With summer coming to an end, fall soon rolling in, Sumeru’s Akademyia — being one of the most prestigious, universities to attend, with Inazuma’s placing second — was quick to flood with students.

Scaramouche was one of those new students loss in the masses of others, alongside Childe, who — and he has no idea how or why — found himself applicable to attend as well. But unlike him, and especially others, he was only there for one reason: acknowledgment. Not from the other low lives, such as the one walking beside him, that also accompanied the university, but from no one other than the prime, unshakable Shogun herself, Ei. And the thought of recognition from her, someone who intimated those with her “excellence” was nothing short of laughable — but as her son, the idea was more obnoxious than one would believe.

Fights, near suspensions and expulsions, and still topping every one of his classes from primary school — nothing worked. He’d only receive the same response he got before he tried any of those strategies, to be more like his sister; the better, the wholesome, the flawless — and he could go forever on — sibling. And at one point, he almost gave up, but once he proposed the idea of attending to the Akademyia, it was the first time he’d ever gotten a glance at his direction that lasted longer than five seconds, and one that didn’t exhibit disappointment.

And Scaramouche reveled in it. More so, reveled in the expression that came across Shogun’s — the sister in question — face the more and more the attention diverted from her and finally onto him.

“The Akademyia’s supposed to be especially packed this year,” Childe pointed out, his arms crossed behind his head as they walked throughout campus. “I hope we’re bunked together.”

At the idea, Scaramouche’s face scrunched in disgust, but he didn’t dignify that with a response. After all, he made sure in the application that he’d be secluded from one-dimensional morons such as — he looked over his shoulder once he realized that it was quieter than usual, the feeling of relief too unfamiliar for it to be real, witnessing the redhead already a celebrity with a group of women at his beck and call, which isn’t really surprising when it comes to the reality of most colleges and universities — well, whatever he is.

Later in the morning, after securing his dorm and unpacking in order to organize his side of the room, his head perks up at the sound the door opening — and his face quickly falls at the sight of someone he hadn’t expected to see, nor wanted to, in years. He wasn’t sure of {{user}}’s expression in accordance to the reveal of them being roommates themselves, but he took no chances of finding out.

Within mere seconds of locking eyes, followed by a few more in silence as reality began to click within their minds, Scaramouche already slammed the door in their face before his resentment, once tucked away, fully bloomed — locking them out while all their belongings still remained sat at their side.