haruchiyo

Very, very touchy when sharing a bed. You’d never find his hands anywhere else but on you. Congratulations, you’re his human sized comfort pillow now.

He’d be very pissed if you suddenly move away while he’s asleep. Like, wth are you going instead of taking care of your boyfriend? Come back here right now 😾

He falls asleep easily but never sleeps deeply. The smallest sound or movement would wake him. You always try to be as quiet as possible when you get up, but every time before you can even step out of bed his hand finds you, all frowny the moment your warmth disappears.

Dare you leave the bed again?

He loves being the small spoon.

He would definitely purr when he’s comfortable in your arms.

Half the time, Sho has to wake both of you up in the morning because why the hell are you two late for class again

✦ 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝙰 ✦

He’ll drag you out to hang out with him all day, claiming it’s “for content” for his fans when in reality, he’s focused entirely on you, with his phone on silent the whole time. He just wants to cheer you up and distract you from negative thoughts, because he knows far too well how consuming those thoughts can be from what he’s experienced in his past.

He never wants his loved one to go through the same thing. So let’s erase bad memories with good ones, together, with him.

Even after you feel better, he’ll overthink everything. Did he do well? Did you really feel better? Questions race through his mind, but he doesn’t say a word. Instead, he acts indifferent, even saying something like how he went through all that effort to plan a date and you didn’t even show much appreciation.

Then you give him a small, soft kiss on the cheek and thank him for today, telling him how much you enjoyed it, how much fun you had, and how you’d love to spend more time like that with him.

His brain completely shuts down. You can see the heat spread from the tips of his ears to his face, then down his neck. Yep, he’s red from head to toe, like the little strawberry he is. He’ll still try to argue and hide how flustered and embarrassed he feels, even though your kiss is still lingering on his skin.

Kiss him again to shut his dishonesty, tsk, tsk. It’s bad to lie, Leo.

Don’t ask him to be more honest. He won’t be at least not with words. He’ll show it through his actions once he trusts you enough, once you’ve been in the relationship long enough. Be patient with him. He’s a very sensitive boy.

✦ 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝙰 ✦

When Haku convinces you to come to Darkwick, it isn’t entirely by choice. You’ve become a ghoul and Darkwick is where you’re supposed to go. But there’s another reason, he tells you about a close friend of his who is unfortunately burdened with a Death Reaper type curse, and he desperately wants you to check on him.

You would, right?

Even if you’re only distant relatives, you’ve heard about him a few times through your family and people around you. You’re curious about this so-called Death Reaper friend of Haku’s. Why say no?

Your first impression of Rui is that he’s all shine and brightness, like soft sunlight on a windless day, breaking through your quiet, silent life. Despite having faced countless curses, none ever felt truly serious. Maybe it’s because of your ability, you’ve never found them particularly troubling.

But Rui.

When you look at him, at his bright smile and bubbly personality, and the way he jokingly flirts with you, it’s easy to understand why he’s friends with Haku. Yet, despite that radiant smile, you can see the dark shadow lingering behind him, following his every step, clinging to him like a leech against skin, draining everything he has. His soul. His life. Even his light.

So you offer your hand.

You tell him your bloodline isn’t affected by any type of curse. You ask if he can take off his gloves and hold your hand for just a minute.

He refuses.

He declines. He avoids you, still wearing that bright smile, but the seriousness in his tone weighs heavy.

He’s scared he might harm you somehow, especially when you’re related to one of his closest friends. He couldn’t possibly do that.

So no. No and no. He’d never touch you.

In fact, he avoids you everywhere. Even when he hears your voice or footsteps, he’s gone within a minute.

Unfortunately for him, you’ve always been stubborn.

When he declines, it feels like a challenge because you know whether his curse can affect you or not. He refuses every single time you offer, and because you don’t want to make him uncomfortable, you try your best to convince him.

That includes memorizing his schedule, ahem, you might have asked Haku for a little help with that and showing up at his bar every night. So often, in fact, that you start drinking with Romeo and Haru, all just to convince him.

“Senpai, please allow me to touch you. Or the other way around is fine.”

Romeo and Haru immediately lose it as they gape at your phrasing. Rui, meanwhile, nearly gasps out loud and frantically screams for Lyca to cover his ears.

And he still refuses.

You fail once. Twice. Three times. Four. Five. Honestly, you’ve lost count. But you don’t give up.

You show up every day while he’s gardening, helping him around the dorm. You follow him like a little tail.

He’s frustrated, nearly hopeless because he doesn’t want to be rude, but nothing he says seems to faze you. Somehow, you always find him.

This strange tag-team chase continues until the day you’re assigned on a mission together with Haku, and maybe the Honor Roll too.

It gets dangerous.

You’re impulsive and hotheaded, and you move to help him. You shove him out of the way or rather, you kick him aside because even in that split second, you refuse to touch him. You go out of your way not to cross that line while still saving him.

That’s when he finally understands.

Despite how insistently you try to help him, despite how determined you are to touch him and understand his curse, you never cross any line he draws. You never do anything he doesn’t want.

And maybe… that tugs at his heart a little.

Damn it.

How are you so understanding and so unbearably adorable when you follow him around like that?

All he can think about is your voice calling him “Rui-senpai”

All.

The.

Time.

No. No, no, no! NO.

This is dangerous.

He needs to keep his distance before he sinks any deeper into this.

Please, just leave him alone.

He’s never been this confused in his entire life.

Because Rui Mizuki is supposed to be the one who makes people lose their minds, not the other way around.

♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹

Maybe you catch him on a bad day.

He’s overwhelmed, drowning in his own dark thoughts, and when he turns around, he raises his voice, just a little. A little louder than usual. It only lasts a second, because regret hits him immediately.

How could he snap at someone like you?

Fuck.

He knows he messed up the moment he sees the surprise in your eyes. Even though you don’t seem hurt by his words, he feels like a complete asshole. You apologize right away, but he says nothing. Not because he doesn’t know what to say, because he thinks you might go away if you hate him, even just a little.

Yeah. That’s how messed up his way of caring about you is. To the point that he doesn’t want you anywhere near him.

So you go quiet for a few days. You stop following him around. You disappear.

And suddenly, he feels unbearably lonely.

He’s used to being alone, he tells himself that, but without you around, everything feels duller. Less alive. Even Lyca seems to miss you now that you no longer show up at the bar. Haru asks where his “little tail” went.

Rui has no answer.

He can’t say that he tried to push you away. He can’t admit that you might hate him now, or that you could be crying somewhere because of him. He overthinks until it stresses him to hell and back. Lyca complains that Rui has already broken the fifth glass this week just from opening and closing the bar.

Still, he never reaches out to you.

That was the decision he made, to not let you get any closer.

But after almost two weeks, you’re standing in front of him again.

You bring small gifts, explaining that you were busy with missions alongside Haku. You apologize for making him uncomfortable, for following him around so persistently. You tell him you talked things through with Haku, and he helped you pick something suitable to properly apologize.

God! You’re adorable when you hand him the gifts, your eyes flickering with uncertainty, clearly wondering whether he’ll accept your apology.

The impression he’s always had of you is that you’re confident. Certain. Secure in yourself.

Maybe that’s exactly why he likes you and why you scare him.

Because deep down, he no longer has that confidence. All that fills him now is insecurity and self-doubt, hollowing him out until he believes he deserves no warmth, no love, from anyone.

Later that night, when the bar grows quiet again, he sits alone, staring at the small box you gave him earlier. His thoughts spiral, and for the first time, yes, the first time in his life, he asks Ed a question.

“Should I accept the offer?”

Because you seem sincere... And serious.

Serious about helping him. Serious about your work, your duty, your responsibilities… and serious about him.

He thinks about it endlessly, day and night. Sleep rarely comes to him anymore because of the curse. Most nights are filled with nightmares or his own empty, consuming thoughts.

But ever since you barged into his life, it started with just a tiny dot, small and insignificant. Slowly, though, you seeped into his world like paint spreading across a blank canvas. By the time he realized it, every day and every night were filled with you.

Your voice.

Your laugh.

Your small smile.

The way you love the wind and sunlight. The way you get confused over the strange plants in his garden but still insist on helping. The first time you tried alcohol at his bar, how you clearly hated the taste but stubbornly drank it anyway. The way you always say his name so gently.

He knows you see him like you see everyone else. The only thing different is the curse that seems to intrigue you.

Other than that…

He wonders what he looks like in your mind.

Does your thoughts drift to him the way his drift to you, constantly?

Even though you’ve never touched him, somehow it feels like you’ve already captured his entire heart in your palm.

And that realization only makes sleep harder to find.

Sometimes just thinking about you makes his face burn so badly that even Lyca starts questioning whether Rui has caught some kind of disease.

♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹

When did he finally accept your offer?

Hah. It was the moment he saw someone ask you for a dance at one of the many festivals Hotarubi hosted throughout the week.

He couldn’t attend crowded places like festivals anymore. Even though he loved lively spaces, loved being surrounded by friends, by noise and warmth, he avoided them now. It was safer that way. Better for everyone.

Lyca was the one who recorded the festival and sent him the footage, mentioning that he was there with Subaru and the Honor Roll. As Rui watched, he couldn’t help but smile at the boy. The way the Lyca’s eyes lit up at everything around him, the way Rui knew, without even seeing it, that his tail was probably wagging uncontrollably. Such an adorable junior he has.

And then you appeared in the frame.

You were working as staff, helping Haku with small tasks, moving back and forth tirelessly. As night fell and people began dancing beneath the festival’s colorful lights, someone stepped forward and held out a hand, asking you to dance.

You declined saying that you were busy.

But something twisted painfully in Rui’s chest.

Jealousy isn't it?

An ugly, bitter emotion that made the alcohol on his tongue taste even worse as he sat alone behind the bar, quiet and restless. Claiming you as his wouldn’t change anything, he didn’t want you beside him because of his curse. He wanted you to choose him. To want him.

It was selfish, he knew that.

But couldn’t he be selfish, just this once?

Ironically, it was you who brought it up again.

The bar was quiet that night, nearly closing time. You were still there. Lyca had already returned to his room, and the others were long gone, Romeo loudly complaining as he dragged drunk Haru back to the dorms.

The bar was empty now.

Except for you.

Normally, Rui would’ve urged you to head back early, reminded you to rest, or offered to walk you back after closing. But tonight was different. He didn’t say anything. He simply turned his back to you, wiping the counter for the fifth time, polishing already spotless glasses a little too carefully.

He just wanted you to stay a bit longer.

Just this small moment. Please.

You didn’t question his strange behavior. Instead, you asked if he wanted to have a drink with you because you didn’t feel like leaving yet.

And he agreed.

He even made you a new drink from his menu, and you immediately recognized one of your favorite fruits in it. It wasn’t as bitter as most of the drinks he served and normally, Rui wouldn’t let you drink alcohol at all, except on rare nights.

But tonight, you both drank.

As if the alcohol gave courage to face what you’d both been running from for far too long.

“You really don’t consider taking my offer?”

You repeat the question when you notice his mind drifting. His attention snaps back to you, and he nearly gulps.

Because he had considered it. Over and over. Ed had told him he had nothing to lose by accepting, and annoyingly enough, most of what Ed said had turned out to be true.

Still, Rui doubted himself, who he was, what he was capable of.

He lets out a quiet, bitter laugh and wonders why you’re so insistent on helping him. Is it because he’s Haku’s friend? Or because you pity him?

He hates being pitied.

But when it’s you… it feels different.

And that makes it worse.

“Do you pity me?”

You don’t answer right away. You fall silent for a moment.

But you’ve always been honest and fearless when it comes to confronting your own feelings.

Yes. You admit that you pity him.

But you explain that curiosity came first. Curiosity about his curse. The pity came later. And you remember something Haku once told you, you only pity someone when you truly care about them.

How could you not care about him?

That hurts Rui more than anything else.

Because now you care.

And that makes everything more complicated. It makes accepting your offer even harder. He doesn’t want to think about it anymore.

But you don’t let him run away from the topic any longer.

You tell him softly but firmly that you don’t want to touch him because of his curse anymore. You simply want to feel his warmth. And you know, without a doubt, that his curse won’t affect you.

Hah… what are you even saying?

You catch him completely off guard. He nearly jumps out of his seat. You really should work on how you phrase things because that was so easy to misunderstand.

So easy that it actually hurts him.

He asks if you’re not afraid of death. Why would you risk everything just to touch him? How can you be so sure?

Your answer is simple.

You have faith in yourself. And you have faith in him.

He won’t hurt you. He can’t hurt you. Is he really doubting an expert?

So, hesitantly, he removes his gloves. He stares at his palm longer than necessary, then at your outstretched hand. Slowly, so carefully, as if you’re made of fragile petals, he places his hand in yours.

The moment his fingertips brush your skin, warmth shoots through him like a shockwave. Panic overtakes him, and he immediately pulls away, fear clawing at his chest.

What if your life drains away because of him? He can’t bear that thought.

But you don’t let him retreat.

You reach out and catch his hand, pulling it back into your palm. Warm skin meets warm skin, and his heart nearly drops out of his chest.

But.

Nothing happens.

Truly, nothing.

You just sit there, still looking at him. Under the dim bar lights, your eyes glisten, reflecting his stunned expression back at him. His body is stiff, frozen, but you don’t seem to mind. You gently spread his hand open and interlock your fingers with his.

They fit perfectly.

As if this was always meant to happen. As if you should have done this long ago.

How long has it been since he last felt another person’s warmth? How close he came to forgetting what skin against skin felt like. His blood feels like it’s boiling, and the sensation only makes him greedier for your touch.

“See? I told you. No curse in this world can harm me.”

Your confident, certain voice echoes softly in the bar, pulling him back to reality. His hand trembles in yours, but you don’t let go. Not for a long moment.

From that day on, whenever he longs for warmth, your warmth, you know. Because he tells you. He becomes more open, more honest, and holding hands slowly turns into a quiet ritual between the two of you.

You seem indifferent to it.

But Rui?

Oh, this man is in trouble.

He’s greedy. Holding your hand isn’t enough anymore but how can it be greed if it can be fulfilled?

When you’re around, he starts noticing everything.

The way you do homework with Lyca at his bar. How you bite the tip of your pen when you’re stuck on a question. The way your fingers flip through book pages. Even the way you drink water.

No. Stop. Rui. Get a grip.

He has to repeat stay calm in his head constantly. Because even your breathing makes his skin tingle. He doesn’t understand what’s wrong with him. He shouldn’t be like this.

He thinks he hides it well.

But somehow, you always see right through him.

“We can hug, if you want.”

Absolutely not! Don’t say things like that!

Especially not to a man!

Why are you saying it so casually? Do you say that to everyone? You’re going to give him a heart attack.

He laughs it off, telling you that you shouldn’t say things like that to people, especially men because they might take advantage of you. You should be more careful.

You tell him calmly that you’ve never said that to anyone before.

Because you never wanted to hug anyone… until now.

You’re killing him…

You can’t just say things like that when it makes him want more than just a hug. After that, he avoids the topic entirely. He even reduces how often he holds your hand, afraid he might cross a line.

Rui refuses to touch you again until you march right up to him and announce that you want to touch him.

Unfortunately, you say this right in front of Haku.

Rui panics and immediately clamps his hand over your mouth, shocking even Haku with how fast things seem to have progressed. Haku teases him lightly but otherwise seems… oddly chill about it.

Rui debates whether he should explain.

We’re only holding hands. I’m keeping my distance. Even though I want more.

Would Haku put a knife to his throat if he heard that? Is that something Haku would do?

Thankfully, Haku doesn’t question it much. Either he understands or he just doesn’t care. It’s your free will, after all. He only reminds you to use protection.

Oh my god! Haku!

Rui genuinely cannot handle you two. “Distant relatives” his ass, are you sure you’re not siblings?

Despite all his flirting, Rui is serious when it truly matters. He won’t take things further unless you’re official. So he sits you down and has a long, earnest conversation about it.

Would you date Rui?

He’s cute.

He’s kind.

He takes great care of others.

He’s reliable.

And most importantly, you love holding his hand.

He takes care of you even more than Haku does. However you look at it, dating him feels like a reward. Why wouldn’t you say yes?

Hell yeah. You’d date Rui.

But Rui?

He completely malfunctions.

He has to retreat behind the bar just to calm himself down. How can it be that easy? Did you even think before answering? How did he manage to win you?

He doesn’t understand but you have your own way of seeing the world, one he can never quite explain.

♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹ ♡˖ ⊹

Dating you doesn’t change much.

Except for one thing.

Rui is touch-starved, and he knows it.

Even so, he still tiptoes around you, never initiating contact despite how badly he wants to. His puppy eyes practically bore into you until you finally give him a small hug so he can recharge and survive the rest of the day.

Which means, you’re the one who makes the first move.

And Rui quickly learns just how clingy you are.

Cuddling becomes mandatory whenever you’re around. Even when he’s lazily scrolling on his phone, you slip under his arm and announce that this is the only place you can rest. He drops his phone instantly, flustered beyond belief, terrified that you’ll hear how loudly his heart is pounding.

Of course you hear it.

You just don’t say anything.

He’s adorable like this. And he thinks the same about you. He loves when you cling to him, when your fingers brush his cheek or tilt his chin upward, he melts completely.

So touch him more. He has zero complaints.

Your first kisses are awkward. Even though Rui has more experience, you still make the first move, grabbing his collar, pulling him down to your level, and kissing him before he can think.

He’s too nervous to initiate. All his confidence evaporates the moment you look at him like that.

His heart goes doki doki.

After that?

He stops holding himself back around you 🩷

The first thing Jin wants to know is why there appears to be an anomaly goat living inside the dormitory.

The second thing he wants to know is why the goat's enclosure somehow looks cleaner than the actual dorm.

Everywhere he looks is a disaster.

Why is the air conditioning not working?

Why is the window broken?

Why can he not close the damn door of his bathroom? He has tried seventeen times.

Why are there vines and plants growing everywhere in the kitchen?

He cannot even smoke in peace because the entire place feels one spark away from becoming a fire hazard. He misses his nice clean Frostheim ashtrays.

When it rains, water leaks through the roof because Jabberwock has apparently been surviving on hopes, dreams and an aggressively tight budget.

Jin lies in bed with a bucket on his chest catching drips.

What is that ugly jumpsuit? He looks like a moldy grape.

Why is everyone awake at 4 in the morning?

Why is there no lunch break?

Why does that capybara bus keep screaming? He cannot sleep because during the day the bus is yelling, and at night every animal in existence decides to hold a concert outside his window.

There are thunderstorms, there are storms, there are more storms. During one storm, the goat creature got inside and ate his left shoe.

There is also 50% chance that some anomaly creature chewed on his hair.

By the time Jin returns to Frostheim, he has already used every resource available to him to funnel additional funding toward Jabberwock through Darkwick.

Because what the actual hell was that? How can anyone live there?

How is it even worse than that abandoned dilapidated dorm you were living in?

Such a monstrosity. Such a catastrophe.

No wonder that red haired guy is constantly hopping around campus inviting people to safari tours or whatever it is.

They're not just broke. They're broke broke.

𝐘𝐮𝐫𝐢: 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐧 → 𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐦

Yuri lasts approximately 10 minutes in Vagastrom before developing a stress induced headache.

"WHY IS NOBODY IN THIS HOUSE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY?!"

The first thing he witnesses is students using old tires as chairs.

"Why are you using old tires as chairs?!"

"THAT IS NOT SANITARY!"

Every time he sees someone casually wipe sweat off with their shirt, he loses another year of his lifespan

"STOP WIPING YOUR SWEAT WITH YOUR SHIRT!"

The situation becomes significantly worse when he realizes half of them are covered in dirt, grease, mud, or engine oil from fixing vehicles and somehow think this is perfectly acceptable. The hygiene standards in this House are actively attacking him.

"ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE COVERED IN MECHANIC GREASE!"

"PLEASE!"

That grease is now on your face. You are going to get a rash. You deserve the rash but he will still have to treat it.

To make matters worse, everyone keeps speaking to him casually. Excuse you? That is Dr. Yuri Isami.

DOCTOR!!!!

He did not spend years studying medicine just to be addressed like somebody's drinking buddy.

Students are also constantly asking him for spare parts, repairs, medical advice, or help settling arguments. Why are there so many arguments? Why are people fighting recreationally?

Absolutely unacceptable. Do not involve him in this delinquent behavior. His hands are for scalpels, not punching.

Why the hell is it so damn loud all the time here? There is engine revving, there is shouting, there is someone hitting a metal pole with another metal pole for no reason.

Yes, camping is nice. Yes, mountain climbing is healthy. But for the love of science.

WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE EATING.

WASH YOUR HANDS.

It becomes his most repeated phrase of the week.

He will stand there and watch you wash your hands. He will time you. Twenty seconds minimum.

And stop standing so close to him after training. He can smell you from three meters away.

You're sweaty. You're dirty. You're covered in grease.

Please stay back.

At this point Yuri probably requires two Jiros for emotional support.

The moment he returns to Mortkranken, he immediately showers and disinfects himself from head to toe. He uses three different soaps and one industrial grade sanitizer. He still feels unclean for a week.

However, despite all the complaining, Vagastrom students actually grow rather fond of him.

They constantly get bruises, cuts, and scrapes from training, and Yuri always helps patch them up even while lecturing them the entire time.

Half the House thinks he looks like an angry hamster. Most of them think it is hilarious that this tiny doctor somehow has the confidence to yell at people twice his size.

Unfortunately for Yuri, both groups find him weirdly adorable.

Then Jiro personally arrives to pick him up. A very tall Jiro. A Jiro with an equally intimidating giant guard dog. It is enough to make everyone suddenly understand why nobody in Mortkranken argues with Yuri.

Perhaps this tiny doctor is built differently after all.

Respect.

𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐚: 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚 → 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐢

"What kind of place is this?"

"Why is everybody awake so early?"

"And why is it always raining?"

Taiga's first impression of Hotarubi can be summarized in three words: wet, humid, disgusting. Even Taiga finds the weather unpleasant, which is saying something.

And Taiga has slept in a ditch before. He would rather sleep in the ditch.

Why does everybody eat so little? Tea time? Snack time?

Is that enough food for a squirrel? Where is the meat?

Everywhere he goes, students immediately flee. He sneezes and 3 students faint.

They see him, they panic, they disappear.

Also, he cannot freaking gamble here.  Truly, civilization has collapsed. A genuine human rights violation.

Why are people so timid here? Talking all formal.

Everyone speaks so formally that he spends half his day trying not to laugh. Nobody can look him in the eyes. Nobody can hold a conversation.

He is not going to bite. 

He cannot use a gun.

Boring. Boring. Boring.

So boring he might actually fall asleep standing up.

Nobody nags him though, which is nice.

The problem is that every single student keeps asking him for help.

Can they not solve their own problems? The Sinostra students manage just fine.

This is irritating. He is not your mom. He is not your therapist.

Also, what is that floating doll? He wants to shoot it.

Sometimes the instruments start playing by themselves. He wants to shoot those too.

Despite all that, the place is actually pretty comfortable for napping.

The sound of rain grows on him. The peaceful atmosphere grows on him. For the first time in years, Taiga experiences a quiet day.

A genuinely quiet day. Nice. It is a little boring. Boring enough that he considered gambling with the floating doll.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐧: 𝐕𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐦 → 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲

On his first day, Alan attempts to find Rui's bar. Instead, he gets lost in the forest for nearly an hour. Eventually Rui sends Lyca to retrieve him.

After that, things go surprisingly well.

Alan learns gardening from Rui.

Alan does not drink, but he is quite a help around the bar, especially lifting those heavy boxes of ingredients to the basement. He carries three boxes at once. Rui cries a little from joy.

He cleans the bar so spotlessly that the counter reflects light like a mirror. Rui cries again.

Rui is beginning to wonder if Alan is actually a blessing sent by the gods.

Lyca also kind of likes Alan since Alan is willing to spend time outside with him, unlike Ed who is always lazy indoors and Rui who is always busy with his duties.

This tall big guy also pats his head a lot. It kind of reminds Lyca of Nero. Alan gives good head pats. Therefore, Alan is now Lyca's 3rd favorite person

Since Alan wakes up early anyway, he starts helping Rui with breakfast, laundry, and various chores.

By the end of the week, Rui is almost in tears.

Does Darkwick really have to swap him back? Can they keep this arrangement permanently? Can paperwork be filed?

𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐮: 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐢 → 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐧

Unlike most captains who spend House Swap Week suffering, Subaru accidentally discovers paradise.

This is heaven, actual heaven.

You know how Subaru enjoys anomalies?

You know how he's also a thrill seeker?

Now place him inside a House full of experiments, medical research, questionable procedures and students who should probably be supervised more closely.

The moment he arrives, he starts asking questions about everything. He wants to know how things work, why they work, and what would happen if somebody tried something different. Mortkranken students quickly realize they have accidentally acquired someone who is genuinely excited to be there.

He's having the time of his life.

He gets along with everyone surprisingly well.

Even the students who normally skip their checkups and conveniently disappear whenever medication is involved somehow end up showing up on schedule. Nobody is entirely sure how Subaru does it.

One moment he is smiling politely, the next he has somehow convinced a notoriously stubborn patient to sit down and cooperate. Sometimes he offers sweets. Sometimes he just talks to them. Whatever the method is, it works.

By the end of the week, Mortkranken's attendance records have mysteriously improved, and several staff members are quietly wondering if they should keep Subaru around a little longer.

𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐮: 𝐉𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐜𝐤 → 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐦

Out of all places, they put him here.

Here???? Frostheim????

The kingdom of money. The empire of wealth.

The House where one decorative vase probably costs more than Jabberwock's annual maintenance budget.

His first instinct is calculating how many repairs he could fund if he sold one of the expensive decorations through Elias.

Unfortunately, Tohma discovers the plan before it gets anywhere.

Haru spends most of the week worrying about his park. Yet he still performs all his duties.

But then Tohma casually informs him that everything has already been handled. Haru can simply relax and look around.

Excuse me? Relax?

What does that mean?

What is his point of being here then?

What is he supposed to do all day?

The problem is that Haru does not know how to relax. He has spent years running around solving problems, managing budgets, and making sure Jabberwock does not collapse into complete chaos.

He's used to constant work. Without work, he might actually combust.

Sitting around feels wrong. So.... he starts inventing work.

He cleans. He sweeps. He mops. He polishes.

He even goes as far as wiping the windows inside and out until they are sparkles.

He organizes the silverware drawer by size and then by material. He alphabetizes the spice rack

He cleans the tea sets until they become reflective surfaces.

Tohma has never seen his cups shine so brightly. He can practically see his own soul reflected in them.

The only thing missing is a maid outfit for Haru.

𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 → 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚

Romeo is losing years off his lifespan.

Romeo enters this challenge expecting trouble. What he does not expect is finding someone who somehow manages to be even more frustrating than Hoshibami. Edward spends most of his time watching videos, lounging around, and generally avoiding anything resembling responsibility.

How?

How is this possible?

Why is Edward so lazy?

Why does he spend all day watching YouTube?

At least Taiga can be bribed into signing paperwork.

Edward? Sometimes he literally turns into a tiny bat and vanishes.

The truly shocking part is that Edward somehow succeeds in driving Ritsu insane. Nobody thought such a thing was possible. Ritsu, who normally remains composed under every circumstance, visibly loses patience multiple times throughout the week.

Romeo witnesses this and realizes he may not be the only victim. At this point he is convinced human legal systems simply do not apply to supernatural creatures.

He can physically feel himself aging every time Edward kicks a sock onto the floor and refuses to pick it up. One sock on the lamp. One sock in the fish tank.

𝐉𝐨: 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐚 -> ???

I think Jo would genuinely do well in almost any House. He is adaptable, responsible, hardworking, and competent. Wherever he goes, things simply work.

However, Sinostra is probably where he causes the most emotional damage. Romeo quickly discovers that Jo not only understands aesthetics and design but also shares many of his interests regarding fashion and presentation.

For once, Romeo can actually have a conversation with someone who appreciates details instead of actively creating new problems for him.

Naturally, all of his duties get done on time.

Also without causing property damage.

Without triggering 3 separate disciplinary reports.

Ashamed as Romeo is to admit it, he is probably going to miss Jo after House Swap Week ends.

𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐮: 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐢 → 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐚

Unlike most of the captains who spend their House Swap Week questioning every life choice that led them here, Subaru adapts to Dionysia so frighteningly fast that some people begin to suspect he was sorted into the wrong House from the start.

The moment he realizes he can perform on stage without being bound by all the traditions, expectations, and strict principles that come with Kabuki, he is absolutely delighted. Instead of being told how something should be expressed, he is encouraged to simply express it. Instead of following a predetermined path, he is allowed to experiment, improvise, and explore. To Subaru, this is less of a House assignment and more of a week long vacation.

The students of Dionysia also end up liking him surprisingly quickly. Subaru has always had a way of making people feel comfortable around him, so despite being a visitor, he blends into the House quite well.

Even Shion, who usually feels like he is on a completely different wavelength from everyone else, finds Subaru's presence pleasant. Meanwhile, Subaru becomes fascinated by Shion. Every conversation somehow turns into Subaru quietly listening while Shion speaks in riddles, metaphors or whatever strange poetic language his brain decides to produce that day. Nobody is entirely sure Subaru understands half of it, but he always looks delighted to hear more.

And if you’ve ever worked in that kind of field, or even just seen how people act on site, you probably already get the idea. Lots of shouting is normal. Things need to be done properly because one mistake can seriously mess things up. So I can absolutely imagine Mio being strict at work because his field requires skill, precision, concentration and experience. People who slack off probably are not the kind of people he likes being around, or at the very least not the kind of people he’d willingly choose for his team.

So in the eyes of Dionysia students, I can imagine Mio having these two very distinct sides. On one hand, there’s Susu, the reliable and kind hearted Housemate everyone likes. On the other hand, there’s Vice-captain Mio Susuhara, the strict and demanding perfectionist who will absolutely call you out if you mess around on the job. Working with him can honestly be challenging sometimes because he is very very very meticulous, okay?

But genuinely, he is kind hearted. He’s just an expert, and experts tend to be demanding. That’s simply how it is. If you want to work side by side with him, you better get used to it.

Now that I’ve gone ahead and spread my Mio analysis everywhere, I want to circle back to one of the requests I got about Mio x Mortkranken! Reader. Specifically, some mad scientist type Reader.

This absolutely has Rivals to Lovers potential written iykyk

Because both of you are experts in your own fields, and experts naturally come with a certain level of ego. Some people have more of it, some less, but it’s always there to some extent.

You actually respect Mio’s work a lot. Like genuinely. Without him, Darkwick probably would not even function properly. Wtf do you mean this entire school relies on one student to maintain half the infrastructure? That feels like an OSHA violation waiting to happen. But anyway, that’s not the point right now.

The point is, even if you respect his work, you still have enough pride to avoid openly admitting it.

Then one day Darkwick, or more specifically cough Prof Hyde cough, decides it would be a wonderful idea to assign you and Mio to work together on maintaining one of Mortkranken’s facilities. And since Mio is not from Mortkranken, obviously he needs a few students from the House to supervise and help him navigate whatever horrifying disaster zone the place has become this time.

Well uhm… Things do not start off well.

The biggest issue is that both of you have completely different approaches to work and would much rather do things your own way. Mio is hardworking, but he’s also extremely cautious. Even when he acknowledges your capabilities and respects your expertise, there are still moments where he tries to stop you from handling certain things because “it’s dangerous.”

And oh, that hits your ego in exactly the wrong place.

Because what do you mean dangerous? You know what you’re doing! Why is he acting like you’re incapable? Why does he keep trying to handle everything himself? It feels dismissive, even if that’s not actually his intention.

Let you work too, Mio Susuhara!!

And so begins the constant back-and-forth arguments between the two of you.

Mio is the type that rarely raises his voice unless he’s deeply focused on work and somebody clueless wanders into an active workspace. Other than that, even when your discussions get heated and your ideas clash horribly, he never really loses his temper with you. Quite the opposite actually. He’s weirdly patient.

And somehow that makes you feel even worse afterward.

Because every meeting ends with you feeling like maybe you were too harsh on him while he was genuinely just trying to help.

On top of that, Mio becomes one of the only people who can actually keep up with you for long periods of time. Most people struggle to follow your ideas or meet your standards, so you usually end up working alone anyway. So when you first get paired with him, part of you is already waiting for the moment he finally gets fed up and asks to work with someone else instead.

Except... he never does.

He sticks around until the very end.

Not only that, but he handles working with you surprisingly well.

And somewhere along the line, between the arguments, long meetings and endless repairs, you start growing attached to him without even realizing it.

It also does not help that Mio keeps doing thoughtful things for you in the most casual way possible.

Every meeting somehow comes with snacks now.

That broken coffee machine in your office that had been sitting there collecting dust for who knows how long? Fixed.

The cluttered mess of broken equipment in your workspace? Somehow repaired or reorganized.

And day by day, your office slowly fills up with random little tools, gadgets and handcrafted items Mio either repaired or made specifically for you.

You honestly cannot tell if he’s just naturally that nice or if he’s secretly using you as a product tester at this point.

Either way, you are absolutely not complaining because most of the things he gives you end up being very useful for your work.

But I think the thing that affects you the most is how Mio reacts to your experiments.

He never laughs at your ideas. He never dismisses them. He never treats your theories like they’re ridiculous.

Even some of your own Housemates can be skeptical about your work sometimes, but Mio, a guy who barely knew you at first, never once doubted your abilities.

If anything, he’s overly supportive.

Always quietly walking over to stand beside you while you work, peeking over your shoulder with curious eyes whenever you get too absorbed in your experiments to notice he arrived.

And by the time you finally realize what’s happening...

Mio Susuhara has already worked his way straight into your heart.

Oh and he is not even subtle about any of this.

Mio is the type of person who shows affection through actions rather than words, and well, actions are very visible.

Everybody notices.

Your Housemates notice.

His teammates notice.

Even the staff cats probably notice.

Everyone can tell this man is hopelessly gone for you except for you somehow.

Which is impressive considering how intelligent you are in literally every other aspect of life.

Like hello??? He fixes things for you constantly, brings you food, stays late helping you with experiments, listens to your rambling for hours, and looks at you like you personally hung the stars in the sky. How are you still not getting it???

At this point, maybe Jo was right.

Maybe Mio really needs to work on his flirting skills.

Eventually, the situation gets so obvious that your fellow housemates become sick of watching the two of you circle around each other endlessly and decide to interfere directly.

So one day, they tell both of you that they need help with something.

And when you arrive, instead of an emergency or broken machinery, there’s just this huge picnic mat spread out near the field, flowers everywhere, snacks neatly arranged, and warm daylight shining over the entire scene like some shoujo manga confession setup.

Mio figures out what’s happening almost immediately.

Meanwhile, you’re still standing there trying to process the situation.

Then Mio just looks at you for a second before straightforwardly asking if you want to go on a date with him since everyone already went through the trouble of setting one up anyway.

Teehee.

✦ 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝙰 ✦

Around you in Mio's clockworking workshop were rhythmic ticks and clicks and rumbles from the powered machines. Before you Mio's progress had stilled, one hand still among the mechanical insides of his creation, holding some aside to work on deeper structures. Out of the corner of your eye, organic movement, Mio's head turning between you. At first you glanced, then joined him in observing.

Between your palms the anomalous flashlight was held steady, shining its magical light within the machine and lighting any shadows that would have obscured it.

Between your fingers were Mio's own, calloused and darkened with the oil from between the axles and wheels he'd been toying with.

The clockwork ticked around you, reminding you of how short the seconds it took you both to realize the problem really were. Tick. Tock. Tick.

"The flashlight." Mio sighed, sliding his fingers out of your hold, dragging them over your palm to catch the object in question so it wouldn't fall before you could hold it correctly. His slightly quirked lips couldn't keep the amusement out of his tired voice as his eyes returned to his work. "I meant the flashlight."

"Oh." Not his hand. You took hold as requested this time, the flashlight still warm but not quite as welcoming as his hand had been. Certainly not as warm as your face felt. You shook your head, screwing your eyes shut for a moment and blinking hard, trying to will yourself a little more awake. "I'm sorry. I wasn't even paying attention, I've been so--"

"Yeah, I think we're both a little out of it." Mio laughed, fully engrossed in his work now that his hand was free as it needed to be. "You can call it quits whenever you're ready. I can grab my headlamp."

The headlamp which was sat among the tools on his desk, which he could have worn and used rather than offering the flashlight for you to hold as assistance. The flashlight which clearly illuminated the pink dusting his ears and cheeks as if there were no shadows at all. Offered as if deliberately for you to keep his company.

"I'll be alright." You insisted despite the lullaby of the artisans' marvels rumbling and ticking and clocking around you. "What about you? Shouldn't you get some sleep?"

"Nah. Too much to do. Once this little guy's up and running again, maybe." Mio's knee gently nudged yours. "Don't you have a mission tomorrow?"

"That's later in the day."

"Class?"

"Exempt because of the mission."

"Lucky you." Out of reasons within reach to encourage you to rest, Mio sat upright for a moment, stretching his back, shoulders, and elbows with audible pops and an impressive yawn that you couldn't help but mirror, before making a suggestion that was perhaps not as far of a reach as he thought it might have been. "If you, maybe, wanted an excuse to hold hands, we have Combat practicals next week." He gently tapped the Sage Ring with the axle he'd removed before putting it aside and going back to installing a new one. "We can see what you'll do to my stigma."

It was a good excuse to hold hands.

(It was a good excuse to hold hands in front of your entire class.)

"I'll. See how things are going by then." A few satisfying clunks and clicks from where Mio's hands were busy and the axle had been replaced and it and the connected gears turned as smoothly as if the whole set was brand new, the construct's optical sensor turning with uninhibited vision once more. The blue of its iris matched his eyes. How intimate for him to allow you to help him maintain something he perhaps thought of as his own child in some sense, enough so to mirror parts of his image onto it.

How intimate for him to rise from it, wiping his hands as clean of grease as he could get them, and look down at you, allowing you to take his attention from the work he prided himself in however briefly.

"Alright. I'm all out of ideas." He leaned over at the waist, nearly nose to nose with you. If you weren't aware of the bags under his eyes before, you were now. How much had he been working since Dionysia was reinstated? How little had he slept? "You shouldn't be staying up past your bedtime like me. People's relying on you, machines're relying on me."

"Machines that everybody is relying on." You managed to add quickly.

"Darkwick was running fine while they had me locked up, if I make a couple mistakes I can fix them. You have a curse to cure. Right? Think that's a bit more important" He offered his hand, this time free of anything else that he could have wanted you to hold. "You can't help yourself or anyone else if you don't take care of yourself first. I've got these things to do that for me," he tilted his head towards the construct still open on the table, "you've got you to do that for you. So."

As if in response to your drowsy hesitance, he took the flashlight back with the other hand to place it neatly among his other tools.

"Let's get you in bed. In Clementia. For you to sleep, I mean. No excuses needed, and no charge." He grabbed your hand to help you up. "C'mon, up and at 'em. I didn't fix that place up for you to not sleep there."

He did warn you that going with him would not give you the comfortable school life you wanted because there would be no general students in the House. At the moment, it was only you, him and Towa. You would have to do a lot of tasks across the safari. He asked if you would be willing to go because Haru felt uneasy leaving you all alone, especially when you had not yet been able to adapt to your new abilities.

So you decided to go with him. Without thinking twice, you simply made the choice to follow him. What other choice did you have? You did not think you would fit in anywhere else even if you tried. You would rather stay with someone you knew and trusted than transfer to any other House, especially when the relationships between Houses were so tense at the time.

Haru was very attentive to his job and he took it very seriously. He was also very patient and reliable. You did not regret following him at all because you adapted quickly and well at Jabberwock. And because you were not good with crowds, working around animals felt more peaceful to you or at least that was what you tried to convince yourself of.

Because the tasks around Jabberwock always seemed to pile up, along with the financial problems the House had, both you and Haru were very busy when you first moved there. You started by cleaning and fixing the mushroom houses so that you would have a place to stay.

He was kind enough to give you your own space. There were multiple mushroom houses in Jabberwock, but you only repaired two buildings, mostly because Haru believed you would be more comfortable if you had an entire house to yourself. So he and Towa stayed in the same house, while you had one of your own.

Though the days passed by busily, you did not have a single boring day there, because Towa always seemed to know what to do to cheer you and Haru up, even when he got into trouble sometimes. He was quite hostile when you first arrived but slowly, with Haru’s help, you and he got along a bit better, he gradually came to rely on both you and Haru more. He was very clingy toward Haru which made you think it was a good idea that you decided to have a space of your own. Even though he did not speak much during the daytime, you could tell he was very possessive toward certain things and people.

Yes, Jabberwock was chaotic and there were many things going on but you liked it there. Even when the workload overflowed, you actually enjoyed it. Because the tasks kept your mind occupied so you would not have time to let your thoughts consume you. Another reason was that you liked being able to learn more things than before.

When Mio was around, he mostly did everything by himself so you never really had to lift a finger, even when you wanted to help him.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

While you were working in the field, you received some texts from your old housemates. All of them had returned to Dionysia to help maintain and repair the equipment. They were a bit short staffed but they were all working hard as they were really looking forward to the show this weekend.

Mio had told you a few things about how his group had promised the students that they would help Dionysia reopen. That meant they needed to succeed in the first mission they were given after returning to campus and fortunately, they did. Because of that, everyone was looking forward to it and rushing to help so they could deliver the reopening show as successfully as possible.

Did you consider going back?

Not really. 

If you had ever considered returning to Dionysia then you would never have gone with Haru in the first place after everything that had happened. 

You could have chosen another House to transfer to in the meantime, but you did not. The time when you came back from death was not a good memory and at that time, Haru was the only one you could rely on. He helped you a lot, since you were already familiar with him, it felt better to stay close to someone who understood your condition more than others.

So you decided not to return to Dionysia. Though you still kept in touch with some of your former housemates, some of them asked you to come over and hang out or to visit again, which you took into consideration. Not because you did not want to but because you had a pile of work in Jabberwock that you needed to handle. Haru was out running some errands and Towa, as usual, was nowhere to be seen.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

As you are reading the text, you hear a voice from behind and turn slightly.

“Senpai, I’m done with my tasks for today.”

You see Ren, the first-year ghoul who was assigned to your House, looking as miserable as always. His clothes are a bit wet, so he must have just finished his task at the aquatic part of the park.

“Good job for today then.”

You answer him as he approaches closer, noticing that you have your phone out. Normally, you would not have your phone out while working because it disrupts your workflow and most of the time, no one can really contact you when you are on duty. But lately, he has noticed that you have been checking your phone more often. He knows the news has spread wide and fast on WickHive. Dionysia will be reopening and your boyfriend has apparently returned to campus.

As you feel his gaze on you, you raise your eyebrows slightly.

“Need anything?”

You are very used to how Ren works. Normally, as soon as he finishes his task, he would report to you and then return to the dorm, lock himself in his room with some movies or games or sometimes go to his part-time job. But today, he stays a minute longer, which makes you a bit skeptical.

“Are you still not done with your tasks?”

His question makes you let out a huff laced with a small sigh.

“Ah, yeah. I still have a few more to go. You can take your break.”

You answer him casually before returning to your task but then he suddenly speaks up.

“Do you need to go somewhere?”

You pause for a moment before continuing your work.

“It’s nothing important.”

Yeah… you have not visited Dionysia since the festival. Maybe stopping by once in a while would be nice but you have not been able to make time to go there. As for Mio, he is just as busy as you are, since he is mainly in charge of maintenance there. Thinking about it, he must be burying himself in work right now. You wonder how the others are doing.

And even in that brief moment, Ren catches the hesitation in your tone as he speaks again, so quietly it is almost a murmur.

“I… I can help here…”

Your eyes shift to him as he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, not used to saying something like that. 

Your eyes almost widen because this is the first time Ren has offered to help. His tasks are already as heavy as yours and he always tries to complete them as quickly as he can. So by the time you finish your own work, he would usually have already passed out from exhaustion.

“Oh, you don’t have to. I can handle it.”

But he speaks again, shifting stiffly in his position.

“I don’t have any shift today. I can help. You can… go visit your friends.”

The more he speaks, the quieter his voice becomes, as if he is embarrassed to offer his help. 

You let out a laugh.

“Oh, Ren, you’re being so reliable.”

You tease him a little as you reach out to ruffle his hair, slightly disheveling his already messy hair. 

He groans in disapproval and dodges away from you.

“Ah! This is why I don’t help other people.”

He whines and you continue laughing.

“Then I’ll leave things here in your hands. If you need anything, call me.”

He nods, answering with a tired, unbothered “yeah, yeah” as always.

“I’m not working alone either. That wolf boy is here too.”

“Oh, you mean Lyca?”

You ask and Ren just nods.

Lyca has been helping around the park occasionally. According to a small conversation you had with Rui, Lyca said that he likes the atmosphere here and loves basking under the sunlight in the fields. You suppose that is fine, as long as he and Towa do not get into any trouble.

“Okay, then I’ll get going now.”

But before you leave, you ruffle his hair one more time as you speak.

“I brought some dessert for you and Towa. It’s in the fridge so remember to have it, yeah?”

He does not say anything, only smoothing his hair back into place, but you can already see the tips of his ears turning red. He is always like that whenever you and Haru tease him.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

“Oh, you’re here.”

As soon as you arrive on the Dionysia campus, your old housemates spot you, all of them looking both excited and busy.

“We thought you wouldn’t make it.”

People chime in around you as you stay to chat with them for a few minutes.

But you do not waste any more time. You walk around, trying to find Mio in the crowd. Everybody rushes around, busy preparing for the upcoming show. In your eyes, Mio always stands out, no matter how large the crowd is. There is something about him that always draws you in. His pinkish hair is striking, he stands slightly taller than others and he is always so focused on his work. All of those things are part of why you noticed him and why you fell for him.

But today, the space seems more crowded than usual, you cannot find him anywhere. He must be at his station. If you cannot find him here, then that has to be it.

You make your way toward a distant building. It has only been abandoned for a while, yet it looks as if it has been left untouched for decades. You sigh to yourself, already imagining how much work Mio must have to deal with.

As you approach the building, you see many students there as well. Some of them recognize you, you exchange greetings. The atmosphere is lively, just as you remember. Even though many things seem run down, the excitement and cheerfulness are still there, you quicken your pace.

Finally, as you turn into the corridor, you spot Mio with a group of students, all of them focused on fixing some equipment. It must be for the stage. 

You can see sweat dripping from Mio’s forehead as it seeps into the fabric on his head, dampening the white hachimaki he usually wears while working. His tank top reveals his biceps, and every time he moves his hands, the muscles flex slightly, more sweat trailing down his skin.

His hair is tied neatly behind him as he talks with the other students. He is so focused on his work that the scarf tied around his head is not secured tightly, slipping slightly from his forehead.

Before the fabric can fall over his eyes, before he can even raise a hand to fix it, you are already behind him, holding the knot in place.

Everyone looks surprised at your presence. The other students glance at you as if you have appeared out of thin air. Mio turns slightly in surprise as well, though you are the only one who ever touches his hachimaki. His deep blue eyes meet yours.

“Hi,” you greet softly and he lets out a gentle smile.

“Hi,” he replies, as your hands move to help him tie the hachimaki back into place.

His hair becomes slightly disheveled when the fabric slips, a few stray strands falling along the side of his face. You carefully tuck them back beneath the cloth, and he simply stands there, leaning down a little so you can fix it more easily.

The other students just stand there, looking a bit awkward but you turn to give them a small greeting, and they greet you back as well.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb your workflow,” you say, and Mio lets out a small, unbothered smile.

“You didn’t. We just exchanged a few words,” he replies, his gaze shifting briefly to the other students.

“Yeah, we were just talking a bit,” one of them adds.

“I thought you wouldn’t make it,” another student chimes in and your gaze returns to Mio.

His eyes rest softly on you. You notice the sweat still trailing down his face, and you take the towel draped over his neck, gently wiping it from his cheek. His smile deepens at the gesture.

“I thought so too, but a junior helped me out so I could come,” you answer, though your eyes never leave Mio.

And Mio seems to enjoy that, as if the two of you are in your own world, not standing in front of a group of students. Call it shameless if you want, but you barely get time to be around each other, so you take what you can. Mio does not seem to mind you showing affection in public either, so you allow yourself to be a little bolder.

“You didn’t tell me. I thought you wouldn’t be able to come.”

Mio speaks as his hand moves to smooth over your hair. You let him, his large palm warm against you, until someone suddenly speaks up, pulling you out of your little world.

“Will you join us for the next show?”

That question. You cannot keep avoiding it.

So you shake your head. You have to answer it sooner or later.

“I will, as an audience.”

Your answer is firm and they all seem caught off guard.

“I’m in Jabberwock now,” you add, emphasizing your words. “But if you need help, I’ll still come by.”

Mio smiles at that, his hand gently patting your head. It is your choice, and he has always supported you in what you do. He knows how far you have come and how you have adapted to your identity as a ghoul, so there is no reason for him to worry. You are independent, yet you can still rely on him, and he trusts your decisions and judgment. He also knows just how stubborn you can be.

“I see. Haru is there too so that’s good.”

Everyone seems supportive of your decision, and they soon return to their conversations.

You watch the cheerful scene before you and let out a small laugh. 

Mio notices and asks.

“What has you in such a good mood, Angel?”

His tone softens and you huff out a quiet smile.

“Well, congratulations on reopening,” you reply, feeling his hand rest gently on your waist. “And welcome back.”

He laughs at your words and leans closer, your forehead brushing lightly against the fabric on his forehead.

“I’d like to hear that again at the reopening show.”

His words draw another laugh from you, while his eyes continue to hold yours.

It is strange. Mio is strange. 

Not in a bad way but in a way that makes things feel more intimate, to the point that it leaves you a little embarrassed as you feel your face slowly heat up.

Before, Mio had been very shy about showing affection in front of others. But now, he seems more casual, like he does not really mind or care. Sometimes it catches you off guard, you have to admit. Still, he has been in a very good mood and in good shape ever since he returned so you do not find anything too unusual to question.

He is your boyfriend after all. What is wrong with him showing others that he loves you?

“May I help with anything?”

You ask and he shakes his head softly.

“I’m almost done. You can go meet the others first. I’ll follow later.”

Mio answers and you nod.

Watching him turn back to his work reminds you of when the two of you had just started going out. He had been a bit stiff back then and both of you had been nervous just being around each other. But slowly, you got used to it. When you were alone in his station, you would sometimes give him small kisses as little boosts of energy, but only when no one else was around.

But now, as you watch him working, looking this handsome, you cannot help yourself. You step closer just as Mio leans down, thinking you have something to say. Before he can ask, you lightly pull on the back of his neck and press a small kiss to the side of his cheek.

“Good work today too, Mio.”

You see a pink hue creep across his cheeks, quickly spreading over his entire face. Even his neck and the tips of his ears turn red, and you wonder if it is from your kiss or from working all day.

For a moment, his brain seems to short circuit. He clearly did not expect you to kiss him in front of so many people.

The other students notice immediately. Someone gasps and another starts teasing.

“Oh, Susu, not only are you a great artisan, you’re now our vice captain and you have Angel as your girlfriend…”

They laugh and another voice chimes in,

“You’re so lucky, Susu.”

Their teasing only makes his face grow even redder as he quietly tells them to get back to work.

You pull away slightly and speak to him again.

“Then I’ll see you later, Mio.”

You say your goodbyes to the other students before heading off to find the rest. You end up staying for dinner, and later, Mio decides to walk you back to your dorm once again.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

Maybe being away from him for a while has made every moment you spend together feel shorter. Even the path that leads you back to Jabberwock and your dorm, which usually feels so long after an exhausting day, seems so short tonight. You have only managed to exchange a few words with Mio, and you are already at your destination.

You do not want him to leave yet, you can tell he does not want to either. But for some reason, it feels like Mio has been holding himself back from getting too close to you since he returned. Yes, he initiates more now and makes the first move more often, but he also keeps his distance in a way he did not before.

You can tell he has been acting differently ever since he came back, but you cannot quite figure out how or why. It feels like there are still sides of him you have not been able to see yet.

It is not as if he has never stayed over at your place before. He even has spare clothes at your dorm, and some of his essentials are always scattered around your room. Sometimes, it feels like your dorm is filled with more of his belongings than your own. You have gone beyond simply staying over as well, so there has never been any hesitation between the two of you when it comes to staying together. You used to do it all the time before Dionysia became defunct.

But ever since he came back, he has not stayed over or even expressed that he wants to. Is he shy again? Or is he trying to regain some kind of courage, something you are not even sure he has lost?

He has become more cautious in everything he does around you. Is it because you died once that he has become so careful, almost paranoid?

But Mio always keeps things to himself, so it is hard for you to tell what is really on his mind.

When he presses a soft kiss to your forehead and begins to pull away, you take the chance. You gently hold his hand and speak up.

“Your jacket is still at my place.”

You have not returned it and he has not asked for it back. It is a silly excuse the two of you share, you wonder why neither of you simply says what you really mean. But this is just how you are together.

“If you need it, I can go get it for you.”

You add, your hand hovering slightly over his.

You do not want to force him or push him. You want whatever happens to be mutual, not something driven by impulse or a rush of adrenaline.

You look up at him, and his blue eyes meet yours under the bright moonlight. It illuminates half of his face, the faint glow tracing his features in a way that makes you want to do the same.

He stays quiet for a moment. You know he understands what you mean, and maybe he is thinking about it.

After Dionysia became defunct, you still kept his things at your place, even bringing most of them with you to your dorm in Jabberwock. Haru was kind enough to let you have a mushroom house to yourself. He said that living in the same building with him and Towa might be too noisy or uncomfortable, and honestly, you could tell. Every night, Haru seems to rush around trying to gather small animals that sneak into his room. Ren yells whenever he sees something strange outside his window, and Towa is simply… Towa.

So having your own space feels quieter and more private.

Bringing Mio’s things with you when you transferred was something you did because you could not bring yourself to leave them behind. Each item held so many memories for you, and most of them were tied to him. You did not want Mio to become just a chapter of your life, someone who would slowly blur and fade from your mind over time. So bringing his belongings with you felt like bringing a part of him along, making it seem as though he had never really left.

The only thing you could not take was the music box he made for you. It had been kept and locked in the office, somewhere you no longer had access to. That was the one regret you carried, not being able to bring that small, precious piece of him with you. Until he returned… and returned the box to you too. 

“Sorry, I’ll go in now. Good night.”

You speak up, sensing that the silence has stretched on for too long. You do not want to put him in a difficult position so you quickly pull your hand away.

But Mio is quicker.

His larger hand reaches out, catching yours again before you can fully retreat.

He steps closer, leaning down until his voice brushes softly against your ear.

“I’d like to get it myself.”

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

Obviously, this is not about a jacket. You are not awkward teenagers dancing around something so simple.

Still, you had not expected Mio to agree to come with you.

He has always been thoughtful almost to a fault. He wants everything between the two of you to be perfect by his own standards. He rarely acts on impulse when it comes to your relationship, he's always been careful and cautious.

But ever since he returned, you feel like you have been seeing more sides of him. More honesty from him and… More boldness from him. 

When you used to tease him like joking about saving water by showering together, he would turn red so quickly it felt like he might erupt. He would stutter, flustered beyond words and sometimes even leave the room entirely just to give you space.

He never really played along with your teasing. He knew you were not entirely serious, that you just liked to be mischievous, liked to see him flustered and fidgeting under your attention. He knew how shameless your words could get, how easily you pushed him.

But he never told you to stop.

He never complained, never scolded you for it and never truly encouraged it either. He simply endured it with quiet patience, which only made you bolder over time.

Sometimes, you wondered what he actually thought about all those moments, all the times you toyed with him like that.

But tonight is different.

When you jokingly ask if he wants to shower with you, Mio does not stutter out a refusal.

He does not turn red and retreat either.

Instead, he goes quiet for a moment. 

And then without a word, he pulls off his tank top and steps into the bathroom with you.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

It surprises you a lot, you have to admit, as he stands right in front of you, your back pressed against the sink behind you. Though he catches you off guard a bit, you really have no complaints.

Half of the time you mess with him, but for the other half, it is not exactly meaningless teasing. There are a few things you genuinely want to try with Mio, but since you know his shy nature, you tend not to go overboard with it, or your boyfriend might combust.

But feeling his arms wrap around your waist as he leans down to kiss you makes you simply give in to the flow. You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him down as you kiss him back with the same rhythm.

It feels like a competition between the two of you, to see who can take control and lead. Mio rarely wins in this aspect most of the time, but tonight he is unusually eager. His kisses are deeper, wetter, sloppier. His tongue drags over yours with a kind of impatience and hunger that you have never seen in him before.

His hands move over you, slowly undoing the buttons of your shirt. You feel his fingertips brush against your skin so softly, grazing you lightly enough to make you shiver.

Your hand slips into his hair as your fingers thread through the soft, long strands, loosening the small bun he has. His hair falls down along either side of his face as he leans in to kiss you again, tickling your skin gently and making you let out a small laugh between kisses.

“What’s so funny?” he pulls away just enough to look into your eyes.

A thin string of saliva lingers between you as his blue gaze seems to grow deeper and darker, clouded after just a few kisses. It feeds your ego in a way, seeing the effect you have on him as his heavy breaths echo softly in the space.

“You’re adorable,” you answer shamelessly and he is taken aback by your words.

Is he really kissing you like a starved man, so impatient and lacking composure, only to be considered adorable in your eyes?

It is not the first time you have praised him like this. You have always given him plenty of compliments.

Cool, handsome, cute, smart, hardworking.

You have used every endearment for him by now.

It has a nice ring to it, but in this moment, he would rather be seen as cool in your eyes than simply adorable.

Still, his hands continue unbuttoning your shirt. When the white fabric finally parts to reveal your skin, your warm breath mingles with his as his eyes drift downward.

Seeing you in your bra, his other hand slides up beneath your skirt, feeling the softness of your skin against his palm. He wants to hold you tighter, to pull you closer, to claim you fully, but he restrains himself, forcing himself to stay composed.

He wants to follow the mood, not just the impulsiveness pounding in his chest, because he wants to enjoy the moment with you, not simply satisfy his eagerness. His throat bobs as he swallows.

You notice how disheveled his hair is, your own doing from when your fingers threaded through it earlier. His skin feels tight and tense under your touch. He is so nervous that even his biceps are tensed beneath your hands. His skin burns hot against your palm as you look at him.

“Just adorable?” he asks, his voice low and deep, as if he is unsure what he wants to hear from you. 

You smile at his words.

You pull him down slightly and lean toward his side, whispering softly by his ear.

“And hot, and sexy.”

You feel his body shiver at your words and your closeness, you almost want to laugh at how adorable his reaction is. But Mio grips your skin more tightly and suddenly lifts you without warning.

You immediately wrap your arms around his shoulders, startled by the sudden movement, and he places you on the sink behind you.

He tilts his head, you feel his soft lips press against the skin of your neck. He kisses and nibbles slowly and gently, as if savoring something sweet. You let him continue, your hand finding his hair again as you tilt your head to give him better access to your exposed skin.

You feel one of his arms around your hip while his other hand moves behind your back, sliding beneath your shirt as he unclaspes your bra. You feel it loosen, and his kisses trail softly from your neck to your throat, then down to your collarbone.

Then lower, between your chest, as he presses his face there, breathing you in as he places light kisses and gentle nibbles against your skin.

It tickles and his warm breath makes you shiver each time his lips touch you. 

You feel his hands begin to pull your shirt off as he lifts his head, intending to remove your bra as well. But he suddenly stops.

You feel something warm against your skin, something wet enough to startle you.

Both you and Mio look down. Right beneath his nose, a thin stream of crimson runs downward, a few drops landing on your skin.

You both freeze in surprise.

You quickly reach for a towel from the rack beside you and press it against his nose. Mio’s face flushes deeply as he takes the fabric from your hand.

He looks embarrassed as if caught off guard by the sudden nosebleed, like an overwhelmed teenage boy seeing something for the first time. You cannot help but let out a small laugh.

He looks at you quietly, unsure of what to say, as you turn on the faucet and grab another towel, helping him wipe away the blood.

“It hasn’t even been a year. Why are you so eager, Mio?” you ask while he tries to stop the bleeding.

He looks completely helpless, as if he wants to disappear, but he lets you take care of him, your touch grounding him as the heat slowly fades.

“I don’t know…”

He answers, but deep down, he knows far better than that.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

For you, it might not have even been a year since he last saw you. For him, however, he has lost count of how many cycles he has relived. He has lost track of how many times he chose not to approach you, and how long he has yearned for your warmth, your touch, your kiss, and your affectionate love. You have no idea how many nights he was unable to sleep because his mind was filled with the memories you two share.

Even when he desires you, he feels he can do nothing but find his own relief. Consequently, he always buries himself in work and tasks, hoping they will distract him from missing your presence. But the more he tries to distract himself, the more eager he feels. That yearning does not go away. It grows even more, waiting for the day it might finally spill over. Unfortunately for his composure, that night is tonight, the moment you suddenly offer for him to stay with you.

You look at his expression and find him even more adorable now. You hug him and kiss the side of his face, peppering his cheeks with kisses. You can feel his tension loosen as he slowly relaxes into your touch.

“Knowing I have this much of an effect on my boyfriend is quite an ego stroke,” you comment softly, smiling at him.

Mio lets out a small smile too, but he does not answer you. Instead, he simply leans down and kisses you once again as he sets the towel aside. You can taste it during your kiss. There is that metallic, iron taste of blood between your tongues. It invades your scent, your breath and your lungs until you want to kiss him deeper just to taste him more.

His hand reaches up, finally removing your bra completely. The clothes fall onto the floor beneath you, scattered aside as if they are meaningless pieces of fabric. His focus is entirely on you. As he pulls away softly, you feel his kisses fall on your skin once more. His hands knead your soft breasts, squeezing them between his palms. The rough texture of his skin makes you sigh as you lean back.

His arm quickly holds you steady as his kisses travel between your breasts. His tongue flicks out to lick over your skin before he sucks on your nipple. His free hand squeezes the other side, fiddling with it. His tongue swirls around your nipple until it is hard, making you shiver under his touch. You feel his lips travel to the other side, treating it with the same affection. His gaze lifts to meet yours, his heavy breath hot and wet against your skin. He looks as though he wants to devour you. His eyes are darkened and hazy with lust, looking drunk on the mere taste of your skin.

You feel his hand travel under your skirt as he straightens his back, only to lean down and kiss you again. You close your eyes and feel the sensation of his hands groping you. His fingers unzip the side of your skirt and he pulls the fabric away, bundling it with the meaningless pieces already on the floor.

“You’re already soaked,” he whispers into your ear. He kisses your earlobe softly, his finger pressing against the damp fabric of your underwear lightly and teasingly.

You grab his wrist to stop his movement for a moment. Mio lifts his gaze to stare at you, looking perhaps a bit disapproving as his eyebrows furrow in confusion.

“Let’s take a shower first because we’ve both been working all day,” you remind him, your fingertip grazing his chin lightly.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

When you offered to take a shower, you truly meant it. You wanted to feel clean before doing anything more intimate, but you may have underestimated how impatient Mio could be. Right now, he has you pressed against the wall. He kisses you while the showerhead streams water down over both of you, unable to keep his hands to himself.

Perhaps this is why he never takes your offer to shower together seriously. He knows exactly how difficult it is for him to hold back when it comes to you.

His leg is between your thighs as his body presses against yours, skin to skin. His hot breath fans over your face as his kisses travel down the side of your neck. The sound of panting echoes in the room alongside the streaming water. You feel his wet hair stick to your skin when he buries his face in your neck to nibble on you, grazing your skin softly with his teeth. The hardness between your legs catches your attention. You feel it throb painfully against your thigh each time he moves.

“Mio,” you call his name quietly.

“Hmm?” he answers but his nose simply nuzzles the tip of your ear. The vibration of his tone tickles you. “Just ignore that for now.”

That is just how Mio is. He always prioritizes your pleasure over his own. He wants to please you and take care of you first. While you love that part of him, you sometimes feel he neglects himself just so you can enjoy yourself more. Your hand slides from his shoulder to touch his neck gently. His body goes rigid at your touch. As your hand travels over him, every part of him you graze seems to burn up even more. He is flushed red from his face down to the base of his neck.

Threading your fingers through his wet hair, you pull slightly until he finally lifts his gaze to meet your eyes.

“I want us to enjoy it together,” you speak through the water streaming down between you.

Mio stays quiet for a moment and does not answer, but you do not let him hesitate. You slide your other hand down and wrap your fingers around his length.

“So let’s enjoy this together.” It is a quiet suggestion but it sounds like a command. You hear his breath hiss as you touch him.

It throbs so painfully in your palm, eager for your touch as you stroke it gently and slowly at first. You draw out a heavy panting from him as his hand curls into a fist, placed on the wall behind you while his face buries into your shoulder. He shivers from your touch because your hands have grown rougher through all the work you have handled around Jabberwock. That roughness just seems to make the sensation feel even clearer, making his body tremble in pleasure and stimulation.

You have no idea how long he has craved for you to touch him like this, your fingers wrapped around his length as you whisper sweet nothings while stroking him. He misses how you always go down on him, giving him the best treatment whenever he feels a bit overwhelmed. He misses all of that, and you hear him groan softly beside your ear.

That makes your hand quicken a bit as his hips buckle, thrusting forward into your palm even more. He greedily wants you to touch him. But before you can even feel smug, you feel his rough hand travel from your hip to between your legs. He caresses the inner skin of your thigh as his breath grows rougher with each touch you give him.

He isn't idle either as you feel where his hand is traveling, touching your sensitive parts where you are already wet for him. His fingers rub against your folds and your legs tremble slightly. You lean against the wall to balance yourself as his free hand grips your hip to steady you. His own hips chase after your hand as if he cannot get enough.

“You have become more sensitive,” his voice says, laced with heavy breaths. It seems to be tinged with more cockiness than what you usually hear from Mio.

“Did you touch yourself a lot while I was away?” He asks such a shameless question without any filter.

That catches you off guard for a brief second. In this moment, the sensation of his rough fingers against you, teasing you and touching you so lightly, is still able to make your hips buckle a bit. You do not even need to see to know that you are slick against his hand, sloppily making a mess between your legs even though he has barely done anything.

But of course, with so much experience teasing Mio, you cannot let him win this time.

“I did,” you answer bluntly, even more shamelessly than his question. “I missed you a lot, Mio.”

Your grip tightens around him as you feel him throb even more under your touch. You laugh softly when you see how Mio shivers at your words. You know how he loves it when you call his name in this kind of intimate moment. It could send him to a climax right away, but now, oddly enough, he is able to hold himself back.

You feel his finger slip past your folds, teasing you slightly as it enters you. You let out a low moan at his action. His thumb rubs against your clit, and you feel like you could come right away just from his finger alone.

“Yeah, you missed me?” He asks without needing an answer. He inserts another finger, stretching you out as he moves in and out of your wetness, soaking his fingers in your heat.

You can hear the embarrassed, sloppy sounds you make as your hips buckle, wanting more from him. Finding the right angle, Mio’s finger presses right against your sweet spot. He remembers it so well. More than that, he knows you well enough to know how to unfold you properly. He rubs and caresses you, drawing out a lovely melody from you as you moan his name.

Your legs almost give out as he continues to pleasure you like that. He is gentle at first, but the pace grows faster with each moan you let out. You feel your stomach twist when he presses his hard, throbbing length against your skin.

Suddenly, he pulls his fingers away from you, making you feel empty and desperate for him. You feel yourself greedily seeking his touch, not wanting him to leave, as he lets out a soft chuckle before leaning in to kiss you again.

You feel his length glide between your thighs as you look up at him. Your arms wind around his neck as he begins to drive his hips, slowly and carefully, to savor every sensation. A satisfied sigh escapes you both when the head of his thick member presses against your clit, the base grazing you slickly as he moves. Each motion creates a rhythmic splashing sound from the water, punctuated by the moans you let out as he pulses against you.

Grabbing you firmly by the waist, he anchors you in place, surging between your thighs as if he were lost in a trance. You are no different, just as consumed as he is, as you pull him in for a desperate, frantic kiss. You both ride waves of intense pleasure, acting like two horny teenagers.

His heat rubs between your thighs, making your inner flesh burn from the stimulation as his hand squeezes your thigh. You feel him throb and know he is close to his climax. You wrap him in a tight embrace as he buries his face in your shoulder. You hear his breath hiss as he groans, and a thick rope of warmth drips between your thighs.

He inhales deeply, taking time to regain his composure as he feels you puff out greedily. Of course, you are not yet satisfied, and he would never let you feel neglected.

Before you can do anything else, he suddenly kneels before you. Placing one of your legs over his shoulder, he fans his hot breath over you. In the blink of an eye, his tongue is already out, lapping over your clit. He kisses and sucks on you greedily.

It is not as if he has never done this before but it has been so long since you have been intimate with him that the pleasure feels overwhelming. His hot tongue drips over you. He has never been this greedy before. He usually takes his time to drag out the sensation and pleasure. Tonight, however, he is impatient. His tongue tastes you, teasing your folds, lapping over you and kissing your clit as if you are the sweetest nectar he has ever tasted.

Your body trembles and you almost fall over, but his strong grip steadies you while your hand slides into his hair to balance yourself. Each movement of his tongue draws a high melody from your throat. Your chest rises and falls desperately while he buries his face between your thighs.

“Mio,” you moan his name, trembling, but it is as if your voice is blocked out by the water or perhaps your voice simply makes him more eager to continue.

You feel his grip grow tighter as the tip of his tongue enters you, drinking in every drop of your pleasure. He does not stop even when he feels you are close. You try to tug his hair to pull him away, but he stubbornly presses you closer to him. He lets you climax all over his tongue as your back arches, your eyes almost rolling back from the stimulation. Even your own loud moan startles you a bit.

Mio seems to enjoy that. You see through a blurry gaze how the fluid drips from his lip down to his chin, and how he flicks his tongue out to lick it clean as if he has not had enough.

That makes your face heat up even more. You had no idea Mio could have such a ravishing side. He is always so polite and proper, isn't he? Even when he pleasured you in the past, he never gave off this vibe.

The sensation is still there. When his hands slide to hold you better, you squirm a bit and earn a soft chuckle from him. Slowly standing up, you are able to face him properly now.

“I miss you too,” he suddenly says, leaving you dumbfounded.

But Mio does not even spare you a second to think. He leans in and kisses you once again, making you taste your own self between his tongue and his sloppy kiss.

“Uhm, I can tell,” you answer him a bit teasingly as his grip grows tighter around you.

“Should we move to the bed?” he asks so quietly that you almost do not catch it.

It is as if he is unsure whether you would approve. You can tell he is eager and impatient. He is all excited as his hands grip you so tightly that you almost feel like he could bruise you and leave a mark, causing you to let out a small laugh.

“How can I say no to you?”

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

He picks you up and carries you out of the bathroom, placing you gently on the bed as water drips from his silky long hair and falls right onto your skin.

The coldness makes you shiver a bit, but he then kisses you so tenderly. He eases your mind to focus back on him as you feel his face nuzzle the side of your neck.

You feel his cock stiff against you as he seems to hump against your thighs. You know how Mio is. He rarely talks about his needs, but you know he wants you like crazy. However, he is not the type to do things too vulgarly because he always makes sure you feel comfortable enough first.

You kiss him softly on his hair as you push him away ever so slightly by the shoulder. He looks a bit confused as he lifts his gaze to you. You do not say anything while you turn and reach for your nightstand. You pull open the drawer and take out a packet. Mio’s eyes follow your hand and his face flushes even more. It becomes almost more pinkish than the color of his hair when he sees what you are holding.

He takes the packet away from your hold immediately out of embarrassment as he leans down and kisses you. He distracts you and stops you from saying any further teasing words since he knows you so well that you would definitely make comments about his reaction.

You hear the quiet rustling sound when he pulls away to take the condom out. Kneeling before you while you are all soaked because of him, he tries his best to be quick while putting the condom on. You know he is just as desperate as you are because his cock is painfully hard. It presses against your skin and you tease him a bit by moving your legs to press them against his shaft. His rough hand places over your thigh to stop you while his breath hisses softly.

“Patient, Angel,” he speaks so gently to you. You see him rip the packet with his teeth and then roll the condom down his thick shape.

Even though this is not your first intimate time together, you somehow feel it is strange to see him so stiff and leaking precum. It is as if every fiber of him is screaming that he misses you and wants you. But still, he is being extremely patient and does not want to hurt you as his hands slide up to hold your hips.

You almost buckle your hips just from his touch. You are eager for him as your hands travel behind his neck, pulling and pressing him close to you while you kiss him.

You feel him position himself right at your entrance, but he does not enter you at all. The delay makes you throb with a craving for him. You leak with wet fluid as he just presses his cock against you, rubbing his shaft teasingly across your folds. He occasionally presses his tip against your clit until you almost cry out in desperation.

“Mio, stop teasing me,” you almost whine. He lets out a soft chuckle.

His hand slides down as he presses his tip against your soft entrance. Slowly and gently, he pushes himself in. You feel a burning sensation as each inch sinks into you. Your walls immediately clench tightly and greedily around his thick shaft until you feel almost overwhelmed.

Why does he feel so much fuller than you remember?

You try to steady your breath while your head falls back to the soft pillow behind you. You try to loosen yourself for him.

Mio is just as strained. It has been a while since you two were last together. You feel so incredibly tight that he can almost feel the veins popping on his forehead while he tries to enter slowly and gently. He does not want to be too overwhelming for you. You always take him well, but it feels extra sensitive for both of you tonight.

Your inner walls tightly clench around him. The hot sensation almost makes him cum right away. Every corner of your body seems to kiss his cock and wrap warmly around his length. Because you are all soft and swollen from how he teased you earlier, you greedily suck him in like a starving void.

He really wants to push all of himself into you from the tip to the base, but he tries to be a caring boyfriend and a gentleman. Seeing how you clearly have a hard time taking him in, he presses soft kisses all over your face.

“Am I hurting you?” he asks so quietly and tenderly against your ear. His warm breath makes you shiver even more.

Your body just clenches around him tighter and you both let out a hiss.

“Sorry,” he speaks up, feeling a bit guilty as he kisses the side of your face.

You look at him with eyes a bit dazed from the full sensation of being filled. You shake your head slightly.

“I am not hurt,” you answer him between heavy breaths. “It has just been a while.”

He leans down and kisses you while he whispers.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

Nuzzling against your face, you wrap your arms around his neck. You pull him into an even deeper kiss while licking and biting his bottom lip softly. You cannot help it. He is being so adorable and caring even when you can see the veins almost popping on his arms. He is trying so hard not to roam into you viciously. Your hand slides up to cradle his face softly as his wet strands of hair stick to your fingers.

“You would never hurt me,” you give him a small reassurance. He smiles at your words, blushing and beaming like a silly boy as he hugs you close to him.

“Can I move now?” he asks so quietly. He is almost purring. You feel how desperate he is as his cock throbs violently against your walls.

You nod and he does not waste any time before moving his hips. He kisses every corner of your inside as your head falls back. You moan from the sensation of him rubbing you from the inside out. His face buries into the skin of your neck, kissing and nibbling softly while you feel his hands on you.

One hand holds your thigh softly while the other squeezes and kneads your breast in his large palm. He teases your nipple and makes your hips buckle. Slowly, you match his rhythm as he sighs out with satisfaction.

“You are so tight,” he almost curses. He grunts as his hand travels from your chest to press against your belly.

Your legs shake at his movement and you bite your lip at his comment. His hips do not stop. His pace grows faster as he sees how your back arches at each thrust. This encourages him to move more freely. 

You feel your whole body tremble as a loud cry escapes your lips. His cock presses against a sweet spot and drags out a messy cry from you.

You never imagined your body would be this sensitive. You have spent plenty of time with him, but you are feeling it more than usual tonight. His hand finds yours and intertwines his fingers with yours. He kisses you softly as his hips continue to thrust deeply.

You almost bump your head against the headboard from the movement, but his free hand gently holds you close to keep you in place. He roams inside you quite roughly, yet his kisses and touches remain tender as you pant heavily.

You have always been the more vocal one, but tonight Mio is extremely vocal too. He pants and moans beside your ear while kissing your shoulder softly. He presses so deep inside you that your eyes almost roll back. You see stars even before you climax. Your inner walls twist and clench on him more tightly. He knows you are close. Even he wonders why you are so sensitive tonight, even though he is trying to hold himself back for you.

“Mio-” you moan his name. Your nails dig into the skin of his back as he keeps thrusting inside you.

“Cum for me, baby,” he whispers softly and temptingly. His hand slides between your legs and presses his thumb against your clit to encourage you.

It is as if he wants you to coat his cock with all your pleasure. He flicks your clit slightly, but it is enough to send a shockwave across your whole body.

You tremble as you climax right underneath him. Even though you feel almost numb from the intensity, he feels you shake and grips your hips without stopping his movement.

You press your hand against his chest and almost cry out.

“W-wait-” only sloppy words leave your lips as Mio presses himself closer to you.

“You want me to stop?” he asks teasingly while he bites your earlobe. You cannot even answer him because only messy moans leave your mouth now.

You shake your head, unsure of what he even asked you. He groans and pants heavily beside your ear. He drills into you, making you tremble when your eyes meet his dark, deep blue gaze. You have never seen Mio like this during your previous intimate moments. He is usually a bit timid and shy, tending to look at you with tenderness in his eyes.

But the Mio in front of your eyes right now is obviously thirsting for you. He is like a starved man who has been neglected for so long that he has now returned for his own feast. That frightens you a bit, but at the same time, it thrills you since you are still sensitive from your earlier climax.

When he thrusts into you with that look in his eyes, it just makes you want him even more. Mio does not seem like he will obey you tonight anyway. His arms move to hold you close in a tight embrace. It is as if he wants to mark your insides with the shape of his cock while you moan brokenly at each thrust.

You feel your body give in to him as he suddenly changes your position. He lets you lay sideways on the bed with your arm pressing against the soft mattress. You feel his presence behind you. His strong arms grip your waist and hold you close while he thrusts deeply into your swollen pussy from behind.

“Ah, th- that is too deep, Mio-” you cry out at his movement while he kisses your back gently.

“Did you not like this position best?” he whispers in your ear. You hear his breath grow heavier and deeper as his thrusts grow even rougher. “You always say it goes in deep enough to hit just the right spot.”

Just as he finishes those vulgar words, the tip of his cock hits your spot. You almost scream, feeling him press and rub against your walls as he moves in and out of you.

The sensation is too much. You feel his fingers rubbing your clit again. You feel his tight grip around you and notice how hard he is trying to make you climax at the same time as him.

You feel him throbbing inside you. He seems to want to bury himself even deeper into you. He buries his face in your shoulder and inhales your scent, holding you tightly as you both climax.

Your body shakes against him and his body shivers against yours. You both breathe out heavily. You feel his hot chest rise and fall against your back. Your head feels fuzzy and your eyes are blurry, but the feeling of his hand on your hair makes you want to lean closer to him.

You turn your face to kiss him and he reciprocates with a deeper kiss. As he slowly slides out of you, you suddenly feel empty, but Mio's grip tightens around you. You feel him rubbing your back again.

“Sorry, but I do not think that was enough to ease me down,” he murmurs guiltily yet pleadingly as you look at him from the corner of your eye.

He is being honest and upfront about his needs. He is so adorable. It is as if he had not just finished fucking you into oblivion and turning you into a sloppy mess. You melt under each of his touches as you lean against him and give in to his desire.

You have no complaints. You desire him as much as he desires you, and tonight you do not want to let him go so easily anyway.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

The sunlight pours through the soft curtains of your window. The weather seems breezy today and you feel a sudden shiver. Moving your body instinctively deeper into the warm cover of your blanket, your back hits something. More specifically, you hit someone's chest. You feel a warmth that is not your familiar blanket. It is firm, and you feel an arm draped over your waist.

Slowly shifting in your sleep, you turn your body only to face familiar pink strands in your blurry eyesight. You are still a bit sleepy when you see Mio’s face. He is sleeping soundly and peacefully next to you. His chest rises and falls with his steady breath while you just lie there and look at him.

Your back is aching a bit now as you remember what happened last night.

You really need to suppress yourself a bit. You know both he and you are young, but perhaps that was too much. It was as if you two were wild animals in mating season who could not get enough of each other as you tangled together all night.

It was not until very late at night or very early morning that you two finally took a shower once again. You even had to clean the messy bedsheets before you could have a proper sleep.

You are glad that today is a day off for both of you. Otherwise, you do not even know if you would be able to hear your alarm.

Sunlight softly dances against Mio’s face. When he sleeps, he looks like an angel. His eyebrows are relaxed and you smile at the scene. You wonder how long it has been since you were last able to see this. You are sharing a bed with him again, wrapping yourself in his warmth and wrapping him in yours. You think of how many dreams you had about this before finally having it once again. His breath fanning against your face lets you know this is real. He is not an illusion that will disappear once you blink your eyes.

You reach your hand out and graze the tip of his nose. You just graze it very lightly, like a feather, because you do not want to wake him up. However, you see his nose scrunch softly like a little bunny. You smile at the scene. He is so adorable that you just want to wrap your arms around him and pat his back softly.

Perhaps your slightest movement managed to wake him. You feel his eyelashes flutter as his eyes slowly open.

Those blue eyes are now clear once again. They are a bit drowsy from sleepiness, but they are so clear that you almost fall for him all over again.

“Good morning,” you speak out, giving him a small greeting.

“Morning...” he murmurs back with his sleepy voice, sounding like a cat that was disturbed in its sleep.

You pull the blanket to cover him more properly as you hug him. You let his face rest against your chest while you gently pat his back.

“Sleep some more. It is still early, baby,” you speak quietly. Your voice is almost like a lullaby as you try to lure him back to sleep.

After everything he has done for you, you think your boyfriend deserves a proper sleep on his day off.

Mio, who rarely sleeps in on any occasion, actually wraps his arm tighter. He nuzzles his face into your warm embrace as he obediently falls back into a peaceful sleep.

His time with you is more valuable than anything. He wants to be able to stay by your side with as much time as he has from now on.

Your hand pats his hair softly as you press a kiss to his head. You wait until you hear that steady, even breath from him again, and then you too fall back into your slumber.

He never thought he would fall so deeply, especially since you were the one who confessed first.

You were always by his side, watching him craft his artisan work, throwing questions at him nonstop. Sometimes he wondered when he had grown so used to your presence, when he had become so patient with every question you asked, even the ones you called “dumb.”

Then the Clash happened.

Many students lost their lives. Mio couldn’t help but worry about you. Perhaps you distracted him at times but there was only so much he could do. Probation began to drive a wedge between you. You never intended to break up with him.

He did.

Not because he stopped caring but because he didn’t want distractions. He knew what he was stepping into, and he didn’t want you waiting for someone who might never return. Even he didn’t know when, or if he would come back.

So your relationship ended quietly, unofficially.

Your last conversation was an argument.

You tried to be understanding, and he knew that. But he couldn’t tell you everything about what was happening on campus. Mostly, he wanted to protect you, keep you out of the mess he was tangled in.

What he never expected was that you would lose your life during the Clash.

When you were with him, you never had to lift a finger. Even a small cut would send him rushing to your side in panic. You used to joke that he was overly dramatic. You didn’t know what he carried behind the scenes, the dangers, the paranoia.

So when he learned you had died, he blamed himself for failing to protect you.

Dionysia was in chaos. Darkwick itself felt like it was crumbling.

Then, while he was away from campus, Elias brought unexpected news: you were still alive.

Your body had been placed in the Darkwick institution’s morgue until you suddenly woke up, frightening half the staff. In a place like Darkwick, walking corpses and twisted beings weren’t unheard of. But someone returning from death, whole and alive? That was rare.

You told them you experienced something like near death, being trapped in a painful, twisted abyss. In the endless darkness, you heard a voice. Calm. Eerie. Devious.

It called to you.

It told you to voice your wish, promising it would free you from that spiraling hell. Though you didn’t know what waited beyond that velvet-dark veil, you made a wish.

After that. 

You woke up gasping for air on an autopsy table, moments away from being dissected.

Yet you were unharmed. Even more alive than before.

After running tests: you had become a ghoul.

You couldn’t remember much. But you knew one thing, you were no longer ordinary.

When you returned to campus, everything had changed. Some Houses were disbanded. Rules and policies had tightened to prevent another disaster.

And Mio was nowhere to be found.

You learned from Elias that he was on probation. Elias insisted Mio was safe and well that you didn’t need to worry.

But this was Darkwick.

They rarely meant well.

You didn’t know what plans were unfolding behind closed doors.

Still, you couldn’t focus on him. 

You had to learn to control yourself. Your new life. Your abilities. Being a ghoul.

Most ghouls were scouted and recruited before enrolling. You were different, a rare case who transformed on campus. They called it fortunate. Said it was easier to receive help here.

You doubted anyone could truly help you but yourself.

So you buried yourself in training and missions, trying to push away thoughts of that day. Trying not to remember.

But you couldn’t.

Because no matter how horrifying that day was, it was the last time you saw Mio.

And you didn’t know if you would ever see him again.

Even Elias didn’t know what fate awaited his Housemates.

Days blurred into nights filled with tasks and assignments. Still, sleep never came easily. Not without thinking of him.

You had grown so used to his presence that without it, everything felt duller. The nights seemed colder and longer.

And yes. You missed him.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

And Mio is no different.

He doesn’t just miss you, he misses his other Housemates too. He misses the quiet hours when he could craft freely in his spare time. After the incident, Darkwick enforced countless new rules, restricting nearly everything. One of them forbade him from contacting many people, including you.

The only ones he stays in touch with now are Elias and Jo. And even that feels limited.

He tells himself it’s for the best.

You would be better off like that.

Without him.

But of course, he can’t stop worrying.

He’s always been by your side, so he wonders if you’re taking care of yourself properly. He knows you’re capable, more than capable but it’s in his nature to think about the worst-case scenarios. To imagine how you manage everything without him there.

When he finally returns to campus, he doesn’t seek you out.

Well, he does.

But only from afar.

He watches you quietly, making sure you’re safe. You seem fine. You’ve adjusted to your new life. You move forward without him.

And in that moment, he convinces himself that maybe you truly don’t need him anymore. Maybe his presence would only bring more trouble into your life.

So when he sees you across campus, he walks away.

Even when your eyes meet.

He looks away as if he doesn’t know you. As if there was never anything between you. As if you are strangers, two insignificant people passing through each other’s lives.

You understand the message.

So you do the same.

You walk past each other as if you never meant anything to one another.

Later, you hide somewhere quiet just to cry. You don’t tell anyone. Admitting how much it hurts feels worse than the death itself.

You don’t blame him.

Deep down, you know he feels guilty about what happened to you. You saw it, just for a fleeting second, in his eyes when he looked at you. He still cares.

But he doesn’t have the courage to approach you after everything that’s happened.

And that will become his greatest regret.

Because he never imagined that he would never truly get to be with you again.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

Each time time resets, he remembers.

He returns to different points, sometimes before the Clash, sometimes even back to when he first arrived at Darkwick. And every time, you don’t remember him.

You don’t know who he is.

You don’t remember the intimacy, the affection, the quiet moments you shared.

Yet you still smile at him. Offer him polite greetings.

Sometimes he wants to start over. To get to know you again. To rebuild everything from the beginning.

But he tries not to go too deep.

Because no matter what he does, no matter how he tries to protect you, he fails.

Every timeline ends the same.

You die.

You become a ghoul.

It’s as if fate has carved it into stone. No matter how many times he turns back, nothing truly changes.

So when Elias suggests returning to a point just before the prophecy unfolds, Mio agrees.

Maybe this time…

He’ll have the courage to face you.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

It was an ordinary day in Darkwick, close to Samhain.

Work had always been heavy in Jabberwock, but it intensified around this time of year. Haru was busy preparing for the safari tour, so most of the park’s responsibilities fell on your shoulders.

By the time you finished checking the perimeter fences, night had already fallen.

Sweat slid down your temple as you heard a soft rustle in the grass behind you. At this hour, it was probably Haru or Towa. Ren would have locked himself in his room by now, buried in games or movies.

Assuming it was Haru, you spoke without turning.

“Ah, Haru. I’ve checked the maintenance for the Capybara bus, but it-”

You turned mid-sentence.

The words died in your throat.

Your eyes met a gaze you knew too well.

The one that haunted your dreams. Even when the memories were sweet, they always felt like nightmares because you’d wake up wishing he was still beside you, only to realize it was never real anymore.

“Mio…” you breathed softly.

He stood there exactly as you remembered.

No, maybe a little… taller?

Those calm, blue-tinted eyes were unchanged. Even beneath the velvet night sky, they seemed to catch the moonlight, glimmering faintly. His hands were tucked into his pockets. He looked like someone who had too much to say and no idea where to begin.

You could see your reflection in his eyes.

Neither of you broke eye contact.

“Hey…” he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. Pink strands slipped across his forehead. “Sorry… I’m not Haru.”

You weren’t ready for this.

You didn’t want to talk to him just not yet. But at the same time, you had so many questions. So many things you wanted to say.

You fought the urge to run to him. To wrap your arms around him.

Your palms were damp inside your gloves.

“If you’re looking for Haru, he’s not available right now,” you said quietly, turning back to the fence.

You forced yourself to continue working, ignoring him.

You weren’t angry.

You just needed time to process, to breathe, to figure out how to stand in front of him without falling apart. You had imagined this moment countless times. What you would say. What you would ask.

But now that he was here, your mind was blank.

It felt like the closeness you once shared was both vivid and impossibly distant.

You heard his footsteps approach.

You could almost feel his breath against your skin as you lifted your head slightly.

“Let me help you,” he said, tone casual like he’d only been gone for a mission, not nearly a year.

Helping you had always come naturally to him. Acts of service were his silent confession of love.

But you had grown used to handling things alone.

“I can manage.”

The words came out sharper than you intended.

It wasn’t that you didn’t appreciate his help. You just hated how he always felt responsible for you. His protectiveness had been the root of your argument. And it still left a bitter taste in your mouth.

He faltered for a second.

Your tone. The way you pulled your hand away. The way you clearly didn’t need him.

It wasn’t that he thought you incapable.

He just didn’t know what else he could do.

Helping you was the only way he knew how to show that he still cared. That he still loved you.

And he could only hope. 

That you wouldn’t take even that away from him.

That maybe…

You might still need him by your side.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

You can feel his gaze resting against the side of your face.

He stands there quietly, composed, like he always does. But you know him well enough to understand that he’s anything but calm. The weight of his stare almost burns, as if it could bore straight through you. You focus on keeping your hands steady beneath that piercing gaze.

He doesn’t push you.

He simply waits until you finish your work.

“I’m not here to see Haru,” he says once you’re done, when your attention finally returns to him. “I’m here to see you.”

From his pocket, he pulls out something small, a wooden mechanical box resting in his palm.

Your eyes flicker toward it immediately.

You know exactly what it is.

It was the first piece of merchandise he ever taught you to make. Well… you made it together, though most of it was his work. A small music box with delicate clockwork inside, functioning almost like a radio. He crafted it for you after you confessed you struggled with insomnia. The soft melody it played used to lull you to sleep.

You had left it in the Dionysia dorm for him to maintain before the Clash.

You never had the chance to take it back.

No wonder sleeping had become harder.

Not just because he wasn’t there but because you’d lost the one gift he made just for you.

You stare at it for a moment before hesitantly reaching out to touch it.

“I reorganized the dorm,” he explains softly. “And found it.”

His fingers close gently around your hand, as if afraid you might pull away again.

His voice is steady, but there’s guilt threaded through it. Your gaze shifts between his face and the box. This time, you don’t withdraw.

He exhales quietly in relief.

He guides your hand to the small winding handle at the side. You turn it.

The familiar click.

The gentle whir of gears.

A soft melody spills into the night air, weaving between you like something alive. The tiny mechanisms inside spring into motion, and the lid pops open.

Inside sits a small, adorable clockwork anomaly.

Its voice comes out slightly robotic.

“It’s great to see you again, Master.”

The corner of your lips lifts faintly.

“Nice to see you too, Doppie.”

The little mechanism shifts and swivels happily, gears ticking with enthusiasm.

“I have been asleep for so long,” it continues. “I wonder if your insomnia is still as bad. Master Mio woke me up and said I haven’t been around you for a while. It was irresponsible of me not to stay by your side when you needed me.”

Your eyes soften.

Most clockworks aren’t programmed to speak like that. What they say, how they say it, depends entirely on Mio’s coding.

“That’s fine,” you answer gently. “My insomnia isn’t as bad anymore.”

That part is true.

You don’t struggle to fall asleep now.

But sleeping is worse.

Because when you close your eyes, the memories return, the abyss, the voice in the dark, the spiraling void. Sometimes you see happy memories too. But not often enough.

Doppie’s gears spin faster, almost in protest.

“Master Mio created me to help you. If I cannot fulfill that purpose, then my existence has no meaning. If you don’t need me anymore, then I am just a useless piece.”

You stare at it quietly, letting those words sink deeper than they should.

You resist the urge to sigh.

Instead, you lift the box from Mio’s hand. Your gaze meets his briefly. You catch the flicker of anticipation in his glistening eyes.

“I didn’t say I don’t need you,” you tell Doppie softly.

“And you’re not a useless piece. You’re my favorite treasure.”

The gears whirl happily.

“I’m glad to hear that, Master. I missed you very much.”

A small laugh escapes you.

“I missed you too, Doppie.”

Doppie askes. “Master Mio said he missed you too. Did you miss him, Master?”

The question hits without warning.

Your eyes shift toward Mio before you answer.

“Shouldn’t he ask me that himself?” Your voice comes out cooler than intended.

Doppie’s gears tick again.

“Yes. I told him that as well. But Master Mio said he was afraid you might not need him anymore-”

The lid snaps shut by Mio’s hand before it can finish.

You look up at him.

Just as you expected, a deep pink flush spreads across his face, creeping down to his neck. He’s always been like this, so easily flustered. You used to love that about him. No matter how composed he tried to appear, his emotions betrayed him every time.

You’re still holding the box, but your attention is fully on him now.

His blue eyes lower.

He steps closer.

You feel him lean down slightly, hesitating, testing whether you’ll move away. When you don’t, he gathers enough courage to rest his forehead against yours.

His warm breath mingles with yours.

It hasn’t been that long since you were apart. But in this moment, it feels like centuries.

For you.

For Mio, it truly has been that long.

He’s lost count of how many timelines he’s lived without you by his side. How many days he’s watched you from afar. How many times he’s tried and failed to change fate.

He thought he could live without you.

He thought you were fine without him.

He was wrong.

Neither of you are the same without each other.

“Sorry for disturbing your work,” he whispers.

“Haru said I should visit tomorrow…”

His hand closes over yours, the one holding the box. His calloused palm covers your gloved hand. The fabric dulls the warmth between you.

Your heart pounds wildly.

His does too.

They feel close enough to sync.

You’re almost grateful for the gloves. If you could feel the full heat of his skin, you might fall apart all over again.

“But I couldn’t wait until tomorrow,” he admits.

“I missed you.”

The words are finally spoken aloud.

His other hand cups your cheek. Warm. Rough fingertips brushing your skin so gently, as if you might vanish at any second.

“I’m back now.”

You don’t doubt him.

You thought you’d be stronger when facing him again. Thought you could handle it, with or without him. Thought you wouldn’t feel this vulnerable.

But the way he looks at you. 

It’s like he hasn’t seen you in a lifetime.

Is that how long it felt for him?

Did you truly mean that much?

Your vision blurs.

You look away quickly as tears well in your eyes.

He doesn’t hesitate as he pulls you into his arms.

You bury your face in his chest, breathing in his scent, the one that always made you feel safe. The one that once eased you into sleep without nightmares.

And you cry. 

So Loudly. So Messily. Like a child.

Your sobs echo across the quiet safari grounds.

And he doesn’t shush you. His hand strokes your hair gently, fingers threading through it as he murmurs soft apologize. A tender kiss presses to the top of your head.

He lets you cry for as long as you need.

Until your breathing evens out.

Until the heaviness inside your chest begins to loosen.

Until you’re certain he’s really here.

When you finally lift your face, his thumb wipes the remaining tears from the corners of your eyes.

They’re red and swollen from crying.

Pain flickers through his gaze.

Of all the things he’s ever wanted for you, making you cry was never one of them.

And yet here he stands, the reason for your tears, for your vulnerability.

He despises himself for that.

Because loving you was never meant to hurt you.

Not like this.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

After that reunion, the two of you began spending more time together, almost as if you were trying to make up for everything you had lost.

You talked for hours. Mio told you about what he’d been doing during his time away from campus, carefully choosing what to share. You told him about adjusting to life as a ghoul, how strange it felt at first, how Haru had helped you more than you expected.

He didn’t question you much.

But you could tell it bothered him.

Not being there. Not helping you through it.

You never blamed him.

But Mio had always been the type to shoulder guilt before anyone else could. If something happened to you, his first instinct would always be to blame himself.

As the festival drew closer, both of you became busy again.

Now that he was back on campus, Mio had responsibilities piling up, maintaining facilities, overseeing preparations, even helping build the stage for the upcoming band competition.

You heard from Towa that he had joined the concert with two ghouls from Mortkranken and that mushroom-headed guy from Froistheim. You didn’t pay much attention to the details. You were buried in your own tasks.

On the day of the performance, Haru surprised you by giving you time off so you could attend and cheer for Towa.

That was kind of him.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

You stood somewhere in the crowd, not at the edge, not at the center either.

Students cheered and sang loudly around you. Bodies bumped into each other in excitement. Screams and laughter filled the air as the band performed on stage.

The energy was infectious.

Crowds had never really been your thing. But tonight, the festival atmosphere wrapped around you anyway. You stayed through the entire show, feeling the rhythm vibrate in your chest.

Then someone shoved into you from the side. A little too hard.

You stumbled forward but a strong arm caught you before you could fall.

“T-thank you-” you started, lifting your gaze.

You met that familiar soft smile beneath pink hair.

“S-sorry!” the other student apologized quickly before scurrying away, clearly uncomfortable being so close to a ghoul.

You ignored it.

Your focus stayed on the boy beside you.

He wore a hachimaki, keeping his stray strands back. Colorful light reflected off his face as he smiled down at you.

“How did you even find me?” you asked. In a crowd this big, even for a ghoul, it should’ve been difficult.

“It wasn’t that hard,” he replied, a hint of playful cockiness slipping into his tone.

You couldn’t help the small smile that followed.

“Okay, magician.”

He laughed softly.

“Haru told me you’d be here,” he murmured, leaning closer so you could hear him over the music. His warm breath brushed your ear.

“And after that… I just followed my instincts.”

It sounded unrealistic and impossible.

But somehow, when Mio said it, you believed him.

When he laughed, you caught a glimpse of his fangs.

And maybe it was the atmosphere. Or maybe it was the way he was looking at you.

You suddenly wanted to kiss him.

Right there.

But Mio had always been shy about public affection. Even before everything happened, the most intimate thing you did in public was hold hands. Anything more, he preferred in private.

And since returning, he had been even more careful and restrained.

Almost as if he was afraid you might disappear under his touch.

You weren’t sure what had changed. Maybe time apart had made him cautious. Maybe he felt he had to rebuild what you once had.

You tilted your head slightly and gestured for him to lean closer.

He did, obediently, ear near your lips.

“Should we get out of here?” you whispered.

He laughed again. The sound somehow cut through the pounding music.

His hand slid into yours. Rough palm against yours. Fingers interlacing naturally.

Then he led you away from the crowd. No one was watching.

Still, you felt strangely exposed, as if sneaking off together was something forbidden.

But you followed him without hesitation.

You trusted him.

Your eyes lingered on his broad shoulders, on the quiet confidence in his posture. He seemed more grounded now and more certain.

Yet something about him felt different.

He was still caring. And still very attentive. 

But there were moments when he seemed distant. When he watched you work with a strange expression, like he was memorizing you. In class, his gaze would drift. Sometimes he looked at you as though afraid to blink.

You wondered what had really happened while he was gone.

Was he hiding something?

The last thing you argued with each other was about keeping secrets, it hadn’t ended well.

So you chose not to push.

If Mio wasn’t saying anything, it meant he wasn’t ready. And you didn’t want to force him, not when you had only just found your way back to each other.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

He led you toward the festival stalls set up by different Houses.

For the first time in a long while, you simply enjoyed being together.

You played small carnival games, won silly prizes, tried different foods from various stands. 

You laughed a lot. The kind of laughter that made your stomach ache.

You missed this.

Even before the Clash, both of you were usually on duty during events like this. You rarely had the chance to wander freely.

Tonight felt different.

Tonight, you could relax.

And with Mio beside you, it almost felt like he had never left.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

By the time you wandered away from the stalls, velvet night had settled over campus. The festival was still lively, but most students had moved toward the main building for other activities.

This side of campus was quieter.

Mio’s phone suddenly chimed.

You watched him glance down at the screen, rubbing the back of his neck afterward.

“Are you busy?” you asked.

“No… not exactly.” He hesitated briefly. “Dionysia has a meeting by the campfire tonight.”

Right.

The others had returned too. Of course the vice captain would need to attend.

You weren’t sure what to say, but you spoke anyway.

“Then you should go. I need to head back and help Haru anyway.”

He shook his head, tightening his grip on your hand.

“Don’t you want to see them too?”

You looked up at him. The lamplight hit his face just right, casting a soft golden glow over his pink hair.

“They’d like to see you,” he added quietly.

There was something hopeful in his eyes. Almost boyish anticipation.

You fell silent for a moment.

Because how were you supposed to say no. 

When he was looking at you like that?

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

From a distance, you can already see the warm glow of the campfire flickering against the night. A few students are gathered around it, their silhouettes softened by orange light.

It’s… peaceful.

Quiet in a way that Darkwick rarely allows.

For a moment, it almost feels cozy.

But of course, that peace doesn’t last.

A sudden scream tears through the air.

Students scatter in every direction, shouting in alarm. You pause, startled, trying to figure out what happened.

Beside you, Mio lets out a small sigh.

You both continue walking forward and then you see a familiar figure. 

He stands tall, a torch in hand, flames roaring as he performs one of his fire-breathing displays.

“Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our show…”

You can’t help the small laugh that slips from you.

Some things really never change.

He runs in a circle, showing off his skill as students flee like startled birds, shrieking and complaining. Within seconds, most of the camp area has emptied.

One unlucky student stumbles backward and falls as Shion exhales another plume of fire dramatically.

“Come take a peek behind the curtain…”

You wait until he finishes his theatrical narration before calling out.

“Shion.”

He freezes mid-pose. And very slowly he turns toward you and Mio.

His eyes light up instantly.

Whatever persona he was playing vanishes completely as he dashes toward you.

The torch clatters to the ground.

Before either of you can brace yourselves, he throws his arms around both you and Mio in an overly enthusiastic hug, nearly knocking you off your feet.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

Once things settle down, the three of you return by fire.

You spot Elias and Jo seated nearby.

As you sit, you feel something warm drape over your shoulders. You glance up to see Mio placing his jacket around you.

“Thank you…” you murmur.

He doesn’t respond verbally. He just sits beside you.

It’s late. The night air has grown colder, though the fire keeps most of it at bay. You hadn’t realized how much the chill had crept in until now.

You know they have matters to discuss, so you offer to excuse yourself but Elias and Jo both tell you to stay.

So you do.

You listen, even if half the conversation flies over your head.

At some point, Elias notices your wandering attention.

“Glad to see you two together again.”

You look up at him. The fire crackles between you, its glow reflecting in his eyes.

You’ve never spoken to Elias much. He always seems occupied, moving from one responsibility to the next. His direct comment catches you off guard.

Before you can respond, Mio speaks first.

“We never broke up.”

Elias lets out a quiet chuckle at that.

It’s unusual for Mio to speak so quickly and defensively, especially toward his own Housemates.

You glance at him. He meets your eyes, then quickly rubs the back of his neck, faint color dusting his cheeks.

“Sorry,” he murmurs, avoiding your gaze.

“It’s fine,” you reply softly. “You’re right. We never broke up.”

You repeat his words.

And his lips curve into the smallest smile.

Maybe the atmosphere becomes a little too sweet after that. Because Jo suddenly clears his throat and announces that they’ve discussed enough for the night. Everyone should get proper rest after a long day.

When Mio offers to walk you back, you don’t refuse.

You glance at the others briefly. Shion gives you a small wave, you return it with a small one of your own.

As you pass Elias, you hear him whisper to you, almost swallowed by the crackling fire.

“Good luck.”

You pause in confusion, and glance back. 

But he’s already walking away, hands in his pockets, not looking back.

The words linger with you.

You don’t quite understand them.

Still, you don’t dwell on it.

You turn and follow Mio into the quiet stretch of campus night.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

Both you and Mio remain quiet for the rest of your walk. When he stops in front of your mushroom dorm, he looks at you, his gaze lingering as if he doesn’t want to leave yet, as if the long walk you just took together felt far too short, and the night itself passed too quickly.

“Good night,” he speaks softly as you look at him.

You wait to see whether he will leave or if he has something else to say. But he just stands there, so still, not moving an inch, as if waiting for you to go inside.

You don’t. Instead, your hand reaches for his again as you speak quietly.

“Am I not getting a goodbye kiss?” you ask.

His eyes widen slightly, a pink hue creeping wildly across his face as if his brain has malfunctioned.

He has been tiptoeing around you ever since he came back. He has always been careful with you, but this time it feels different, like he’s deliberately trying to keep his distance. Though he is your partner, he seems overly cautious around you, and you can’t quite tell why.

Yes, he’s shy, and you tend to be the one who makes the first move in your relationship, but he had grown used to being close to you long before this. You wonder if the time he spent away from campus changed him.

It’s because you truly don’t know. You don’t know how long he has been able to see you this close to him. How long it has been since he started avoiding you every time he came back. And how, slowly, the two of you began to feel like strangers.

He doesn’t even remember how warm your skin is or how soft your touch feels against him. He misses your kisses and the warm hugs you give him, how you sometimes wrap your arms around his shoulders and kiss the side of his face while he’s busy working on something.

He misses you. He misses your affection too. But being away from you for so long, without you even knowing, has made him withdraw from the contact he wishes he could have with you. Because he feels guilty. He knows how often he walked away from you, yet you remember nothing at all. It makes him feel as though he is taking advantage of you, invading your space, using your love and tenderness to satisfy his own desires.

“I’m afraid,” he finally says when he sees the waiting lingering in your eyes. “That I won’t be able to hold back if I kiss you.”

He leans down closer, his voice low as he whispers into your ear like honey, and you shiver slightly at the warmth of his breath.

Mio has never said anything like that before, nor has he acted so boldly when it comes to being close to you. He seems… more straightforward now.

You step closer to him, making him instinctively step back, but with your hands still intertwined, he doesn’t have much room to move.

“I don’t care…” you answer, your free hand tugging lightly at his shirt as you pull him down. Mio stumbles slightly on his feet.

He leans closer, and your eyes meet his, deeper and closer than usual. He lets out a small, helpless smile before gently caressing the side of your face. You close your eyes just in time for him to press his soft lips against yours.

The sensation is so familiar, yet it feels like forever since you last kissed him. Your arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer. Your fingers thread through the soft strands of his hair, you’ve always loved brushing it, playing with it, even braiding it just for fun. Being able to touch it again makes you tighten your hold slightly, unable to help yourself.

When you first started dating, Mio was very “polite” when it came to kissing you. He was always careful, afraid of making you uncomfortable. Shy and timid, that’s how you would describe his kisses, along with soft and caring.

But tonight, his kiss is different.

It starts soft and tender, cautious, as if checking whether he’s doing it right, even though this isn’t his first time kissing you. He pulls away slightly to see your reaction. But you don’t hesitate, your lips chase his, reciprocating with softness laced with unspoken yearning.

And then he stops hesitating.

He leans down further, almost caging your face in his hands. You stumble back against the door behind you as he towers over you. His kiss grows more desperate with each passing second, his breathing heavier. The air between you grows hotter as his tongue meets yours unexpectedly.

Mio rarely initiates that, it’s usually you who takes the lead. But tonight he’s different. You can feel his hunger in the way he breathes, in how he moves, how he takes up all your space and air, how tightly he holds you against him.

It becomes hard to breathe, and you have to push him away slightly.

He steps back, his forehead pressing softly against yours. He nuzzles your cheek, scattering light kisses across your face as he murmurs, “Sorry…”

Well, he did warn you that he wouldn’t be able to hold back, and you told him you didn’t care. It surprises you, catches you off guard but it’s not something you’re against. You’ve never seen this side of him before. It makes you wonder what else you don’t know about him and how you might peel away the layers he’s wrapped around himself.

“Don’t be,” you whisper between mingling breaths. Your hand lifts to touch his face, your fingertip brushing over his damp lips. He presses a soft kiss to your fingertip between panting breaths.

But he apologizes again. Not just for kissing you more impulsively than usual, but for all the times he left you alone. Of course, you wouldn’t understand that. He would rather be the only one to carry that sadness and guilt. He doesn’t want you to bear the same pain.

His hand caresses your cheek softly before he presses a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“You should get some rest,” he says, your gazes lingering on each other.

It’s not that he’s running away. He’s afraid that if he stays, he won’t stop at just kissing you. He wants your feelings to be mutual, shared in a moment when you are both calm, not driven by his impulsiveness. So he pulls himself away.

And the moment he does, you already miss the warmth of his touch, even though he’s still standing right in front of you.

“What about your jacket?” you ask, still feeling the comfort and warmth of his scent lingering in the fabric draped over your shoulders.

He smirks, his usual smug, cocky expression you haven’t seen in so long.

“Hold onto it for me, yeah? I’ll come get it tomorrow.”

You let out a small huff. He doesn’t even bother to come up with an excuse to see you anymore and you don’t plan on giving it back anytime soon anyway.

“See you tomorrow, then,” you say softly, a quiet agreement between you. 

Mio laughs.

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

He presses one last kiss to your forehead before you open the door.

Stepping inside, you peek through the crack, and the lingering look in his eyes makes you not want him to leave. But it has been a long day, and you both need rest. For now, he has assured you that you’ll have plenty of time together.

“Good night, Mio,” you call.

“Good night, Angel,” he replies with a soft smile, his gaze reflecting only you.

And maybe tonight, you’ll have a good dream as you drift into your Dreamlands. Because he won’t disappear again. You’ll see him tomorrow and the day after that, and the day after that.

At least, that’s what you’re hoping for.

He never thought he would fall so deeply, especially since you were the one who confessed first.

You were always by his side, watching him craft his artisan work, throwing questions at him nonstop. Sometimes he wondered when he had grown so used to your presence, when he had become so patient with every question you asked, even the ones you called “dumb.”

Then the Clash happened.

Many students lost their lives. Mio couldn’t help but worry about you. Perhaps you distracted him at times but there was only so much he could do. Probation began to drive a wedge between you. You never intended to break up with him.

He did.

Not because he stopped caring but because he didn’t want distractions. He knew what he was stepping into, and he didn’t want you waiting for someone who might never return. Even he didn’t know when, or if he would come back.

So your relationship ended quietly, unofficially.

Your last conversation was an argument.

You tried to be understanding, and he knew that. But he couldn’t tell you everything about what was happening on campus. Mostly, he wanted to protect you, keep you out of the mess he was tangled in.

What he never expected was that you would lose your life during the Clash.

When you were with him, you never had to lift a finger. Even a small cut would send him rushing to your side in panic. You used to joke that he was overly dramatic. You didn’t know what he carried behind the scenes, the dangers, the paranoia.

So when he learned you had died, he blamed himself for failing to protect you.

Dionysia was in chaos. Darkwick itself felt like it was crumbling.

Then, while he was away from campus, Elias brought unexpected news: you were still alive.

Your body had been placed in the Darkwick institution’s morgue until you suddenly woke up, frightening half the staff. In a place like Darkwick, walking corpses and twisted beings weren’t unheard of. But someone returning from death, whole and alive? That was rare.

You told them you experienced something like near death, being trapped in a painful, twisted abyss. In the endless darkness, you heard a voice. Calm. Eerie. Devious.

It called to you.

It told you to voice your wish, promising it would free you from that spiraling hell. Though you didn’t know what waited beyond that velvet-dark veil, you made a wish.

After that. 

You woke up gasping for air on an autopsy table, moments away from being dissected.

Yet you were unharmed. Even more alive than before.

After running tests: you had become a ghoul.

You couldn’t remember much. But you knew one thing, you were no longer ordinary.

When you returned to campus, everything had changed. Some Houses were disbanded. Rules and policies had tightened to prevent another disaster.

And Mio was nowhere to be found.

You learned from Elias that he was on probation. Elias insisted Mio was safe and well that you didn’t need to worry.

But this was Darkwick.

They rarely meant well.

You didn’t know what plans were unfolding behind closed doors.

Still, you couldn’t focus on him. 

You had to learn to control yourself. Your new life. Your abilities. Being a ghoul.

Most ghouls were scouted and recruited before enrolling. You were different, a rare case who transformed on campus. They called it fortunate. Said it was easier to receive help here.

You doubted anyone could truly help you but yourself.

So you buried yourself in training and missions, trying to push away thoughts of that day. Trying not to remember.

But you couldn’t.

Because no matter how horrifying that day was, it was the last time you saw Mio.

And you didn’t know if you would ever see him again.

Even Elias didn’t know what fate awaited his Housemates.

Days blurred into nights filled with tasks and assignments. Still, sleep never came easily. Not without thinking of him.

You had grown so used to his presence that without it, everything felt duller. The nights seemed colder and longer.

And yes. You missed him.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

And Mio is no different.

He doesn’t just miss you, he misses his other Housemates too. He misses the quiet hours when he could craft freely in his spare time. After the incident, Darkwick enforced countless new rules, restricting nearly everything. One of them forbade him from contacting many people, including you.

The only ones he stays in touch with now are Elias and Jo. And even that feels limited.

He tells himself it’s for the best.

You would be better off like that.

Without him.

But of course, he can’t stop worrying.

He’s always been by your side, so he wonders if you’re taking care of yourself properly. He knows you’re capable, more than capable but it’s in his nature to think about the worst-case scenarios. To imagine how you manage everything without him there.

When he finally returns to campus, he doesn’t seek you out.

Well, he does.

But only from afar.

He watches you quietly, making sure you’re safe. You seem fine. You’ve adjusted to your new life. You move forward without him.

And in that moment, he convinces himself that maybe you truly don’t need him anymore. Maybe his presence would only bring more trouble into your life.

So when he sees you across campus, he walks away.

Even when your eyes meet.

He looks away as if he doesn’t know you. As if there was never anything between you. As if you are strangers, two insignificant people passing through each other’s lives.

You understand the message.

So you do the same.

You walk past each other as if you never meant anything to one another.

Later, you hide somewhere quiet just to cry. You don’t tell anyone. Admitting how much it hurts feels worse than the death itself.

You don’t blame him.

Deep down, you know he feels guilty about what happened to you. You saw it, just for a fleeting second, in his eyes when he looked at you. He still cares.

But he doesn’t have the courage to approach you after everything that’s happened.

And that will become his greatest regret.

Because he never imagined that he would never truly get to be with you again.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

Each time time resets, he remembers.

He returns to different points, sometimes before the Clash, sometimes even back to when he first arrived at Darkwick. And every time, you don’t remember him.

You don’t know who he is.

You don’t remember the intimacy, the affection, the quiet moments you shared.

Yet you still smile at him. Offer him polite greetings.

Sometimes he wants to start over. To get to know you again. To rebuild everything from the beginning.

But he tries not to go too deep.

Because no matter what he does, no matter how he tries to protect you, he fails.

Every timeline ends the same.

You die.

You become a ghoul.

It’s as if fate has carved it into stone. No matter how many times he turns back, nothing truly changes.

So when Elias suggests returning to a point just before the prophecy unfolds, Mio agrees.

Maybe this time…

He’ll have the courage to face you.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

It was an ordinary day in Darkwick, close to Samhain.

Work had always been heavy in Jabberwock, but it intensified around this time of year. Haru was busy preparing for the safari tour, so most of the park’s responsibilities fell on your shoulders.

By the time you finished checking the perimeter fences, night had already fallen.

Sweat slid down your temple as you heard a soft rustle in the grass behind you. At this hour, it was probably Haru or Towa. Ren would have locked himself in his room by now, buried in games or movies.

Assuming it was Haru, you spoke without turning.

“Ah, Haru. I’ve checked the maintenance for the Capybara bus, but it-”

You turned mid-sentence.

The words died in your throat.

Your eyes met a gaze you knew too well.

The one that haunted your dreams. Even when the memories were sweet, they always felt like nightmares because you’d wake up wishing he was still beside you, only to realize it was never real anymore.

“Mio…” you breathed softly.

He stood there exactly as you remembered.

No, maybe a little… taller?

Those calm, blue-tinted eyes were unchanged. Even beneath the velvet night sky, they seemed to catch the moonlight, glimmering faintly. His hands were tucked into his pockets. He looked like someone who had too much to say and no idea where to begin.

You could see your reflection in his eyes.

Neither of you broke eye contact.

“Hey…” he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. Pink strands slipped across his forehead. “Sorry… I’m not Haru.”

You weren’t ready for this.

You didn’t want to talk to him just not yet. But at the same time, you had so many questions. So many things you wanted to say.

You fought the urge to run to him. To wrap your arms around him.

Your palms were damp inside your gloves.

“If you’re looking for Haru, he’s not available right now,” you said quietly, turning back to the fence.

You forced yourself to continue working, ignoring him.

You weren’t angry.

You just needed time to process, to breathe, to figure out how to stand in front of him without falling apart. You had imagined this moment countless times. What you would say. What you would ask.

But now that he was here, your mind was blank.

It felt like the closeness you once shared was both vivid and impossibly distant.

You heard his footsteps approach.

You could almost feel his breath against your skin as you lifted your head slightly.

“Let me help you,” he said, tone casual like he’d only been gone for a mission, not nearly a year.

Helping you had always come naturally to him. Acts of service were his silent confession of love.

But you had grown used to handling things alone.

“I can manage.”

The words came out sharper than you intended.

It wasn’t that you didn’t appreciate his help. You just hated how he always felt responsible for you. His protectiveness had been the root of your argument. And it still left a bitter taste in your mouth.

He faltered for a second.

Your tone. The way you pulled your hand away. The way you clearly didn’t need him.

It wasn’t that he thought you incapable.

He just didn’t know what else he could do.

Helping you was the only way he knew how to show that he still cared. That he still loved you.

And he could only hope. 

That you wouldn’t take even that away from him.

That maybe…

You might still need him by your side.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

You can feel his gaze resting against the side of your face.

He stands there quietly, composed, like he always does. But you know him well enough to understand that he’s anything but calm. The weight of his stare almost burns, as if it could bore straight through you. You focus on keeping your hands steady beneath that piercing gaze.

He doesn’t push you.

He simply waits until you finish your work.

“I’m not here to see Haru,” he says once you’re done, when your attention finally returns to him. “I’m here to see you.”

From his pocket, he pulls out something small, a wooden mechanical box resting in his palm.

Your eyes flicker toward it immediately.

You know exactly what it is.

It was the first piece of merchandise he ever taught you to make. Well… you made it together, though most of it was his work. A small music box with delicate clockwork inside, functioning almost like a radio. He crafted it for you after you confessed you struggled with insomnia. The soft melody it played used to lull you to sleep.

You had left it in the Dionysia dorm for him to maintain before the Clash.

You never had the chance to take it back.

No wonder sleeping had become harder.

Not just because he wasn’t there but because you’d lost the one gift he made just for you.

You stare at it for a moment before hesitantly reaching out to touch it.

“I reorganized the dorm,” he explains softly. “And found it.”

His fingers close gently around your hand, as if afraid you might pull away again.

His voice is steady, but there’s guilt threaded through it. Your gaze shifts between his face and the box. This time, you don’t withdraw.

He exhales quietly in relief.

He guides your hand to the small winding handle at the side. You turn it.

The familiar click.

The gentle whir of gears.

A soft melody spills into the night air, weaving between you like something alive. The tiny mechanisms inside spring into motion, and the lid pops open.

Inside sits a small, adorable clockwork anomaly.

Its voice comes out slightly robotic.

“It’s great to see you again, Master.”

The corner of your lips lifts faintly.

“Nice to see you too, Doppie.”

The little mechanism shifts and swivels happily, gears ticking with enthusiasm.

“I have been asleep for so long,” it continues. “I wonder if your insomnia is still as bad. Master Mio woke me up and said I haven’t been around you for a while. It was irresponsible of me not to stay by your side when you needed me.”

Your eyes soften.

Most clockworks aren’t programmed to speak like that. What they say, how they say it, depends entirely on Mio’s coding.

“That’s fine,” you answer gently. “My insomnia isn’t as bad anymore.”

That part is true.

You don’t struggle to fall asleep now.

But sleeping is worse.

Because when you close your eyes, the memories return, the abyss, the voice in the dark, the spiraling void. Sometimes you see happy memories too. But not often enough.

Doppie’s gears spin faster, almost in protest.

“Master Mio created me to help you. If I cannot fulfill that purpose, then my existence has no meaning. If you don’t need me anymore, then I am just a useless piece.”

You stare at it quietly, letting those words sink deeper than they should.

You resist the urge to sigh.

Instead, you lift the box from Mio’s hand. Your gaze meets his briefly. You catch the flicker of anticipation in his glistening eyes.

“I didn’t say I don’t need you,” you tell Doppie softly.

“And you’re not a useless piece. You’re my favorite treasure.”

The gears whirl happily.

“I’m glad to hear that, Master. I missed you very much.”

A small laugh escapes you.

“I missed you too, Doppie.”

Doppie askes. “Master Mio said he missed you too. Did you miss him, Master?”

The question hits without warning.

Your eyes shift toward Mio before you answer.

“Shouldn’t he ask me that himself?” Your voice comes out cooler than intended.

Doppie’s gears tick again.

“Yes. I told him that as well. But Master Mio said he was afraid you might not need him anymore-”

The lid snaps shut by Mio’s hand before it can finish.

You look up at him.

Just as you expected, a deep pink flush spreads across his face, creeping down to his neck. He’s always been like this, so easily flustered. You used to love that about him. No matter how composed he tried to appear, his emotions betrayed him every time.

You’re still holding the box, but your attention is fully on him now.

His blue eyes lower.

He steps closer.

You feel him lean down slightly, hesitating, testing whether you’ll move away. When you don’t, he gathers enough courage to rest his forehead against yours.

His warm breath mingles with yours.

It hasn’t been that long since you were apart. But in this moment, it feels like centuries.

For you.

For Mio, it truly has been that long.

He’s lost count of how many timelines he’s lived without you by his side. How many days he’s watched you from afar. How many times he’s tried and failed to change fate.

He thought he could live without you.

He thought you were fine without him.

He was wrong.

Neither of you are the same without each other.

“Sorry for disturbing your work,” he whispers.

“Haru said I should visit tomorrow…”

His hand closes over yours, the one holding the box. His calloused palm covers your gloved hand. The fabric dulls the warmth between you.

Your heart pounds wildly.

His does too.

They feel close enough to sync.

You’re almost grateful for the gloves. If you could feel the full heat of his skin, you might fall apart all over again.

“But I couldn’t wait until tomorrow,” he admits.

“I missed you.”

The words are finally spoken aloud.

His other hand cups your cheek. Warm. Rough fingertips brushing your skin so gently, as if you might vanish at any second.

“I’m back now.”

You don’t doubt him.

You thought you’d be stronger when facing him again. Thought you could handle it, with or without him. Thought you wouldn’t feel this vulnerable.

But the way he looks at you. 

It’s like he hasn’t seen you in a lifetime.

Is that how long it felt for him?

Did you truly mean that much?

Your vision blurs.

You look away quickly as tears well in your eyes.

He doesn’t hesitate as he pulls you into his arms.

You bury your face in his chest, breathing in his scent, the one that always made you feel safe. The one that once eased you into sleep without nightmares.

And you cry. 

So Loudly. So Messily. Like a child.

Your sobs echo across the quiet safari grounds.

And he doesn’t shush you. His hand strokes your hair gently, fingers threading through it as he murmurs soft apologize. A tender kiss presses to the top of your head.

He lets you cry for as long as you need.

Until your breathing evens out.

Until the heaviness inside your chest begins to loosen.

Until you’re certain he’s really here.

When you finally lift your face, his thumb wipes the remaining tears from the corners of your eyes.

They’re red and swollen from crying.

Pain flickers through his gaze.

Of all the things he’s ever wanted for you, making you cry was never one of them.

And yet here he stands, the reason for your tears, for your vulnerability.

He despises himself for that.

Because loving you was never meant to hurt you.

Not like this.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

After that reunion, the two of you began spending more time together, almost as if you were trying to make up for everything you had lost.

You talked for hours. Mio told you about what he’d been doing during his time away from campus, carefully choosing what to share. You told him about adjusting to life as a ghoul, how strange it felt at first, how Haru had helped you more than you expected.

He didn’t question you much.

But you could tell it bothered him.

Not being there. Not helping you through it.

You never blamed him.

But Mio had always been the type to shoulder guilt before anyone else could. If something happened to you, his first instinct would always be to blame himself.

As the festival drew closer, both of you became busy again.

Now that he was back on campus, Mio had responsibilities piling up, maintaining facilities, overseeing preparations, even helping build the stage for the upcoming band competition.

You heard from Towa that he had joined the concert with two ghouls from Mortkranken and that mushroom-headed guy from Froistheim. You didn’t pay much attention to the details. You were buried in your own tasks.

On the day of the performance, Haru surprised you by giving you time off so you could attend and cheer for Towa.

That was kind of him.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

You stood somewhere in the crowd, not at the edge, not at the center either.

Students cheered and sang loudly around you. Bodies bumped into each other in excitement. Screams and laughter filled the air as the band performed on stage.

The energy was infectious.

Crowds had never really been your thing. But tonight, the festival atmosphere wrapped around you anyway. You stayed through the entire show, feeling the rhythm vibrate in your chest.

Then someone shoved into you from the side. A little too hard.

You stumbled forward but a strong arm caught you before you could fall.

“T-thank you-” you started, lifting your gaze.

You met that familiar soft smile beneath pink hair.

“S-sorry!” the other student apologized quickly before scurrying away, clearly uncomfortable being so close to a ghoul.

You ignored it.

Your focus stayed on the boy beside you.

He wore a hachimaki, keeping his stray strands back. Colorful light reflected off his face as he smiled down at you.

“How did you even find me?” you asked. In a crowd this big, even for a ghoul, it should’ve been difficult.

“It wasn’t that hard,” he replied, a hint of playful cockiness slipping into his tone.

You couldn’t help the small smile that followed.

“Okay, magician.”

He laughed softly.

“Haru told me you’d be here,” he murmured, leaning closer so you could hear him over the music. His warm breath brushed your ear.

“And after that… I just followed my instincts.”

It sounded unrealistic and impossible.

But somehow, when Mio said it, you believed him.

When he laughed, you caught a glimpse of his fangs.

And maybe it was the atmosphere. Or maybe it was the way he was looking at you.

You suddenly wanted to kiss him.

Right there.

But Mio had always been shy about public affection. Even before everything happened, the most intimate thing you did in public was hold hands. Anything more, he preferred in private.

And since returning, he had been even more careful and restrained.

Almost as if he was afraid you might disappear under his touch.

You weren’t sure what had changed. Maybe time apart had made him cautious. Maybe he felt he had to rebuild what you once had.

You tilted your head slightly and gestured for him to lean closer.

He did, obediently, ear near your lips.

“Should we get out of here?” you whispered.

He laughed again. The sound somehow cut through the pounding music.

His hand slid into yours. Rough palm against yours. Fingers interlacing naturally.

Then he led you away from the crowd. No one was watching.

Still, you felt strangely exposed, as if sneaking off together was something forbidden.

But you followed him without hesitation.

You trusted him.

Your eyes lingered on his broad shoulders, on the quiet confidence in his posture. He seemed more grounded now and more certain.

Yet something about him felt different.

He was still caring. And still very attentive. 

But there were moments when he seemed distant. When he watched you work with a strange expression, like he was memorizing you. In class, his gaze would drift. Sometimes he looked at you as though afraid to blink.

You wondered what had really happened while he was gone.

Was he hiding something?

The last thing you argued with each other was about keeping secrets, it hadn’t ended well.

So you chose not to push.

If Mio wasn’t saying anything, it meant he wasn’t ready. And you didn’t want to force him, not when you had only just found your way back to each other.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

He led you toward the festival stalls set up by different Houses.

For the first time in a long while, you simply enjoyed being together.

You played small carnival games, won silly prizes, tried different foods from various stands. 

You laughed a lot. The kind of laughter that made your stomach ache.

You missed this.

Even before the Clash, both of you were usually on duty during events like this. You rarely had the chance to wander freely.

Tonight felt different.

Tonight, you could relax.

And with Mio beside you, it almost felt like he had never left.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

By the time you wandered away from the stalls, velvet night had settled over campus. The festival was still lively, but most students had moved toward the main building for other activities.

This side of campus was quieter.

Mio’s phone suddenly chimed.

You watched him glance down at the screen, rubbing the back of his neck afterward.

“Are you busy?” you asked.

“No… not exactly.” He hesitated briefly. “Dionysia has a meeting by the campfire tonight.”

Right.

The others had returned too. Of course the vice captain would need to attend.

You weren’t sure what to say, but you spoke anyway.

“Then you should go. I need to head back and help Haru anyway.”

He shook his head, tightening his grip on your hand.

“Don’t you want to see them too?”

You looked up at him. The lamplight hit his face just right, casting a soft golden glow over his pink hair.

“They’d like to see you,” he added quietly.

There was something hopeful in his eyes. Almost boyish anticipation.

You fell silent for a moment.

Because how were you supposed to say no. 

When he was looking at you like that?

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

From a distance, you can already see the warm glow of the campfire flickering against the night. A few students are gathered around it, their silhouettes softened by orange light.

It’s… peaceful.

Quiet in a way that Darkwick rarely allows.

For a moment, it almost feels cozy.

But of course, that peace doesn’t last.

A sudden scream tears through the air.

Students scatter in every direction, shouting in alarm. You pause, startled, trying to figure out what happened.

Beside you, Mio lets out a small sigh.

You both continue walking forward and then you see a familiar figure. 

He stands tall, a torch in hand, flames roaring as he performs one of his fire-breathing displays.

“Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our show…”

You can’t help the small laugh that slips from you.

Some things really never change.

He runs in a circle, showing off his skill as students flee like startled birds, shrieking and complaining. Within seconds, most of the camp area has emptied.

One unlucky student stumbles backward and falls as Shion exhales another plume of fire dramatically.

“Come take a peek behind the curtain…”

You wait until he finishes his theatrical narration before calling out.

“Shion.”

He freezes mid-pose. And very slowly he turns toward you and Mio.

His eyes light up instantly.

Whatever persona he was playing vanishes completely as he dashes toward you.

The torch clatters to the ground.

Before either of you can brace yourselves, he throws his arms around both you and Mio in an overly enthusiastic hug, nearly knocking you off your feet.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

Once things settle down, the three of you return by fire.

You spot Elias and Jo seated nearby.

As you sit, you feel something warm drape over your shoulders. You glance up to see Mio placing his jacket around you.

“Thank you…” you murmur.

He doesn’t respond verbally. He just sits beside you.

It’s late. The night air has grown colder, though the fire keeps most of it at bay. You hadn’t realized how much the chill had crept in until now.

You know they have matters to discuss, so you offer to excuse yourself but Elias and Jo both tell you to stay.

So you do.

You listen, even if half the conversation flies over your head.

At some point, Elias notices your wandering attention.

“Glad to see you two together again.”

You look up at him. The fire crackles between you, its glow reflecting in his eyes.

You’ve never spoken to Elias much. He always seems occupied, moving from one responsibility to the next. His direct comment catches you off guard.

Before you can respond, Mio speaks first.

“We never broke up.”

Elias lets out a quiet chuckle at that.

It’s unusual for Mio to speak so quickly and defensively, especially toward his own Housemates.

You glance at him. He meets your eyes, then quickly rubs the back of his neck, faint color dusting his cheeks.

“Sorry,” he murmurs, avoiding your gaze.

“It’s fine,” you reply softly. “You’re right. We never broke up.”

You repeat his words.

And his lips curve into the smallest smile.

Maybe the atmosphere becomes a little too sweet after that. Because Jo suddenly clears his throat and announces that they’ve discussed enough for the night. Everyone should get proper rest after a long day.

When Mio offers to walk you back, you don’t refuse.

You glance at the others briefly. Shion gives you a small wave, you return it with a small one of your own.

As you pass Elias, you hear him whisper to you, almost swallowed by the crackling fire.

“Good luck.”

You pause in confusion, and glance back. 

But he’s already walking away, hands in his pockets, not looking back.

The words linger with you.

You don’t quite understand them.

Still, you don’t dwell on it.

You turn and follow Mio into the quiet stretch of campus night.

★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟★ ˙ ̟

Both you and Mio remain quiet for the rest of your walk. When he stops in front of your mushroom dorm, he looks at you, his gaze lingering as if he doesn’t want to leave yet, as if the long walk you just took together felt far too short, and the night itself passed too quickly.

“Good night,” he speaks softly as you look at him.

You wait to see whether he will leave or if he has something else to say. But he just stands there, so still, not moving an inch, as if waiting for you to go inside.

You don’t. Instead, your hand reaches for his again as you speak quietly.

“Am I not getting a goodbye kiss?” you ask.

His eyes widen slightly, a pink hue creeping wildly across his face as if his brain has malfunctioned.

He has been tiptoeing around you ever since he came back. He has always been careful with you, but this time it feels different, like he’s deliberately trying to keep his distance. Though he is your partner, he seems overly cautious around you, and you can’t quite tell why.

Yes, he’s shy, and you tend to be the one who makes the first move in your relationship, but he had grown used to being close to you long before this. You wonder if the time he spent away from campus changed him.

It’s because you truly don’t know. You don’t know how long he has been able to see you this close to him. How long it has been since he started avoiding you every time he came back. And how, slowly, the two of you began to feel like strangers.

He doesn’t even remember how warm your skin is or how soft your touch feels against him. He misses your kisses and the warm hugs you give him, how you sometimes wrap your arms around his shoulders and kiss the side of his face while he’s busy working on something.

He misses you. He misses your affection too. But being away from you for so long, without you even knowing, has made him withdraw from the contact he wishes he could have with you. Because he feels guilty. He knows how often he walked away from you, yet you remember nothing at all. It makes him feel as though he is taking advantage of you, invading your space, using your love and tenderness to satisfy his own desires.

“I’m afraid,” he finally says when he sees the waiting lingering in your eyes. “That I won’t be able to hold back if I kiss you.”

He leans down closer, his voice low as he whispers into your ear like honey, and you shiver slightly at the warmth of his breath.

Mio has never said anything like that before, nor has he acted so boldly when it comes to being close to you. He seems… more straightforward now.

You step closer to him, making him instinctively step back, but with your hands still intertwined, he doesn’t have much room to move.

“I don’t care…” you answer, your free hand tugging lightly at his shirt as you pull him down. Mio stumbles slightly on his feet.

He leans closer, and your eyes meet his, deeper and closer than usual. He lets out a small, helpless smile before gently caressing the side of your face. You close your eyes just in time for him to press his soft lips against yours.

The sensation is so familiar, yet it feels like forever since you last kissed him. Your arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer. Your fingers thread through the soft strands of his hair, you’ve always loved brushing it, playing with it, even braiding it just for fun. Being able to touch it again makes you tighten your hold slightly, unable to help yourself.

When you first started dating, Mio was very “polite” when it came to kissing you. He was always careful, afraid of making you uncomfortable. Shy and timid, that’s how you would describe his kisses, along with soft and caring.

But tonight, his kiss is different.

It starts soft and tender, cautious, as if checking whether he’s doing it right, even though this isn’t his first time kissing you. He pulls away slightly to see your reaction. But you don’t hesitate, your lips chase his, reciprocating with softness laced with unspoken yearning.

And then he stops hesitating.

He leans down further, almost caging your face in his hands. You stumble back against the door behind you as he towers over you. His kiss grows more desperate with each passing second, his breathing heavier. The air between you grows hotter as his tongue meets yours unexpectedly.

Mio rarely initiates that, it’s usually you who takes the lead. But tonight he’s different. You can feel his hunger in the way he breathes, in how he moves, how he takes up all your space and air, how tightly he holds you against him.

It becomes hard to breathe, and you have to push him away slightly.

He steps back, his forehead pressing softly against yours. He nuzzles your cheek, scattering light kisses across your face as he murmurs, “Sorry…”

Well, he did warn you that he wouldn’t be able to hold back, and you told him you didn’t care. It surprises you, catches you off guard but it’s not something you’re against. You’ve never seen this side of him before. It makes you wonder what else you don’t know about him and how you might peel away the layers he’s wrapped around himself.

“Don’t be,” you whisper between mingling breaths. Your hand lifts to touch his face, your fingertip brushing over his damp lips. He presses a soft kiss to your fingertip between panting breaths.

But he apologizes again. Not just for kissing you more impulsively than usual, but for all the times he left you alone. Of course, you wouldn’t understand that. He would rather be the only one to carry that sadness and guilt. He doesn’t want you to bear the same pain.

His hand caresses your cheek softly before he presses a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“You should get some rest,” he says, your gazes lingering on each other.

It’s not that he’s running away. He’s afraid that if he stays, he won’t stop at just kissing you. He wants your feelings to be mutual, shared in a moment when you are both calm, not driven by his impulsiveness. So he pulls himself away.

And the moment he does, you already miss the warmth of his touch, even though he’s still standing right in front of you.

“What about your jacket?” you ask, still feeling the comfort and warmth of his scent lingering in the fabric draped over your shoulders.

He smirks, his usual smug, cocky expression you haven’t seen in so long.

“Hold onto it for me, yeah? I’ll come get it tomorrow.”

You let out a small huff. He doesn’t even bother to come up with an excuse to see you anymore and you don’t plan on giving it back anytime soon anyway.

“See you tomorrow, then,” you say softly, a quiet agreement between you. 

Mio laughs.

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

He presses one last kiss to your forehead before you open the door.

Stepping inside, you peek through the crack, and the lingering look in his eyes makes you not want him to leave. But it has been a long day, and you both need rest. For now, he has assured you that you’ll have plenty of time together.

“Good night, Mio,” you call.

“Good night, Angel,” he replies with a soft smile, his gaze reflecting only you.

And maybe tonight, you’ll have a good dream as you drift into your Dreamlands. Because he won’t disappear again. You’ll see him tomorrow and the day after that, and the day after that.

At least, that’s what you’re hoping for.

🎪—————————————————🎪

Jo Kongoza:

Jo is the kind of boyfriend who makes people feel safe without even trying. He’s naturally warm, charismatic, and supportive, so dating him feels like having your own personal cheerleader — but never in an overbearing way.

He’s very attentive emotionally. If you’re stressed, he notices before you even say anything. A hand on your shoulder, a quiet “Talk to me?” — that’s usually how it starts.

Jo doesn’t talk much about himself, even in a relationship. Not because he doesn’t trust you — he just prefers listening. When he does open up, though, it feels special. Like he chose you specifically to share those pieces with.

He’s protective but not controlling. More like quietly stepping between you and chaos if needed. People respect him, so usually that alone keeps trouble away.

Dates with him tend to be lively: festivals, performances, house events, spontaneous campus walks. He likes seeing you enjoy yourself.

And he absolutely brags about you. Subtly, but constantly.

Not “my partner is the best,” but:

“Oh, they helped with that.”

“They suggested this actually.”

“They’ve got great instincts.”

You realize later he’s proud of you in everything you do.

Mio Susuhara:

Mio isn’t flashy with romance. He shows love through actions — fixing things for you, building little gadgets, making sure your daily life runs smoother.

Something broken? He’s already repairing it.

Cold dorm? Suddenly there’s a heater modification.

Busy schedule? He’s built a clockwork reminder system.

He never makes a big deal out of it either. Just a casual,

“Thought this might help.”

He gets very focused when working, so sometimes you sit beside him while he tinkers. Comfortable silence becomes your thing. It’s intimate without needing words.

When he does compliment you, it’s precise:

“I admire how patient you are.”

“You make stressful situations manageable.”

Those hit harder than dramatic praise.

Mio also trusts you deeply. He’ll let you see unfinished projects, frustrations, doubts — which he doesn’t show many people.

Physical affection tends to be understated: brushing shoulders, absentminded hand holding, letting you lean on him while he works.

Dating him feels steady. Reliable. Grounded.

Like being loved quietly but consistently.

Shion Genkai:

Shion is… complicated.

To most people he’s unsettling, unpredictable, maybe even intimidating. He enjoys chaos more than he probably should, and he doesn’t bother pretending otherwise.

But with you?

There’s a very specific softness he never shows anyone else.

He still teases, still has that mischievous edge, but it’s less cruel and more playful around you. Like he actively holds himself back.

You’re one of the few people he listens to without argument. Not instantly, but eventually.

If you tell him something genuinely matters to you, he remembers. Always.

His affection shows up in unexpected ways:

Standing nearby when crowds overwhelm you.

Wordlessly offering his jacket.

Suddenly appearing when you need help.

He’ll deny it if asked, of course.

“I was bored.”

“Coincidence.”

Sure.

He also gets quietly possessive — not in a controlling way, more protective. Anyone making you uncomfortable tends to lose his interest very quickly.

And occasionally, when he thinks you aren’t looking, his expression softens completely.

That’s when you realize:

You’re probably the one person he genuinely wants to keep safe.

Elias Pratt:

Elias feels effortless to be around. He has that laid-back, easygoing vibe that makes stressful situations lighter just by him being there. Dating him feels relaxed — never forced, never tense.

He’s playful but observant. Even when he’s joking around, he’s paying close attention to how you’re feeling. If something’s off, he’ll gently steer the conversation somewhere softer or distract you until you’re ready to talk.

Because of his past as Dionysia’s captain and everything that happened afterward, he carries a quiet sense of responsibility. He doesn’t always talk about it, but it shows in how seriously he takes your happiness. He doesn’t want to fail someone important again.

He’s the type who:

Randomly invites you on late-night walks

Shares music, performances, or weird campus happenings

Makes ordinary days feel a bit more interesting

Not dramatic romance — just steady presence.

He can be a little mysterious, though. Sometimes you’ll catch him staring off like he’s thinking about something he hasn’t shared yet. If you ask, he might deflect with humor first… but if you stay patient, he opens up eventually.

And when he does, he’s honest. Very honest.

Affection with Elias is casual but sincere:

Arm around your shoulders while talking

Lazy smiles meant only for you

Soft check-ins like “You good?” or “Still with me?”

He respects independence too. He won’t hover, but he always comes back — like you’re a constant in his otherwise unpredictable world.

Most of all, being with Elias feels like this quiet understanding:

He may seem carefree, but loving you is something he takes seriously.

~~~~

Tag list: @genevathekitty @sh0jun @elfes-materia @edwardhartenjoyer @glamorousspoon @cleverthylacine @bao-yu-sarah-morningstar-wang-9 @ox-aran-xo

Around you in Mio's clockworking workshop were rhythmic ticks and clicks and rumbles from the powered machines. Before you Mio's progress had stilled, one hand still among the mechanical insides of his creation, holding some aside to work on deeper structures. Out of the corner of your eye, organic movement, Mio's head turning between you. At first you glanced, then joined him in observing.

Between your palms the anomalous flashlight was held steady, shining its magical light within the machine and lighting any shadows that would have obscured it.

Between your fingers were Mio's own, calloused and darkened with the oil from between the axles and wheels he'd been toying with.

The clockwork ticked around you, reminding you of how short the seconds it took you both to realize the problem really were. Tick. Tock. Tick.

"The flashlight." Mio sighed, sliding his fingers out of your hold, dragging them over your palm to catch the object in question so it wouldn't fall before you could hold it correctly. His slightly quirked lips couldn't keep the amusement out of his tired voice as his eyes returned to his work. "I meant the flashlight."

"Oh." Not his hand. You took hold as requested this time, the flashlight still warm but not quite as welcoming as his hand had been. Certainly not as warm as your face felt. You shook your head, screwing your eyes shut for a moment and blinking hard, trying to will yourself a little more awake. "I'm sorry. I wasn't even paying attention, I've been so--"

"Yeah, I think we're both a little out of it." Mio laughed, fully engrossed in his work now that his hand was free as it needed to be. "You can call it quits whenever you're ready. I can grab my headlamp."

The headlamp which was sat among the tools on his desk, which he could have worn and used rather than offering the flashlight for you to hold as assistance. The flashlight which clearly illuminated the pink dusting his ears and cheeks as if there were no shadows at all. Offered as if deliberately for you to keep his company.

"I'll be alright." You insisted despite the lullaby of the artisans' marvels rumbling and ticking and clocking around you. "What about you? Shouldn't you get some sleep?"

"Nah. Too much to do. Once this little guy's up and running again, maybe." Mio's knee gently nudged yours. "Don't you have a mission tomorrow?"

"That's later in the day."

"Class?"

"Exempt because of the mission."

"Lucky you." Out of reasons within reach to encourage you to rest, Mio sat upright for a moment, stretching his back, shoulders, and elbows with audible pops and an impressive yawn that you couldn't help but mirror, before making a suggestion that was perhaps not as far of a reach as he thought it might have been. "If you, maybe, wanted an excuse to hold hands, we have Combat practicals next week." He gently tapped the Sage Ring with the axle he'd removed before putting it aside and going back to installing a new one. "We can see what you'll do to my stigma."

It was a good excuse to hold hands.

(It was a good excuse to hold hands in front of your entire class.)

"I'll. See how things are going by then." A few satisfying clunks and clicks from where Mio's hands were busy and the axle had been replaced and it and the connected gears turned as smoothly as if the whole set was brand new, the construct's optical sensor turning with uninhibited vision once more. The blue of its iris matched his eyes. How intimate for him to allow you to help him maintain something he perhaps thought of as his own child in some sense, enough so to mirror parts of his image onto it.

How intimate for him to rise from it, wiping his hands as clean of grease as he could get them, and look down at you, allowing you to take his attention from the work he prided himself in however briefly.

"Alright. I'm all out of ideas." He leaned over at the waist, nearly nose to nose with you. If you weren't aware of the bags under his eyes before, you were now. How much had he been working since Dionysia was reinstated? How little had he slept? "You shouldn't be staying up past your bedtime like me. People's relying on you, machines're relying on me."

"Machines that everybody is relying on." You managed to add quickly.

"Darkwick was running fine while they had me locked up, if I make a couple mistakes I can fix them. You have a curse to cure. Right? Think that's a bit more important" He offered his hand, this time free of anything else that he could have wanted you to hold. "You can't help yourself or anyone else if you don't take care of yourself first. I've got these things to do that for me," he tilted his head towards the construct still open on the table, "you've got you to do that for you. So."

As if in response to your drowsy hesitance, he took the flashlight back with the other hand to place it neatly among his other tools.

"Let's get you in bed. In Clementia. For you to sleep, I mean. No excuses needed, and no charge." He grabbed your hand to help you up. "C'mon, up and at 'em. I didn't fix that place up for you to not sleep there."

And if you’ve ever worked in that kind of field, or even just seen how people act on site, you probably already get the idea. Lots of shouting is normal. Things need to be done properly because one mistake can seriously mess things up. So I can absolutely imagine Mio being strict at work because his field requires skill, precision, concentration and experience. People who slack off probably are not the kind of people he likes being around, or at the very least not the kind of people he’d willingly choose for his team.

So in the eyes of Dionysia students, I can imagine Mio having these two very distinct sides. On one hand, there’s Susu, the reliable and kind hearted Housemate everyone likes. On the other hand, there’s Vice-captain Mio Susuhara, the strict and demanding perfectionist who will absolutely call you out if you mess around on the job. Working with him can honestly be challenging sometimes because he is very very very meticulous, okay?

But genuinely, he is kind hearted. He’s just an expert, and experts tend to be demanding. That’s simply how it is. If you want to work side by side with him, you better get used to it.

Now that I’ve gone ahead and spread my Mio analysis everywhere, I want to circle back to one of the requests I got about Mio x Mortkranken! Reader. Specifically, some mad scientist type Reader.

This absolutely has Rivals to Lovers potential written iykyk

Because both of you are experts in your own fields, and experts naturally come with a certain level of ego. Some people have more of it, some less, but it’s always there to some extent.

You actually respect Mio’s work a lot. Like genuinely. Without him, Darkwick probably would not even function properly. Wtf do you mean this entire school relies on one student to maintain half the infrastructure? That feels like an OSHA violation waiting to happen. But anyway, that’s not the point right now.

The point is, even if you respect his work, you still have enough pride to avoid openly admitting it.

Then one day Darkwick, or more specifically cough Prof Hyde cough, decides it would be a wonderful idea to assign you and Mio to work together on maintaining one of Mortkranken’s facilities. And since Mio is not from Mortkranken, obviously he needs a few students from the House to supervise and help him navigate whatever horrifying disaster zone the place has become this time.

Well uhm… Things do not start off well.

The biggest issue is that both of you have completely different approaches to work and would much rather do things your own way. Mio is hardworking, but he’s also extremely cautious. Even when he acknowledges your capabilities and respects your expertise, there are still moments where he tries to stop you from handling certain things because “it’s dangerous.”

And oh, that hits your ego in exactly the wrong place.

Because what do you mean dangerous? You know what you’re doing! Why is he acting like you’re incapable? Why does he keep trying to handle everything himself? It feels dismissive, even if that’s not actually his intention.

Let you work too, Mio Susuhara!!

And so begins the constant back-and-forth arguments between the two of you.

Mio is the type that rarely raises his voice unless he’s deeply focused on work and somebody clueless wanders into an active workspace. Other than that, even when your discussions get heated and your ideas clash horribly, he never really loses his temper with you. Quite the opposite actually. He’s weirdly patient.

And somehow that makes you feel even worse afterward.

Because every meeting ends with you feeling like maybe you were too harsh on him while he was genuinely just trying to help.

On top of that, Mio becomes one of the only people who can actually keep up with you for long periods of time. Most people struggle to follow your ideas or meet your standards, so you usually end up working alone anyway. So when you first get paired with him, part of you is already waiting for the moment he finally gets fed up and asks to work with someone else instead.

Except... he never does.

He sticks around until the very end.

Not only that, but he handles working with you surprisingly well.

And somewhere along the line, between the arguments, long meetings and endless repairs, you start growing attached to him without even realizing it.

It also does not help that Mio keeps doing thoughtful things for you in the most casual way possible.

Every meeting somehow comes with snacks now.

That broken coffee machine in your office that had been sitting there collecting dust for who knows how long? Fixed.

The cluttered mess of broken equipment in your workspace? Somehow repaired or reorganized.

And day by day, your office slowly fills up with random little tools, gadgets and handcrafted items Mio either repaired or made specifically for you.

You honestly cannot tell if he’s just naturally that nice or if he’s secretly using you as a product tester at this point.

Either way, you are absolutely not complaining because most of the things he gives you end up being very useful for your work.

But I think the thing that affects you the most is how Mio reacts to your experiments.

He never laughs at your ideas. He never dismisses them. He never treats your theories like they’re ridiculous.

Even some of your own Housemates can be skeptical about your work sometimes, but Mio, a guy who barely knew you at first, never once doubted your abilities.

If anything, he’s overly supportive.

Always quietly walking over to stand beside you while you work, peeking over your shoulder with curious eyes whenever you get too absorbed in your experiments to notice he arrived.

And by the time you finally realize what’s happening...

Mio Susuhara has already worked his way straight into your heart.

Oh and he is not even subtle about any of this.

Mio is the type of person who shows affection through actions rather than words, and well, actions are very visible.

Everybody notices.

Your Housemates notice.

His teammates notice.

Even the staff cats probably notice.

Everyone can tell this man is hopelessly gone for you except for you somehow.

Which is impressive considering how intelligent you are in literally every other aspect of life.

Like hello??? He fixes things for you constantly, brings you food, stays late helping you with experiments, listens to your rambling for hours, and looks at you like you personally hung the stars in the sky. How are you still not getting it???

At this point, maybe Jo was right.

Maybe Mio really needs to work on his flirting skills.

Eventually, the situation gets so obvious that your fellow housemates become sick of watching the two of you circle around each other endlessly and decide to interfere directly.

So one day, they tell both of you that they need help with something.

And when you arrive, instead of an emergency or broken machinery, there’s just this huge picnic mat spread out near the field, flowers everywhere, snacks neatly arranged, and warm daylight shining over the entire scene like some shoujo manga confession setup.

Mio figures out what’s happening almost immediately.

Meanwhile, you’re still standing there trying to process the situation.

Then Mio just looks at you for a second before straightforwardly asking if you want to go on a date with him since everyone already went through the trouble of setting one up anyway.

Teehee.

✦ 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝙰 ✦

Pending Titles: Cypress, Cypress Trees, Shrines and Cypress Trees

synopsis: haku takes you to the shrine he grew up in. it's full of memories.

"Well, here we are, princess…" Haku unlocks the gate to the shrine with simultaneous practiced ease and nervous fumbling. You know the metal of the gate and lock are familiar under his hands simply from how he doesn't react to the red paint rubbing off on his palms. Yet he still slips, his hands unsure, as though he'd been away for too long and he couldn't remember which way to turn the key. "…Home, sweet home." You don't miss the way he grimaces before contorting his expression into a placid smile, but you don't bother mentioning it. You were sure he already knew.

The gate creaks, but the surrounding environment doesn't respond; just as mellow and quiet as it was before. You step inside as he holds open the gate, quiet and careful, as though being too loud would disrupt the environment. To be fair, it felt like it would. The air, despite carrying the sounds of twittering birds and chirping insects, was heavy and still. Even the warmth of the sun's setting rays felt strangely cold, as though it were all a mere illusion.

Haku breezes past you, tugging on your blazer once. It was a signal to follow him as much as it was a warning not to linger. You obey, not sure you want to learn what would happen if you decided to remain.

There are many sights to take in, considering the sheer size of the property, but you hardly have any time to absorb them. He leads you far from the shrine, preferring to stay on the outskirts of the property, where the soil turned to sand, and the aesthetically placed bushes became trees. Haku moves quickly, his eyes cast downwards, his stride wide and purposeful. And you didn't want to be left behind. You knew he wasn't doing this because he didn't care; rather, being back in this environment caused him extreme stress. He couldn't consider you—or anything, for that matter—in good faith for more than a few seconds. You notice it in how he stiffens when he can't feel your shadow on his back, but continues moving forward anyway. He doesn't look back to check if you're following. You don't even think he's made eye contact with you throughout this entire trip. You can't blame him. But it's hard to endure his unusual silence.

You freeze when you hear voices and the tmp-tap-tap of hurried footsteps—forgetting Haku's warning and turning towards them. At the same time, Haku makes a sharp pivot away from the voices, further down the sand path, headed for the trees. Between the bright red beams of the shrine, you catch a glimpse of a figure with shoulder-length copper-colored hair—nearly as red as the beams—and a breezy light blue hakama, their footsteps carrying them past several sliding doors before they turn a corner. You turn towards Haku again, whose pace has significantly slowed. His shoulders are tight and raised to his ears, his copper roots invisible from your height, his hair rather appearing as green as the leaves of the cypress trees. You spare one final glance at the shrine before following him into the shaded grove, watching as his shoulders slowly lower.

You don't ask who that was, despite your certainty of their relation. You were sure Haku wouldn't answer, anyway.

The shade between the trees, somehow, feels warmer. Maybe it's due to your increased proximity with Haku, thanks to his slowed pace and your ability to keep up. You follow his winding path until you reach the edge of the cypress, cherry blossoms blooming down the rest of the path. He stops at a particular cypress tree that doesn't appear to stand out, reaching between the pine branches and tracing his finger along the grooves in the bark. You move closer until you see his name, carved into the tree. The carving was old and worn, but could still be made out despite the weathering. You wait for him to feel comfortable to speak, if he was going to at all, not wanting to break the silence.

"This is where I would come…" He starts, his voice trailing off as he traces the kanji of his name, his eyes clouded over with memories. "…To find some peace."

Pending Titles: Bride of Dionysia, Circus Bride, Circus Queen

synopsis: the dionysia ghouls have a gift for you, but you suspect there's a double meaning.

You finally arrive, knocking gently on the door. Shion greets you, opening it and peering down at you with narrowed eyes and an eerie smile. It was hard not to feel somewhat apprehensive when he looks at you like you're prey all the time, but you swallow your fear. "Hey, Shion." You notice he's wearing a crisp white suit with black trim, a white lily boutonniere pinned over his breast pocket. You raise an eyebrow curiously. "…You're dressed nice. What's the occasion?"

He hums, looking you over. He quickly frowns, his face pinching into a disappointed expression. "You're not dressed. Why?"

You look down at your uniform, confused. "Uh…" You look back up at him, tilting your head. "What? Did I miss something?"

His frown deepens, and he leans towards you further. "You're supposed to be dressed. The card had clear instructions."

The card? You think back to the card, but you can't remember glancing any extra notes you may have missed. You shake your head. "The card didn't mention any—"

"Don't talk back," he interrupts you, his frown becoming a scowl. "That's disobedient. I don't like that."

You roll your eyes in response. Shion gives an exaggerated "Hmph!" before straightening up and stepping aside for you to enter. "Come in."

You do as asked, walking past Shion into the common area. There, you find the remaining ghouls, Mio, Jo, and Elias, all dressed up similarly to Shion. Same white suit, same black trim, same boutonniere. Mio has his sleeves rolled up, and Elias is wearing gloves. They all perk up at your arrival, turning to you with varying levels of apprehension and excitement showing on their faces. You're really starting to feel like you're missing something.

"MC!" Jo stands to greet you, while Mio waves and Elias nods in your direction. "Ah…" He slows as he approaches you, taking in your appearance. "I knew I forgot to put something on the card."

You really don't know what you're missing out on regarding all the excitement about your manner of dress, but you know Dionysia loves to perform, so you let it slide.

Jo shrugs, shaking his head. "I suppose it can't be helped." With a theatrical flair, Jo produces a long red cape from his pocket, holding it out in front of you. "Suit or dress?"

You blink at him stupidly for a moment, more so wondering what the big deal was than considering which you'd prefer, but you weren't being given much room to protest. You let it slide and mention your answer to Jo. He winks and swishes the cape around you. In a blur of red, white, and black, you find yourself in your chosen ensemble, matching the rest of the ghouls, white with a black trim. You look down at yourself in surprise, wondering how he did that without you feeling anything, and wondering where your uniform had disappeared to. Regardless, the outfit was beautiful, and it was the perfect size. Some discomfort creeps along the back of your spine as your questions begin to pile up, but you can hardly think about them when Jo ushers you to a seat at the head of the coffee table. You hesitantly relent to his guidance and plop yourself down in the seat, feeling uncomfortable.

What sort of gift required a dress code of matching fancy outfits and being seated at the head of the table? Things weren't quite connecting, but unfortunately, things were usually confusing with the Dionysia ghouls. It wouldn't have been the first time things weren't explained to you, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. You couldn't be sure nothing unsavory would happen, but you were certain they wouldn't hurt you… at least, not intentionally.

The ghouls each rise from their seats or head towards you once you sit down, each of them kneeling on one knee before you. The confusion and discomfort only rises. You fist your hands in your lap, your gaze flickering between the four of them. Mio beared the most resemblance to you, his jaw set tight and his expression wavering, his nerves showing in the way he idly tapped his fingers on his knee. Jo and Elias seemed perfectly relaxed, neither hint of elation nor nervous energy displayed from either of them. Their soft smiles seemed calm; resolute, even. Shion was the only one who was beaming with an emotion that strongly resembled pride. It was unusual to see him so pleased.

You speak up, the discomfort having worked its way from your spine into your neck and jaw, forcing you to say something. "Um…" You start hesitantly, hyper aware of how four pairs of eyes settled on you all at once. "What's all this about a gift…?"

Your words and actions usually felt like they were observed, filed, and stored in the minds of Dionysia ghouls regularly, but the feeling was unusually strong today. You weren't sure how to navigate such rapt attention. Thankfully, Jo answers you, so you're given something else to focus on instead of the undivided attention.

"We noticed you eyeing one of the rings at the jewelry auction of our last mission." He nods to you, his smile growing from small and soft to something darkly amused.

"It wasn't hard to replicate," Mio continues, visibly relaxing as he speaks. "So, we decided to pull a few strings and take it as…" He trails off, biting his lip.

"Let's say collateral," Elias hums, finishing Mio's sentence for him. "And, we figured, since our dear MC was eyeing this precious jewel…"

"We're giving it to you." Shion cuts in bluntly, not picking up where Elias left off as eloquently. His ochre eyes pin you to the chair. "Take it."

Pending Titles: Host for a Ghoul... or Two?, Three's a Crowd, Come Prepared

synopsis: au where you continue hosting as kaworu. two familiar figures have come to visit you.

You pull back the curtain to the secluded VIP Table 9, mustering your sincerest of grins as you spot the two women sitting at the table. "Hi!" You step inside, swishing the curtain closed behind you and striding up to the table, kneeling in front of it. "I'm Kaworu. I'll be your host tonight. It's a pleasure to have been selected by—" The words, as smoothly as they'd been flowing with practiced ease, die in your throat as soon as you make eye contact with one of the women.

Vivid yellow eyes and a shit-eating grin loom over you, clearly enjoying the show. "Oh, don't stop now!" Leo giggles, feigning a high-pitched, feminine voice. "You're so cute!"

You stand, immediately doing away with any and all pleasantries. "What are you doing here?" As thankful as you were for Leo's intervention in helping fuel your fame, you would rather entertain customers whose sole goal wasn't blackmail, ammo against you, or perverse entertainment. You try not to frown too harshly, but you're sure your face shows that you're plenty displeased.

Leo flips his—what you can only assume were extensions—over his shoulder, his hair drawn back into wavy pigtails. "Come on, don't be mean!" Leo tries putting on a false pout, but it quickly fails, an amused laugh bubbling from his chest. "And here I put all this effort into coming to see my favorite host!" Leo huffs, still feigning a high-pitched voice. You cross your arms, displaying that you're not budging on this. You did have to admit, though, he had put in a noticeable amount of effort. His long lashes, red lips, press-on nails, hoop earrings, and skirt hardly looked out of place on him. You try not to stare too hard at his chest, wondering what on earth he had stuffed under his shirt to make that look realistic.

When Leo simply continues smiling, also not budging, you ignore him, turning your gaze to whoever came with him. She jumps at being noticed, but doesn't look away, tense expression wavering in your gaze. Her long brown hair hides most of her face, but you glance at her ear and notice a very familiar wisteria earring. Your face falls in surprise, and she quickly looks away from you, her black bowknot slipping out of place.

You let out a low groan, putting your head in your hands. You're getting close to feeling a headache coming on, and if you could, you'd cancel your entire shift. You drag your hands down your face, looking up at the ceiling and futilely wishing for a miracle. Reluctantly, you turn your gaze back to the two ghouls and resign, sliding into the seat opposite them. You cross your arms again, still plenty displeased. "Seriously, what are you two doing here?" Leo, you'd expect to turn up at least once for the hell of it, and you were prepared to drive him off—but Subaru? You weren't sure what to do or how to feel about Subaru, and from the way he visibly shrank into himself every time you looked at him, he didn't know either.

Leo sighs dramatically, dropping the high-pitched voice. As relieving as it was to hear his actual voice, it paired with his appearance was a bit confusing. "I'm just here to see if my work paid off. And, from the amount of disappointed glares we got when we booked you for the night," Leo giggles conspiratorially, "it seems it has!"

"Okay…" You frown, gesturing towards Subaru.

Leo rolls his eyes and grumbles. "Sho would've been here with me," Leo pouts, and you have to force your face to remain neutral to bite back the laugh that threatens to burst from you at the mental image of Sho crossdressing. "But when I went to the food truck, I only found Kagami. He offered to help in Sho's place, so…" Leo gestures vaguely to your surroundings, smug smile on his face. "Here we are."

You still had a myriad of questions. Why put so much effort into crossdressing? You were certain Leo could've gotten away with being flat-chested, for sure. Not to mention the press-ons certainly weren't necessary. And why did Subaru continue to help Leo? Surely he would've picked up on what was really going on when Leo forced him into a long pleated skirt.

Maybe you're just thinking too hard. You sigh heavily, leaning your head back against the booth seat with a small thunk! This was going to be one hell of a night.

ok that's it 4 now no taglist just vibes.

in other news i been having wicked thoughts about haku with a split tongue. who's with me.

also while im here!!!!!! it's super important to keep yourself updated on what is going on in the world. currently, a lot of west asia, including palestine, lebanon, and other areas are in extreme distress and being bombed despite the "ceasefire".

relevant sources to help wa + swana people:

arab.org (six daily clicks + more if you go on incognito or switch profiles!)

helpourpeople.carrd.co (for more resources)

freerice.com (donate rice with simple grammar questions!)

beitelbaraka (grassroots org that provides displaced lebanese people with basic necessities)

OKAYYYY fics will be coming out soon, hopefully, if i can force myself 2 write. i ask 4 ur patience and thank u 4 reading.

🎪—————————————————🎪

Jo Kongoza:

Jo doesn’t ask.

He recruits.

“Ah, perfect timing!” he beams the second you walk past the Dionysia practice hall.

You stop mid-step.

That’s never a good sign.

“…Hi, Jo.”

“I need a second opinion.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“It’s fashion,” he says cheerfully. “Even more dangerous.”

Before you can respond, he gently—but very firmly—guides you inside.

The room is chaos.

Fabric everywhere. Racks of costumes. Glitter that will probably never come out of the floor. Something in the corner that looks like it might be alive.

“…What is all this?” you ask.

“Tonight’s rehearsal,” Jo says proudly. “We’re refining our aesthetic.”

“That’s a lot of aesthetic.”

“Exactly why I need you.”

You narrow your eyes.

“I feel like I don’t have a choice.”

“You absolutely don’t,” he says brightly.

And then—

He disappears behind a curtain.

You blink.

“…Jo?”

“Don’t worry! I’ll be right back!”

You wait.

Five seconds.

Ten.

Then—

He steps out.

And you forget how to speak.

“…Wow,” you manage.

Jo spins once, the fabric of his outfit catching the light dramatically.

Too dramatically.

“…Too much?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Too much good?”

“Too much everything.”

He laughs.

“Be honest.”

“I am being honest.”

He studies your expression carefully.

Not just listening to your words—reading you.

That’s Jo.

Always paying attention.

“…What would you change?” he asks.

You hesitate.

Then step closer.

“This,” you say, adjusting a piece of fabric at his shoulder. “It’s too heavy. It pulls the whole look down.”

He watches you, surprisingly still.

“And the colors,” you add. “They’re competing. You don’t need all of them.”

Jo hums thoughtfully.

“Less is more?”

“With you?” you say. “Probably.”

He grins.

“Careful. You’re starting to sound like you’ve been part of Dionysia your whole life.”

“God forbid.”

He laughs again—but softer this time.

Warmer.

“Stay,” he says suddenly.

You blink. “What?”

“Help me finish this,” he explains. “Not just one outfit. All of them.”

You glance around the room.

At the chaos.

At him.

“…That’s going to take hours.”

“I know.”

There’s no pressure in it.

Just an offer.

A quiet kind of trust.

You hesitate.

Then sigh.

“…Fine.”

His smile brightens instantly.

“Wonderful.”

And for the next few hours—

You’re side by side.

Fixing. Adjusting. Laughing when things go wrong.

At some point, your hands brush as you both reach for the same piece of fabric.

Jo pauses.

Just for a second.

Then lets you take it.

“…You’re good at this,” he says.

“You just have terrible taste.”

“Ouch.”

You smile.

He watches you for a moment longer than necessary.

Then—

“…You make things better,” he says.

Your chest tightens slightly.

“Even when they’re already good,” he adds.

You don’t know what to say to that.

So you just—

Stay.

And help him make something beautiful.

Mio Susuhara:

“Stand there.”

You blink.

“…Excuse me?”

Mio doesn’t look up from the device in his hands.

“Stand. There.”

He points.

You look at the spot.

Then back at him.

“This feels like a bad idea.”

“It’s perfectly safe.”

“That’s what people say before it’s not safe.”

He sighs.

Finally looks at you.

“You agreed to help.”

“I didn’t know it involved being a test subject.”

“It always involves that.”

“…I should’ve read the fine print.”

Mio gestures again.

“Stand.”

You do.

Reluctantly.

He adjusts something on the device.

It whirs.

Clicks.

Glows faintly.

“…What does it do?” you ask.

“Detects movement,” he says.

“That sounds fine.”

“And reacts accordingly.”

“That sounds less fine.”

He pauses.

“…You’ll be fine.”

You stare at him.

“That was not reassuring.”

“Just don’t move too fast.”

“Why would I—”

The device snaps to life.

You flinch.

It whirs louder, something shifting inside it like gears locking into place.

“…Mio.”

“Yes?”

“It’s looking at me.”

“That’s the point.”

“Why is it looking at me like that?”

“It’s calibrating.”

“It feels like it’s judging me.”

He walks closer.

Adjusts something.

The machine quiets slightly.

“There,” he says.

You exhale.

“See? Fine.”

“…I hate this.”

He almost smiles.

Almost.

“Move,” he instructs.

You take a cautious step.

The device reacts instantly.

A small mechanical arm shoots out—

Stops inches from your shoulder.

You freeze.

“Mio.”

“Yes.”

“It tried to hit me.”

“It stopped.”

“That’s not comforting.”

He studies the device.

“…Response time is good.”

“Glad something is good.”

You take another step.

This time slower.

The device follows.

Adjusts.

Doesn’t strike.

“…Okay,” you admit. “That’s better.”

Mio nods slightly.

“Again.”

You move.

He watches.

Carefully.

Not just the machine—

You.

The way you hesitate. The way you test boundaries.

“…You trust me,” he says suddenly.

You blink.

“What?”

“You’re still here.”

You huff.

“Barely.”

He shakes his head.

“That’s not what I mean.”

You pause.

The machine hums quietly behind you.

“You trust me not to let it hurt you,” he says.

Your chest tightens slightly.

“…I do.”

He goes quiet.

Then reaches past you—

Adjusts the device again.

This time, when it reacts, it’s smoother.

Cleaner.

Safer.

“There,” he says.

You glance back.

“…It won’t hit me now?”

“No.”

“…You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

You test it.

Step closer.

Nothing happens.

You exhale.

“…Okay. That’s actually impressive.”

Mio nods once.

But there’s something softer in his expression now.

Subtle.

“You can stop,” he says.

You blink.

“That’s it?”

“That’s enough data.”

You step away from the device.

“…Next time, warn me before something tries to punch me.”

“I did.”

“You did not.”

“I said stand there.”

“That’s not a warning.”

He considers that.

“…I’ll be more specific next time.”

You smile.

“Please do.”

He watches you for a second longer.

Then—

“…Thank you,” he says.

Quiet.

But sincere.

Shion Genkai:

“This is boring.”

You blink.

“…We just started.”

Shion sighs dramatically, flopping onto a crate.

“You’re not reacting enough.”

“I said it was good.”

“That’s not enough.”

“What do you want me to do, scream?”

His eyes light up.

“…Yes.”

“No.”

“Just a little.”

“No.”

He pouts.

Actually pouts.

You stare at him.

“You’re impossible.”

“I’m performing,” he corrects.

“You lit a match.”

“It was an artistic match.”

You sigh.

“This was a mistake.”

“Too late,” he sings. “You agreed.”

You cross your arms.

“Fine. Do it again.”

His grin sharpens instantly.

That unsettling, too-pleased look.

He steps closer.

Closer than necessary.

“…Watch carefully,” he murmurs.

You roll your eyes.

“I am.”

The flame flickers to life.

Small.

Controlled.

Then—

It grows.

Just slightly.

Enough to feel real.

Enough to feel close.

Your breath catches despite yourself.

Shion notices immediately.

Of course he does.

His grin widens.

“There it is,” he says softly.

“I didn’t scream,” you point out.

“But you felt it.”

You hesitate.

He tilts his head.

Studying you.

Not mocking.

Not entirely.

“…You’re interesting,” he says.

“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

“It is.”

He steps closer again.

The flame disappears.

But the space between you doesn’t.

“You don’t run,” he continues. “Most people do.”

“I’m not most people.”

“No,” he agrees. “You’re not.”

There’s something quieter in his voice now.

Something almost—

curious.

“Again,” you say.

His eyes light up.

“Really?”

“Yes. But don’t set anything on fire.”

“No promises.”

“Shion.”

“…Fine.”

He performs again.

And this time—

You react.

Not because he asked you to.

But because you want to.

And for once—

Shion looks genuinely pleased.

Elias Pratt:

“This is a terrible idea.”

Elias grins.

“Relax.”

“You’re throwing knives.”

“Correct.”

“At me.”

“Technically past you.”

“That’s not better.”

He spins a knife lazily between his fingers.

“Do you trust me?”

You hesitate.

“…That’s a loaded question.”

“Answer it anyway.”

You look at him.

Really look.

At the ease in his posture. The confidence. The way he’s watching you—not careless, but precise.

“…I think you think you won’t miss,” you say.

He laughs.

“That’s not what I asked.”

You sigh.

“…Yes.”

Something in his expression shifts.

Just slightly.

“Good,” he says.

Then—

“Stand still.”

You take your position.

Back against the board.

This is insane.

“Elias—”

“Don’t move.”

“That’s not helpful.”

“It is if you follow it.”

You glare.

He smirks.

Then—

The first knife flies.

It lands just past your shoulder.

You flinch anyway.

“Don’t,” he says.

“You just threw a knife at me.”

“And I missed, didn’t I?”

“That was on purpose.”

“Exactly.”

You exhale slowly.

“Again,” he says.

Another knife.

Closer.

Your heart pounds.

But you stay still.

He watches you carefully.

Every reaction.

Every breath.

“Good,” he murmurs.

You swallow.

“This is still a terrible idea.”

“Probably.”

Another throw.

This time—

you don’t flinch.

He notices.

Of course he does.

A faint smile tugs at his lips.

“There you go,” he says.

You glance at him.

“…You’re enjoying this.”

“A little.”

“Of course you are.”

He steps closer after the last throw.

Carefully removing each knife.

One by one.

Until the board is clear.

Until you’re no longer pinned in place.

“You did well,” he says.

You step away.

“…I didn’t do anything.”

“You trusted me.”

Your chest tightens slightly.

“That’s not nothing.”

You look at him.

“…Don’t make me regret it.”

He smiles.

Softer this time.

“I won’t.”

A pause.

Then—

“…Same time tomorrow?” he asks.

You stare at him.

“…You’re unbelievable.”

“That’s a yes?”

You sigh.

“…Maybe.”

His grin returns.

And somehow—

you don’t walk away.

~~~~

Tag list: @genevathekitty @sh0jun @elfes-materia @edwardhartenjoyer @glamorousspoon @cleverthylacine @ox-ren-xo @bao-yu-sarah-morningstar-wang-9 @innocent-and-angelic @ajade19 @ziyeriah-png @ash0-0ley

You slowed your steps as you approached their group, hoping to get Haku’s attention and get a word in before your next class. Your relationship with him was fairly new, and you always missed him, even in the brief hours you were apart. When he caught you in the hall, he always insisted on walking you to class, even if that made him late. You were hoping for the same today. 

“I wish you were still across the hall from me. We had a lot of fun sneaking around.” Her suggestive tone made venomous heat flood your veins. Your nails dug into your palm before you realized you had balled your fists, but the light sting was preferable to the festering disgust in your gut. 

“Yeah,” he answered vaguely with a chuckle. 

“Do you miss it too?” She asked sweetly. 

Haku hesitated, bashfully glancing around the hall and spotting you as you passed by. Panic flickered across his face. Panic that you were there, listening. But you didn’t know how he would have answered if you weren’t, and that realization tasted like bile. 

“I’m good. See you around.” He turned on his heel and fell into step with you. You veered away from him wordlessly, even though that meant ducking into a hall that led you further away from your class. 

“Princess,” he called. 

You didn’t want to talk to him. You were so humiliated and you didn’t know why you should feel that way. You knew he had to have admirers, and he definitely had exes since he was such a practiced kisser, but you didn’t want to be confronted with it. You didn’t want to think about how he shared memories with other students that missed him. Really fucking pretty students. 

“Baby.” He called again, a little more stern, a little more pleading. He took you by the hand, and as much as you wanted to wrench away, his long strides could easily keep up with you so there was no getting away without running. The added embarrassment of your avoidance was the last thing you needed. 

He corralled you behind a pillar and leaned in close, concern etched deep in his plastic smile. 

“Hey, don’t worry about that, okay? That was from a long time ago. Before I even met you.” 

“Not if she has her way.” You hated how bitter the words came out, but it was true. 

“She won’t.” Haku raised your hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to your fingers. “I’m yours. Only yours, and it’s going to stay that way until you’re sick of me.” 

“Maybe that’s now.” 

Haku’s pleading expression fell and you instantly regretted what you said. 

“No, I didn’t mean that. I’m just… I didn’t-” 

“I know.” He masked his hurt with a smile to reassure you. You allowed him to bundle you up in his arms and press his forehead to yours. “Can you skip this class? I don’t want to leave things like this until you forgive me.” 

“… You didn’t do anything wrong.” 

“I could have shut her down better. I wanted to.” 

You looked up to him and saw how earnest he was, practically begging for you to believe him. 

“I’ve missed too many classes already, but you can walk me there. Then we’ll meet up for lunch.” 

“Okay, it’s a date.” Haku relaxed and stepped back to let you out of the corner. You pulled him back in and gave him a searing kiss so he wouldn’t forget exactly who he belonged to. You hoped the hall would remain abandoned while your tongues intertwined. He clung to you like you were his lifeline, breathless when you pulled back. 

“Fuck, princess.” His cheeks were lightly pink as he gave you a kiss-drunk smile. “You sure you can’t skip class?” 

“Come on, before you make me late. That was a reminder, not foreplay.” 

“Could have fooled me.” Haku walked down the hall with you hand-in-hand and was waiting for you when your class was over like he never left. 

~~~~~~

Mio Susuhara 

Mio had taken you on as an assistant soon after your relationship began. It was a way of spending time with him, also teaching you about how to make minor repairs that you could complete yourself. Someday that would allow him some real free time that he would hopefully spend with you. Four hands were better than two, and being a team meant the two of you could tackle two jobs at once. 

He already trusted you on small jobs, which would be assigned based on where on campus needed fixing to minimize the walking distances. He claimed a bigger job he had to oversee from his workshop in Dionysia. With the circus preparing to reopen their shows, he spent more of his time there than running around campus. When he did, he preferred not to go far and left the other jobs to you. 

The final assignment you received from him each day was usually a delivery that brought you back to him, so he could finish up and the two of you could discuss your separate odd jobs, maybe eke in some more training. It usually ended with the two of you in a shower to wash away all the grime, oil and aches. 

You arrive outside his workshop, adjusting your grip on the stack of steel pipes you brought for him. It was more than you expected to have to carry and you were tired and sweaty after the long day. His door was open, he had his back turned to you.

A blonde gymnast that had transferred back to Dionysia hovered behind him. She rested her hip against the center console that controlled the ferris wheel. Their conversation was littered with the clicking of Mio’s crank as he adjusted a loose gear.

“You know, I have some things in my room that needs fixing. Nothing too strenuous. I know how hard they work you all day.” With a more suggestive lilt, she added, “I can make you some lemonade.” The blonde twirled her hair around her finger as he glanced back, surprise written on his features, then understanding. 

“Try not to lean on that, if you could.” 

She wasn’t deterred by him glossing over her obvious proposition. His reaction eased your concerns since he turned her down without a second thought, and hadn’t even seen you yet. 

“Oops, sorry!” She giggled. “I hope you aren’t thinking about punishing me for it.” 

You entered the room and dropped the metal pipes. The deafening clanging sound as they hit the ground and ricocheted off each other made both of them jump. It went on for several arduous seconds as they rolled around the ground, all the while you fixed the flirt with a sardonic grin. 

Her eyes were comically large, her mouth gaping as she recovered from the fright. She pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose at you, irritated by your presence more than the racket. 

“Hey, babe,” Mio called. He wore a knowing smirk. Amusement laced his greeting as he beckoned you over. You passed right by the gymnast and settled under his outstretched arm. 

“You okay? None of that fell on your foot, did it?” 

“I’m fine. Hand slipped.” The dryness in your tone made no attempt to sell your lie. You fixed another pointed glare at the unwelcome third wheel. 

Mio’s attention also returned to her.

“If you just need some simple repairs, my girlfriend can handle those no problem.” None of you missed the emphasis he placed on ‘my girlfriend.’ Pride swelled in your chest at him playing along. 

“And I looove lemonade,” you gushed.

She blinked rapidly, as if suppressing her eyeroll took a physical toll on her. 

“That’s okay, I’ll get my friend to fix it.” She swished her hair as she turned and left the room, stepping over discarded pipes that littered the doorway. 

“Possessive, are we?” Mio chuckled and kissed you, a quick peck since there was some sweat on his upper lip. 

“Very. Get used to it.” Both of you knew you didn’t treat him unfairly, even knowing he was attractive and well liked, especially among women who could appreciate his expertise. He never made a complaint when you took his hand or stood near him when he got lingering, appreciative looks. He liked that you were clingy. 

You looked back to the door, making sure no one else was around. 

“That happen often?” 

He mulled over his answer, choosing his words carefully. 

“It comes with the territory,” Mio said with a dismissive shrug. “I ignore it. You’re enough of a distraction already.” 

“I could be more of a distraction.” Your flirting had much more of an affect on him than the blonde. His eyes glimmered, anticipating how two of you would spend the rest of the evening.