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The crowded hallways are always such a bother to get through when it comes to the beginning of the semesters, especially when the freshmen are trying to get to their classes without help while the way there is walking across the entire campus at times.
Of course, the older students have been there, done that, though the campus is sometimes compared to a castle. Prestigious, expensive, meant for young adults that are destined for greatness and are willing to push out of their comfort zone to get there. Only a select few get accepted after interviews, portfolio reviews, testing scores, participation, practically everything. And there's no doubt that Angelino Salvatore excelled. He's as great as he looks, quickly becoming a potential for the Martial Arts Club, signing up for Track and easily fitting in, and being recognized as a student with great will and a hunger for justice. His reputation follows him, and he is given looks of respect more than fear. Angelino is more pleased with the fact that students can come up to him and ask whatever, he could care less about his ego when it comes to welcoming newcomers and guests visiting the campus.
That being said, hallways are full, club rooms are indeed busy. The student council is flying around like busy bees, Angelino has already bumped into its president and secretary once or twice, and he flashed them his best smile. That earned him lovely greetings, luckily. He couldn't help but internally gush at the fact that they actually bothered to wish him a good experience at the second Club Rush of the year starting in two days. Angelino was tasked with getting some more copies of sports club applications, since the clubs and teams usually fill out fast when it comes to reserving spots for tryouts. It's quite the walk, but because the scenery outside one of the hallways is a large window to a courtyard garden, one he tends to, he never minds the small journey. It's heartwarming knowing that the flowers are blooming so well.
He gets to the double doors leading to the so-called headquarters of the Equestrian Club. The dark umber wood of the doors is always quite imposing to Angelino, knowing how heavy and loud they can be with their age. Angelino takes a deep breath, staring at the door left ajar, a silent invitation for anyone needing assistance, news, anything.
With a gentle knock and a moment of silence, a small “come in,” is heard. Angelino's ears twitch from the shift of echoey silence of the halls. He pushes the door open, peeking inside to see if there is anyone occupying, and there is. A blonde, his back turned away as they seem to be busy with something on the desk up at the front of the room, another door next to it. There are armchairs in front of said desk, and the windows let the natural light in. Angelino has always liked how the academy seems to really appreciate the power of the sun like this, and if anything the curtains and drown out any heat. Though the warmth does do wonders in the winter.
He finally steps inside and doesn't let go of the door until the doorstopper carries the weight of it now.
“Good morning. Um,” Angelino shifts, and his hands occupy the pockets of his baggy slacks. The black fabric adjusts to his hands, as if he's done this so many times before. He doesn't lean on anything like he usually does, for the room is foreign to him. He waits, patiently. As he opens his mouth, he's cut off by the other person in the room, who seems to be slipping papers into a vanilla file.
“Sorry, please give me a minute! I'm… kind of all over the place right now,” he seems genuinely apologetic, “if you'd like, you can have a seat for now.”
Angelino steps over to accept the offer. He slowly sinks into one of the arm chairs, getting comfortable as this is finally a seat he doesn't have to cram himself into. He leans back, and looks out the window. The stables are full, and the horses are being fed. One of them catches his eye, a peculiar white horse that can very much be confused for a unicorn. The person feeding the horse gives him a small rub to the muzzle, it's nice seeing people dote on animals in small gestures like that. Angelino adjusts his hips to let his tail fall over the cushions of the seat properly.
The other person in the room is well dressed, from the looks of him from behind. Follows dress code perfectly. When he finally turns around to slip the file into a cabinet, Angelino gets a better look at him. Piercings litter his long pointed ears, not many on his face aside from the eyebrow, his hair is clipped back partially to let the rest fall over his shoulders. His allure makes Angelino a little warm under the collar of his button up. His knitted sweater in academy colors doesn't help at all.
“Sorry for the wait,” the young blonde apologizes again. Angelino only leans down so that his elbows meet his thighs and waits until he continues speaking, “If you need to talk to the president, she'll be back in a bit. Won't be much of a wait at this hour, no?” He mumbles that last part more to himself. He pulls back the sleeve of his blazer to look at his watch.
“Nah, I just need some copies for the club applications. Sports?”
“Ohh!” He finally looks over at Angelino, in which it's clear he indeed does have a soft look to him that Angelino was already suspecting. The young man is quick to pull out a vanilla folder, separate from the one he just slipped in, and opens it to glance over.
Angelino slowly stands up to walk over to him, keeping distance and switching his hand position so that his hands are behind his back now. He looks down at his sneakers, not exactly in crisp condition but they're clearly broken into. They've been shown love. Angelino naturally looks at the other student's, brown loafers with the small glimpse of bright yellow socks. How cute.
As Angelino was about to step closer, the student turned to supposedly face him and give him the file, only for them to nearly crash into each other. On instinct, Angelino had reached to hold the blonde's shoulders, preventing him from losing his balance.
“My bad, you alright?” Angelino blinks, and they both make eye contact. Such a pretty shade of blue… or green? Blue-green?
“I'm fine! I should've heard you, I'm sorry,” He gestures to the file, in which Angelino takes into his hands when letting go of him. With a small nod, he smiles. “Thanks, man.”
Just when he's about to leave, though, he feels he shouldn't. His gut tells him to say something. Anything. Literally.
“Uh… I like your tie. Spiffy.”
Yellow and blue, marble pattern in silk. The student glances down at his tie, and he lights up a little. Gosh, he's got such a sweet smile. And his hair framed his face well. “Thank you.” The giggle is even better. Is he seriously getting all soft now?
“What's your name?” Angelino blurts out, because if he's a first year already doing favors for the club he wants to join and make his name known, he's going to want to know people in other sports clubs.
Surely. Surely that's the reason.
“Akihiro,” he straightens up and extends a hand. His skin is pale, but the adoration of a single ring on his finger matches the watch. Clearly, he's stylish. Angelino takes his hand, warm and firm, one that can easily be set as an example of a great handshake that means business.
A firm shake is shared, with the two locking eyes again. For a split second, Akihiro forgets he could speak, or let go. He takes in Angelino's features, the caramel brown of his skin, the lighter spots over his face, his thick eyebrows, the gap between his teeth, he's tall and clearly strongly built. Handsome.
“Angelino. You a first year?”
“Mhm. I'm friends with the president, she's trying to get me into the club, she says I have outstanding potential," Akihiro states in amusement. “And I'm assuming they have you busy as a first year as well.”
“Right on the money, Akihiro.”
He's the first to realize they're still shaking hands, and he gathers the courage to let go, and so does Angelino. Hesitantly so. He clears his throat, and Akihiro plays with the untucked tie that he now has a newfound attachment to.
“You're coming to Club Rush then,” Angelino guessed confidently, and he is answered with a firm nod. “Cool. Might see you there. Thanks for the copies.”
He has to leave now, and Akihiro feels rude to not offer some sort of treat or hospitality. But this isn't his home, this is just some club room he just so happens to be occupying for the president. “It's my pleasure. I'll…see you there, then?” His eyes are hopeful, he looks at Angelino with a slight smile, as if knowing he'll say yes. At least, that's what it looks like to Angelino.
And he does.
“Yeah. I'll look for you.”
And with that, he leaves. And Akihiro is left wondering. How come he's already willing to look for him when they've spoken so little? Perhaps he's just that friendly. A sweet boy wanting to make some friends in his first year, and that's very understandable.
Maybe he's as sweet as he seems. Akihiro is taken from his thoughts when the door thumps gently against the doorstopper. He sighs, hand squeezing as he hopes to feel that nice warmth again.