The Gun

“On the moon, there was neither air nor wind. Its vacuum was perfect for preserving memories unscathed. No one could unlock the heart of the moon.”

―Haruki Murakami

. . .

Despite the carefully restrained anger in his tone, it was safe to say that nobody listened to him from that point on. Nobody cares about the truth, especially when the gossips sounds way more juicier.

Some of the girls seated behind Steven even giggled and poked the literature professor on the shoulder, her irritating voice in a stage-whisper: “Professor Steven, guess what? When we were in the restroom, I saw Lunamor wearing a ring on her finger!”

“Are you kidding me?” Hiro growled.

“Sir...?” the girl blanched.

Steven cackled, “When did you guys even get married?”

“Oh, please. Shut the fuck up, Anderson. You know I’m still single. And Lunamor’s wearing gloves all the damn time!” Hiro argued, feeling his eyebrows twitch in annoyance at the smug, accusing look Steven was throwing right at him.

“And how do you even know that?” the idiot taunted.

“How the hell can you even saw her fingers?!”

The poor girl deflated at that.

“Well… maybe she wasn’t wearing gloves at the time!” Steven cried in her defense, grinning triumphantly as he raised his fries above his head like it was some sort of sword.

“I find that hard to believe,” Hiro deadpanned.

“She could be washing her hands for all we know!”

“Why are we even talking about her?!”

“Why not, she’s your wife, right?”

As he fixed his glasses, Hiro was seriously beginning to wonder if he should just go home for the day. Or maybe he should just choose violence.

Somehow, in some way, he suddenly had become a target of the rumor mill (without him even knowing until now) all because of his constant association with the wealthiest person in the academy and he couldn’t see any way for this to end without a headache.

Then, Hiro noticed everyone went silent.

All eyes were on him.

Briefly, Hiro wondered if someone had asked a question, but then he realized that their eyes weren’t focused on him. They were all looking past him, through him.

Blinking, he turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder.

...speak of the devil and she shall appear.

Lo and behold, Cassandra Lunamor was standing by the doorway, staring blankly at him, and blatantly ignoring the way everyone was peering at her.

Hiro thought Lunamor was going to call him or maybe say something to him with the way she was intently looking at him, but she tore her gaze away from him and his gaze trailed after her as she wordlessly passed him and his table without another glance.

Surely, Lunamor must have heard the rumors flying around about them and as much as he had joked to her about having a crush on him, he knew that she was just civil (maybe tolerant) towards him.

Because from what he had noticed about her, Lunamor was kind of indifferent towards everyone… well fine, maybe towards everyone she didn’t bother to dislike. But Hiro knew that she wouldn’t like these kinds of rumors happening between them.

After all, she didn’t like people getting into her own affairs especially with the issue of having reporters as her stalkers, as she had told him days ago.

So, yes. It was kind of a given to him that Lunamor would be offended towards any rumors about her, more so regarding her love life, no matter what she says about not caring what everyone thinks of her. She wouldn't have a choice but to do something about this. Especially, if one of her professors is involved with her.

At least, that was Hiro’s line of reasoning.

That was what he had assumed.

Because logically speaking, there is a high possibility that Lunamor will act out against the rumors. Maybe Hiro wouldn’t have to be bothered too much about it. After all, she might even diffuse the situation for him.

With that thought in mind, Hiro forced himself to stand up.

And without a word (though he had pointedly glared at Steven in warning, because the moron was making a heart with his hands) followed Lunamor to her table... the very same table she was seated in when they were supposed to have lunch, making him shake his head slightly at the thought and earning him a raised eyebrow from her–otherwise her expression remained decidedly neutral.

Sighing deeply, Hiro placed a hand on the table and leaned forward a bit. It was kind of invasive, but he didn’t want to make it easy for anyone to eavesdrop on what he has to say to her. And to be fair, Lunamor had no qualms about being up close and personal with him, so why should he?

“Lunamor, have you heard the rumors?”

“...that’s what you wanted to talk about?” she scoffed, pushing her hair back and crossing her arms as she leaned back in her seat, away from him, “Shame, I thought you were being serious.”

“I am. Have you?” he persisted.

“No. And I don’t really care,” Lunamor pulled a worn book out of her messenger bag (this time, it was 'And then, there were none' by Agatha Christie. Good choice.) and opened it, letting him know that the conversation was over.

Very aware of all the eyes still focused on the two of them, Hiro slid down to the other seat in front of her and placed his elbows on the table, taking off his glasses to clean them with his sleeve for a moment as he tried to think, carefully selecting the words he was about to say and finding himself hesitating with all of them while piercing dark eyes of silver narrowed as she looked at him over the top of her book.

“The rumors are about us, Lunamor,” Hiro cut in before she could open her mouth to speak, “Because for some reason, people think that we’re in a… a relationship.”

Lunamor abruptly snapped the book shut.

The sudden, loud sound making Hiro flinch a bit–keeping her page marked with her gloved fingers as she seemed to consider what he just said.

Her face went from mildly surprised, then irritated to completely blank and so expressionless in a span of a few seconds. Looking at her now, it was like staring at a porcelain doll it was almost creepy… but Hiro knew her well enough by now that the look on her face meant she was simply hiding her thoughts, especially since she was in public. It was one of the very few things about her that he had been able to pick up about her.

“Well?” Hiro prompted.

“…Let them think what they want,” she finally said.

He blinked. What...?

Then, she flicked her book open and focused on it.

Hiro was… more or less stunned by such a nonchalant response, even coming from Lunamor. He wasn’t really expecting that–at all.

Lunamor’s taking all of this in stride, far more calmly than he had assumed but… shouldn’t Lunamor supposed to care that people thought she was dating him, someone who was older and one of her professors at that? At the very least, wouldn’t she be insulted by the thought or something along the lines?!

She is prideful by nature, and he had assumed that she wouldn’t want her name linked with anyone that wasn’t good enough for her or her family name.

And... well…

He had also kind of assumed she’s asexual.

Hiro wanted to say something else to Lunamor, but classes were about to start in a few minutes and if she wanted to ignore the rumors, then he suppose he could too.

Seriously, how hard could it be?