Kaeya has taken over almost everything he can when it comes to trainee knights in an effort to take even just a little bit of work off of Jean's plate. Of course, some things still require her direct involvement, but this is not one of those things. This is a meeting with a bunch of bright-eyed barely adults who can't stop chattering for five seconds, where the most important thing discussed will be how roommates are going to work for those living in the provided quarters during training.

Over the past two years, Kaeya likes to think he's gotten rather skilled at herding the crowds of teenagers in an efficient manner, considering they're prone to stopping to stare at every new thing they pass (there's no way the library is that interesting to a bunch of teenagers. Seriously, he's starting to think that they're more fascinated with the librarian herself), getting distracted by conversation and falling behind, and just generally being a menace. All he has to do to regain their attention now is glance back over his shoulder and make a pointed noise, and about 75% of the time they'll get back on track without ever even stopping. 25% of the time he actually has to say something, or go track down someone who wandered off, or some other less ideal outcome.

Today, the group is particularly hyperactive. It's taken them forty minutes to make a fifteen-minute walk, and even Kaeya's near-endless patience for them is running thin.

And so now he's looking over his shoulder, telling one girl to keep her voice down while inside, please, and isn't slowing his pace because this really is going to make him late to the point that even he can't get away with, so he doesn't even see the equally distracted alchemist when he turns into the hallway. Kaeya continues not to notice him, right up until Albedo walks face-first into his chest. That's a little harder to miss.

Kaeya finally looks where he's going, and Albedo flinches back so fast he nearly trips over his own feet. Kaeya puts out a hand to steady him, and Albedo meets his eyes for exactly 0.2 seconds before turning so red that Kaeya worries he might combust.

Albedo takes another three steps back, and this time he does topple, "I am so sorry, Sir Kaeya. I didn't," his eyes flit up to Kaeya's chest for a split second, and he blushes an even more alarming red. "I didn't see you. I apologize."

"It's quite alright, Chief Alchemist. Are you okay?" Kaeya pointedly ignores the giggling of the parade behind him and reaches down to take Albedo's hand to help him to his feet.

Only, Albedo is heavier than he expects, and his first attempt only accomplishes an almost standing Albedo and another awkward fall. He might put just a little too much force into his next try, as while it does get Albedo back on his feet, it also sends him straight back into Kaeya's chest.

Going forward, Kaeya is going to button his shirt a little higher, he thinks.

Albedo pushes back against Kaeya's chest, then snatches his hand away so fast that if he didn't know better, Kaeya would think he'd been burned. His face is so red now that Kaeya is sure it would be visible from halfway up Dragonspine.

"I am so sorry. I, yes, I'm fine, thank you, I have to leave now please," he says the last half of the sentence in a rush, then ducks past Kaeya and rushes out of the hallway. The door slamming shut echoes around the space for a moment.

Kaeya would feel bad for him if he wasn't so cute endearing amusing.

He waits a moment until Albedo's footsteps fade before he turns back to the crowd of onlookers. They look distressingly excited about the whole thing. Kaeya can practically hear the rumors that will be running rampant through the headquarters within the week.

Well, this should be interesting.