Byleth stays up far too late researching vampires, reading different legends and versions of lore, and loses track of time, resulting in her not nearly getting enough sleep. She can hardly keep her eyes open the next morning in study hall, and with no real results to speak of. All she's really learned is that there are probably as many versions of vampires as there are students in her school, with no way to confirm what is fact and what is fiction.

How many people are out there, posting this stuff online, while having actual proof that what they claim is true? How many of them know these things because they know a real vampire personally, or because they are one herself? More than likely, most of them are just enthusiastic about the fictional aspect, or use the idea of something supernatural as an excuse for something unexplainable happening, and expand upon that to fit their situation into the lore.

Researching probably won't do her any good, but the situation is so bizarre and so outside of her control that it makes her feel a little better just to be able to get a grasp on what kind of information is out there. These thoughts are all swirling around in her head when Caspar calls out to her, snapping her out of them.

"Wow, you sure are out of it today!" he teases. "What, did you not sleep last night?"

"Not really," she admits, and he shakes his head.

"No wonder, then. You look like you're hardly functioning, honestly. You know you can't just show up to school like that!"

"I'll make sure I get more sleep tonight," she says.

"Hey, you know I'm just teasing you. I mean, Miss Casagranda shows up to school hungover all the time, so I'm sure a little sleep deprivation is fine!" he says, gesturing to the front of the classroom. As always, the choir director is slumped over her desk, looking as if she wishes she were anywhere else in the world.

"You shouldn't say things like that," Byleth says, but she can't help laughing a little bit at his joke. Maybe it's just because she's so tired, but it does seem funny to her.

"Still, I really wonder what's got you up so late on a Sunday. Big project due today?" asks Caspar.

"No, nothing like that."

"Not even studying?"

"Not really." Technically, she was, but she doesn't want to even try to explain that one.

"Alright, then you've got some secret boyfriend you were sneaking off with?" he asks, in such a casual tone of voice that Byleth nearly misses what he actually says.

"Wh- no, it's nothing like that either!" she protests, when she actually processes it, and Caspar bursts out laughing.

"I was just joking, but if you're gonna react like that...well, maybe I was right after all!"

"You are not!"

"Then why are you acting so guilty? I'm totally right!" he says with a grin. "Sneaking around with some guy on a school night? I'm honestly shocked, Byleth. I had no idea you were that kind of person. You seemed like such a rule follower, but I guess even you would do something like that."

"Yeah, except I didn't," she says. "I just had trouble sleeping, don't make this out to be something it isn't."

"Calm down, I'm just joking. I just didn't think you could get so flustered, is all. You're normally so calm, it was too funny to resist messing with you!"

"Not funny at all," she replies, shaking her head, and Caspar just keeps grinning. She hadn't realized how flustered she was, and calms down quickly.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. I think it was pretty funny," he says.

"You're probably just projecting, since you wish you were out with your girlfriend," she deadpans, but, to her surprise, Caspar's face immediately flushes.

"H-hey, me and Petra aren't...I've just been showing her around, I haven't really...hey, that's not fair!" he shouts, attracting a bit of attention and having to immediately quiet down.

"So, the exchange student?" Byleth teases, after anyone looking at them has turned back to their own tasks.

"Shut up ," Caspar groans. After a pause, his expression shifts to one of concern. "Hey, but...wherever you were last night, or whatever you were doing...I mean, if you were just up late at home, that's fine, but be careful going out so late, alright? Even if you're not alone, it's still dangerous. You don't want to end up getting caught by the vampire."

"Don't worry, I'm being safe," she says, because that is much easier than telling him that he doesn't have to worry, because the vampire has already caught her.

~X~

She doesn't expect Hubert to walk with her after class, but he does, and makes his intentions for doing so very clear when he teases her, "So, what's this I hear about you spending all night with some boy?"

"Caspar is so loud," she mutters, feeling her face heat up. Hubert chuckles.

"That he is. Though I have to admit, you did a good job turning things around on him," he says. "Still, he does have me curious. What did keep you up all night? Is there someone you need to tell us about, or were you just having some...nocturnal sympathies?"

"Neither, I just...had trouble sleeping." She doesn't want to admit to what she was doing, feeling a little silly for just googling vampires all night. Not to mention the fact that having Hubert ask her if she's seeing anyone flusters her plenty without factoring in his remark. Someone she needed to tell "us" about, he'd said. With her feelings for both of them growing, it's hard not to get excited over something like that, even if it's probably not how he meant it.

"It'll get easier," he assures her, surprising her with a lack of teasing or sarcastic remarks. Hubert is entirely genuine as he says it, speaking from his own experience with the whole ordeal. "Well, I really do need to get to class, but I'll see you later."

~X~

And just like that, life goes almost back to normal. Despite the weight of the knowledge Edelgard shares with her, Byleth's life continues like nothing has changed, except for how much closer the three of them have gotten. School goes on without anything major happening, Ferdinand bothers them at lunch from time to time, and the three of them spend their weekends together, though the actual event that brought Byleth so deep into their group is rarely discussed.

Byleth continues to research in her free time, always fruitlessly, as she doesn't really know what's real or what would apply to Edelgard, and every time there's an attack, she knows that it's her, and that Hubert is there to support her through it. Sometimes, she wishes that she could be there, not because she thinks she could help in any way, or because she has some sick interest in watching Edelgard take a life, but because she wants to be there to support her as well.

Other than all of that, the next few weeks pass without any major differences, and life goes on as normal.