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‘Okay, so three lemonades are for table 5, a latte and a soda for the two at table 3, and four iced teas for table 2,’ it was another busy day at the Mostro Lounge. Noir stood behind the bar, making the drinks ordered by the students before setting them down on trays before watching them get taken away and served. “Hm hmm hmm…could fly~ I’d pick you up, and we’d go back in tiiime~” Noir quietly sang as they wiped the counter, making sure it’s as clean as can be. As they wiped the counter, they slowly got lost in thought.
“THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ORDERED!”
A student exclaimed, causing Noir to come back to reality instantly. They looked over where the sound was coming from; it came from table 3. From afar, Noir observed what was happening, debating whether she should interfere or not. ‘Based on those uniforms, those are definitely from Heartslabyul. Upper-level students, perhaps?’ Noir thought as they put away the cloth they were holding. “I-I’m sorry! But it says you ordered a latte and a soda–” “Are ya calling me a liar?!” another student shouted. ‘That’s it, I’m interfering,’ Noir began to walk towards the two Heartslabyul students. However, there was one thing: they had no clue what they were going to do. Was she going to call them out? What if they cause a scene?
“Listen, you first years gotta respect your third years! Give us a refund, disrespectful little shit.”
‘Screw it, who cares if I cause a scene,’ if there is one thing they do not tolerate, it’s bullying. One of the students was about to punch the poor first year; Noir luckily was stopped the punch by grabbing the student’s wrist. “Hey, who are you–” the third year’s face of anger turned into fear as soon as his eye’s met Noir’s. They were as dark as the ocean’s floor, not the faintest bit of light in them; their cold, emotionless expression shot a shiver down the student’s spine.
“W-Who the hell are you–”
“Ah, there you are.”
“Eh?!”
‘What the?’ Walking towards them was none other than Trey. “Trey! Hey, you gotta help me, she’s tryin’ to kill me!” the student exclaimed, Noir shooting them a confused look. ‘I never said that; I never said anything. Didn’t even think about it,’ Noir let go the student’s wrist before he and his buddy cowered behind Trey. “Are you talking about Noir?” he asked, “If you’re talkin’ about that scary chick who’s probably planning on killing me, THEN YES!”
‘Scary?’
“You’re overreacting; she’s just very protective. Maybe if you two didn’t pick a fight with the first-year, this would never have happened,” Trey explained as the two students looked at him, surprised. “W-Why are you taking her side?! Do you two know each other or somethin’?!” the student’s friend asked, shooting Noir a dirty look. “Yes, but that is none of your business,” the vice house warden replied, “anyway, Riddle is looking for you two; both of you planted pink roses instead of red ones. Best you go back to the dorm before Riddle has your heads.” With that, two students began to walk back to their dorm. As they walked, Noir could still hear them.
“Dude, you saw how– Noir, was it? You saw how she looked at me, right?”
“Yeah, she has it out for you, dude. What’s weird is that Trey knows her? Are they close or something?”
“I dunno, but it’d be pretty weird if they were. She’s probably like a sadist or somethin’.”
“Sadist?”
“Noir, you said something?” Trey asked, snapping the young girl back to reality. “Oh, um, it was nothing…,” they said but, Trey knew better. “I see. Well, I was going to ask if you are still going to attend our tutor session later,” he asked as Noir’s face flushed red. ‘Crap, I forgot he was going to tutor me in History!’ “Uh y-yeah, I kinda forgot about that, but I’ll attend!” they said, a small smile forming on Trey’s face. ‘Do they know just how cute they are when they blush like that?’ he thought, chuckling a little. “Great! Library, 5:00 pm, like always?” he asked, “Yeah,” they replied. “Perfect– wait, your hair,” “Huh? What about it–!!” Trey carefully pushed away some hair that covered a bit of their face before tucking it behind her ear. “There, much better. Alright, see you at 5,” he said before walking away, leaving Noir frozen still, their soul slowly leaving their body, and their face burning red. She came back down to Earth as soon as Jade reminded her that she still had other orders to work on.
It was finally the end of Noir’s shift, and after changing out of their dorm uniform, they dashed out of the Octvinelle dorm. They made it to the library just in time, ten minutes earlier even! They entered the library and already saw Trey reading a textbook. “He’s a lot earlier than expected,” she muttered under her breath before walking towards Trey’s table. He looked up from his book and gave Noir a small wave.
“Hey! Didn’t think you’d come this early.”
“I’d say the same for you.”
“Well, since we’re both here earlier than expected, I want to ask you about something,” he said before patting the seat next to him, “here, sit next to me.” Noir blushed for a second before sitting down next to him, setting down their books on the table. “So, this is about earlier. Did those guys earlier say something?” Noir looked at him, confused. “What do you mean?” they asked, “Did they say anything about you?” In an instant, Noir could recall all the things they guys said.
“...she’s tryin’ to kill me!”
“If you’re talkin’ about that scary chick who’s probably planning on killing me, THEN YES!”
“She’s probably like a sadist or somethin’.”
“Noir? Are you okay?” Trey looked at Noir, their face staring at the table, tears streaming down her face and falling onto her gloved hands. ‘Oh no, Noir…. I’ll make sure those two will suffer for hurting them– wait, now’s not the time for that. Noir needs me right now–’
“Trey?”
“Yes?” he asked; Noir looked at him, tears still streaming down their face. “Am I scary?” Trey was surprised at the question. “No! Of course not! Why would I be? Who made you– oh….I see,” he put two and two together and realized that it was the two earlier who made Noir think of such. “Tch, those two, I’ll make sure those two get punished–”
“Why do you hang out with me?”
Trey’s words were cut short as Noir asked them another question. They were staring at their twiddling thumbs, their tears stopped running down their face. “Huh?” he asked, “Are you doing this out of obligation? Do you actually like being around me?” the girl, still focused on their hands. Yes! He loves being around her! Even though she’s quiet and reserved, her presence is enough to make him feel at peace. “Noir,” he called, but they stayed silent. “Noir, look at me,” he called once more, and she did so. He cupped their tear-stained face in his hands. “You know why I hang out with you?” he asked; she shook her head. A gentle smile graced his face.
“It’s because I enjoy being with you. Just you being here makes me happy.”
Noir’s heart began beating out of their chest. ‘What’s going on? I feel funny…my heart’s beating weirdly…,’ they felt heat rise up on their cheeks. “Really?” they asked; Trey nodded, still cupping their face, gently stroking their cheek. “You’re not just saying that to be nice?” they asked as he let go of their face. “Heh, you think I’m lying?” he asked, the corner of lips curling into a smirk. Noir looked back down at their hands, their face a light shade of pink. “Very well then,” with his index finger and thumb, he held Noir’s chin and made them face him. The pink on their face became a light red. He leaned in and whispered, just loud enough for the two to hear.
“How can I make you believe me?”
The light red on their face then got brighter and brighter. ‘He’s so close…,’ his lips were only an inch apart from hers. They could feel his breath just barely touching their lips.
“I…I don’t know….”
“Well, I think I do,” he smirks. Noir’s eyes widened, their body froze.
“Close your eyes, Noir.”
Slowly, Noir’s eyes closed shut, and her body began to relax. They couldn’t see him but they could certainly feel him slowly move closer. Noir did not know why but they weren’t scared. She didn’t flinch away or move. He leaned in closer and closer before he planted a kiss…
…on their cheek. Noir’s eyes shot open and Trey pulled away, chuckling. “Well? Was that enough proof? Hehe,” he smirked as Noir was there frozen still, their face many shades redder than before. “I-I– what– w-what was that?!” Noir asked, shocked. “My proof,” he smiled; Noir’s was burning. They covered their face with their hands, ‘Did he just kiss me?! Did he just kiss me on the cheek?!’ their mind couldn’t wrap around what just happened. “Well, now do you believe me?” he asked the blushing mess. He couldn’t help but smile and pat their head, ‘How can someone be so cute when they blush?'
“Aww, hey, Noir~?”
“You’re a real tease, you know that, Clover?”
“You only realize that now?” he asked, moving away Noir’s hands from their face to see their still blushy face. “Well,” he stood up and picked up the books from the table, “looks like we won’t have time for our tutoring session.” Noir looked at him before standing up and picking up their books. “Say, are you busy? Do you have anything to do later?” he asked, Noir shook their head. He smiled “great, the cafeteria might still be open. Want to grab a bite to eat?” the young girl smiled back at him.
“Sure, sounds fun."