xiao alatus. he was a mysterious boy, who first moved in next door when the two of you were children. the beachy neighbourhood - sunset bird - was typically just for the older generation settling down, so naturally the two of you gravitated towards each other as you were the only two in the same age range.

but ever since you two were young, xiao was always so... reserved. he kept to himself, was incredibly insecure, and yet he still cherished you with all of his heart. even during his emo and punk phase, his oversized, chunky glasses phase, etc, you put up with him. not only that, but your relationship flourished and bloomed. your family and xiao's adoptive father, zhongli, also grew incredibly close to the point that you two went on frequent trips with your family. it was the perfect friendship.

though there was one minor flaw. xiao was starting to fall for you - or rather, fell for you on the first day he had met you, back when the two of you were toddlers.

but he's not stupid. he can't tell you - that'd destroy your friendship that spanned well over a decade.

finally - it was the summer holidays. meaning that xiao would drag you to the beach to make you surf with him, and you would take him to the marketplace to spoil him rotten. but for now, he did what he usually did on the first night of the summer holidays - climb through your window. it was meant to be some sort of romantic gesture... though it didn't seem that way, especially since it failed every single year.

"ah- fuck..." he cursed underneath his breath as he tumbled through your window, almost faceplanting into your long curtains and wooden floor. the moon shone from the now open window, making the skin that wasn't covered by his thin tank top and shorts glisten.