Work Text:
"hey, xiao! have you heard about that new kid aether’s with?"
xiao's gaze snapped towards venti who was sitting right next to him. ah, that's right. the two of them had lunch together since aether was busy hanging out with someone new so here they are, seated at their usual lunch place inside the school. it was quiet without aether. well, venti was on the same level of annoying as aether but venti with xiao alone, it isn’t as lively without aether.
"i don't see why i should be concerned about his activities or how he's doing, and what does it matter to me if he's hanging out with someone other than m— us?" xiao huffed, and all venti could do was laugh at his friend, lightly slapping him on the back. in response, the latter groaned and harshly nudged venti.
"c'mon, how long are you going to keep secretly pining for him? he probably likes you too, more than a friend! give it a shot, hm? dear xiaobao?" venti grinned and rested his chin on both palms.
that's right, venti is fucking dumb and oblivious. it was so obvious to everyone else but him. as much it pains him to admit it, venti was the one who aether likes— not xiao.
it was too obvious to ignore. xiao wondered if aether bothered to hide his adoring gaze towards venti whenever the three of them got together. aether once gave him a bouquet of cecilias as a form of confession on valentine’s day, but all venti said was, "thank you, dear aether! you didn’t really have to, but thank you! you’re such a wonderful friend! ”
nonetheless, xiao was envious of venti. whenever aether mentioned venti when it was just the two of them, it was as if a truck crushed his soul. he tried to ignore his feelings for the blond, but it was impossible for him. how could he move on when aether is always with him? well sure, he had other friends, but they were all at another university. xiao always wondered if he had done something cruel in his past life to be punished like this.
xiao was about to leave and pack his things, ready to go to the school's studio for his dance club when aether and.. another aether? no, that can't be. if it was another aether, it's probably lumine dressing up like aether.
"hey, guys! i’m so sorry i missed lunch with you," aether waved and placed his bag on the table, "i was showing my childhood friend around. he's going to study here, oh- ah! i forgot.." aether drew the boy beside him and sheepishly grinned, making a gesture with his hands to introduce him to xiao and venti.
xiao scanned the new guy from head to toe, attempting to bury his image in his mind. the new guy appeared to be a foreigner. he had strong inazuman features, which xiao mentally noted. he had dirty white blond hair with a red streak. they almost looked like twins. they’d be triplets if only lumine wasn't busy getting all chummy with amber right now.
venti noticed xiao had been staring at the new kid for quite some time, so he poked xiao's sides, eliciting a glare from the latter. "you’re going to scare the poor guy, xiao! oh, anyway- hello! my name is venti!"
aether’s companion smiled softly and extended a hand for a handshake. "i’m kaedehara kazuha. i’m from inazuma, if you're wondering. i’d like to get along with you guys more as i’m studying here for about... a year." venti joyfully shook kazuha's hand, already chatting with him as if they'd known each other for years.
aether looked over at xiao who was now seated back on his spot, his eyes finding the lunch table interesting. "heeey, xiao. how are you?" the mentioned name looked up to meet the blond's gaze. "i'm- i'm fine. i hope you are too." sheesh, after almost three years, xiao hasn't changed one bit, aether thought.
“if you all don’t have any more concerns, i’ll be leaving now; if you do need me, just call. bye," xiao said before departing. he wasn't usually this way. he’d skip classes if his schedule didn’t match up with them. it still surprises the two that xiao can still ace his classes even if he skips them most of the time.
or you could say he skips classes because of aether’s inequitable class schedule or— he wants to spend more time with aether.
aether tapped his fingers on the table, his chin resting on the palm of his other hand. aether already knew about xiao's crush on him; he just didn't bring it up. he didn't want to scare the poor guy away, especially since they're best friends. aether just let him be— he knows xiao has no intention of telling him anything anyway.
aether, on the other hand, is at a loss as to how to express his feelings to venti. venti appeared to be the type of person who would simply laugh at one's confession, thinking it was such a big joke. he wanted to give up but he didn’t waste lumine’s time before just to get confession tips and give up right here right now.
there was this one time when a third-year student named barbara confessed her feelings for venti. however, venti being venti, he assumed it was a prank played on him and just laughed it off saying, “you’re too kind! try again next time.”
and well, aether didn't want to be his bestfriend's slash crush's personal clown.
when the blond felt a tug on his sleeve, his train of thought was interrupted. "hey, aether? you look a little disoriented. are you alright? " in response to kazuha, aether smiled and nodded. “yeah, i’m alright! hey, where’s.. venti?” he looked over to kazuha’s side just to find that venti had already left them. “oh, he told me he has to go to literature class.” kazuha explained while taking out a sheet of paper out of his bag.
"anyway, aether.. could you possibly assist me in selecting a club? aether brightly nodded, "of course! i’ll also give you a quick tour of all the clubs! it’s president aether you’re talking to.” kazuha laughed at his friend who had his chest puffed out in confidence, thumb pointing at himself. “alright, lead the way then.”