Chapter Text
Riddle Rosehearts knew exactly what was expected of him.Riddle Rosehearts knew exactly what was expected of him.
His mother’s voice followed him even now, years after he had first learned to obey it.
Study hard.
No distractions.
No unnecessary friendships.
No romance.
There would be plenty of time for such things later, she had said. After his education. After his exams. After he had proven himself.
There was always something that had to come first.
Riddle had memorized every rule.
He had memorized the calorie counts of his meals, the hours he was expected to study, the grades he was expected to achieve, and the countless little restrictions that had shaped his life into something neat and manageable.
Night Raven College was supposed to be an opportunity.
A new school. A new year. A chance to prove himself.
He had no intention of wasting it.
As the carriage carried him toward the school, Riddle looked out the window at the unfamiliar landscape and allowed himself one small breath of excitement.
Perhaps this year would be easier.
He would study. He would follow the rules. He would become a proper mage.
And, most importantly, he would not get distracted.
Especially not by romance.
Riddle had no interest in romance.
He certainly didn’t need it.
And he absolutely did not expect anyone to be interested in him, either.
The first few days at Night Raven College went almost exactly as he had planned.
He attended every class.
He completed every assignment.
He arrived early enough that he never had to rush between buildings, and he spent his evenings reviewing the day’s material instead of wandering around campus like some of the other first-years.
He had even begun to learn his way around the school.
There was comfort in routine.
A schedule meant knowing what came next.
Knowing what came next meant being prepared.
And being prepared meant there was very little that could go wrong.
At least, that was what Riddle thought.
It was during a break between classes that something finally did.
Riddle was walking through one of the corridors with a book tucked beneath his arm when someone called out to him.
“Hey.”
He kept walking.
There were plenty of students in the corridor. Surely they couldn’t be speaking to him.
“Hey, Strawberyy.”
Riddle stopped.
Slowly, he turned around.
A tall student was leaning against the wall a few meters away, looking thoroughly bored.
Riddle recognized him from one of the upperclassmen he’d seen around campus.
Floyd Leech.
Riddle had heard his name once or twice already.
Mostly in conversations that involved someone complaining.
He glanced behind himself.
There was nobody else there.
“…Were you speaking to me?”
Floyd lifted his head.
“Yeah.”
Riddle frowned.
“Why?”
Floyd shrugged.
“’Cause you look funny.”
Riddle blinked.
“…Excuse me?”
Floyd pushed himself away from the wall.
“Your face.”
“My face?”
“Yeah.”
He started walking toward Riddle.
Riddle remained where he was for approximately two seconds before deciding that standing still was a mistake.
He took one step backward.
Floyd took another step forward.
Riddle frowned.
“Why are you coming closer?”
Floyd grinned.
“Why are you backing up?”
“Because you’re getting closer.”
“Yeah.”
“…Why?”
Floyd tilted his head.
“‘Cause you’re cute.”
Riddle froze.
His face went hot.
Floyd blinked.
Then his grin widened.
“Ooooh.”
Riddle’s embarrassment immediately turned into irritation.
“What?”
“You’re fun.”
“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”
Floyd laughed.
Riddle turned sharply on his heel.
“Goodbye.”
“Bye, Goldfish.”
Riddle stopped.
He slowly turned around again.
“My name is Riddle.”
Floyd waved lazily.
“I know.”
And then he walked away.
Riddle stood there for several seconds, staring after him.
He had known Floyd Leech for approximately three minutes.
He already disliked him.
…And, judging by the grin on Floyd’s face as he disappeared around the corner, the feeling was probably not mutual.