Chapter Text
“You have that big game soon don’t you?” A muffled voice asked.
Xiao sat against the library wall next to the private room door. “Yeah,” he answered. “Will you come and watch us?”
There was a pause. “I’m not sure. My schedule is booked already.”
Xiao stood up, “ok. I should probably let you work now. Talk to you later.”
He felt bad for taking up so much of their time. Especially since they were busy and the private room was supposed to be a quiet place where students can be productive. At least it was until one day in a rage, he had punched the door to the room not knowing that there was someone inside. They had been kind and calmed him down instead of being angry, which Xiao did not believe that he deserved. Ever since then, after the school day had ended, he would always go to the library and talk to them outside of their door. Perhaps he also felt bad because he had never seen the person. They would always be in the room doing work before volleyball practice was over and long after he had left the library for the night.
Keqing put down her mechanical pencil. She looked at the door that lead to the library. Are they gone? Maybe I should go see the volleyball match. But I have to finish all the student council work and my homework first. She picked up her pencil.
Venti, the team’s setter, was practically bouncing around the gym. “Let’s destroy this team today guys!”
Xiao did some stretches with Kazuha and Aether.
“Get over here! We can’t have you pulling a muscle in the middle!” Aether called and ran out to try and capture their energetic friend.
Albedo pulled Bennett onto the gym with Razor tagging behind them. “Don’t touch anything,” he said. Bennett, who was known for causing bad luck wherever he went. It was that exact bad luck that led to him being hit by any ball. By chance, Bennett would be hit by most of the spikes the opposing team made. He was a functional libero.
The rest of the team assembled and the gym filled with spectators.
Venti turned to the team, “win this and we’ll win the entire season.”
When they crawled off of the court, they were the victors. Xiao didn’t expect his legs to be worn out from jumping that much.
“Good job everyone,” Albedo mumbled.
Bennett gave the team a weak thumbs up. The poor kid got hit in the face over 40 times this game.
Xiao turned his attention to a commotion in the bleachers. Keqing, the student council president herself, had come to see their game. The other spectators murmured.
“I can’t believe she came to see us in person,” Kazuha commented. “Good thing we won.” Keqing had a habit of cutting the budgets of small and or inactive clubs or ones that did not perform well.
Aether waved his hand in front of Xiao’s face. “Ace. Hello? Xiao?” Xiao jerked his gaze away from the student council president. Aether blinked, “are you feeling light headed?” He asked in concern.
“Hey! Aether!” His sister, Lumine, jumped onto the court and tackled him. “I’m so happy for you!”
Xiao left the siblings and Venti and made his way to the changing room.
Albedo gave him a look. “I don’t understand. You should be happy that we won and yet you have a confused expression.”
Xiao stared at Albedo. “You don’t look outwardly overjoyed either.”
“Fair enough. Though your expression seemed to have appeared when the student council president was noticed.”
Xiao’s frown intensified, “yes. If those stuck up perfectionists want to shut down our club then they’ll have to do some mental acrobatics.”
Keqing stopped in the lobby. She wondered if she should try to track down the person who invited her. It had to be someone on the team. Only problem was that there were a little over twenty members part of the volleyball club currently. Keqing looked up from the floor and found her gaze locked into golden eyes.
“President, what brings you here.” Keqing blinked. Oh, it’s one of Ganyu’s brothers and the ace of the volleyball team. What was his name again… Xiao?
“Hello Xiao,” she put on a fake but natural appearing smile.
“I asked you what you were doing here.” Xiao looked away self conscious. He though he would be ok going to the water fountain without a shirt on because no one besides the competing teams walked around the back hallways of the gymnasium.
Keqing finally realized the situation she was in. “I apologize, I must’ve gotten lost and absent mindedly wandered in the wrong direction.” Inside, Keqing was screaming. She briskly spurned around and sped walked away. She did not expect Ganyu’s brother to be that attractive and intense. And his body… NO. BAD. Keqing punched the wall. She could feel her heart racing. I need to leave now.
Venti peered over Xiao’s shoulder smugly. “Ooo, look what we have here. Are you actually blushing Xiao?” Venti cackled.
Xiao glared at him. “No… well maybe…”
“You should just give up, Xiao.” “She’s way out of your league.” Kazuha and Aether ganged up on Xiao.
Bennett jumped into the conversation. “I believe in you Xiao! I’ll help you two get closer!” It was somehow the least reassuring thing ever.
Albedo pointed at Xiao, “I would be careful if I were you.”
“Keqing,” Ganyu approached the student council president. “Is something wrong? You seem to be acting differently today. Actually, since you went to the volleyball game yesterday. My brother is acting strangely as well. Did something happen there?”
Keqing, not bothering to lift up her face planted on the desk, exclaimed, “how dare your brother live?!”
Ganyu gasped. Did Xiao do something to offend Keqing? What if he insulted her and they got into a brutal argument? What if they absolutely hate each other now?! I must confront Xiao.
Ningguang also noticed. “So, would you tell me what’s wrong?”
Keqing gazed up from her lunch. “Ningguang… do you have someone that you like maybe? Someone like Zhongli?”
“Of course I have, I have everything,” she responded without looking up from her food. Wait. What did Keqing ask me?
Ningguang stared at her friend’s face. She noticed the faint blush on Keqing’s cheeks. Don’t tell me, that Keqing is interested in Zhongli. Ningguang heard from Ganyu that Keqing threatened Xiao. Was the reason because he got in the way of Keqing and Zhongli? Xiao is very close with his older brother after all.
Ningguang felt a spark of displeasure. “I’ll see you in the council room after class.” Ningguang got up from the table, exited the cafeteria and pulled out her phone.
She pressed the speech to text button. “Beidou, I need you to do a favor for me. Can you spy on Keqing?”
Ganyu closed the front door behind her and Xiao. Zhongli was at work right now so it was just them.
She fumed at Xiao. “Listen to me and don’t forget what I’m about to say.”
Xiao shrunk back, “what did I do?”
“Don’t be an idiot. You can’t go around dissing, harassing; including those of the sexual variety and fighting others. Especially the student council president. You should know that by now. You’re old enough. Don’t you dare come to the student council office again. I’ll walk home myself. Most importantly, don’t think about breathing the same air as Keqing or getting within a 10 meter radius of her. Got it?”
“Wait! When did I ever harass her?!”
“GO TO YOUR ROOM!”
Xiao sat with a blank face on his bed sheets. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out why Ganyu was so mad at him. He was kind of rude to Keqing and he was shirtless. Did that count as sexual harassment? A lightbulb went on in Xiao’s head. What if Ganyu thinks Keqing is the most dignified and beautiful girl as well? Is Ganyu my rival? Xiao kept going in circles until his head hurt.