'Seeing ex!Yuu and now they're both just strangers who happen to know a little bit too much of eachother'
Characters include : Riddle Rosehearts, Leona Kingscholar, Azul Ashengrotto, Kalim Al-Asim.
Heartslabyul's annual tea exhibition had attracted students from nearly every dorm.
The gardens were crowded with laughter, polished silverware, and the pleasant fragrance of fresh roses mixed with Earl Grey.
Riddle was halfway through correcting Cater's posture while pouring tea when he noticed someone step through the gates.
His words died in his throat.
The sight of you should not have affected him anymore.
At least...that's what he kept telling himself.
You hadn't noticed him yet. You were speaking to Trey with the same polite smile you offered everyone nowadays. Calm. Composed.
Not because you'd changed.
Because you no longer smiled differently for him.
Trey noticed where Riddle had gone quiet.
His voice barely left his lips.
Eventually your eyes wandered over.
For one impossible second, everything seemed to stop.
The conversations around you blurred.
The clinking teacups faded into nothing.
There was only the two of you standing across an ocean of people.
"...Housewarden Rosehearts."
Not that soft, affectionate "Rid" you used to tease him with whenever he became too serious.
The title was respectful.
It built a wall between the two of you.
"I hope Heartslabyul has been doing well."
It wasn't uncomfortable because neither of you disliked the other.
It was uncomfortable because there had once been a time where silence between you had never existed.
The two of you had always found something to say.
Even if it was meaningless.
Even if it was simply discussing what desserts to bake together later.
Ace wandered over carrying an entire plate stacked dangerously high with pastries.
"You guys know each other?"
Your answer arrived at exactly the same time.
Because explaining it aloud somehow felt impossible.
How could you summarize years of shared mornings?
Holding hands beneath tables so no one would notice.
The countless tiny habits that had become second nature.
How could you explain that someone who once knew every inch of your heart had become someone you now greeted with formal titles?
Conversation drifted elsewhere.
Eventually you excused yourself.
"It was nice seeing you again."
Riddle watched until the crowd swallowed you completely.
Only after you disappeared did he notice something sitting untouched beside the tea set.
Exactly the way you always drank your tea.
His fingers tightened around the handle of the teapot.
How long you preferred your tea steeped.
How you always blew on the first sip twice despite it never being hot enough to warrant it.
The way you'd wrinkle your nose whenever the tea became too bitter.
He no longer had the right to make you another cup.
That realization hurt far more than he'd expected.
The botanical gardens were quiet during the afternoon.
Exactly how Leona liked them.
Far away from noisy first-years.
Far away from responsibilities.
He stretched beneath the familiar shade of an old tree, lazily closing one eye as warm sunlight filtered through the branches overhead.
His ears twitched before his eyes opened.
You stood several feet away holding a stack of books against your chest.
Not because either of you didn't know what to say.
Because there were simply...
Your lips curved into a faint smile.
The tree suddenly felt much smaller.
You would've dropped those books and thrown yourself beside him.
Complaining about classes.
Stealing his hoodie because yours wasn't warm enough.
Resting your head against his shoulder until both of you inevitably fell asleep.
Now you remained standing.
Keeping a comfortable distance.
As though crossing it would somehow be inappropriate.
You finally replaced the worn pair he'd bought you after your old ones fell apart.
He remembered the exact day.
You'd insisted they were still usable despite holes forming near the soles.
He'd dragged you into town anyway.
Bought the shoes without asking.
You'd worn them until they practically disintegrated.
Someone else had probably noticed they needed replacing.
The thought irritated him more than it should have.
"...Still reading those mystery novels?"
You looked mildly surprised.
The words escaped before he could stop them.
Because that sentence belonged to people who still knew each other.
"...I should head to class."
Leona leaned back against the tree.
For just one brief, embarrassing second...
He almost called your name.
Almost asked if you'd eaten.
Almost asked whether you were still getting headaches whenever you skipped breakfast.
Because someone else's concern would reach you now.
That was simply how life worked after love ended.
The lunchtime rush at the Mostro Lounge had finally begun to settle.
The orchestra in the corner played softly, the clinking of porcelain cups blending with low conversations that filled the elegant restaurant. Jade was busy recommending desserts to a table of third-years while Floyd lazily wandered between booths, somehow both working and avoiding work at the same time.
Azul was behind the counter, reorganizing receipts more for the sake of keeping his hands occupied than because they actually needed organizing.
Business had been good lately.
His grades were excellent.
Everything was exactly where it should have been.
The bell above the entrance chimed.
"Welcome to the Mostro Lounge."
The greeting came automatically before Azul even looked up.
For a split second, the polished smile he'd perfected over years of customer service cracked.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
Enough for Jade to notice.
Enough for Floyd to notice.
Enough for Azul himself to feel it.
You hadn't changed very much.
Maybe your hair was a little longer.
Maybe you carried yourself differently.
You looked around the restaurant before your eyes landed on him.
Recognition flickered across your face almost instantly.
The kind reserved for seeing someone you hadn't spoken to in a long time.
"...Housewarden Ashengrotto."
Your voice carried the same courtesy you might've used for a professor.
Not the genuine kind, anyway.
The silence stretched just a little too long.
Then you stepped up to the counter.
"I'd like to order lunch."
His hands moved automatically toward his order pad.
"What can I get for you?"
The same menu you'd practically memorized months ago.
"I'll have the seafood pasta..."
Your eyes scanned the drinks.
The words left his mouth before he could stop them.
A small laugh escaped you.
Jade looked over his shoulder.
Azul shot him a look sharp enough to silence anyone else.
Unfortunately, Jade wasn't anyone else.
"You seem surprised, Azul."
"I simply have an excellent memory."
Floyd wandered over, resting his elbows on the counter.
"Ehh? But Shrimpy hasn't ordered here in forever."
The nickname lingered awkwardly in the air.
Because hearing Floyd call you "Shrimpy" felt strangely...foreign now.
Once, you'd rolled your eyes every time he used it.
Now it sounded like someone referring to an old photograph.
"I'll have your order prepared immediately."
You stepped aside while waiting.
Neither of you spoke again.
Not because there was nothing to say.
But because there was too much.
Azul remembered every visit you'd ever made to the Lounge.
He remembered how you'd always sit in the booth closest to the aquarium because watching the fish helped you unwind after difficult classes.
You always stirred your iced coffee exactly seven times before taking the first sip.
You hated whipped cream because it made drinks "feel too heavy."
Whenever you were stressed, you'd peel the paper wrapper off your straw into tiny strips without even realizing you were doing it.
You always left exactly three fries until the very end of your meal.
Trifles. Your trifles. And without realizing it had also became his.
The sort of details only someone deeply in love would've noticed.
He personally carried the tray over.
"I happened to be nearby."
He had specifically taken it himself.
Your fingers brushed his as you accepted the drink.
Both of you instinctively pulled away.
You looked down at the glass.
There was no whipped cream.
Exactly the amount of coffee syrup you preferred.
You hadn't requested any of that.
Azul adjusted his gloves.
"...I remember many things."
Your expression softened.
Because of course you knew.
You knew how frighteningly observant he was.
Just as he knew you'd never point out that he'd tied his necktie slightly crooked whenever he was distracted.
You would've fixed it before.
Occasionally your eyes met across the restaurant.
When the bill arrived, you reached for your wallet.
Azul quietly pushed it back toward you.
"You were a loyal customer."
"You never gave loyal customers free meals."
His voice was barely audible.
"It was nice seeing you again."
You walked toward the entrance.
Just before opening the door, you paused.
Without turning around, you spoke softly.
Azul looked down instinctively.
Just like you always used to.
Azul slowly adjusted the tie.
He stared at the glass you'd used long after Jade had already cleared it away.
Jade's voice was unusually gentle.
Azul let out a quiet laugh that sounded nothing like amusement.
His reflection shimmered faintly in the aquarium beside him.
"...I remembered everything."
Scarabia was louder than usual.
Music echoed through the dorm as students hurried around decorating the courtyard for another one of Kalim's spontaneous celebrations.
Colorful banners fluttered overhead.
Someone was already dancing despite the party not officially starting for another hour.
Kalim laughed as he carried an absurdly large platter of sweets through the crowd.
"Make sure everyone gets some!"
"There's enough for seconds!"
Jamil pinched the bridge of his nose.
"There are only forty guests."
"Then everyone gets a lot!"
The courtyard erupted into laughter.
This was his favorite part.
Seeing everyone together.
Then, through the crowd...
The smile remained on his face.
You looked up from where you'd been helping another student arrange decorations.
Your expression brightened politely.
Not that delighted voice that used to call his name from halfway across campus.
"I've been doing alright."
You and Kalim had never been quiet around each other.
You used to fill entire afternoons talking about absolutely nothing.
Ridiculous ideas for parties.
You once spent nearly an hour arguing over whether camels secretly enjoyed music.
Neither of you seemed to know where to begin.
Kalim rubbed the back of his neck.
"...You're helping decorate?"
"...I like your earrings."
You instinctively reached up to touch them.
"You always said gold made your ears itch."
"I remember because I kept accidentally buying gold jewelry."
You couldn't help smiling.
"And every single time you'd smile and say, 'They're beautiful, but I physically can't wear them.'"
A small laugh escaped both of you.
Kalim looked around awkwardly.
There were dozens of people nearby.
Yet somehow the space between you felt impossibly empty.
He noticed your drink sitting on a nearby table.
Exactly the way you'd always liked it.
Without thinking, he picked it up before someone else could accidentally take it.
He still knew which foods you avoided because of allergies.
He still remembered that loud noises gave you headaches if you hadn't slept well.
He still knew that when you were overwhelmed, you'd quietly slip away from crowds and sit somewhere peaceful until you felt ready to come back.
Did anyone else know those things now?
Did someone else notice when you looked tired?
Did someone else quietly bring you water before you even asked?
He hated that he couldn't anymore.
The celebration officially began.
Students rushed past, laughing and cheering.
Music filled the courtyard.
Someone dragged Kalim toward the center of the festivities.
You gave him a little wave.
Not the dazzling smile everyone knew.
"...I'm really happy you're doing okay."
You looked at him for a long moment before answering.
"...I hope you're happy too."
But there was a quiet place in his heart that still expected to hear your laughter beside his during every celebration.
As the music grew louder, you slowly disappeared into the crowd.
Kalim watched until he couldn't see you anymore.
Someone called his name again.
He turned back toward the party.
He celebrated with everyone.
Only Jamil noticed that, several times throughout the evening, Kalim's eyes drifted toward the entrance—as if some hopeful part of him still expected you to come back over, tug on his sleeve, and ask him to dance like you always had before.
A/N : THE ANGST!!!! Next part coming up soon!
