Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Like your total crush on Riddle, huh?” Yuu laughs, so casually as if Ace doesn’t immediately whip her head around to gape at them so fast it might fall off.

“Uh… are you good, Ace?” Deuce asks, watching her in concern and slight confusion as Yuu turns to look at her. Ace’s jaw is practically on the floor, with her eyes wide open as her eyes swivel between the two, and Yuu and Deuce look on with worry.

See, here’s the thing; whatever Yuu just said has to be one of the most absurd statements they’ve ever said in their entire time of knowing Ace, and they’re quite literally from another world. How else is Ace supposed to react?

Before this, the three of them sat on the floor next to Yuu’s bed, in Ramshackle, as Ace and Deuce nestled up in their respective sleeping bags. Laughter rang out in the derelict dorm as joke after joke burst out, comments bouncing off of each other, as they made themselves comfortable in their loose pyjamas and messy hair. Ace had just made a random joke she doesn’t even remember, so Yuu shot back by pointing out her apparent crush on Riddle, with Deuce losing it even more as she throws her head back cackling, casually holding out a bag of snacks for Yuu to take from as if they didn’t just say the most insane thing ever.

Ace. Being in love with Riddle Rosehearts. Dorm Head of Heartslabyul, Riddle Rosehearts, who she once punched and called a baby. What a concept.

How could someone even think Ace was in love with Riddle? Their relationship had improved since then, with strides being taken since the first week, of course - even if Ace got annoyed at Riddle's strict disposition at times, she wouldn’t deny that Riddle was making steps to change and become better - but that didn’t mean they had to be in love. Their personalities were just so different, and they still bickered and got into spats at times, even if it didn’t leave a lasting scar on their relationship. It’s not even like they were constantly around each other - is this really the pinnacle of romance?

There’s no way Riddle Rosehearts could ever like her, so Ace shouldn’t like her either.

“What do you mean total crush? Do you guys, like, actually think I like her?” Ace says, the words rushing out of her as her demeanour changes completely from her upbeat and joking tone just before. “Cause that’s crazy. That’s so weird. Like, gross even. I mean, can you imagine dating her?”

Deuce and Yuu pause their movement to side eye her together, with their eyes meeting and speaking an entire conversation that Ace can’t seem to decipher. Their expressions are blank, unsure how to even begin to respond.

“Are you like… homophobic or something? That’s low, Ace,” Deuce questions her. All that thinking and that was the conclusion she came to. Wow. Ace feels her hopes for a first year study group start to crumble.

“What? No! Of course not! You saw me with Vil and Rook during VDC, I love lesbians!”

“Look, Ace,” Yuu begins, finally starting to explain what they meant. Ace turns her head to focus on them, trying to look as normal as possible. It probably wasn’t working. “I really just meant it as a joke, you know, to poke fun…”

Oh, so it was just a joke. Ha, she probably should’ve known that.

“... but it did come from a place of truth.”

What the hell.

“I don’t have a crush on her! Why do you guys even think that? Does everyone think that?” Ace exclaims, her mind wandering to her roommates, her fellow Heartslabyul members, Trey and Cater, if everyone had just been under the impression she wants to give Riddle a big fat smooch. She tries to calculate what could’ve given this impression, reviewing every interaction she can in the ten seconds she has before Yuu and Deuce continue, but nothing comes up.

“You’re always gushing about her, Ace,” Deuce explains to Ace, looking way more tired than she should be at 7:24 pm. “You guys bicker, sure, but you’re always eager for her praise and attention. It kinda comes off as a puppy crush sometimes. Maybe more than sometimes.”

“I mean, you clearly care for her,” Yuu adds on to Deuce’s explanations, as Ace struggles to process this newfound interpretation of her and Riddle’s relationship. “That whole thing with you trying to impress her, with magic tricks or whatever? And I mean, you’re good for her, and she’s good for you. Always pushing you further. It’s easy to root for you two.”

Deuce chimes in with agreement, going through stories she has about Ace and Riddle, even going on to mention how Cater and Trey have discussed it as well, and Ace has no idea what to think about that, that this whole time she’s been thought to be in love with Riddle. She wonders what Riddle might think about that, how everyone else has been perceiving it.

Has it really been something this clear this whole time? Ace hadn’t even considered the idea, and it was apparently something so obvious to them that they probably joke about it often and make fun of her for it, like it’s nothing more than that. A sharp feeling of discomfort stabs into her as she thinks about it, her eyebrows skewing together as she fights the bitterness creeping towards her. How they could’ve been discussing this the other day. How it’s her own feelings and she didn’t even register it as something that she could’ve been feeling. How it’s hers, and should’ve stayed hers.

She wants to get to the bottom of this, to find any scrap of information on what the hell people think about it, and she almost feels undressed with the way Yuu and Deuce tread on the topic so casually, like they’re juggling with her feelings instead of treating it carefully. A part of her knows it’s a bit unfair to feel so weird about it, especially when Ace would be doing the same if the roles were reversed, and it’s just light teasing with no malicious intent, but the feeling is still there and pervasive.

“Maybe we should call Cater then. Can I call her right now? She’s always on her phone anyway…”

“Oh my god, no, you can’t just call Cater because you can’t handle the idea of maybe liking Riddle!”

“She likes us! She wouldn’t mind!”

“Dude, why are you so worked up about this?”

Ace lets herself sit in her thoughts for a few more minutes, carefully analysing their interactions together with their interpretations in mind, and she notices more and more things that might’ve come across as a sign of a crush. More and more things that make Ace realise there’s more to it than just simple respect and a growing friendship. If you had asked Ace earlier on in the year what she had thought of Riddle, she would’ve immediately scoffed and started tearing her down. Nowadays, they still bicker endlessly and Ace still complains, but she can’t escape the newfound fondness that captures her when she thinks of her.

Riddle Rosehearts, who helps and tailors specific study guides to her dorm mates no matter how much effort it takes her. Riddle, who plays with the hedgehogs with the most endearing look on her face as she does so. Riddle, who uses her magic like it’s effortless with her skills carefully honed over the years which just keeps Ace’s eyes on her. Riddle, who makes Ace speechless when she’s full of glee. This version of Riddle is the one that leaves her stunned, the one she can’t help but admire deeply and wishes she can draw more and more out of. She wants to see Riddle at her best, revelling in her glory as she admires her in the audience.

Even if Riddle has her strict moments, and even if they still get into spats about rules and small things, she can’t deny that Riddle is seriously something to be in awe of. Ace can’t help the feeling of amazement that settles and blooms inside of her when she witnesses her dorm head in all of her ways. It makes her want to reach for more and more, even though she initially came to Night Raven College with no clear goals, like she could grasp a future where Riddle can be seriously impressed with her skill if she kept running towards it.

Most of all, she can’t quite pinpoint the feeling that blazes inside of her when Riddle smiles at her with the brightness that lifts up the corners of her mouth. How her eyes fill with wonder and amazement when Ace shows off a magic trick, when she lets herself have fun, when she laughs and beams in the loveliest way. That feeling, the pounding in Ace’s chest and the red in her cheeks, It’s warm like a summer’s day, like a glimmering happiness that pulls and pulls at her heart, and makes her want to chase, chase, and chase.

It clicks.

“Oh my god. Do I like the Dorm Head?”

—

Not to sound obsessed, but Ace is on a mission to figure out how the hell these feelings even formed and how to get rid of them.

For the past few days, Ace has been trying to avoid Riddle, the amount of interactions dwindling down as Ace tries to push away every circumstance they could talk to each other. So far, they’re still seeing each other most days, just with conversations cut down and avoided entirely if possible. Cater and Trey have been looking at her strangely lately, but Ace doesn’t let herself confront it, doesn’t let herself second guess her decisions. If they can have entire conversations on how hopelessly in love Ace is with Riddle, then Ace gets to decide which direction her relationship with her goes. They’ll just have to deal with it.

Despite her attempt to chase away her feelings, she still finds her eyes lingering on red roses and glimpses of crimson hair when she catches sight of it. She still looks forward to hearing her voice, even if it’s just a small ‘good morning, Ace,’ she turns her head at as she responds like she usually does, trying to keep her nerves calm as she wills the thoughts away. She still wants to see her, see her smile, see her with nothing but sheer joy, and she hates how much she wants it.

Even if Riddle is blissfully unaware, she still feels like she’s disrespecting Riddle, intruding on her content life with her childish crush, forcing her to just deal with it. To her, it’s like she’s ruining a good thing for the two of them for her own personal gain, her selfish wants, for something that will only ever lead to a tumultuous end, just when they’ve made so much progress. No matter how good Deuce and Yuu think they are for each other, Ace just doesn’t see it. Doesn’t let herself see it.

A part of her wants to just admit her feelings to Riddle so she can just let it burn away, but she already knows how foolish a big sappy confession with a lengthy build up is gonna look when she inevitably gets rejected. It would just be another thing to howl about and mock.

Liking Riddle Rosehearts is something she just can’t do. This silly crush of hers could only ever have a pointless resolution, with her stupid feelings only serving as something that would tear down all the progress they’ve made with each other, instilling awkward tension in every interaction after. Having her brain immediately remind herself how unlikely it could be that Riddle could ever want her, after feeling the warmth crowd her body when Riddle shines radiantly in her presence - she hates it. How could she even dare to think she could have a chance? When Riddle is an accomplished dorm leader with a real future after graduation, and Ace barely has any ambitions or dreams? So many of these cheery feelings blooming when Riddle does whatever thing seem to just bother her in every way, and she wants it gone.

It’s how everyone seemed to know before her. It’s how they talked about it without asking her what she thought. It’s how they made assumptions about how she felt. It’s how they think of it so casually compared to how Ace feels about it. It’s how they’re so okay with making jokes about it in front of her, like they think it’s just something to laugh about. It’s how Riddle could never like her back, that the only path she sees with expressing these feelings is just cold rejection. It’s how the two of them could never work out anyways, with the two of them being complete opposites, and Riddle being so much more than Ace. It’s how these feelings seem to taunt and tantalise her, unwilling to back down. It’s the way these feelings are supposed to be all good and happy, but it just feels like a hassle to Ace.

It’s a hassle. That’s all these bubbly feelings are to her. All she wants is for it to go away soon, like with most things.

“This is the most horrific thing that’s ever happened to me.” Ace exclaims, slowly chewing her food with a frown on her face as the other first years peer at her in confusion, their eyes lifting up from their lunch. “Oh my god.”

They’re in the cafeteria, sitting at their usual table with conversation halted as they all begin to eat, chatter replaced with the sounds of chewing, as jokes and small talk manage to escape through. The usual bustle of talking and laughing in Night Raven College, littered with footsteps and movement in between, still linger in the background, enough to mask any weird conversations they might have, and Ace needs to let out her frustration.

“What’s she on about?” Jack asks, her voice gruff with irritation as she stares at the ginger in confusion. Man, Ace hasn’t even been talking for that long. Epel shrugs and Sebek shakes her head, while Deuce and Yuu sigh.

“Don’t worry, just her crush on Riddle,” Yuu explains, with Epel letting out an “ohhh, okay’ and Deuce nodding, and they all continue eating with minimal reactions. Nothing like Ace would’ve expected from the rest. Why did they barely react?

“Why don’t you guys even seem surprised?” Ace says, lifting her head up as her eyes widen, a sense of betrayal ringing in her voice as her head swings from person to person. “Did you know too?!”

“Well, I thought it was obvious…” Epel mutters, eyeing her with a strange look.

“Are you two not in a romantic relationship? I simply thought you must’ve just felt strange about announcing it to the rest of us,” Sebek responds, and it only makes Ace feel worse knowing the most obnoxious and reactive girl she knows reacts so casually - especially with her probably being the third closest to Riddle, being in the same club.

“I have a crush on the teapot tyrant. This is so embarrassing, oh my god, I thought I had better taste…” Ace keeps muttering, her fork clacking on her food tray as she complains. Sebek kinda looks like she wants to snap Ace’s arm off right now.

“Hey, Riddle is really admirable.”

“Yeah, she can be really cool!”

“I’ll have to agree with those two - she’s displayed impressive skill in equestrianism!”

“The Dorm Head can be intimidating sometimes, but she’s really helpful…”

“Why did I make friends with a bunch of Riddle stans? How do you not see what I’m seeing?” Ace whines, as all the losers she’s decided to befriend spouts off about how glorious and wonderful Riddle is. Seriously, since when are her thoughts on this a hot take? Maybe she should’ve made friends with Leona or something. “This is insane! I like Riddle Rosehearts! Riddle freakin’ Rosehearts! Dude, come on!”

No one reacts.

“Maybe you guys are the ones who have crushes on Riddle! And you’re just projecting it onto me because I’m the only one who doesn’t!” Ace throws out, and even she starts to realise how egregious she’s acting. She sighs, shrinking in her seat, beginning to think aloud on her thoughts on Riddle, “I mean, she’s impressive, and I wanna be just as strong as her… course, she has that whole thing with flying off the handle for whatever reason, but she’s still, like, really cool… and it feels pretty great getting a compliment from her… but like, it would be crazy!”

“Are we gonna have to deal with this everyday?” Epel wonders aloud, tapping Deuce who sits next to her, and leaning towards her to ask. She acts like Ace can’t hear her clear as day.

“I hope not,” Deuce sighs.

“Guys! How are you not seeing my point? Is it the anger or something? Am I into being yelled at?” Ace realises. It’s probably the most horrific realisation she’s ever made. “Oh my god I can’t make fun of Azul’s weird-ass crush on Jamil anymore … we’re basically cousins now…”

“Why would you wanna be cousins with Azul of all people?” Jack asks, her disdain obvious in her voice as she makes a weird face at Ace. She stares at her, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. “You keep missing it. I’m surprised, usually you’re more self aware.”

“Uh, Ace…” Deuce says, trying to warn her.

“What? Do you finally see what I mean?”

“Ace Trappola.”

The sound of Riddle’s voice behind her renders her frozen, and she immediately straightens up as she turns around to face the girl behind her. It seems cold and stern, like she’s about to scold her, and she can’t blame her too much. Ace silently readies herself to face Riddle’s reaction, to whatever she’s just heard from her rambling. Sighing, she tries her best to seem calm and just as relaxed as ever.

“Oh… hey Dorm Head!” Ace greets her awkwardly, hoping she won’t get collared, and completely unsure how long Riddle’s actually been standing there. Honestly, she’s not sure if she wants to know. “Uh, don’t you need to get going? Cause of that one rule?”

“Nice try, Ace. There’s about 8 minutes left of lunch,” Riddle retorts, crossing her arms as she watches Ace’s poor attempt at acting like she’s been totally normal the past few days . “I’d like to discuss something with you. Don’t worry, it’ll be quick.”

Ace stands up, stepping a bit further away from the lunch table yet still lingering by closely. Her friends eye them carefully, and she just wishes they could be a bit less obvious about it. Riddle simply follows her lead, her disposition unwavering as she begins to speak.

“You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you?” Riddle says, confronting her. Ace immediately stills. Of course she, of all people, would notice. How could the girl she admires so much not realise Ace’s aimless scheme?

“Whaaat? That’s crazy!” Ace tries to respond, attempting to wave it off, scratching her neck as her eyes shift to other parts of the cafeteria, avoiding her gaze. Riddle sighs, and Ace knows it won’t work.

“Ace.”

“Okay, yeah, maybe I have.”

“Is there an issue?” Riddle asks her, and there’s a sudden whisper of vulnerability in her voice as her words slow down to an anxious murmur. Ace really hadn’t thought it out. “ I, I really thought I was changing… Do you still have a problem with me?”

“No! Of course not!” Ace rattles off, trying to reassure her. She didn’t want to make Riddle feel bad about herself, especially when she’s doing her best to change. Not with hers and Ace’s relationship still feeling so ambiguous and unspoken, with the rift of Riddle’s overblot between them, no matter how much better things have gotten with them since the first few days of school.

“Then why, Ace? Do you not feel like you can confide in me when you have an issue?” Riddle shoots back, and no matter how composed she tries to seem, Ace can tell Riddle feels so unsure. The last thing she wants to do is make Riddle doubt her. To make Riddle doubt Ace’s belief in her, her forgiveness, and make her feel like she’s still the tyrannical dorm leader from before. It’s now that Ace realises that Riddle cares more than Ace wants to believe she does.

Ace doesn’t have any excuses readied up. She’s silent, her mouth unable to open and stumble out a reasoning that’ll get Riddle off her back as she fidgets with her fingers, trying to think up anything, anything. Riddle just stares at her, raising her eyebrow and tilting her head as she waits for a response from Ace to come, something to diffuse her confusion.

That’s when the thought comes to her: why not just confess right there and let things out? Instead of an elaborate confession, she can just blurt things out now and be done.

If she just told Riddle the real reason, she could laugh it off and move on in peace, with the emotions only plaguing her for a few days until her feelings quickly go away. With her just saying it outright, she could let go of these emotions without too much consequences and be able to function normally again, and the idea of it sounds like pure bliss.

As much as lets herself lose sleep over the idea of her knowing about her senseless crush, deep down she knows Riddle is mature and caring enough to not treat her differently after, and she tries to ignore how that makes her heart ache even more. Riddle values her enough, values any member of Heartslabyul enough, both as a dorm leader and just a thoughtful person in general, that she could pay it no mind and move forward as long as Ace doesn’t add any more thought or attention to it after her initial confession. And with this, Ace will suffer much less from a swift rejection with no build up, and she’ll have a chance to finally, finally leave it all behind her and move on.

In a week or two, it’ll just be a small joke between them. In a week or two, it won’t matter. As long as she continues her routine of reducing interaction with Riddle until it passes, they’ll easily move past it. Just another small, dumb thing that happens between them. As long as Ace plays the part.

It’s just a small crush after all, so it won’t be that hard.

“Well, fine. It’s because… because I have a crush on you, Dorm Head.” It comes out faster than she wants it to and it’s more like a stammer than anything, all of her usual confidence snatched away in an instant. “But like, you don’t have to like me back. I don’t really mind. Just give me a few days and I’ll be good.”

“…”

Why is it so quiet. Why isn’t Riddle thrashing out at her right about now. Why are all her friends still eyeing them.

“…”

“Hm. If you didn’t want to explain, you can just say that. No need for a silly joke at my expense,” Riddle eventually responds, and if Ace was stupid enough to believe it, she could almost hear disappointment in her voice.

“Wait, what? I wasn’t joking, though!” Ace exclaims, confused at Riddle’s reaction. She was supposed to just reject her, but she barely even responded to it. Her eyes follow Riddle, as the girl begins to walk away towards a confused Trey and Cater, no looking back or anything.

Discontent floods her as a rush of frustration latches onto her, and she’s… confused. Her fists ball up as she frowns, dropping herself back on her seat and clinking her fork at her food, stabbing at it and stewing in disappointment. She should want this. She should want Riddle to shove away the mere idea of Ace liking her. She should want Riddle to not even acknowledge her thoughts on the concept, giving her a chance to move on with no painful awkwardness and embarrassment for Ace. In fact, this is the easier way out now that she’s let it out without any strong reaction. It’s not even the fact she got rejected in front of all her friends (although that definitely adds to it), it’s something much greater that bothers her. This should feel like a dream come true to her, and she feels upset of all things.

So why is she still unsatisfied? It’s not like she wants it reciporcated.

Having her feelings pushed away like that, shut down as if it’s some dumb prank for her to laugh about later, it just feels horrible. Like something itching at her chest, and like loud swearing in her head. Riddle doesn’t even understand a single bit of how Ace feels about her, about her intense exasperation at having to deal with this crush, and it’s like she just stomped on Ace’s feelings and threw it away like it means nothing. Does it mean nothing?

She’s been pushing down her love for Riddle to make it something easier to digest for her, swatting it away like it’s an annoying little fly buzzing at her that doesn’t matter, but she thinks now that maybe that would’ve never worked out no matter how hard she tried. In this moment, it doesn’t feel like a short lived infatuation that’ll just fade away in a week or two, it feels like something much more, like something growing to the point of almost bursting. Like something yelling at her to treat it like it’s something bigger, with more worth than she’s given it, not just a juvenile joke and punchline to be made. And Ace doesn’t really know what to do with that.

You can’t try to cut off feelings like this so easily. Desire is not something to be simply sworn off. Ace gets that now when the frustration of Riddle not even getting that it was the truth comes at her so hard it feels like it’ll crush her.

She can’t move on. Not with this love reduced to a silly joke. Why does she only realise this now?

“… Wow, what a thrilling interaction,” Jack says, and the sarcasm in her voice bothers her more than it should. She rolls her eyes as the rest giggle, starting to join in with their own little quips as Ace sits in irritation.

“Hmph, of course Trappola would have such a mediocre confession,” Sebek adds, watching Riddle walk away from them. Ace doesn’t want to look.

“Bring back the rom-com!” Epel jokes, elbowing Deuce as the other girl laughs with her.

“Shut up, guys! Can you believe it? How does she not believe me?” Ace complains, frustrated as her friends look on, amused at her reaction.

“Weren’t you just upset about liking her? You’d think this was the reaction you would want…” Deuce comments, confused. “I mean, she didn’t really reject you, right?”

“I can’t believe her! I’m a catch!” She continues on, ignoring Deuce’s remarks.

“You’re really not,” Jack deadpans. Ace wonders if she realises that when your friend is feeling distressed, you should comfort her and make her feel better. Not whatever she’s doing.

“Screw you, man! I’m gonna make her swoon!” Ace defends herself, and Jack just shrugs and takes another bite of her lunch.

“Good luck…” Deuce says, and she sounds more concerned and resigned rather than actually cheerful. Epel giggles as she nods along.

“You can do it, Ace,” Yuu smiles, and the others’ laughter eventually wear off after a bit, with them rattling off small apologies and a ‘my bad’ or two, as they try to add in their own reassurance and encouragement after joking about her rejection so much.

She knows her friends don’t mean any harm, with affectionate banter and making fun of each other being commonplace between them, and a part of her does see the humour in it, yet that strange feeling still claws at her. It’s this need for clarification. This need for reassurance even if she doesn’t like that she craves it. A part of her recognises that she’s just exaggerating what’s just playful teasing in their perspective, so she feels bad that her mind immediately jumps to thinking of it as some crowd ridiculing her because of her own frustration about her feelings.

This whole time, she’s been under this assumption that they see her real, authentic feelings as something uncharacteristic and pathetic from Ace to the point it’s something they see as perfect grounds for a joke, not something to actually believe in. Hearing them simmer down and give out their genuine encouragement, with their ebullient smiles directed towards her, makes her realise they might really be rooting for her. That maybe she’s been wrong to assume that from them.

Really, there’s only one way she can think of that would help rectify that assumption and find out their genuine thoughts, and that’s just asking them straight up, no matter how awkward that sounds.

“... Can you guys just like… explain what you guys think about me and Riddle?” Ace mumbles, not even wanting to face the peanut gallery as she says it. “Like, any advice or something?”

Well, she’s already done one embarrassing thing today. Might as well do another.

Their reactions are immediate, and it’s far from ‘poor baby sweetie Ace, let’s give you our loving advice’, though Ace doesn’t really know what she was expecting. Her even relenting and asking for help, especially mumbling it out all shy and nervous like some kind of coward, is uncharacteristic of her, and she feels immediate regret as soon as their eyes widen and they respond.

“Hah! You’re really looking to us for advice now?” Sebek smirks, huffing out a laugh, “Maybe the world really is ending!”

“Wow, you must be desperate,” Jack remarks, narrowing her eyes at Ace.

“Maybe if you started grovelling…” Epel adds in afterwards. She’s willing to bet at least 50 madol that Epel doesn’t even know what that means.

Great, now she’s done it.

“Fine, whatever!” Ace says putting her hands up, her voice defensive, with red tinting her cheeks and staining her ears as she flushes, “I don’t need advice anyway.”

Her friends quiet down as they come to realise she was being serious, her embarrassment and fluster a clear indicator. They exchange dumbfounded glances between each other, taking in her reaction, like they’re having an extensive meeting on how they should continue in a way that wouldn’t harm poor Ace’s feelings, all in a few seconds. Ace doesn’t know what she wants them to say, but she’s not going back on her word after they laughed it off. Even she’s not that lame

Then, to her surprise, they began launching into surprisingly thought-out explanations with what they actually think of her and Riddle’s potential together as a relationship and whether or not Ace has a chance, with quick apologies squeezed in between. They cut in and interrupt each other with their own additional stories from what they’ve seen and witnessed of Riddle and Ace as they try to piece things together, with their frustration and investment expressed through their tone, and Ace realises she might have been misinterpreting them for a while.

It might really go better than she thinks, and maybe asking her friends for help isn’t as bad as she thought. Now, things don’t seem as hopeless as she made it out to be, and Ace feels good about that.

—

Prettied up plans drift inside her head as she struggles to land on an idea that works, all dressed up and adorned with sappy things that are sure to turn Riddle’s head. Despite their romantic nature, none of them feel quite right to her, the sheer embarrassment preventing her from even considering some of them. Ace believes Riddle deserves something good and worthwhile, but these suggestions just don't feel in line with her, and maybe it’s best to be honest with herself this time around.

She wonders if she should maybe warn her friends that they’ll never get into relationships at this rate, with how corny their recommendations were, but decides she probably shouldn’t. They can figure it out themselves. Ace appreciates being able to hear what they genuinely think about her and her chances, with her being able to smother down the doubt and denial floating in her head to actually listen and hear their real perspectives, but their ideas of a romantic confession are… questionable at best.

It’s been a few days since their ‘talk’ in the cafeteria, and Ace has reverted to her usual ways, with the amount of interactions between them growing more and more as the comfortability between the two returns. Since then, she’s tried to apologise to Riddle for her behaviour, but she’s not entirely sure if she really trusts or believes it, even if she did end up accepting it. Ace hadn’t realised how much she’s missed talking to Riddle like normal, with her trying to catch up on missed conversations, even if it’s just her chiming in more when Riddle greets her in the mornings, an attempt to extend their time together. A part of her wonders if Riddle feels the same way.

She’s just glad they’ve been able to return back to normalcy, even with this weird unsure air surrounding them.

With vacant eyes, Ace walks towards the Heartslabyul dorm with her hands buried in her pockets as she keeps her eyes trained on the ground, deep in thought. Her main objective is to at least find Riddle and approach her, asking to meet up with her in another place, at another time, with the offer of a proper explanation, and hopefully with something prepared by then. Ace then looks up, ready to scan the area for any trace of Riddle in the area, and-

And that’s when she really sees it.

She sees Riddle, with the hedgehogs of pink and blue, her fingers softly caressing over one as she smiles gently, and Ace thinks all of the most beautiful things are tucked into the way Riddle shows her genuine smile, the one Ace loves to see, her favourite version of Riddle. She feels almost breathless as she takes in the sight, soft sunlight highlighting Riddle’s features and showering her in a golden shine.

Her crimson red hair glows in the gentle sunlight, ringlets gathered in a careful low bun almost resembling a rose, and she has to smother down the thoughts of carding her fingers through the strands of her hair, wishing her sweet smile graced her. Riddle’s shoulders are relaxed, as she focuses on the hedgehogs in front of her, and Ace just stays frozen, rooted to the ground as she gazes and gazes at her dorm head, and this is how she knows she loves Riddle.

Riddle, with a soft smile on her face, is washed with a wave of tranquillity as she seems to speak clearly and calmly to the small hedgehogs leaning into her touch just because she knows they like being spoken to. The roses crowd around her, glimpses of red and white blurred together, lush lime grass brushing against her heels, with trees dancing in the distance, as she tends to them, like the garden is presenting Riddle, flourishing in her beauty.

Riddle, when she’s not bursting in anger, when she lives in the moment, when she does something she likes, when she's truly, truly happy. Just Riddle. The real beauty comes from the joy and relaxation seeping from her as she grins.

Desire is not something to simply swear off.

Ace’s face is tinted in red as heat crawls down her neck, wishing she could see this sight more and more, like witnessing Riddle in her greatest moments, the ones she wants to present to everyone who makes a rude off-hand comment about Riddle to show them what they’re ignoring. She stays still, fidgeting with her fingers, waiting for the bubble around them to pop and for Riddle to notice her, only a few metres away.

Riddle is one of the strongest, and just coolest people she knows. The person who inspires her to work harder and harder at magic, her goal to reach, someone who constantly demonstrates power right from her fingertips, Riddle is that and so much more. Even if they disagree at times, even if they’ve had their tough moments, Riddle pushes her to her highest potential, seeing all the unlocked possibilities within her waiting to be pushed, and Ace doesn’t know if she’ll ever stop admiring her. She wants her praise, her recognition, for her to flash her sweet smile at her, over and over again, and here is where she realises how big these feelings really are. That maybe it wasn’t some silly crush to get over, but something greater than that.

This is how she knows she’s in love with Riddle Rosehearts, seriously in love with her.

Eventually, Riddle senses Ace’s presence in the area, and she turns towards her holding a hedgehog, grinning at her appearance as she comes closer to Ace. She’s close, too close, and Ace wants to lean in further, as cheesy as it sounds. “Hmm, I think we’ve been in a situation like this before, Ace. At least this time, the hedgehogs don’t need to be returned.”

“I like you.”

The words slip out of Ace’s lips before she can even register it. Her plan to invite her out to the most romantic date she’s ever been on, to charm her effortlessly, to present her with a bouquet full of enchanting roses, anything, anything but this, it’s all forgotten as Ace stares at her cluelessly. It feels like too much, like she has to get it out and just tell her, just tell her so she can get a real, proper rejection. Riddle blinks, taken aback, and Ace continues.

“I like you,” she repeats again. “I really like you, Dorm Head. And it’s not a joke, or whatever you might think, I just really, really like you. And I’m sorry for ignoring you, I was just like, nervous, and stuff, and a little scared, as dumb as that sounds. And I need to tell you and make you listen because I just need you to know. Like actually know. You’re so… cool, and admirable, and I really like seeing you smile, and I want it directed towards me as much as it can be. And I would really like to go out with you. As like, girlfriends. If you want. Please.”

(she is so glad her friends aren’t here for moral support. they would’ve clowned on her mercilessly, those assholes.)

Riddle’s eyes widen as her lips press together, and the silence is deafening. If Riddle wants to reject her and her mediocre confession, she should just do it. It’s not the most romantic thing Ace could say, and frankly, a mess, but it’s genuine and true and nothing is as messy and confusing as love, so Ace just hopes Riddle gets it this time.

“You don’t have to say yes, I just wanted to let it out, and-”

“I would like to go out with you.”

“Wait, really?” Ace pauses, surprised. She was sure her confession ruined her chances completely. A spark of joy ignites within her as she starts to grin, drunk off Riddle’s tender smile as she nods.

“Of course. I wouldn’t agree if I didn’t want to.” Riddle responds as she reaches out to hold Ace’s hand in hers, grasping tightly as Ace’s heart leaps in her chest, red dusting her cheeks and imprinted on her ears.

“Would it be okay if we like…” Ace continues, about to say the most embarrassing words ever, “... kissed? Or whatever?”

Riddle giggles at the ‘whatever’ tacked on to the end of the sentence. “Yes, Ace, we can kiss, or whatever. If you can manage it, that is.”

What. What is she implying.

“Huh? Are you doubting that I can actually kiss?” Ace retorts, sudden annoyance bubbling up with the implication she’s some loser who can’t kiss, especially since Riddle probably hasn’t had her first kiss either. “I’ll have you know I’m actually a great kisser! Close your eyes, okay?”

Ace doesn’t really know how exactly she’s supposed to do this, with how-to-kiss videos she binged when she was twelve being her only guide, but she purses her lips, leaning in slowly. Riddle’s eyes are closed, a slight smirk on her lips as she waits for Ace. Her lips look soft and pink.

“Well? How come you’re hesitating, Ace?” Riddle questions, while Ace tries to take her sweet time. “Is it because you don’t know how to kiss? Maybe I should take the lead here.”

“What are you talking about? Of course I can! Just.. gimme a minute,” Ace shoots back, a weak defence, as she feels her anxiety and frustration grow for no reason. “I’m just trying to find the perfect time.”

“Really? You don’t have to be embarrassed.” Riddle giggles, still waiting for Ace to just kiss her, and Ace knows she’s just teasing. “Would you like me to count down for you?”

“You know what? Fine! I’ll just-” Ace places a peck on Riddle’s lips, her hands moving to hold Riddle’s chin. “Is that good?”

Her lips are soft, really soft, and she tastes like sweet strawberries in the summer. It’s so like her, and Ace sees a glimpse of Riddle’s soft gaze resting on her in the most gentle way, enough to make all those hints of annoyance fade away with one look. Their lips fit together awkwardly at first, but being so close and affectionate with Riddle is enough to make Ace feel happy and excited, unable to take off the smile off her face as she pulls away, already wanting more.

“More than good.” Riddle says, quiet and warm, and she reaches up to kiss Ace once more.