Chapter Text
All things considered, Caelus’ first day as a third-year high school student couldn’t have gone much better. The walk to school with his stupid idiot twin sister, who he would give a kidney to if he had to, and their best friends, March and Dan Heng, was a relatively peaceful one under a clear blue morning sky. On the way to the noticeboard to check the class lists, he managed to greet March’s emo goth twin sister, Evernight, and only had a single piece of courtyard gravel thrown at him as opposed to the usual handful that was occasionally delivered down the back of his shirt.
With classes for the year checked, Caelus had made it clear he was glad to be rid of Stelle during them (only once he had confirmed that she did have friends in her class). The perfect image of a respectful young man then spent the walk with Dan Heng and March to their classroom perfecting his act of annoying the long-suffering couple as the most irritating third wheel in history. But this was where all semblances of normalcy ended.
In every instance of him keeping an eye on his twin sister to see what mischief she was getting up to without him during the day, the silly girl always had this hopelessly lovestruck grin on her face. Not what he would call a normal occurrence. But Stelle had also been with Number One School Sweetheart and Old Family Friend Cyrene, who seemed to be in a perpetual state of being endeared by whatever Stelle was doing.
Now, Caelus knew that Stelle and Cyrene went way back. The pair had been childhood friends along with a boy named Phainon before they were separated when the twins’ family had to move for work, only to be reunited in their first year of high school. Not that it was much of a reunion, nor did they become super close friends. Just simple acquaintances, which worked out just fine considering one of them went on to become the Number One School Sweetheart and the other one of the school’s sporting legends.
But something was different between them this year. If Fanfiction Reading Night with March had taught him anything, it was that Stelle was currently yearning like a useless lesbian. And that Cyrene was a bit oblivious to it, also like a useless lesbian. Or was she? Caelus was never too sure about the pink haired girl; she always seemed to hide her true thoughts behind polite smiles. However, every time he saw the two girls together throughout the day, Cyrene’s expression did appear a lot less perfect.
Well, they did look like a good match, so he supposed he could let it slide.
Dinner at the Hunt family was generally an event draped in organised chaos typically orchestrated by Chief Mischief Causer Number One (himself) or Chief Mischief Causer Number Two (Stelle). But tonight, things were rather laid-back after a tiring first day of the school year.
On the other side of the dinner table from Caelus sat an eternal edgelord of a youngest sister who refused to be called anything other than Silver Wolf and claimed to be the best hacker in the world. She wasn’t passionately discussing a game with him or Stelle tonight, instead eating as fast as possible to return to her ‘hacking’. It was gaming. And she was a terrible gamer.
Next to Silver Wolf sat his timid and shy second youngest sister, Firefly, who was quietly sharing her day with their mother. Their father (next to Caelus) was definitely listening as well, but he just ate in silence instead of engaging in the conversation like Mom.
And finally, on Caelus’ other side, was his stupid idiot twin sister. Unfortunately for literally everyone else, according to him, his spare parts were sighing longingly while picking at their food. If Fanfiction Reading Night with March had taught him something else, it was that Stelle was yearning lesbianly about a certain pink-haired girl in a totally not obvious way at all. The expression on her face said everything and Caelus, being the very helpful big brother that he was, just couldn’t stand seeing his twin sister in such a miserable state.
In a voice just loud enough to be easily heard by everyone, he announced: “Sis, can you stop yearning so much? Jeez, the rest of us are trying to eat here.”
The bait was cast and a whole school of fish bit immediately.
First, Stelle’s face went bright red as a half embarrassed, half choking sound spilled from her mouth.
Second, Mom looked over with a raised eyebrow. She loved talking about this sort of thing, so much so that the curiosity was gleaming in her eyes behind a very flimsy cool façade.
Third, Firefly gave Stelle a sympathetic glance. That was a very telling reaction in and of itself, but Caelus was more amused by the ‘well, what can you do?’ look she gave him next.
Finally, Silver Wolf cackled something about being a loser in Stelle’s general direction.
A heavy silence fell over the room and Caelus considered his job as a big brother successfully completed. Until Stelle kicked his shin under the table and Silver Wolf laughed at his suffering.
“What are you talking about, you moron?! I’m not yearning!”
Firefly perked up as innocent realisation flashed across her face. “Oh, is this about Cyrene? I saw you two at break today. You look very cute together.” When had his younger sister become so bold as to dig a metaphorical grave for Stelle on his behalf? Caelus was proud.
Mom was clearly enjoying the conversation a lot more now as she gave Stelle a knowing look. “Cyrene, hmm? It’s been a while since you last talked about her.”
“That’s because there’s nothing to say! We’re just in the same class this year, that’s all! C’mon, it’s the first day back, give me a break…”
Caelus’ fun was over when Mom let out a good-natured chuckle. “Alright, I suppose we can leave it there for now.” She was clearly still very invested in the topic if the look in her eyes was anything to go by. This topic would surely be brought up again.
Quiet once again enveloped the room and was only broken by an obligatory comment from Stelle. “Oh my god, I hate you so much Caelus.”
“Love you too, sis.”
And the meal ended in peace, for once.
All things considered, Stelle’s first day as a third-year high school student could not have gone better. The walk to school with her stupid idiot baby brother (Stelle was older – Mom said she came out first), who she would give a kidney to if he needed it, and their best friends, March and Dan Heng, was rather peaceful. She got to laugh at Caelus for having gravel thrown at him by his ‘not obvious’ crush only to be laughed at for being separated from the others in a different class. Fair’s fair, she supposed.
After situating herself at a comfortable main character-like desk in the back corner of her classroom, Stelle was ready to handsomely doze off like the cool girl she was until class started. Her plans were quickly interrupted by the intrusion of a head of pastel pink hair.
Stelle didn’t consider herself the type to stare at super pretty girls. She didn’t even think about the prettiness of girls until now! But as Cyrene strode into the classroom, Stelle knew that something had changed. Since when was Cyrene so gorgeous? They used to be childhood best friends, back when that sort of thing really didn’t matter. Even when they reconnected two years prior, Cyrene had been just another girl. But the holidays must have done something to her.
The way her long, silky, pink hair flowed behind her as she walked, her clear skin, the way she held herself with such confidence, and her beautiful eyes. Those eyes that reminded Stelle of the clearest blue skies…
“Stelle? Is something wrong?” Even Cyrene’s voice was soft and gentle, filled with kindness. Wait-
“Oh, um, everything’s all good! I was just… uh… spacing out…?” Stelle could feel the heat rising in her face. She really didn’t think she was the type to stare at super pretty girls, but maybe it was time to reconsider that.
Cyrene’s giggle was decidedly the cutest thing ever (sorry Firefly) and did nothing to help Stelle’s very warm face. And the way her eyes softened when looking at her- “You never change, do you? It takes a certain type of… resilience to maintain the same personality after so long.”
Stelle let out a quiet sigh. She could just listen to Cyrene talking forever. “Wait, you’re making fun of me, aren’t you?! I have so grown up!”
A more substantial laugh escaped Cyrene from Stelle’s insistence. “Who knows~?” She then placed her bag down on the neighbouring desk to stake her claim to it. Stelle knew that this year was going to be an eventful one if she was seated next to a Cyrene at her most beautiful.