The school garden looked like something straight out of a dream—soft lanterns hanging from trees, fairy lights wrapped around white fences, petals scattered across the pathways. It was quieter than the loud, pulsing auditorium inside, and that made it the perfect escape for the four of them.
Chris and Lily walked together at first, Twilight and Henry following behind. The soft night breeze played with their hair; the scent of roses lingered in the air.
Twilight tried—more than once—to quietly reach for Chris's hand.
And every single time, Lily suddenly said something like:
"CHRIS! Look at this flower!"
or
"Hey, I think I stepped on a worm!"
or
"OMG is this dress making me look short?"
Every interruption made Twilight pull his hand back instantly, jaw tightening in silent frustration.
Henry noticed everything.
He leaned closer to Lily and whispered, "You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?"
Lily shrugged innocently, "Doing what?"
Henry narrowed his eyes. "Right… because Lily never meddles in other people's love life."
She scoffed loudly.
Twilight was just about to try holding Chris's hand again when Henry suddenly stepped forward.
"Lily," he said, clearing his throat, "would you, umm… like to try the juice from that stall? I heard it's… special for prom."
Lily raised one eyebrow.
She understood instantly.
He was giving them privacy.
"Yeah," she said, trying not to smirk, "sure. Let's go."
She followed Henry to the stalls, leaving a stunned Chris and a relieved Twilight behind.
Chris & Twilight – Under the Stars
Twilight wasted no time. As soon as Lily and Henry were far enough, he gently touched Chris's wrist.
"Come with me."
His voice was soft, but it held something that made her heartbeat jump. He led her toward a quiet corner of the garden—where the lights were dimmer, and the sky looked bigger.
"Look up," he whispered.
Chris lifted her face.
The night sky was glowing—thousands of stars spread across the dark velvet dome. Chris's eyes sparkled the same way the stars did.
She always loved the sky.
And Twilight always loved watching her when she looked at it.
But this time… he didn't hide it.
While Chris stared upward, Twilight stared only at her. The glow of the lanterns reflected softly on her face, and her violet dress shimmered like it was stitched with stardust.
He whispered, "Did you know… in outer space, some stars look close, but are actually millions of light years apart?"
Chris's lips curved in a small smile. "You and your space facts again."
He stepped a little closer, voice quieter now. "You like the sky. I like talking when you listen like this."
Chris finally turned her head to ask him something—and caught him entirely.
He jerked his face away instantly, pretending he wasn't staring at her.
But she caught him.
Completely.
Her cheeks warmed. "Twilight… were you staring at me?"
He coughed. "No. Not at all. I was just—uh—studying the gravitational pull of your… I MEAN THE STARS. The stars!"
Chris laughed, covering her mouth.
Twilight's ears turned pink.
Lily & Henry – Unexpected Confession
On the other side of the garden, Lily and Henry sat at the food stall eating ice cream. Lily chose chocolate. Henry chose vanilla. They didn't say anything at first, just watched people walk by.
Then Lily smirked.
"So… you really think those two will end up together?" she asked.
Henry shrugged. "Why not? They look good."
Lily sighed, looking at Chris and Twilight's direction with troubled eyes.
"I don't feel the same," she muttered.
Henry frowned. "Why?"
She hesitated.
Her fingers tightened around the ice cream cup.
"Because…" she whispered, "she actually… she actually loves you."
The air between them froze.
Henry stared at her like she was joking.
It took him a moment to realize she wasn't smiling.
His chest felt tight. Not because he was happy—but because everything suddenly hurt.
He looked down.
"…Oh."
Just one small word, and yet it carried all his confusion, disappointment, and guilt.
Lily glanced at him quietly. For the first time that night, she didn't tease him or argue. She could see the sadness behind his eyes.
"I didn't want to tell you," she said softly, "but… you deserved to know."
Henry nodded weakly.
The slow dance was now only twenty minutes away.
And suddenly the night felt heavier.
The Masked Guy – Sensing Darkness
Far away in the city, deep inside a deserted alley, the masked guy stood on the top of an old building. His long coat blew in the wind like a dark shadow. Below him lay another monster's body turning into black vapor.
He wiped his blade with a cloth and whispered:
"191st."
Normally he never talked. But tonight… something felt different. Something felt wrong.
He looked toward the glowing school building in the distance. The wind shifted sharply, carrying a faint, uncomfortable energy.
He clenched his jaw behind the mask.
"…Why tonight?" he muttered.
His gloved hand brushed the crescent-moon pendant around his neck. A small crack had formed at the edge—something that had never happened before.
His heart beat faster.
His fingers tightened around the pendant.
"Something is coming…"
And it was heading straight toward the prom.