They stood in front of the so-called "secret passage," which was really just a door labeled "JANITOR" with peeling letters and faded paint. Daniel pushed it open, revealing a narrow closet filled with mops, brooms, and buckets stacked haphazardly. The faint smell of cleaning chemicals hung in the air as he maneuvered around the supplies and began climbing the narrow stairs beyond. Diana and Luna followed close behind, with Ava bringing up the rear, muttering something about the cramped space.
At the top, Daniel pushed open a pair of double doors, and a flood of light poured in, illuminating the closet behind them. They all squinted as they emerged onto the rooftop, blinking in the bright sunlight. Ava's eyes widened as she took in the scene.
The rooftop was simple but oddly inviting. The floor was a bare, rough concrete, interrupted here and there by large industrial vents humming softly. Short concrete walls, no more than half a meter high, bordered the edges of the building, providing a clear view of the school grounds below. Surprisingly, the space was clean, as though it had been swept recently.
Ava walked to the edge and leaned over, gazing down at the students scattered across the yard, eating and chatting below. "Wow," she said, her voice loud with excitement. "This is so cool! Why didn't you guys show me this earlier?"
Ava's enthusiasm was infectious. Diana exchanged a glance with Daniel, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Luna, on the other hand, remained unphased. She scanned the rooftop with a neutral expression, then wandered over to the wall where Ava stood, before plopping down with her back against it. With her typical calm precision, Luna set her bag down, unzipping it to pull out a small plastic container, a juice box, and an apple. She arranged them neatly on the concrete, creating a tiny, orderly picnic.
Diana and Daniel, slightly dazed by Ava's loud reaction, hurried over and settled down in front of Luna, setting their bags beside them. Ava joined them, pulling out a much larger plastic box filled with an assortment of snacks. Daniel, too, produced an even bigger container, loaded with leftovers and homemade food.
Diana, however, simply sat there, hands folded awkwardly in her lap, watching the others unpack. Ava glanced at her, an eyebrow raised. "So... where's your food?" she asked, her tone curious but casual.
Diana froze, caught off guard. She hadn't brought anything, and normally she would just pick at whatever Daniel shared with her. But now, in front of everyone, she didn't know how to explain it. The first excuse that popped into her mind spilled out in a rush. "I... I don't eat," she stammered.
Ava blinked, confused. "Huh? What do you mean, you don't eat?" Even Luna, usually so unbothered, raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at Diana.
Seeing Diana's growing panic, Daniel shifted uncomfortably, wanting to help but unsure what to say.
Meanwhile, in Luna's mind, pieces of information began to fall into place. She recalled seeing Diana's pencil case in history class—a simple ziplock bag with only a pen, a pencil, and a ruler. She also noticed that Diana's clothes seemed slightly too large, as if they were hand-me-downs or bought with practicality in mind rather than fit. The realization dawned on her, and she quickly deduced that Diana might be struggling financially and was too embarrassed to admit it.
Luna cleared her throat, her expression softening as she looked at Diana. "If you want, you can have some of mine," she offered in her usual deadpan tone, though there was a note of sincerity in her eyes.
Daniel jumped in almost immediately. "And some of mine too," he added, his voice quick and earnest.
Ava nodded and pushed her container toward Diana. "Yeah… take whatever you want. There's plenty."
Diana looked around at the three of them, her heart swelling with a mix of surprise and relief. She hadn't expected this kind of kindness, and for a moment, she couldn't find the words to respond. But seeing their open expressions, the unspoken understanding between them, she allowed herself a small, grateful smile.