(A/N: This is the first piece that I wrote after we decided to make the pairing between Riliane and Celeste. ~Renna)
During the weekend ROXA and CODE decided to hang out together in Vale. The eight students walked through the bustling yet somehow still quiet city to get ice cream together. Riliane and Celeste lead the way while talking with each other. Their conversation made them completely oblivious as the members of their teams vanished one by one. Olive was the first to go and they had completely ignored her iconic wind. Her partner and Eve were next as they turned a corner when the others continued forward. Then Dart dropped back by slowing down and Xanthic pulled Owen alone with him into a small alley. It wasn't until the leaders arrived at the ice cream shop that they realised they were alone. "We should go back and look for them!" Riliane said hurriedly.
"I uh, I'm sure they're all fine," Celeste held her back by grabbing her hand. "They probably got distracted by something and wandered off."
"Yeah… You're probably right…" They went inside and sat in a small booth together. Save for their orders the two said nothing to each other now that they knew they were alone. "So um… How've you been?" Riliane tried to break the awkward silence at their small table.
But her timing was poor as Celeste had just taken a large bite of her chocolate ice cream. She swallowed it as quickly as possible making herself cough, "I- I've been good… How… about you?"
"Good, good…" Riliane fumbled with her spoon, "You know, just the usual… I got a call the other day from my parents, I'm amazed they haven't had a heart attack by now from how much they worry." She chuckled softly which made Celeste smile.
"I'm pretty sure any parent would worry when their kid tells them they want to be a huntress."
"Oh! Sorry, I-" Riliane had forgotten that the girl sitting across from her didn't have her birth parents anymore.
"Don't worry about it," Celeste assured that it was just old news to her. "So um-"
"I'll be right back!" Riliane stood up abruptly and walked to the bathroom. She faced the wall and slapped her cheeks, "Gah… What's wrong with me..? Calm down Riliane…" She muttered words of encouragement to herself before taking a deep breath and returning to her friend. "S- sorry about that."
"It's fine, I totally wasn't offended by you suddenly leaving while I was trying to say something." Celeste's face was a light pink. "Not that it matters anyway, it was a stupid question…"
"Oh, you're sure?" Riliane took another bite of the now melting ice cream. Her body stiffened, that was not strawberry. "What the?"
Celeste chuckled and apologised as she returned the bowls of dessert to their right places. "Sorry, I was just curious on how you'd react."
Riliane joined her laughter, "What if I was allergic to chocolate?"
"Then feel like a pretty big idiot, now wouldn't I?" They were both relieved that the atmosphere around them stayed in this new positive trend. Both of them had even forgotten that they were supposed to be with their teams today.
