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“Orion, or Orión in Latin, is a prominent constellation—perhaps the most well-known in the sky. Its bright stars, visible from both hemispheres, make it a constellation recognized worldwide.”
“Cool.”
“I know.”
It was an activity that had become a habit for them—being on a high hill far away from everything, lying on the grass, with the cool night wind brushing against them, watching the glow of the stars under the moonlight. Just the two of them. A moment where every burden was spoken aloud, where complaints about their days came and went, listened to and answered with advice.
But if there was something he liked even more than watching the glow of the stars in the vast sky, it was listening to her. He found it amusing how every time the feline complained, her tail swayed from side to side, how her voice sounded so… were there even words to describe it without sounding strange? It was simply beautiful.
There was always something to talk about—usually complaints. Blaze had plenty of those. Her family was undoubtedly among the richest in society, with an impeccable reputation. Because of that, she had endless extracurricular activities. It didn’t help that she was also the class president. She always gave her best to live up to what everyone expected of her.
The weight of expectations and duty was always pressing down on her. She wasn’t arrogant; she knew that behind that firm gaze was someone focused on achieving goals imposed by others. All that coldness was simply the result of a burden she never asked for. He would always admire her for that.
All those looks… as if people didn’t see a person, but an investment. That fire in her eyes never left his mind—the way she had every step planned, her relentless discipline. She was simply splendid. No matter what others thought of her cold gaze, he knew that inside there was a warm, gentle heart.
The stars continued to shine. He listened as she mentioned fact after fact about another constellation. He didn’t need to turn his head to know she was saying every word with a smile. He stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt her.
He felt her tail brushing against his hand from time to time. Reflexively, it sent a pleasant tingle through him—one he would never complain about. It wasn’t the first time; he had noticed it happened often when Blaze was feeling thoughtful or stressed.
“Silver.”
“Yes, Blaze?”
“Did you… hear what the rumors say?”
“That we’re nerds? Well, I’m not—at least.”
“What? No. And besides, you’re just as much of a nerd as I am. You got the highest grade in History.”
“You’re the best student in the class and the president.”
“And you’re third—and also the vice president.”
He knew he had lost the argument (as always), but he was too stubborn to admit it.
“I’m still not a nerd…”
A brief silence formed. Blaze’s tail began moving even faster, her claws digging into the grass before she let out a heavy sigh.
He knew what she was referring to.
For some time now, the rumor that the two of them were dating had spread like wildfire. The echo of it pounded in his head like a drum whenever he thought of anything more than friendship. Maybe it could stay that way, right? Just embarrassment, a silly rumor—if it weren’t for the question everything boiled down to:
“Why would Blaze choose Silver?”
He tried not to think about it too much, telling himself they were just idiots with nothing better to do. But he knew why that question existed. Did that help? Not at all.
Because to most people, Silver was nothing but imperfect. He had ridiculous quills. He was impulsive and couldn’t control his emotions. He was unbearable when happy, a crybaby when sad, a bully when he fought back, a coward when he didn’t. A nobody from the trash. (She came from above, and he came from below…) Imperfect in every sense.
Comparing himself to her was inevitable. He looked at his clothes—his shirt frayed in places, the same with his pants. Shoes and socks with more than one hole. Disheveled in every way. She wore simple, casual clothes, and still looked as impressive as ever. (If she came from the very top of society, he was at the very bottom.)
He hated that he could no longer enjoy the glow of the stars, nor the cool wind brushing through his fur. That special place now felt like a cage—all because of his own thoughts. That was what he despised most.
Because deep down, he wanted more than friendship. Every venom-laced word he heard only made his doubts grow, like a snowball rolling endlessly downhill.
Maybe they were right. Maybe she could find someone better to enjoy these views with, someone wiser to listen to, someone more interesting to spend time with.
All of it made him feel… unworthy. Like he was nothing but dead weight. Blaze could find someone better to share these moments with, receive advice from someone wiser, listen to someone more interesting… yet here she was, wasting time with him. What a joke.
“The school dance is coming up,” Blaze said. “…You… well… you know… do you have a date?”
The flood of doubts in his mind stopped completely. Her voice caught all his attention. He couldn’t help but notice her tone—did it sound hesitant? Insecure?
“Well, no. I don’t have a date.”
It’s not like he was—
“Would you… like to be my… date?”
One single question struck him like thunder. His yellow eyes fixed on her. He saw her lips tremble, the way she avoided his gaze. He noticed how her white muzzle was now tinted red, and her tail moved so fast it almost looked like a whip.
“Why would Blaze choose Silver?”
“I can’t dance, I’m sorry! But I know you’ll find someone who can!” He felt stupid just saying it.
There was no response. He lowered his head in shame, his ears drooping. Her tail slowed from restless movements to a slow sway. Silence ruled, heavy and uncomfortable. He cursed himself for his words—the last thing he wanted was to hurt her.
Breaking the suffocating atmosphere, the feline stood up and looked at the stars, as if that view might give her an answer. Her fists clenched tightly before she looked straight into his eyes, gold meeting amber. With a faint smile, she offered him her hand, inviting him to stand.
“…I can teach you.”
And he took her hand.
The closeness felt surprisingly good. He listened carefully to her instructions—she guided, and he followed. Every step felt special. They turned and moved in a slow, gentle rhythm, as if neither wanted the moment to end—a dance beneath the moonlight.
“Blaze… why me?”
“Why not you? I want to dance with you.”
“But what about the rumors?”
“I thought you didn’t know…”
“I… just wanted to avoid the topic…”
“I don’t care.”
“I’m clumsy.”
“You’re dedicated.”
“I’m impulsive.”
“But kind.”
“I’m—”
“Someone special.”
He couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. The warmth he felt right then was unlike anything else. But he wasn’t going to let her lead the dance alone—so he took the rhythm himself.
“You always know what to say. I know that despite all the pressure you carry, you overcome it and keep moving forward. You’re focused in everything you do. If there’s someone special between us, it’s you, Blaze—especially to me. I wish I could help you more…”
That face, which rarely showed obvious expressions, was now unreadable. Her gaze never left his. Their faces flushed crimson. Her grip tightened, yet the dance continued—and with a single movement, she took control again.
“Help me? But you already do,” she said softly, smiling. “Do you know why I want to dance with you?”
“Because there were no other options?”
He received a light punch on the shoulder for that.
“Because no matter what, you always speak from the heart. You care about everyone. You always want to do the right thing, no matter the consequences. What I’m trying to say is—you have a heart of gold. And nothing will stop you from being special… especially to me.”
If his heart felt like it was going to explode before, now he was sure a heart attack—or a nervous breakdown—was coming.
“Do you know why else I chose you?”
“Well…”
“Because I like you.”
And the dance stopped.
Then he started laughing—a loud, unrestrained laugh. She looked at him, confused and even offended.
“Is this funny to you? I’m serious, Silver.”
He forced himself to stop laughing.
“No, no—it’s just that I’m an idiot, you know? I was so sure it was impossible. Everyone said it was. I just blinded myself listening to others.”
“Wait—you—”
“Yes, Blaze. I like you.”
He felt a huge weight lift from his chest. His smile shone with joy—just like hers. They moved closer again.
“Do you want to… dance again?” the hedgehog asked shyly.
“I’d love to.”
In sync, they enjoyed the warmth spreading through their bodies. The embarrassment and shyness were still there, but they became more pleasant with every moment. The rhythm changed from time to time, but no matter who led, both enjoyed it.
“Your parents are going to be furious when they find out who your partner is.”
“Isn’t that the best part? You’re not the only impulsive one.”
“You know they’re going to want my head, right?” he joked nervously.
Her answer was a loud laugh as she squeezed her eyes shut.
That night was the first of many dances. That hill became even more special than it already was. A new tradition was born—one that became their favorite activity, with only the glow of the city and the stars to accompany them.