Zerizk

╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗ You stared into your mirror, putting on the finishing touches to your outfit. You turned yourself at various angles to check if everything was in place. It was worth it to get ready over an hour beforehand to look this good. Happy with how you look, you turned on your phone, glancing at the time and running around your room to ensure you had everything with you. You had your phone, keys, R&R permit, gift, and other items in case of emergency. You pick up your phone, excitedly texting Elias “I’m almost ready soon”

You opened your window to let out the hot air that accumulated while you were preparing. It was a relief to let out the heat, taking the fresh air into your lungs to calm yourself. The thought of your anniversary made you nervous, especially since Elias was taking you to a nice dinner date. As anxious as you were, you couldn’t afford to sweat. You put on deodorant and a couple spritz of a body mist that Romeo tossed at you one time, out of pity. You sit down on your bed, leaning back on your palms, finally feeling like you’re finished. The only thing that was left was waiting for Elias to pick you up. He said he’d be at your dorm by 7, it’s 6:40, and if he didn’t dawdle then it wasn’t going to be long. To pass the time, you went on your phone and scrolled social media.

.

After some time, you realized that you were laying on your back, and you frantically sat up and checked your reflection to make sure everything was in place. When everything looked fine, you sighed and checked the time. 7:10, Elias liked to take his time, but he typically sent a message to let you know beforehand. It was strange to see no notification from him. Elias hadn’t even seen your previous message. You checked his location, and he was still at the circus. 10 minutes was no biggie to you, you still had time to get to the restaurant, even if you left later.

7:30, you checked your messages, still nothing. Your eyebrows furrowed slightly and checked his location again, he was a couple minutes outside of the circus. You felt a weight off your chest, thinking that he was making his way over.

8:00, he still wasn’t here, you text Elias, ‘hey, coming yet?’, with no response. You could feel your eyes grow heavy, but you still had the energy to type out your passive aggressive message. After re-reading it a couple times, delete, you didn’t want to fight on your anniversary.

8:30, Elias hasn’t picked up any of your calls. He hasn’t seen your message, and his location said that he returned to the circus. Jo and Mio weren’t getting back to you, it was impossible to reach anyone. You felt crushed, angry that no one seemed to care about you, especially your boyfriend that promised that you’d have a great anniversary. You were on the brink of tears, and you quickly looked up to get rid of the feeling that you were about to crack. You huffed, deciding that the only thing left to do was to go to Dionysia yourself. You strode over to your door, and harshly swung it open to walk out of your dorm. The burning feeling in your chest was getting hotter, and your hands started to feel uncomfortable from your tightly balled fingers. It felt like your brain was encouraging you to lash out, your mind was flooded with everything that pissed you off.

The students you passed by looked at you with curiosity on their faces, quickly moving out of the way when they saw your fast strides and aggressive posture. The cool night breeze was hitting you as you walked, cooling down your hot temper. The anger you felt turned into a deep unfairness. ‘What are you doing?’ You slowed your walking, ending up stopping in front of Mortkranken. You were close to Dionysia, yet, you didn’t want to walk a step closer. The wind seemed to get louder as you stood still. You sat on a nearby bench, catching your breath. On your final deep breath, you slumped your shoulders and crossed your arms around your torso, beginning to feel chilled. Was it really worth it to go over there and yell at Elias, when he didn’t spare you any time? You’ve already spent most of your day thinking about him, why should you give him any more thought?

You looked ahead, then glanced towards the direction you came from. ‘I think I should go home,’ You didn’t want to talk to him, or even look at his face. You didn’t want to think about breaking up with him, if you went now, you’d probably say things that you don’t mean.

You got off the bench, and slowly walked on the dark path, back to your dorm.

You get home, taking off the clothes you had, upset that you wasted hours getting ready for something that didn’t even happen. You got back into bed, tears welling in your eyes. You couldn’t help but feel upset, he should’ve known that it was your anniversary, he promised that you would have a great time. In the end, you didn’t see him, didn’t get to go out, and he wasn’t even answering your messages or calls. As your heart squeezed with impossible tightness, you grabbed your phone and rapidly typed on your keyboard, sending a message before turning your phone off and tossing it somewhere on your bed. You hugged your blanket close, falling asleep with thoughts of Elias going through your head.

The sun beams down on Elias while he makes quick paperwork deliveries. The sweat that formed on his face made him feel uneasy and more irritable than he should be. He stops by the tent quickly to look at the clock, 6:30, he was still able to make a few more trips before he could rest for the night. He quickly organized the papers, separating them the way Jo prefers, and rushes out the door to head deeper into the circus.

It was inconvenient for Jo to get sick at a time they did. Multiple shows were running within the week, and Elias had to step in to help Mio get everything done. While Mio was in charge of the equipment and management, his crew ran around taking care of the rest, because it’s Dionysia’s busiest time of the year.

Elias arrived at the heebie jeebie tent, meeting with Mio’s crew that needed papers signed for a new installation. He patted himself down to find a pen on him, only to be met with nothing to be felt in his pockets, not even his phone. He must’ve forgotten it in his room earlier in the day, along with his pen.

“Hm, it seems I don’t have it on me, mind if I borrow one?” He asks, the student gives him an extra pen. Elias quickly skimmed through the papers and signed, before taking off again. He walked through Dionysia grounds with quick speed, with an itch at the back of his head, like he forgot something. A sudden realization came over him that he had to return documents to Professor Dante. He made a quick turn in the direction of Jo’s office, once again.

He slowed his walking, taking the time to catch his breath. It’d been a few hours since he got to sit down, he’s ran around all day, he hasn’t even had time to spare to text you. What he would do right now to hear your voice. His hand cupped his forehead, and moved it backwards to move the hair out of his warm face. His long legs started to make long strides again, determined to finish everything as quickly as possible so he could go see you. Maybe he’ll make a visit on his way back from the main building.

He arrived back in the office, stretching and looking around the room for what he was looking for. He searched under piles, his eyes scanning the document names and grabbing whatever he needs. Before he exited the office, he looked at the empty white board, and an idea popped into his head. He picked up a marker and quickly jotted down everything that needed to be done tomorrow, writing the date in the corner. Even if Jo was sick, he wasn’t going to miss your anniversary. It was the only free day that he was going to have for a while, he’s going to spend time with his gorgeous darling, no matter the circumstances.

He hears a door click open, and he looks towards it, seeing Mio enter.

“Oh, you’re here. I thought you would’ve been gone by now,” he stated, folding himself over, and resting his head on the giant desk in the middle of the room, heavily sighing.

“I just got back, I thought I’d write down what needs to be done tomorrow,” Elias smiles in Mio’s direction, turning back to the board to draw a smiley face beside his giant list.

Mio straightens himself, “How nice of you…” he says with a lifted eyebrow. He walks closer to the board, reading the bullet points. His eyes dart to the corner, cocking his head to one side.

“The dates a day early,” he states, erasing the number and grabbing the marker in Elias’ hand to write the correct date.

“What?” Elias quickly looks up to analyze his mistake.

His face goes pale, “do you mind showing me your phone?” Mio nods his head, pulling out his phone and turning it to Elias to look at. The date was a day off from what he thought it was.

“hm…” the colour drains from his face, staring at Mio’s phone with an unreadable expression.

Elias quickly exits the room, saying with a louder tone “I’ll be back!” He looks back with a smile, his face quickly dropping when he looks forward, bolting towards his room. As he enters his room, he makes a b-line in the direction of his phone. Turning it on, a wall of text floods his lock screen, alongside 4+ other messages, and 2 missed calls. He skims over the first few lines, and then flips his phone down on the bed. He flops on his bed, lifting his arms to cover his face. His mind repeats what little lines he read.

‘I can’t believe you would forget our anniversary, you knew how excited I was for this. You didn’t even text or call me all day, this was a special day and you didn’t care about it...’

This is extremely troubling, it was incredibly rare that he missed something so important. He typically remembers to update the calendar in his room, but with everything going on, he guessed that he forgot to mark what day it was. For the first time in a while, he felt embarrassed, it was his duty to make you feel loved and he forgot one of the most important days out of the year. To him, a text from him wasn’t going to make anything better, if he was going to see you, he needed something prepared. He’s going to give you space for the night for the time being. He sat up from his bed, crossing his legs and put a hand to his chin in thought. How was he going to make it up to you?

The birds chirp, instilling an uneasy feeling within Elias as he stands outside of your dorm with flowers in hand. He puts a cautious foot on the first step, pinching himself to quell his unusual anxieties. Anything could happen, given his predicament. He wasn’t prepared for the idea that you’d want to leave him, you’re everything he’s ever wanted, how could he come to face that. Forcing away his inhibitions, he puffs out his chest and walks into the crumbling cathedral.

You groan as you stir awake, remembering the events of the previous night. You look up at the ceiling with no will to move. Your head feels like it’s pounding, and your eyes feel warm and sensitive to the light. You let out a deep breath, unready to face the day ahead. You lazily grab your phone and turn it on with no new notifications.

“He didn’t even reply to it?” You mumbled to yourself, annoyed at his audacity. A fast knock broke the silence in your room. Knowing who it is by the sound, you turn away from the door and put the blankets over your head.

“Won’t you come to the door my dear?” Elias’ muffled voice echoed through your room. You ignore him, refusing to respond. He knocks once more, and you aggressively sit up, throwing the blanket to the edge of the bed.

“Leave me alone!” You yell, getting ready to rush to the door and yell in his face, if you have to. You weren’t ready to deal with him yet, hearing him soured your already bad mood. Couldn’t he just leave you alone for a few hours while you think, why did he have to come to your room when he didn’t even spare the time to message you.

“I won’t stay long, if you’ll hear me out, I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am,” Elias pauses, he puts his ear to the door to gauge your reaction. He waits for you to tell him to leave again, but there’s no noise of movement, confirmation, or anger. Assuming that you don’t mind listening to him speak, he continues, “What I did was unacceptable, I know that you’re angry at me, and I don’t have a good explanation for what happened. Explaining the situation won’t help anyway, and I know that, just know that I didn’t mean to ditch you all night. You’re everything to me, and if you’ll let me, I’ll do everything to make it up to you.” He listens once more, not hearing a sound within your room, “now, I’ll leave you be, please talk to me when you’re ready, my dear heart,” He backed away from the door and started to walk down the hallway. A door clicks, and slowly opens, Elias turns his head and sees your head poke out from the doorway.

“Hold on,” you scoff, he stops in his tracks and turns to face you, “what happened last night? And, why didn’t you come see me all night, or text me?” you cross your arms. He sees your eyes flick towards the arrangement that he’s holding. Elias holds back a smile, happy that you’re willing to hear him out, and to see your adorable face.

“It’s not easy to believe me, but I had the date wrong. I forgot to mark my calendar for the correct day, and I forgot my phone in my room all day, so I couldn’t text you. It’s silly, I know how preventable it was. I didn’t text you, or see you because I wanted to give you space. I don’t think you would’ve been happy to see me right away.” He slowly walks towards you, testing the waters of how close he can get.

“You could’ve just come seen me, it probably would’ve made things better instead of not saying anything at all…” you look away towards the window and pout, gazing outside so you don’t have to make eye contact with Elias.

“If I knew that’s what you wanted, I would’ve stayed all night with you to make things better, my dear. I thought it would’ve been better to stay away so you could get rest, I promise” he lowers his voice into a sweet tone that he knows you’re weak to. His face is barely a foot away from yours, realizing how close he was, you back up a step. Your face scrunches, staring him down. You break eye contact, looking down towards the floor.

“It really sucked, what you did,” you mumble, you see Elias’ hand approach you in your peripheral vision. You decide to let it slide and he cups your face, bringing it upwards.

“I know, im truly sorry for what I did. Like I said, you can be mad at me for as long as you like.” He leans in and presses a kiss on your cheek, “I can make it up to you tonight if you’d like, we can still go out,” he smiles at you.

You raise one eyebrow, “what do you mean? We already missed our reservation, and our permit is over,” Elias lightly chuckles at your question and gently hands you the flowers in his arms. You sniff them, hugging the bouquet to your chest.

“I have my ways,” he presses another kiss to your other cheek, “can’t I have a couple secrets of my own?” You blow air out of your nose, a little annoyed at his usual closemouthed personality.

You give in, “Fine, but you’re taking me everywhere I want to go tonight. You have a lot to make up for, I spent a lot of time getting ready.” His hand leaves your face, and crosses it over his heart “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he hesitantly pulls your face closer to his, realizing his intention, you put your hand over his mouth and stare at him.

“Not so fast, you have about 10 steps before you can think about kissing me,” you mildly scold, he lets out a small laugh and slightly steps back.

“Hm~ that’s fair, can’t I at least give you a hug?” He holds out his arms slightly, a warm smile forming on his face. You stand still, purposely waiting a few seconds before giving your answer.

You playfully sigh, “Fine,” when you give confirmation, Elias takes no time to pull you into a sweet hug that surrounds you with his presence.

He positions his head next to your ear and whispers, “I wish I said this earlier, but Happy Anniversary my darling…”

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

Taglist: @gieeeeeeeeeee @tohma-ishibashi

指切り拳万 (yubikiri genman): 指切り literally means "cutting off finger". The term is believed to be established in Yoshiwara, the famous red light district of Tokyo from around 1600s to 1800s. Yubikiri came from the practice of prostitutes cutting off their pinky finger as a way to prove their eternal love and loyalty to a customer一that they love this person so much, they're willing to hurt themself. 拳万 means "ten thousand fists". The sentiment is that if you couldn't keep your promise, you'll be punched 10,000 times.

嘘ついたら針千本呑ます (uso tsuitara hari senbon nomasu): "Whoever lies will have to swallow a thousand needles." This one is pretty straight forward. Not only must you keep your promise, you'll also be punished if you dare lying.

死んだら御免 (shindara gomen): If you just translate it directly, it'll be something like, "I'm sorry if I die", but after a little research, I found out that 御免 (gomen) in the Edo period don't simply mean apology but also have the nuance of exemption一a pardon, if you will. In the Edo Shigusa teachings, you're taught to always keep your promises. By pledging 死んだら御免, you swore to keep your promise as long as you're alive. So this line could be interpreted as either, "I'll keep my promise as long as I'm alive but if I ended up dead before fulfilling it, please forgive me," or, "The only way you'll be pardoned from breaking a promise is if you pay it with your life".

指切った (yubi kitta): Directly translated, it means, "the finger is cut". It's supposed to be said as you release your intertwined pinkies. Personally, I think it has the nuance of saying something like, "The promise is sealed!"

In the English loc, this is what Haku said:

Deadly In Love Act I - Chapter 30

"Cross my heart and hope to die"一according to Wiktionary, is an idiom added to a promise or a statement to show how serious one was about being honest in what one said. Sometimes this idiom is accompanied by a second clause that goes, "Stick a needle in my eye".

I looked it up to find if it's a reference of anything but I only found out that it's apparently originated as a religious oath based on the sign of the cross and later turned into a poem in the early 1900s? Which honestly feels a little recent to me... This Merriam-Webster article also wrote that the earliest recorded instance of the idiom is from late 19th century but other than the speculation that the idiom came from Christian influence, there's no further mention about poems based on it or whatnot. So yeah... While the poem's content is pretty interesting if you try to read it as a consideration to Haku's character, there's still no proper source for this so-called poem一I highly suggest to take it with a grain of salt. Below is the full poem:

Cross my heart and hope to die Stick a needle in my eye Wait a moment; I spoke a lie I never really wanted to die But if I may and if I might My heart is open for tonight Though my lips are sealed And a promise is true I won't break my word My word to you

Cross my heart and hope to die Stick a needle in my eye A secret's a secret My word is forever I will tell no one About your cruel endeavor You claim no pain But I see right through Your words in everything you do Teary eyes; broken heart Life has torn you apart

Cross my heart and hope to die Stick a needle in my eye I loved you then; I love you now I'll still love you though I'll break my vow I can't hold this secret any longer It's hurting you; not making you stronger You're my friend so I'll risk your respect By hurting you, I can protect I'll save yourself since you will not You might hate me but I'll give it a shot I'm willing to risk our bond that we own So long as you're safe you won't be alone

Cross my heart and hope to die Stick a needle in my eye Break my promise; tell a lie Save my friend Though, maybe it's 'bye'

We don't really know whatever it is that Haku promised MC in his mind as he made this pinky swear. Maybe nothing. Maybe he really did it without much thinking because it's simply a good luck charm and for his own peace of mind, just as he claimed.

But we know what happened to the ghoul who made a wish to save MC and called himself her knight last season. I know that the context is different but honestly I'm not sure if the odds are in Mister Kusanagi's favor this time... 'cuz it feels like he raised his own death flag with that yubikiri ngl hopefully I'm just overthinking and wrong

To end this post, I'll tell you a fun fact: did you know that the word for "good luck charm" (majinai) and "curse" (noroi)一despite the polaring meaning一is written exactly the same way? They're both written as 呪い, only differentiated by the reading. Nowdays 呪い almost always read as "curse" so if you want people to read it as "good luck charm", you either ① write them entirely in hiragana or katakana, ② add "o" at the front so it'll be "omajinai" (お呪い), or ③ add furigana/use ruby text.

Your scent and breath are always so close to him when you help him with such a small gesture, while still murmuring some displeased words at him.

He never really pays attention to your words because he's always so consumed by your gentle touch and the soft scent wrapped around him, and he feels a bit empty when you pull away.

FYI: He KNOWS how to put on a tie. Several ways, actually. Jo taught him quite a few. He just likes to mess with you and genuinely enjoys having you put it on for him.

♡ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐲 ♡

Elias isn't addicted to sweets. He just needs sugar to stimulate his brain enough to work and get through the day. He never used to eat that many sweets before, only small amounts or whatever happened to be available around the office.

But it became a habit when you started carrying candies around and giving him a piece every day. It slowly grew on him. You even restock the snack bowls and shelves in the office all the time, making sure there was Jo and Mio's favorite coffee, Shion's favorite chocolate, and both sweets and coffee for Elias.

So he gradually got used to having some amount of sugar every day.

At first, he didn't think much of it. It was just another one of your thoughtful little habits, something you did for everyone without expecting anything in return.

But then he started noticing things. The way you'd always leave his favorite sweets where he could easily find them. The way you'd quietly replace the empty candy jar before anyone else even realized it was running low. The way you'd automatically hand him a piece whenever you saw him rubbing his temples after staring at paperwork for too long.

Somehow, without realizing it, he started reaching for those sweets every day. Not because he particularly craved sugar. But because every piece reminded him of you.

On days when you were busy and forgot to hand him one, he'd find himself glancing toward your desk without meaning to. On days when you weren't around, the snacks on the shelf suddenly tasted a little less sweet.

He never mentioned it, of course.

But if anyone ever removed the candy bowl you carefully maintained, Elias would probably be the first one to notice.

Because it was one of the countless little traces of you scattered throughout his day, and he had become far more accustomed to those than he would ever admit.

⋆｡°✩ 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 ✩°｡⋆

Elias used to be a heavy smoker, but he started cutting down when he found out you didn't like the smell of cigarettes.

Not because he particularly cared about his own health.

Truthfully, he neglected his health far more often than he should. Skipping meals, surviving on coffee, staying up too late, and brushing off any concern directed toward himself had become second nature to him long ago.

But somehow, that attitude never extended to you. The moment it came to your health, he became annoyingly attentive.

He'd remind you to eat on time, quietly place a blanket over your shoulders when you fell asleep at your desk, and immediately notice whenever you looked even slightly unwell.

So when you casually mentioned one day that you disliked the smell of smoke, he remembered.

Quitting wasn't easy. Years of habit couldn't disappear overnight, no matter how much he wanted them to.

So instead, he started cutting down little by little.

He stopped smoking around the office. Then he stopped smoking during breaks if he knew you'd be nearby.

Eventually, he only smoked when you weren't around.

You never noticed the effort at first.

Only that the smell that used to cling faintly to his clothes seemed to disappear more and more over time.

Elias never brought it up.

He never told you how many times he'd reached for a cigarette only to put it back in the pack because he knew you'd wrinkle your nose if you caught the scent later.

Because to him, it wasn't some grand sacrifice. It was simply you.

And somehow, your comfort had become important enough for him to change habits he never thought he'd change for anyone.

୨୧‥ 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 ‥୨୧

The moment you stopped being around to help him put on his tie, Elias stopped wearing one altogether.

Whenever someone asked why, he'd simply shrug and say it was annoying, uncomfortable, or too much hassle to deal with every morning.

Which wasn't entirely a lie.

But it wasn't the real reason either.

The truth was that he missed the routine. The way you'd sigh dramatically every time you saw his crooked uniform. The way you'd scold him while fixing it anyway. The way you'd stand on your tiptoes as he leaned down slightly to make it easier for you.

Most of all, he missed those few quiet moments where your full attention was on him.

So after you were gone, the tie stayed forgotten. Not because he couldn't wear it. Because there was no longer anyone he wanted to wear it for.

⋆⸜ 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐚, 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 ⸝⋆

Elias is actually very skilled at magic tricks. Not simple card tricks or cheap party tricks either. Professional level kind of illusions.

The kind that leave people staring in confusion even when they're actively trying to figure out how he did it.

But despite being so talented, he rarely shows it off.

Outside of his performances, he almost never does tricks for anyone.

Most people in the House have only heard rumors about how good he is. You, however, are the exception.

Whenever you have a bad day, somehow he always notices.

One moment you're sitting there, frustrated and exhausted, and the next he casually reaches behind your ear and suddenly a flower appears between his fingers.

Or he'll flick his wrist and somehow produce your favorite candy from thin air.

Sometimes he'll make little trinkets appear. Sometimes small treats.

Sometimes things that shouldn't logically fit inside his sleeves at all.

Every single time, it makes you laugh.

And every single time, he acts as if that was the goal from the beginning.

He doesn't perform those tricks to impress you. He performs them to see you smile.

After all, it's special treatment reserved exclusively for his darling 😉

♡ 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 ♡

Elias loves stealing kisses from you. Warning you beforehand completely defeats the purpose. So he never does.

One moment you're talking, reading, or simply minding your own business, and the next he suddenly presses a kiss against your forehead, your cheek, your temple, or your lips before acting as if nothing happened.

The resulting flustered expression on your face never gets old to him.

Sometimes he'll even hide his smile behind his hand afterward, pretending he has absolutely no idea why you're staring at him.

That being said, he's not particularly fond of public displays of affection.

Holding your hand is fine.

Standing close to you is fine.

Resting a hand on your shoulder or waist is fine.

But... he prefers having you all to himself, away from curious eyes and interruptions.

In private, he's far more affectionate than most people would ever expect.

The playful thief who steals quick kisses throughout the day turns into someone who simply enjoys being close to you.

Forehead pressed against yours.

Arms wrapped around your waist.

Enjoying your company without saying much at all.

Because while Elias enjoys surprising you with stolen kisses, what he loves most is having those quiet moments where the world disappears and it's just the two of you.

ᵔᴗᵔ 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐨, 𝐦𝐞?

Elias gets surprisingly jealous when you pay too much attention to someone else for too long. Especially if you're praising another performer's skills.

On the surface, he seems completely fine with it. He'll smile, nod along, and even agree with your compliments.

"Yes, they're quite talented."

"That performance was impressive."

"They worked hard for that."

Completely reasonable responses.

Meanwhile, there's an unpleasant bitterness sitting in the back of his throat the entire time.

Not because he thinks you shouldn't admire others. Not because he's insecure. He simply wants all of your attention.

And when all of it is directed somewhere else, he can't help feeling a little dissatisfied.

Of course, Elias isn't the type to throw a tantrum or openly complain. Instead, his possessiveness appears in much subtler ways.

Like casually asking you to help him with his tie when he could easily do it himself.

Like waiting for you to fix his hair before a performance.

Like standing patiently while you adjust his makeup, straighten his collar, and smooth out the wrinkles in his outfit before he steps on stage.

He loves those moments. Because while everyone else can admire him from afar, those small acts of care belong exclusively to you.

You're the one fixing his appearance.

You're the one fussing over him.

You're the one standing close enough to touch him.

And somehow, that always makes the bitter feeling disappear. No matter how much attention you give others, he knows he'll eventually have you all to himself again ^^

 ੈ✩ 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬

Elias only truly falls asleep when you're in his arms. He's never been a good sleeper.

Years of late nights, irregular schedules, and an overactive mind have made proper rest almost impossible for him.

Even when he does sleep, it's light and restless. Even the smallest sound can wake him. The slightest movement can pull him from sleep.

Most nights, he wakes up feeling no more rested than before. But somehow, that changes when you're there.

The moment you're curled up beside him, something inside him settles. He instinctively pulls you closer, wrapping his arms securely around you until there's barely any distance left between the two of you. Not because he's afraid you'll leave. He simply likes feeling you there.

The warmth of your body.

The steady rhythm of your breathing.

The reassuring weight of you against him.

His favorite position is when you rest your head against his chest. He loves being able to feel your presence so clearly.

Sometimes your breath brushes against his collarbone. Sometimes it tickles just enough to stir him from sleep for a brief moment. He'll crack open an eye, glance down at you, and find you still sleeping peacefully in his arms.

Then he'll pull you a little closer. Press a lazy kiss against your hair. And drift back to sleep again.

The man who struggles to rest anywhere else ends up sleeping his deepest when he's holding you. As if your presence alone convinces his body that, for once, it's safe to relax.

✧ 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ✧

Since Elias can't sleep much, he enjoys spending quiet late nights with a drink in hand.

Bonus points if he has company.

Even more bonus points if that company is you.

Those late night hours are some of his favorites. The world is quieter, the office is empty, and there are fewer interruptions demanding his attention.

If you don't drink, he never pressures you to. Instead, he'll prepare tea, soda, or whatever beverage you prefer. He always keeps your favorites in mind.

There will also be snacks. Sweet ones. Savory ones. A mixture of both if you're indecisive. Everything carefully chosen based on your preferences.

He pretends it's nothing special, but somehow your favorite snacks always happen to be available whenever you're around.

If you do drink, however, that's an entirely different story.

To this day, Elias has lost count of how many times you've stubbornly challenged him to a drinking contest. And every single time, the result is exactly the same.

You start the night full of confidence. Convinced that this will finally be the time you win.

A few drinks later, you're insisting you're completely fine.

A few more drinks later, your words start slurring together.

And before long, you're drinking yourself into oblivion while Elias looks exactly the same as when the evening started.

He just quietly watching your increasingly terrible decisions unfold. With that small, amused smile of his, he always takes your glass away before things get worse.

And even if you u insist you're still perfectly capable of winning, he never listens.

The contest ends whether you approve of it or not.

Then he carries you back to your dorm.

And every single time, if you're particularly clingy and needy, wrapping your arms around him and refusing to let go, he'll end up staying the night.

Not because you ask....

Well, maybe a little because you ask.

Mostly because he can't bring himself to leave when you're looking at him like that.

The next morning is always the same though. You wake up with a pounding headache. Complaining that you'll never drink with him ever again. Swearing that this is the last time.

Elias simply hands you water and watches with quiet amusement. Because he already knows exactly what's going to happen.

A few weeks later, you'll challenge him to another drinking contest. And lose all over again.

To you, Elias always seems like the sober one.

The composed one.

The responsible one.

The man who never loses control.

But oh, dear.

What you don't realize is that he's hopelessly intoxicated already.

Not by alcohol though. But...

By you.

By your smile.

By your laughter.

By the way your eyes brighten when you're happy.

He's been drunk on your love for far longer than you've ever been drunk on wine.

♡ 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 ♡

Oh and you know? He got called a con artist for a reason. He's a thief. A very sly one too.

He always steals your sweets as much as he loves stealing kisses from you.

Which means that when a sugary candy is already sitting neatly on your tongue, and you're humming while enjoying the sweetness, he'd randomly appear out of nowhere just to kiss you.

He's shameless, so he doesn't really care if other people are around.

But if he's going to steal your little candy, he prefers it when it's just the two of you.

He'll kiss you out of nowhere, taking the candy you'd been enjoying for himself before calmly pulling away.

And then he just casually walks off afterward, not caring in the slightest about how completely malfunctioning you've become because of it.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦? 𑣲₍ ᐢ. .ᐢ₎

Elias secretly enjoys it when you're mad at him. Not when you're genuinely upset or hurt, of course.

But when you're scolding him? Nagging him? Giving his arm a light smack because he's being annoying again?

Oh, he finds it far more entertaining than he probably should.

Mostly because you're adorable when you're angry.

Your brows knit together.

Your cheeks puff slightly.

Your voice gets sharper as you lecture him about whatever ridiculous thing he's done this time.

And haha... Your words have absolutely zero effect on him.

Not because he isn't listening or anything. He's listening very carefully. He's just too busy admiring you to feel threatened.

Which is exactly why you get even angrier whenever he starts smiling.

"Are you even taking me seriously?"

"I am."

"Then stop smiling!"

Unfortunately, that only makes the smile wider.

You'd swear he's doing it on purpose.

And uhm... He probably is.

Still, the reason he never pushes too far is because he knows exactly how soft hearted you are.

You can never stay mad at him for long.

Not when he gives you that sincere look.

Not when he apologizes so earnestly.

Not when he quietly offers you your favorite snack afterward.

Before long, your anger disappears completely. And there he is again, looking unbearably pleased with himself.

As if he'd known from the beginning that you'd forgive him.

✩°｡⋆ 𝐀 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 (𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠) ⋆｡°✩

He is also very-

Perhaps some things are best left unsaid. A gentleman never reveals all his secrets at once, does he?

I think that's enough for now ^^ You've been exposing me all night long.

I'm still a man of dignity, you know. I can get shy too.

...Though I suspect that only makes you smile more, doesn't it?

You do know that, right, dear?

🌸—————————————————🌸

Haku Kusanagi:

Haku liked teasing you because your reactions were usually subtle in the cutest ways possible. You weren’t dramatic or openly argumentative; instead, your embarrassment came quietly, in softened eyes and the tiny twitch at the corner of your lips and the way you’d avoid looking directly at him for a few seconds too long. Haku found it endlessly entertaining.

“Princess,” he drawled lazily one afternoon as he leaned across the back of the couch behind you, “if you keep looking this pretty while I’m trying to relax, I’m gonna have to file a complaint.”

You barely glanced up from your phone. “To who?”

“No idea. God, maybe.”

“You think god can help you?”

“No,” Haku admitted easily. “But maybe he'll at least sympathize with me.”

That earned him the familiar smile he liked so much: warm, helplessly amused, fond enough to make his chest feel strangely light. Haku grinned back, entirely satisfied with himself.

The thing was, he never really expected you to flirt back. You always let him talk, always indulged him with that patient sweetness of yours, but you rarely ever threw the teasing back in his direction. Which meant Haku had gotten comfortable. Confident, even.

Then one evening, while helping Zenji with filming equipment, Haku wandered into the common room and found you sitting cross-legged on the floor sorting through cables.

“Princess,” he sighed dramatically, dropping down beside you, “you’re working too hard. C’mere and let me spoil you for a bit.”

You didn’t look up. “Spoil me how?”

“Hm.” He pretended to think about it. “Lap pillow? Head pats? Maybe I’ll even hold your hand if you ask nicely.”

“Only my hand?”

Haku paused.

Slowly, you looked over at him.

Your expression was completely composed. Calm. Curious. But your eyes sparkled with just enough amusement to make his stomach flip instinctively before his brain even caught up.

"You know," you teased, scooting closer, "you didn’t have to play hard to get. You could’ve just asked."

Haku froze so hard he almost dropped the camera battery in his hand.

“…What?”

You blinked at him innocently. “Did I say something weird?”

He stared at you in stunned silence while the words replayed in his head approximately fifty times.

You didn’t have to play hard to get.

You could’ve just asked.

Haku Kusanagi, owner of the so-called devilish charm, experienced the deeply humbling sensation of his entire brain short-circuiting.

His face turned red first. Then his ears.

Meanwhile, you simply returned to untangling the cables like you hadn’t just shattered his composure into microscopic pieces.

“You can’t do that,” Haku said finally, voice quieter than usual.

“Do what?”

“Flirt back.”

A small smile appeared on your face. “Why not?”

“Because now I’m nervous.”

That finally made you laugh properly, bright and soft and unfairly cute, and Haku pressed a hand over his face with a groan.

“Oh, you’re enjoying this.”

“Maybe a little.”

“You’re supposed to be the normal one,” he muttered.

You leaned slightly closer then, just enough for him to catch the faint scent of your shampoo, and Haku immediately forgot how breathing worked.

“Maybe you bring out a different side of me, Haku.”

He made a sound that was somewhere between a cough and a whimper.

And when you stood up afterward and walked away carrying the cables, Haku remained sitting on the floor staring after you with burning cheeks while Zenji floated into the room, took one look at him, and immediately burst out laughing.

🌙 ————————————————— 🌙

Rui Mizuki:

Rui flirted with everyone the same way the sun touched every window on campus: casually, warmly, persistently. A wink here, a hand to the small of someone’s back there, a dramatic sigh about how cruel it was that no one appreciated his beauty enough. Most people either rolled their eyes or laughed him off, and you—well. You usually just smiled at him. Soft, amused, patient. The kind of smile that made him pause for half a second longer than he intended before continuing on with whatever nonsense he’d been saying.

“Cutie,” Rui called from where he was sprawled upside down across the sofa, blond hair nearly brushing the floor as he peered at you with theatrical suffering, “I cleaned Edward’s room again today. If you value my poor overworked heart at all, I deserve a reward.”

You looked up from the book in your lap. “A reward?”

“Yes. Preferably one involving affection. Perhaps a kiss to heal my wounds.”

“You survived.”

“Barely.”

You laughed quietly, shaking your head, and Rui grinned in triumph because making you laugh always felt like winning something precious. Most of the time, that was as far as it went. He’d toss you another line, you’d smile at him with that fond little expression of yours, and the game would continue exactly as it always had.

That was why Rui wasn’t prepared when he wandered into the kitchen at two in the morning and found you standing by the counter in one of his oversized sweaters, sleeves swallowing your hands as you stared sleepily into a mug of tea.

He leaned against the doorway immediately, because of course he did. “Cutie,” he sighed dramatically, “you know, it’s terribly irresponsible of you to look this adorable while everyone else is trying to survive around here.”

Usually you’d duck your head. Usually you’d smile and mumble something under your breath.

Instead, you lifted your eyes to him over the rim of your mug, expression calm and unreadable.

"If I turn around, are you going to stop staring, or just keep doing it?"

Silence.

Actual silence.

Rui blinked once.

Twice.

You took another sip of tea while he continued staring at you as if his soul had just temporarily exited his body.

“I— excuse me?” he managed finally, voice cracking in a way you had never heard before in your life.

You tilted your head innocently. “Hm? Was I wrong?”

Rui Mizuki, the shameless flirt of Darkwick, the man who could sweet-talk his way through almost anything without so much as blinking, suddenly looked catastrophically flustered. Pink spread across his cheeks so fast it was almost impressive, and he straightened from the doorway too quickly, nearly catching himself on the frame.

“You can’t just say things like that,” he sputtered.

A tiny smile tugged at your mouth. “You do.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“Because—” Rui stopped entirely, visibly scrambling for composure. “Because I’m supposed to be the charming one here.”

You hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe I got tired of letting you win.”

The smile you gave him afterward was devastatingly gentle, like you hadn’t just completely obliterated him in under thirty seconds.

Rui covered his face with one hand.

“Oh, this is evil,” he groaned weakly. “You’re evil. I take back every nice thing I’ve ever said about you.”

“But you’ll say more later.”

“…Probably.”

And the worst part—the absolute worst part—was the quiet little laugh you gave after saying it, because Rui knew then that you had done it entirely on purpose, and somehow that only made his heart beat harder.

~~~~

Tag list: @genevathekitty @sh0jun @elfes-materia @edwardhartenjoyer @mylovelycinema @glamorousspoon @cleverthylacine @ox-ren-xo @bao-yu-sarah-morningstar-wang-9 @innocent-and-angelic @ajade19 @ziyeriah-png @ghostfox9249 @dailyvahine @shion-genkai @hizashiismydad

So hear me out.

Imagine you are a Mortkranken student who is assigned to take care of the aquarium anomalies with your team. However, since Shion is a merfolk, he also needs his monthly, sometimes weekly, full body checkup. So this huge tank in the laboratory is for him only when he has a checkup scheduled.

The thing is, he is very uncooperative when it comes to having checkups, which gives lots of students and staff a headache. Those who were able to handle his checkups before either quit or got scared almost to death by him.

He is sly and mischievous, saying things others cannot understand. He has tried to drown a couple of students too. So everybody has heard of his reputation and is too afraid to even come near the tank, let alone approach him to do any checkup.

Yuri has a terrible headache because of this issue, as everyone refuses to be assigned to Shion.

And you? A first year student who is just doing your daily tasks. You are supposed to check the temperature and filter system, but as you are near the surface of the tank, you feel something slippery and wet on your skin. Looking down, you see his dark blue hair rising above the water surface as his sharp, clawed, membrane hand grips tightly around your ankle. Everybody seems stunned by his sudden appearance because Shion normally never even comes up when people call for him.

As you freeze in place, you hear Yuri shout from across the room, telling you to stay away from the water.

But it is too late as you grab onto the nearest railing when he suddenly pulls you so violently, as if he is trying to drag you under the water.

You can swim but you are scared, okay? What if he really drowns you? You have heard about the rumors and there is no way you are going to risk your life and let him drag you into the tank. You do not even know where you find the strength to hold onto the railing as you kick him and struggle to break free, but his grip is so tight you almost feel like your bones will twist and crack.

Not until someone turns on the sound wave system to chase him away does he finally let go. You even accidentally kick him in the face while struggling.

After that, you are still stunned by the whole thing. Your heart is beating loudly, your blood runs cold as everybody rushes to see if you are okay.

That was not a pleasant surprise and definitely not a good first impression.

But you only take a few days off before you return after getting some proper rest because, well, you love working in the aquarium section and also... he has not exactly done anything to you yet.

Yeah, let’s hope it stays that way.

・。・。・。

But as you near the surface again, you suddenly feel that wet, slippery, all too familiar sensation. You turn around and look down, once again stunned to meet that glowing pair of yellow eyes.

He gives you an eerily deep grin, his skin pale as water streams down his face. Dark blue strands of hair cling to his porcelain features, and you can almost see his fangs when he smiles like that.

“You came back.”

Everyone seems to panic when they see him, afraid he might try to drown you like last time. Your breath trembles slightly. Even your hands are shaking, and your heart nearly stops beating.

Still, you try to keep calm. You inhale and exhale slowly and deeply. Carefully, you crouch down at the edge, meeting his gaze as you give a small introduction about yourself.

“Hi… Nice to meet you…” 

He seems pleased with that, his tail flicking as it creates a small riptide on the surface.

Ever since that day, Shion has been very cooperative when it comes to body checkups. As long as you are the one performing the tasks, he is always visibly pleased. So even when Yuri is worried, he still assigns the responsibility to you. You take on the task of caring for this merfolk, all the while carrying the constant fear that he might try to drown you.

Yet after spending days with him, he shows no intention of doing so. Instead, he gives you an anklet made from his old scales. He tells you it is from molting season, and that most merfolk give their prettiest scales to their mate as a pledge of love. He admits it is not the most beautiful scale he has. He says he will make another one for you after his next molting season, but if you would prefer to pluck a fresh one from him, that would be fine too.

He even goes as far as showing you his large tail so you can choose the scale you want. You could strip him clean if you wished. He would not stop you.

But you gently ease him down, telling him you like the anklet enough and that he does not need to go that far. You thank him for the small gift. He seems displeased by your refusal, yet still happy that you accepted what he gave.

He is definitely the sly type, always trying to lure you into the water with him whenever he has the chance. You have not fallen for any of his attempts, but still… you cannot deny the temptation. The way he speaks is unique, oddly poetic, gloomy and eerie, yet somehow still beautiful. Haunting, in a way that makes you want to lean closer just to hear more.

And what you notice most about Shion is that he is beautiful. A haunted kind of beauty, the sort you would only find in ancient works of art. Like an old painting, forgotten and gathering dust in an abandoned mansion. Like a statue standing silent in a long forgotten garden. Like jewelry lost with the treasure of a sunken ship.

And those three beauty marks beneath his eyes. They rest there so perfectly, brushing against his velvet, snow-white skin. Like dark pearls, faintly glimmering under the light.

And his velvet dark blue hair, softly grazing the tips of your fingers whenever he nuzzles close to your hand, silently asking to be patted.

And his large hands, with long, slender fingers. Between them stretches a thin membrane, and his claws are sharp and gleaming. It feels as though with just one slight movement, he could draw deep crimson blood from your flesh.

Though he is slightly undernourished due to his diet, you have been adjusting it, and he is getting better now. Even so, he still seems to be in great shape for hunting.

You notice that he likes sweets and dislikes anything bitter, so you try to add a bit of sweetness to his meals. However, he only eats those snacks if you feed him yourself. Otherwise, he never finishes them. He always leaves leftovers behind, which explains why he has been lacking proper nutrition.

He is always teasing you with his myths about merfolk, saying things like if humans receive a kiss from a merfolk, they can breathe underwater. Of course, it is only a myth, because no one has ever been brave enough to test it.

He also claims that instead of tears, he can cry pearls and crystal gems. If you want to see it, he says, you could twist a knife in his heart, and he would shed a fortune’s worth of pearls for you.

He goes on to say that if merfolk do not have a mate, they will die, dissolving into sea foam and never seeing the light again. According to him, one of the ways merfolk reproduce is by transforming humans into one of their own, making them their mates and creating more merfolk.

Their immortality depends on their mate. If their mate dies, they die as well.

It sounds both beautiful and tragic. To live with your mate and die with them, yet to have your entire existence depend on another person.

Shion seems thrilled by the idea. He says he has chosen you to be his mate. He has no regrets and would live and die for you, and you alone.

Is that not hauntingly romantic of him?

How could you refuse a man who bares his soul and heart to you like that?

And knowing Shion, he might even tear his heart out and place it in your hands if that is what you wished. Just say the word, and he would devote himself completely to you, expecting the same in return.

・。・。・。

Somehow, by the time you realize it, the two of you are already together. Still, Shion has a great deal to learn about human relationships. You find his ideas about family and connection strangely intriguing, and more often than not, you do not argue with them.

Because of Shion’s instincts and the fact that he is nothing like the merfolk you have worked with before, things are never simple. His species is unusual and quite rare, so much so that even Darkwick has difficulty classifying him. Sometimes, when you talk with him or check on him, and if he is in a good mood, he might answer one or two of your questions.

“You’re spacing out, Wife.”

His eerie voice suddenly pulls you from your wandering thoughts, and you turn to see him in the water.

His brows are furrowed, clearly displeased that your attention was elsewhere. He flicks his tail, splashing the water in quiet irritation.

Knowing Shion, you always come prepared. Ever since you started working with him, you make sure to wear your swimsuit. You have no intention of leaving the lab soaked like a sewer drenched rat.

You watch as he swims closer. Your legs are already in the water, enjoying the cool and refreshing sensation as you finally voice your thoughts.

“I was just wondering… can you sing, Shion?”

He lets out a soft laugh, there is a hint of mockery in it.

“Yes… but not in the way you think.”

You tilt your head slightly at his answer.

Then suddenly his hands wrap around your ankle. You still flinch every time. You can never quite get used to it, as though at any moment he might drag you down and drown you with him.

“I just recalled what Elias said the other day about your singing voice,” you say, looking down at him as he gently rests his head against your knees.

He nuzzles closer and you feel the slick glide of his skin as his hand reaches up to take yours.

“You want to hear me sing?” he asks, a haunting smile curling on his lips. For a moment, you wonder if you should even say yes.

It feels like willingly stepping into a trap.

“I was just curious if it works the same as a siren.”

Shion suddenly hisses out loud. You startle as his fangs flash right before your eyes.

“Do not compare me to them.”

You fall silent, taken aback by his reaction. After a moment, you gently reach out and pat his head, trying to calm him. He is clearly still upset but your touch softens him somehow. Slowly, he melts into it, resting his head against your knees once more.

You suppose he must have some bad history with sirens.

“…All right then,” you murmur softly. “Would you care to enlighten me a bit?”

Your fingers softly thread through his hair, and you still find yourself amazed by how almost magical it feels. Even when wet, it remains so silky. Sometimes, you cannot help but feel a little jealous. You wonder if it is because he is a merfolk or if his hair is simply that perfect.

“Hm…”

He seems lost in thought for a long moment before finally speaking.

“Our voices can guide those who are lost at sea.”

That piques your interest, and you listen more closely.

“But we can also guide them into the abyss.”

He tilts his head slightly against your lap, turning just enough to meet your gaze. His lips curl into a sly smirk, his eyes narrowing, they’re dark yet faintly glowing under the light.

Your curiosity deepens as you wait for him to continue.

“It depends on what they desire, what greed they carry,” he explains quietly, though his words send a faint shiver down your spine. “And those who have lost their way will never be able to leave the ocean, whether we sing for them or not.”

You look down at him as he lifts his head slightly. Your fingers instinctively follow, your touch grazing softly against his skin. He seems to enjoy it, leaning further into your hand.

“That’s… scary,” you murmur.

He laughs again, a low and rumbling sound mixed with something almost playful. His arms wrap around you, pulling you a little closer as the smile lingers on his lips.

“Yes, it is,” he confirms, humming a soft melody you cannot quite recognize. “But that is on them. We are just predators, hunting our prey.”

You have noticed that before, the way Shion always refers to himself as something carnivorous. You know he still carries those wild, instinctive traits, even after living among humans for so long. You wonder if he ever feels like he does not belong anywhere, or if he simply does not care.

Knowing Shion, it is likely the latter. He never seems bothered when people are afraid of him, when they avoid him or run the moment they see him.

He never tries to fit in either. He simply does what he wants, whenever he feels like it. Sometimes it is dangerous but you have managed so far.

“You’re not like that, Shion,” you say.

His smile fades instantly. His lips press into a thin line as he stares at you with unsettling intensity.

“Really?” he asks, and his voice sounds so low. “Then what exactly am I like?”

You feel the shift in his mood immediately.

With a quiet sigh, you steady yourself and meet his gaze.

It is not that you are trying to convince Shion to change, but rather that you do not want him to see himself as something so burdensome. He may never admit it out loud, but you can sense how he feels. Every time you show him even the smallest bit of affection, he downplays it or brushes it off with a warning, always reminding you of “what he is”

You wonder if he truly sees himself as nothing more than a wild creature.

To you, Shion may not be like other people, but then again, no one is truly the same as anyone else. He has his own quirks and you adore them. Yet every time he reminds you that he is something beyond your ability to understand or handle, it leaves you feeling a little deflated, a little insecure. It feels as though he does not fully believe in your feelings for him, and that stings more than you would like to admit.

When your own boyfriend does not trust you, it is hard not to feel that way.

You cannot claim to understand Shion completely, but you hope that one day you will. More than that, you hope he will allow you to.

“I may not know much,” you admit honestly.

His gaze remains fixed on you, as though his eyes are trying to express what words cannot, like claws digging into your skin, drawing something deeper to the surface.

“But I want to get to know you more. As Shion Genkai, not as a merfolk, not as a ghoul, not as a human, not as an anomaly.”

You keep your words simple, meeting his gaze without hesitation.

Though you do not say it aloud, anticipation builds quietly within you. You wait for his answer, for some kind of acceptance.

“You have plenty of time to.”

When he finally speaks, a soft laugh escapes your lips as his arms tighten around you.

“But… do you really want to?”

There is doubt in his voice.

That is what makes it so difficult to reach him. Shion carries a deep sense of mistrust. Even when he claims to have chosen you as his mate, he still hesitates like this, as though he cannot fully place his faith in you.

Perhaps it is because of how you first met. There was nothing gentle or romantic about it. No good first impression to soften the edges. And yet, Shion has never regretted trying to pull you into the water. In his own way, that was affection, and he never intended to hide it.

You are not sure how to answer him, even though the answer feels obvious.

Instead, you lift your hands and wrap your arms around his neck. His body stiffens at first, startled by your sudden closeness but then he slowly relaxes into it.

His gaze darkens as you draw his face closer. You idly twirl a strand of his soft, dark hair around your fingers before speaking.

“Yes. Yes, I do.”

Your voice drops to a quiet whisper meant only for him.

“So I’ll need your cooperation, Mr. Genkai.”

You tease him lightly but he remains silent, his expression unreadable as he holds you close.

His lips still press into a thin line as his pupils seem to scan and dart across your face, like he is trying to crawl in and dig out any lie from you. He seems unconvinced by your words, and you already know that.

It is such a difficult and challenging process to earn his trust, and by now you are just that used to it.

And you can somehow understand all his mischievous antics before, when he messed with other staff and chased them away. It is likely because he does not trust them.

The water on his skin brushes against your fingertips as you gently caress the side of his face, drawing his attention back from whatever dark, consuming thoughts he was having.

“Shouldn't you trust your mate, Shion?” you ask, as his yellow eyes flicker slightly toward your face. “Like how I trust you.”

His grip grows a bit tighter at your words. He leans a little closer as water drifts from the tip of his nose.

“If I did not trust you,” he speaks quietly, “you would be at the bottom of this tank now.”

You let out a loud laugh at his answer. Yes, that is just a very Shion way of expressing himself. Threatening. Most people would freak out at that, but you trust him enough. He will not harm you. Though pulling you into the water is still something he would likely do. He cannot help it.

You press your lips softly against the side of his face. His skin is cold and smooth, the dampness coming into contact with your own as he seems startled by your affection.

But unlike before, he does not pull away this time. His gaze lowers to look at your face more closely. He is awfully quiet today as you look back into his eyes.

“What is it?” you ask softly as he leans in closer to you, his nose gently nuzzling against yours. You feel his breath graze your skin.

“I still want to drown you with me...”

That almost makes you choke. He always knows what to say to ruin the mood. But it is actually his way of showing affection, so you have learned to get used to it anyway.

He leaves you a bit speechless as his head tilts slightly, his nose nuzzling against the side of your face. His warm breath lingers around you, and the closeness makes you imagine that both of you can hear each other’s heartbeat.

His breath invades your space as you feel his body press even closer. The moment you close your eyes, you feel his soft, cold lips press against yours.

Shion’s kisses always seem a bit clumsy, as he is not used to this kind of affection, but he always kisses you with everything he has. Even when it is subtle, you can still feel his desire as his breath mingles with yours. You enjoy soft kisses with him, though Shion rarely kisses gently.

Maybe the way he kisses is just as odd as the way he shows his affection to you.

His tongue drapes over your lower lip, licking you slowly as his eyes open slightly. His pupils seem to glow during the kiss as you feel his fangs graze your lip. He bites your lower lip very softly, as if he is afraid he might tear it. And to be honest, he has before.

Your first kiss was not as soft as this. Back then, Shion was still not familiar with closeness. When he kissed you, it almost felt like he was trying to devour you, his fangs sharp as they drew a bit of crimson blood from the corner of your lip. Even then, he did not stop, flicking his tongue across the blood. He seemed to enjoy the taste and how you squirmed and groaned softly when he hurt you.

But he has learned a thing or two about being gentle. He knows humans are fragile, which is inconvenient sometimes. Still, at least he is trying to learn and understand, being careful not to hurt you now.

Your hand rests at the back of his neck, his soft strands mingling between your fingers, making his kiss grow deeper with each sensation, each small touch you give him.

It somehow satisfies him, yet at the same time, it makes the void within him yearn for more.

His hand reaches to the back of your head as his other arm tightly holds you against him, almost as if he wants to melt you and mold you into himself. As if one more second of your kiss would make him sink his fangs deeply into your flesh and tear you apart completely.

As you slowly catch up with the rhythm he is building, you begin to reciprocate his kiss with the same affection. You bite his lower lip softly, grazing your tongue against his upper lip, and it seems to trigger something in Shion.

You feel his grip loosen around you, as if he is leaning away. That makes you frown slightly. Why is he pulling away?

You do not think much of it. You are just like him, lost in his closeness, and you do not like it when his presence no longer radiates against you. Wrapping your arms around his neck, you shift your body closer, chasing after his lips.

You can almost hear a small chuckle from Shion as his arms hover around you.

And by the time you realize it, your body is draped over him, clinging to him. You open your eyes, seeing the state you are in. Subtly, you plan to shift back to your position, but suddenly Shion’s hands grip you tightly.

It is so sudden that you turn your face slightly to look at him, and in that moment, something flashes beneath his glowing eyes. It darkens and dangerous. Before you can even react, he pulls you with him straight into the cold water.

Your arms remain around him as panic surges through you, fear of drowning tightening your chest. But his arms wrap so tightly around your body, refusing to let you go, as if he is determined to pull you deep into the depths with him. He looks slender, yet his grip is incredibly strong, leaving you unable to move at all.

You feel the slippery sensation of his tail against your skin as you struggle to pull away. But Shion does not let go. He seems… at peace, completely unafraid that you might drown.

You hit his chest, and he only lets out a small smirk beneath the water.

“Breathe.”

You read it from his lips, since sound cannot travel properly like this underwater.

He seems so relaxed and unfazed, while you are panicking. Before entering the water, you had already held your breath.

But now, seeing him say that, your mind almost freezes. Can you really breathe underwater?

If you listen to him now, would you die? And if you do not… would he really drown you?

You are not sure.

But earlier, you told him that you trust him. And you do not want to go against your own words, no matter the circumstances.

So even with your life at risk, you finally open your mouth slowly, inhaling through your nose.

But to your surprise, you do not feel the suffocating sensation you expected. There is no feeling of water filling your lungs, at least none that you can notice.

You are even able to exhale normally, small bubbles escaping as you breathe out.

And Shion, the grin on his lips only grows wider, stretching into a mischievous smile. He speaks again, and you read his lips.

“Told you.”

You finally relax when you realize you can breathe normally, but… how?

Was the merfolk kiss really a thing?

You look at Shion in confusion, and he simply continues to smile. His arms are still around you, but his grip has loosened now. You could break free at any moment and swim back to the surface, but you do not.

Instead, you slowly relax in his embrace. Shion shifts slightly, taking your hand as he adjusts his position, letting you face him as your body floats beneath the water.

You notice his tail brushing against your legs as your gaze drifts downward, surprised by how large it is.

Yes, you know that a merfolk’s water form is large, but… his tail is somehow massive. You recall all the times he whipped his tail hard enough to create a riptide. He must have been holding back, because with this… he could easily send someone to their death with a single strike.

He notices your attention wandering again. His hand gently cups your face, guiding your gaze back to his. Underwater, his eyes glow more clearly. You were not imagining it. They truly are glowing.

He draws you closer to him, his tail sweeping through the water as it curls forward, pulling you along with him. He seems to enjoy it as he drapes your arms over his shoulders once more.

His hand slides down to your hip, holding you close. Without warning, he leans in and kisses you again.

Underwater, the sensation feels strange. It is not quite the same kind of wetness you are used to. Somehow, his breath still feels warm as he kisses you deeply. Your arms wrap around his neck as you close your eyes, letting yourself drift under his touch.

You feel his tongue slide out, parting your lips as he gently opens your mouth, finding your tongue as they intertwine. Your arms tighten around him as you lean further into the kiss. But every time it feels like you might take control, Shion leans in deeper, effortlessly turning the balance back in his favor.

You feel his soft strands floating in the water, brushing against your skin.

And as if you have accepted your fate, to sink deeper and deeper into the ocean with him, you let Shion kiss you like that.

Because really, how could you win against a merfolk underwater?

Even if you did not realize it at first, you had long since been charmed by him. And by the time you understood, he had already lured you into the depths of the ocean with him.

🌸—————————————————🌸

“Don’t go.”

You don’t say it like a demand.

You say it quietly, almost embarrassed. Like you don’t want to sound clingy.

Haku leans back against the wall, hands in his pockets, smiling that easy smile.

“Princess,” he sighs lightly, “it’s just a party.”

“It’s a Darkwick party.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“It’s not.”

You both know it’s not.

Darkwick parties mean alcohol. Loose boundaries. Too many people who pretend they’re not watching you.

And Haku—

Haku has that smile.

That devilish charm Zenji teases him about.

People gravitate toward him without trying.

“I don’t like it,” you admit.

He steps closer, tilting his head slightly.

“You don’t trust me?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It sounds like what you meant.”

Your chest tightens.

“I just… I don’t want something stupid to happen.”

He chuckles softly and flicks your forehead.

“You worry too much, Princess.”

“I’m serious.”

He studies you for a second. The teasing fades just a little.

“…You really don’t want me to go?”

“No.”

There it is.

Simple. Honest.

He exhales.

“I’ll be fine,” he says instead.

And that’s when you know.

He’s already decided.

He tells you he’s staying in that night.

Says he’s tired.

Says Zenji’s editing is killing him.

You believe him.

You go to bed early.

And somewhere across campus, music shakes the windows of Darkwick.

Haku stands in the middle of it all, drink in hand.

He didn’t mean to drink that much.

He didn’t mean to let someone refill his glass.

He didn’t mean to laugh that close to her ear.

Didn’t mean to let her touch his arm.

Didn’t mean to follow her upstairs.

He tells himself that later.

He didn’t mean to.

—

You find out two days later.

Not from him.

From whispers.

From someone who looks at you with that pitying expression.

From the way the girl avoids your eyes in the hallway.

You confront him in his room.

He opens the door, blinking in surprise.

“Princess?”

“Did you go to the party?”

Silence.

A beat too long.

“…Who told you?”

Your heart cracks.

“So you did.”

He runs a hand through his hair.

“It wasn’t—”

“Did you sleep with her?”

Another pause.

That’s all the answer you need.

Your throat tightens.

“I was drunk,” he says quickly. “I didn’t think—”

“I asked you not to go.”

“I know.”

“You lied.”

“I didn’t want you upset.”

You stare at him.

“You didn’t want me upset,” you repeat slowly, “so you did the one thing that would absolutely destroy me?”

His jaw tightens.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“But it did.”

“I wasn’t in my right mind.”

“You were sober enough to go behind my back.”

He flinches.

“I thought you were overreacting,” he admits quietly. “It was just a party.”

“And I told you I was uncomfortable.”

“I didn’t think it would matter.”

The honesty is worse than denial.

You feel something shift inside you.

“You didn’t think it would matter,” you whisper.

“Princess—”

“No.”

You step back before he can reach for you.

“I trusted you.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“But you did.”

He moves closer anyway, voice softer now.

“It was a mistake. Just one mistake.”

“One mistake is all it takes.”

His expression changes slightly. Less defensive. More desperate.

“You’re really going to end it over this?”

“You cheated on me.”

“I was drunk.”

“You chose to drink.”

His eyes darken faintly.

“You’re not perfect either.”

You blink.

“What?”

“You get jealous. You overthink. You don’t trust me.”

“That doesn’t justify—”

“I’m just saying it’s not all on me.”

There it is.

The shift.

The devilish charm twisting into something sharper.

You feel cold.

“I asked you for one thing,” you say quietly. “One boundary.”

He looks away.

“…I didn’t think you’d actually leave.”

That hurts more than anything.

“You thought I’d just forgive you.”

He doesn’t answer.

Because he did.

You swallow hard.

“I’m not your ‘Princess’ anymore.”

The words are steadier than you feel.

He reaches for your wrist.

“Don’t say that.”

“You don’t get to call me that.”

His grip tightens slightly.

“It didn’t mean anything.”

“It meant enough.”

“It was just physical.”

“And I was just supposed to accept that?”

“I came back to you.”

“You shouldn’t have left in the first place.”

Silence stretches between you.

For a moment, he looks like he might apologize properly.

Like he might break.

But instead he exhales slowly.

“…You’re overreacting.”

And that’s when it ends.

Not because he cheated.

But because he refuses to understand why it broke you.

You gently pull your wrist free.

“If you ever actually cared about me,” you say quietly, “you wouldn’t have risked me for one night.”

You walk away before he can respond.

—

The first few days, he tells himself it’s temporary.

You just need space.

You’ll cool off.

You’ll miss him.

He’s charming. He’s good at fixing things. He always has been.

But when you stop answering his messages—

When you avoid eye contact in the halls—

When you laugh at something Subaru says and don’t even glance at him—

Something ugly starts clawing at his chest.

He doesn’t know what to do with it.

So he drinks.

Just a little, at first.

To take the edge off.

To quiet the replay in his head:

I told you not to go.

You promised.

You didn’t choose me.

He hates that line the most.

Because he knows it’s true.

He chose a party.

He chose his pride.

He chose to ignore you.

And now you’ve chosen to leave.

The next time there’s a gathering at Darkwick, he goes without thinking.

Someone hands him a bottle.

He doesn’t hesitate.

It burns going down.

He welcomes it.

Because for a few minutes, it drowns out the image of you standing at his door, eyes steady and disappointed.

Suabru finds him later, half-laughing at something that isn’t funny.

“You’re overdoing it,” Subaru mutters.

Haku just grins lazily.

“Relax. I’m fine.”

He’s not.

He drinks again the next night.

And the next.

Not to party.

Not to flirt.

Not to impress anyone.

Just to feel less.

Because the quiet of his room without you is worse.

Because he keeps reaching for his phone.

Because he still types “Princess” before remembering he doesn’t get to call you that anymore.

He tells himself he’ll stop soon.

Just until it hurts less.

Just until he figures out how to fix it.

But deep down—

He knows some things don’t get fixed.

Some promises only break once.

~~~~

Tag list: @genevathekitty @sh0jun @elfes-materia @edwardhartenjoyer @glamorousspoon @cleverthylacine @ox-ren-xo @bao-yu-sarah-morningstar-wang-9 @innocent-and-angelic

⛓️—————————————————⛓️

You come back to your dorm late after studying, exhausted and ready to collapse, and there’s a small paper bag sitting outside your door.

No note.

No name.

Just a warm container inside.

You open it slowly.

Takoyaki.

Still warm.

Your stomach twists immediately.

Sho’s takoyaki is unmistakable. No one else on campus gets the batter quite that crispy on the outside.

You stare at it for a long moment.

“…No way.”

You glance down the empty hallway.

No one’s there.

So you take the bag inside anyway.

You shouldn’t eat it.

You broke up.

Accepting food from your ex feels like some kind of emotional loophole.

But it smells really good.

“…Just this once,” you mutter.

The second time happens three days later.

This time it’s outside your door when you get back from class.

A different container.

Sweet potato fries.

Your favorite.

You stare at it suspiciously.

“…Okay.”

You open the door quickly, peeking into the hallway like someone might be hiding.

Nothing.

Just the quiet dorm corridor.

You pick up the container.

Still warm again.

Your chest tightens.

By the fourth time, it’s impossible to pretend it’s random.

Sometimes it’s snacks.

Sometimes a full meal.

Once it’s a drink with your exact order written on the cup.

No notes.

No messages.

Just food.

You sit on your bed that night staring at the container in your hands.

“…Sho.”

Your chest aches.

Because this feels like him.

Not dramatic apologies.

Not long explanations.

Just… showing up in the only way he knows how.

Still.

You don’t go to the truck.

You don’t text him.

If he wants to say something, he can say it.

Another week passes.

Another bag appears.

This time you’re ready.

You come back earlier than usual.

And when you turn the corner toward your dorm—

You see him.

Sho Haizono.

Standing awkwardly outside your door with a small paper bag in his hand.

Your heart jumps.

He hasn’t noticed you yet.

He’s staring at the floor, scratching the back of his neck like he does when he’s uncomfortable.

“…Seriously?” he mutters to himself.

You lean against the wall.

“Deliveries now?”

Sho nearly jumps out of his skin.

He spins around.

“…MC?!”

You raise an eyebrow.

“Caught red-handed.”

He freezes.

Then quickly hides the bag behind his back like that’ll somehow fix the situation.

“…This isn’t what it looks like.”

“Really.”

“…Yeah.”

You cross your arms.

“Because it looks like you’ve been secretly feeding me for two weeks.”

Sho’s face turns slightly red.

“I wasn’t feeding you.”

“Then what were you doing?”

“…Dropping off food.”

“That sounds like feeding.”

He groans.

“Senpai.”

You step closer.

“Why?”

Sho shifts awkwardly.

“…You looked like you weren’t eating enough. You skip meals when you’re stressed.”

“You’ve been watching me?”

“…Not in a creepy way.”

You stare at him.

Sho sighs.

“…Okay, maybe a little.”

Your chest tightens.

“So all the snacks…”

“Were mine.”

“Why didn’t you just talk to me?”

Sho rubs the back of his neck again.

“…Didn’t think you’d want to.”

You go quiet.

He glances at you cautiously.

“…You were pretty clear about being done.”

“You told me I could leave.”

“…Yeah.”

“And you didn’t stop me.”

That lands.

Sho looks down.

“…I know.”

The hallway falls silent.

You look at the bag still hidden behind his back.

“What’s in that one?”

“…Fried rice.”

“My favorite one?”

“…Yeah.”

You sigh.

“Sho.”

“…Yeah?”

“You’re terrible at apologizing.”

He grimaces slightly.

“Yeah.”

“Is that what this was?”

“…Kind of.”

He hesitates.

Then slowly holds the bag out toward you.

“I messed up.”

You don’t take it yet.

Sho exhales.

“I thought working hard was enough.”

“You do work hard.”

“I know. But I treated everything else like it had to fit around that.”

Your chest tightens slightly.

“And you didn’t want to feel like scraps of time.”

You nod slowly.

“That’s exactly what it felt like.”

Sho looks frustrated with himself.

“I didn’t realize how bad it was until you stopped showing up.”

Your heart aches.

“The truck felt weird without you standing there.”

He glances away.

“…And the food tasted off.”

You blink.

“Food tasted off?”

“Yeah.”

“Sho, that’s not romantic.”

“I’m being honest.”

Despite everything, a small laugh escapes you.

Sho relaxes slightly at the sound.

“…I should’ve said something before you left.”

“You should have.”

“But I’m saying it now.”

You finally take the bag from him.

The warmth seeps into your hands.

“…So say it.”

Sho looks at you.

Really looks at you.

And for once he doesn’t try to brush the moment away.

“I’m sorry, MC.”

Your throat tightens.

“I got so focused on building something that I forgot the person who believed in it from the start.”

You blink quickly.

“And yeah,” he continues, voice rougher now, “the truck matters to me. My work matters.”

“I know.”

“But you matter more.”

The words hang in the air.

Sho scratches his cheek awkwardly.

“…Took me way too long to realize that.”

You swallow.

“Then why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

He shrugs slightly.

“…Didn’t know if you’d listen.”

“And now?”

“…I’m hoping.”

Your heart pounds.

Sho hesitates before continuing.

“You said something before you left.”

You already know what he means.

“About someday being everything to somebody else.”

You nod slightly.

Sho shakes his head.

“…You’ve got that backwards.”

You blink.

“What?”

He rubs the back of his neck again, embarrassed.

“…You’re already everything to me.”

The words are simple.

Plain.

But they hit harder because of it.

You stare at him.

“…Sho.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re still bad at timing.”

“I know.”

“But you’re trying.”

“…Yeah.”

The hallway falls quiet again.

Sho shifts slightly.

“…So.”

“So?”

“…You gonna reject my food or what?”

You laugh softly.

Then step closer.

“…You’re unbelievable.”

“Been told that.”

You reach up and grab the front of his jacket.

Sho blinks.

“Senpai—”

You kiss him.

He freezes for half a second.

Then immediately pulls you closer, kissing you back like he’s been waiting weeks to do it again.

When you pull away, he looks stunned.

“…Okay.”

You smile slightly.

“Okay.”

Sho exhales in relief.

“…Good.”

Then after a beat:

“…Does this mean you’ll come by the truck again?”

“Only if you stop treating me like unpaid staff.”

“Hey, you were a great assistant.”

“I’m serious.”

“…Yeah, yeah.”

He gently nudges your shoulder.

“C’mon.”

“Where?”

“Truck’s closing soon.”

“And?”

Sho smirks slightly.

“I owe my girlfriend dinner.”

Your heart skips.

You raise an eyebrow.

“Girlfriend already?”

“Unless you changed your mind.”

You shake your head, smiling.

“…No.”

Sho relaxes completely for the first time.

“Good.”

Then he bumps your shoulder again.

“Let’s go, Senpai.”

And this time—

When you walk beside him toward the truck—

He doesn’t make you feel like an afterthought.

~~~~

We got another glimpse of Edward's mind on humans and anomalies relationship during Obscuary's second mission.

Tea With A Twist Of Murder - Chapter 19-20

Edward tried to entice MC with another solution to her curse. If she's going to become an anomaly anyway, why not choose to become a vampire instead of the Kyklos? At least this way, she'd still retain her sanity. She'd be a more "human-like" anomaly and she can be with Edward forever一death will not be looming on the corner of her eyes, threatening her safety.

But that's not what MC wants. MC wants to stay human. Her desire to remain human is so strong that it broke Edward's trance, much to his surprise. This is where we witness a very rare emotion coming out of him: contempt.

Edward couldn't even hide his disdain for MC's action. Why retaliate when her sorry fate can be fixed with just a little of his blood? Why deliberately picks the harder choice when there's something easier? Why choose to helplessly struggle when you're so easy to break? Edward couldn't understand MC's logic and it vexed him一so much that MC felt genuine fear of him, remembering that Edward Hart is very much a murder suspect.

But is that really all? Or could Edward be projecting someone else into MC...?

First, I shall show you what Edward's max affection voiceline is like: Being with you brings up old, old memories... Perhaps it's because you remind me a little of her.

We were left in the dark on who this "her" is to Edward until we found out at the very end of Season 1: it's about a woman named Narcissa一and apparently she was the one who "taught" Edward about the betrayals of human.

Our Last Goodbye Act II - Chapter 30

Now, I'm sure a lot of people are already familiar with the myth of Narcissus but I shall reiterate.

In Greek mythology, Narcissus is a hunter known for his beauty. He fell in love with his own reflection but eventually realized that his love could not be reciprocated and he melted away from the fire of passion burning inside him, eventually turning into a gold and white flower.

一 Taken from Wikipedia

There is also a version where it said that Narcissus were cursed to never be able to be loved by the one he fell in love with.

In hanakotoba, other than "conceit" and "narcissism" (duh), the Narcissus flower A.K.A. the daffodils can also be used to convey these feelings: "Come back home to me", "Love me once more", and "Return my love".

The Haunted Host Club - Chapter 31

In the newest chapter we got more hints on what I suppose happened between Edward and Narcissa.

So Narcissa were a mortal and very heavily implied to be Edward's lover. She vowed her eternal love to Edward but something happened that made her prioritize someone/something she cared about other than Edward and thus, she sacrificed their relationship. Edward viewed this act as a betrayal and now he's conviced a congenial relationship between humans and anomalies isn't meant to be.

Now let's backtrack a little.

Waves of Love - Chapter 33

This was the lines Edward used to convice MC to pick him. Edward can offer MC an eternal love but here's the catch: it's not unconditional. MC must swear her eternal love for Edward too一that is by agreeing to become a vampire so she can live alongside him. Refusing that condition will be seen as an act of betrayal.

A bit off tangent... Around more than a year ago, I saw this person I follow on Twitter dubbing Edward as one of Tokyo Debunker's top 重い男... it's a bit hard to explain the nuance in English but basically: if someone is being 重い (lit. heavy, but in this context we're talking about something more abstract rather than actual physical weight), it means they're the kind of person who loves so deeply and obsessively, their feelings of love became burdensome to the object of their affection. Sometimes their love can even "crush" their significant other.

Back then I didn't really get what they mean as I don't really understand Edward (I still don't, ngl) but now I can kind of see it. If Edward can't love someone unless they promise him their eternal love, that'd be quite burdensome, huh...? ^^"a

While we're on the topic of non-human ghouls who love obsessively, isn't there someone else that came to your mind? That's right: Shion Genkai.

On my post last month, I talked about how I suspected what Shion being obsessed about is the concept of "family" itself rather than the individuals involved.

Shion is obsessed with Mio and MC whom he claimed as his little brother and wife, respectively. He used to think of Haru as his family too but he "diswoned" Haru after the Yakushima incident一dubbing him a traitor.

While on slightly different vectors, there's an obvious parallel between the Edward-Narcissa and Shion-Haru dynamics. Both are a close-bonded relationship between an anomaly and a human which ended up failing due to a perceived "betrayal" by the human party.

"But wait!" you interrupted. "Isn't Haru a ghoul? That'd make him an anomaly!" Well... yes and no.

Haru, or just ghouls in general, are technically classified as anomalies by the Institute but to Edward, they're still fundamentally human.

Our Last Goodbye Act II - Chapter 3

Here Edward is telling Towa that no matter what Towa said, Haru is ultimately still human. And his fate is to leave Towa some day. While we have no way to confirm if Edward knows about Shion and Haru's fallout, considering this vampire seems to always know whatever is up when it comes to anomalies... I wouldn't put it past him. Haru have "betrayed" Shion. What makes you think he won't "betray" you too, Towa?

Towa is another non-human ghoul who loves obsessively. He has a very idealistic view of love, he wants to believe about fates written by the stars, and he absolutely loathe separation.

Personally, while I can see Towa loving both Haru and MC in abundance, it's still... hard for me to determine whether Towa genuinely feels "love" towards them or if he's just obsessed with the idea of love itself. The way I see it, Towa may very much just decide that whatever he feels towards Haru and MC is what "love" is supposed to be.

Out of the four non-human ghouls we know, only Lyca seems to love so selflessly. He wants to cerish and treasure everyone important in his life. Family, friends, and coworkers are all equally important to Lyca. Edward have told him multiple times that his sentiment is flawed and pretty much just a sweet dream that won't come true. Too bad Edward was being too cryptic about what he wanted to convey to Lyca so he has a very hard time trying to understand it. Fortunately for Lyca though, Leo is there to deliver the cold, hard fact just as is.

The Haunted Host Club - Chapter 4

Even if you ideally wanted to cerish every single person in your life, it's not realistic. Regular human isn't built for that. They can only handle a handful and even if they try to bite more than they can chew, the one who will have to pay the price later is themself.

This is Edward's full awakening voiceline: Sometimes a youthful folly can lead one into committing grave sins. So I hope that you keep this in mind一remain modest and cautious.

Whenever Edward comments on Towa and Lyca's naivety of wanting to live alongside humans, he always attribute it to them being young. Is it a judgement based on personal experience? Is his relationship with Narcissa happened when Edward considers himself young and immature? And now that he have experienced being betrayed by a human he's so fond of, he view himself as much more mature? For now, only he knows the truth and I'm just here to speculate.

While we're on the topic of Lyca let's examine the barometz case once again!

The Little Fugitive - Chapter 40

According to Edward the barometz only attacked and devoured the girl because it likes her and wanted to keep her close. What about it, you asked?

Well, at the beginning we were made to believe that Lyca didn't murder anyone and that the Institute is just being scummy as usual. But then we found out Lyca's alleged victim is Neros一someone very important to Lyca.

Now, I really wish that isn't the case but let's entertain the thought a bit.

Neros' body is said to be missing and it was suspected that Lyca ate it. What if Lyca really did kill and devoured Neros and then his memory of the event got lost due to trauma?

Some scenarios I can came up with: ① Neros deemed Lyca to be old enough so he wants him to be independent. Neros told Lyca he's leaving, Lyca reacted badly. Frenzied, Lyca turned into his wolf form and一in his desperate attempt to keep Neros with him一devoured him. This will go inline with the theme of a human betraying their anomalous companion. ② Neros is terribly sick and only have little time to live. Lyca can't stand seeing him suffering and he unconsciously transformed into his wolf form to both ended Neros' misery and keep him safe "inside" him. ③ etc...

I know this may sounds like a reach but the only time we got to see half-transformed wolf Lyca in an episode and it's particularly about an anomaly who devoured the human it is fond of as a sign of affection... Maybe it's worth considering, after all...?

We're almost coming to a close but first! Let me bring up Shion's max affection voiceline: Do you want to be with me forever, MC? Then how about a bite of this flesh? Ha ha ha…

Assuming what Shion trying to feed MC is mermaid flesh, all non-human ghouls have expressed their wish/offered to live forever with their human companion(s). Edward with Narcissa in the past and MC in present time; Shion with his little family members; Towa with Haru and MC; Lyca with Neros.

The Haunted Host Club - Chapter 22

The suspiciously Edward-shaped shadowy dark figure of our nightmare told MC that the past is a mirror to the future and she interpreted it that her past knowledge may become useful in the future/something in the past might happen again. Basically history will repeat itself.

....... But that can't be the only interpretation, right?! (sweats) It's not like there'll be another world-shattering apocalyptic event, right? !RIGHT?! (laughs)

PHEW! That was so damn long, huh? If you read all the way down here: thank you for your time! There's so much layers to these non-human ghouls; I can't wait to see what's under all that.