Riven's pizza had barely cooled when his tablet buzzed.
He checked the screen, frowned, then stood up.
"System check request," he muttered. "Guess someone tripped a firewall near the garden again."
He shot Luna a wink. "Save me a slice of actual cake."
Then he was gone.
Luna exhaled.
Leejun said nothing for a while. He poured two glasses of something that looked fancy but smelled suspiciously like sparkling juice.
She accepted hers. "You sure this isn't laced with truth serum?"
He smirked. "If it were, I'd ask about that moment in the garden."
Luna almost choked.
"I tripped."
"Right into Riven's arms."
She glared. "You're not subtle."
"I don't try to be."
He sat beside her again, a respectful gap between them this time. The music was soft, a string arrangement that tugged at something in her chest.
"Why me?" she asked suddenly. "Why invite me tonight?"
He looked at her, no teasing, no mask. "Because I don't understand you. And that bothers me."
She raised an eyebrow. "You usually understand people?"
"I usually read them. LP makes it easy. It quantifies attraction, charm, intent. But you…" He tilted his head. "You don't follow the formula. And when you're around, my LP drops—then spikes for no reason."
Luna looked down at her glass. "So I'm a problem you want to solve?"
"No," he said quietly. "You're the first person who makes me question whether the system's even right."
Her heart skipped.
They sat in silence for a moment, the air between them heavier, gentler.
Then—
Flash.
The lights flickered. The wall display glitched.
> WARNING: EMOTIONAL RESONANCE SPIKE DETECTED
Pair: Chae Luna & Han Leejun
+20 LP EACH
System Flagged: Unusual Sync Pattern
They both stared at the display.
Luna whispered, "Was that because of… us?"
Leejun didn't answer.
Instead, he stood and walked over to the window. Outside, the academy glittered like a data field under stars.
"I spent years perfecting my LP," he said. "Every move, every word calculated. I was top-ranked for three semesters straight. But this… whatever this is…" He turned back to her.
"It's real. And terrifying."
Luna stood too, brushing flour off her skirt from earlier.
"I'm not trying to scare you, Leejun," she said. "I'm just trying to survive."
He nodded. "Then maybe we survive together."
They looked at each other—quiet, charged, fragile.
Then—
Knock knock knock.
Riven's voice muffled through the door: "Hey! I forgot my pizza box. And also my dignity."
Luna groaned. "Perfect timing."
Leejun's lips twitched.
Before she could stop herself, Luna added, "I'll stay a little longer. If you still want me to."
His voice was low. "I do."
---
Elsewhere…
In the LP Analytics Room, an intern stared at the data spike.
"Sir, Leejun and Luna just registered a resonance score… higher than any recorded pair this term."
The Headmaster's smile was slow.
"Then the game has officially begun."