AFTERNOON OF DAY 4

Azul: Yuu, I’m starting to believe you actually enjoy tormenting me.

Azul: You’ve stood me up.

Yuu: I have classes. I only just got out, sorry. No intent to stand you up.

Azul: Accepted, and done! I have to admit, I may have underestimated you.

Yuu: Flattery will get you nowhere.

Azul: No, no. I mean, actually underestimated you.

Yuu: Is this a grand confession?

Azul: Not exactly. But I’m willing to admit I find you… unexpectedly interesting.

Yuu: Unexpectedly? I suppose that counts as a compliment.

Azul: Good. Now, how about that kiss?

Yuu: …You really just can’t let it go, can you?

Azul: What if I told you that I could offer you something in exchange for the kiss?

Yuu: You really don’t know when to quit, huh?

Azul: I don’t.

Azul: But consider this: A reward..

Azul: If you kiss me, I will make sure your duties attending the Gala are significantly easier. I’ll handle all the unpleasant guests. Leave the politics to me.

Yuu: So now you’re playing the “I’ll save you from the chaos” card?

Azul: Exactly.

Yuu: My hero. And if I refuse?

Azul: Then you’ll be left to face the mess on your own.

Yuu: Threats? How charming.

Azul: Not a threat. An incentive.

Yuu: An incentive for what? To kiss you?

Azul: Exactly.

Yuu: *What do I get out of this besides your “incentive””?

Azul: You get my undivided attention—which I assure you is far more valuable than you think.

Yuu: Azul, if your attention was any more “undivided,” you’d be an actual ghost.

The Night Before the NRC Gala

Azul: Yuu

Yuu: No. No more business propositions. No more “clauses.” No more deals.

Azul: What else do you want?

Yuu: I want you to tell me one thing.

Azul: Yes?

Yuu: How do you feel about me?

Azul: …What?

Yuu: Not “business Yuu,” not “NRC Gala attendee” Yuu.” Just… me. The one you know.

Azul: …I didn’t realize you wanted to talk about feelings.

Yuu: You keep making it sound like everything is a calculated move with you.

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Azul: That’s how I survive, Yuu.

Yuu: So…I’m just another calculation? No. I;m a A DRUNKEN calculation?

Azul: Of course not.

Azul: I…am still formulating what to say to that.

Yuu: Fair enough. And I’m still deciding if I want to kiss you.

Azul: I see.

Azul: I SEE.

Azul: SO you ARE considering?

………

Azul: And you are…hesitating.

Yuu: I’m impressed. That was more aware than I’ve seen so far…

Azul: Why?

Yuu: Because you think everything’s a game.

Azul: Let’s call it a mutual competition. May the best one win.

Yuu: …Alright, you’ve got yourself a deal.

Azul: What? Really?

Yuu: Don’t get your hopes up. I’m still deciding if I like you.

Azul: I’ve won already.

……Several hours later…….

Yuu: So, are you just going to keep hinting or are you actually going to make your move?

Azul: You want me to make a move?

Yuu: No promises.

Azul: I don’t need promises. Just a moment.

Yuu: Color me curious.

Azul: I’m waiting for the right moment, Yuu. Just the right moment.

NIGHT OF THE GALA

After spending the entire evening bickering and laughing over the most trivial things. The Gala was winding down—and after being suspiciously seated together on the charts, despite being from separate dorms—neither Azul, nor Yuu could shake the feeling that this has all been leading to something important…

As conversation tapered away, the garden was quiet, around their little iron-frame table, save for the distant music drifting from the ballroom. Moonlight already filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows over the marble path. The night air was cool, but Yuu was warm—whether from the heat lamps outside, or the way Azul watched her, she wasn’t sure.

She cast around for something, anything to think about. To say. The night air hummed with the distant chatter of guests, but here in the garden, it was just quiet. The kind of quiet that made Yuu hyper-aware of Azul leaning a little too close to her seat, of the way his gloves creaked when he flexed his fingers over the arm of her chair, of the sharp glint in his eyes as he watched her, waiting for her to speak as intently as she, herself.

At last, he broke the silence, instead.

Azul: You’re staring.

Yuu: You’re scheming.

Azul: I don’t always have an ulterior motive, you know.

Yuu: Don’t you? Shouldn’t you be inside right now pretending to tolerate everyone instead of out here looking at me like—

Azul: Like?

Yuu opened her mouth, then closed it. Azul smiled—slow, smug, knowing. Infuriating.

Azul: You never did answer my question.

Yuu: I answered a lot of your questions.

Azul: Not the important one.

His voice dipped lower, just enough to make her throat go dry.

Azul: What happens if I kiss you?

The silence stretched. Yuu swallows, her mind racing through every possible response—something witty, something clever, something that wouldn’t immediately betray her wandering pulse.

Yuu: ...I suppose…you’d have to find out.

Azul’s expression flickered—something sharp and unreadable before softening into something far too self-satisfied for her liking.

Azul: How reckless of you, Prefect.

And then he moved—just enough to make her pulse stutter, just enough to see if she would stop him. She didn’t. She was far too curious, and it had been days of teasing, and of wondering. The space between them collapsed as his lips brushed hers, teasing, testing. The challenge was there, unspoken, woven between the spaces where their words died out. He leaned in closer to close the space between them—not hurried, not hesitant, just waiting for her to stop him.

She didn’t.

Though the kiss was tentative at first, as if testing the waters, Yuu didn’t pull away. Instead, her fingers curled slightly into the fabric of his coat, grounding herself. Azul exhaled, welcoming the chance to steady them both before he deepened the kiss, the first true vulnerability showing in the way he committed to every part of the moment.

Azul: You’re not running away. I expected a little more resistance.

Yuu: You talk even when you kiss, Ashengrotto?

Azul: Forgive me. I wasn’t expecting compliance.

Yuu: Hm.

She hummed into the next kiss, far less hesitant than the first. He rose from his seat, knocking his hat out of the way in a hurried rush, and bringing her closer. It was a moment long in coming. Oh, so long! Yuu realized that she had been waiting for this much longer than Azul’s inebriated requests. They’d known each other years now.

How many times had they passed each other in the halls of the academy, both opening their mouths to say something, and missing the moment? How many occasions to share connection between the mundanity of coursework had they missed? And how many questions had she always wanted to ask him, and always feared they weren’t close enough for honest answers?

Would he see her sincerely after tonight? Would he ever let her see him in his true form? Would he ever show her the magic of the sea?

Now, however, was not the time for words, nor questions, nor even the myriad doubts that had plagued her in every dismissed, broken, ignored opportunity.

Now, every brush of his fingers, and every gliding pull of his mouth was urging her not to doubt—to understand the things he’d wanted to say himself, and despite his maddening urge to talk, had never said.

Yuu curled her fingers tighter in his lapels, earning herself a satisfied groan from deep within his chest. Again, she kissed him, and again. Neither ready for this moment to end.