Mei Raiden, the princess of lightning, said nothing as she and the aloof member of their home, Rex Crozzo, worked together in the kitchen. The beautiful young woman pouted as she looked at the young man dressed in a frilly pink apron who looked at her. 

"yes?" Rex asked, only for Mei to blush and look at the ground while gripping the hem of her apron. 

"Uhm, do you hate me, Rex-kun?" Mei asked shyly, only to flinch when she heard the blade of his knife hit the chopping board with more force than usual. 

"Why would you think that?" Rex asked in genuine curiosity as he looked at her. 

"Well, I found your journal and Kiana opened it... I saw you put my name on the last of your favorites." She whispered, giving him a pout, puffing her cheeks up that reminded the stoic teen of a chipmunk. 

"Of course... I knew Kiana would have eventually cracked the password to my safe," he said with a sigh as he pinched his temples. "Mei, that list was not for the people I liked, it's the list for the people I find myself spending the most time with... just don't tell Kiana," Rex said, causing Mei to perk up. 

"Wait... then." 

"Well, you're always busy keeping Kiana in check and training so I never bothered you too much," Rex said as he looked at her, a look of appreciation and warmth in his eyes that she had never seen before. The warm look made her heart race and feel her face burn. 

"Well... since we never really spent some time together..." Mei said, looking at him shyly. 

'Remember, Mei-senpai! Rex is Dumb! I love him a lot but I always have to be direct with him. Sure, I love you more. What I'm saying is, just say what you want to do with him directly.' The voice of Kiana echoed in her mind.

"Uhm... is it fine if we go and hang out... just us two?" Mei asked, looking at him shyly, not noticing their audience of Himeko (who was drinking early), Elysia (who was nodding proudly at Mei and was planning another way to get Rein to go on a date), Kallen (who was reminded of how she and Rein used to act), and Theresa (nodding proudly at the two.) "We can..." Mei noticed Elysia waving at her and pulled out a pair of tickets to the amusement park with a wink. "We can go to the amusement park." 

"Hm... sure, I can go and ask-" A small burst of killing intent came from Elysia as she looked at him coldly. Rex raised a brow and saw how dejected Mei was about the idea of the others joining him. 'Oh! She must want it to be just us two.' "Well, sure." 

"Really?!" Mei asked, perking up with a smile, looking at the taller male with a bright smile. 

"Yes, I mean. You're the only one that I haven't bonded with," He said as he looked at her. 

"Thank, Rex-Kun!" Mei said with a smile, brightening the kitchen. 

'Huh, so that's why Kiana fell for her.' He thought as he watched Mei cook with more passion and brighter than earlier. Unaware that he spoke it out loud. 

====

Rex hummed as he wore a more coordinated outfit with the help of Elysia and funded by Rein. Once he told Rein what happened, his oldest brother and Reve had a fight about who will fund his outfit, due to bullshit reasons, Rein won but Reve let him borrow his ride. 

"Uhm, Rex-Kun, did you wait for long?" Mei asked. The young man pulled his earphones out... 

Rex looked at her. "Wow... you look good." He said while Mei smiled brightly at the compliment. 

Taking Kiana's advice, Mei smiled as she took the taller male's arm and hugged it. She flashed him a bright smile, feeling her heart race at the red tint on his face. 

"You too, Rex," Mei said with a sweet smile, ruthlessly advancing and crushing his defenses. Mei paused as she noticed something. Taking several quiet sniffs, she noticed that his cologne was different. She loved the scent of him. 

"Come on, I have some tickets," Rex said with a smile as he showed them the tickets.

=====

At the park

=====

Mei smiled as she got off the bike and waited as Rex got off the bike, and gave him a smile. "You should definitely take me out for some rides," 

"Sure, if I'm not busy," Rex said with a smile as he took her helmet and locked it on his bike. "So, you sure you got everything?" he asked with a smile

"Yes, wait. I forgot something!" Mei said. 

"Hm?" 

"Here," she said with a smile as she leaned in and hugged his arm. Her bright smile caught everyone's attention as the two went inside the amusement park. 

Rex smiled as he and Mei first entered the Horror house with the young woman being bored of the ghosts but clinging on to him. 

'fucking normies...' Jack whispered to himself. 

The two then went to Laser tag with Rex easily dominating the entire venue. 

during lunch, Mei smiled as she held out a piece of french fry in her hand. "Say Ahh..." She said with a smile. 

"Kiana is gonna kill me if she finds out," Rex deadpanned, only to sigh and open his mouth when Mei wilted a bit. The act of feeding him made Mei's smile brighter. Now, only if she didn't steal his french fries. 

"hey!" Rex called out weakly as Mei leaned in and stole a bite from his burger with a bright smile. 

Shigure Kira, who was in the park, raised her brow as her Ahoge twitched. Her beloved senpai's daughter's girlfriend was dating someone else?! Wait! But he's Jack's nephew... But that girl... 

=====

Ren smiled as both he and Mei sat inside a Ferris Wheel cabin. The young man has a headband with cat ears on his head with some smudged lines. Mei, on the other hand, smiled as she tiredly leaned her head on his shoulder with a tiara on her head. 

"Rex-Kun," Mei said with a smile as she noticed the sunset as their cabin rose to the sky. "Thank you,"

"What for?" Rex asked, looking at his friend.

"For helping us," Mei said with a smile. "You always take time to help us with our problems." 

"No problem, I enjoy helping you girls," Rex said with a smile. 

"Hmm... I didn't have time to prepare a gift for your birthday." 

"I don't mind," Rex said as he gently rubbed her head. 

"Well, I do. Can you close your eyes, please?" Mei asked and the young man nodded. "Don't tell Kiana, okay?" 

Soft. 

Rex's eyes widened as he felt something soft in his lips and when he opened his eyes, he saw Mei's face, illuminated by the sunset with a red tint. She looked so cute and he might just get addicted. She had a smile on her face as she covered her mouth. 

"Belated happy birthday, Rex-Kun," Mei said with a smile as she leaned in and took his lips one more time, enjoying the warmth as she pulled away, resting her head on his shoulder, leaving the young man unable to say anything. "I wouldn't mind if you want more kisses." 

======

Rex hummed a small song, the stoic Archon of Geo smiled as he watched the surprisingly masterful craftsmanship of the bracelets he bought. A bracelet with moon designs, another with moon designs, and the last one a star. He also bought a pair of rings that caught his eye.

"Rex-Kun," Mei said with a smile as she entered the plaza with a smile on her face, dressed in a beautiful dress. One that made the stoic archon lose his attention aimed at the rings and bracelets as he looked at her. "Uhm... is it too much?" 

Rex tried to say something but he saw some pink flashes here and there something else. Why was the plaza empty? Soft musical notes echoed in the entire plaza as Mei shyly looked at him. 

"Since you missed the prom, we wanted to show you how much we appreciate you, so... would you like to dance with me?" Mei asked as Rex said nothing. 

"I'm not exactly dressed for the occasion," he said with a smile. 

"I know," Mei said with a smile. "I don't mind," 

Chuckling, the Geo Archon stood up and took her hand. smiling as he guided her through the beat of the waltz. Rex smiled, focusing on her. He had to admit... it was a shame that he did not hang out with her sooner. 

As the two danced in the plaza, Rex noticed how Elysia and some of her squad and his brother's knights were there, playing the instruments. He also spotted Reinhart smiling as he carried Elysia in a princess carry and entered the dance. 

Mei chuckled at the blushing form of Elysia with a bright and content smile while she hid her face in Reinhardt's chest.  Rex noticed how a bit gentle and more... content Rein was with Elysia and smiled a small yet serene smile. Mei just looked as Reve was dragged in by a smiling Rita, joining the four in their waltz. 

Jack, smiled as he played the violin, effortlessly keeping the song going while ignoring the way Kira glared daggers at his back. 

"Belated happy birthday, Rex-kun," Mei said with a smile as she looked up at him. 

====

Oh boy! writing this chapter was so much fun! And boy, Rein has the divine rizz, effortlessly rizzing Elysia while sipping for Kallen. And man, the boys, Elysia, and so much more helped for the last part! 

Omake: The fate of the Crozzo's if they never met their anchors, a.k.a the girls

Reinhardt if he never met Elysia and without her grounding him: The Star-made knight, the mad executioner of Schicksal (Rein and Ely hates each other for reasons and Rein also hates almost everyone that is not his brothers, knight, or friends)

Reve if he never met Bianka or the girls: The Listener, working as an assassin for Schicksal, Reve's mind is fractured and he became twisted enough that killing is merely a chore for him. He is basically the Reinhardt of the group but more open to order.

Rex, the King of Winter, a more logical, brutal, and pragmatic Rex that was not tempered by Kiana's attitude when he was younger, can make Otto a saint. Apprenticed to Otto, this version of Rex is almost as manipulative and deadlier than Otto, effortlessly manipulating everyone around him to benefit him and his brothers the most. Named Otto Secondus, he has even manipulated the girls and all that he can to benefit him in the most optimal way. Already manipulating Bronya through Seele, Siegfried through Kiana, Ryoma through Mei, and more. 

Ironically, these three versions and their alternates are the strongest and most powerful version of The Crozzos while being the most miserable and lonely.