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"Venti! You're back!"
The musician looks to his beloved friends in highschool up until now with a fond smile, embracing them tightly. "I missed you so much guys!" Venti mutters, beaming. There was multiple familiar faces to the young musician which added more to his delight.
"Thank you for coming here to the airport, God it was so hard managing abroad without you guys!" Venti said with a pout, Kazuha and Albedo smiled with a short hum. Jean followed after Venti, dragging their suitcases. She ended up becoming his manager for his music career due to his request and she didn't mind at all.
"Lisa! I heard you graduated from Sumeru Akademiya?! I'm so happy for you!" Venti exclaimed with excitement at the brown haired female who laughs heartily. "It's not that much of a big deal, Ven." Lisa teases.
"I'm glad to see you're doing well, Lisa." Jean greeted with a fond smile, making her look towards the manager's direction with a smile mirroring hers. "I feel the same towards you too, Jean. Might've been a handful handling Venti and his shenanigans."
"Hey!" The group laughed as they talked on their way to the hotel where Venti was to stay at for a few days before staying with their friends. It was enjoyable, free and a time Venti knew they'd cherish until then. Felt so nice that he was able to catch up with his friends that impacted his highschool life a whole lot.
And now that they were young adults pursuing their passion after sleepless nights of working endlessly ━ Venti was a bit emotional inwardly and filled him with an undeniable amount of pride at how far they've come in their careers.
"We're going to go clubbing later, Venti! Our other friends will be there too!" Kaeya who just arrived greets the musician who exclaimed upon seeing their old bestfriend and hugged him tightly which he returned.
Venti pulls away with a smile, an question popping up suddenly in his mind which they hope that their friends will be able to answer. "Is Xiao going to be there?" The musician asked, which made the group pause and stammer. Lisa licked her lower lips and avoided Venti's prying gaze, and so did Kazuha and Albedo.
"Well, we did inform Xiao about you coming back but.." Kazuha looks away scratching the nape of his neck lightly. "I'm afraid he has other plans tonight, at the same I'm not entirely sure because he didn't say anything about going or not." Kazuha explained to Venti whose lips formed an o shape in realization.
"Kazuha! It's okay, this was supposed to only be a friendly reunion anyway. I don't really care." It was a white lie, but Venti knew it was hopeless because their friends will always see through it. "Let's get to the Hotel first to unpack. We'll know later anyways, Ven." Jean pats his back comfortingly as the others nod in agreement and helped Jean with the suitcases.
━
THE EVENING SOON CAME, and Venti scrolls mindlessly through his phone. The others were out getting other essentials and such before they leave to go. Venti quite literally didn't want to be left alone because he might just do something reckless.
And by reckless, he meant by messaging Xiao if he is going to their mini reunion tonight and if he is doing well. Venti closes his phone and placed it on the bedside table, shuffling in the white sheets as he ponders in thought. 'Is he with someone else now? I mean, it has been a few months since we last talked, and through the phone at that..'
Zhongli was going, Ei was going and so was the others. So why wouldn't Xiao go? Venti curls up in the soft bed, heaving an subtle sigh. His phone lights up at the nightstand in the black, which made him glance towards it but sunk more upon seeing Jean's message that they were coming back and he should go get ready.
Venti did exactly that, and threw on a black turtleneck with long-sleeves and white pants hugging his lean figure and added an white cardigan to go with the fit. He added silver jewelry for accessories and brushed his hair. Not the ideal outfit for a club but they said they'll only stay at one place so he thought it was okay.
The others soon arrived and after placing down the groceries which included hangover pills and such, they went out. It was easy to fit in with the others' conversation for Venti, and he enjoyed being able to talk with his old friends from one of the many groups he's been apart of. Zhongli, Ei, Murata and others.
playful banter and laughs echoed around the reserved club, smiles on each of their faces. But when Kaeya tapped the musician's shoulder with a hesitant expression made Venti confused before looking towards the entrance where his mutual friends talked with a certain pair. "That's Xiao but why is Aether with him?"
Venti murmurs under his breathe, making Zhongli look towards their direction. "It's Aether, he is an popular vloger known for his travels across Teyvat alongside his sister Lumine." Zhongli informed. "I know them, 'Li. Especially Lumine since I have been with her to a few events, but her brother.."
"This is exactly why I was reluctant inviting Xiao." Kaeya mumbles under his breathe when he saw Venti's dejected expression. And just to their luck, Xiao looked towards their direction. "Venti!" Xiao greeted, walking towards him. Kaeya and Zhongli share a knowing look and decides to leave them alone to catch up.
"Hello Xiao, I thought you weren't going to come tonight?" Venti said with a smile masking his inner thoughts and questions completely. "Aether asked me to come with him to greet you because Lumine might be a bit late." Xiao explained straightly, making the musician hum softly.
"I'm only accompanying him because he's a close friend, Venti━" before Xiao knew it himself, he started explaining why but Venti simply cuts him off with an shake of his head. "You don't have to tell me, it is your business Xiao.. If I wanted to know then, I'm sure I would have already asked you. Okay?"
"I'm still sorry that I left you without a word before to pursue my dreams and that might've been selfish for me to do so, but I have no regrets." Venti smiled a tight-lipped one, scratching the side of his neck with a awkward laugh. Xiao gazes at him with an undeniable ache but forced a smile.
"Of course you don't.. Look where that got you now Venti, you're a famous musician now. Your face seems to be anywhere these days be it on billboards, posters or live television.. I do not hate you for choosing your dreams and never will." Xiao stated, tapping Venti's shoulder briefly before going to get drinks. The musician stilled in his place with a sigh, as he pursed his lips. "I'll need a drink after this." Venti muttered before searching for his friends.
━
AFTER THAT NIGHT, Venti avoided Xiao like a mouse hiding away from a cat's sharp eyes. He stood in-front of Teyvat Highschool, the very one where he and Xiao spent a fraction of their lives in, together. While he walked on school grounds, the professors still there recognized him and chatted with him. Congratulating him on his undeniable success in the Music Industry.
The teal-haired person walked into the café infront of the school after talking with the professors and was surprised to see a certain man behind the counter. "Diluc?!" Venti exclaimed in surprise, and it didn't take long for the crimson-haired man to recognize him. "Venti? Welcome back."
Diluc tied his hair up momentarily before discarding his apron and folded it neatly to place in the staff room. He soon returned to Venti with a small smile. "Is this café one of the many establishments Dawn Corporations own!?" Venti excitedly asked which Diluc slowly nodded to. "Yes, this one is under Kaeya's supervision because I can't let him handle every one that is related with alcohol."
"Want to get a drink? I'll get you that iced-americano if you still enjoy it." Diluc asked, earning an giddy nod from the musician. "Only if you make it, Diluc! Your recipe for that was one of a kind." Venti jokingly said in the first part, making Diluc shake his head politely.
"It'd be like the first time you tasted it in awhile again then." Diluc smiles, entertaining him. "Sit at a table first, I'll prepare it." Diluc motions to one of the many free tables in the wide establishment filled with people, Venti opts for the spot next to the glass pane just so he doze off and stare at the streets.
Maybe he regretted sitting there when Xiao and Aether enters the café, hand in hand with each other. Venti scoffed under his breathe, ignoring their presence as Diluc entered with his Iced-Americano. And because Diluc was such a good listener, Venti got lost in his rambles about his career and music that he forgot about Xiao's presence within the café as mhe beamed with an wide smile.
It was not hard to notice the musician's enthralling presence when he's always so delightful it'd be impossible to not allow your eyes to wander hoping to meet his. Xiao simply pursed his lips as he ordered at the counter with Aether, before redirecting his attention fully on the blond.
They were only but mere acquitances now, sure they can long for the past to repeat for them but it'd be futile knowing they have bigger responsibilities and better people around them know. Perhaps they were meant to be distanced to achieve greater things and to flourish as an individual.
Seasons change, and so do people. They learned that when they saw each other.