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Ice Cream's Fault !

Venti's OOTD :D
Navy knitted vest on top of a white, long-sleeved polo. light brown pants, sneakers. threaded bracelet from Aether <3
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⸻ Friday, 12.04, 1 year ago

"Looking for people interested in basketball! Sign ups start now!" Arataki Itto declared at the top of his lungs, waving flyers around. 

Aether, Xiao, Kazuha and Heizou were on their way to History class (Venti had Biology upstairs and groaned the entire way there). 
"AHAHA! Xiao could never!" Heizou joked, referring to the basketball sign ups. Aether chuckled and even Kazuha couldn't hide his smile. Xiao, who hadn't been in a good mood from the start, glowered at Heizou. 

"What?" he said icily. Heizou raised his hands, answering, "Hey, hey. You're just kind of short, man."

Kazuha and Aether were full-on guffawing now.

"I'm not short," retorted Xiao defensively. "I'm the same height as you!" 

Heizou smirked and stood in front of Xiao, waving his hand above their heads to emphasise on the (minuscule but existing) height difference. Xiao punched him lightly in the stomach, but Heizou - being almost as dramatic as Venti - pretended to double over and lean onto Aether for support. 

"Ow... Aether, Xiao punched me..." he whined, hugging Aether's arm. Aether smiled and patted Heizou's head. For some reason, Xiao felt gut-wrenching ambivalence. His face scrunched into a disgusted glare, but was he just jealous that Heizou had been able to hold Aether so easily?

Kazuha tapped Xiao's shoulder, asking him if he was okay. "We were just joking," he added reassuringly. Xiao nodded but his RBF was forever present. 

"Xiao," Aether called as the group continued walking. He turned backwards to face Xiao and grinned brightly. "I dare you to join the basketball club!"

Kazuha and Heizou were shocked, wondering if Xiao - who was usually a completely rational person - would accept the challenge. 

Xiao couldn't get shake the image of Aether's excited yet testing eyes. Would - could - he let Aether down?

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That Friday, Xiao got back from basketball practice which had ended at 7pm. He yanked off his sweaty shirt the moment he was in the dorm and chucked his school bag on the sofa. Kazuha would clean up later, or scold him about it. He didn't care because all he needed was a long shower. 

Aether, who had been seated behind the kitchen island, was now a blushing mess because he accidentally saw Xiao half-naked. Who knew someone so short could have such a nicely-built body?? He would make sure to bleach his eyes later, or imprint the sight into his brain.
He would decide later, because after finishing two Literature essays and a packet of TimTams, all he need was a long shower. 

But Xiao had already taken the shower, so he would have to wait. He took a nap at the dining table, Shakespear was especially good at putting him to sleep. 

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Kazuha and Heizou emerged from their rooms. Venti was audibly still in his, due to the loud strumming of his guitar. 

"Venti! Come and eat!" yelled Kazuha, knocking on his door. 

"Coming, mum!" he hollered back over his music while Heizou laughed from behind the bewildered 'parental figure'. 

Xiao also entered the kitchen with his hair dripping wet and his eyes on the verge of closing. He had, after all, never exercised so much in one day in his life. He slumped in his seat next the Aether, resting cheek on the dining table and facing Aether, before drifting asleep.