moonbyul stood in front of the mirror, the soft amber light of her room casting a warm glow across her skin. the faint hum of city life echoed outside her window, but all she could focus on was her reflection. her midnight-black hair cascaded in gentle waves, framing her face like a waterfall of silk. she smoothed down the leather jacket she had chosen, the material cool under her fingertips as it hugged her frame perfectly. the jacket gave her just the right amount of edge, balancing out the delicate softness of her features. underneath, she wore a black lacy top that accentuated her silhouette, while her pleated skirt swayed slightly with each movement she made, resting just above her knees.

she meticulously rearranged a stray lock of hair. is this okay?she couldn't help but smile softly at her reflection. there was an excitement bubbling inside her, a kind of anticipation that made her pulse quicken. it wasn't just any night—it was the night. she was going on a date. with riki.

she leaned closer to the mirror, eyes skimming over her reflection, wondering if this was too much. her fingers corrected her eyeliner before leaning back once more. a part of her wanted to look effortlessly perfect, but another part whispered that this was just riki, the same boy who always made her laugh and who, tonight, had somehow made her heart race.

as the realization settled, her chest tightened with a nervous flutter. riki wasn't just anyone. he was the boy who made her laugh with no effort, who always had a way of looking at her that made her feel like she was the only person in the room. but tonight, for the first time, they were stepping out of the comfortable space and into something more. she wasn't sure if it was nerves or excitement—or maybe a little bit of both—but the butterflies in her stomach were impossible to ignore.

meanwhile, riki stood outside her door, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his breath catching in his throat as he tugged at the collar of his jacket. the nerves were setting in, more intense than he'd expected. he usually had this cool, laid-back vibe, but tonight? tonight was different. he shoved his hands into his pockets, eyes drifting to the floor as he tried to calm the growing excitement buzzing under his skin. what if it's too soon? he wondered. what if she changed her mind?

he took a deep breath, glancing up just as the door creaked open. moonbyul stepped out, and the world seemed to freeze. the way the hallway light illuminated her—soft, glowing, almost ethereal—made riki's breath catch in his throat. her beauty was always undeniable, but tonight, she was something else entirely. her outfit was nothing like her usual style, it was more like she had tried to match his. but one thing's for sure— leather and lace looked stunning on her.

his lips curving into that familiar, boyish grin that sent her heart into overdrive. he looked so handsome, his dark hair tousled just enough to give him that laid-back charm. a black bomber jacket hugged his broad shoulders, and underneath, a simple white tee that somehow made him look even more put-together, and of course, jewelry to complete his look. his eyes flickered with something between admiration and nerves as he took in her appearance, his breath catching slightly.

i would let this girl ruin my life.

"wow," riki breathed, his voice low and almost reverent.
moonbyul felt the heat rise to her cheeks, though she masked it with a playful smirk, raising an eyebrow. "just wow? that's all you've got?"
riki chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck in that awkward, endearing way he did whenever he was nervous. "you know what i mean. you look... breathtaking."

"better," she teased, stepping out and closing the door behind her. as they walked down the hallway, the soft thud of their shoes echoing against the wooden floor, she couldn't help but glance over at him, noticing how his gaze occasionally flicked in her direction, as if he still couldn't believe she was here, with him.

the evening air was crisp as they made their way toward the arcade. the streetlights bathed them in a soft glow, casting long shadows that danced on the pavement beneath their feet. moonbyul could feel the quiet tension between them, not uncomfortable but charged with something new, something electric. she had always felt at ease with riki, but tonight, there was an undeniable shift in the air.

"nervous?" she asked, her tone teasing but laced with genuine curiosity as she looked up at him. riki shrugged, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward in a small smile. "a little. are you?" moonbyul thought about it for a moment before nodding. "maybe. but it's a good kind of nervous."

he glanced down at her, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before she looked away, the softest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. the arcade lights came into view, neon colors flashing against the darkening sky, and moonbyul's heart skipped a beat. she'd been to the arcade plenty of times, but tonight, with riki, it felt different. more special.

inside, the arcade was alive with the sounds of laughter, beeping machines, and the clatter of coins. riki led the way, and moonbyul followed, her eyes wide with excitement as she took in the vibrant atmosphere. rows of games lined the walls, from classic claw machines to fast-paced racing games, and moonbyul couldn't help the grin that spread across her face.
"come on," she said, grabbing riki's hand and pulling him toward one of the machines. "let's see if you can keep up."

they played every game they could get their hands on—racing against each other, shooting hoops, testing their skills on whack-a-mole. moonbyul was relentless, her competitive spirit flaring up as she beat riki in nearly every game, much to his dismay. "you're impossible," he groaned, watching as she claimed another victory, this time at a dance-off game.
"i told you, i don't lose," she replied with a smug grin, wiping her brow dramatically as if the victory had taken all her strength.

riki shook his head, though his grin betrayed his amusement. "you're enjoying this way too much."
"maybe," she admitted, glancing up at him with a playful twinkle in her eye. "but i'll admit, you put up a good fight."
after several more rounds of games, riki's eyes landed on a claw machine near the back of the arcade. a giant, oversized plush bear sat in the corner, its soft fur practically begging to be won. determined, riki strode over to the machine, fishing out some tokens from his pocket as he prepared for battle.

moonbyul watched in amusement, arms crossed over her chest as she raised an eyebrow. "you're really gonna try for that thing?" riki shot her a determined look. "watch me."
it took him several tries, each one more intense than the last, but finally, the claw latched onto the bear, lifting it up and dropping it into the prize slot with a soft thunk. riki's triumphantly cheers under his breath as he pulled the bear from the machine, turning to moonbyul with a grin that was equal parts smug and proud.

"here" he said, holding the giant bear out to her like a knight presenting his victory. moonbyul's eyes widened as she took the plush bear, hugging it close to her chest. "now, aren't you the sweetest?"she pressed a kiss on his cheek, watching them flush pink shortly after. he couldn't help but find her endearing as she walked ahead, the plushie in her arms nearly as big as her.

as they left the arcade, moonbyul still clutching the giant bear, riki glanced up at the sky. the stars had begun to twinkle against the darkening blue, and a sudden idea sparked in his mind. "hey," he said, nudging her gently. "there's one more place i want to take you." moonbyul looked at him curiously, but she nodded with no questions.

the beach was quiet when they arrived, the only sounds coming from the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. the moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow across the rocks as riki led moonbyul a few feet away from the water's edge. the air smelled faintly of salt, and the breeze was cool against their skin as they sat down.

moonbyul set the plush toy between them, stretching her legs out in front of her as she leaned back on her hands, her eyes fixed on the horizon. the waves were calming, their rhythmic ebb and flow soothing the quiet tension that had been building all evening. riki glanced over at the bear, then back at moonbyul. "seriously?"

moonbyul blinked, looking at the plush bear before grinning. "of course. he's part of the date now." riki rolled his eyes, though the smile on his face betrayed his amusement. "i'm here to hang out with you, not this thing."

moonbyul pouted dramatically, her lips curving into a playful frown. "hey, don't be mean. you're gonna hurt his feelings."
riki snorted, shaking his head. "he can't even hear."
"he's sensitive," moonbyul shot back, her voice light and teasing as she gave the bear a gentle pat.

despite the teasing, riki couldn't help the warmth that spread through his chest as he watched her. there was something so effortless about being with moonbyul, something that made everything else feel distant and unimportant. after a few moments of playful banter, moonbyul finally relented, moving the plush bear to the side and scooting closer to riki until their shoulders touched.

the air between them grew softer, quieter, the distant sound of the waves the only noise as the moonlight bathed them in its glow. riki glanced down at their hands, which were resting in the pebbles, and after a moment of hesitation, he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. moonbyul didn't pull away—instead, she intertwined their fingers, the touch sending a warm current through them both.

"you're beautiful, you know that?" riki's voice was soft, almost a whisper, as if he was afraid speaking too loudly would shatter the moment. moonbyul's breath hitched in her throat, her heart racing as she turned to look at him. his eyes were dark, intense, and filled with an emotion she couldn't quite name. she had always known riki cared about her, but tonight, here under the moonlight, she could tell he loved her.

"riki..." she started, her voice trailing off as she searched for the right words. "i mean it," he continued, his hand squeezing hers gently. "you're... incredible. in every way. and i... i've been trying to figure out how to say this, but..." he trailed off, his gaze shifting to the horizon. moonbyul's chest tightened, holding back a breath as she waited for him to finish.

"but i think i just might be in love with you, moonbyul." the words hung in the air, heavy and filled with meaning.
her heart pounded, each beat echoing in her ears as she stared at him, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. she had always admired riki, always enjoyed his company, but hearing him say those words out loud made everything feel real in a way she hadn't expected.

the world seemed to slow down around them, the only sound the soft rush of waves and the quiet thrum of their own heartbeats. moonbyul opened her mouth to respond, but the words were caught in her throat, tangled up in the overwhelming surge of emotion that had taken hold of her.

riki's eyes searched hers, and for a brief moment, she thought he might lean in, that he might close the distance between them and seal his confession with a kiss. but then he pulled back, his expression turning sheepish as he let out a nervous laugh."sorry," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "i didn't mean to drop that on you out of nowhere."

moonbyul blinked, snapping out of her daze. "no- no riki-" she shook her head, her hands cradling his face to bring him closer, closing the small distance between them, his lips brushing softly against hers. the kiss was tender, slow, filled with everything she hadn't said yet. when they pulled away, their foreheads stayed pressed together, the world around them fading into the background.

moonbyul was in love with him too.
she knew that much was true. love was the swelling, hopeful feeling in her chest every time she saw him.
love was the way she could forget about everything when she was with him. love was the catch in her breath when he looked at her. love was the gasp he could draw out of her with a graze of his lips. love was the way she could be herself around him, knowing she didn't need to be perfect or worry about what he was thinking, because he accepted her.

"i love you too riki, okay?" she whispered.