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hi there - just binged your “how to win a heart” twst series and oh my GODDD PUTS IN MOUTH!! CHEWS!!!! it is so scrumptious and wonderful and it has kept me so fed i am LIVING thank you!! you do amazing work, cannot say enough about how much i ADORE it! have a nice day!

Thank you so much!!

Thanks to this message I actually motivated myself to complete one dialogue on Trey's "guide"...!

I hope you will find my further writings to your liking~

i like your writing a lot. the kaeya diluc one has really impressed me,, i hope to write like you some day

Oh, thank you for your kind words!

However, I believe - no, I know - that there is still a long way to get myself to the point where I would like myself to be. And I think you should be aiming higher as well!

I wish us both good luck and having fun with writing, Anon! ⭐

Hey hey! Is the request still open? If it is, can I request for How To Win A Heart Of Azul? I really love your fanfics!

How to win a heart of Azul Ashengrotto?

a/n: I gave the reader a job — since I can’t see Crowley organizing and checking any documents he’s responsible for, the burden of dealing with NRC organization plans will fall upon you, a very competent human being.

Also, I am terribly sorry, anon, for the long wait... A really long wait.

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1. Decline an offer.

„Is that a no?” Azul's hand drops a little before he shifts the contract he laid out on the table a few centimetres back.

"Does it sound like a yes?" Your reply makes Octavinalle leader retreat and sit back in his armchair. His brows bend in a subtle frown and you can almost see how he bites the back of his cheek, not to retort quickly. "Of course, it's a no! These terms are obviously ridiculous, and, what you probably didn't expect, I can read discerningly."

Azul would have doubted that statement two minutes ago when you first entered his office.

In awe, gaping at each decoration in this stunning room, he couldn't help but recognize that the intimidation of Octavinalle greatness and the stressful situation you have fallen into was having a big impact on your sense.

What he didn’t know was that it didn’t mess up your mind and ability to think clearly as much as he hoped.

To his surprise, you could actually read and think. Such uncommon talents between anyone, who Azul wanted to force a contract, once they entered Octavinelle grounds.

"Well then," Azul starts again. He almost can't resist adjusting his shirt cuff, but it would make him seem nervous. Is he nervous? "We can surely negotiate. From me, I can guarantee you having any request done if it’s in my power. Also, until the end of this semester, every day, you won’t have to pay for one item on your menu. Does it satisfy you? I think it is equal,"—if not more, his tone suggests,—"a glance at the plans for next school event Principal Crowley entrusted you."

The word spreads quickly or Azul Ashengrotto knows too much. Perhaps both—the fact that Crowley suddenly conscripted the organizing committee in the shape of you and one student from Ignihyde is a too big piece of information to keep for yourself.

Winning some kind of contest—what the contest was about? Azul tries to recall your profile he studied yesterday's evening. Creative thinking...? Art of manipulation? Getting on the nerves of Octavinalle students?—with your fellow Ignihyde colleague made you in charge of planning new events on the school's behalf. No one knew much, but from the brief introduction to the school's new year events, there was no one in the school whose interest wasn't picked by any of the festivals.

There is no doubt the events will interest many people outside of NRC.

And that's why Azul must have the plans.

"Forget it," you say curtly, getting up from your chair. You spare Azul last glance, just to see how his hands subtly shake in the irregular rhythm of frustration throbbing in his veins. A trace of a reluctant smile appears on your lips and Azul's expression goes blank for a second. "This time, you will have to try a little bit harder to get what you want."

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2. Start a war.

Azul takes pride in touting people to sign a contract.

Most students of the campus, plenty visitors during NRC's events, commoners, royals... And it is usually them craving the opportunity. Not vice-versa.

“What is that you want?”

You don’t have to turn around to know who has been searching for you all day. Messages from your friends that Azul Ashengrotto was asking about your whereabouts, made you almost avoid him, just to irritate him more.

“I wish for love,” you turn on a heel to face him. The sigh that escapes his lips slowly makes you stop batting your eyelashes theatrically. “Joking. That's pretty cliché thing to say, you know?”

Azul lifts one unimpressed eyebrow. “What is it?” He repeats his question.

Finally, you fall quiet and he takes the silence as you ponder. “Hmm... I don't know. This trade can get any of my wishes to come true after all, no?”

“...You will know where you'll find me if you find your answer.”

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3. Love the food.

“Here again, [Name]?”

The question welcomes you the moment you enter Mostro Lounge. You raise your hand as a quick “hello” before making your way to him.

There aren’t many students in the lounge, and that’s most likely because of the hour; it isn’t either early or late, and people just started to get hungry. It makes the atmosphere special with only a few tables being occupied and just by quiet people.

You can hear a jazz beat that always fades when people gather here at the evening hour.

“Don’t judge me,” a subtle smile plays on your lips as you sit next to him. Some days Azul just goes to Mostro Lounge (probably to collect information; people are often really cheery to share their thoughts and gossips once the food is served), and you just happen to join him.

Giving him the hope to get some news from you is a very tempting hobby you can’t deny yourself.

“I could never,” states Azul, politely shifting some documents to another side of the table. He doesn’t bother to hide them at all since you will be the one checking these in Crowley's place.

“Are you also taking guilty pleasure from eating sweets?” Azul jerks his head at you with emotion you can’t describe as surprise or shame. Perhaps both, but the latter is still increasing as Azul registers his reaction.

Your lips curve in a teasing grin.

“Wh- What?” Azul breathes the question at last, just after other Octavinalle student served your ordered drink. You are delighted whenever he’s in distress. Unwittingly playing with the straw, there is a noticeable shade of smugness on your smile. “No. I’m not that type of person you’re thinking of.”

“Yeah, right,” you take a sip of your drink, throwing Azul an unimpressed look. His papers are completely forgotten as other arguments form in his head. “Good luck with convincing yourself.”

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4. Don't get manipulated.

Good luck.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

5. Befriend Leech twins.

"Nee~ Shrimpy~ Entertain me!" Floyd’s wails ring in your ears, as his thoughts are roaming through the room for the sixth time.

You exhale deeply. He is being difficult on purpose.

"I don’t really want to," you say resolutely, which doesn't stop Floyd's whines. His complaints lack, however, amusement from before and you start expecting the moment when his mood will snap. Before that could happen, a polite chuckle from behind makes you shift your attention to another Leech twin.

“Floyd and I were hoping that you will have a better idea to spend an enjoyable break,” Jade comments, and all you can do is give him a flat stare. When Leech twins suddenly try to get close to you, how could you not get suspicious?

The question is, are they doing it at Azul’s request?

“Well, what do you want to do?” At your question, Jade, without any special inquiries, looks at his brother who gives you a little hum in response.

“Do you wanna play a prank on Azul~?” Floyd asks. There is no threat in his voice, but you can feel being tested.

...But who are you to refuse to investigate Azul’s weakness with his close acquaintances?

“Sure.”

“I will join as well,” Jade says, a professional camera in his hands. The little mushroom sign on it tells you that it’s part of the club's equipment. “Azul’s reactions are too valuable to have not been saved in a photo.”

“It will serve as a blackmailing material, won’t it?”

“It will.”

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

6. Avoid PE together.

He opens the door.

"And what you might be doing here?" Azul shudders from surprise, and his head snaps in your direction. You wave in his direction and observe how his muscles relax once he recognized a familiar face.

You couldn’t blame him for his reaction. School’s storage filled with all necessary items for PE lessons is not popular enough for two people to meet up. Especially, if the said lesson hasn’t even started.

"...I don’t know,” he answers carefully and tries not to make any unnatural moves as his eyes scan your silhouette. Judging from your sporty attire and a broom that was unceremoniously tucked into the corner of the room, you were prepared for the next PE lesson. “And what are you doing here?”

“I don’t know!” A lot of frustration was put into your words. You pinch your nose to collect your thoughts, feeling a headache already forming at the back of your head. Your gaze returns to Azul. “...But I know that I don’t want to attend Mr Vargas’ special lessons.”

“That makes us two,” he says and crunches next to you. You couldn’t help but smile subtly at the thought that these words were his most sincere expression since your first talk.

“Right... Don’t you have any dorm-related duties that you can use as an excuse?” You ask, and his eyes flash at you, stars of sudden amusement making them twinkle. He clearly remembered something. Seizing a great opportunity, you decide to take it. “I can be your assistant! The idea was mine, and I am terrified about Vargas’ new tutoring program.”

“...I guess it’s fair enough.” He feigns the resigned sigh, and you reach your hand to help him stand up. Unconsciously noting that your hand is much warmer than his, he accepts it. “Let’s go.”

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

7. Be a help.

When Jade told him there is someone who would like to work half-time at Octavinelle, Azul didn’t expect them to be you. Don’t you already have a lot of work from Crowley? Better question: why? Do you urgently need money for something?

He decided to ask. “Will you be working for money? I believe it’s not a friendly help.”

There is a lot of lethargy in his voice, although his attention is fully focused on you. His eyes scan your appearance but find no sign of something going wrong. At least, at first glance, you seem healthy and well.

He lets out his breath now, hesitantly noting how stiff he has been since you walked in.

"I guess so," you give him an informative nod. “I am short on cash right now.”

“Why?” You give him a shrug as an answer. It always seems like you have less money than you think you have. There is a note of worry in his voice and it makes you somehow pleased. “Are you having financial problems?”

“Well, it’s good to have an additional coin in your pocket,” you chuckle. “People say that money can’t buy happiness, but you all Octavinelle students, are pretty hyped in general, you know?”

You can see how Azul holds back to roll his eyes.

“I think we are having a bad influence on you, [Name].” He adjusted his glasses, but blue eyes never left yours. He only breaks eye contact to search for a contract. “Either way, welcome. Jade will assign you your tasks for the next month.”

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

8. Remind him of his worth.

There will always be bad days in your life. In Azul’s too.

“Sorry for my appearance...” were Azul’s first words once you meet him at Mostro Longue, and by that, you already know that something is wrong.

Your brows furrow in concern, as you take a seat next to him.

There is only a menu at the table, no papers related to work are in plain sight. There is no particular reason for you two to meet up, but none of you points it out. The silence between you two would be comfortable if Azul wasn’t creating a depressing aura around himself.

“You look as always,” you start slowly, weighing your words. From the empty shade in Azul’s eyes, you read that this conversation enters a minefield where a bad word can lead to ruin. “Well... Are you going to order yourself anything?”

One just exploded.

“You-! You don’t understand—!” He raises his tone, students from the next table subtly start listening in. Sharply, in rigid movements, he leans on the table and hides his face in gloved hands. His tone is much more lowered, barely louder than a whisper. “I can’t! I really can’t... I can’t let myself get out of shape again, because I...”

He falls silent and you take a moment to form a sentence before speaking up.

“I don’t know,” you say in the most soothing voice you can bring up. At first, you aren’t sure if he listens to you. “But if you need someone to tell you how awesome you are, I can introduce you to my friends. Do you know what they told me? That you’re ‘a handsome gentleman, who knows his business. Maybe it’s a little embellished description.” The indifference was harder to keep up with increasing difficulty. “They never signed a contract with you, however, and I would say in addition that you can be a bit too stingy in terms of money.”

Azul was now sitting properly. Except for some paleness on his face (but it could just be light), he didn’t look as if he just had a breakdown. A momentary breakdown, but still...

Trying not to notice his gaze that is inexplicably stuck to you, your hand goes to the menu and shifts it closer. Only after briefly glancing over the list of desserts and drinks, do you dare to look up at him again.

“Besides, people who aren’t afraid to eat in front of people are hot,” you gesture generally around Mostro Longue. Most students here wasn’t afraid to order whatever they wanted and food filling their plates was a measurement of their palate, confidence (or indifference) and budget. “And that all food is waiting for you. And, Azul, you have impeccable taste in picking out treats.”

“...Allow me, then,” he takes a menu from you. He is really grateful for the blue lights in here, that mix up with the red on his cheeks. Just after receiving your order, he clears his throat, focusing your attention on himself and plates full of ice cream in front of you. “...If I will gain weight, you will have to join me at my training.”

You take a spoonful of your ice cream, winking at him when you catch his gaze. “Deal.”

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

9. Give him hope.

“I will sign the contract,” you told him. “I will be at Octavinelle in the evening, so wait for me.”

He has no idea what to think.

He should be excited, shouldn’t he? Then, what’s wrong? Why something is eating him from inside? What is eating him from inside?

After all, he will finally have the plans. It won’t probably put much pressure on you from Crowley that will forgive you this time (since you do a great job). But other dorm students? Won’t they know about the deal? Will they start to mistreat you?

Something twists in Azul’s stomach.

“...I should worry about whatever I will have to trade for the plans...” He tries to shift his attention. It doesn’t work as he is antsier than a few minutes ago. Being in his office isn’t calming at all peace that haunts the room doesn’t distract him from unpleasant thoughts.

He sighs with frustration. He can’t even relax.

“There are few hours left...”

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10. Have him indebted and at your mercy.

“Won’t you be in trouble because of this deal?” He asks the moment you enter his office. You smile at the question and reply just after taking a seat in front of his desk.

“I asked my friend about it and they said that only Octavinelle is so fixated on this event,” you admit. So you also thought about other dorms, Azul notes. “There is no big loss for me.”

“I assume you came with an offer.” His tone is business-like. It does not fit his eyes with the voice, as they give you an impression of everything that Azul tries to hide at the moment; a little bit nervous, mostly concerned and quite... lonely?

You lower your gaze.

“I ask for a favour in exchange.”

“And what it might be?” Azul asks. “I can’t give you money if that’s what you-”

“Go on a proper date with me.”

“-ask for.” A moment of silence stretches through the room. Does he have auditory hallucinations? Is he dreaming? What? What? “What?”

“Will you go— on a date— with me-?” You ask slowly, but there isn’t as much confidence in your voice as before. The words catch up in your throat and with Azul’s shocked and confused eyes on yourself, you start to have second thoughts. You lower your lashes. “If you don’t want to, just say no, and I will think of something else. I think, however, it’s a pretty good deal for you,”

“No! I mean, yes!” He says in an indifferent-feigned tone and your eyes don’t fail to let go of his blue ones. Crimson colours burst on his cheeks. “Yes, well, I agree.” He repeats. “I agree.”

I love your writing so much and I need to thank you. Your "how to win the heart of" series actually helped me accept my crush on someone close to me and to build up the courage to confess. We are now a couple. Thank you a lot. I hope you do well in life.

Ohh—! Congratulations! I'm glad I could be a help (even if it was a type of passive help, haha!)

And, also thank you for sending this message—reading it was a striking experience in a very positive way. Very wholesome. Thank you!!

I wish you a great life!

Hmmm, a Honeyworks fan, I see, I see 👀

Hmmm, a person of culture, I see, I see! 👀

Saying that I didn’t fall in love with Suzumi Hiyori, at first sight, would be a lie when I have other profile pictures of her on almost all my accounts on media. And, the animation!! As much as it is a pain to find any content in English, HoneyWorks did an incredible job with all its videos. Those animations!! Those lovely characters!!!

I can’t wait for the movie that will come in April~~

How to win a heart of Floyd Leech?

a/n: Someone requested this; ask got deleted by accident! Hope you will like it, Anon!

Warning!

Once you start walking through the specific points of the guide, your life will be exposed to the presence of Floyd Leech. Interrupting the action at one of the stages may cause many problems; F. Leech categorizes stopping as "boring", which puts the user of this guide in great danger.

The only way out is to get to the very end. Or not to start at all.

You act at your own risk.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ 

1.   Be an easy new target.

To one’s surprise, it is much harder not to catch his attention.

You can easily become another entertaining target of Floyd, mostly by doing silly things or him just considering them as ones.

And to automatically get labelled as “silly”, you just need to fall into one of his traps—he prepares them for someone else, maybe for goldfish, maybe for another person given a sea-inspired nickname, expecting to enjoy watching how familiar face twitches with terror as he jumps into the scene and tightly embraces passing student.

But no. You were the one who showed up in the wrong place and time as Floyd jumped out from his hideout, scaring you half to death. With a strangled yelp, you sharply backed away. After gaining a slight flush on your cheeks, you recognised who you just bumped into and quietly gasped.

However, he was much more bewildered than you were.

He had never encountered somebody who wouldn’t just freeze under his touch. Jumping away, gasping, muttering half-hearted apologies and flushing? That’s new.

That’s also entertaining.

Even after your quickly disappearance from the scene, his gaze somehow inexplicably started returning to you.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

2.   Visit Mostro Lounge often.

“We’re looking for someone who would like to work part-time for Azul~” Floyd said, sliding poster across the table. He popped up in front of you unannounced, having your thoughts return to dark reality.

“Oh,” you replied quietly, packing your things faster. “Good luck with it.”

You got up from your seat, but the thought of letting you go just like that didn’t even cross Floyd’s mind.

“Ehh? Shrimpy, aren’t you going to try?” he asked, frowning. You winced a little at the nickname he called you, not sure how to feel about it. “You know, you won’t work there for free.”

Azul will grant your wish.

You fidgeted a little, questioning your response. You heard—who didn’t?—rumours that Octavinelle leader could fulfil any request for a certain price. Ones were working for it, others were paying, and lasts were trading their request with Azul’s one.

The thought of having anything just by working in some café made you consider the offer again—this time quickier.

“I will go,” you decided.

“Hooray!” Floyd smiled cheerfully, just as if he won some grand prize in the lottery. “But what could Shrimpy possibly wish for, to change your response so drastically~?” he wondered but didn’t get any answer in return.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

3.   Be honest.

“Shrimpy...”

You passed Floyd, without sparing him a look. Anyone who has known you for a while would notice that your movements were a bit stiff and creaky.

Once you heard Floyd’s voice, a wave of tiredness struck you as if you didn’t get any sleep last night after working your shift in Mostro Lounge.

There were so many people to serve, so many things to do... and yet, you couldn’t help with anything, still not knowing how everything works, messing up with orders and breaking some plates in process.

Floyd buzzing around you, asking you some random questions (“Shrimpy, have you done it before?”). You answered them quickly, but each of them bumped you out of rhythm, making you forget what you were doing. It also didn’t help that Floyd certainly liked you being disoriented, replying with a shrug and grin on his face at your thundering glances.

So now, after gaining a little trauma from working in Octavinelle’s café, all you could do is ignore Floyd’s presence, silently accusing him of your infamous fiasco.

“Hey, Shrimpy!” he called you again, catching you up. “Are you mad?”

“I am not mad,” you snapped and took an unstable breath. “Look, I just started working, and on my first day I made already so many mistakes—”

“Yeah,” he replied indifferently. “And what with that?”

“...I couldn’t even correctly serve drinks—”

“Oh, stop!” Floyd muffled your mouth with his hand, an annoying look on his face. “I know where it is going. And no, you can’t quit a job, after all my efforts to get you there. It will get boring again!”

“But—”

“Stop, stop, stop,” he corrected his hand on your mouth, now not letting even a sound get through his fingers. “Azul knows that you tried your best. And for these plates you broke, he already added them to your paycheck. You need to practice! Not to give up, Shrimpy!”

You looked up at him, quite stunned by these words. Perhaps he quoted someone from the book or heard someone talking like that...

But it was encouraging. In some way, considering that you couldn’t protest, having your mouth covered. But still, it was encouraging.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

4.   Take classes together.

You can have the power of controlling Floyd’s behaviour, making other students’ life easier. Or you two can be a walking disaster.

Turning alchemy lesson into putting random ingredients into a boiler and praying that the mysterious mixture won’t explode.

History classes started being a regular pinching ritual to keep yourself from falling asleep (you are being pinched more, even when you don’t feel sleepy).

In contrast, flying lessons are peaceful. Nor Jade, nor Floyd, nor Azul are fond of these classes. Floyd is much eager to stand both feet on the ground, watching you practice or having you sulking next to him about heights.

However, if you are a calm, shy, or tranquil person, exchanging little notes or drawings will be a little habit of yours. Handing them discreetly under the eye of sir Crewel is quite a challenge, but it also gives satisfaction once the note was given.

Floyd throws away most of your paper conversations, but the ones he really likes, he cherishes them by keeping them with him, stuffed in his pockets. He will be irritated if anyone would like to see what you two were writing about, even if the talk was about new strawberries delivery for the new recipe.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

5.   Being ticklish or not.

There are two possible scenarios, whether his new, lovely target is ticklish or not.

If is: prepare for being touched a lot. Observing how you quiver with surprise, when he lightly—he especially makes his touch less fierce, knowing very well that tickling isn’t violent—wraps his hands around your waist, making you hold your breath.

He would tickle you a lot, very often making you cry out of laugh and pain that follows sharp writhing and fidgeting, but never that much, to seriously upset you. That’s some luck in such unlucky situation.

If not: he will try to find other weak point. Or will try to make you ticklish—his hands are particularly cold and pressing them to your warm skin, might make you give him a reaction he would enjoy.

Albeit, if you also won’t return any expression even then, he will seriously search for some other weakness. Slightly biting an ear lobe, whispering next to your ear or anything that could make his smile appear, once he made you put him somewhere between “I despise you with each and every cell” and abstract mumbling with the heat on your checks.

Oh, he loves your reactions so much.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

6.   Learn all nicknames he gave other people (you will unlock an option to slightly dish other people).

“Oh Lord...” you muttered to yourself, as your gaze followed scribbled list of names that Jade just passed to you. He willingly connected all student’s names with pseudonyms Floyd gave other people and handed the roaster over to you once you helped him with some kitchen cleaning.

“There are so many, right?” Jade replied with a polite smile on his face. “I’m sure you already memorised some of them, being around Floyd that much.”

You nodded mindlessly as you tried to get names into your head. You mouthed them soundlessly one by one, motivated to learn them by the end of the week.

The chuckle that escaped Jade’s lips startled you, and you realised that he still was in the room. Or that you didn’t leave the Lounge even after your shift has already ended.

“My brother surely didn’t exaggerate anything about you,” he said, his tone a bit more buoyant than ever, although you couldn’t be sure as the thick air of mystery still echoed in his voice. “I wonder how it will finally end?”

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

7.   Always share your takoyaki with him.

“What are you hiding, Shrimpy?”

You shuddered at a voice that you did not want to hear at this moment, not for all the world. Unless that the world included a chest filled with takoyaki, which you could give to certain somebody.

You felt that instead of a shashlik of tasty balls, you were holding a knife in your hands, a veritable proof of a crime you had committed. It weighed heavily in your grip, and Floyd's approaching footsteps did not make your situation any better.

It was a time to hide the evidence.

You pushed as much as you could into your mouth and swallowed a few balls without even gnawing them much. You almost choked on them.

“Me? I?” you asked innocently. You sincerely hoped that no sauce or a stray piece of cake was left on your face. “What could I possibly hide?”

"Hmm, hmm~," he drew closer, and you needed all your will gathered, to make yourself stay where you were. Even without looking in the mirror, you knew you were all pale on the face. “With my little eye, I spy something...”

His gaze went down, just to your hands, which you tried to hide behind your back.

Not giving him a clear look at your palms or wooden stick, you turned around on the heel and run with all your might. Your muscles felt somehow stiff as if they also didn’t see a chance to win this race.

Now Floyd was sure you are hiding something, and there is no chance he’ll let it go.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

8.   Watch him at his basketball practice.

81:30 for the blue team!

“Floyd once again started playing wild,” Ace breathed with clear regret in his voice. He glanced your way, frowning at you. “It’s your fault. Please come at practices when Floyd is in my team, not otherwise.”

You laughed awkwardly as he walked away.

A moment later, Floyd reached for a bottle with water and a towel you bravely guarded through the whole practice. He smiled wholeheartedly, happy with the win, water, and your presence.

“How did you like the game?” he asked once he changed from PE clothes and you two started heading towards Octavinelle.

“It was really fun!” you admitted, a speck of amusement appeared in Floyd’s eyes. “The red team didn’t have much time to capture a ball before you got hold of it again.”

“Hehe~ I’m glad you liked it,” he said. “I really like to play basketball, even more than ever, when I know that you are watching! That’s why,” he added, sincerity well-heard in his voice, “you need to come even more often!”

You nodded happily.

You just couldn’t mind it, all that accompanying him.

It was... fun.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

9.   Dance, dance, dance!

Heels tapped on the floor and the sound of these steps would probably have spread through the room, if not for the jazz music pounding through Mostro Lounge’s speakers.

Floyd pulled you closer, letting a playful smile on his lips stretch even more. You couldn’t help but smile back, before gasping as he spun you around your axis. You lost balance and would fall if not steady grip around your waist, as Floyd leaned on closer to you, making you bend on one leg more and entirely rely on his touch.

Last notes of melody faded, and you still were in that pose, facing each other. With each second, Floyd’s face was changing from some form of amazement to amusement, finally letting you properly stand.

“Ha... When did you learn to dance so smoothly?” you asked smiling in wonder.

“Hehe~ With legs you can dance a lot more than in the sea,” he answered. “On land, it’s super fun~”

You nodded at his words.

Floyd was a wonderful dancer.

But you can’t be sure if being a good dancing partner is the only thing that made you feel all warm and fuzzy because butterflies still didn’t leave your stomach.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

10.            “Let’s do something fun!”

“Here is your paycheck,” Azul handed you a white envelope, sealed with a stamp with the Octavinelle logo. “And you, [Name], was also working for some request, right?”

You nodded as you stared at the envelope.

Somehow, knowing how stupid the lingering thought in your mind was, you couldn’t bear to look up. If you would, your gaze would probably ignore all the elegant furniture of the room, even the owner of the room, Azul, just to settle on Floyd.

If you saw anything more than his shoes, that stupid thought would make their way outside, turning plans into action.

And Floyd unknowingly did everything to make them come true.

“Shrimpy,” he cupped your face with his hands, judging by his voice he seemed quite... worried? When he made you look in his olive and gold eyes, you started holding your breath. “Are you okay?”

With that question, your strong will to wish for something expensive or practical was broken.

You started fidgeting more, not knowing how to express your thoughts in words. “I think I have a request... a question for Floyd, rather than for you, Azul...”

Azul nodded at first uncertain and the room has fallen into silence once again until you spoke.

“Well, Floyd,” you turned to him, trying your best not to wander your gaze away from him, “Please, take your time with answering, but I want your response to be, uh, honest.”

You were tripping onto your own words, embarrassment soaring in your body as you started to think that you should’ve kept quiet. But Floyd was patient with your answer, as well as Jade and Azul who observed the situation as if they predicted it before.

“I mean- Okay, just answer the question.” You took an erratic breath. “Would you like to—”

“Sure!” Floyd interrupted you before even hearing the whole question. “I would like to do everything with you.”

You stood there, all confused. But, by Floyd’s expression you knew that he guessed what you wanted to say. Face heating up, you forgot about Azul and Jade, who hid a chuckle by turning his head to the side.

“How fun,” he said as Floyd wrapped his arms around you, as if shielding you from other people in the room.

“I won’t share Shrimpy with you, Jade. Not a chance.”