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The first thing Claude thought was: “Did anyone get the number on the bus that just hit me?”
“Sir!? Sir!? Are you alright!?”
The second thing Claude thought was: “...Oh...”
He stared up at the bespectacled blue haired woman looking over him with concern on her face.
“Sir! Do you need me to call someone? Do you know where you are? What...”
Claude groaned as he finally sat up and gave the woman a carefree smile.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. No need to call somebody and if it’ll make you feel better, we’re at the Garreg Mach Public Library.”
She sighed in relief and smiled back.
“Good.”
The blue haired woman offered her hand to Claude and helped him up. She then turned to a group of young kids. Guess she must have been a teacher or something.
“Kana?”
One kid in particular, a young boy with messy silver hair stepped forward and stood next to his teacher.
“Now Kana, what do we say when we bump into someone?”
The boy looked up at Claude with big fat tears in his eyes.
“I’M SORRY MISTER! I DIDN’T MEAN TO! I GOT EXCITED AND...”
“Hey, hey no need to shout little guy, we’re at the library. And don’t worry, I forgive you. Just make sure you listen to your Teach okay?”
The boy let out a sniffle and an “Okay.”
He went back to his little group and took the hand of a red-haired girl a couple years older than him.
The teacher looked back at Claude, “Once again, I am so sorry for my student...”
“Come on, you don’t gotta apologize too. Believe me, if you want to hear some horror stories about hyper kids, just ask my mom about my childhood.”
She gave a small chuckle and Claude felt a slight heat in his cheeks.
“Nonetheless, they are my responsibility. So I shoulder some of the blame.”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. You should get back to your job instead of worrying about me.”
She nodded and turned back to her group, “Alright everyone, now where we?”
Claude watched with a smile as the kids and their teacher walked off to the library’s kids section.
He quickly returned to what he was doing before and yet as the day went on, he kept thinking about the blue haired woman.
She seemed nice, hells nicer than some of the teachers he grew up with. Those kids are lucky to have her.
Not to mention, if Claude had to be honest, she was kind of cute and that laugh…
Claude shook his head, what was he doing? It’s not like he was going to see her again.
...Though he wouldn’t mind that… maybe get to hear her laugh again…
…
“...I picked a bad time to realize I have a thing for girls in glasses didn’t I?”
Telling Dimitri and Edelgard about what happened was probably the dumbest thing Claude could have done.
Dimitri’s reaction wasn’t too bad, supportive and was even willing to help out if needed, but Edelgard… Claude can’t remember the last time his friend laughed this hard.
“...You done?”
Edelgard’s laughter started to slow down and she finally took a few breaths.
“M-my apologies, Claude it’s just…hahaha... it’s just funny to think that you, Claude “ I don’t believe in hokey stuff like Moon Signs and Soulmates ” Von Riegan of all people would fall in love at first sight.”
“Hey I did NOT “fall in love at first sight.” I’m just curious about her and want to see her again. Get to know her better you know?”
“That… sounds an awful lot like love at first sight.” Remarked Dimitri the Traitor
Claude glared at them both as he took a swig of his drink.
The blonde smiled and continued, “To be honest, it all does sound rather romantic.”
“Except for the part where you were knocked over by a toddler.” Added Edelgard
“I did not get knocked over by a toddler… I think the kid was in kindergarten.”
At that, Dimitri let out a laugh that he tried very hard to hide. Claude said nothing as he went back to his drink.
“All joking aside, what was her name? Perhaps you could look her up online...” asked Edelgard
At that, Claude nearly choked.
Shit! He never got her name!
Claude smacked his head against the bar and even though he couldn’t see them, he could feel the disappointed expressions on Dimitri and Edelgard’s faces.
...Well okay maybe disappointed isn’t the right word but they are judging him.
At some point last night, his friends did actually give Claude some good advice.
Most of the local schools had photos of their staff on their websites and without knowing her name, this seemed like the best and “least likely to get the cops called on him” way to find her.
So he grabbed his phone and a notepad and sat down at his favorite coffee shop. This shouldn’t take too long right?
...Too bad no one told him that there was a whole lot of elementary schools in Garreg Mach. Claude knew this place was a big city. He’s lived here for a good few years now and he swears he keeps finding new old places.
But did this city really need this many elementary schools!?
“Not really how I pictured spending my afternoon” Claude muttered as he scratched out Saint Cethlean Elementary & Middle School off his list. At this rate, Mystery Teach will have retired by the time Claude found out where she worked.
After scratching out six or maybe seven more schools from the list, Claude took a glance around the coffee shop; the place was starting to get a little too crowded for his liking. Maybe he should head out and take a break. Maybe do some people watching near the old Monastery.
However just as he stood up, he spotted a familiar someone at the counter.
“Here you go Ma’am, have a nice day!”
“Thank you, you too.”
No way… there was no way…
Except there was no mistaking that blue hair or her voice.
...Claude wasn’t exactly a religious man but he couldn’t help but mentally thank whatever god or goddess seemed to be listening to him.
He waited until she stepped out of line before taking a deep breath, putting on his most charming smile, and approaching her; being very careful not to startle her.
However before he could reach her, the crowd in the shop seemed to shift and Claude found himself stuck.
“Hey! ‘Scuse me! Tryna to get through!”
Claude tried his best to get through the crowd but some people were just way too stubborn and pushy for their own. Before long, Claude found himself falling forward out of the crowd.
‘Okay I’m taking back the thanks to any god or goddess listening, cause they’re obviously jerks and are laughing at me.’
Claude stood back and tried to look for around for the woman. Soon he spotted her through the window, walking away and chatting with a short haired blonde woman. The blonde seemed familiar somehow to Claude but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
As for who she probably was, she was likely Teach’s co-worker or just a friend… or even a girlfriend.
It was that thought that made Claude realize: What the hells was he doing?
Is he really so desperate that a smile and some basic human decency is enough to make him act like an idiot tripping over himself?
He didn’t even know her name, for gods’ sake!
Claude sighed as he picked up the things he dropped and headed out of the coffee shop.
Claude had hoped to spend a nice quiet evening hanging out and drinking with Dimitri and Edelgard.
Unfortunately this was not to be because when he arrived at their usual spot, Edelgard looked like she was ready to strangle someone and Dimitri was in a friendly(?) headlock by a loud drunk with bright red hair. It took Claude a minute to recognize the guy as Sylvain, one of Dimitri’s friends.
He took a seat next to Edelgard and shot her a sympathetic look.
“Long night?”
“It’s only been an hour.”
“So what brought Sylvain here?”
“Apparently he’s getting married to Mercedes.”
If Claude had a drink, this would be the point where he’d spit it all over the counter.
“Wait. Sylvain is getting married. OUR Sylvain?”
“Do we know any others?”
“...So...”
“Dimitri called Mercedes to come pick Sylvain up. She was just getting off work when he called so hopefully she’ll be here soon.”
Claude looked at the thrilled drunk redhead and could hear him gushing about his fiancee and how she’s one of the few people who could see the “real him.”
Meanwhile poor Dimitri is just nodding along and adding the ocasional “I know” and “I’m very happy for you.”
“Never thought Sylvain of all people would get married.”
“Well I suppose this week has been one for miracles. Speaking of: how is your search for your true love going?”
Claude decided to ignore the “true love” comment and explained to Edelgard that he gave up.
“Give up? That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Yeah well, I didn’t realize how many schools I had to look up and I kind of had an epiphany that I was acting like a creepy idiot.”
“I see.”
After a few more minutes of trying to talk to his friends over Sylvain’s ramblings, Claude heard the sound of the bar door opening. He looked over and his eyes widened.
“Mercedes? I almost didn’t recognize you.” remarked Edelgard
The blonde giggled as she showed off her short hair.
“Do you like it? It was starting to become a bit of a hassle to take care of it and I thought it was time for a change.”
THAT’S WHY SHE SEEMED FAMILIAR, Claude just didn’t recognize her with the new haircut.
Upon hearing Mercede’s voice, Sylvain released his death grip on Dimitri and stumbled over to her.
“BABY!” he shouted as he fell into her arms
“Hello to you too dear.” Mercedes said with a smile
She then turned to the three, “I hope Sylvain didn’t give you three too much trouble.”
“N-not at all. He merely wanted to let us know about the engagement and celebrate. Congratulations by the way.” said Dimitri
“Let us know when you figure out a wedding date alright?” said Edelgard
Mercedes nodded.
“We will, thank you. I’ll be taking him home now. Good night everyone.”
As Mercedes started to walk towards the exit with Sylvain’s arm draped around her shoulders, Claude stood up.
“Hey wait Mercie!”
“Hm? Oh, Claude. What is it?”
“This… might be a weird question but… do you… happen to have a co-worker who’s a… woman with blue hair and glasses?”
“Okay so let me get the story straight. You were at the library, one of the kids that Mercie watches over knocked you flat on your ass and you fell in love with her co-worker when she checked on you?”
Claude glared at Sylvain, “Aside from the “falling in love part,” yeah you got it down.”
So it turned out that Mercedes was co-workers with Mystery Teach in an After-School Program. After Claude explained his situation, Mercedes offered to let Sylvain drive him to the school that she worked at to meet her co-worker, Byleth.
Gods did it feel good to FINALLY have a name to work with.
“You know… since I’m picking up Mercedes, if both girls are up for it, we can do a double date right away.”
“Just shut up and drive.”
The two stayed quiet for the rest of the ride (though not for lack of trying on Sylvain’s part) until they finally arrived at the school.
Claude could hear the kids further down the hall, guess Mercedes and Byleth weren’t off the clock just yet. Thus he and Sylvain sat down on a nearby bench.
He chuckled and Sylvain looked at him curiously.
“Oh just… sitting out here kinda makes me think of my own school days. Like I’m waiting for the Principal to come out and lecture me for releasing a stink bomb in the gym.”
“Whoa, really?” Sylvain asked with a laugh
“In my defense, it wasn’t supposed to go off at that moment; the casing was just badly made.”
The two made small talk as they watched parents come in and out with their kids.
Claude always liked people watching but he’d never seen such… interesting characters.
Like the guy who looked like he stepped out of a comic book, his wife who looked like she could bench press DIMITRI, and their kid who looked like the dad’s sidekick.
Then there’s the father+daughter duo wearing toy fox ears and making, he’s assuming, fox noises as they went down the hall.
A few more minutes passed by when a little voice shouted out, “Hey Mister!”
Claude turned to the voice and saw that same silver haired boy who ran into him.
“Oh well look who it is. You doing alright kid? Listening to your Teach, I hope?”
The boy, Kana, he thinks Byleth called him, nods and smiles.
“Uh-huh. Are you here to see Ms. Byleth?”
“Heh, aren’t you a smart kid. Yup, just here say hi to her.”
“...Are you marrying Ms. Byleth?”
Claude’s eyes widened as he let out a choked noise and Sylvain let out a laugh.
“Kana!”
Approaching them all was a friendly looking guy with silver hair, a woman with red hair that Claude could only describe as “fluffy,” and a slightly older red haired girl.
“Hi mama!”
The little boy rushed into his mom’s arms and was lifted up. The woman sighed and faced Claude and Sylvain.
“I’m sorry, I hope he wasn’t bothering you.”
“N-nah, it’s… it’s fine.” Claude said, trying to hide the red on his face
The redheaded woman nodded and started to walk away with her family while the boy waved good-bye to Claude.
“Bye-bye Mister!”
As soon as that family was out the doors, Sylvain shot Claude a shit-eating grin.
“Smart kid right?”
Claude said nothing as he glared at him.
A couple more families came and went and Claude was starting to nervously tap his foot on the floor. The longer the two waited, the more chances Claude had to overthink.
Did Byleth even remember what happened at the library? Would she just stare at him blankly if he tried to explain who he was? Would she think he was some stalker?
Thankfully before Claude could further give himself a panic attack, two women stepped out from one of the rooms.
Mercedes… and Byleth.
Sylvain of course practically jumped off the bench and ran over to greet his fianceé while Byleth stood to the side and watched the two in amusement.
Well… now or never. Claude stood up, took a deep breath, put on his most charming smile, and approached her; being very careful not to startle her.
“Hey Teach.”
Byleth turned to him. At first she looked confused but a spark of recognition quickly lit her eyes.
“Oh, it’s you, the man from the library. Are you doing alright? No bumps? No dizziness or anything?”
“I told you before, I’m fine. You don’t need to call a doc or anything. The name’s Claude by the way.” he replied with a laugh as he offered his hand
“I’m Byleth and sorry about that. The double checking’s become a force of habit. My roommate can tell you plenty of stories about me slipping into what she calls “Teacher Talk” to her.” She said as she took his hand and shook it
“Heh well maybe if you got the time, we can sit down for a drink or some coffee and you can tell me all about it?”
Byleth gave him that same smile that he couldn’t stop thinking about.
“I’d love to.”