Chapter Text
There are some people who you simply cannot walk away from.
Some walk away from you.
Some stick around, whether you like them or not.
And some others are brutally taken away from you.
"If you surround yourself with good people, you'll live a happy life. So, can you do that for me ?"
Ayaka knew that her mother wasn't naive. She knew that life could get difficult.
More importantly, she was well aware that you couldn't always choose who was in your life, and who left.
''Nice to meet you. I'm...your new roommate, I guess...''
But right now, she wished nothing more than to be alone.
''Do you mind if I put this here ? Sorry, my things are taking up so much space.''
Ayaka slowly sipped her tea. Finally, some piece and quiet. She looked at the countless cardboard boxes that had invaded her living room.
A frown made its way to her face.
''This room was clean two hours ago...''
Two hours ago, she was ignorant. And happy. Then, Mr. Diluc knocked on her door, and with him came the bad news.
''A roommate ?'' Her head tilted to the left. ''How come ? Class started two weeks ago.''
The janitor shook his head. ''Apparently, he had already gone through all the necessary procedures to sleep at the dorm. But somehow, they forgot about him and didn't follow up. He had been sleeping at a friend's place in the meantime.''
Her brows furrowed. ''How exactly do you forget about a student ? Isn't providing a place to stay for dorm applicants their job ?''
''That's exactly what I told them.''
The red-haired man crossed his arms before letting out an exasperated sigh.
Ayaka saw the rant coming from a mile away.
''I swear, the administration at this academy is always so ineff-''
''Mister Diluc, I have to go.''
And nothing worked. She didn't get an explanation, or an apology. Not even an half-assed excuse. Nothing.
The words 'Do you know who I am ?' crossed her mind, but not her lips.
There was no way she was going to use the Kamisato clan's influence for this. She didn't like this situation at all, sure, but she wasn't some spoiled brat.
She was Kamisato Ayaka. A young, dignified, and responsible woman.
With an unwanted roommate.
The bathroom door flipped open. Speak of the devil.
''Phew, that felt good.''
A towel hanging on his shoulder, Aether walked into the living room. His blond hair was still dripping, little water drops crashing into his neck. He didn't seem to care about the awkwardness of the situation. Not one bit.
Just the overly carefree type she couldn't stand.
''Sorry if I took my time in the shower, by the way.'' He apologetically scratched his cheek. ''My friend's place barely had hot water, so...''
''It's fine.'' she dismissed.
It was obviously not fine. And he knew it.
Feeling the electricity in the air, he sat down in front of her and cleared his throat. ''Hey, I feel like you're not exactly thrilled about having me here.''
''…''
She didn't even bother to look him in the eye. She gave off an incredibly cold aura, her light-blue gray eyes staring into the void.
Just the ice-cold aloof type he couldn't stand.
Maybe he really shouldn't be here. He had done nothing wrong, but it still felt like he was invading someone's dorm. And he hated that.
He should just go back to Mona's place. It would be tough financially, but if he got a second part-time job, they would be able to manage. But even with that in mind, he felt conflicted. Was being a burden for his friend really better than living with a complete stranger ?
''Sorry if I made you feel unwelcome.''
Huh ? So she speaks.
Ayaka rose from her chair. ''I don't think I've properly introduced myself. I am Kamisato Ayaka.''
It sounded stupid, but that sudden change of tone really caught him off-guard. She still refused to look him in the eye, though.
''Oh, uh, name's Aether,'' he fumbled. ''but you probably already knew that.''
Their eyes met. For the first time, they actually looked at each other.
It was awkward, but somehow the tension went... down ? Sure, she wasn't happy about the situation and he was confused.
But, when her blue-gray eyes met his golden ones, they finally realized.
That it wasn't just for a moment.
That they were going to be living together for the rest of the school year.
Ayaka broke the silence first. ''I've never had a roommate before, so...I hope I can trust you to be responsible.''
Aether leaned over the table. ''Don't worry. I'm sure we'll do just fine.'' he said before cracking a reassuring smile. ''Hope we'll get along well, roommate.''
He reached out for a fist bump and... she shook his hand. Or rather, held his closed fist with her fingers and moved it up and down.
Yeah, they were off to a great start.
An idea to break the ice popped into his mind. ''By the way, Ayaka, have you had dinner yet ?''
''Huh ?''
...
''It's your first night here, you really don't have to do this...''
''Please, it's the least I can do. I'm the one who arrived unannounced.''
From over the counter, Ayaka was watching the improvised chef at work. While Aether took his time in the bathroom, he sure knew how to handle himself in a kitchen. Every ustensil was within arms reach, and he clearly knew what he was doing. The blond had set off to make her leftover pasta somehow palatable, and the array of spices and ingredients made it all look very promising. While she had her doubts at first, the awfully tempting smell that was rapidly spreading through the room was only proof of his skill.
Well, at least that spared her the chore of cooking for tonight, she thought.
Aether turned around with a smug smile.''Impressed much?''
''I was about to make a comment about how you basically invaded my kitchen, but decided not to.'' she held back a smile.
''Our kitchen.'' he rectified. ''And if you're not satisfied with my cooking, miss, feel free to get behind the counter.''
Nah. She would probably trigger the fire alarm.
''You're way too comfortable with the situation.'' She creased a brow. ''We didn't know each other three hours ago.''
''Just think of it as staying over at a friend's house. Only difference is that it's for almost a year.'' he shrugged.
''I've never...'' She interrupted her sentence before finally deciding against it. ''N-nevermind.''
''You've never been to a friend's house?'' he guessed.
Spot on. Ayaka looked away. How was she supposed to tell him that she only had acquaintances at best ?
Compared to someone as apparently outgoing as him, she was an alien.
Someone who didn't fit in. Who drove others away. And he would probably end up distancing himself from her too.
''Well, I'm here now.''
''What?''
''You're experiencing this for the first time.'' He turned the stove off and handed her a plate. ''You wouldn't want to live with someone for several months and still see them as a stranger, right ?''
''…''
He made it sound so easy.
''Ayaka, why do you always sit by yourself?''
It was easy for him.
''Hey, why so cold? What's that look for?''
He was a natural.
''No wonder everyone always avoids you...''
As much as she hated to admit it, he knew how to make people feel comfortable. How to make them relax. They were complete opposites.
Aether finished rinsing the pan and wiped his hands. Ayaka was just staring soulessly at her food.
In spite of his efforts, the awkward silence from before came back.
The blond knew he couldn't force her to talk, but he sighed anyway. ''I'm not really feeling hungry, so I'm off to bed now. If there's anything you nee-''
He was interrupted by a ringtone. It was his phone. He quickly swiped it from the counter, but Ayaka had already seen who it was.
When he looked at the smiling girl displayed on the screen, his face went somber.
Incoming call : Lumine
The call was immediately rejected.
''I can't deal with this right now.'' she heard him mutter.
Silence, once more. Aether walked to his room without a word. He stopped at the door, but did not look back.
''Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow.''
''Goodni-''
He had already closed the door behind him. Great.
Ayaka massaged her temples and tried to assess the situation.
She was going to be living with a guy she had never met. Who'd cooked dinner, for some reason. And whose mood was as impredictable as the changing weather.
Her living room was looking like a shrine to some eldritch cardboard god.
''…''
And she hadn't even thanked him for the food.