Welcome to LUNA Enterprises! (PART 2)

“Perhaps the crescent moon smiles in doubt at being told that it is a fragment awaiting perfection.”

—Rabindranath Tagore

…

A bit spooked, Hiro jogged a bit to follow Lunamor into the building and trailed behind her without a word as they made their way to the elevators... which Hiro eyed warily for a second before getting in when Lunamor raised an eyebrow at his hesitation while some of her employees hurried out of the way for them.

Hiro shook his head at her wordless question though he ducked his head when he noticed many of them were shooting him some… strange glances.

It shouldn’t be that strange to him–this is literally the first time Lunamor brought him to her family’s company, though not the first time he was probably seen with her in public. The media had done a fine job leaking whatever information they could grab their hands on about him and her… despite Lunamor’s not-so-veiled threats.

Good thing they had nothing on his family.

The two of them were now standing in an otherwise empty elevator. Lunamor hits the button for the top floor and swiped a card against a reader which made Hiro’s eyebrows shot upwards.

“What is that card for?”

“My floor,”

“You have a secret lair?” he blurted out without thinking.

She gave him a look, “…You watch too many movies.”

He grinned, “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The doors closed.

The elevator began to rise up and Lunamor glanced over at him, her gaze finally meeting his since they entered the building though her eyes suddenly landed at his hands. Without another word, before he could even ask, she suddenly reached out and took his hand.

He tensed, “Luna–?”

“They will see this. Bear with me,” she murmured just as the doors opened and Lunamor pulled him along as they both left the elevator, not bothering to look at the employees who were subtly casting looks at their conjoined hands.

Hiro pointedly kept his eyes forward.

They are definitely whispering about this, aren't they.

Meanwhile, Lunamor had to swipe her keycard to open another set of doors and it was only then Hiro found himself looking over at Lunamor’s office for the first time.

The entire space is way bigger than any of the rooms in his or any of his friends’ houses... and that was pretty much saying something since most of them were all pretty well-off. Lunamor even had a massive window with a view of the entire city!

With barely contained excitement, Hiro gently let go of her hand (not that she seemed to mind) as he hurried over to the window. Could he see his apartment building from here?

Oh, he could see AST academy!

Hiro let out a chuckle, placing his palm against the cool glass and noting that he can slightly see his and Lunamor’s reflection against the clear glass.

Lunamor’s cardigan is such a brilliant white against the sleeveless, black turtleneck and matching pants she was wearing today. Hints of her skin flashed here and there, the cardigan slipping off a bit from her shoulders as she moved, just as pale. The contrast was so stark but pleasing to the eye.

It literally made her stand out.

She looked so young but capable, so in charge…

A swell of pride lit up within him.

Compared to Lunamor (who seriously looked like she was getting ready for a photo-shoot, but he chalked it up to her pretty face) Hiro was just wearing a black hoodie with white frost-like designs splattered messily over the neckline in indiscernible patterns.

And jeans.

It was seriously kind of weird how Hiro had seen Lunamor show up in class dressed in various, casual wear (one time, she even showed up wearing a jumper), but not even once did some of her admittedly adorable outfits even made her appear any less formal than she is.

Maybe it had something to do with how she carried herself–a polished sort of presence that commands attention and respect, one that only trained leaders can do.

…Talk about intimidating.

Curious, Hiro looked back and noticed that Lunamor still wasn’t paying any attention to him despite the blatant staring. She was at her large, mahogany desk, typing away on… another one of her computers. Just how much things does she seriously need to look through? On a Sunday, mind you?

Doesn’t she even have a day off?

…workaholic, he thinks.

Hiro shrugged and looked back at the view.

“It must be quite a sight at night…” he murmured.

“If you’re an uranophile, then yes,”

Hiro’s eyebrows shot upward in surprise. He had been thinking out loud. And he had assumed she wasn’t even paying attention. “…W-Well yeah, I guess I am.”

“Do you even know what that means?”

“What do you take me for, an idiot?”

She opened her mouth, most likely to retort.

“That was a rhetorical question,” he huffed.

“…For a second, I thought you’re lying.”

His expression flattened.

Seriously, is Lunamor teasing him?

“You’re not the only one with brains,” Hiro rolled his eyes heavenwards at her monotonous tone because really, Lunamor has a wonderful view up here.

For a moment, Hiro found himself wondering if she ever stopped working to admire the view, the skies… but knowing just how much of a workaholic Lunamor is, he doubted that. Hell, he couldn’t remember the last time he stopped to looked at the moon himself.

She suddenly called: “Akihiro…”

Startled, Hiro turned and found he was staring directly at Lunamor’s face. Then he blinked, leaning back a bit because she was standing a bit too close.

“What now?”

She held up her hand. “Let’s go”

“Where are we going?”

“The roof,” she answered, curtly.

Hiro stared blankly at her gloved hand for a moment, half-wondering to himself why she was even wearing one in the first place. It’s not even that cold, even inside her office. Or maybe she actually has a thing for dirt? Though that sounds highly unlikely, it’s still possible…

Then Hiro instantly felt like smacking himself when he immediately realized she was expecting him to hold hands with her again.

Idiot.

Hiro took her gloved hand without a word, grateful that Lunamor at least didn’t said anything as she wordlessly led him up to the roof.