Chapter Text
Yuu first noticed Cale had been acting suspicious during lunch.
Ever since Professor Crewel brought him to the Ramshackle dorm and introduced him not only as his new dorm mate, but also as their guardian, the first look they gave in his way is pity.
A look of pity because he got dragged into this. A look of pity because he had to deal with these. A look of pity because he'll become the new unpaid therapist to this prestigious school full of mentally ill students.
In a world full of mysteries, normally curiosity will fill up your gaze that you slowly yearn to explore. But if you ask the expert which one of them is Yuu, the only thing they could say to you is that "only trouble will bring your way in the world full of the unknown."
Despite the sympathy Yuu gave, they're happy and relieved. They don't have to deal with all of their bullshit alone anymore. They finally had a responsible adult on their side instead of that other good for nothing one who calls himself as the "kind" Headmaster of the school. They finally have an adult to help them navigate themself through this instead of taking risks that might end up taking their life away. As mature as they look and act, they're still a teenager. A kid who was supposed to continue learning on how to be independent through little steps.
Yet they were forced to grow up ever since they stepped into this world.
So ever since that day, Yuu glued themself to his side like a little menace. They can tell that Cale didn't like the sudden attachment based from his quiet grumbles, slight twitch of one of his eyebrows and the frown whenever they're by his side, yet despite that, he didn't voice out his displeasure. He immediately schooled his face back into his stoic expression after the slight movements he made, like he didn't want to show his displeasure to them at all. It oddly made them feel happy that he's not judging him, and it's okay for him to act like this around him because he understands them from what they've been through.
This kept happening for quite some time, until Cale slowly learned to accept it. He slowly learned to relax around then that he even let Yuu be alone with his children and act as parent like what he always does to the dragon and two sibling cats. He rarely calls out their childish behaviour, and if he did, it probably means that they're going too far.
To Yuu, Cale was an unpredictable being. A human shrouded with mystery that even rivals the enigmas surrounding the world. He's a question that has a simplest answer, but many can never find it. Maybe Yuu found the answer which made them understand his persona, maybe they didn't. The only thing they knew was that he understood him. From the way he talks, stands, and acts, they learn to get to know him just from observation alone.
Though, from the time they spent together, Yuu noticed a problem. They don't know how this world works, most of all when there's magic involved in it. Magic is a very complex subject no matter if your world has magic or not. They didn't know where they came from, and they didn't bother to ask about it, but based on their clothes alone, they can tell their world is in a fantasy medieval setting? Well, that's just their guess.
Surprisingly, Cale was the first who reached out to them to teach them on how the world of Twisted Wonderland works. "We learn the rules so we can break them." Those are the words he said, used as an excuse on why he wanted to learn when they asked him that time. So, as a great little sibling they are, they approved their request.
Yuu first taught him and his children the language this world uses. Cale is a very fast learner, even manages to speak and write it in full paragraph without problems, making him look like he's actually part of this world and not from a different dimension. It kind of made them feel jealous of how fast his mind works, it's what every student yearns for to have okay! As easy as the teaching session with Cale went, meanwhile the kids took them a long time to fully learn and understand the language this world spoke of. It's understandable that they had a hard time learning because, well, they're still kids.
That was only about the world's language, there's still more to come. It took them months with a lot of sweat ("Cale how the heck can you sweat so much in the middle of winter?!"), and tears (mostly from the children) to fully declare to them that they are done and graduated before winter break is over.
It's not hard to deal with the shenanigans that the students of NRC throw in their way anymore now that they had Cale with them. Sure there are times where their roles switch and Yuu had to be the one who had to act as a responsible little brother here whenever Cale either decided to scam someone or use himself as a meat shield by sacrificing himself when danger struck. Now they truly understand as to why the children worry so much about him that they went so far as to threaten Headmaster Crowley that they will destroy the school AND the entire world if they don't do their job properly.
It still never fails to bring a shiver down through their spine whenever they remember that.
Now, their life is peaceful. Finally giving them the chance to take a deep breath and just enjoy life, it makes them want to lie down on their bed and be lazy for the first time in their life. It kind of reminds them of their certain guardian who proclaims that he wishes to have a slacker life.
For someone who keeps saying that he wants a slacker life, he sure loves to stick himself to others businesses like he owns it, maybe that's what made him so lovable and important to others, including theirs, so it's not even a shock to them that he's been acting rather unusual today, which led Yuu back to the topic.
It was during lunch break that time where they first noticed it. At first, it wasn't noticeable, he acts like what he usually does every time, he even managed to fool them. Truly a very great actor.
"Where yah going?"
If Grim didn't say those things that time, they probably never noticed him leaving them alone.
Yuu was busy eating that time when Grim voiced it out. It made them turn their attention back to their group which usually consists of the trio who are dubbed as "one brain cells gang", a lazy adult and his kids. Yuu even briefly swept their gaze around them that time. The courtyard looked almost deserted, most students never stayed long because of fear of being seen by the vicious gaze of one dragon and two sibling cats. They can't blame them, sometimes, the children look more scary than the redhead himself.
Yuu turned their attention back to their little group. The first thing they saw is Grim, standing with both paws placed on both sides of his waist, which answers their question as to why the lack of soft fur under their fingertips disappeared. They also saw the three children huddled up to one side until their gaze met the man who's been invading their thoughts for the past few days, only to see him carrying five plastic containers.
Yuu blinked rapidly. Where did those containers come from? They hadn't even seen him put those in his bag before they left the dorm today. They conclude that he may have gotten them from the kitchen where the Master Chef event occurs, he is participating there as a member after all.
"Somewhere." Was Cale simple reply.
They heard Ace huff beside them. "Ya haven't even finished your lunch yet!"
Yuu immediately directs their stare to his lunchbox besides his children, half eaten and left forgotten. No wonder the three of them had frowns plastered to their face that time, they look like they want to voice out their displeasure from his action, but it looks like On stops them from doing despite her reluctance from her actions.
"It's fine, I'll finish it later."
They felt Deuce shuffle from their other side "We only had five minutes left before lunch was over though." He voiced out.
They heard Cale hum. "Then so be it."
The weight from their left side disappears. "Wait!" Ace calls out to Cale as he properly
"Where are you goin' anyway that it's much more important than your hunger?" He can't help but ask.
"Yeah! Most of all when ya never leave your plate with food every lunch!" Grim voice out the obvious.
"Also, what are you even gonna do to those containers too?" Deuce followed.
Questions after questions are thrown in his way like they're his parents who's going on a night out today. Through every question, silence is the only response they received, which made their voices full of questions slowly fade out because of fear he might snap at them, it didn't last until silence is the only thing that can be heard between them.
Yuu internally sighed. They can tell they're curious, who wouldn't be? When the person they're talking to is still unknown to many, but shoving him questions won't help them cleanse their thirst for answers to solve the unknown. It will only lead him to withdraw from his shell more.
But those thoughts of theirs are proven wrong when Cale opens his mouth.
"Feeding a stray guppy."
"....."
"W-what?" Yuu can't help but ask again with a stutter. Did they just hear him right?
Cale sighed. "I'm going to feed a stray guppy." He repeated and slightly shake the containers in his hands as if what he was about to do is normal.
"...."
"Eh??" The four simultaneously said, dumbfounded can be heard to their voices alone.
Their stupefied response apparently looks so laughable it made On, the mature one between the three, to let out a soft snort.
"W-wait a minute, a guppy??"
"There's a guppy here?"
"I heard there's some in the botanical garden." Ace answered Deuce's question.
Cal sighed once again. "If you don't have any more questions. I'll take my leave-
"Wait!!" Yuu's loud voice cutted him off, gaining not just his but also the other's attention.
"Let's focus more on the important part here!" Yuu raised their white gloved hand to point at the five plastic containers stacked together from his gloved left hand. "You gonna feed them those?" They asked.
"What are even those anyway?" Ace follows.
"Desserts."
"Desserts?!" Ace and Grim shout in unison.
"Can a guppy even eat those?"
"Not a topic that you should be focusing on Deuce!" Yuu said while shaking his shoulder.
Yuu wanted to let out a curse when he heard those. What the fuck is he on to this time?
"Ya gonna feed them all of those?" They heard Ace drop another question.
Cale only hummed in response.
"That's so many just for a guppy!"
"Yah! You should at least give us some nya'know!"
"Grim!"
"Really?" Cale asks, genuine confusion written to his face unlike his usual blank expression. This made them feel very concerned about him.
"I thought this is enough to feed them."
"How many guppies are you going to feed anyway?"
"One."
"That's too much!!"
They watched Cale look down and face the five containers in his hand. If you're looking closely at his beautiful pale face intensely like Yuu, Ace, and Deuce are doing that time, you will definitely notice the slight pout formed on his lips.
It made Yuu want to let out a squeal.
They watched his slightly pouted lips let out a soft sigh. They watched him come closer to them while his other hand moved to his other hand. He grabbed one plastic container and placed it on top of Grim's head when his distance between them lessened. Surprisingly, Grim's head manage to balance the container on his head.
"Have one then." He simply said and turned around.
"See you later." Those are the last words he said before he started walking away from them.
"Wait human, I'll come with you!" The black dragon who surprisingly stayed silent through the whole fiasco finally said something and flew his way to follow him.
The rest remained silent. Four pairs of eyes continue to stare dumbly at the plastic containers on top of Grim's head.
Until one of them finally break the silence.
"Nice! Free food!" Ace said with glee and immediately grabbed the container on Grim's head.
Grim's dazed look immediately shattered. "Oi! That's mine!"
"Guys! Stop fighting!"
Yuu can only sigh after that whole scenario happened. They also had more questions that needed to be answered circulating to their mind, but they decided to shove it down for now and let future them deal with it on another day.
"Noona, are we going to have a new big brother?" They heard Hong ask.
On let out a hum. "We'll see."
"Ffgna!!" Grim shouts loudly, scaring the three. He immediately stopped what he's doing and turned his way to where Cale went through.
"I'm supposed to be the only big brother in the dorm! I must stop him!" Are what Grim last said before taking off to chase after the certain red haired beauty.
"Wait Grim! Come back here!!"
Yep, they'll definitely let the future them deal with all of this, which they immediately regret.