Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Luna Heading Toward a Happy Ending?
Noah’s phone started vibrating the moment he opened his eyes.
"What time is it...?"
He grabbed the device from the nightstand.
He was still half asleep.
Then he saw the screen and the same golden clover icon appeared.
Noah sighed.
"The goddess again."
He opened the app and a white screen appeared in front of him, only for a familiar image to emerge seconds later.
It was another magical object, but this time it looked like a black gem with silver details, and a message appeared below it.
[Deliver it to Luna.]
Noah stared at it.
"So soon?"
Another message appeared.
[Today.]
"Of course it would be today."
The gem appeared on the bed and Noah picked it up.
’Well...’
At least he already knew how it worked, but the problem was something else: there were no classes today.
"And how do I find Luna now?"
He stayed thinking for several seconds.
Then he remembered something.
"Ren."
He grabbed his phone, searched for the contact, and called.
Ren answered after a few seconds.
"Hey."
"I need a favor."
Silence appeared for a few seconds.
"No."
"I didn’t even tell you what I want!"
"The last few times you said that, you ended up asking me for a girl’s phone number."
"..."
"..."
"I need Luna’s number."
Absolute silence.
"Noah."
"What?"
"I’m going to ask a question."
"Go ahead."
"Are you a masochist?"
"What!?"
"Because first you want to have a date with a girl who seems like a potential pervert."
"It wasn’t a date!"
"And now you’re going after a girl who gives off the vibe that she’s hiding something shady."
"It’s not going to be a date!"
"That’s exactly what you said last time."
Noah felt a headache coming on.
"I need to give her something."
"What thing?"
"I can’t explain it."
"That makes everything worse."
"Ren."
"Yeah?"
"Please."
Ren sighed very loudly, like someone who had just lost all hope.
"I’m going to regret this."
"Probably."
"I knew it!"
He finally sent the contact and, before hanging up, added one last phrase.
"Don’t get anyone pregnant."
"What?"
But Ren had already hung up.
Noah looked at the phone.
’I really can’t get used to the problems in this world.’
He searched for the number and called.
The call connected quickly.
"Yes?"
Luna’s voice sounded calm.
"Hi."
There was a small pause.
"Are you Reed Noah?"
"Yes."
"Do you need something?"
Noah went straight to the point.
"I wanted to see you."
Silence.
’Why did I say it like that?’
He cleared his throat.
"I need to talk to you."
"I see."
The answer came calmly, very calmly.
"Are you busy?"
"No."
"Can you come?"
"Yes."
"Perfect."
"Noah."
"Yes?"
"Is it important?"
"Yes, it’s really important."
"Understood."
The call ended and Noah blinked.
’A lot easier than with Yume.’
Meanwhile, Luna looked at her phone, remained silent, and then set it down on the table.
’He needs to talk to me.’
She took a breath.
’Nothing more.’
She nodded.
’Definitely nothing more.’
She crossed her arms.
’Okay.’
She walked toward her room.
’Don’t jump to conclusions.’
She opened the closet.
’It’s not like he asked you on a date or anything.’
She took a shirt.
’He just wants to talk.’
She looked at it.
’Clearly, he just wants to talk.’
She took another.
’It would be ridiculous to think anything else.’
She looked at a third.
’Completely ridiculous.’
Fifteen minutes later she stood in front of the mirror, dressed much better than usual.
Luna stared at her reflection.
’What am I doing?’
She stayed silent.
’This doesn’t look like clothes for a normal conversation!’
She looked at herself again.
’It doesn’t matter.’
She spun on her heels.
’I just want to look presentable.’
She nodded.
’Exactly.’
She left the house and five minutes later walked past a pharmacy.
She kept walking, but then stopped and looked at the store again.
’No.’
She continued walking, but stopped again.
’It would be absurd.’
She walked again and stopped once more.
’Completely absurd, but...’
She entered the pharmacy and three minutes later came out with a small bag.
Luna looked at it, then at the sky, and then back at the bag.
’Why did I do this...?’
Her eyes widened.
’Why did I buy condoms!?’
She remained motionless.
’What was I thinking?’
She looked at the bag again and her face turned red.
She put everything away quickly.
’Forget that happened.’
She continued walking.
’It never happened.’
When she reached the meeting point, she was still trying to convince herself of that, but it didn’t work because Noah was already there, waiting for her.
Luna froze.
’I got here way too fast.’
Noah raised a hand.
"Hi."
"Hi."
Noah smiled.
"Thanks for coming."
Luna felt something stir inside her, but she immediately got it under control.
’Don’t misinterpret it, he’s just being polite.’
"You’re welcome."
Noah looked at her clothes and blinked.
"You look different."
Luna froze.
’Control, control, control.’
"Different?"
"Yeah."
Noah nodded.
"It suits you."
Luna felt her heart skip a beat.
’He’s just being nice... only nice... definitely nice...’
"Thanks."
Noah took out the gem.
"I came for this."
Luna looked at the object.
’A gift? No, no, no, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions yet...’
She had already proven she could think logically.
After all, she was Luna Tsukino, someone who could stay calm.
"What is it?"
"I’m not entirely sure."
"That’s not reassuring."
"Yeah, I know."
Noah smiled awkwardly.
"But I need you to take it."
Luna extended her hand, and when the gem touched her skin, it began to glow.
Both of them stayed motionless.
"What?"
Energy appeared around Luna.
The gem floated and the light intensified.
Noah’s eyes widened.
’It’s happening!’
The energy completely enveloped Luna, and when it disappeared, her transformation was complete.
The black-and-white magical uniform appeared.
Energy swirled around her body and her eyes reflected the surprise she was feeling.
Noah was completely fascinated.
"It’s incredible..."
Luna looked at her hands.
"What’s happening?"
Noah began to explain everything he knew about the magical girls, the energy, the powers, the monsters, and the transformations.
Luna listened to every word, but as he spoke, Noah kept getting closer and closer until he was very close.
Luna looked at the face in front of her.
’He’s way too close!’
Noah kept talking, completely focused.
"Later you’ll probably discover new abilities and..."
Luna acted, grabbing his wrist and pushing him against a nearby wall.
Noah’s eyes widened.
"Huh?"
Luna placed one hand beside his head while the other kept holding his wrist.
Noah blinked.
"Luna?"
She looked around and then back at him.
"No one is watching us."
Noah blinked again, looked at the people walking nearby, and no one seemed to be paying them any attention.
His eyes widened.
"A perception barrier?"
Luna frowned.
"Did I do that?"
"You figured it out in less than a minute!"
Noah looked impressed.
"That’s incredible."
Luna looked at him.
’Incredible?’
Noah kept talking.
"In the anime they never showed this part."
"Anime?"
"Never mind."
Luna continued looking at him.
She had Noah pinned against a wall while holding his wrist and no one could see them.
Slowly she began to notice another detail.
She was stronger than him, much stronger, because she could feel it, and if she wanted, she could keep him from escaping.
Noah finally noticed something.
"By the way."
"Yes?"
"My wrist is starting to hurt."
Luna looked down and saw that she was still gripping him tightly.
Then something dangerous happened: a part of her mind began asking questions.
’What if I don’t let go?’
She stayed silent.
’What if I get closer?’
Her gaze dropped to Noah’s lips.
’What if I kiss him?’
Her breathing quickened.
’What if I do something worse?’
No one could see them or stop her.
She was stronger than him and Noah seemed completely unaware of the danger.
Luna felt the temptation growing.
’It would be easy.’
But she released his wrist immediately and stepped back two paces.
"Noah."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Noah smiled.
"You’re welcome."
Luna looked away.
She couldn’t stay there, not at that moment, not after the thoughts she had just had.
She spun on her heels.
"See you."
"Huh? You’re leaving already?"
"Yes."
She started walking.
Noah watched her walk away, completely confused.
"What just happened?"
He got no answer.
That same night, Luna opened the door to her room, went in, closed it, walked to the bed, and let herself fall onto her back.
She covered her face with both hands.
’Idiot.’
She remained motionless.
’What was that?’
She remembered the scene and her face turned red.
’I lost control.’
She rolled over on the bed.
’For a few seconds.’
She stared at the ceiling.
’I was really thinking about doing it.’
There were no excuses or misunderstandings, because she knew exactly what she had thought and how close she had come.
She closed her eyes.
’I managed to stop.’
She had been able to do it, which proved she still had control, and that she could still act rationally and make the right decisions.
That was good, but she had also discovered something worrying.
She slowly opened her eyes.
’If it happens again.’
She remembered Noah’s face.
Her heart sped up again and this time she didn’t try to deny it.
’I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself next time.’
Luna stayed still for a few more minutes, but her breathing was still agitated, so she slid one hand down her body, slipped it under her clothes, and began touching herself.
"Noah..."
She moved her fingers harder.
"Noah..."
She repeated the name several times as her body tensed.
"Noah..."
She paused for a moment, looked at her soaked hand, and asked in a low voice.
"Why do you test me like this?"
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