The Friday afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of Sakura High School, casting long shadows across the polished hallway floors. Luna stood at her locker, carefully organizing her books for the weekend, when she heard the distinctive click of designer heels approaching behind her.
"Hey! You three free this weekend?"
Luna turned to find Lolo standing there, her perfectly styled hair catching the light, her designer uniform immaculate as always. But there was something different in her expression today—a nervous energy that didn't quite match her confident posture.
Yuki's rabbit ears perked up immediately, swiveling toward the sound of Lolo's voice. She had been chattering with Kaede about their literature assignment, but now both girls turned their attention to the human girl who had recently become such a complicated presence in their lives.
"Uh... why?" Luna asked cautiously, exchanging glances with her friends.
Lolo's face broke into a wide grin, though Luna could detect a hint of vulnerability beneath it. "I'm having a sleepover at my place! Just us girls! What do you say?"
The words hung in the air for a moment. Luna felt her stomach tighten with uncertainty, but before she could formulate a response, Yuki practically bounced on her feet with excitement.
"A sleepover?!" The rabbit demi-human's voice went up an octave, drawing curious looks from passing students. "I've always wanted to go to one! I mean, I've READ about them in magazines, but I've never actually been invited to—"
"Count me in!" Kaede interrupted, her fox tail swishing enthusiastically behind her. Her golden eyes sparkled with genuine interest. "It sounds like fun!"
Both girls turned to Luna expectantly, and she felt the weight of their anticipation pressing down on her shoulders. Her wolf ears flattened slightly against her head as she struggled to find the right words.
"I don't know if—" she began.
Lolo stepped forward quickly, closing the distance between them. Before Luna could react, the human girl had taken both of her hands in a gesture that was surprisingly earnest and unguarded.
"Please?" Lolo's voice was softer now, almost pleading. "I really want us to be friends. Real friends. Not just... not just people who happen to know the same person."
Luna studied Lolo's face, searching for any trace of the calculating socialite she'd been wary of. But all she saw was sincerity—raw and honest in a way that made her chest ache. She thought about her conversation with Hiro, about giving people chances, about not letting jealousy turn her into someone bitter and small.
She exhaled slowly, feeling her resistance crumble. "Okay. I'll come."
The transformation in Lolo's expression was instantaneous. She squealed—actually squealed—and squeezed Luna's hands tightly. "YES! This is going to be SO FUN! I'll text you all my address! Tomorrow evening? Say around six?"
"Perfect!" Yuki chirped, already mentally planning what to pack.
As Lolo hurried off down the hallway, probably to make preparations, Kaede leaned against the lockers and fixed Luna with a knowing look.
"That was nice of you," the fox girl said quietly.
Luna shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even as uncertainty gnawed at her. "Hiro asked me to give her a chance. So... I'm giving her a chance."
"It's more than that though, isn't it?" Kaede pressed gently. "You could have said no. But you didn't."
Luna closed her locker, the metallic click punctuating her silence. Finally, she admitted, "Maybe I want to understand her. Why she... why Hiro matters to her so much."
Yuki linked arms with both of them as they started walking toward the school entrance. "Well, tomorrow should be interesting at least! I've never been inside a mansion before!"
"How do you know she lives in a mansion?" Luna asked.
Kaede and Yuki exchanged glances. "Have you SEEN her clothes?" Kaede said. "That's not regular-people rich. That's mansion-level rich."
As they pushed through the heavy front doors into the warm afternoon air, Luna couldn't shake the nervous flutter in her stomach. Tomorrow night could either be the beginning of an unexpected friendship... or a disaster waiting to happen.
She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Hiro: "Guess who's going to a sleepover at Lolo's tomorrow?"
His response came almost immediately: "That's great! I'm proud of you for giving her a chance. "
Luna smiled despite herself, tucking her phone back into her pocket as they headed toward the bus stop. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
The luxury sedan glided through the affluent neighborhood like a shark through water, silent and sleek. Luna pressed her face against the window, watching as the houses grew progressively larger and more ostentatious with each passing block. Beside her, Yuki was practically vibrating with excitement, while Kaede tried to maintain an air of cool indifference that was thoroughly betrayed by the constant swishing of her tail.
"I think we're getting close," the driver announced politely, turning onto a tree-lined boulevard where the properties were separated by high walls and ornate gates.
"How can you tell?" Luna asked, though she already suspected the answer.
"Because these are the only houses left on this street, miss."
The car slowed, then stopped in front of a set of impressive wrought-iron gates decorated with an intricate family crest. A security guard emerged from a small booth, checked something on his tablet, then nodded and pressed a button. The gates swung open with barely a whisper of sound.
The driveway was cobblestone and curved gracefully through manicured gardens that looked like something out of a magazine. Sculpted topiaries stood like silent sentinels beside beds of roses in full bloom. A fountain featuring marble dolphins dominated the center of a circular drive, water cascading from their mouths in perfect arcs.
And beyond it all loomed the mansion itself.
"Holy—" Kaede breathed, her attempt at maintaining composure completely abandoned.
"This is... THIS IS A MANSION!" Yuki's voice came out as barely more than a whisper, her eyes as wide as dinner plates.
Luna felt her throat go dry. The building was three stories of pale stone and tall windows, with ivy climbing artfully up one wing and a covered portico supported by columns that would have looked at home in ancient Greece. Balconies jutted out from several upper windows, and she could see what looked like a separate guest house off to one side.
"I knew Lolo was rich," Kaede said faintly as they climbed out of the car, "but DAMN!"
"Maybe I shouldn't have come..." Luna muttered, suddenly feeling acutely aware of her discount-store overnight bag and secondhand clothes.
Before her friends could respond, the massive front door burst open and Lolo came running out, wearing designer loungewear that probably cost more than Luna's entire wardrobe. Her face was lit up with genuine excitement.
"You're here!" she called, waving enthusiastically. "Come in, come in! Don't just stand there!"
A uniformed staff member appeared to collect their bags, and Luna had to resist the urge to hold onto hers. She'd never had someone carry her luggage before. It felt strange and uncomfortable, like she was playing at being someone she wasn't.
Lolo linked arms with Luna before she could protest, practically pulling her up the front steps. "I'm so glad you all made it! I've been planning this all day! Well, I mean, the staff helped, but I picked everything out myself!"
The entrance hall was exactly as intimidating as Luna had feared. Marble floors gleamed under a crystal chandelier that looked like it belonged in a palace. A grand staircase curved upward to the second floor, its bannister polished to a mirror shine. Original artwork—not prints, but actual paintings—hung on the walls in gilded frames.
"Your house is amazing," Yuki breathed, turning in a slow circle to take it all in.
"Oh, this is just the foyer," Lolo said with a dismissive wave, though Luna could detect a hint of pride in her voice. "My room is way better. Come on!"
She led them up the staircase, down a hallway lined with more artwork and antique furniture, past what Luna counted as at least six other doors before finally stopping at one near the end of the corridor.
"Here we are!" Lolo announced, throwing open the door with a flourish. "Welcome to my humble abode!"
There was nothing humble about it.
Luna stepped through the doorway and felt her breath catch. The room was enormous—easily three times the size of her entire apartment. A king-sized bed dominated one wall, covered in silk sheets and about a dozen decorative pillows in various shades of pink and cream. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the gardens, with gossamer curtains that caught the evening breeze. A walk-in closet stood open, revealing rows of clothes organized by color and style. Beyond another door, Luna could see a private bathroom with marble counters and what looked like a jacuzzi tub.
An entertainment center took up another wall, complete with a flat-screen TV that must have been seventy inches at least, gaming consoles, and a sound system that probably cost more than a car. A plush white couch and several oversized bean bag chairs were arranged in front of it. And through yet another set of glass doors, Luna could see a private balcony complete with wrought-iron furniture and potted plants.
"I... I don't even know what to say," Luna admitted, feeling overwhelmed.
"Say you'll have fun!" Lolo laughed, though there was something brittle in the sound. "I asked the kitchen to prepare some snacks for us. They should bring them up in a few minutes. In the meantime, make yourselves comfortable!"
Yuki immediately made a beeline for the bed, running her hands over the silk sheets with reverent awe. "This is softer than a cloud! Do you even need blankets with sheets this nice?"
Kaede wandered over to the windows, gazing out at the view. "Your room is bigger than my entire apartment," she said, and there was no jealousy in her voice—just honest astonishment.
Luna stood in the middle of it all, slowly turning to take everything in. But as she did, something began to strike her as odd. Despite all the luxury, despite the obvious money that had been spent on every detail, the room felt... empty somehow. Sterile. Like a hotel room that had been designed to be beautiful but not necessarily lived in.
There were no posters on the walls, no photographs of friends or family. The books on the shelves were arranged in perfect order but looked largely unread. Even the stuffed animals arranged on the bed seemed more decorative than beloved.
It was a room that had everything except the one thing that mattered most: it didn't feel like home.
Lolo must have noticed her looking around, because she suddenly became very busy adjusting pillows that didn't need adjusting. "I thought we could do face masks, paint nails, watch movies... and talk!" She gestured toward an area near the windows where she'd arranged blankets and pillows in a circle on the floor, with low tables holding an array of beauty products. "I want to really get to know you all. If that's okay?"
Luna saw something flicker in Lolo's eyes—uncertainty, maybe even fear. Fear that they would see through the opulence to the loneliness beneath it.
"That sounds perfect," Luna said softly, and watched relief wash over Lolo's face like a wave.
A knock at the door announced the arrival of staff members carrying trays laden with snacks—gourmet popcorn in different flavors, artfully arranged fruits and cheeses, pastries that looked almost too beautiful to eat, and enough candy to stock a small store. They set everything up with quiet efficiency, then disappeared as silently as they'd come.
"Okay!" Lolo clapped her hands together, her enthusiasm returning. "Let's get this party started!"
the four girls sat in a circle on the plush carpet, their faces covered in colorful mud masks that made them look like characters from some bizarre beauty ritual gone wrong. Yuki had chosen bright pink, Kaede had gone for green with cucumber slices over her eyes, Luna wore a soothing lavender mask, and Lolo had selected one that sparkled with what might have been actual gold flecks.
"Okay, my face is tingling," Yuki announced, her rabbit ears twitching. "Is it supposed to tingle?"
"That means it's working!" Lolo assured her, though she was squinting at the package instructions with mild concern. "Probably. Maybe. We'll wash them off if it gets worse."
Luna reached for a handful of popcorn, carefully eating around her mask. The casualness of it all was starting to put her at ease. Here, sitting on the floor in silly face masks and comfortable clothes, the massive wealth of the room seemed less intimidating. They were just girls, hanging out.
"Alright," Lolo said, settling into her spot with a determined look. "Let's play a game! Truth or Dare, but ONLY truths. No dares."
"Ooh, I like it!" Kaede grinned, her fox ears perking up with interest. "Gets straight to the good stuff without anyone having to eat weird combinations of food or call their crushes."
"Exactly!" Lolo laughed. "And since it was my idea, I'll go first to prove I'm playing fair."
She turned her attention to Kaede, and something mischievous sparkled in her eyes. "Kaede... who do you have a crush on?"
Kaede's fox ears immediately flattened against her head, and even under the green mask, it was obvious she was blushing furiously. Her tail went rigid behind her.
"I—that's not—!" she sputtered, looking around at the others as if hoping for rescue.
"You have to answer!" Yuki insisted, bouncing slightly with excitement. "Those are the rules! No chickening out!"
Kaede groaned, covering her face with her hands for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "...Takeshi."
The room absolutely erupted.
"I KNEW IT!" Yuki shrieked, nearly knocking over a bowl of candy in her excitement. "The way you look at him in gym class! And you always volunteer to be his partner in sparring practice!"
"He's a good choice," Lolo said approvingly, nodding like a wise sage. "Strong, reliable, has that whole honorable warrior thing going on. Very attractive qualities."
"Does he know?" Luna asked, genuinely curious. She'd noticed the way Kaede always seemed to orbit around the wolf demi-human boy, but she'd never been sure if it was one-sided or not.
"NO!" Kaede practically shouted, her hands still covering her face. "And you CAN'T tell him! I will die of embarrassment! Actually die! They'll find my body and on my tombstone it'll say 'She died because her friends couldn't keep a secret!'"
"We won't tell," Luna promised, fighting back a smile. "But you know... you could tell him yourself."
"Absolutely not. Never. Not happening." Kaede peaked out from between her fingers. "Can we please move on to someone else's humiliating revelation now?"
"Fine, fine," Lolo giggled. "Yuki, your turn!"
Kaede pounced on the opportunity immediately, her earlier embarrassment transforming into playful revenge. "Okay, Yuki! Your turn! Who do YOU like?"
But instead of the embarrassed deflection she'd expected, Yuki's rabbit ears drooped slightly, and her expression grew thoughtful. "I... I don't know."
Luna tilted her head, surprised by the honest confusion in her friend's voice. "What do you mean?"
Yuki pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "There's a boy in my neighborhood. Kenji. He's really nice—always helps me carry groceries when he sees me at the store, and he asks about my day, and he remembers little things I tell him..." She trailed off, her voice getting softer. "But I'm not sure if what I feel is... LIKE like, you know? Or if he's just a really good friend?"
"Wait," Kaede said, her eyes widening with recognition. "The boy from the beach! The cat demi-human that Hiro saved from drowning!"
Yuki nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Yeah... He's been visiting the school lately. To thank Hiro properly, he says. But he also... he always finds me. To talk. And we've been getting lunch together sometimes in the courtyard."
She pressed a hand to her chest, over her heart. "My heart races when I see him. Like, really races. And I get all nervous and say stupid things. And I find myself looking forward to Mondays because I know I might see him at school. But I don't know if that's LOVE or just... what does love even feel like?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with genuine uncertainty. Luna felt a pang of recognition—she'd asked herself similar questions about Hiro not so long ago. Well, she'd known she loved him, but she'd questioned what KIND of love it was, whether it was real or just gratitude for being saved.
"That sounds like the beginning of love to me," Luna said gently, thinking of all the times her heart had raced at just the sight of Hiro's smile.
"Really?" Yuki looked up hopefully, her rabbit ears perking slightly.
"Definitely," Lolo agreed enthusiastically. "You should spend more time with him! See how you feel! Maybe try holding hands, or—"
"HOLDING HANDS?!" Yuki's face went crimson even under the pink mask. "I could never! What if my palms get sweaty? What if I do it wrong? Can you even do holding hands wrong?"
They all laughed at that, the sound warm and genuine. For a moment, the expensive room and its lonely grandeur faded away, and they were just four girls talking about crushes and feelings and all the confusing, wonderful things that came with being young and discovering what your heart wanted.
"Maybe start smaller," Kaede suggested, having recovered from her own embarrassment enough to offer advice. "Like... sit really close to him at lunch. See how he reacts."
"I can do that," Yuki said, nodding determinedly. "Small steps. I can do small steps."
Then all three of them turned their attention to Luna, and she felt her stomach drop.
"Oh no," she muttered, already knowing what was coming.
"Okay, Luna!" Lolo said, barely suppressing a grin. "Everyone knows who YOU like, but I want to hear you say it!"
Luna felt her face burning under her fur, and she was certain her wolf ears were bright red at the tips. "I—it's not—!"
"Girl, please," Kaede interrupted, rolling her eyes. "You're SO obvious! The way you look at Hiro? EVERYONE knows!"
"Your tail wags!" Yuki added, giggling. "Every single time he's near you, your tail just goes crazy! It's adorable, but it's also like a giant neon sign that says 'I'M IN LOVE!'"
Luna grabbed a throw pillow and buried her face in it, her muffled voice barely audible. "Is it really that obvious?"
"YES!" all three of them chorused in unison.
Luna peeked out from behind the pillow, looking at each of them in turn. "When... when did you all know?"
"Day one," Kaede said matter-of-factly. "When you first met him. You couldn't take your eyes off him, and you got all flustered when he spoke to you."
"Your TAIL, Luna," Yuki emphasized again. "Demi-humans can't control their tails when they're feeling strong emotions. And yours goes absolutely wild whenever Hiro is around. It's like watching a happy puppy."
Lolo's expression softened, becoming more gentle. "How long have you loved him?"
The question was asked with genuine curiosity and without any hint of the jealousy or resentment Luna might have expected. She slowly lowered the pillow, deciding that if they were all being honest, she should be too.
"Since..." She took a breath, gathering her thoughts. "Since the first time he smiled at me. When everyone else looked at me with disgust or pity or fear... he looked at me like I was NORMAL. Like I mattered. Like my appearance didn't define everything about me."
Her voice cracked slightly as emotions welled up. "He saved me. Not just from those kidnappers... but from hating myself. I was so angry at the world, so convinced that no one would ever see past my appearance or my curse. But he did. He saw ME."
The room fell silent except for the faint sound of the breeze through the open balcony doors. Then, without warning, Yuki launched herself across the circle and wrapped Luna in a tight hug, nearly knocking them both over.
"You deserve him, Luna," Yuki said fiercely, her voice muffled against Luna's shoulder. "More than anyone. You're brave and kind and you've been through so much, and if anyone deserves a love story with a happy ending, it's you."
"He's lucky to have you," Kaede added, reaching over to squeeze Luna's hand. "Even if he doesn't fully realize it yet."
Luna felt tears pricking at her eyes and blinked rapidly to keep them from falling. She wasn't used to this—to having friends who cared about her, who supported her, who saw value in her happiness. For so long, she'd been alone, and now...
"Thank you," she whispered, hugging Yuki back. "That means more than you know."
When they finally pulled apart, Luna noticed that Lolo had gone very quiet. The human girl was staring down at her hands, her expression unreadable behind the gold-flecked mask.
"What about you, Lolo?" Luna asked, surprised by how much she genuinely wanted to know. "Why... why Hiro?"
Lolo was silent for so long that Luna wondered if she'd overstepped somehow. But then the other girl took a deep, shaky breath.
"Can I..." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Can I tell you something? Something I've never told anyone?"
The shift in atmosphere was immediate and palpable. This wasn't playful truth-or-dare anymore. This was something real and raw and important.
"Of course," all three of them said in unison, their voices gentle with understanding.
Lolo looked up, and even through the mask, Luna could see the pain in her eyes. "My father is... controlling. Obsessed with status, wealth, business connections. To him, everything and everyone is a potential asset or liability. Including me."
She clasped her hands together tightly, as if to keep them from shaking. "Since I was fourteen years old, he's been arranging 'meetings' with sons of business partners. Potential husbands, though he never called them that outright. He called them 'opportunities' and 'advantageous connections.'"
Luna felt her stomach turn. She'd known Lolo came from wealth, but this...
"The first one..." Lolo's voice grew harder, colder. "Was twenty-five years old. I was FOURTEEN. We had dinner at this fancy restaurant, and he kept touching my knee under the table. Then my thigh. I told my father in the car afterward, and do you know what he said? He said I was overreacting. That the man was just being 'friendly' and I needed to learn to 'navigate these situations with grace.'"
"Lolo..." Kaede breathed, horror written across her face.
But Lolo wasn't done. The dam had broken, and years of carefully hidden pain came flooding out.
"The second one was charming. Handsome. He told me I was beautiful, that I was mature for my age, that he could see a real future with me. I actually started to believe him, started to think maybe my father was right and these meetings could lead to something good." She laughed bitterly. "Then I found out he had THREE other girlfriends. When I confronted him, he just shrugged and said he was 'keeping his options open.'"
She continued, and each revelation was worse than the last.
"The third one was violent. We went to lunch and he threw a glass at the waiter because his order was wrong. The waiter had to get stitches. My father said it showed 'passion' and 'strong leadership qualities.'"
Luna felt sick. She wanted to stop Lolo, to tell her she didn't have to continue, but something told her that Lolo NEEDED to say this. That keeping it inside for so long had been poisoning her.
"The fourth was a drug addict. I found cocaine in his car. The fifth was arrested for assault a month after our 'meeting'—apparently he had a history of it. The sixth..." Her voice broke completely. "The sixth tried to force himself on me in his car after dinner. I had to—I fought him off and ran. Called for a taxi because I was too ashamed to call my father."
Tears were streaming down her face now, cutting tracks through the gold-flecked mask. "And when I told my father, do you know what he said? He asked what I'D done to lead the man on. If I'd been drinking. If I'd been 'sending signals' I didn't understand."
"Oh god," Yuki whispered, her own eyes filling with tears.
"Every. Single. One. Was a MONSTER," Lolo continued, her voice raw with pain and anger. "And my father kept saying, 'Give them a chance, Lolo. They're good matches. You'll learn to love them. This is how the world works.'"
Luna found herself moving before she even realized what she was doing, crossing the circle to sit beside Lolo and take her hand. The human girl looked at her with surprise and gratitude.
"I'm so sorry," Luna said, and meant it with every fiber of her being. "You didn't deserve any of that."
"When I saw Hiro on the news..." Lolo's voice grew quieter, more vulnerable. "Transforming to save you... I saw something DIFFERENT. Someone who used his power to PROTECT, not HURT. Not to control or manipulate or take what he wanted. He used it to save someone who needed help, even though it cost him his secret."
She squeezed Luna's hand tightly. "I had my father research him. His family. His history. His school records, his friends, everything we could find. And everything I found was... GOOD. He volunteers at the demi-human community center. He's never been in a fight except to defend someone else. His teachers say he's kind and thoughtful. His friends are loyal to him. Even the way his mother talks about him in interviews—she's proud of him not for what he CAN do, but for who he IS."
Lolo turned to look directly at Luna, and the honesty in her gaze was almost painful to witness. "I know I can't compete with what you two have. I KNOW you're first in his heart, and honestly, you should be. You were there when it mattered. You've earned your place in his life in ways I never could."
"Lolo—" Luna started, but the other girl shook her head.
"Let me finish. Please." She took a shuddering breath. "I just... I just want to be near someone GOOD. Someone SAFE. Even if he never loves me the way he loves you, even if I'm always second or third or just a friend... being around him makes me feel like maybe the world isn't full of monsters. Like maybe there ARE good people, good men, and I'm not crazy for wanting that."
She was sobbing now, her carefully maintained composure completely shattered. "Is that selfish? Am I terrible for wanting him even though I know he loves you? I don't want to hurt you, Luna. I don't want to be another person who takes something from you. But I don't know how to stop wanting to be near someone who makes me feel safe for the first time in my life."
Luna didn't hesitate. She pulled Lolo into a tight hug, holding her as the other girl cried against her shoulder. Over Lolo's shaking form, she saw Kaede and Yuki both wiping away tears of their own.
"You're not terrible," Luna said firmly, her own voice thick with emotion. "You're HUMAN. Well, you know what I mean. You've been hurt so much, and you're just trying to survive and find happiness like everyone else. That's not selfish. That's just... being alive."
"You deserve kindness too," Yuki added, crawling over to join the hug. "You deserve to feel safe. That's not something you should have to apologize for."
Kaede completed the group embrace, all four of them tangled together on the floor of this enormous, lonely room. "We're here for you, Lolo. All of us. You don't have to face anything alone anymore."
They stayed like that for a long time, holding each other as Lolo cried out years of pain and loneliness and fear. The face masks dried and started to crack, probably ruining their skincare benefits, but none of them cared. This was more important than beauty treatments or perfect skin.
This was about being there for someone who desperately needed to know she wasn't alone.
When Lolo finally pulled back, her face was blotchy and tear-stained, her mask cracked and flaking off in pieces. She looked at each of them in turn, something like wonder in her expression.
"I've never had friends like this before," she admitted quietly. "People who actually CARE. My whole life, everyone has wanted something from me—my father's money, or connections, or influence. But you..."
"We just want you," Yuki said simply. "The real you. Not your mansion or your family name or anything else. Just Lolo."
Fresh tears welled up in Lolo's eyes, but these were different—softer, warmer. "We should probably wash these masks off," she said with a watery laugh. "Before they cement to our faces permanently."
"Good idea," Kaede agreed, gesturing to her own cracking green mask. "I think I'm starting to mold."
They stumbled toward Lolo's enormous bathroom, helping each other wash off the dried masks at the dual sinks. Luna caught her reflection in the mirror and barely recognized herself—fur mussed, eyes red from emotion, but there was something in her expression that hadn't been there before.
She looked happy. Truly happy.
An hour later, they'd all showered off the remains of their face masks and changed into comfortable pajamas. Now they sat in their circle again, this time with an array of nail polish bottles spread out before them like a paint palette. Lolo had insisted they do each other's nails rather than their own—"It's more fun that way!"—so now they were paired off, carefully painting each other's fingers while music played softly from the entertainment system.
Luna sat across from Lolo, watching as the other girl carefully applied a deep purple polish to her claws. It was oddly intimate, this act of letting someone else take care of a small part of you. Lolo's hands were steady despite everything she'd shared earlier, and Luna found herself grateful for the distraction.
Yuki was working on Kaede's nails with intense concentration, her tongue stuck out slightly in focus as she tried to stay within the lines. Kaede bore this with patient amusement, occasionally offering suggestions like "maybe a bit less on the brush" when Yuki got too enthusiastic.
"So..." Yuki said, not looking up from her careful work. "Have any of you... you know... KISSED the person you like?"
The question dropped into the conversation like a stone into still water, sending ripples of tension and embarrassment radiating outward.
Everyone went quiet.
"Define 'person you like,'" Kaede hedged, her fox ears twitching nervously.
"You know exactly what I mean!" Yuki insisted, finally looking up. "Have you kissed Takeshi?"
"NO!" Kaede's voice went up an octave. "Takeshi doesn't even know I exist like THAT! How would I have kissed him?!"
"Fair point," Yuki conceded. She turned her attention to her own situation with a sigh. "I haven't even figured out if I LIKE Kenji that way yet, so kissing is like... that's advanced level stuff. I'm still at beginner mode."
Then both of them turned to look at Luna, who suddenly became very interested in the purple polish on her claws.
"Luna?" Kaede prompted, a knowing smile playing at her lips.
Luna's tail betrayed her, starting to wag despite her best efforts to keep it still. "We... we held hands. That's it."
"THAT'S SO SWEET!" Lolo nearly messed up the nail she was painting in her excitement. "Oh my god, when? Where? How did it happen?"
"After school one day," Luna admitted, feeling her face heat up. "We were walking home, and he just... took my hand. Very casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world. And we walked like that all the way to my apartment."
"And?" Yuki pressed, leaning forward. "How did it FEEL?"
Luna took a moment to find the words. "Like... like my hand had always been meant to fit in his. Warm. Safe. Right." She paused. "His heart was racing. I could feel his pulse through his palm."
"Because he was nervous!" Kaede exclaimed. "Oh my god, that's adorable! He was nervous to hold your hand!"
"That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard," Lolo said softly, and there was no jealousy in her voice—just genuine happiness. "Have you wanted to... kiss him?"
Luna's tail started wagging faster, completely beyond her control now. She tried to fight it, but there was no point in denying the truth when her body was betraying her so thoroughly.
"...Yes," she whispered.
"OH MY GOD!" Yuki actually squealed, abandoning Kaede's nails entirely. "You want to kiss him! Luna wants to kiss Hiro!"
"Could you announce it a little louder?" Luna groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I don't think they heard you in Tokyo."
"What's stopping you?!" Kaede demanded, grinning widely. "You're clearly into each other! Just go for it!"
"I don't
know HOW!" Luna blurted out, her voice muffled behind her hands. "I've never kissed anyone! What if I'm bad at it? What if I do it wrong? What if—what if he doesn't actually want to? What if I've been reading everything wrong and he just sees me as a friend and I make everything weird and—"
"Luna! Breathe!" Lolo laughed, gently pulling Luna's hands away from her face.
"You're spiraling!"
Luna took a shaky breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts in her head. "But seriously, what if I mess it up? There are so many things that could go wrong! Do I tilt my head? Which way? What do I do with my hands? How long should it last? What if my fangs get in the way? What if—"
"Okay, first of all," Kaede interrupted, "you're way overthinking this. Kissing isn't like... a technical skill you need to study for. It's supposed to be natural."
"Easy for you to say!" Luna protested. "You're not the one with fangs that could accidentally cut someone!"
"Hiro transforms into a literal beast," Yuki pointed out reasonably. "He has fangs too, in that form. I think he'll understand the fang situation."
"And besides," Lolo added with a knowing smile, "trust me when I say that Hiro wants to kiss you too. I've seen how he looks at you when you're not paying attention. Like you're the only person in the world."
Luna's heart did a complicated flip in her chest. "Really?"
"Really really," Lolo confirmed. "When the moment is right... you'll know. And trust me, you won't mess it up because he'll be just as nervous as you are."
"How do you know?" Luna asked, desperately wanting to believe it.
"Because first kisses are terrifying for everyone," Lolo said softly. "Even in movies where they make it look perfect and magical, the actors are probably thinking 'oh god, is my breath okay? Am I doing this right?' It's part of being human. Er, you know what I mean."
"The point is," Kaede jumped in, "that if you're both into each other—which you CLEARLY are—then the kiss will be good because you care about each other. That's what matters."
Yuki nodded enthusiastically. "And honestly? Even if it's a little awkward or clumsy at first, that's okay! That's part of it! You can laugh about it together and try again!"
Luna felt some of the tension in her shoulders ease. "You really think so?"
"We KNOW so," all three of them said in unison, then laughed at the synchronization.
"Okay," Luna said, taking another deep breath. "Okay. Maybe... maybe I'll try. If the moment feels right."
"WHEN the moment feels right," Lolo corrected with a gentle smile. "Not if. When."
They returned to painting nails, the conversation drifting to lighter topics—favorite movies, embarrassing school moments, which teachers they thought might be secretly dating each other. But Luna's mind kept wandering back to the thought of kissing Hiro, and now, instead of pure panic, there was something else mixed in with the nervousness.
Hope. Anticipation. Excitement.
Maybe she could do this after all.
"Alright," Kaede announced once everyone's nails were done and drying. "Now that we've established that Luna is going to kiss Hiro soon—"
"I didn't say soon!"
"—we need to pick a movie. Something romantic but not too sappy. We've already cried enough tonight."
"Agreed," Yuki said, already scrolling through the options on the massive TV. "How about... ooh, this one! It's about a girl who's secretly a spy and falls in love with the guy she's supposed to be investigating!"
"Perfect!" Lolo agreed, grabbing blankets from a nearby chest. "Everyone grab snacks and get comfortable!"
They arranged themselves on the massive bed—all four of them could fit with room to spare—with blankets and pillows piled around them. The lights dimmed automatically as the movie started, and Luna found herself sandwiched between Yuki and Lolo, with Kaede sprawled across the foot of the bed.
As the opening credits rolled, Luna glanced at the three girls around her. Just a few weeks ago, she'd been so alone. Her only real friend had been Hiro, and even that relationship had been complicated by her confusion about her feelings. But now...
Now she had this. Friends who cared about her, who she could laugh with and cry with and be completely honest with. Friends who knew about her curse and didn't care. Friends who supported her dreams and her fears and everything in between.
"You okay?" Lolo whispered, noticing Luna's expression.
Luna smiled, her tail wagging contentedly. "Yeah. I'm really okay."
The movie had been good—action-packed and romantic without being too over-the-top. They'd laughed at the funny parts, gasped at the plot twists, and maybe cried just a little during the emotional climax. But it was the kiss scene near the end that had really captured their attention.
The entire room had gone silent as the two leads finally admitted their feelings and came together in a kiss that was somehow both passionate and tender. All four girls had watched with rapt attention, barely breathing.
"That's what I want... someday..." Lolo had whispered.
"Me too..." Luna had agreed, her voice just as soft.
Now the movie was over, credits long since finished rolling. Someone had turned off the TV, and they'd rearranged themselves on the floor with more blankets and pillows, creating a cozy nest.
The lights were off except for some fairy lights strung around the room that Luna hadn't noticed earlier, casting everything in a soft, warm glow.
They lay in a rough circle, heads toward the center, looking up at the ceiling where the fairy lights created shifting patterns of shadow and illumination.
"Can I ask something serious?" Kaede said into the comfortable silence.
"Sure," everyone responded in various forms of agreement.
Kaede was quiet for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully. "Lolo... what happens if Hiro chooses Luna? Will you be okay?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of reality. Luna felt her chest tighten. Part of her wanted to intervene, to tell Kaede not to ask, but another part knew that this was important. That they needed to address the elephant in the room if they were going to move forward as friends.
Lolo didn't answer right away. Luna could hear her breathing, steady and measured, as she considered the question.
"I'll be... sad," Lolo finally said, her voice small but honest. "Heartbroken, probably. I won't pretend otherwise."
She turned her head to look at Luna, and even in the dim light, Luna could see the sincerity in her expression. "But I'll understand. Because Luna DESERVES him. She's been there from the start. She loved him when it was DANGEROUS to be near him, when everyone was afraid of what he was. She saw past the beast to the boy underneath."
"Lolo..." Luna breathed, feeling tears prick at her eyes again.
"I'm just hoping there's room for me," Lolo continued softly. "Even as a friend. Even just as someone he knows and occasionally spends time with. Because being near him—near ALL of you—makes me feel safe. For the first time in my life, I'm around people who don't want something FROM me. Who don't see me as a tool or a transaction."
She smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "Do you know what that's like? To go your whole life being valued only for what you can provide, and then suddenly meet people who just... like you? For you?"
Luna reached over in the darkness, finding Lolo's hand and squeezing it gently. "There's always room for friends. And I mean that."
"Really?" Lolo's voice cracked slightly. "Even if I... even if I still have feelings for him?"
"Having feelings for someone doesn't make you a bad person," Luna said firmly. "I can't control who you love any more than you can control who I love. What matters is how we treat each other. And tonight... tonight you've been nothing but honest and kind."
"You've let me in," Lolo whispered. "Into your circle. I know how much that costs you, given everything. Thank you."
Yuki rolled onto her side to face them both. "We're all friends now. Real friends. And friends support each other, even when things are complicated."
"Especially when things are complicated," Kaede added. "Life would be boring if everything was simple."
They fell into a comfortable silence after that, each lost in their own thoughts. Luna stared up at the fairy lights and thought about how strange life could be. A few months ago, she'd been alone, angry at the world, convinced that her curse had ruined any chance of a normal life. And now she was lying on the floor of a mansion with three friends, talking about boys and feelings and all the normal teenage things she'd thought would never be part of her story.
"Can I ask something?" Luna said suddenly.
"Of course," Lolo responded.
"Your father... does he know about Hiro? About how you feel?"
Lolo's expression darkened. "Yes. He... he wasn't happy at first. A high school boy with no family wealth or connections? It was beneath me, according to him." She paused. "But then he saw the news coverage, saw how Hiro saved you. And suddenly his tune changed."
"Changed how?" Kaede asked warily.
"Now he sees Hiro as an 'opportunity.' A potential asset." Lolo's voice was bitter. "He thinks that if I can... if I can get close to Hiro, our family could benefit from his abilities. Use his transformation for security contracts or something equally mercenary."
Luna felt a chill run down her spine. "Does Hiro know this?"
"No. And I never intend to tell him, because I'm not my father." Lolo's voice was fierce now. "I don't want Hiro for his abilities or his potential usefulness. I want... I want what you have, Luna. I want someone who sees ME, not my name or my money. And Hiro does that for everyone he meets. He just... sees people."
"Your father sounds like a piece of work," Kaede muttered.
"That's putting it mildly," Lolo agreed. "But I'm not him. I won't become him. Even if it means disappointing him or—" She stopped abruptly.
"Or what?" Yuki prompted gently.
"Or getting cut off," Lolo finished quietly. "He's threatened it before. Said that if I don't 'make better choices' and 'think about the family's interests,' he might have to reconsider my allowance, my trust fund, all of it."
"That's—" Luna started, outraged.
"It's fine," Lolo interrupted. "I'm prepared for it. I've been saving money he doesn't know about. Learning skills that could help me get a job if I need to. I won't be trapped by his money forever."
There was steel in her voice that Luna hadn't heard before, and she realized that beneath the designer clothes and the perfect makeup, Lolo was stronger than she appeared. She'd survived years of her father's manipulation and control, and she was planning for a future on her own terms.
"If that happens," Kaede said firmly, "you'll have us. We're not rich, but we're resourceful. And we take care of our own."
"Absolutely," Yuki agreed. "Friends don't let friends face terrible fathers alone."
Lolo's breath hitched. "You guys..."
"We mean it," Luna said, squeezing her hand again. "Whatever happens, you're not alone anymore."
They lay there in silence for a while longer, processing everything that had been shared. Outside, Luna could hear the distant sound of wind chimes from the garden, a peaceful melody that seemed to acknowledge the significance of what had happened in this room tonight.
"I have a confession," Yuki said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I ate all the white chocolate popcorn earlier. I'm sorry. It was just so good and I couldn't stop."
The absurdity of the confession after such heavy conversation made them all burst into laughter—real, genuine laughter that shook their shoulders and made their stomachs hurt.
"I'm not even mad," Lolo managed between giggles. "That's the most Yuki thing I've ever heard."
"There's more in the kitchen," Lolo said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "I can have someone bring it up—"
"No!" all three of them shouted at once.
"We're good," Kaede said firmly. "No more snacks. I think I'm actually going to explode if I eat anything else."
"Agreed," Luna said, patting her full stomach. "I've eaten more tonight than I usually do in a week."
They gradually started to drift off, exhaustion from the emotional evening finally catching up with them. Luna felt her eyelids growing heavy, the combination of comfort, safety, and friendship lulling her toward sleep.
Just before she fully drifted off, she felt Lolo squeeze her hand one more time.
"Thank you," Lolo whispered. "For giving me a chance. For seeing me. I won't let you down."
"I know," Luna whispered back, and meant it with her whole heart.
Luna woke to sunlight streaming through the massive windows, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. Then memory returned—the sleepover, the conversations, the unexpected bonding. She blinked sleep from her eyes and looked around.
Yuki was sprawled across several pillows, her rabbit ears twitching occasionally as she dreamed. Kaede had somehow migrated to the bed during the night and was curled up in a tight ball, her fox tail wrapped around herself like a blanket. And Lolo was still beside Luna, sleeping peacefully with a slight smile on her face.
Luna carefully extracted herself from the tangle of blankets without waking the others. She padded over to the balcony doors, opening them quietly and stepping out into the morning air.
The gardens were beautiful in the early light, all dew-covered grass and flowers just beginning to open. Birds sang in the trees, and somewhere in the distance, Luna could hear the fountain still running. It was peaceful in a way her neighborhood never was—no traffic sounds, no sirens, no neighbors shouting.
But it was also lonely. All this space, all this beauty, and no one to share it with. She thought about Lolo growing up here, surrounded by wealth but starved for genuine connection, and her heart ached.
"Pretty, isn't it?"
Luna turned to find Lolo standing in the doorway, wrapped in a silk robe, her hair mussed from sleep.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Luna said.
"You didn't. I'm usually up early anyway." Lolo came to stand beside her at the railing. "I come out here sometimes when I can't sleep. When the house feels too big and too empty."
They stood in companionable silence for a moment, watching a pair of birds chase each other through the garden.
"Last night..." Lolo started, then paused. "Last night was the best night I've had in years. Maybe ever."
Luna looked at her in surprise. "Really?"
"Really." Lolo smiled, and it was genuine and unguarded. "I've been to a hundred parties, a thousand fancy dinners, traveled to a dozen countries. But I've never had what we had last night. Real conversation. Real friendship. People who actually cared about my answers, not just what they could get from me."
"That's just what friends do," Luna said softly.
"I know that now," Lolo replied. "But I didn't before. I thought friendship was supposed to be... transactional. Strategic. I didn't know it could be this."
She turned to face Luna fully. "I meant what I said last night. About understanding if Hiro chooses you. About being grateful just to be near people who make me feel safe. I need you to know that I'm not trying to take anything from you."
Luna studied her face, searching for any hint of deception or manipulation. But all she saw was honest vulnerability.
"I believe you," Luna said finally. "And I want you to know... if Hiro does have feelings for you too, I won't be angry at you for it. I might be sad, or jealous, or hurt—but not at YOU. You can't control how you feel any more than I can."
"That's very mature of you," Lolo said quietly.
Luna laughed. "I don't feel mature. I feel like I'm barely holding it together most of the time. But Hiro once told me that we're all just trying our best, and we should give each other grace for that."
"He's a good person," Lolo said, and there was no jealousy in it—just acknowledgment of truth.
"He is," Luna agreed. "And whatever happens, at least we can be friends. That's more than I thought I'd have a few weeks ago."
They were interrupted by a crash from inside, followed by Yuki's voice: "I'm okay! The lamp is NOT okay, but I'm fine!"
Both girls rushed back inside to find Yuki tangled in blankets on the floor, the lamp from the nightstand lying beside her.
"How did you even—" Kaede started, having been woken by the noise.
"I don't know!" Yuki wailed. "I was dreaming about running from a monster and I guess I tried to run in real life and then there were blankets and gravity and—"
She stopped, noticing their expressions, and started laughing. "Okay, it's pretty funny when you say it out loud."
Soon all four of them were laughing, the last of any lingering awkwardness from the previous night's heavy conversations evaporating in the morning light.
Lolo's dining room was every bit as impressive as the rest of the house—a long table that could easily seat twenty, with a chandelier overhead and paintings on the walls that looked like they belonged in museums. But instead of feeling intimidated, Luna found it almost funny. They were four teenage girls in pajamas, eating breakfast in a room designed for formal dinner parties.
Staff members brought out plate after plate of food: fluffy pancakes with fresh berries, perfectly cooked eggs, crispy bacon, fresh fruit, pastries that looked almost too beautiful to eat, and more juice options than Luna knew existed.
"This is insane," Kaede muttered, staring at the spread. "Do you eat like this every morning?"
"Usually I just grab something quick," Lolo admitted. "But I asked them to go all out for today. Special occasion and all."
"This is the BEST sleepover ever!" Yuki declared, already piling her plate high. "We should do this every month! Can we? Please?"
"Really?!" Lolo's face lit up with hope. "You'd come back?!"
"Of course," Luna said, surprised by how much she meant it. "We're friends now. That's what friends do."
Lolo's eyes filled with tears—happy ones this time. "Thank you... all of you... I never thought I'd have this."
"Well, you better get used to it," Kaede said, grinning. "Because you're stuck with us now. Fair warning: Yuki stress-eats during exam season and I get cranky when I'm tired. Still want us around?"
"Absolutely," Lolo said, laughing through her tears.
They spent breakfast planning their next gathering, discussing movies they wanted to watch and activities they could do. Yuki suggested they try making their own face masks next time ("How hard can it be? It's just... food and stuff, right?"). Kaede proposed a video game tournament. Luna, feeling brave, suggested they could try cooking together, which made everyone laugh because none of them had much experience in the kitchen.
"We'll probably burn down the house," Kaede pointed out.
"Then we'll order pizza and pretend we meant to do that all along," Lolo countered.
After breakfast, reality began to set in. They needed to head home, back to their regular lives. But somehow, the thought wasn't as disappointing as it might have been. They'd have the memories of tonight, and the promise of more nights like it to come.
They gathered their things from Lolo's room, making sure they hadn't forgotten anything. The space that had seemed so intimidating last night now felt almost familiar, marked by their presence—discarded blankets on the floor, empty snack bowls, nail polish bottles still scattered across the carpet.
"I'll have someone drive you all home," Lolo said as they made their way downstairs.
"You don't have to—" Luna started.
"I want to," Lolo interrupted gently. "Please. Let me do this."
They waited by the front entrance while a car was brought around—a different one than had picked them up, Luna noticed. Sleek and black with tinted windows.
As they stood there, Lolo suddenly grabbed all three of them in a group hug, squeezing tight.
"Thank you," she whispered fiercely. "For seeing me. For giving me a chance. For being my friends."
"We're the lucky ones," Yuki said, hugging back just as fiercely. "You opened your home to us. And your heart."
When they finally pulled apart, the car was waiting. They climbed in, waving through the windows as it started down the long driveway.
Luna turned back for one last look at the mansion. Lolo stood on the front steps, waving, looking smaller and more vulnerable than she had any right to in front of such an imposing building. But she was smiling—genuinely smiling—and that made all the difference.
The car dropped Luna off last, after saying goodbye to Yuki and Kaede at their respective apartments. The driver helped her with her bag, polite and professional, then drove away, leaving Luna standing in front of her modest apartment building.
It wasn't much—three stories of aging concrete and peeling paint, with narrow hallways and thin walls. But it was home. And right now, after the overwhelming luxury of Lolo's mansion, it felt like exactly where she needed to be.
She climbed the stairs to the second floor, let herself into the small apartment she shared with her foster parents, and went straight to her room. It was tiny compared to Lolo's—barely big enough for a bed, a small desk, and a dresser—but it was hers.
Luna dropped her bag on the floor and flopped onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours. She'd gone from being wary of Lolo to understanding her, from jealous rival to genuine friend. She'd shared secrets and tears and laughter, had painted nails and watched movies and talked about boys in the way she'd always imagined normal girls did.
She'd felt normal. Not like a demi-human with a curse. Not like an outcast or a freak. Just... normal.
Her phone buzzed on her nightstand. She reached for it, expecting a message from one of the girls. But it was from Hiro.
TEXT: "How was the sleepover?"
Luna smiled, her tail starting to wag automatically at just seeing his name on her screen.
LUNA: "Really good. I think... I think Lolo and I are going to be okay."
The three dots appeared almost immediately, indicating he was typing.
TEXT: "I'm glad. You deserve good friends. You deserve to be happy."
Luna's heart swelled. Even when he wasn't here, even through just text messages, he made her feel valued and seen.
She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Last night's conversations echoed in her mind—Lolo's confession about wanting safety, Yuki's questions about kissing, her own admission that she wanted to kiss Hiro but didn't know how.
Before she could second-guess herself, she typed quickly:
LUNA: "Hiro?"
TEXT: "Yeah?"
LUNA: "Can we talk tomorrow? There's something I want to tell you."
The three dots appeared, disappeared, appeared again. Luna's heart raced as she waited, suddenly terrified that she'd made a mistake, that she'd revealed too much, that—
TEXT: "Of course. Rooftop at lunch?"
Luna released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
LUNA: "Perfect. "
She added the blue heart without thinking, then immediately panicked. Was that too much? Too obvious? Would he think she was being weird?
But his response came quickly:
TEXT: "See you then. "
He'd sent a heart back. A blue heart. The same color as hers.
Luna set her phone down with trembling hands, rolling onto her side and hugging her pillow to her chest. Her tail wagged so furiously it was practically a blur.
"Tomorrow," she whispered to herself, staring at the bracelet Hiro had given her—the one she never took off. "Tomorrow I'll tell him how I feel."
The thought terrified her. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if she'd been reading everything wrong? What if telling him ruined the friendship they had?
But then she thought about Lolo's words: "Trust me, Hiro wants to kiss you too. I've seen how he looks at you when you're not paying attention. Like you're the only person in the world."
And she thought about her new friends, about how they'd all encouraged her, supported her, believed in her.
She wasn't alone anymore. Whatever happened tomorrow, whatever Hiro's response might be, she had people in her corner now. People who cared about her not because of what she could do for them, but just because she was Luna.
Her phone buzzed again. This time it was the group chat Lolo had created for the four of them, titled "Girls' Night Crew"
LOLO: "Already missing you guys! Same time next month?"
YUKI: "ABSOLUTELY! But next time I pick the movie. No more crying!"
KAEDE: "Deal. Also, Lolo, your house is ridiculous and I love it."
LOLO: "It's OUR house now. Mi casa es su casa!"
YUKI: "Does that mean I can move in? Because I would LOVE to have a bathroom that big."
KAEDE: "Yuki, you'd get lost in that house. We'd have to send out search parties."
YUKI: "Worth it! "
Luna smiled, typing her own response:
LUNA: "Thank you for having us, Lolo. Last night was special."
LOLO: "Thank YOU for coming. For giving me a chance. It means everything. "
KAEDE: "Okay, we're getting sappy again. Everyone go rest! We have school tomorrow and I refuse to be tired because of you emotional disasters. "
YUKI: "Says the girl who cried the most during the movie!"
KAEDE: "LIES AND SLANDER!"
Luna laughed, setting her phone aside as the playful bickering continued. She closed her eyes, feeling contentment settle over her like a warm blanket.
Tomorrow she would tell Hiro how she felt. Tomorrow she would take that terrifying leap of faith and hope he felt the same way. Tomorrow her life might change completely, for better or worse.
But today, right now, she had friends. Real friends who knew her secrets and her fears and liked her anyway. Friends who would be there no matter what happened tomorrow.
And that, Luna thought as she drifted off to sleep, was its own kind of magic.