Chapter Text
"Hey, Aether! When are you going to introduce your sister to us?"
"Eh?"
Aether looks up from the book that he's reading and sweat-drops. His classmates' eyes twinkle in excitement as they lean towards him, "I heard from the girls at the other section that she's quite a beauty! Oh, and she's also extremely talented! Great in both academics and sports! A role model, indeed! It would definitely help us to improve ourselves once we met her! Don't you agree, guys?" the other boys nodded simultenously.
The blond sighs and furrows his brows, "No way! You guys will just ask her out and I do not approve any of you."
Several groans are then heard from his classmates, "Geez, what's wrong with one of us dating your sister? You're so overprotective--ah!" one of them points an accusing finger at him, "You're a siscon, aren't you? Well given that she's a hottie, I'm not surprised!"
"What?!" red spreads rapidly on Aether's face. He then slams his fists on the table as he stands up, "I-I'm not like that!"
His classmates only continue to tease him, their voices echoing throughout the room. The blond then put a finger on his lips, "Shhh! Lower your voice, Kazuha is sleeping."
All of them sweat-drop as they stare at the white-haired boy who had his face hidden in his arms on the desk.
Venti giggles lightly, "Ehe, we're sorry! We just became ecstatic when your sister is the topic!"
Aether pouts and just continues on reading his book, "Well, I still don't want you guys to date my sister."
"Eh, but I'm not planning--"
"Hey! Something just came to my mind!"
All of them then turn their gazes to Gorou.
"Well, you see... Aether and his sister are twins, right?" they nodded, making him to continue, "It means that if we dressed Aether as a girl, would that make him look like his sister?"
A moment of silence.
"WAIT! WHAT!?"
Aether then gulps as his classmates stare at him.
Xingqiu grins and turns to Chongyun, "Chong, it seems like we need Xiangling and Tao's help, don't you think?"
The ice-blue haired boy only nods in agreement.
"H-hey! Are you really serious?!"
Aether then jumps as he felt a hot breath on his ear, "Of course we are, my friend."
Turning his head, the blond is then face-to-face with Kazuha with a close-eyed smile.
"Kazuha! I thought you were sleeping!"
As the others are busy on pestering Aether, an exasperated sigh is then heard at the back which goes unnoticed. Sharp, golden eyes are seem to be fixated on the blushing blond, but as soon as the latter turns to the owner's direction, they then turn their focus at the window.
Xiao only releases another sigh.
...
"I knew you'd be here."
A shadow suddenly engulfs Xiao's form and he didn't bother to turn his head around. He is currently at the rooftop, which is offlimits, and he knew the other person besides him who always sneaks here.
The other just sits next to him. The green-haired boy then hears a light rustle.
"I made your favorite!"
Looking over his shoulder, Xiao then sees a smiling Aether holding out an almond tofu placed in a small tupperware, "Xiangling gifted me a bottle of osmanthus syrup as thanks after I helped them at the cooking club. She said that it is good for almond tofu!"
Unable to resist the blond's expectant look and the treat presented to him, Xiao gives in and takes the tupperware. As soon as he takes a bite, his cowlick sways happily and a small smile forms on his lips as he chews.
Aether can't help but to let out a giggle as he watches Xiao eat the dessert.
"How is it?" he asks, making the other to almost choke.
"...like it..." he replies after a while.
The blond tilts his head, "Hmm?" he then leans closer to the green-haired boy, "I didn't hear you."
Xiao immediately turns his back to the blond, "It's acceptable."
Aether only blinks his eyes at this, eventually a smile is back on his face as he notices Xiao's reddening ears.
"Great! I will then make you more in the future!"
The other only nods quietly.
...
After finishing their lunches, the two boys are now on their way back to the classroom. They are walking in silence until they heard a loud voice, making both of them stop.
"Hey, comrade!"
Aether sweat-drops as he turns around. He then sees a tall ginger approaching them with a charming grin on his face.
"Childe--hmmph!"
The blond is then hugged tightly by the ginger.
"Hey! Why you didn't show up yesterday? I thought you promised me a match!" Childe exclaims as he rubs his cheek to Aether's plump one, "I waited for you!"
An angry vein appears on the blond's forehead as he pushes the ginger's face away, "I told you that I was busy! Also, I beat you multiple times already, why are you so persistent?"
Childe is another exchange student just like him, who just transferred a year early than him. He is already on his senior year, while Aether is only a freshman. The ginger, though popular due to his looks and academic prowess, is notorious for his behavior of always picking up fights with students both in and out their school.
He still didn't know the reason why he became Childe's target, though.
"Why, you ask?" Childe only laughs, "It's because you interest me, comrade!"
"Huh?!"
"Oi," Xiao mutters as he grips the ginger's arm tightly, he then gives him a dark look, "Let him go, we're going to be late for class."
The grin on Childe's face only becomes wider, "What if I don't want to?"
The green-haired boy clicks his tongue in annoyance. He then raises a clenched fist and is about to smack the taller boy's face when suddenly someone catches his hand.
"Calm down, Xiao."
Turning around, he sees Zhongli with a stoic look on his face. Xiao's eyes widen and he quickly removes his hand from the brunet's grip.
"He is right, Childe. Just let the poor boy go."
Beside Zhongli stands Thoma, another exchange student. He is often mistaken to be a relative of Childe's, much to his chagrin.
Childe only sighs in defeat, "Alright."
Once he releases Aether from his hold, the blond quickly goes to Xiao's side and sticks his tongue out to the ginger, which only makes the latter chuckle.
Thoma crosses his arms, "Childe surely loves to bully you, huh?"
"Who wouldn't? He's so cute--"
Zhongli butts in, "I hereby apologize about our companion's behavior."
Aether only waves his hands, "It's fine, Zhongli! There's no need for you to apologize!"
The brunet smiles and turns his gaze to the green-haired boy, "I'm so glad that you finally made a friend, Xiao."
Xiao only grunts and turns his face to another direction to hide his blush.
"So... do we have a match later, comrade?" Childe asks all of the sudden.
Aether only sighs. This guy... "There's none. I'll pick up my sister after school."
The ginger blinks his eyes, "Sister? Oh! I heard things about her!"
"Yeah, Ayaka always talks about her, too. It seems like she's quite popular in their school just like milady."
"She's one of Ganyu's friends. I'm quite curious about her."
The three seniors then stare at the blond who only sweats profusely, as if knowing what's on their minds.
Aether only grits his teeth.
"In your dreams!"
...
"Ugh... today's very exhausting!"
Aether exclaims as he sits on the couch. He feels a dip next to him as someone sits on his side.
"What's the matter, brother? Do you have exams today? Did someone bother you?"
Turning his head, he then sees Lumine with a worried look on her face. She is too precious and knowing that there are many predators admirers aiming for her heart, he cannot put himself at ease.
He then pats her head, making her lean to his touch.
"How is school going?"
Hearing the baritone voice, the twins gaze at the man sitting on the sofa in front of them--Dainsleif, their acting guardian. Though they are not related in blood, the twins still considered him as their older brother, "Dain! You know what, Lumine is in danger!"
Dainsleif only raises a brow, "What do you mean?"
Aether stands up and moves to sit next to him, "My schoolmates wants to meet her so bad! Knowing them, they'll probably ask her for a date right away! As if I'll let them do that!"
The blond continues on his rambling, while Dainsleif only watches him with a tender look in his eyes. Both of them are completely unaware to the stares coming from the other person in the room.
Lumine grits her teeth.
She is aware of her admirers but aside from them, there are others that she needs to be careful of.
She knows. She knows why they want to meet her. She knows their reason.
It is to ask her permission for them date her brother.
As if she will provide it willingly.