Corym noticed Milo first. 

He knew him from random run-ins at Holn University, but never paid him much attention. They were in very different social circles, classes and they didn't often have the chance to talk. 

Until Corym was missing exactly one credit to start his final school year. 

He searched for a way out of this problem until he found the easiest way to make up for it - listen in on student presentations and keep notes for the professors.

Corym found the right auditorium at the right time, and sat in the back of the room, close enough to a window to be able to watch people go by outside. Most presentations went by in a blur - he somehow ended up listening in on natural science project proposals, and none of them made sense to him anyway. Corym was drifting to sleep when the room was suddenly filled with what seemed to be a soft summer breeze. 

Corym looked around- every door and window was closed. 

"My apologies, jury, I'm still learning to control that..." said the boy setting up his notes on the blackboard, clumsy and seemingly embarrassed. He was tall - very tall, but thin, and had white tattoos swirling up his arms, stark against his toasted-almond skin. His long brown hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and his fingers and ears were covered in golden jewelry. His eyes were an unusual gold on one side and gray on the other, and his rectangular glasses were askew on his face. He seemed to notice and adjusted them awkwardly, hiding behind the most endearing shy smile.

That voice… he sounded like the one who tried to help him a few weeks ago… 

Corym suppressed a laugh. If anything, the presentation should at least be entertaining. 

Besides... he was quite easy on the eyes. 

But instead of comedy, Corym found a different source of interest. 

While listening to the presentation about wind patterns, he found a tiny habit of - what was his name? - he checked the board - right, Milo. He found a tiny habit of Milo's. Every so often, after finishing a particularly tedious explanation, or getting an approving nod from the jury, his lips would twitch into the tiniest smile, that he would suppress almost immediately.

It was cute, and in any case, it was fun to keep a tally of how many times it happened. 

27 within half an hour.

During the question round, words blurred into complicated scientific jargon once again, and the breeze picked back up. He had to admit, the breeze was enjoyable in the stuffy room.

"Any last questions?" Milo asked, scanning the room. 

After an awkward silence, Corym stood up, with no particular question in mind. "Corym Bloom, here for credit. I don’t really have a question, but since the jury here seems content with your work, I was wondering-" 

A bell rang in the distance. 

Finally. 

Corym didn't take long to leave the room for some fresh air. Around the corner, he saw Milo standing next to a blue-haired elf and a rather energetic halfling. 

There was that sweet little smile again. 

Corym smiled to himself, and felt them then. The first butterflies in his stomach. The first in years, in fact. 

Butterflies that didn't leave when he noticed the elf put her arms around him, despite not seeming particularly enamoured. A girlfriend? He winced at the realization that nothing would be possible with the cute scientist that made him smile with nothing more than a grin he did everything he could to hide away from the world.

Disappointed, he walked away, feeling them still.