Chapter Text
After hearing all that, Ace understood what Vil was doing here, but he still didn’t know Cater’s reasoning, after all, he had looked for him yesterday but couldn’t fill him in cause he was busy with a club meeting. But after saying that Ace realised exactly why, because Kalim and Cater are both in the Pop Music Club together!
Cater confirmed that Kalim told him, and that Jamil was also there but extremely opposed, “Straight up said it was really shady and we had no business going.” But that after Jamil had left, Kalim looked so despondent that he talked to Lilia.
They then decided to make the trip an impromptu Pop Music Club excursion, but on paper be a field trip to appear in a show in Playful Land.
“Honestly it is kind of a smart idea to phrase it as a field trip so if anything happens it’s the school’s fault rather than ours,” Cater thought out loud from his spot. Maybe he should have the pop music club do more field trips just at safer locations.
'At least then, we won't have to take the blame.'
Kalim explained how happy he became when they told him they’d come with, and how he’d tell Jamil all about the awesome time they would have. “I bet he’ll be all like, ‘Oh man, that sounds so cool. You should totally take me along next time. I want in on the fun!"
Vil raised his brow in question knowing full well the younger was much unlikely to say something of the sorts. Rather Jamil was more likely to be furious about the whole thing.
Vil questioned if Jamil would ever say any of that, and Ortho said that although the chance is less than one percent, that means there’s still a non-zero chance.
Lilia clarified that Jamil wasn’t wrong about his judgement, but thinks that children will never grow if they don’t dive into a little danger.
Though he respected Jamil’s wish to protect Kalim, sometimes a little adventure is just what’s needed. So he decided to come along to witness this little learning experience.
Silver leaned over towards his father, “I do not think it is a good idea to be encouraging that.” He whispered, eyes glancing over at Jamil from where he glared at the eldest Diasomnia members.
Jade was amazed that even though he found it suspicious, he still came as a chaperone.
He commented on what a wonderful friend he is, and wished that Azul could learn from his example.
A deadpanned “No.” could be heard throughout the theatre as Azul starred at the screen.
After saying that, Grim had a question. “Speakin’ of Azul, how come he ain’t here with you two?”
Floyd expounded. “He was like, ‘Blah blah blah, no such thing as a free lunch, I don’t wanna get indebted, yadda yadda yadda."
And once Azul got like that, there was no talking him into it so they just snuck out.
Azul stared at the twins in utter disbelief. “I refused to go because it is obviously a scam?! What you do is not my priority, I just do not want to be involved in whatever chaos you too are going to end up making.”
The twins both ignored his complaint which Azul huffed and turned away from the two.
Jade continued, saying he was like Ortho and Kalim, hoping to bring back tales that would make him wish he went.
“If only I’d gone with you!’ Gnashing his teeth all the while, of course.”
Jamil and Azul both stared at the screen in annoyance. ‘Why did future them trying to be cautious and think through situations end up only getting them to seem like they were the ones going to regret it.’
If it were not for the fact that watching this had shown that there was most definitely something going on and thus genuine worry created. The two would have been happy to have been proven right by not being told a story of how wrong they were.
After hearing all of that, Ace also made a confession, “Yeah, uh… I snuck out without telling my housewarden too.” continuing that he would totally lose his head if caught, so he was on pins and needles the whole way here.
Cater, listening to this, waved a bit while talking. “Way to add to your vice housewarden’s worries!”
Multiple people looked confused at the screen and the third year’s odd behavior. Afterall would it not be more the Housewarden’s worries as well?
Grim wondered who Cater was waving to, but Ace had a different question.
“Why are you looking over my shoulder…?” he asked, but when he looked back, he made a strangled sound before the sound of footsteps could be heard.
“Someone was followed,” Epel smirked towards Ace who had grown pale fearing whoever followed future him.
As Trey was shown, Ace was shocked, wondering since when he’d been there.
Trey didn’t answer the question though, only thanking him for the perfect reaction before clarifying that it wasn’t only him there as Leona was shown.
After spotting Leona, Jack was shocked too, “Woah… Leona too?! What are you doing here?!”
“Leona?!” Most of the students in the room shouted in surprise remembering how the beastman had been clear on them not going as it would be nothing but trouble.
Trey clarified that he followed Ace, figuring that based on how sulky he was, he would definitely sneak out.
Ace questioned that if he knew from the start, does that mean the housewarden knows?
Trey told him that of course not, otherwise he wouldn’t be standing here right now.
Trey then explained how he had to use a lot of magic to muffle all the noise Ace made while trying to sneak out, and Ace was shocked because he didn’t even notice.
“Trey!?” Riddle shouted in shock of Trey going against something that Riddle had clearly been against for valid reasons. Rather than how he had been prior to entering the theater. Though the more he thought about it. Trey helping the younger sneak out was something Riddle knew Trey would do if he felt it would be good for them.
Trey explained that he was going to stop Ace, but Deuce talked him out of it.
Ace was surprised by this.
Trey clarified that Deuce had felt bad about sabotaging him, and Ace had a realization that he didn’t know Deuce cared so much.
'Thank you future Deuce for being so smart for once!' Ace silently said. But it would have been better if he was stopped before then.
'Ack! Curse this stupid bad luck!'
Trey expounded that he went back and forth on it a lot, but with the fact that Ace was stubborn and knew how to hold a grudge, he settled on covering him up so he wouldn’t get caught, hoping it would tie things up neatly. “In the interest of keeping the peace in the dorm—not to mention ensuring you come back safely–I’m here to help.”
Cater called Ace lucky, saying that even if he got busted Trey would be right there with him to apologize. Trey interrupted saying he wasn’t sure if it would go that great, and if it came up they would need to split Riddle’s anger three ways.
That shocked Cater, “So I’d have to join in?!”
"I totally agree with me! How am I taking the blame when I never agreed with Ace’s plan?" Cater asked to which Trey shakes his head.
"You're still a third year and a Heartslabyul student, Riddle is still going to get angry with us no matter our choices."
"Urk..." Cater silently pleaded that the punishment would be minimal.
Ace thanked Trey and Cater, and that if worse came to worst, he’d be happy for the company. Trey just told him to try not to get caught.
After hearing this explanation, Jack wondered if Leona’s reason for coming was the same as Trey’s.
Leona clarified that it wasn’t, and that he came to talk sense into a bunch of fools with no self-preservation instinct. “You’ll believe anything you hear if someone butters you up first, huh? Didn’t anyone ever tell you to be wary of strangers?”
He continued, saying that freshmen and sophomores are one thing, but he’s seeing juniors happily jumping on board too. “I almost envy how thick your skulls must be.”
"It's not surprising that Leona is more concerned about himself than others..." Vil says.
Leona definitely heard that and growled at Vil who scoffed.
"Don't get angry with me when you know I'm right."
It was Leona’s last attempt to keep everyone from going and everyone in the room knows it was a last ditch effort to keep him out from any sort of trouble the group may cause.
Lilia was unperturbed by this, thanking him for the compliment.
Leona countered that it wasn’t a compliment.
"Oh how rude." Lilia says, that smile still on his face.
Leona explained that if things go south, the housewardens would be the ones in trouble, including himself, so he told them to stop making extra work for him.
"Wait, but if you all played innocent to them... Wouldn’t they get off the hook?" Deuce wondered.
"Because it is our responsibility to ensure you guys aren't causing trouble and ruining our reputation." Riddle explained.
Deuce was still confused but Epel explained it would essentially look bad on them to not notice someone snuck out.
Leona then turned his attention to Vil, asking him if he really didn’t question any of this, after all, he is a housewarden too.
Vil told Leona not to insult him, explaining that he knew exactly how suspicious it was.
Clarifying that as someone active in theater, Fellows' claim has very little credibility, but that the people in this group wouldn’t just turn around and go back even if he explained it. “If this man is such a talented actor that he could deceive even Ortho’s eyes…”
He expounded that if Fellow is capable of passing off lies as the honest truth, that these ‘spudlings’ wouldn’t stand a chance on their own. So he decided to keep an eye on them personally to make sure nothing happened.
Epel smiled softly despite not being part of it. It was very sweet that Vil would try to keep an eye on everyone to keep them safe. But then again it did seem slightly suspicious at the same exact time.
Leona didn’t believe Vil, saying he made a ‘very nice sounding excuse.’ and said he was just drawn to the promise of a stage performance, “There’s no way you could resist the allure of a show put on at an illusionary theme park.”
Vil tried to defend himself, but ended up admitting he was interested in the stage show.
However whatever Vil had to say next was cut off, as the sound of footsteps could be heard.
Epel sighed, that was the thing that felt off about Vil’s comments.
Rook chuckled, “I am sure you will put on a wonderful show, Roi de Poison.”
As Fellow and Gidel could be seen, Fellow spoke “My, my! Everyone’s here so early.”
"Not this guy again!" Ace screamed.