into the bedsheet. I racked my brain but—truthfully? I never thought about it. Not seriously. Romance wasn't exactly in my handbook even though I read them.
But then… my gaze slipped back to her, just for a second. The moonlight caught her features, soft and sharp all at once. And suddenly, the words just… came out.
"Their smile," I whispered before I could stop myself. "It's so perfect… like, you can even see the rainbow in front of you. No matter how broken your world is, that smile can glue everything back together."
Silence hung in the room for a heartbeat. My own ears burned. What did I just say?! Did that actually come out of my mouth?!
Her lips curved, delicate and warm. "So what you like is a smile," she said softly. Then she widened her own, dazzling, brighter than the moon itself. "Then I'll smile only for you, Kisaragi. Only you. Even if you tell me to stop, I won't… not until you like my smile."
I took in a shaky breath. "Okay… my next question."
I steadied myself before asking, "From what exactly are you protecting?"
Her expression shifted instantly, her eyes hardening. "From darkness," she said firmly, without hesitation. Then her voice softened again, like her walls slipped just a fraction. "I am protecting them from darkness."
Her gaze dropped, her tone brushing the edge of something sorrowful. For just a second, I thought I saw her fists clench. But then she released a breath, smoothing her features.
"My next question," she said quickly, pulling me back into the rhythm of the game. "What is your favorite food? I need to know, so I can prepare it for you on our next date. Since… all I've seen you eat is soba."
I blinked, caught off guard. "I thought you cooked soba because you fell in love with it on our first date."
"Yes, the soba tasted good," she admitted easily. "But it tasted better because it was the first food you fed me."
"…Oh wow."
My face went scarlet. I pulled my hands up, covering my cheeks, but it was useless—the heat spread everywhere.
"Well… I like chicken. And coke," I mumbled finally, my voice so low it almost disappeared. "But… I don't mind eating soba on our next date."
Her brows lifted slightly. "Coke?"
"It's a soda drink. In my world," I explained, my voice still embarrassed.
"Hmm." Her lips curved into the faintest smile. "I'd like to try your favorite drink."
And then her eyes glimmered. "Your last question, Kisaragi."
My breath caught. My last chance. Just one left. And yet… so many things crowded in my chest. So many questions. Which one should I choose?
I bit my lip, staring down at my hands. Then the words slipped out:
"Which Rin Kisaragi did you fall in love with? Is it the one you met before that night… or the one you met that night?"
My voice trembled. It was pathetic, but I needed to know. Needed to know if it was really me—or just some shadow of me.
Her lips parted slowly, her eyes never leaving mine. "Isn't it obvious, Kisaragi? You are the one I love. The one who called me a pervert."
My heart skipped. My breath caught in my throat. And before I realized it, my lips curled into a smile.
But Selene didn't give me time to linger in it. "Where is your favorite place in the world?" she asked, her voice flowing right over my spinning thoughts.
"My favorite place… is not here, Selene," I whispered.
Her brows drew together faintly. "Tell me. Maybe I can bring your favorite place into my world."
"It's called Rainbow Land," I said. The words poured out, painted with the memory. "Rainbow Land… everyone dreams of going there! It's the happiest place in the world. The giant water park has slides that twist like rainbow snakes, and when you splash down, the water sparkles like glitter. The big wheel ride is so tall it touches the clouds—when you're up there, all the lights and colors dance like magic. There are spinning cups that make you dizzy until you laugh so hard your tummy hurts, roller coasters that whoosh so fast you scream but still want to go again. And the rainbow llcotton candy—it's bigger than your head, fluffy like eating a rainbow cloud. Rainbow Land is where the music never stops. Every corner feels alive with fun… it's a place you never want to leave."
Selene's eyes softened. "You've been there."
"Yes… it's where my parents used to take me." My throat tightened as the memories surged. For a moment, the ache almost swallowed me. But then I looked at Selene, at the way she was watching me, and… it stopped. Like she pulled me back to the present.
"Guess we ran out of three questions," I whispered.
"Yeah." She smiled faintly. "Kisaragi, I'll bring Rainbow Land to you."
I laughed under my breath, disbelieving. "There's no way you can do that."
Her gaze sharpened, unwavering. "Don't underestimate me, Kisaragi. When I say I'll do something, I do it."
Something in me stilled. My chest fluttered. And then—something clicked.
"You didn't ask," I said quietly.
Her head tilted. "Ask what?"
"Why I cried earlier."
Her lips parted, then closed again. Her gaze softened, a rare gentleness filling her expression. "I didn't ask… because I didn't want you to cry again. If I did, it would bring the memories back, and I don't want you to feel pain."
For a second, I just stared. …Wow. Selene really was different from that night I first met her. Back then, she was sharp, cold. Now… she was this....
I wanted to stare at her all night. Listen to her voice forever. But my eyes betrayed me, heavy with sleep.
She stood, quiet and graceful, and disappeared into her dressing room. When she came back, she held something pale blue in her hands.
"This," she said, holding it out to me. A silky nightgown, soft and glowing faintly in the moonlight. She herself had already changed into something similar. "Here. This is my favorite nightgown. I'd like to see my favorite person in my favorite nightgown."
The moment those words left her lips, Ice—who had been sleeping like a stone—suddenly sat up, staring at her with wide eyes.
"You too are also my favorite person! Both of you are," she corrected quickly, patting his head.
Ice blinked slowly, then flopped back down into sleep just as fast.
"Wow," I whispered.
"Don't mind him," Selene said with a small laugh. "He was my only favorite person, so including you is still… processing." She pressed the gown into my hands. "You can change in the dressing room."
"Okay… thanks." My voice came out softer than I meant it to.
I slipped away to change, the silky fabric cool against my skin. When I returned, she was still standing in the same spot, waiting. And… wow. I never noticed it before, but Selene looked kind of hot.
"Good night, Kisaragi," she said as we both lay down, Ice snug and cool kinda of warm in the middle.
"Good night, Kurosuki," I whispered back.
I closed my eyes. But just before sleep pulled me under, I called softly, "Selene…"
"Yes, Kisaragi?"
"This is just our second date… but you're already making my heart flutter."
Her voice came like silk. "Does that mean you're falling in love with me?"
"…I don't know."
That was the last thing I remember saying before everything went silent.