EPISODE 3 THE FRIEND GROUP GETS BIGGER

Lucien quickly discovered two things about university life.

First.

The campus was enormous.

Second.

Adrian Ashford and Leo Sterling were exhausting.

It had only been two hours since orientation started.

Yet Lucien already felt mentally tired.

"Lucien."

"Hm?"

Adrian pointed dramatically toward a vending machine.

"I'm hungry."

Leo looked offended.

"You were hungry twenty minutes ago."

"That was twenty minutes ago."

"That's not how hunger works."

"It does for me."

Lucien silently listened to their argument.

Perhaps making friends wasn't as difficult as he had imagined.

At least these two talked enough for three people.

As they walked across campus, Leo suddenly stopped.

"Oh."

Adrian followed his gaze.

"Oh."

Lucien blinked.

"What?"

The two exchanged strange looks.

"Nothing."

"Absolutely nothing."

Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.

Neither looked convincing.

Before he could ask further, someone approached them.

The newcomer had black hair and calm eyes.

Unlike Adrian and Leo, he carried a quiet aura.

His expression remained neutral as he looked at the group.

"You're late."

Leo pointed at him dramatically.

"There he is."

"Noah Everhart."

Lucien froze.

Everhart.

That surname sounded familiar.

Very familiar.

Noah looked toward him.

"You must be Lucien."

His voice was calm.

Lucien nodded.

"I'm Lucien Vale."

Noah extended his hand.

"Noah Everhart."

The two shook hands.

Unlike Adrian's enthusiasm or Leo's confidence, Noah seemed naturally quiet.

The atmosphere around him felt comfortable.

Peaceful.

Almost immediately, Lucien found it easier to relax.

Adrian suddenly threw an arm around Noah's shoulders.

"This is our friend."

Noah looked unimpressed.

"I know."

"You do?"

"My brother told me."

The group fell silent.

Brother?

Lucien already knew where this was going.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

He asked,

"Your brother wouldn't happen to be Orion Everhart, would he?"

Noah nodded.

"Yes."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Lucien looked toward the sky.

Why?

Why were all his new friends related to terrifying campus celebrities?

Adrian burst into laughter.

Leo almost choked.

Even Noah's lips twitched slightly.

Lucien sighed.

"I should have guessed."

"You should have."

Leo nodded seriously.

"Noah has the same expression."

Noah looked at him.

"So does your brother."

Leo immediately stopped talking.

The three stared at each other.

Then burst out laughing.

Well.

Almost everyone.

Lucien simply watched.

A tiny smile appeared on his face.

Unnoticed by him—

Noah noticed.

And so did Adrian.

And Leo.

The three exchanged silent looks.

Interesting.

Their quiet friend smiled more often than he realized.

"Anyway."

Adrian clapped his hands.

"Since our friend group is officially established, we need a group chat."

Leo groaned.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

Noah sighed.

"Just make one."

Adrian looked victorious.

Within seconds, he had created a group chat.

Then proudly displayed the name.

Moonlight Association.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Lucien stared.

Leo stared.

Noah stared.

"What kind of name is that?"

Adrian looked offended.

"It's artistic."

"It sounds ridiculous."

"It's beautiful."

"It's ridiculous."

"Beautiful."

"Ridiculous."

Lucien quietly muted the group chat before the first message was even sent.

Ten minutes later.

The group chat already had ninety-seven notifications.

Lucien regretted everything.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Student Council building...

Aurelian Ashford sat behind his desk.

Documents covered the table.

Student reports.

Budget requests.

Event schedules.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

A message appeared.

Adrian: [Look! I made new friends!]

Attached below was a photo.

Aurelian glanced at it.

Adrian.

Leo.

Noah.

And...

Lucien Vale.

The quiet freshman from orientation.

For a moment, Aurelian's eyes lingered on the image.

Then he locked the screen.

Returning to work as if nothing had happened.

Yet the name surfaced once again in his thoughts.

Lucien Vale.

Meanwhile, in the sports building...

Cassian Sterling looked at the message Leo had sent.

Leo: [Met a new friend.]

A photo followed.

Cassian looked once.

Then placed his phone aside.

Cold expression unchanged.

Back in the freshman building...

Lucien suddenly sneezed.

Adrian immediately gasped.

"Someone is talking about you."

"No."

"They definitely are."

"No."

"They definitely—"

"Adrian."

"What?"

"Stop."

"...Okay."

Five seconds later.

"Do you think it's fate?"

"Adrian."

"Sorry."

Lucien sighed.

For the first time since arriving at university...

He found himself looking forward to tomorrow.

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