PSEUMINO, VENTO AUREO.

★ ⁺ ELABORATE.

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involving many carefully arranged parts or details.

═ ☆. EVERY TIME THE FOUR DARLINGS OF Sapiena decided to sit together at one of the outside tables on campus, they claimed the table practically the same way each time.

Giorno Giovanna's outerwear would drape itself over a metal-backed chair, followed by Trish Una's tiny Chanel clutch in the adjacent seat. Bruno Buccaraiti's silver MacBook would open on the table, either to one of his papers or Trish's. Then a sandwich would appear, bought by Guido Mista from the posh café the four of them liked.

Trish and Giorno commanded the table. Their presence was magnetic; quicksilver grins tossed to passerby like diamonds. Bruno was quieter, more focused. He didn't know students were in love with his gentle smile when he drew it out. Most people thought Mista didn't give a shit what people thought of him, and that was mostly true. But he wore his cap just so, and he was quick to pull on his smirk when he knew people were watching.

These were the four students Sapiena was obsessed with. Their social media profiles were treated like works of art, and seeing them on campus was akin to seeing a celebrity. Everyone flocked to their parties, their hangouts, their classes. Being around them felt like drinking champagne. If you caught their attention and they invited you into their circle, your world was suddenly brighter and more extravagant. The four of them were effervescent, and the people around them caught some of that sparkle.

It was too bad it never lasted. The students they invited only stayed in the circle for a week or two. Maybe they didn't fit in or hold enough attention. People didn't know how to get invited. They just knew there'd be someone new before long. Although most people wouldn't admit it, being invited into that circle would be a dream.

Today, Trish tossed her clutch onto the table with a huff. She brought her iced coffee to her lips and took a long pull from the metal straw.

"How was it?" She only heard the masked eagerness in Giorno's voice because she'd known him for years.

"It was a fluke," Trish replied. "Caprese couldn't see either of them. And he acted so confidently too. It was terrible how sad he looked when we left."

Mista unwrapped his sandwich and leaned back in his seat. "It's been a while since we've gotten anyone. I'm starting to think we've reached the limit."

Trish nudged Bruno, who was tapping on his laptop. "What about you guys? How'd it go?"

"He was definitely in a fight. Couldn't stop wiping his eye. I don't think it was a student, though. He made it sound like it was something else."

"Then we were right," Mista said. "It's getting more common. First, that thing the freshman saw, then some professor's notes disappearing. Now this guy who got attacked."

"I want to look into it," Giorno said. "Our numbers aren't where I'd like, but I don't think we can wait. This could start getting out of hand."

Trish hummed. "You should call the meeting, then. Let everyone know what's up."

Bruno made a surprised noise. When everyone glanced at him, he spun his laptop around.

"That's who I think it is, right?"

Giorno leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "It is. When was this picture posted?"

"Yesterday morning. Under this profile." Bruno brought up the person's profile. It was colourful, even a little seductive. All of their pictures made you want to see more.

"Must be a freshman. I don't recognize them," Mista said.

"What are the odds that they were in the picture with him?" Trish murmured. She stirred her ice coffee, studying the profile thoughtfully.

"It could be nothing," Bruno was quick to say. "They could just be mutuals."

"With the way things have been going, I don't think so." Giorno brought up one of the person's older pictures. There was an undertone of something in their face that was hard to make out.

Bruno offered up his reservations, the firm hand on the group's impulsiveness. "It's barely been a day. Do you think it's a good idea to move so fast? What if they don't know who we are?"

Giorno smirked. "I hope not. I'd be very offended."

"Just look at their photos," Trish added, scrolling through. "They're practically asking for our attention.

"Aren't we afraid of them being a fluke?"

A languid shrug from Giorno. "Then it's a fluke. Either this ends the way it always does, or we finally find another one."

Bruno's lips thinned. Out of the four of them, he was the most hesitant when it came to this. He wished there was a better way to find out, a safer way.

"For what it's worth, they look like a fun person to hang out with," Mista said.

"They do, don't they?" Trish agreed.

"Think I'm their type?"

"You're no one's type."

"I think Trish and I should meet them tomorrow," Giorno said when Mista reached for Trish's iced coffee to hurl in her face. "There's the bonfire coming up. It would be a good time."

"Just be careful with them," Bruno said quietly. "You two don't seem to realize the effect you have on people."

"Oh, we're well aware," Trish said flippantly. "We just use it to our advantage." She shot a sickly sweet smile at a passing student to prove her point.

Bruno turned his laptop around and took one last look at the person's profile.

Something told him they wouldn't be a fluke.

‣ ♡. ⁀

** this fic has now been rewritten in second-person with gender neutral pronouns. please excuse any fem / third-person pronouns that may still be lying around. thank you for understanding!