perfect match ?

just the thought of you

the more and more xiao thinks about it, this bard mentions many familiar names. yet every time he's asked the person if they knew venti, they would always reply with a " who's that? " or " no, sorry. " it's quite the perplexing situation.

he finishes his almond tofu and heads up to the balcony to gaze at the stars once again. when he arrives, he notices venti holding a lyre.

" oh, xiao! i was just about to play a tune! would you like to listen to it? " he asks. xiao nods. venti starts to strum his fingers, playing a gentle melody. it sounded like a lullaby, one that anyone could fall asleep to, excluding xiao. xiao was mesmerized by the sound of it. it made him close his eyes to further appreciate it.

before he knew it, the sound of the lyre faded away; the only sound being heard was the gentle breeze of the wind. realizing what's happening, he shakes himself and regains his composure.

" that was a pleasant tune. well played, mortal. " he compliments, a light blush visible on his face.

" thank you, dear adeptus, " venti replies and puts his lyre away. " what were you out here for anyway? "

" it is a routine of mine to go here at nightfall and gaze at the stars. why have you asked? " xiao says.

" curiosity. say, how about we get to know each other? " venti asks.

" why must one participate in such activities? " xiao replies.

" oh come on now, might as well, no? we meet up quite frequently now. no saying no now! here, i'll start first with a fun fact. i know every tune in this world. past, present, and future, " venti says with a grin.

" hmm, i cannot stomach the foods you mortals eat. excluding almond tofu. it's bearable, " xiao says. " how does one know all tunes from the past, present, and future? "

" i'm a very special bard. i don't just go by venti, i go by barbatos, " venti, or rather barbatos says.

" barbatos... " xiao thinks about it then he feels a sudden ache in his head. memories flashed of him being with venti even before they met. but how is it possible? they've never met beforehand. his head starts to hurt even more and then it stops.

" xiao! are you okay? " venti looked very concerned.

" i'm fine. it's just a slight ache in my head whenever i think about you. it was stronger today than previous days, " xiao says blatantly.

" oh? an adeptus thinks about me? a lowly mortal? " venti asks. a light blush is visible on his face.

" don't dwell on it. i was merely curious as to who you are, " xiao says.

" i've told you, i'm venti the bard. i also go by barbatos. that's all there is to it, " venti says, slightly panicking. but it's not like he'll know the truth since...

" i feel like there's more to it. i'll ask more questions another night. i shall be off, " xiao says and teleports away.

" of course you won't remember. i fear the morax will be next. "