The heroine hangs around for a while more, but once the students start to disperse towards the dorms she has no choice but to leave as well. When only the members of the Students Council remain near Sevan, that's when Eryx gets up from his spot and approaches him, again it takes the man a couple seconds to recognize Eryx. Maybe he's one of those people that are face blind?

“Eryx, you waited” he points out, his tone is monotone and his voice is like a whisper in the wind, almost melodical. His white eyes are serious as he turns to talk with the other members accompanying him before turning to Eryx again. “I already thought of a solution for you”.

“That was quick”, Eryx says, holding onto the rim of his own uniform's jacket, he feels awkward now that he's supposed to romance Sevan, not that he wasn't before, after all even if he knows he's gay, he never even kissed someone. Or at least if he did, he was high enough to not remember it.

“Yes, we do have other gay students, after all we’re not a small Academy”, Sevan makes a gesture for Eryx to walk with him towards the dorms, he does so without hesitation. “However, considering your family, and what your brother told me, I think you'll be taken advantage of if put on with the wrong roommate”.

What did Milo tell him? I mean sure he's not completely wrong but how gullible he thinks I am? 

“I'm not sure what my brother told you, but I'm not a complete pushover”, he mutters, Sevan glances at him for a couple seconds as if saying not even you believe that with his eyes.

“Since Mr. Algeo requested me to keep an eye on you, the most logical way to solve this conundrum is…”, they arrive at the dorms building. “By being your roommate”, he completes as he grabs a pair of keys from his pocket. 

In this moment Eryx does everything he can to not smile. After all, being roommates with Sevan is the easiest way to become closer to him. Thank god, Eryx thinks, simply nodding so that he doesn't give away his own feelings.

They start walking towards the dorms hallway, “Dating is a natural process of growing up, however partaking in sexual acts in the Academy is strictly forbidden, so please keep this in mind going forward. I can't forbid you bringing other guys into the room since there's no rule in the Academy rulebook on being gay, but I would be grateful if you kept the other rules in mind”. They stop in front of the dorm room number 33 and Sevan unlocks the door.

The room is simple, small, but seemingly cozy. There are two single beds, a small window, two desks and two wardrobes, everything in different tones of brown. Close to the door there is another door that Eryx opens to see a small bathroom.

“We have our own bathroom?” He questions.

“That's because members of the Students Council sometimes end activities after the shared shower room is closed, so we all get rooms with bathrooms.” Sevan answers, grabbing one of his bags and opening on top of the desk. From it he removes a few papers and other utensils. “I'm rarely in the room, but my hours are erratic, so don't even think about trying to bring someone here thinking you'll get lucky”.

Oh, fuck, Eryx thinks, if Sevan is rarely there so what good will do being his roommate? Maybe I can join the Students Council, I remember that being a choice in the game. The thing is, what would Eryx do there? He's not exactly good at administration or anything like that. Maybe I could sit in a corner and play the violin for them, he thinks bitterly, diminishing his own abilities.

“Which roles does the Students Council require?” Eryx asks, there's no harm in trying.

Sevan stops and turns to look at Eryx, his white eyes show no emotion. “Are you interested?” 

“I don't know, I'm not really good at many things so I don't know how much help I can be” he states sincerely.

“Well, we're in dire need of a Treasurer, Teacher mentioned you won a couple math awards”, contrary to his eyes, his words show eagerness, as if he was waiting for Eryx to offer himself. How much did Milo talk about me? He wonders.

“Well, yeah, I won a few national and local awards, but nothing too impressive”, he says, sitting at his bed, his heart pounding. Eryx was always good at math, it came easy for him, his first award was when he was 5 and then every year he was 1st or 2nd place on the National Math Olympics, however perhaps due to his bad friendships he was always told his achievements were not impressive, and it got so ingrained in his mind that no matter how good he is at something, he'll never be good enough, for his friends, for his family. 

Even when his brothers said they were proud of him, there was this voice inside his head telling him that they were just lying out of pity.

“You mean the Math Olympics?” Sevan asks, leaning on the desk. Wow, he's really pretty, Eryx thinks as the sunlight reflects on his white eyes, mesmerizing, like a diamond.

“Yeah, I think I won 10 out of the 14 I took part in”, he says, scratching his hand, feeling it burn as he starts to feel uncomfortable. I should've stayed quiet, now he'll think I'm pathetic.

Sevan frowns. “Why are you speaking as if you lost?” 

A sigh leaves Eryx’s lips. “I just don't like speaking about those awards, they're just childish…”

“Childish? Who told you that?” His words sound cautious, but his eyes remain cold.

“Well, it's just something silly to make children feel better, you know? Humans don't really care about these things” Eryx says, his eyes on his feet.

“The National Math Olympics are dual-race, you went against humans and vampires, and at least by what I saw in my schools it is quite the big deal” Sevan says honestly. “I wondered why I never heard about the winner, it makes sense since you were a human”. He continues, analyzing Eryx's expression. “Vampires are quite prideful. You should be proud of your achievements, it's not everyone that can win 10 out of 14 Math competitions”. 

He isn't sure if Sevan is being sincere or just saying that to make him feel better. Either way, Eryx has a hard time believing him. “I can try to run the Treasury if you don't have anyone better”.

“I doubt anyone here or even in the country ever won that many math competitions, so I don’t think there is someone better”. Sevan says, searching for something inside his bag. “You can have a week trial along with the introductory week if you'd like”.

“Sure”.

Eryx pauses.

“Can we date other members?” His words are slow and cautious, he doesn't want to risk losing likeability points, but he should ask either way.

Sevan stays silent for a moment, he seems surprised by Eryx’s question, yet he doesn't show in his expression. “It's not forbidden, however, is that your goal by joining?” 

He is unsure of what is the right answer in this situation, he was fine with telling Kitsu about it because he wanted to test the waters, however Sevan seems to be a bit more strict with these subjects. But, what's the point of pretending to be studious or interested in something else when his whole life for the next few years will be dedicated to finishing quests and surpassing the heroine in a romance game, then his goal is, at the end of the day, to romance someone.

“I spent 19 years trying to turn, I forgot to live, you know”, he says without looking at the other. “So of course one of my goals at the Academy is to find a boyfriend”. You, if possible, he completes in his mind but doesn't say a word.

“Why?” Sevan asks, “Is romance something that important in someone's life?”

“Did you never date someone?”

“I never saw the need to”. Sevan answers almost immediately.

Eryx can't help but look at the man in shock, “Not even desires?” He can't help but ask.

Sevan ponders. “I do feel attraction towards others, if that's your question. I just never felt the need to have a relationship”.

“Didn't you ever wonder how it would feel to be wanted? Desired?” Eryx can't properly understand what Sevan means, and he can't help his own curiosity.

“Sure, but I dedicate a lot of time towards my studies and extracurricular activities, so I just pushed such things to the back of my list,” Sevan says. “Graduating as a competent Architect is my priority, so I can let dating for the future.”

“Don't you think you'll regret not enjoying your youth in the future?” 

His question seems to make the other wonder, maybe he never talked about this with someone else, or perhaps he’s just taking Eryx's conversation seriously.

“I never thought about it like that, I should research more about this subject before giving you a proper answer”, Sevan grabs his phone, writing something in it before turning to talk with Eryx again. “I have a meeting now, we can talk about this again later, you can come to the Students Council’s room tomorrow after lunch and I'll show you around and show you how most of it works.”

“Oh, sure”, Eryx says, feeling a bit awkward by the sudden answer of the man.

The other leaves and suddenly the room is way too quiet, for the first time in 19 years, Eryx has no one barging into his room to talk with him, and he can't hear the faint voice of his brothers in the background. He's alone. And he isn't sure if he likes it.

It'll be like this for a good part of the next three years, he thinks to himself, closing his eyes and laying down on his bed. The past 24h were so chaotic that he can't help but fall asleep once all the tension he's been holding up suddenly goes away.