Yuu awoke to a purple bouquet of flowers on her desk. "Perfect timing," she sleepily mumbled as she moved to put them in the vase she'd begun perpetually keeping on her desk because of how often he'd send flowers and how little time existed in between the death of one bouquet and the arrival of another.

She opened the tiny book that contained flower interpretations that he'd gifted her alongside the first bouquet she'd been given. "Heliotropes..."

A smile rose to her face. "Eternal love and devotion."

Her eyes skimmed the pages again. "Hydrangeas..." Her smile only grew even more. "Gratitude for being understood."

'Oh Azul, you're so adorable.'

She began to tidy up her part of the room as her mind began to wander. This time last year, she wouldn't even be able to fathom the concept that her handsome, put-together crush liked her back, and for the longest time, he would think that he was too inadequate for her.

That was probably why he was so hot and cold at the beginning of their relationship, some days being as clingy as her and other days being annoyed by her thumbs. He was insecure and working himself out.

But now, it seemed that they were finally in a secure place in their relationship. They finally both felt that they were enough for the other. She couldn't ask for anything more.

One of her roommates stirred and let out a loud yawn. She turned and saw the other girl eying the bouquet. "What is it this time?"

"Eternal love, devotion, and gratitude," Yuu answered, allowing a slight bragging tone leak into her voice as she straightened her uniform shirt, getting dressed a little earlier than usual. Her roommate let out a dramatic sigh. "Some day I'll have a partner as strapping and considerate as yours..."

Yuu let out a small hum in response, securing her hair tie neatly before exiting her room and moving to the lounge. Vil and Rook were already sitting, seemingly deep in discussion, but Rook scooted to the side and patted the spot next to him, offering for her to join them.

"Did my advice manage to give you the result you were searching for, Trickster?" Rook asked with a knowing smile. Yuu tried not to read too much into it; Rook definitely knew that she snuck out last night because he always knew where everyone was for some reason (which was a little weird, but as long as Vil didn't find out, it would be fine).

She nodded, running her thumb over the heart of her sparkling ring. "It was perfect." She was unable to repress the smile forming on her face at the memory of Azul's reaction.

"Très bien! May your bond only grow stronger with every passing day," he responded, bringing one hand to his chest and gesturing melodramatically with the other.

Vil raised an eyebrow. "Am I supposed to know what that was about?"

"Nothing!" Yuu answered quickly. "Rook just helped me take care of something." She didn't want to accidentally trap herself with her wording if she mentioned Azul.

His expression held an unbelieving look, but he didn't press her any further. Yuu glanced at her phone for the time and stood, thinking to head to Octavinelle before class. Maybe she would catch Azul, if she was lucky.

"Bye Mom, bye Rook!" she called behind her as she sped through the exit, laughing at Vil's deadpan yet evidently aggravated response of, "I'm not your mother!"

She hopped through the mirror to the Mirror Chamber and felt a rush of joy upon seeing her boyfriend coincidentally arriving at the same time. She jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly before noticing the two taller boys who'd arrived mere moments after him.

"Hey, hey, Lil' Shrimpy, guess what?" Floyd leaned down, grinning toothily. "Azul really loves that necklace ya got him~ He won't stop talking about it!"

"To be more precise, he won't stop talking about you," Jade added with his signature polite smile, though the statement was all but that. Both of the twins were making jabs at their octopus friend, trying to embarrass him.

And, of course, it was working. "Shut up, both of you," he said sternly, his arms still wrapped around Yuu. Yuu ruffled his hair, kissing his nose. "Aw, can't get enough of me~?"

"You all are insufferable," he groaned, attempting to smooth his hair once again.

"That's not what you were saying earlier~" Yuu teased.

Jade glanced towards Azul briefly before returning his gaze to Yuu. "He's wearing the pendant you gave him right now, tucked under his shirt. I don't believe he's taken it off since returning from your date."

"Not even to sleep?"

Azul crossed his arms stubbornly. "Is there a problem?"

"Not at all~" She glanced at the twins. "Hey, wanna see a new trick I learned?" She turned back to Azul. "Hey, Azul?"

"What?"

"I love you~"

His cheeks became tinged with pink. "I'm not saying that here."

"Aw, but it was working so well before!"

Floyd let out a laugh, moving his arms around Yuu and Azul. "Lemme try! I love you, Azul~"

"You're both idiots. Get away from me before I lose any more intelligence from being around you."

The more impulsive twin stretched out his arm, beckoning his brother. "C'mon, Jade, group hug~!"

Jade complied, wrapping his arms around all of them. "Shall I profess my love for Azul as well?" he asked, his polite smile shifting into a more ominous grin.

Azul seemed to sink under all of their arms that were wrapped tightly around him, hardly able to breathe. "I'm the only normal one here, I swear."

Floyd let out an obnoxious laugh. "You think you're normal?"

"Uh, guys?" Yuu's voice interrupted the retort Azul was readying in his head. "I think we should start group-shuffling to class if we don't wanna be late."

"I must be an eccentricity magnet..."

A/N: https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers is the site I used for the flowers ❀