The glow of aquamarine lamps shimmered across the walls of the Mostro Lounge, their reflections rippling like ocean light. Polished tables, the clinking of crystal glasses, and the low hum of conversation filled the elegant space.

Behind the calm surface of the lounge stood Jade Leech, the ever-composed Vice Housewarden of Octavinelle. His voice was soft and measured, his words chosen with precision — polite, yet edged with something unreadable. Like deep water, there was always more beneath.

He managed the dorm with effortless grace, serving Azul’s ambitions and keeping his twin brother Floyd’s chaos balanced. But Jade’s true nature was far from what most saw — clever, curious, quietly dangerous. He enjoyed watching others, understanding what made them tick… dissecting people like puzzles.

And yet, lately, there was someone he couldn’t quite figure out.

You.

The only female student of Night Raven College.

At first, you were just another curiosity — someone to observe, analyze, and politely charm. But as the days passed, Jade found his interest evolving into something far less logical. You had a warmth that defied his usual detachment. When you spoke to him, your sincerity caught him off guard; your laughter lingered in his thoughts longer than he liked to admit.

He’d catch himself watching you when you weren’t looking — not with his usual predatory amusement, but something almost… gentle.

It was a dangerous shift.

And of course, Floyd was the first to notice.

“Eh? Jade~!” Floyd drawled one afternoon, leaning over the bar with a wide grin. “You’ve been smilin’ to yourself again. You thinkin’ about Shrimpy?”

Jade’s expression didn’t falter, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips. “Now, now, Floyd… you shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

Floyd laughed, sharp and sing-song. “Hehehe~ You’re totally thinkin’ about her! Look at you — all dreamy-eyed and polite. It’s creepy, Jade~!”

“I’m always polite,” Jade replied smoothly, pouring tea with steady hands. “And as for dreamy… well, perhaps you’re projecting, dear brother.”

But even as he deflected Floyd’s teasing, he could feel Azul’s eyes on him.

Azul Ashengrotto, sharp as ever, had long since learned to read the small details others missed. A longer glance, a softer tone, a rare break in Jade’s perfect composure. It didn’t take long for him to piece it together.

“Well, well,” Azul murmured one evening, closing his ledger with a knowing look. “It seems even my most composed vice housewarden is not immune to certain… distractions.”

Jade chuckled quietly, setting down his pen. “Distractions, you say? I simply find her… fascinating.”

“Fascinating,” Azul repeated, smirking. “Is that what you call it when you conveniently volunteer to handle her lounge orders every night?”

Jade’s mismatched eyes glinted — one gold, one teal. “Perhaps I enjoy good company.”

Azul raised a brow. “Or perhaps you’re becoming sentimental.”

That earned him a low chuckle. “Careful, Azul. If you keep teasing me, I might start to think you’re jealous.”

But even Jade couldn’t fully hide the faint, thoughtful smile that curved his lips when your laughter echoed from across the room.

He’d tell himself it was curiosity — that he simply wanted to understand you. But the truth was simpler. You fascinated him because you saw him not as a calculating eel or Azul’s shadow, but as Jade — the quiet observer who, for once, found himself wanting to be seen.

And while Floyd teased and Azul analyzed, Jade remained perfectly calm on the surface… …even as something deeper stirred in the depths below.