Chapter Text
"Mr. Venti, are you listening?" The teacher called, noticing how her student hasn't been focusing on her lesson.
Venti didn't answered, implying that he really wasn't paying attention. It may seem like he is judging from his current position right now. His chin is resting on his hand while his eyes focusing on the book he is holding up with his other hand. No one knows if he's just too engrossed in reading that he couldn't hear around him or his mind is out of it. Whatever it is, he has to snap back to reality now, quickly.. before..
A slam on the table helped Venti regain his senses, dropping the book but catching in just time before it falls to the ground. He let out a relieved sigh and placed the book back to his desk.
"Welcome back, Mr.Venti." The teacher greeted while holding her own book. "It seems my lesson wasn't that interesting, I see." She crossed her arms and tapped her shoulder with her hand.
"Ah!" Venti stood up and swallowed. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Ei!" Venti said while scratching the back of his head.
"So you do think it was boring."
"Eh? Hmm.. I guess it is since History really ain't my thing."
"Is that so?" Ei asked again, smiling. "Then I know the perfect lesson for you."
"Really?! What is it, Mrs. Ei?" Venti beamed, hoping it's related to music or PE.
"Detention."
"Wha?! That's no fun at all!"
"Oh, it's fun~ For me, that is." Ei added. Clearing her throat, she asked Venti to be seated so she can continue her "boring" lessons.
Venti followed and sat back to his seat, he held his head with his hands and leaned down to his desk, regretting what he just did.
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"And then she gave me detention!" Venti said, eating the rolled omelette from Aether's bento.
"That's what you get for not paying attention." Aether sighed, letting his best friend take food from him, he was relieved he made extra, knowing well that Venti likes Lumine's cooking.
It's lunch time right now and they're currently at the rooftop having their lunch together. While it's forbidden to eat at the said place, they find ways to still eat there. They just find it really peaceful how wide and quiet it is. They also come here for one person, Xiao.
Both of them harbor feelings to the guy and has kept it secret ever since. It all started when the two first came to the roof top, they accidentally walked in on Xiao who was sleeping on the ground with an opened book on his face. Ever since that day, they would always hang out in the roof top again, usually it would be just Aether and Venti but occasionally, Xiao would join them when he's awake.
"Still, can you believe that? I only said the truth!" Venti took another rolled omelette.
"Hey, that's enough rolled omelette! You took almost all of it, geez." Aether pouted.
"Oh, come on, just one more and--" And before Venti get to eat the last rolled omelette, Xiao appeared beside him, grabbing Venti's wrist and eating the rolled omelette.
Aether, shocked, almost dropped his chopsticks but kept it together to not end up making a mess. Venti, on the other hand was pouting with what Xiao did.
"Xiao! That's my rolled omelette!"
"Mhm, tastes good." Xiao ignored Venti and looked at Aether's bento, eyeing the last one at the side.
"Do you want more?" Aether asked, taking the last omelette from his bento and pointing it to Xiao's mouth. "Say ahh~ Haha, just kidding."
Xiao hummed and opened his mouth, eating the last piece, chewing it slowly to savour its taste.
"Wah! That should have been mine!"
"You already had a lot, i'll ask my sister to make more tomorrow." Aether sighed as he resumed eating.
Xiao sat properly beside Venti, still chewing the last omelette that he got from Aether.
Cute. Is what both Aether and Venti thought as they watch their crush.
Finishing their lunch, after they clean up and set aside their bento boxes, they sat together and talked, catching up on what's happening and telling stories of each other.
"Also, hear this, Xiao, Mrs. Ei gave me detention again!"
"Hm. Seems normal." Xiao answered, knowing it isn't rare for the other to get in trouble.
"But that means I can't walk home with you guys later after school." The dark haired boy frowned, sighing.
"Ah, it's okay, we can wai--"
"I'll wait for you. Just be sure to finish what Mrs. Ei tells you to so she can let you go early."
Aether wanted to say he could also wait, but hearing Xiao's words, for some reason, he got hurt because of it.
"Really?! Yay, thank you, Xiao!" He giggled, about to throw his arms around the grumpy boy but he was rejected. "Ah, what were you saying again, Aether?" Venti straightened up and looked back to him.
"Oh.. um, well.. later.. I--"
An arm was put around Aether from behind, pulling him back. "Aether has plans with me after school." Albedo smiled.
"A-Albedo!" Aether held onto his arm and looked to his side.
"I see! Alright, me and Xiao can just walk home together then. Enjoy, you two~" Venti teased.
Albedo chuckled, patting Aether's head as he looks at Xiao. "Xiao, shall we go now?"
"We should. Let go of Aether." Xiao stood up from his seat and dusted his self, still focusing his gaze on Aether and Albedo.
"Yes, yes. It's not like i'm suffocating him." Aether was finally free as Albedo withdrew his hands from him and stood up as well. "See you later, Aether." The two walked out from the roof top, closing the door behind them quietly so no one would hear, they went to their usual spot to smoke.
As they were finally gone, Venti scoot closer to Aether and snickered. "Sooo, what's going on between you and Albedo?"
"Nothing. We're just friends."
"Reallyyy?"
"Really."
"Hmm. Now i'm curious. Aether, do you like someone?"
"...I do." Aether cleared his throat. Of course he does, it may be obvious who.
"Who is it?"
"I won't tell you."
"Ehh? Why not?" The dark haired boy pouted, shaking his best friend. "I'll also tell you mine!"
Aether, curious, wanted to actually know this. Venti and Xiao are close and he wanted to confirm if Venti also has feelings for Xiao. If ever he does like Xiao as well.. what will he do? Unlike him, Venti is talented in many ways, he has good looks, has a way with poetry and words, can sing you songs and even play instruments. Aether could only show off his athletic side, how he can run miles anytime and has mastered self defense by his own. Knowing that, he still wants to know, if ever it's not Xiao, then that's one less of his worry.
"Fine." Aether finally agreed.
"Okay! On the count of three, let's say their names, okay?" Venti prepared himself, sitting beside Aether and putting his hands on his lap.
"One.."
Please..
"Two.."
Let it be..
"Three!"
Someone else..
After Venti finally said the final number, both of them took a deep breathe.
"Xiao!"
"Xi--" Before Aether finished, he stopped his self when he heard Venti's answer.
Venti crossed his arms, pouting as he waited for Aether's answer. "Well? You're unfair, Aether! Tell me yours!"
Now, what? He just found out that his best friend likes the same guy he's into. What should he say now?
I'm afraid.. to lose our friendship..
Aether knows that Venti is not that kind of person. He knows that even if they end up liking the same person, they'll still be friends. But, still, fear overtook Aether. He knows that it will all come to downhill in the end anyway, as Xiao will either choose one of them, hurting the other in the process.
Aether doesn't want to get hurt.. but seeing Venti get hurt is something he wishes to not see.
Venti noticed Aether's sudden silence. "Aether? Sorry if I forced you.. it's okay to not answer."
"Al.."
"Hmm?"
"Albedo.."
"Oh? I knew it! You do like Albedo!" Venti teased, pushing his elbow to Aether's side. "You two look together, I support you two."
"You too." Aether laughed. "Hoping for the best for both of you."
"Same goes to you!"
The bell rang, signalling that lunch time is over and all students should go back to their classrooms.
The two then made their way back to their classrooms, Aether and Venti are in different sections, they were bummed at first but they couldn't really do anything about it anyway.
"See you tomorrow, Aether!" Venti waved, going back to his classroom.
"Yeah.. see you." When Venti finally went back inside, Aether's smile vanished.
Who am I to deserve such love anyway?