~Kazuha's POV~

The next week went by flying.

I went to an appointment with Nahida, and I think it's getting better. I think she's helping me.

Soon, the classes start, and everything turns back to normal.

One day, Aether sits down at the table next to me, as always, but today, he has bags under his eyes and looks like he's going to fall asleep every second.

"Hey, everything alright?" I ask him. I bet it's Lyney. Poor Aether.

"Hm? Oh. Yeah. Just... a sleepless night." He replies, tired.

"Do you want to tell me why?"

He humms. "It's Lyney." Realising what he just said, he jolts up. "Forget what I said. It's nothing!"

I laugh. "Don't worry, I already suspected."

He sights and puts his head back on the table.

"Someone talked about me?" A voice sounds from behind my back.

Aether and I jolt around, Aether gasps while I hit Lyney.

"Ow! What was that for?!" He asks dramatically.

"For giving us a heart attack!" I glare at him.

"Fine, fine, I'm sorry!" He chuckles.

"Urgh." Says Aether, turns back, and goes back to sleep.

"What's with him?" Lyney whispers to me.

I shrug. "Just a sleepless night."

Even if Lyney wanted to ask a question, he got cut off by our english teacher walking into the classroom.

Everyone scrambles back to their places and sits down hastily.

"Good morning, class."

"Good morning, Mr. Alhaitham." Everyone greeted our strict but ridiculously hot teacher, who the girls (and some guys) always giggle about, like now.

"Take out "Romeo and Juliet" and read the next act. After that, you will go into groups and play a scene from that act."

Seems like he's in a good mood today, only then, he lets us play. Well, I don't complain, I personally love playing.

So, the whole class starts to read, even Aether at least stares at the book.

After about ten minutes and halfway through the act, the door bursts open, and a panicked looking teacher rushes in. His clothes jingle with every step.

"Haithaaaam!" He whines.

Our english teacher shushes him in turn.

"Sorry." The art teacher, Mr. Kaveh, whispers. "I forgot my keys at home, and I need to go there real quick. The projects of my class are there. Can I-"

"I knew you would forget them again. I took your keys with me." Mr. Alhaitham replies, also whispering. "Here you are." He hands the keys over to Mr. Kaveh.

"Awh, thank you, Haitham! You're a life saver!" The other man says, leaning forward to give him a kiss on the cheek, but Mr. Alhaitham puts a hand in front of Mr. Kaves mouth.

"Kaveh."

"Right. Sorry." The blond man says and rushes back out, slamming the door by accident.

"Sorry!" Is the last thing we hear from him.

Mr. Alhaitham sights and turns back to the class.

Everyone is staring at the teacher, some un shock, some in amusement, and some just irritated.

It isn't a secret that the two teachers are living together, and it's obvious that they both have at least a crush on each other, but we haven't seen them interact like that before.

"Class, go back to your business and Yoimiya, hand over the phone."

Whoops, someone got caught filming the newest gossip.

She places her phone on the teachers table with a pout and goes back to reading the drama.

Soon enough, everyone finished, and we started to play.

~~~~~~~~♡
after class

~Lyney's POV~

Hmm... I wonder what kept Aether awake.

I'm pretty sure they talked about me back then.

Sadly, it was too late to eavesdrop.

But I really want to know what's up...

What if it's something bad? Maybe in his family?

Oh, I know! I should ask Lumine!

My eyes light up at the idea, and I make my way to the other side of the room.

"Hey, Lumine!"

She turns away from her friendgroup and greets me with a smile.

"Hey. What's up?"

"I just wanted to ask if you know something about Aether. He seems like he pulled an all-nighter."

"You're right..." She thinks for a moment. "No, I don't know... but I don't think you should worry. If it's something bad, he would've told me."

"Alright, thank you."

"Hmm... maybe he has a crush on someone?" One of Lumine's friends, Hu Tao, speculates.

"You're right... I heard from Venti that he spaces out pretty often now." Yoimiya adds.

"Poor soul... It seems like it hit him pretty hard..." Ayaka says, looking at the now sleeping Aether.

"Lumiiiiine... would you-" I started, but got cut off by her girlfriend.

"No." Lynette says. Lumine gives her a little smile, and they intertwine their hands

"No, Lyney. I won't tell you who it is, even if it's really right. If he doesn't tell you himself, I have no right to do it either."

I sight. I guess she got a point. It's a pity that they all learned how to ignore my charme...

Fine, I'll just ask him myself when he wakes up.

As if on cue, he lifts his head, and I walk over to him.

"Hey, how was your sleep?"

He looks me tired in the eyes and yawns.

"It was alright..." His voice is still husky from sleep.

Oh damn.

He sounds kinda hot.

"That's nice." I reply, trying to overplay it. "Do you want to tell me why you're so tired?"

"Hmm... it's because of a person..." He still sounds pretty sleepy.

Oh god, he looks so cute when he's sleepy too.

"Oh? A person? Can I know who caught your eye?"

"Hm? No... you can not."

"Fine..."

If he doesn't want to tell me, I can't make him, right?

"Oh, Aether, by the way..."

He looks at me, still tired and incredibly cute.

"Did you know that you're adorable when you're sleepy?"

~~~~~~~~♡