Rin and Kaito missed the last bus by three minutes. The station was quiet, and the only bright thing nearby was a vending machine.

"Let's get something warm," Rin said. She pressed the tea button, but another button lit up first. It had no label. It only showed a small white circle like the moon.

Kaito leaned closer. "Maybe it is a special summer drink."

"It is November," Rin said.

The machine dropped a silver can. When Rin opened it, no drink came out. Instead, a tiny beam of moonlight rose from the can and pointed down the road.

The two students followed it to a small bench behind the station. On the bench was an old bus timetable. Someone had circled one line in pencil: 8:17, Moonrise Route.

A bus arrived without sound. Its windows reflected stars, not seats.

The driver opened the door and smiled. "Only one stop tonight. Home."

Rin looked at Kaito. Kaito looked at the silver can.

"Do we pay with coins?" he asked.

The driver shook his head. "With one promise to notice small miracles."

They stepped on. The bus moved through the quiet street, and the vending machine blinked once behind them, like it was proud.