Chapter Text
"And here we have it! ADEPTUS' new album is coming out in the next five months, folks!" Stimming and screaming with excitement, Hu Tao admires her poster near her bed, (there were multiple posters), of the band that was mentioned.
She's not a fan of pop music, she never was, she despises pop artists with their bubbly melodies and copypasted lyrics. However, ADEPTUS is quite different. Their first debut, the one that made her become an all-times fan, convinced her that maybe some pop artists are good. Their first song, "Ice Cream Cake", even though it sounded cheesy, the song had dark undertones with double meanings and creepy melodies mixed with a cutesy disguise. Perfect for Hu Tao, she thought.
Another motive of her fanatism was the lead guitarist known as Alatus, God, she was head over heels for that girl. How her green long hair moved with the melody, how her voice made the whole song have stability, the band members themselves said multiple times in interviews that they got together due to Alatus. Alatus' coolness and shy nature made her the most looked up member, making her have the biggest fanbase among all members, not that any of them minded though.
"Is there anything else you want to share to your fans as the leader of ADEPTUS, Ganyu?" Hutao totally forgot about the video playing on her phone. Damn, this happens sometimes, her wandering off thinking of going to an ADEPTUS' concert and being able to meet Alatus. She would show her admiration and how proud she is of her, it must be tough to be nineteen and already this famous.
"This is a bit of a spoiler, but our little Alatus wrote one of the songs herself!" Oh, that definitely caught her interest. "According to her, she wanted to share this with you guys for a while." She wrote a song? Now that's new.
The livestream paused itself as an incoming call from one of her best friends was present.
"Did you hear?! Alatus wrote a song! Do you think it's gonna be all creepy and edgy?" Xiangling exclaimed on the other side on the line. Hu tao was just as excited as her. If this was a song written by Alatus the possibilities are endless!
Actually not exactly, it's probably going to be an emotional song. What would be the theme though?
"TaoTao are you listening? Or are you still daydreaming about her again?" A teasing tone was applied, Xiangling is used to Hu tao's behavior.
"I think it's gonna be something emotional, like one of those deep songs..."
"Yes! That sounds right-" Crashing noises interrupts Xiangling, few seconds after a familiar voice starts to speak.
"Oi, Hu tao! Remember the project for economics! We are only missing your part ya know?" Sometimes she forgets that Xinyan is Xiangling's roommate. They have known each other for years, all of them. They were the group people dreamt of having in their teenage years. Sometimes Hu tao misses spending time with all of them, but college is making it difficult. Oh shit, she's waiting for a reply.
"Don't worry Xinyan, I have everything under control, you guys will have the research before Thursday, pinky promise!" With a smile, Hu tao stares at her laptop, papers surrounding it, tempting her to finish the research, unfortunately, it's not winning.
"You better do, Xingqiu is getting worried and you know how he acts when he's worried." Yeah, Chongyun suffers. "Anyways, bye-bye"
"Wait but I'm the one who-" Xiangling replies as the call ends. They're disasters.
For Chongyun's sanity, she should start with the project now.
"So someone is going to share that apartment with you?" Ying drank her milk tea while looking at one exhausted Hu tao, it is seven AM in a Monday, Hu tao's worst enemy. College life can be so exhausting sometimes. Both of them were sitting in one of the lunch tables surrounded by tired college students, probably studying for an exam in the last minute.
She haven't had any luck on finding a roommate after she proposed on sharing an apartment due to her tight budget. Let's say her apartment is no cheap one.
"Yeah, I posted it on social media and no one is interested! At this point I should start having four jobs." She slides on her chair slowly while Ying looked at her with pity.
"You know...I know someone that wants to go to the same college as you and need some place to stay..." Hu tao almost fell, kicking her chair in the process to look at Ying in the eye with her hands on the table.
"I'm begging you to convice them to choose my apartment, please Ying, I have been eating bread with tuna over the past three days. Tuna. With bread. I need money."
Ying started laughing at this, almost choking on her milk tea.
"Of course, of course. I just ask you to not be weird." Weird?
"What do you mean? I'm not weird, that's just my Hu tao style."
"I think you know this person already, Xi is kind of an introvert so don't weird her out." Huh. Doesn't ring a bell.
"I have no idea who this Xi person is, as long as they pay the rent and is good with me cooking at four AM I'll be fine."
Ying looked to the side, still wondering if it is a good idea, but Hu tao's eyes staring at her convinced her. A bit.
"You look like those dogs with photoshopped big watery eyes. Fine, I'll call her now."
"And this is why you're on the top of the Hu tao friend hierarchy!" Hu tao started hugging Ying across the table, making the plastic plates fall on the floor and Ying's milk tea to spill on her shirt. "Uh, Oops, well, time for me to go or Xingqiu will eradicate me from Earth." She picked up her bag and started running straight to the business building.
"You." Ying is used to this behavior already so she just puts her jacket on and reaches her phone, typing a number she has known for years now.
"Okay, the other room is cleaner than mine, the couch looks decent, kitchen doesn't look like a chem lab, and finally-" She moves one of the vases on top of the kitchen table containing flowers a bit to the left. "Perfect! This Xi girl is gonna fall in love with this apartment in no time."
Even though Hu tao was confident about the appearance of her place, she just hopes that her new roommate is someone she can get along with and not a cleaner freak. Also someone who can enjoy a few pranks from time to time. The thought of someone boring sharing the same home as her sounds unpleasant.
A knock on the door made her thoughts go away, a clear "Come in!" comes out of her mouth, even though a bit of nervousness is there.
When the door opens, Hu tao thought she was going to die right there. She expected anything but her. What kind of crazy connections Ying has?
Green hair, red eyeliner and yellow mysterious eyes can be seen stepping in Hu tao's home. It was real, oh God it was definitely real. She wanted to scream, shout, cry, move her arms uncontrollably, stand on her table and do silly dances, anything that could show the immense indescribable feeling she had.
Alatus was there.
Is this vengeance because of that one prank at the amusement park? Or the one at Yunjin's party? Maybe the one on Ying's twin brother?
The culprit showed her presence behind of Alatus— No, Xi, and stepped in the apartment.
"This is Xi, a friend from elementary school." Ying pointed at said person. Two seconds passed and she pointed at Hu tao. "And that is Hu tao, we both work in the same place for years now."
Xi tried looking everywhere but Hu tao's eyes. Hu tao knew exactly what was up, Xi's social awkwardness, one of her most remarkable characteristics. She decided on being the ice breaker.
"Yeah, like Ying said! This place is your home now! You can be yourself here." Should she say that she's a big fan or maybe save it for later? Actually, no, scratch that, remember what Ying said.
"Thank you." Was the only thing that escaped her lips. Wow, this is going to be difficult, but nothing is impossible to Hu tao.
Hu tao came closer and shook Xi's hand with excitement, this made the other flinch.
"Have fun!" Was the last thing Ying before leaving the two of them in the apartment after leaving Xi's luggage at the kitchen.
Silence creeps the air, nothing could be said, Hu tao can't show she's a fan of her or she'll be gone forever, maybe she should start asking basic questions? Or maybe leave her alone since that must have been a long ride or—
"Something is burning there." Xi pointed and looked straight to the oven that was figuratively vomiting smoke. The welcome cake! She forgot about it.
Panic started rising as the fire alarm started ringing. This was going to be a disaster.
Hu tao laughed nervously as she hurried to open the windows and let the smoke out.
For some reason, that gave Xi a tiny smile as memories flooded her mind.