Midnight Fun

Luna slipped quietly out of the apartment, leaving Kana and Mary deep in a quiet swirl of memory and future talk. She didn't want to intrude—it felt right to give them that space. Besides, the breeze was gentle, the skies painted in soft blush and lavender, and this quaint little neighborhood felt like a pocket dimension from a simpler time.

She walked past tidy rows of apartments and flower boxes, small family-owned stores and corner groceries still open and lit warm. She wasn't looking for anything in particular—just letting her feet wander and her mind settle.

Then, she spotted it.

A vending machine.

But not just any vending machine. A retro, faded-red one, humming gently against a brick wall, stacked with old-school glass bottles of Coke, the kind the old folks in the social center used to reminisce about.

"Ooh." She dug into her pocket, fingers brushing against a few coins she almost forgot were there. "Perfect."

She dropped in the coins, pressed the worn metal button—and with a satisfying ka-thunk, not one but two bottles clattered into the retrieval bay.

"Score," she grinned, bending down and grabbing both bottles.

Just as she turned to walk away, a smooth, low voice piped up beside her.

"Hey—mind sharing your vending machine luck?"

Startled, Luna looked up sharply.

Standing a few feet away was a handsome guy with long, windswept black hair, tied half-up in a loose tail. His frame was tall and lean, hoodie sleeves pushed up to his forearms, a sling bag across his chest. His smile was easy, the corners of his eyes crinkled with good humor and mischief.

Luna blinked, then casually offered one of the bottles. "Only if you can guide me to the nearest arcade."

That made him laugh, low and melodic. "An arcade in this neighborhood? A high price to pay, but… fair enough."

He took the bottle with a small nod of thanks, uncapping it against the edge of the machine like a pro, then handed it back to her with a wink. "Lead the way, mystery girl. I'll navigate."

Luna raised an eyebrow, amused, and took a sip of the now-opened Coke. "You open it and still let me drink first? That's either very old-school gentleman or very dumb."

"Let's hope I'm just charmingly reckless."

Luna chuckled, pulling out her phone to text Kana.

Luna: Out adventuring. Found a weirdly hot street guide.

Kana: [typing…]

Kana: WHO WHAT WHERE BRING RECEIPTS.

Kana: And loot. Get loot. Don't come back without loot.

She rolled her eyes fondly and slipped her phone back into her pocket.

As they started walking together, the guy introduced himself. "I'm Auren, by the way."

"Luna."

"Like the moon?"

"Like the chaos."

Auren laughed again, clearly intrigued. "Then let's find some cosmic chaos at the arcade, Luna of the Moon."

They strolled into the neon-lit glow of a nearby alley, following the flickering buzz of old machines and laughter from a place that felt straight out of the '90s.

Tonight, Luna thought, was something she really looked forward to.

__________________________________________________________________________

The arcade was everything Luna could've hoped for—dim neon lights, sticky floors, and the nostalgic hum of pixelated music and clinking tokens. She and Auren had dove headfirst into the games, laughter and rivalry fueling every round.

Luna beat Auren clean at the racing games, her fingers a blur on the wheel and her smirking face lit up by the LED scoreboards.

"Eat my dust," she said sweetly as her avatar car zipped past the finish line again.

Auren groaned dramatically. "That's the third time. Is this how you treat all your temporary guides?"

But he got his revenge in the fighting games. His character landed the final combo with a flashy, over-the-top finisher, making Luna throw her hands up in disbelief.

"Rigged," she muttered.

"Skill," he corrected smugly, tossing a loose strand of hair from his face.

Then came the dance game. Lights flashed, arrows blinked, and the mat beneath them became a battleground. Luna's movements were sharp and fluid, but Auren had flair and perfect timing. The machine beeped out a final "PERFECT TIE!"

They both collapsed on the bench behind the machines, panting and laughing.

"Okay," Luna said between breaths, "that was… absurdly fun."

Auren nodded, tilting his Coke bottle toward her in a lazy salute. "You're absurdly fun."

Luna glanced at the time on her phone—and jolted. "Shoot, it's almost midnight?!"

"You turn into a pumpkin?" Auren teased.

"No. But I promised a friend I'd come back with loot. Guide me to the nearest convenience store, roadie."

"Yes, ma'am." Auren mock-bowed, tossing his empty bottle into the recycling bin as they headed out into the night.

At the Convenience Store

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Luna entered the small convenience store like a woman on a mission.

She grabbed a shopping basket. Then a second.

Chips, chocolate, slushies, ramen packs, weird local pastries, imported candies—everything that sparked joy went in. She stacked her arm with snacks like a professional hoarder in battle mode.

Auren, watching this, gaped. "Do you even have a plan?"

"Yes," Luna said, deadpan. "Consume. Conquer. Share."

"I want a loot bag too, then," Auren declared, grabbing his own basket.

Luna smirked. "Then raid like a real one. Go."

Auren didn't hesitate. He sprinted down the aisles, grabbing whatever he deemed worthy—gourmet jerky, soda combos, cheese-filled bread, energy drinks that promised spiritual awakening.

By the time they got to the counter, their haul looked like a cross between a party and a college dorm apocalypse prep kit.

The clerk, a bleary-eyed college student with wide eyes and a speechless face, started scanning the items with slow reverence.

"That'll be…" The clerk paused, staring at the screen. "Uh… a lot."

Luna handed over a black card.

The kid's hands trembled.

Then Luna, on a whim, handed the stunned clerk a large tip and even slid a bag of snacks toward him. "For surviving your shift."

The kid looked like he'd just witnessed a miracle.

Auren leaned in. "Careful, she might make you his boy toy now."

Luna arched an eyebrow. "I have a cat. That's already too much emotional responsibility."

Auren chuckled. "Fair enough."

As they left the store, bags in hand and snacks in tow, the warm night air wrapped around them.

"I gotta say," Auren mused, "you make late-night adventures feel...kind of magical."

Luna just shrugged. "That's the loot quest life."

She pulled out her phone and texted Kana:

Luna: Loot acquired. On the way back. Might've gained a party member. Will explain.

Kana: 😤 There better be chips. And gossip. Lots of gossip.

Luna smiled to herself as she walked beside Auren, crunching on her victory chips.

At Mary's Apartment

The hallway was quiet as Luna and Auren approached Mary's apartment, the crinkle of plastic bags swinging at their sides. When Kana opened the door, she immediately scowled.

"You brought back another man?" she whispered sharply to Luna, eyeing Auren up and down.

"It's not like that," Luna whispered back, but the smirk on her lips said otherwise.

Inside, Mary, lounging on her recliner, perked up when she saw the new arrival.

"…Auren?"

Auren raised his free hand in a small wave. "Evening, Ms. Mary."

Luna blinked. "Wait—you know each other?"

Mary chuckled and nodded. "He's my new doctor. Been checking up on me once a week. Young but surprisingly good at what he does."

Then Luna narrowed her eyes. "You didn't tell me you were that kind of doctor when you asked for my Coke."

Auren laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was off-duty, ma'am."

Kana and Mary both turned slowly toward him.

"Wait. You're seriously a doctor?" Kana asked, one eyebrow arched.

Auren gave a smug little shrug. "Medical license and everything. Graduated young. Specialize in chronic care and oncology. I moonlight at the hospital and spend some hours at the clinic, plus home visits."

Luna folded her arms. "Then what were you doing randomly hanging out at a vending machine like a drifter?"

Auren winked. "Doctors need sugar too. I'm human."

After an hour of laughter and loot,

The mood lightened quickly. The four of them gathered in Mary's small but cozy living room, surrounded by snacks and soda from the raid. Kana curled up next to her sister.

Jokes flew back and forth. Auren told them funny patient stories—nothing private, just the silly things. Mary teased Kana about her model poses, and Kana fired back with embarrassing childhood stories. Luna mostly listened, but her smile never left her lips.

Finally, Auren stood, brushing crumbs off his pants and picking up his three bags of snacks. "Well, time for the snack bandit to make his exit. I've got early rounds tomorrow."

He turned to Luna. "If you ever get sick, call me. I might even be able to nab a fat tip out of it."

Luna raised an eyebrow, amused. "Only if I remember."

Auren grinned. "You better."

And with that, he left with a casual wave and his usual confident strut. As the door shut, Kana crossed her arms and tilted her head toward Luna.

"He's hot."

"He's my doctor," Mary reminded dryly.

"He's our vending machine friend," Luna muttered with a smirk, and they all broke into chuckles again.

Later, despite Mary's insistence that they stay the night, Kana and Luna packed up quietly.

"I've got a shoot tomorrow," Kana said as she slipped on her jacket. "Can't risk bad rep for being late. And it's just an hour's drive."

"I'll make sure she gets home safe," Luna added, gently hugging Mary. "But we'll be back soon. Promise."

Mary nodded, giving each of them one last look, eyes softer than usual. "Take care, both of you. And thank you... for everything."

As they stepped into the night, Luna glanced at the sky.

"You know," Kana said, hands in her pockets, "it still feels weird. How much life can change so fast."

Luna nodded. "But sometimes... it changes for the better."

They drove off late into the night, the roads clear, the city glittering in the distance—and hearts full of thoughts they weren't quite ready to say aloud.