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Aether’s alarm went off at 6:30 a.m., marking the start of a new day at Teyvat University. With a yawn, he stretched to see Kazuha, his roommate, already awake, brewing tea in the apartment’s small shared kitchen. Their morning quietness was a stark contrast to the usual bustle Aether associated with student life.
“Good morning, Aether,” Kazuha greeted with a calm smile, placing a cup of tea on the table. “Ready to face the day?”
“Good morning,” Aether replied as he rubbed his eyes. “As ready as one can be for a day full of classes.”
After taking turns using the bathroom, they both quickly got ready. Aether opted for a quick shower in the apartment’s private bathroom, while Kazuha preferred the public showers on the first floor. “The hot water lasts longer there,” Kazuha commented upon returning, drying his hair with a towel.
_
The dining hall in the male building was filled with students chatting animatedly. As Aether and Kazuha served themselves, they overheard snippets of conversations about the teachers and the day’s projects. Passing by a table occupied by students from the Pyro Department, Aether caught an interesting comment.
“Have you heard? They say someone from the Electro Department broke some equipment in the lab last week. Now they have to use Dendro’s lab temporarily.”
“That must have caused a mess,” another student replied. “Electro and Dendro don’t get along, do they?”
Aether shared a glance with Kazuha, both of them noticing the tension evident between departments even in casual conversation. They sat next to a group of Anemo boys, including Xiao, who barely looked up to say hello.
“They’re assigning the teams for the group project today,” Kazuha commented as he ate. “It’ll be interesting to see who we get.”
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☆Anemo Department Schedule - Wednesday
☆8:00 - 9:30 a.m.: Group Adaptability Projects
☆10:00 - 11:30 a.m.: Advanced Air Current Theory
☆12:00 - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch
☆1:30 - 3:00 p.m.: Study of Anemo Philosophy
☆3:30 - 5:00 p.m.: Practice in Wind Dynamics
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In the first class of the day, Group Adaptability Projects, Professor Sucrose greeted the students in her usual friendly but energetic tone. “Today you will have the opportunity to work on a project designed to develop your adaptability and teamwork. Teams will be randomly assigned.”
Aether watched the electronic board as names began to appear. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Kazuha on her team, accompanied by two other unfamiliar names: Scaramouche and Heizou.
“Interesting combination,” Kazuha muttered at the sight of the names. “Looks like we’ll be busy.”
Aether didn’t have time to process much before a young man with indigo hair and a disinterested attitude approached them. “I’m Scaramouche,” he said without preamble. “Let’s do this quickly and without drama.”
Heizou arrived shortly after, his energy contrasting Scaramouche’s. “Hello everyone. I hope we’ll be a fun team,” he said with a sly smile.
The teacher explained the project: designing a functional system that takes advantage of air currents to solve a practical problem. “You’ll have two weeks to complete it,” Sucrose added. “And remember, creativity is just as important as functionality.”
The team gathered in a corner of the classroom to discuss ideas. Heizou proposed a portable fan powered by renewable energy, while Scaramouche suggested a larger, more ambitious design—a ventilation system for entire buildings.
“We can start small and scale it up,” Kazuha suggested, seeking a middle ground. “Maybe a system to cool classrooms naturally.”
Aether nodded. “That sounds practical. We can use recycled materials to give it a sustainable approach.”
After some discussion, they agreed that Aether and Kazuha would work on the initial design, while Heizou and Scaramouche would research the necessary materials.
During lunch, Aether and Kazuha ran into Lumine, who was sitting with a group of Electro students. Lumine raised an eyebrow at the sight of her brother accompanied by Scaramouche and Heizou.
“So these are your project partners?” she asked with a mischievous smile.
“For now, we seem to be getting along well,” Aether replied.
As they ate, a nearby conversation caught their attention. Two Hydro students were talking about a possible relationship between one of the Hydro department’s star students and a student from the Electro department.
“Did you know that Mona and Fischl were seen together in Dendro’s greenhouse?”
“That has to be a rumor! Mona barely talks to Fischl.”
Kazuha let out a soft laugh. “Looks like gossip is inevitable here.”
In the afternoon, the team gathered in a laboratory in the Anemo building. Aether and Kazuha drew initial sketches, while Heizou and Scaramouche brought samples of suggested materials.
“This isn’t as bad as I thought,” Scaramouche admitted as he observed the progress. “But there’s still a lot to do.”
“The important thing is that we work together,” Aether said, trying to keep the group’s spirits up.
Though the first day was tiring, Aether felt like they were making progress. As he returned to his dorm with Kazuha, he reflected on the unique dynamics of his team and how much there was left to discover in this new stage of his life.
That night, as they prepared for bed, Kazuha commented, “You have a natural ability to lead, Aether. It’s something not everyone has.”
Aether smiled lightly. “I guess I’m just used to adapting to new situations.”
With that reflection, they both turned off the lights, preparing for what promised to be another day filled with challenges and opportunities.