Chapter Text
“No way! Him , looking for a date?”
“I swear, I thought it was a joke!”
“Who’d ever go out with someone that stiff?”
“Well… if you’re into the silent and mysterious type…”
That morning, in the corridors of Sumeru’s Akademiya, rumors spread faster than the news of a cancelled seminar.
Students crowded around a bright pink notice board, whispering, commenting, laughing.
At the center of the commotion was a single name: Alhaitham, written in neat, precise handwriting on a small note that, somehow, had ended up in the dating announcements section.
One thing was certain: he was the last person anyone would expect to be looking for love. And now, it was all the Akademiya could talk about.
In particular, a blond-haired architecture student named Kaveh, arms crossed and pride slightly bruised, stared at the notice with wide eyes, caught between skepticism… and an unexpected, unsettling curiosity.
How on earth did someone like Alhaitham end up searching for a date?
***
The day before.
The evening was peaceful,peaceful in the methodical, calculated way Alhaitham appreciated.
The tea in his cup was still warm, the soft twilight light filtered through the curtains, and the house was quiet. No noisy footsteps, no loud music. Just the gentle rustle of pages turned with care, and no lessons left to review.
Everything was perfect.
Outside, the sky faded to a deep orange, as if even the day itself were retreating so as not to disturb him.
Then, of course, came his housemates.
An inconvenience he had long accounted for,ever since he’d agreed to live with them two years ago.
“Got a moment?”
Tighnari’s voice was kind, but unusually tense.
Alhaitham didn’t look up from his book right away, answering only with a small gesture. It wasn’t rudeness,it was simply how he managed his time: finish the paragraph first, then deal with the world.
Tighnari and Cyno, his two closest friends, stood by the living room door,one with arms crossed, the other wearing a serious expression.
They had officially become a couple a few months ago. But Alhaitham had known they liked each other long before they admitted it.
The way Cyno looked at him, the way Tighnari spoiled him with gifts,obvious signs, at least to someone who had never been in love, but had read extensively about it.
So when he saw them standing there side by side, sharing a knowing look, it didn’t take long for him to guess what they were about to say.
He’d been expecting this for a while.
“You’re moving out,” he said calmly, closing his book.
Tighnari blinked in surprise. Cyno tilted his head slightly.
“What? How do you know?” the latter asked, caught off guard.
“Deduction. Lately, you’ve spent more nights in a hotel than here,” Alhaitham replied with the same tone he’d use to file a report.
“And your desk plant, Tighnari, hasn’t been in its usual spot for three days. You’ve been sleeping in Cyno’s room,” he added with a shrug.
“You need more privacy. It’s obvious.”
“Well, yes. Tighnari’s like cheese to me,” Cyno said. “It sticks to me all the time, he’s very tasty… and definitely hot.”
Tighnari sighed, but fondly. A tender smile appeared on his face as Cyno visibly relaxed.
“You’re… not upset?” Cyno asked cautiously. Maybe Alhaitham’s composed reaction had caught them off guard.
They knew him better than anyone else, and yet, it seemed they still feared that under all that calm, he might be hiding a feeling of abandonment.
Truthfully, Alhaitham would miss the color they brought into the house,Cyno’s terrible puns, Tighnari’s ever-growing plant collection, the warmth of a kitchen where they had once shared meals in winter.
But he understood why they had to go. He had never expected them to stay forever. It was only natural,they needed to move forward, build their life together.
He hoped to still be part of it, somehow. But he couldn’t keep them in the house. He’d manage just fine.
“I’m not offended, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Alhaitham said, picking up on their hesitation.
“Your decision makes sense. You’re in love, so you want your own space. It’s a logical progression.”
Logical , he said.
As if love were just an equation to solve. A sequence of signs to decode, like formulas on a page.
People fell in love, and then,sometimes,they moved in together.
They were absorbed into a private microcosm, orbiting each other like twin galaxies.
It must be nice.
It was, at least, for Cyno and Tighnari. That much was clear.
Alhaitham was genuinely happy for them. Even if he didn’t quite know, on a personal level, what it felt like.
But he didn’t need to experience it firsthand to see how good it was for the people he cared about.
Tighnari glanced at him, hesitating.
“Sure, but… that doesn’t mean we don’t feel bad about leaving you here. After everything…”
“There’s no need to worry so much. It’s not like you’re moving to the other side of Teyvat,” Alhaitham interrupted calmly. Then, as if to reassure them further, he added: “And really, I don’t mind. I’ve lived alone for years.”
It was true.
Ever since his grandmother passed away, his life had followed a quiet rhythm,orderly spaces, fixed times, dishes always in place.
He had learned to manage everything on his own terms, carefully regulating his energy, his silence, his breaks.
He was used to a routine tailored exactly to his internal calendar.
When you lived alone long enough, planning became second nature.
Sharing a home with two friends was one thing: eventually, everyone retreated to their rooms, needing their own space. Sometimes they’d eat together, but it wasn’t mandatory.
A partner, though… that would be something else entirely. It would require more effort, more presence.
Watching Cyno and Tighnari holding hands, for a moment, a thought crossed his mind:
What did it feel like, exactly, to have someone who chose you every evening,and consciously shared their space with you?
He didn’t know.
And, in all likelihood, he never would.
And, even more likely… it was better that way.
He pushed the thought aside in favor of something more pressing,something Tighnari quickly brought him back to.
“By the way, we’ve been thinking we should help with the rent. We’re kind of leaving you in a bind, and I think it’s only fair that we keep paying our share for a while.”
“Yeah, exactly! Even if you get to enjoy having the fridge all to yourself, I guess that’ll be cold comfort,” Cyno added, trying to lighten the mood with one of his signature awful puns.
Tighnari elbowed him gently, while Cyno chuckled at his own joke.
Alhaitham blinked. He hadn’t expected such thoughtfulness.
He wasn’t exactly broke,his scholarship covered most expenses,but paying double the costs would certainly make saving money harder.
Maybe… there was a solution. Risky, but viable: he needed a new roommate.
It would be tiring to find someone who wouldn’t irritate him, but it was a variable he had already accounted for.
“That won’t be necessary,” he said, calm but firm. “You’re not obligated. I’ll look for someone to rent the room to.”
“Well, we can cover the difference for a bit, if needed,” Cyno insisted.
“We don’t want this to become a burden for you,or for you to rush and end up with someone who makes your life harder. Take your time.”
It was a reasonable offer. Generous. The kind of thing only people who truly knew him would suggest.
Alhaitham didn’t like depending on others,but knowing he could have more time to evaluate a new roommate was reassuring, at least.
“Alright,” he replied, his tone final. “But I’ll try to be quick. You’ll have plenty of expenses with the move. I’ll find someone. The Akademiya is full of students looking for a room.”
He paused briefly, eyes fixed on the rim of his teacup, before adding, more quietly:
“Even if the idea doesn’t exactly thrill me.”
Tighnari sat on the armrest of the chair, curious.
“Really? I mean, you lived just fine with us.”
“Well, yes. But you two were compatible,” Alhaitham said in his usual practical tone.
“Similar schedules. Predictable habits. No unsolicited emotional outbursts.”
And yet, even as he said it, something tugged at that thought.
Because yes, it was true,everything had worked thanks to consistent logic.
But that wasn’t all.
With his friends, the house had felt… more alive.
He’d grown used to endless Genius Invokation duels with Cyno over breakfast.
To Tighnari’s long-winded stories about nocturnal creatures,and Akademiya gossip.
To the laughter that burst out at the most absurd times, like that one time they’d accidentally put salt in the tea.
They’d even covered for one another during the busiest exam weeks, running errands and leaving messy little notes on the kitchen table.
It had been, in its way, a functional coexistence. But also a familiar one.
Though he wouldn’t easily say it out loud,he’d had fun.
And he had grown attached.
Now, that balance was about to shift.
Would he ever grow attached to a new roommate?
The thought made him slightly uneasy, though he tried not to show it.
Cyno raised an eyebrow, confused.
“…Emotional outbursts? That’s a fancy way to put it. What do you mean?”
“Some people start talking the moment they wake up. Others think they have the right to move my books. Or worse,put on loud music in the living room in some twisted attempt to ‘socialize’,” Alhaitham replied, lips pressed in irritation just imagining it.
Tighnari laughed softly, shaking his head.
“You’re already picturing a nightmare scenario.”
“I’m just considering all variables,” Alhaitham replied. “Space matters to me. Peace and quiet even more. Not everyone knows how to exist without invading it.”
“Should we put that in the ad?” Tighnari teased.
“Something like: ‘Quiet roommate wanted. Emotionally discreet, self-sacrificing, and preferably capable of vanishing when others are around’?”
The joke earned a small smile from Alhaitham.
“Doesn’t sound too bad. But perhaps it’s better to keep the ad simple and meet the candidates in person. It would help me assess who I’m dealing with.”
Tighnari nodded with a knowing smile. “Makes sense.”
Cyno turned toward the entry table, where they’d left some papers.
He grabbed one and returned to him.
“Then just write something up and we’ll post it. We can pin it to the Akademiya board before lectures. That way you won’t waste time,you’ve got class this afternoon, right?”
Alhaitham nodded.
“Fine. Post it near the Architecture department. Fewer annoying people hang around there.”
Tighnari, meanwhile, sat beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“You’ll see. It’ll be fine. Maybe you’ll find someone who surprises you.”
Alhaitham didn’t respond right away.
He simply leaned back, book on his lap, as the light faded completely and the house,still theirs, for just a little longer,fell silent.
Soon, an unexpected variable would arrive.
“I just hope they don’t play an instrument,” he muttered under his breath.
But Tighnari heard him,and laughed again.
“Maybe just the flute. Then you can ask them to play while you read.”
“Just kill me now, if that’s my fate,” Alhaitham deadpanned, which sent both his friends into fits of laughter.
Moments later, the three of them sat down to drink tea together.
Alhaitham watched the steam rise from his cup, eyes growing heavier with sleep.
Still, he stayed up a little longer.
After all… it was their last night, before everything changed.
****
The Next Morning
The following day, the Akademiya’s morning air smelled of fresh parchment and overly strong coffee, eagerly consumed by several stressed-out students.
Cyno walked confidently alongside Tighnari down the still mostly empty corridors, the announcement carefully folded between his fingers.
“Did he say to leave it near the Architecture department, right?” Tighnari asked, yawning.
“Yeah. After all, those who build houses might be pretty interested in renting one, no?” Cyno guessed, then glanced around.
They passed by the main bulletin board, crowded with flyers for lectures, book sales, and study groups. Further along, there was a half-empty wall hosting a series of colorful notes pinned to a pink corkboard.
“Will this do? The others are way too cluttered!” Cyno asked, stopping in front of the board covered in heart-shaped notes, flyers with various smiling faces, and titles like “Looking for my soulmate” or “Seeking good-looking guy for casual dates, just some fun to blow off pre-exam stress.”
Tighnari looked at it with a raised eyebrow.
“Hm. Some of these ads are kind of weird, but at least this one’s tidy. At least here the announcement will actually be seen.”
“Exactly! Visibility is what counts.”
Cyno methodically grabbed a pin and fastened the announcement right in the center, between a “I like moonlit walks and ancient books” and an “Offering massages in exchange for genuine affection.”
Tighnari stared at him for a second, slightly puzzled.
“…You know, this pink background seems unusual for an academic bulletin board. Are we sure this is the right one?”
“It must be the new aesthetic of Architecture students. You know those guys always have style,” Cyno replied cheerfully.
With that, they exchanged a knowing nod and continued walking.
Neither of them noticed that this was actually the board dedicated to dating and romantic announcements. The title was pinned under a couple of notes they hadn’t bothered to move.
And so, among all the dating requests, Alhaitham’s announcement now stood out prominently:
“Seeking long-term compatibility.
I prefer an in-person meeting to discuss boundaries and expectations together.
You can find me in the library, usually from 3 to 6 pm.
Ask for Alhaitham.”
The notice did not go unnoticed by many students, who were utterly surprised to learn that the serious scribe was looking for a partner.
And it certainly caught the attention of an Architecture student named Kaveh.
****
Afternoon
The afternoon sun filtered obliquely through the Akademiya’s glass walls, tracing arches of light along the corridors.
Kaveh walked slowly beside his friend Faruzan, who moved with the light step of someone who, despite having aged well for over a hundred years, still took her time to observe everything with curious eyes.
Having spent three quarters of her life trapped inside a puzzle, the woman was more eager than ever to see the outside world.
The pink announcement board stood out like a blooming flower amid the marble.
Kaveh slowed his pace, his gaze once again drawn to that note.
Faruzan noticed immediately.
“Oh? What caught your eye, my boy? A new scholarship opportunity?”
Kaveh gave a wry smile.
“If only! No, it’s just… an announcement. One of those announcements, you know. This board is matchmaking one couple after another these days.”
He nodded discreetly.
Faruzan leaned in curiously, frowning.
“Seeking long-term compatibility…” she read aloud, then laughed heartily.
“Oh, Celestia, how formal! Who’s this methodical-hearted young man?”
She glanced at the name: “Alhaitham? He’s not new to me.”
“Well, he’s the scribe, after all. Everyone knows him. I see him sometimes in common classes. He should be a researcher now,” Kaveh answered, carefully avoiding mentioning how hard it was for him not to notice.
Alhaitham was genuinely handsome, with striking aquamarine eyes, a lean figure, and muscular arms and shoulders that he never failed to show off in overly tight tank tops.
When he spoke in class, it was with admirable eloquence, and he seemed truly passionate about his studies.
He had just one flaw: his personality.
Feigning nonchalance, Kaveh shrugged.
“I’ve talked to him a few times. Actually tried to invite him for coffee once. He’s an interesting guy,” he admitted casually, still feeling the sting of Alhaitham’s rejection.
It had been months, but he couldn’t help feeling offended.
“Ooooh?” Faruzan looked at him with far too much satisfaction. “And did he accept?”
“No. Said he was busy. More than once, actually.” Kaveh crossed his arms with a sigh.
“It’s obvious someone like Alhaitham wouldn’t be interested in someone like me, but at least he could’ve been a bit more tactful!”
“He has that ‘I know everything’ vibe that makes me want to scatter his books all over the house.”
Actually, it was more than that.
Had Alhaitham really been avoiding him?
Maybe back then he simply wasn’t interested in dating anyone; that was perfectly understandable.
But what if he had avoided him just because he wasn’t interested in him ?
Kaveh didn’t know.
And that unsettled him more than he wanted to admit.
He didn’t want to bother him,or come off as intrusive.
“Maybe he’s just changed his mind about relationships now,” he muttered under his breath.
“Or… no. Maybe I’m simply not his type.”
He pursed his lips, torn.
The idea of going to the library and facing rejection again made him nervous.
But at the same time, that announcement was the closest thing to an open door Alhaitham had ever left.
It would be foolish not to take the chance.
If only to clear the doubt.
Faruzan stifled a chuckle, then theatrically placed a hand on her chest.
“Ah, young people these days. So impatient. If every rejection were a slammed door, we’d never have built the towers of Sumeru!”
She leaned closer to the note, reading again.
“He says he’s at the library from three to six. It’s almost a formal invitation. Why don’t you try again? Maybe he’s less busy now.”
Kaveh shrugged uncertainly.
“I don’t know. I never thought he was the type to want company. And maybe… he doesn’t like me at all.”
Faruzan raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe he’s just waiting for the right one. Don’t be shy.”
Kaveh huffed, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
“Me? Shy? I’m just… realistic.”
“As realistic as you want, dear. But now you’re curious too.”
She gave him a gentle nudge with her elbow.
“Come on. Go see if this young scribe still ignores you. Maybe he’s just waiting for someone to read between the lines. Offer him some tea, coffee, something.”
Kaveh was silent for a moment, then sighed.
“Alright. I’ll go to the library. I better hurry, before the competition gets too fierce.”
“Ah, academic love!” Faruzan sighed, bringing a hand to her heart.
“There’s nothing more poetic. I’ll come with you right away. Then you’ll have to update me on every detail.”