Chapter Text
Crowley finally looked at his students and noted the confusion amongst them, the silence and stares said it all.
“Did I say something wrong?” Nothing but silence. Crowley took hold of his collar, adjusting it slightly and clearing his throat. “You all understand what I have been saying correct? It sure would be a pain to repeat myself after practicing so long!” He complained dramatically, before picking himself back up and clearing his throat, “Oh well, so there is this event I’ve named “Club Appreciation Week”- “
“I’m sorry sir, but we understood you well enough.” A voice interrupted, that being Riddle Rosehearts, the Housewarden of Heartslabyul of course, the one Chiaki had first talked to once he stepped foot into the room, he crossed his arms, and a frown was found upon his face.
“The problem is this was not something I had expected on my schedule! Why the sudden change?” He asked, Azul nodding behind him.
“Yes I too am quite surprised, a new event sure would put a toll on my business if I have to take charge of concession stalls once more. Certainly you have more to tell don’t you?”
“Like you would ever let your own business fumble.” Azul side-eyed Leona who yawned.
“What does “Club appreciation week” even entail anyway?” Leona raised an eyebrow, curiosity be damned. “Sounds pretty lame.”
“Hm, my interest is seemingly piqued, but I would also like to ask, why the focus on our clubs? How does this help us exactly?” Vil pondered,
Crowley had pinch the bridge of his nose, “If you had listened to what I just said you would’ve known by now! No matter, I will explain because I am so gracious.” Crowley took in the grating silence as confirmation and smiled.
“Disregarding that, after this school year kicked off we had non-stop overblots messing up our school’s reputation time and time again, starting with Rosehearts one week after the year had started, continuing onward with Kingscholar, Ashengrotto, Viper, Schoenheit, Shroud, and recently Draconia. But surely you are all aware of that as you have been the one to succumb to it, excluding Al-Asim and Yuu of course.” The boys had flinched everytime Crowley would call out a name, and briefly looked in other directions awkwardly. Clearing his throat once again,
“WHICH is why I wanted to put on an event that would make people feel at ease.” The housewardens perked up, at that. “A showcase of talent and integrity that this school offers, featuring the skills of your club and clubmates.” He pointed towards the white board that he conveniently had stashed somewhere in his room. Where it now had all the boys turn their attention on.
The whiteboard covered with scribbles of the event Crowley was going on about.
“What I had originally planned was for you all to put on visual presentations of your clubs work to show visitors in hopes of entertainment and engagement-“
A hand had slowly raised.
“No, Shroud. You do not have to do a presentation by yourself again. Keep your questions to yourselves till the end, please and thank you.”
The same hand had dropped back to his side. Idia grumbled something in protest that nobody could make out.
“But not to count that out of course, that IS what you will be doing.” Crowley sighed,
‘Where is he going with this?’ Riddle and Chiaki wondered simultaneously.
“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be enough to satisfy them! Especially when Royal Sword Academy and other prestigious institutions are invited to see the course of this event-“
“Hold up. You brought in other schools for THIS?” Leona put a hand out in retaliation.
“It does seem rather unethical. To expand on that, wasn’t the Culture fair enough for us?” Azul stated.
“The Culture fair was pure business! This is supposed to help both our school, and our community!” Crowley argued, “Everyone is looking forward to seeing this play out, so do not disappoint me.”
“Alright, but you still need to tell us more details sir. We cannot put up everything that will be inquired in this event without your permission nor your input.” Riddle had reminded him.
Crowley nodded, “Right, well knowing you all have brilliant minds, I was wondering if you could come up with something… big. Something astounding! Anything that would WOW a crowd of students, families, and friends.”
‘He wants us to come up with the idea? Talk about irresponsible.’ They all thought, excluding Kalim.
‘Sound’s interesting!’
The boys had begun to ponder.
“Well, as an expert on events like this I would love to suggest another competition of course, preferably just singing, or even something to do with fashion.” Vil answered.
Kalim hummed, “I’d like that!”
Leona disagreed, “Yeah no. I am not letting you put me into another tight-fitted outfit like that gala ever again.” He crossed his arms.
Vil huffed, “Alright Leona do you have ANY respectable Ideas? I love to hear it.”
“Hm, Well Spelldrive-“ he began.
“Absolutely not, we are saving that for the tournament.” Vil shut that down, Leona groaned.
“Yeah I got nothin'.”
“I would also suggest the idea to be original, mind you.” Azul put out his own opinion, happily. Leona glared at him.
“Oh yeah? What’s your idea Cephalo-Punk?”
Azul's eye twitched, “I am glad you asked Leona! Well I would offer up a baking competition, perhaps?”
Vil skeptical, asked. “Alright, and where are you leading with this?”
Happy to answer, Azul smiled, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses. “As collateral I’d love to spread my word for the Mostro Lounge to do so-“
“No.” Riddle flat-out answered. Chiaki wincing beside him.
Azul dramatically sighed, “Oh Riddle, what is the problem you find with my suggestion may I ask?”
Riddle had to stop himself from gritting his teeth, he furrowed his eyebrows. “Promoting your business is strictly prohibited! The rules won’t allow it, that I assure you.”
“The same rules that applied to the Culture fair yes? It didn’t stop me last time, I’m not sure how it’ll stop me now.” Azul argued, his smile, a look of joy in torturing Riddle.
“You did WHAT.” Riddles face started to turn red, before calming himself down.
With a wave of his hand, Riddle decided to not take in Azul words, but instead turned fully towards Chiaki who had been quiet for quite a while now.
Sensing his stare Chiaki looked up at him, and blinked.
Riddle cleared his throat, “I am sure there’s a reason as to why you’re in such deep thought, Yuu?” He crossed his arms, “Do you have something you’d like to share with us perhaps?” Malleus who had shared the same sentiment for quite a bit now chimed in.
“I did quite see a pensive look on your face.” He pointed out.
“Ah! um.” Chiaki gasped out, “I might have one thing..?” He hesitatingly responded.
“Well go on Yuu, share what you have in mind.” Malleus smiled, Riddle nodding as well in agreement.
Chiaki gulped, “Well.” He started, “What if we put on a production film based on our daily life at school..?”
Vil’s eyes lit up, “I see, like some type of movie that surrounds us students, I am assuming?”
Chiaki nodded, “Yes!”
Riddle who had been listening along was intrigued by the freshman. “A movie about Night Raven College… What exactly would we focus it on?”
Chiaki rubbed his arm, and sighed. “I was thinking….maybe the overblots?” He whispered the last part, everyone gawked at him. And he waved his hands frantically,
“Hold on hear me out first before you get the wrong idea-“
As they awaited for his answer, he sighed.
“I was thinking that maybe we can tell the story of this whole year, considering how chaotic is became from the beginning where I somehow had no clue how I got here, to now where it feels like I’ve seen it all.” He paused, “And we can tell the audience that it’s just a story we made up, it doesn’t have to be all true. I’d also like to push out the idea where we can turn it into a musical?” How long has Chiaki been holding their breath? Quite a bit, but they stopped and looked up to see blank faces.
Azul pushed up his glasses, “You’ve thought this pretty throughly haven’t you, Yuu?” He responded.
Riddle put his finger up to his chin, “Let me make sure I heard you correctly, you want to base this movie on our overblot’s to an audience full of family members and friends, and you’re going to remind them it’s not based on a true story when in fact it is..?” Riddle repeated in summary, slowly.
Chiaki was going to show a worried look, but concealed it as he always does. “Yes… Will that be a problem?”
Riddle furrowed his eyebrows,
“Absolutely!”
“I don’t see why not!”
Riddle turned to hear Headmage Crowley answer aswell.
“Headmage Crowley this idea would cause an outrage, it’s not a premise we could explore! No offense Chiaki, but I am not sure even my mother would be happy to hear this.” Riddle argued, Chiaki pouted but understood when he remembered Riddle’s situations.
Leona crossed his arms, “Yeah not sure Farena and his nephew would have a fun time seeing what’s going on with me. Even if the whole thing’s going to be “made up”. He quoted.
Malleus tilted his head slightly, and put a finger to his chin to show his pondering, “The senate would be upset if they heard of my overblots upbringing being brought back up in an advanced school production, hm.” His face tensed in what looked like guilt of recent trauma to Chiaki’s eyes.
Kalims eyes widened in realization, “If dad saw Jamil….” He squeaked out, then put on a hesitant look.
Azul, and Idia were both standing still, contemplating is what Chiaki was assuming they were doing by the way they too had no clue what to say.
Vil sighed, He looked towards the Headmage who had seemed unfazed. Vil put his hands on his hips.
“Also if I may interject, Headmage wouldn’t this put a dent on your reputation? An audience full of people are not dumb I assure you, after the repeated events of these showings they’ll be able to clock what’s true and fake, would you really want to risk that?”
Crowley hummed, giving the board a side-glance, “You may be correct Schoenheit, I could be bringing the school down with this idea coming into fruition.. but think about it, wouldn’t it be fun to have other people listen in to your stories not knowing if it’s fiction or a truly well made story? Of course you of all people could understand that aspect, as you are an expert with putting on theatre productions with flair and such.”
Vil raised a sharp eyebrow, “Of course, I’ve worked most my life having to deal with a career that pursues those skills, I’m aware with how to direct, and correct everyone’s minimal mistakes, though that doesn’t answer my question, why should I let stranger’s I am not familiar with, look at my past specifically?”
“Not to mention it’s not really fiction if it’s OUR stories being told.” Idia rolled his eyes,
“Plus how would you plan it out anyway? The technology would have to be advanced not to mention none of us really have distinctive memories of what exactly went down. The mechanics just seem uber impossible, total L.” Idia rambled on, shaking his head.
Kalim gasped out, and turned his head towards Idia. “Wait Wait hold on! Wouldn’t Ortho be perfect for this?”
Idia widened his eyes in horror, waving his hands signaling Kalim to stop.
“Hold on-“
“I mean his tech is sooo advanced! I’m sure he could make perfect footage, and analyze our brains and stuff to get the moments, and you know- oh wait I’m saying too much aren’t I?” Kalim asked, sheepishly smiling.
Idia groans, his hands going down his face. “That’s why I was trying to stop you…” he grumbles, but was not too upset.
Crowley ‘Ah-Ha’d!’ and nodded, “Now this is perfect! We can use Ortho for the technology advances of the production, and Vil for the acting critique.”
Vil frowned, “I never said I would agree.”
Ignoring the blond haired boy, Crowley continued. “And of course the dear Chiaki Yuu, will be the director and manager of this show! So you have more you’d like to say yes?” He motioned to Chiaki, and signed him to continue.
Chiaki crossed his arms, and nodded.
“I do yes. What I wanted to say was each day of the week could consist of two overblots, considering there’s a lot of moments to go through, I’d say mix the beginning year ceremony with Riddle’s tyrant arc, and I guess the spelldrive tournament can be mixed in with the mid-term exams…. the rest could be individual showings?” The boy had kept talking on and on, pausing before letting out another idea.
“And also Mika’s unique magic is important for this too! I was going to ask him and Ortho to help put together the scenes.” Chiaki stopped, and looked up to see everyone staring at him, bewildered.
Malleus had been quite impressed throughout the conversation, he hummed. “I have to say he’s put together an interesting plan, I am mostly inclined to disagree on Lilia’s behalf, but I would like to see this play out. I will oblige.”
Chiaki had blinked twice, and grinned. “Seriously!? You’re the best Malleus.”
Leona just pinched the bridges of his nose, “You know what, why am I not surprised you agreed to this so quickly?”
Malleus pouted, “I don’t agree to these terms easily, but I do not see the problem if they happen to convince an audience full of people that our story is “untrue” or “false”. “
Malleus tapped a finger to his chin, “Then again I am entertained by the idea of how this’ll be put together, I won’t fail to mention this to Lilia, Silver, Sebek, and the others residing in Diasomnia but I’ll will offer up my part into helping this come into the light.”
Vil sighed, “Seeing as I am being forced into this, I will make sure none of you slack off when it comes to the acting, and singing for the musical scenes. Best know this production will be flawless, I take nothing less of the sort. I hope you all understand.” He glares at the rest of the housewardens, message clear.
“Yeah sorry to break it to you Headmage, but I’m not complying with this “idea” that the herbivore came up with.”