"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing. "
- Harper Lee
  
  
"I know you're upset but—."

"I'm not upset. You are misunderstanding me if you think I am upset."

(Y/n) almost couldn't bear but to shrink when their boyfriend arrived to the restaurant that Albedo seemed to have been pressured into choosing. In the first place he didn't plan for them to go to a super classy place but hearing Ayato was coming along he had no other choice.

Unless he wanted to hear the Kamisato passively call him poor. Or one who makes poor choices.

"Have you ordered anything yet?" They ask. Ayato arrived before the two, and they take their seats by the small clothed round table.

"Not yet. I only arrived about ten minutes ago and chose to wait for you both." His eyes seemed to narrow at the blonde for a brief moment before shifting back to their partner.

"I think you should ease up a bit." Albedo tells him.

Tension thick between the three. Mostly between Albedo and Ayato, while (y/n) simply struggled not knowing what to say to their boyfriend who was clearly upset despite claiming to not be.

"Do I appear apprehensive?"

"I just told you to ease yourself. Never said you were apprehensive."

"A drowning man will clutch at a straw."

Albedo raises a brow. The two were like throwing hands but with words. The sudden proverb threw the artist off guard knowing exactly what Ayato meant by saying that. (Y/n) didn't get the hint but only wished they'd stop arguing.

"Hey let's just choose what we want to order now." They suggest.

"Alright. Choose whatever you want, I'll pay. For you."

"Okay richmannn! Whatever I want." (Y/n) didn't bother to argue back because free food! Plus, this restaurant would hurt their wallet. Out of that concern they glance at Albedo who is staring at Ayato like he is holding back disbelief and a sprinkle of frick you on top.

"Oh I'm sorry, did you not have enough to pay for yourself? I wouldn't mind paying for you should you ask." Ayato grimaces.

"I have way more than enough, thank you."

"Ehem. Let's order." They repeat.

After what felt like half an hour they finally manage to pick what they want to eat and have their orders taken. (Y/n) was so close to just ordering everything on the menu to be done with it.

The thought process was rather close to Ayato who was imagining how the waiters may have reacted if he asked for three of everything on their menu which is four back to back pages.

Now there is an awkward silence that lingers whilst waiting for the food. (Y/n) takes out their phone and opens instacat to scroll, greeted by the first post of their feed which was a selfie of Ayaka and Thoma together, the latter holding the camera.

"Come to think of it, we haven't posted any photos together. Neither do we have many." They look at Ayato.

"Would you like to take one now then?"

"Maybeeee..."

"I can take the photo." Albedo offers.

"If that's okay with you." They hand their phone to their friend after opening the camera application, and Ayato moves his chair over to them. He places his arm behind their back, his hand rested a bit above their hip.

Albedo takes two photos just in case one is blurry.

"Would you like me to take a photo of you all together?" One of the waiters on standby approaches them.

"Sure that'd be great!" (Y/n) gestures for their friend to give the waiter the phone and Albedo joins them for the photo, standing by the other side of (y/n), crouched down a bit.

"1...2...3... Smile!" The waiter takes a photo.

After the phone is returned, (y/n) opens the gallery to take a look at the photos. Ayato was smiling, his usual smile. Albedo looked like he was struggling, much similar to a kid who dropped their icecream and did their best not to get upset about it.

"The photos look nice." (Y/n) comments happily. They stare an extra couple seconds at the photo of them and their boyfriend and it made them feel all fuzzy. "Are you ok with me posting the photos of us Ayato?"

"Of course. You are my lover after all." He lifts his hand a places it on their head, gently ruffling their hair.

"I never would've thought you were the type to be so vocal about your relationship."

"And you didn't strike to me as an art thief."

"Clever." Albedo pushes his seat back a bit and stretches his back that remains stiff from often sitting. Because of this, when painting at times he'd instead choose to stand.

"Is there some sort of bad blood between you two? Something that happened to you both in the past that I don't know about?" (Y/n) leans closer to Ayato and lowers their voice. "Is Albedo another one of your exes?"

"That's... Certainly not the case my love. You're misunderstanding things, you don't have to worry about this."

"How am I supposed to not worry when you two clearly have something against each other."

Their conversation is disrupted, a waiter comes to serve some of the dishes that have been finished. Once all orders have been delivered to their table they eat in silence. (Y/n) could feel the loss in their appetite just because of the unease they are being put through.

A lack in communication is never good for any of the involved parties and as good as Ayato is with words they noticed he'd deliberately avoid talking about some things while making it sound like it has been addressed.

And they worried that Albedo may have feelings for them. That they weren't just imagining things when looking through his sketchpad that has multiple drawings of them. But they hope that isn't the case and unless he says it upfront, they won't presume it is so.

After they all finish eating, Ayato pays the bill with Albedo's orders included.

"So this is where we part ways now I guess?" (Y/n) asks. "I told my mom I'll be back sometime after lunch and I want to keep my word for it."

"Okay then. I guess I'll see you around on campus." Albedo replies.

"I'll accompany you home."

"Ah alright. Bye Albedo, I'll see you!"

The three walk out of the restaurant together and part ways then. Once the unfortunate third wheel has left, Ayato takes (y/n)'s hand that he'd been yearning to hold for the past couple hours.

"Do you mind helping me with some subjects once we get to my place?"

"Of course sweetheart."

"And no kissing me for every wrong answer because that's more of a distraction than a punishment."

"Would you like to try some new recipes of mine then? I'll make 'alien' bread this time and for every wrong answer you need to take a bite." He grins.

"I'll eat the god damn bread I just can't get anything in my brain when you're all over me."

They still want to beat Jean in class.

---

Gosh ik I said I'd be off hiatus but today I just got Elden rings, mario kart 8 & tales of vesperia now I just want to spend all day on videogames + I've been speedrunning schoolwork since I'm abt to have a busy week of travelling TvT if u want to add me on Nintendo switch my friend code is: SW-8132-8626-0034

Also we should be having a new book cover soon since I commissioned an awesome artist to draw Ayato for me :D