There were several moments that made Luigi not very proud, but without a doubt, having jumped on top of his cell phone after seeing Bowie's notification would become one of the first places.

He almost instantly responded with a yes; and in a short time they agreed to discuss the place.

The boy was surprised to realize that they had almost the same schedule, except for one class. Class that actually ruined their meal plan, but it was a problem they fixed by changing it to dinner.

For obvious reasons, Daisy found out about her friend's date almost instantly. She couldn't help but let out a cry of emotion that almost left him deaf. In less than five minutes, she was already in his room to help him choose what to wear.

"You should wear your white pants, you look really cute in them," she mentioned.

"You think? I don't want to look too formal."

"Lu, I'll explain something to you, even if you go out with friends you should look handsome."

"Why?"

"Because it will help you feel more confident about yourself," she explained, "Aww, I love this sweater. You must wear it!"

The older one chuckled, "You seem to be more excited than me."

"I'm just happy for you. Now do you remember what I told you?"

"Act calm, confident and be myself."

"Fulfill those three rules and I assure you that he will adore you forever."

"You sound too confident."

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because that was what you did with me" she caressed his cheek "And it worked well for you, don't you think?" She winked at him.

Luigi blushed and kissed his friend's cheek.

"Sometimes I think too good" he walked towards the door "Anyway, I promise I'll use that tomorrow, but I'm starving. Can we go to the dining room for some dinner?" he pleaded.

"COME ON!" she pulled him.

It's always fun to see all points of view, after all, good gossip is only the one that is fully told. And that's what I'm here for, because despite the fact that Luigi was more than excited about what was happening, in the hall of villains there was a koopa in full anxiety attack questioning every decision in his life that had led him to end up in that situation.

Bowser stared at nothing while he waited for the food for his brother and cousins to be ready. He could feel his hand shaking under the table; he looked back and forth and could find each koopaling on his own business. Lemmy was playing video games, Morton and Roy competing to see who was stronger, Ludwig at his violin practice, Wendy watching makeup tutorials, Larry and Iggy watching conspiracy theories on TV, and Bowser Jr. putting together a puzzle; The older koopa realized that there was probably a noise at that moment, but that he couldn't hear due to his thoughts.

He wondered what a good idea it had been to accept Luigi's invitation. He didn't even have clothes for situations like that, rather, he didn't even have any idea what context the date was in! Friends? Flirting? That was driving him crazy too, but he didn't have the courage to ask him.

"Hey, Wendy" he approached the girl –"Emm, if you had an appointment, but you don't know in what plan it is, what would you wear?"

Suddenly, all the minors stopped doing their activities and looked at the eldest.

"You have a date!?" Larry got excited.

"I didn't say that," he blushed.

"Oh, he sure has a date," Roy laughed.

"With who? Is he from here?" Wendy hastened to ask.

"Is he another villain?" Morton looked at him.

Bowser Jr. kept his head down and was silent, but the look on his face indicated that he wanted to know too.

"Who cares?" Ludwig growled, "As if it's going to last.

"Thanks for the encouragement," Bowser replied.

"You more than anyone should know that nobody cares about a villain. Or tell me, will he go out with you or with the crown?" the older one didn't answer "I thought so" he rolled his eyes "I'll be in my room, if you want to continue with your nonsense you're free, but don't bother me" he slammed the door.

"Don't listen to him" Wendy said "But he's right about something, if you want my help you should clarify whether you'll use the crown or not. Your body changes and with it the right style"

"It is obvious that the crown"

"Okay, don't worry, I'll have something good for you tomorrow," she smiled at him.

"Can we know who he is?" Bowser Jr. finally asked.

"Emm, for the moment it's better that it stay as a secret, but don't worry" he crouched down at his height "I promise you it's not anyone who can hurt you" he shook his hair.

"And you?"

"I know he wouldn't." Bowser forced a smile as he tried to sound convinced.

Night fell and both boys could barely sleep for a few hours. To say that they weren't excited about the next day would be a lie, but it would also be a lie not to say that they were scared to death.

However, emotion overcame fear and the day almost flew by. As soon as classes finished, they ran to their bedrooms to get ready. They agreed to meet at the entrance to the garden maze, marked by a beautiful bush where yellow roses grew.

The first to arrive was Bowie, who was constantly checking himself on his cell phone camera to make sure he still looked presentable.

"Sorry for taking so long" he listened to Luigi "Mario insisted on going to dinner together and it was hard to get rid of him" he laughed.

"Don't worry," he smiled at him, "I didn't wait long. Am I not getting you into trouble?"

"Are you kidding? That guy has a long list of people who would die just to greet him, he'll be fine. So shall we go?"

"Sure," he followed.

They took an empty bus to the city and got off before the stop so Luigi wouldn't be recognized. Before going down, the brunette put on a pair of glasses.

"Are you seriously fooling people with that?"

"You'd be surprised," Luigi looked at him, "But they were also set up by Miyamoto, I'll be unrecognizable to everyone outside of Fungwarry."

"Set up? That sounds more like magic"

"I don't care what it is, as long as it works. When your game becomes famous you will need some too"

"I guess" he turned awkwardly to the other side "Where do you want to go to eat? I invite you" he changed the subject.

"Uh? It's not necessary" he blushed "It's not a date"

Bowie was relieved with the last part, so it was just a casual outing with friends, technically everything should be fine.

"Evenso let me invite you," he insisted. "You don't have to worry about money, I'm a king, remember?" He pointed the crown.

"I couldn't accept it, really"

The older one stifled a giggle and took his hand "I know where we're going."

"It's not very expensive, is it?"

"Don't worry about it," he pulled him through the city.

They walked in silence for a few minutes; it was a quiet night, but that didn't mean the streets were empty. Several couples, families and groups of friends could be seen having fun and spending time just like the two of them.

Luigi had to admit that, somehow, that made him like one of the crowd. And he loved that feeling. For only then he could see the stars without feeling observed, he could enjoy the fresh air without the pressure of having to belong to a sector of the place and he could enjoy walking hand in hand with another person without being judged or questioned about the relationship.

He was so focused on enjoying every second that he didn't realize it when they got to the restaurant.

"A table on the terrace, please," Bowie said.

The waiter nodded and led the way. When they were both seated they looked at each other for a few seconds, neither knew what to say; then the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

"Do you like the outdoors?" Luigi stammered looking to start a conversation.

"Not so much, but I noticed that you liked to look at the stars, so I thought you might like this place."

"Oh, if you want we can change tables...

"No! It's fine here" he placed his hand on the minor's "Sorry" he separated it immediately.

"Don't worry," he looked away. "Do you know what you're going to order?"

"I don't know, maybe a carbonara with shrimp"

"I love that pasta. Also the black spaghetti is delicious."

"Black?" he arched an eyebrow.

"I know it sounds weird, but it tastes great"

"I think I'll give it a try, then," Bowie smiled at him.

"You won't regret it, and if you do, I paid"

"You can invite me, but I can't invite you?"

"It's different, this is for you to realize how sure I am that you will like it"

"Okay," he laughed, "I'll try it, but you'll let me buy you dessert"

"Why the insistence on inviting me something?"

This question took the elder by surprise.

"Well," he smiled awkwardly, "It'll sound pathetic, but you're the first person from Fungwarry I could consider some kind of friend, I feel like I owe it to you."

"The semester just started and you are new, you are going to make many friends who will surely be better than me"

"I highly doubt it, and even if they were, the first one is important, don't you think?"

"I guess you're right" he smiled "In that case I'm flattered, it's not every day a member of royalty accepts you as his friend."

"Isn't your best friend a princess?"

"Only for character" he replied.

"What?"

"Oh come on, you don't think that this Daisy is a direct descendant of the previous one, do you? If so, she would be my cousin."

"Oh right, the Luigis marry the Daisies"

"Without exception," he sighed, "My uncle got it right and proposed to her shortly after their first game together"

"And you will?"

"I would hate to hurt her like that" he confessed "I'd rather she married someone who truly loves her" Luigi poured himself some wine "You're very lucky, you know? Of being the first generation. You have the option to decide what you want"

"Maybe" he bit his lip "If you could decide, what would you change about yourself?"

"First of all, I wouldn't fight villains. I would be a background character who would maybe participate in sports games"

"Do you really like getting lost among the extras?"

"I prefer that to everyone seeing me and recognizing me for something that I am not. I feel like I'm lying to millions of people saying I love being in the games; Don't get me wrong, I think they're great, it's just...sometimes it's hard. But I don't want to scare you with my thoughts; besides you are new, I don't think you understand"

"You have no idea," Bowie whispered to himself. "The truth is that I think I can understand a little." The pressure of having to fake courage or be okay with what's going on around you must be horrible. People look at you and judge without even knowing you just because of how you were labeled"

"Exactly" he was surprised by the answer "Wow" he smiled "You are the first person with whom I can be one hundred percent honest on this subject and that seems to understand me"

"I come from a world where not everything is simple and it is easy to be misunderstood. And it's frustrating, because you hate the labels, but without realizing it you also obey them, but...

"It's only because the world taught you that it should be like that" concluded Luigi "Can I confess something to you?"

"Whatever you want, my mouth will be sealed"

"Okay, before you, I really believed that all heroes were self-centered who thought they were better than others. I never expected that one of them would make me feel like I'm not alone," he held the other's hand without realizing it.

Bowie's cheeks turned crimson and his heart began to race.

"Well" he sighed "I think that in each label there should be at least one dissatisfied person. But fear is always greater than wanting to change things"

"Do you want to change something?"

"Well, I would like good people like you to be happy" he also poured himself wine.

Before Luigi could respond, the waiter interrupted to take the order. The food came faster than they both expected, and sure enough, Bowie loved the black pasta.

"I propose a toast" the brown-haired man raised his glass "For those of us who feel out of place"

"For those of us who just found one," clinked the cup.

They both smiled and took a drink.

When they finished eating, they ordered a dessert to share, which Bowie ended up paying for, as previously agreed.

They left the restaurant, went to a nearby park and lay down on the grass.

"If you turn to the left, you can see the constellation of the lizard" explained Luigi "If you look closely, those four stars form its body and next to it is its tail. Oh, and that one over there, right next to it, is my star"

"Your star?" He looked at him.

"Yep, Rosalina gave it to me as a birthday present. She told me that perhaps it did not have the most intense shine, but it was one of the most noble that existed in the entire universe. There is no way for me to verify it, but I decided to believe her" he laughed "The one a little higher up is Mario's"

"It's brighter," Bowie mentioned.

"And very restless" he added "They are sister stars, but very different"

"Who do they remind me of?" he teased.

"I'm surprised you haven't run into my brother yet, he usually talks a lot with the new ones to "guide" them, although he's only analyzing them" he was silent for a few seconds "But he's a good person, I love him a lot. Don't you have brothers?"

"Eight"

"Are you kidding!?" He turned to look at him.

"Seven are technically adopted and one is biological. I am their legal guardian"

"And don't you have someone to help you with them?"

"My... he is like a grandfather, although he is not by blood. But he's usually busy with other things and I don't want to disturb him, so no."

"And your parents?"

He made a face "Mom died from an illness and Dad in an accident at twenty"

"Very sorry"

"Don't worry about it, death is something natural"

"Well, if you ever need someone to be with you while you take care of them, you can call me."

"Thank you," he smiled at him.

"Excuse me, young people," a man approached. "Don't you like a rose? I'm sure your boyfriend will love them" he spoke to Luigi.

"What? No, he 's not my...

"I want all but the biggest," Bowie interrupted.

"Uh?" The minor looked at him.

"They're for my sister, she loves roses" he explained while paying "Oh, by the way, I want to buy the big one too" he turned back to the man.

"All yours, sir."

"Thank you" he also paid "I know we're going out as friends, but let me give you this" he brought it closer to the minor.

"No need," he blushed.

"Maybe, but I want to give it to you."

He ended up agreeing with his heart pounding accordingly.

After that, they returned to Fungwarry. As before, Bowie accompanied Luigi to his room.

"By the way, I didn't tell you, but you look very cute," he winked at him before leaving.

Luigi closed the door and looked at the rose in his hands, he couldn't help but let out a sigh.

For his part, he barely got to his bedroom, Bowser took off his crown and jumped on the bed; his tail was wagging frantically from side to side.

They had enjoyed the night so much that they didn't even think about regretting anything.