Lumi

"Want to grab lunch together?" A honeyed voice brushed against her ear.

Ellis Vane jerked her head up just as strands of lavender hair cascaded from the bent frame of the purple-haired girl.

Backlit by the window, her eyelashes glowed gold, and her pale blue eyes shimmered like ice lakes holding melted galaxies. Even the laugh lines at her lips seemed dipped in honeyed light.

"Didn't realize it was so late…" Ellis rasped, the words scraping her throat. Heat flooded her cheeks.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Lumi," the girl chimed, her smile luminous—sunlight breaking through clouds to warm the soul.

"Ellis—Ellis Vane!" Ellis blurted her full name.

"C'mon, Ellis. Latecomers get the sad leftovers," Lumi said, spinning away. Her skirt grazed the desk edge as a breeze of citrus swept past.

Ellis followed without protest. Lumi moved with a melody in her step, an aura of freshness softening the air around her. Sunlight stretched her slender shadow, painting it long and delicate across the floor.

Her oversized lilac V-neck sweater draped lazily over a white lace camisole, like dawn mist caught at noon. Lavender-scented languor seemed to radiate from the knit. Rolled sleeves revealed a silver chain dancing at her wrist—a liquid shimmer tracing her arm with each stride.

Matte-black tights hugged her legs, sleek as midnight yet hinting at hidden luster under the light. Below, sky-blue canvas sneakers offered a playful contrast, gentle against the tights' depth.

"You're pretty late today. Trouble finding the place?" Lumi glanced back, a ghost of a smile on her lips.

Ellis's gaze fixed nervously on Lumi's cheek. No way I can admit I overslept!

"Um...got a bit lost?" she mumbled, the lie brittle even to her own ears.

"Same! Took me forever to find this room~" Lumi's laugh was a warm balm, kind as if soothing a lost child.

Loose laces. Messy hair. She'd seen the signs. But she only arched a brow, eyes sparkling with unspoken amusement.

That little rush of chaos? That's youth for you.

Their footsteps echoed through empty halls—a silent dialogue of teenage hesitations. Sunlight gilded the corridor, turning their shadows into a path of gold leaf leading to the cafeteria.

Inside, the world sharpened. Savory steam hung thick—soy sauce, broth, fresh greens—a comforting embrace. Ellis trailed Lumi, her steps suddenly leaden.

The cafeteria roared. Laughter ebbed and flowed like waves, battering her unguarded nerves. Solitude was her refuge: quiet, predictable, free. Now she'd been tossed into a churning sea, every breath a struggle.

Her eyes darted—searching for escape, yet clinging to this unfamiliar anchor. Students clutched lunchboxes, waved to friends, debated over trays. Beyond the scent of food hung a buzz of life, vibrant and alien, already weaving itself into her world.

Ahead, Lumi moved with easy grace, nodding to passing faces. Her lilac sweater glowed softly—a beacon of belonging. Ellis watched, drawn yet distant, an outsider nursing a quiet ache of envy.

"Hey, what're you craving?" Lumi turned, voice bright as wind chimes.

Ellis scanned the crowded serving counters. "Anything's fine," she murmured.

"Leave it to me." Lumi's eyes softened. She didn't press, just turned to collect trays, fluid as a dancer.

Watching her, Ellis breathed easier. Lumi's presence simplified the noise.

Soon they sat by a sun-drenched window, light dappling the table. Lumi slid a tray between them: two plates of kung pao chicken over rice, a bowl of mapo tofu, crisp cucumber salad. Simple. Honest.

"You seem tense," Lumi said, plucking a chicken piece with her chopsticks. "Still adjusting to academy life?"

Ellis offered an awkward smile, about to answer, when a male voice cut in.

"Don't tell me you opened a convenience store branch here?" A boy with green hair sauntered towards them, his tone dripping with sarcasm and disdain.

It was Barry. Her kindergarten classmate. The first to call her Blackie. He had a knack for appearing at her most vulnerable moments—like last year, when she'd slipped into a muddy puddle during a downpour. Instead of helping, he'd stood five paces away, kicking muddy water with his boot, like teasing a trapped fish.

Though Ellis had always treated him with cold indifference, Barry persisted. He seemed to relish her discomfort, like watching a carefully staged farce—even if the lead refused to play along, he stubbornly waited backstage for the moment his words would crack her facade.

"Looks like you've made a new friend. That is a rare sight," he sneered, narrowing his eyes at Ellis before shifting his gaze to Lumi, a smirk playing on his lips. "Don't tell me you actually think skills like yours could get you into this academy?"

Seems the past isn't done with me yet, Ellis thought, bracing for a retort. But a clear voice cut through the air beside her ear—

"Hey! That's no way to talk to someone." Lumi met the boy's gaze, her tone gentle but layered with steel—as if drawing an unbreakable line with the softest touch.

Barry's brow furrowed as he turned to her, impatience sharp in his voice. "Oh? And who're you? I've known her for over a decade. This doesn't concern you, Purple."

Lumi's expression cooled, her reply momentarily held. It was Ellis who rose then, her calm gaze locking onto his face like a blade finding its sheath.

"Still clinging to that nasty habit of slapping labels on people, I see." Her voice was low, frost threading through each word.

"If you've got a problem, bring it to me." She spoke evenly, as if discussing the weather, yet her stare pierced through any hint of malice. "And her name is Lumi."

"Well, well! Look who grew a backbone, Blackie!" Barry raised an eyebrow, a mocking grin spreading. "Talking tough now?"

"The only one who hasn't grown up is you. Finding amusement in provoking and mocking others... is that lifestyle really so fulfilling? Though I suppose it suits you."

Ellis's voice remained calm, her words light as a dragonfly skimming water, yet they sent ripples through his composure.

Lumi blinked, surprised. She'd pegged Ellis as gentle, easygoing, perhaps even a bit soft. But now, she was like a mirror, reflecting an unexpected sharpness beneath the gentle surface.

Barry's lip twitched, as if bitten, but he struggled to maintain his arrogant sneer. "Fine! Just you wait! Hope I run into you during the upcoming combat drills!"

He turned and walked away. His steps were steady, but the slight stiffness in his retreat betrayed a hint of fluster.

"Anytime," Ellis's gaze followed his retreating back, her voice soft as the wind yet heavy as the night.

Conflict, crowds—they weren't her preference. She'd rather be a lazy cat in a corner, watching the wind slip through her fingers.

But when something she valued was threatened, she became a wolf, teeth bared. It wasn't about hardness; her past had taught her—gentleness wasn't an excuse for weakness.

"Sorry you had to see that," Ellis turned back to Lumi, a trace of lingering embarrassment in her smile.

"Haha, I'm fine!" Lumi's voice was bright and clear, instantly dispelling the tension. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Ellis. "And you? You were really cool just now."

"I just..." Ellis's voice dropped, speeding up slightly, "did what needed doing. Said what needed saying." She turned her face slightly away from Lumi's direct gaze, her long lashes lowering, casting trembling shadows on her cheeks.

"Sometimes," Lumi propped her chin on her hands, leaning forward slightly. Her clear eyes reflected Ellis's faintly flushed profile and the steam rising from their cups. "'What needs doing' and 'what needs saying'... that's precisely where the most courage is needed."

Her fingertip tapped lightly against her teacup, making a tiny, clear sound. "Like this hot tea. It looks quiet and gentle. But holding it steady, not letting it burn you or spill... that takes a little skill too." Her analogy was childishly playful, yet hit the mark.

Ellis finally lifted her gaze, meeting Lumi's smiling eyes. There was no probing, no judgment—only pure understanding and support, clear almost to transparency.

Like early spring sunshine, not blazing, but enough to chase away the lingering chill, warming seeds beneath frozen earth. The string of embarrassment that had tightened within Ellis loosened under that candid gaze.

She didn't reply to Lumi's words. Instead, she gently blew across the surface of her tea. Then, finally, a genuine, unforced smile touched her lips.

It was faint but real, like a petal dropped onto still water, the ripples brightening and softening the whole space. She lowered her head and took a sip of the warm tea. The liquid flowed down, carrying its clean aroma and a subtle sweetness, warming a corner of her heart long accustomed to solitary frost.