Chương 89: Celebratory Dinner

"Haah…" I yawned. I had just planted a new strawberry bush and used my [Plant Growth] skill on it until I was at about 10% of my mana. Really, there's no need to get it to C+ grade immediately; I can just get it there tomorrow and avoid mana exhaustion today.

"So smart~ So smart~" I hummed, heading to the kitchen. My stomach growled.

"Mm…" Maybe I was a bit impulsive with my gift? I should've at least waited until after lunch. Else, we'd be eating spaghetti together right now. But! She's the one who said she wanted it immediately! Right? She did say that… Right? I glanced at my phone. Hm… It only makes sense for us to go to a celebratory dinner. After all, it was three months of effort together. Not eating out together would just be silly. Yeah… There's no hidden motives in this. [Me: (Raccoon peeking icon)] [Luna: (Mouse '?' icon)] [Me: We should eat at an expensive restaurant together to celebrate the clear!] [Me: (Raccoon excited icon)] [Luna: Sounds good! Where and when?] [Luna: (Excited mouse icon)] I went over dinner details with Luna for a bit. She'd come pick me up in a few hours where we'd eat at some nice restaurant. For now though, I'll just keep myself from starving with something light. Frozen dino nuggies should do. … While waiting for time to pass, I decided to finish something I planned on doing months ago.

Grabbing my knitting supplies, I picked up some ungraded yarn and got to knitting. … [Luna: Outside.] [Me: Coming~] Putting down my phone, I took a good look at the scarf I knitted. It was extremely simple, just a pure white scarf. It was soft to the touch and wasn't classified as an item since I didn't use graded yarn. This was a gift for the grandma next door; She helped me a bit after my first floor 5 attempt and even shared cake with me! The least I could do is give her a scarf!

Who knows, if my identity comes out in the future, a handmade scarf by Raccoon herself would be priceless! It could even go in the museum!

"Hehe." I giggled, setting the scarf on the counter. I'll give it to her tomorrow. Putting on my shoes, I headed out.

"Hi~" I cheerfully said after opening the passenger door.

"Hello," Luna replied as I took a seat and shut the door, "Did you eat lunch?" She asked.

"I ate some dino nuggies! Just a handful though. What about you? What'd you eat?"

"Dino nuggets? I'm jealous, those sound delicious. I just ate some fast food."

"How unhealthy~" I hummed, "I'm so excited, I hear this steakhouse we're going to is outstanding."

"Right? I was looking at the menu beforehand, and I couldn't stop my mouth from watering." Luna said, keeping her eyes on the road.

"Hehe~" I giggled, "You're such a foodie."

"Hey! Foods delicious, is it not?" She spat back.

"That is true." I nodded. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"Hmph, so, there's nothing wrong with being a foodie." She smiled. We drove, just listening to music for a bit. I glanced at Luna's face and paused for a moment, the memories coming to mind immediately. Mm…She doesn't seem any different? Curiously, I stared and tried to make out what she was thinking. Does she…Just not care? She hasn't brought it up once… Hm…I feel a little displeased. Am I the only one thinking about it?

"Um…Do I have something on my face?" Luna asked, her face slightly turning red.

"Nope~" I said, turning my attention back to the road. But you might soon. … Time rewinds to just as Luna arrived in front of Stella's apartment. Luna took a deep breath. Honestly, ever since Stella kissed her on the cheek, it's been on her mind. She's been trying to figure out exactly what it meant. Was it just a friendly kiss as a thank you? Or…was it something more…? Luna didn't know. She was completely inexperienced in this regard.

'Do friends even kiss each other as thanks?' She didn't know that either. Her social circle was extremely limited as she spent a lot of her time in the AT room, training, when she was in a party. And, being one of the younger people in the party, she didn't really get along with her teammates as they were usually older. A generation gap you could say.

"Ugh…" Luna groaned, "I don't know, I don't know." She mumbled. Then, she saw Stella approaching her car. She froze, her mind immediately replaying that soft, slightly wet feeling on her cheek. Her face reddened like a tomato. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Since she didn't know what it meant, it was better to just not think about it. If Stella didn't bring it up, she wouldn't. That's the only way to make sure she didn't say something wrong. She didn't want to misunderstand what it meant. But…

A small part of her, one that she herself didn't know existed hoped it meant a specific way… … Arriving at the restaurant, I happily skipped to the entrance. Luna trailed behind me.

"Hello~ Reservation for Stella." I said to the hostess.

"Stella?" She checked some computer in front of her, "For two, right?"

"Yep!"

"Right this way." The hostess said, getting up. Luna and I followed behind her.

"Hey, did you see? A production class made it on the floor 5 leaderboard."

"I saw! Little Bomber was her name, right?"

"It's kind of scary, no? She's unregistered and uses bombs."

"Scary? Hah! I'd say those mages are way more terrifying. Someone like the Flame Queen can incinerate a building to ashes!" As we headed to our table, I heard multiple conversations talking about the Little Bomber—Me!

"Hehe…" I quietly giggled to myself.

"Feeling happy?" Luna asked, softly jabbing me with her elbow.

"Happy? No, I'm absolutely terrified." I said, looking wronged, "What if the Little Bomber comes here while we're eating? I don't want to blow up while eating!"

"Pfft," Luna chuckled.

"Haha, there's no need to worry," The hostess chimed in, "Although the Little Bomber's name sounds scary at first glance, you're misunderstanding her completely."

"Mm?" I perked up, why's she talking as if she knows Raccoon—no, me, personally?

"Really?" I asked as Luna and I took a seat opposite each other. We had a booth seat.

"Of course! Although people call them bombs, they're actually potions! One's she created herself, they're known as dynokali potions! She's had them from the very first floor, only a month into being an awakener!"

"Really!?" I let out, surprised, "She created them herself only after a month of awakening?"

"That's right!" The hostess nodded proudly as if it was her own achievement, "And, that's not the only thing! She created them without any help! There's no guild behind her, so, it's purely her own achievement! Can you imagine how smart she must be?"

"Wow! She's had absolutely no help!? She must be a genius!" Luna stared in silence at me as I spoke.

"Right, right?" The hostess continued talking, chatting about how impressive and unscary the Little Bomber is as if she knew her personally.

"Wow, you know a lot about the Little Bomber," I said, "Do you know her?"

"Ah…Haha," She scratched the back of her head, "No, I don't. But, I've been a part of her fan club since she cleared the first floor."

"Oh," I nodded, "But," I paused, "Wasn't there some kind of potion she made? Something about a bouncy ball?"

"Ugh…" The hostess groaned, slightly bowing her head, "The bouncy ball…Yeah…" She said, exasperated, "She…She has a bit of trolling tendencies…But! She'll surely let us know what happens to it soon!" Luna looked at me with a disappointed expression, shaking her head.

"Hehe, surely." I replied.

"Anyways, sorry about that, I just get a little excited when talking about the Little Bomber, your server will be right with you."

"No worries, this Little Bomber fellow seems really cool, smart, cute, and amazing. It's no wonder you'd like talking about her."

"Bahaha, are you actually apart of her fan club too? You sounded just like one of the members."

"I might be after today."

"Well, welcome in advanced." The hostess smiled before leaving. After she left, Luna stared at me,"Did it feel good?"

"Hehe! The best!"

"Wow…Tricking a fan club member like that…I feel bad for the Little Bomber fans."

"Oh? Are you not a Little Bomber fan yourself?"

"No." She replied.

"Oh…"

"I'm a Stella fan."

"A-ah…I see…" I bowed my head to hide my face. What the heck!? Where'd that come from!? Glancing up, Luna was just looking at the menu. It was as if she didn't have any thoughts about what she just said whatsoever! My brow furrowed. Was that just said casually?! I'm annoyed.

"Hm? Is something wrong?" Luna innocently asked.

"Nope~" I replied, "Just thinking about what to order."

"Yeah, me too." Luna nodded, "Everything sounds so good…" …

"Paah!" I let out, patting my stuffed belly.

"Why do you always act like an old man after eating or drinking something?" Luna asked.

"Hehe, cause it's fun?" I replied, tilting my head.

"I feel like you'd do just about anything you find fun."

"I mean, why not? What else is there to do? Something boring?"

"Fair point." Luna nodded to my ingeniousness, "Have you looked online yet?"

"No," I shook my head, "I'm waiting until tomorrow to say or do anything. I want to be like 'What the!?' when I check in the morning."

"Pfft, you have that much patience?"

"Hey! I'm not always an impatient fool who just does stuff without thinking!" I exclaimed, "Plus, I need to brew potions to sell."

"Oh! Speaking of, you left those ones at my place. Should I bring them to you tomorrow?"

"Mm…? Couldn't you have brought them on the way to pick me up?"

"Ah, w-well…Um…Uh…I forgot! Yeah…I forgot." She replied suspiciously. It feels like she's lying, but I don't know why?

"A-anyways! I'll bring them over tomorrow."

"Well, okay…If you don't mind." I replied, stretching, "Do you want dessert or should we pay the bill and dip?"

"Hm…I can eat a bit more. What about you?"

"I always have room for cake!"

"That settles it then." Luna nodded with a smile. When the waitress returned, we ordered some delicious looking chocolate cake slices for the both of us. A little later, two slices of cake appeared in front of us. I swallowed my drool and licked my lip as I looked at it. Snap!

"Mm?" Looking up, it was Luna taking a photo.

"Always calling me a foodie, have you seen yourself when you're looking at cake?" Luna teased, showing me her phone. Ah…Wow…I look like a starving raccoon that's about to feast on some trash. Hehe, cute.

"Well, hold on just a moment." I retorted, opening my photo app. I had created a whole album dedicated to Luna looking like a foodie.

"Ah!" Luna quickly reached out her hands and shook them, "No! Don't show me! Let's just eat!"

"Pfft!" I chuckled, "Alright, fine."

"Phew…" The cake was delicious. Well, it's hard to mess up cake. You'd have to be on a whole nother level to screw up so badly that even chocolate frosting can't save your cake. At minimum, you'd had to have swapped the sugar and salt. Anyways, Luna drove me home.

"Once again, congratulations for clearing the floor."

"Hehe, thank you." I replied with a smile. Leaning over the center console, Luna and I hugged.

"Then, see you tomorrow?" Luna asked with a smile.

"Mm…" I nodded, "See you tomorrow." As we were parting, I paused over the console. Hmph, see if you ignore it this time. I thought as I leaned back in and kissed her cheek.

"Mwah."

"Ah-" Luna let out those words before she seemed to freeze. Her cheeks immediately started changing colors.

"Hehe, bye~" I said, shutting the door. As I was about to enter the building, I turned back and saw Luna still frozen. What is she, a robot or something? Did her code break? After entering my house, I exhaled a deep breath and fanned my heating face. Yeah, still embarrassing…But…

"Hehe!"