---
The company café was unusually calm that morning.
Soft music played. Mugs clinked. The hiss of steamed milk echoed from behind the counter.
Miki Arata stood third in line, earbuds in, holding her phone with one hand and a reusable cup with the other. Her black cardigan hung loosely from her frame. Her face was blank — not tired, not annoyed — just quiet.
As always.
And then…
The air changed.
She felt it before she saw it.
A slight pressure. Like the room had tensed.
Miki blinked and looked up—just slightly—and saw her.
Celeste Lorrain.
Black blazer. No tie. Sharp heels and sharper eyes. Her presence entered like gravity itself.
And for a moment, Miki looked directly at her.
Not a glance. Not a polite nod.
She stared.
Expression unreadable.
Celeste's lips parted.
Then Miki turned her gaze forward again. Calm. Dismissive.
As if she hadn't just shattered a vampire's entire immortal composure.
---
Celeste stepped in line behind her.
The world was too quiet. Her senses too loud.
She could hear the blood pulsing in Miki's wrist. She could smell the ink on her book. The worn fabric of her sleeve.
She hadn't been this close in days.
Weeks.
Not since the elevator.
Her voice came out softer than she meant. "Feeling better?"
Miki pulled out one earbud, turning her head slightly. "Excuse me?"
Celeste smiled. "You were sick last week."
There was a pause. Then: "Ah."
And nothing else.
Celeste tilted her head. "No need to thank me for checking."
"I didn't ask you to."
Celeste let out a breathy laugh. "You're cruel."
"I'm honest."
"And you're still cruel."
---
The line moved.
Miki ordered her coffee. No sugar. No milk. Just black.
Celeste ordered whatever would keep her standing there longer.
They waited silently, side by side.
Then Miki spoke — so suddenly that Celeste nearly missed it.
"…You keep staring."
Celeste blinked. "Do I?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"…Does it bother you?"
Miki turned her eyes toward her again, slowly.
"No," she said. "But it's strange."
Celeste stepped just a little closer. Not enough to touch — but enough for the world to narrow.
"Everything about you is strange, Miki Arata."
Miki didn't respond.
The barista called her name.
She took her coffee, turned… and walked away without looking back.
---
Celeste stood there for a moment longer.
Then smiled.
She had spoken to her.
Really spoken.
And now she couldn't stop.
--