After the uncomfortable exchange in the cafe, the trio finally settled into a kind of truce, though the air was thick with tension. Sora, still toying with them, had finally stopped her playful interrogation, allowing for a brief period of silence as they finished their coffee. Dan and Luck, both relieved that the worst of it seemed to be over, stood up to leave.
"I'm done," Dan muttered, his face still a little flushed from the earlier encounter. "Let's get out of here."
Luck nodded, rising smoothly from his seat as he adjusted the strap of his bag over his shoulder. As they stepped out into the cool evening air, the tension between them felt a little lighter, but Dan wasn't going to let go of what had just happened.
Walking side by side, Dan shot Luck a sideways glance, his brow furrowing slightly. "Hey," he began, his tone quieter but still tinged with a bit of curiosity. "Why did you say that back there? About Sora and her sister?"
Luck didn't answer right away. He kept walking, his gaze ahead, but there was a faint trace of amusement in his eyes. It was subtle, but Dan had learnt to read the small signs.
"I was curious," Luck finally answered, his voice calm, unbothered. "There's a lot about people that isn't immediately obvious. Sometimes, it's worth asking questions to see what you can uncover. But you're right. I shouldn't have pushed like that. I just didn't expect her to react the way she did."
Dan, still processing the encounter, let out a small exhale of frustration. "You seriously like poking at people like that, don't you?" He couldn't help but shake his head, muttering, "You're a real piece of work, you know that?"
Luck didn't seem offended in the slightest. "It's just how I operate," he replied nonchalantly. "Besides, you were pretty much in the same boat. You barely held it together."
Dan grimaced at the thought. Yeah, because I definitely didn't need that view... (He liked it though.)
Before he could respond, a strong arm suddenly swung over both of their shoulders, pulling them together in a firm, casual grip. Dan tensed instantly, his instincts kicking in, but then he recognised the weight of the hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, hey! What do we have here?" The smooth, teasing voice broke through the air as a figure walked up beside them. The two boys froze for a second before they realised who it was.
May Starborne.
"Damn, you two are slow," she remarked with an amused chuckle, her voice light and laced with the same playful tone she'd always had. Dan's face immediately twisted into an expression of mild irritation as he sighed, while Luck just turned his head and gave her a dry look.
"What do you want, May?" Luck asked, clearly not surprised by her sudden appearance.
May grinned, completely unfazed by the tone. "I was just passing by, and I figured I'd check up on you two. You know, see how my little brother is doing with his 'new friend.'" She gave Dan a teasing look, her smile widening. "You don't mind, right, Dan?"
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Dan let out a heavy sigh, rolling his eyes. "It's not like I have a choice."
May smirked, unfazed by his sarcasm. She slid her arm off their shoulders and leaned in closer to them, her eyes scanning them both. "You two are a strange pair. But, anyway, I'm here for a reason. I'm on my way to the student council, so I thought I'd drop by and say hi. You know, seeing as I'm a very important person now."
At this, both Luck and Dan raised an eyebrow at her in unison.
"You're in the student council?" Luck asked, a faint hint of surprise in his voice.
May nodded, her eyes glinting with pride. "Of course I am. President of the social committee, actually. I don't like to brag, but I'm kind of a big deal around here."
Dan immediately thought of Sava, his mind running through the implications of her words. The student council... right, the one that Sava's probably at the top of.
Luck, too, had a similar reaction, his thoughts turning toward Sava's unwavering reputation. Sava would definitely make his mark in the student council, and May... she fits the bill for someone who would rise through the ranks.
May noticed their expressions change and couldn't help but smirk. "What? You two thinking about the president? What, you've got a thing for Sava or something?"
Both boys looked at her, blinking in confusion for a moment.
May chuckled lightly, tapping a finger on her chin. "I mean, he is pretty sharp, isn't he? Always thinking ahead... managing things. I can't help but admire the way he handles everything so effortlessly." She glanced off to the side, her voice softening just a bit. "Not that I'd ever let him know that."
There was a pause, and her eyes flicked back to Luck and Dan, a playful smile curling on her lips. "But hey, that's just how I see it. Don't mind me."
Dan shifted uncomfortably as the implications of her words slowly settled in. Luck, ever the observant one, watched his sister with a knowing look. "So, you're saying you're a fan of Sava, huh?"
May shrugged nonchalantly, though there was an almost imperceptible softness in her expression. "Who wouldn't be? He's got that drive, that ambition. It's not like I've known him for years or anything." She trailed off, as though the thought was enough to satisfy her for now.
There was a brief moment of silence before May straightened up. "Anyway, I didn't come to bore you two with my feelings. I've got work to do, but I'll be seeing you around."
Dan was about to say something, but before he could, May shot him a sly grin. "Don't worry, Dan. I know you're used to being left out of the fun. But don't worry, I'll come by and make sure you're still alive."
"I'll survive," Dan muttered, clearly not interested in her attention.
May winked at them both. "Take care, you two. Don't go causing trouble without me around."
With a final teasing smile, she turned to walk away, leaving the two boys to continue their path back to the dorms. As she disappeared into the distance, Dan let out a frustrated breath.
"Great. Now I'm definitely thinking about Sava," he muttered.
Luck, as usual, kept his thoughts to himself, though he couldn't help but let the wheels in his mind turn. He hadn't expected to run into May today, and now, with the mention of the student council, his thoughts lingered on the dynamics of the school. Sava's ever-growing presence in the council made things more complicated than they seemed at first glance.
"Well, there goes that peaceful walk," Luck said after a moment of silence.
Dan grumbled in agreement. "Yeah, well, it wouldn't be you if it wasn't chaotic."
Luck's lips twitched upward slightly. "True enough."
And with that, they continued on, the quiet tension between them now replaced with the understanding that school life was never going to be simple with characters like May, Sava, and others around.