It was two hours past noon when Riel decided to take a bath.

“Aaahhhh… Feels greaaatt!”

He pronounced his satisfaction to no one in particular. He just felt like getting it out of his system. However, He hadn’t exactly finished taking a bath yet.

“Just a bit more.”

However, someone came pressing the doorbell as he said that.

“Wah, let me guess. It’s the twins again. Or at least, one of them.”

Once more, he spoke to the air around him. He didn’t want to trouble himself while he’s still in the bath, but the impatience of the visitor who had to ring the bell many times in a short period of time was getting to him.

“Siiisss!! Can you go take care of the visitor? I’m still in the bath!”

He spoke in a loud voice to allow his sister to hear him.

“Whaatt? You’re still in the bath? It’s been thirty minutes.”

His sister replied.

“Shut up! I didn’t take a bath yesterday.”

“And whose fault do you think that is?”

“I know it's my fault, bu-”

Just as Riel was making his excuse, the person outside the door pressed the bell two times more. That prompt his sister to go.

“Wait a minute!”

Said his sister as she hurried to the front door. What appeared on the other side of the door was a very familiar face. The face that was being owned not by one, but two persons who had been visiting the house often the past few weeks.

“Ooohh!! There’s only one of you this time.”

Said Riel’s sister.

“Who of the two are you?”

Asked the clueless sister. Unlike Riel who would usually wait for the person to talk so he would know who is who, his outgoing sister decided to be upfront.

“Ahh! Sorry, I’m Runa.”

“Ahh, the outgoing version of the sisters? Come in, come in.”

Riel’s sister invited Runa inside with a welcoming voice. Usually, people would have eaten already before visiting somebody else at noon, but Riel’s sister still asked

“Have you eaten already? Just say so if you still haven’t. Big sis here will feed you ehehe.”

“I’d be very happy to eat your cooking, but I just ate before coming here. Is Riel around?”

Runa’s question had revived the dying flames from within Riel’s sister. She said these as she wore a mischievous smile

“Ah, Riel is taking a bath. My Lil’ bro takes a bath like a girl. It’s been half an hour and he’s still going at it.”

“Is that so? Well, at least he took a bath this time.”

“Hmm?”

“Ah! Luna told me that she came here yesterday. Apparently, you weren’t around so she was alone with Riel. She was really amazed by how Riel’s bed head looked like. She said that it looked pretty cool, but she was concerned because not only did Riel abandoned his hygiene, he also ate a little late.”

“Oho! That’s some juicy scoop right there. Riel didn’t do anything weird to Luna, did he? Taking advantage of a cute, meek girl just because they were alone… My bro is slowly ascending the stairway to adulthood huh?”

Runa was slightly taken aback by the words of Riel’s sister.

[Woah, Riel’s sis has an amazing imagination. Has Riel seriously kept his purity this long?]

Were the words that ran through her mind. She was curious about Riel’s past and if he ever entered or even just attempted to enter in a relationship, but at the moment, it seemed more appropriate to answer Riel’s sister properly.

“Luna said they played mobile games the whole time. I also doubt Riel has the guts to do anything improper.”

“Awww… Poor Riel. He really needs to man up!”

[Are you saying that Riel really should’ve taken advantage of sis while he had the chance?]

Runa had mixed emotions to the idea. For some reason, it didn’t sound so bad. Maybe because Riel just doesn’t seem like that type, and that Riel looked younger than he actually was. Even so, what is wrong will remain to be wrong no matter what.

[If Luna were to give him permission, I wonder if I’ll be okay with it?]

Runa’s cheeks suddenly turned red which caught the attention of Riel’s sister.

“E he he… You haven’t seen Riel’s room yet, right?”

“Umm, yes. What about it?”

“You don’t want to lose to Luna, do you?”

Riel’s sister stood up with her arms extended to Runa.

“Why don’t you wait for Riel in his room?”

“I don’t mind, but wouldn’t it inconvenience him when he hasn’t finished his bath yet?”

“Don’t worry. He is the type to bring all his clothes with him to the bath. He dislikes being naked outside of the bathroom, after all.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[“I want to take a bath longer, but I also don’t want my water bill to skyrocket…]

That was Riel’s inner monologue. After all, he is the one paying all the bills. Electric, water, internet, and even groceries. That’s because he earns a lot more than what most ordinary workers do. Riel isn’t exactly stingy with money since he doesn’t have many things he spends on which results in the rapid growth of his savings, but he also didn’t want to pay extra for anything unnecessary.

“There, I’m officially finished!”

He said those words right after he was done wearing his clothes. He headed straight to his room with a blissful expression when a familiar face greeted him.

“Wahh?! W-what are you doing in my room?!”

He asked Runa who was sitting on his bed. He still didn’t know at the time who he was talking to, but the answer of the person confirmed her identity.

“What? So Luna is allowed in your room but not me? Talk about favoritism.”

Runa wore a pout as she said that. She wasn’t exactly offended, but she wanted to let Riel know that she has feelings, too.

“That’s not what I mean. I was just surprised.”

“Well, your sister said I could wait here.”

“That asshole of a big sis… By the way, you headed straight here right after school? You’re still wearing your uniform.”

“Is there anything wrong with my uniform?”

“Not really… Just wondering why you decided it’d be a good idea to go straight here instead of your own home first.”

“Our home isn’t exactly far from here. Also, I kinda…. Missed you.”

Runa said that last part while avoiding eye-contact, The words also came out weak which resulted in Riel being unable to hear it.

“What? Talk louder when you’re saying something. That’s so not like you.”

“Sh-shut up! Even though I’m outgoing, I’m still not shameless enough to blurt out whatever!”

“Then don’t say it in the first place!”

“Grrrr!!”

Runa couldn’t retort back anymore. Riel’s words made absolute sense even though she didn’t want to admit it.

“So? Did you need something? Why did you decide to visit? Also, where’s Luna?”

Riel hasn’t realized it yet at the time, but back when Luna alone visited him, he never asked where Runa might have been. Why would he ask where Luna was when Runa visited him alone? If not even Riel could answer that question, who would be able to? But perhaps it’s because Riel felt a connection with Luna. After all, the two seemed similar in many ways.

“Luna has club activities today.”

“Ohh! A girl as shy as Luna having a club? I’m curious!”

Riel wore sparks in his eyes as he spoke that last part with his fists raised as if prepared to go into a warzone. Seeing that, Runa felt inclined to tell him.

“She is in the Literature Club. By the way, I’m in the Music Club.”

“I’m only curious about Luna though…”

Runa felt disrespected and was about to hit Riel, but

“Oyy I was just joking ahaha… The two of you are both in interesting clubs.”

“Hmm? Luna’s club doesn’t have an adviser right now, though.”

At the time, Riel didn’t know that Runa fiddled with his computer and that she saw his written works.

“What do you mean? Wouldn’t that be bad?”

Asked Riel.

“It seems like he went to the nearby school because apparently, he was offered a higher salary.”

“Woah, talk about being nasty.”

Riel continued speaking after his initial remark

“But I guess people have their needs. It certainly would be better if you could earn more especially if you have a family and stuff, but I believe that teaching is not a job, but a way of life. When did that teacher leave your school though? Surely it wasn’t in the middle of the academic year. Otherwise, that would just be plain wrong and illegal.”

“He left last school year, so it wasn’t anything abrupt. But our school has been having a difficult time looking for a new teacher. It’s sad especially because Luna’s club is planning on submitting their works in a writing contest, but it’s been tough without an adviser.”

Runa might have been casually talking Riel into applying at their school, but Riel didn’t have a degree in education. He also didn’t have a degree in literature. He became a popular web author after countless hours of practice and experimentation. It was pure hard work on his part. Even if Riel knew Runa’s intentions, no way would he pass as a teacher. Meanwhile, Runa began opening her bag’s zipper.

“Hmm? What are you getting?”

Asked Riel.

“Here.”

What Runa got out of her bag were chocolates. Quite the expensive ones on top of that.

“Whooaaaaa!! Tobleran and Ferrero Archer!”

“Feel free to eat.”

“A-am I really allowed to eat this?”

“Jeez, eat all you want.”

“Thanks a lot!”

That said, Riel didn’t touch Tobleran. He was more interested in Ferrero Archer. He fell in love with it the first time he tasted one. Honestly, he could buy a whole lot of it whenever he wanted, but for some reason, he forgot that the particular brand of chocolate existed.

Riel finally decided to sit down on his computer chair. He probably felt tired of standing or maybe he felt sorry that Runa had to look up to him whenever they talk.

“Archer tastes so good! I’m gonna buy lots of this later…”

“Be careful of diabetes, okay?”

“Fine, fine. I’m on the thinner side anyway, a few chocolates every now and then won’t hurt.”

“...”

“...”

An air of silence suddenly descended upon the two. Riel couldn’t stomach just eating Runa’s chocolates without anything going on between them as it was too awkward, so he began to talk once more.

“You are in the music club, right?”

Runa nodded as if to affirm.

“What instruments do you play? Or perhaps you’re a singer?”

“Pfftt….”

“W-what? Did I say something wrong?”

Riel felt a little offended, but it seemed like Runa didn’t mean him any harm.

“Sorry, I just couldn’t take it. I don’t like singing. Even if I can sing, I won’t. Because it’s so overrated. There are countless singing competitions on TV and everywhere else. It doesn’t really feel unique anymore. I play the guitar and the piano.”

“I understand the piano being on the rarer side, but the guitar is everywhere, too.”

“At least not as much as singers.”

“Well, that is true. So, what do you usually listen to, or play?”

“Classical music and some OPMs and Japanese music…”

Riel couldn’t contain his happiness upon hearing Runa’s taste in music.

“Are you for real?! I wonder if we have the same taste in music?!”

Runa got a little shocked from Riel’s reaction, but she was also happy.

“I heard that you also play Brave Summoner 2. Do you know that music in Randarl Empire? The one from Daemo?”

“YEESS! I LOVE THAT SH*T!”

“I play that a lot often.”

“Damn, we are totally aligned aren’t we?!”

Runa then noticed something. Or perhaps, she was just curious

“Do you also happen to have musical skills?”

Riel’s hands shook for just a split-second upon being asked that question. As someone who never had any self-confidence, he wasn’t the type to flaunt his talents and he would even try his best to hide whatever ability he has. Nevertheless, he trusts Runa enough.

“I’m not all that good. But to answer the question, yeah. I can use a musical keyboard and I also had a bit of experience with an actual piano. I play some guitar and I can also sing although I rarely do it.”

“Do you mind playing something for me?!”

Asked Runa enthusiastically.

“W-well… Wait a bit. I’ll go get the keyboard.”

It took no more than 5 minutes for Riel to bring out his keyboard. Another 10 minutes was spent setting it up.

“Ohh, a full-size keyboard. Must be expensive.”

Was what Runa said.

“Are you really one to talk? I’m sure you own something even more awesome than this. Ah! I want to be rich!”

“Just play something already!”

“F-fine. You don’t have to be so impatient. Here we go.”

Riel then began playing unfamiliar music on his keyboard. It was a song unlike anything that Runa had heard. The melody and the chord progression was definitely inspired by Japanese music styles. It sounds like a perfect soundtrack candidate in emotional games and movies that will move everyone to tears. The song was in the Key of F and there was a total of six chords used. A change in key would also occur which brought the music to its climax. It was a music that starts off with a lonely tune that brings the feeling of nostalgia to the listener. That feeling of wanting to go back to a place that is no more within your world. The feeling of wanting something that you could no longer grasp. The feeling of desiring to go back in time, but time can never be reversed. The music that Riel played gave off that kind of impression, but what moved Runa the most was the outro. The outro of the music was set-up in a way as to show the listeners a glimpse of light. It was as if being stuck in a dark tunnel for a long time, and then just when one was about to give up, they saw the glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.

“That song is nice. What’s the title?”

Asked Runa who wore an expression of amazement.

“Errmm… I only thought of it not long ago, but I decided to name it, Moonlight Gaze.”

“It’s an original composition?!”

“I-is there any need to be that shocked?”

Runa couldn’t answer Riel’s question right away. Her pride wasn’t allowing her to be honest with herself, but she took a step forward and said in a soft, gentle tone filled with all the courage that she had mustered.

“It’s a beautiful song. Really, I feel blessed to have heard it.”

Riel couldn’t believe that he’s hearing that from Runa, but he didn’t want to ruin the mood and just got along with it.

“I’m glad you found it to your liking.”

Riel wore a smile of satisfaction as he said that, but he also couldn’t allow Runa to go home without showing her skills, so he had her play, too. They played and listened to each other for the next two hours. The two of them felt closely connected to each other through their music. With as little banters as possible, they talked to each other by the harmonious sounds that they have created with the help of the musical instrument.