Chapter Text
No one likes to be called into the principal office–especially the parents.
“I see. Thank you, Otoni-sensei. I’ll have a good talk with my daughter…Yes…Yes, I’m aware. Thank you for your understanding and effort.”
While curling her legs to her chest on top of the plastic stool, nine-year-old Yuu refused to lift her head when she heard her father exit her elementary school’s office. Even when she saw his shoes from the in-between gap, she hid her face more when he kneeled in front to be at her level.
“Yuu,” he called after a sigh. She didn’t respond. “Yuliang.” Still nothing. “Sasaki Yuliang, look at me.”
Full name, that’s never good. Hesitantly, the little girl raised her head. She didn’t want him to see it, but it was no use hiding the thick tear stains down her cheeks, the red eyes resulting from excessive crying, or the cut on her swollen bottom lip. Her father’s stern expression softened at the sight of her face, and he reached to wipe away the fresh tears with his thumb.
“Your principal said the kid you punched in the nose was bleeding a lot. His parents wanted a formal apology and for you to be expelled.”
Yuu sniffed. “But he’s the bully. He wouldn’t stop sniff pulling my hair, and he pushed me first!”
“And did you tell him to stop?”
“I did, a lot! Like a lot, a lot.” Yuu wiped her face quickly before adding, “But he wouldn’t…He kept calling me creepy and that mama was a freak, and we didn’t belong here! I got so mad, I…Then when I hit him, I felt really, really bad! And I stopped. I’m still mad at him, Daddy. I wanted him to hurt, but I ended up feeling worse after. I’m always the one who feels worse in the end. I hate it! I hate it…” Yuu didn’t hide her face, but used her hands and arms to wipe as more sobs whimpered from her scratchy voice.
Meanwhile, her father frowned and rubbed the back of his neck to gather his thoughts. “Your mother would be better at this than me. But maybe I can offer another side to it. After all, you got your temper from me.” Standing up, he offered his hand to her. “Come on, let’s go. We’re going to stop by someplace first.”
“Before we see mama?” Yuu asked after a couple of sniffs. After giving his hand a squeeze when he helped her off the little chair, her father held a soft, forlorn smile.
“Hm, yes.”
Flashback to be continued…
…
…
Stretching in Yuu’s arms, Grim’s yawn sounded more like a yowl before he snuggled closer into her armpits for warmth. “C-C-Cold…”
Yuu pitied the magical beast in her arms. ‘I think I read somewhere cats don’t function well in the cold–poor Grim.’ Today felt particularly nippy. As she followed behind Ace, Deuce, and Jack to homeroom on their first day of the new semester, Yuu was willing to carry her student the rest of the way so he could cuddle in her jacket. Not like he weighed much anyway and an extra ball of warm fur never hurts.
‘Maybe we should stop by the cafeteria to grab a hot drink,’ Yuu contemplated, completely cutting out of Jack’s retelling of his ski adventures to the Heartslabyul duo. Raising her wrist for the time, she debated, ‘If I go now, I might just make it before the bell rings. But if the vending machine here offers hot drinks, there’s one just in front of the classroom. Risk it or rush?’
As she passed by a row of glassless, stone-framed windows, a hand reached out from one of them and cupped Yuu’s forehead to stop her. Good thing, too–because when Yuu looked ahead, she was about to run into a snow-covered bush after walking at an angle. Was she that lost in thought? Then the hand smoothed its way upward, giving the top of her head a founding pet before pulling away.
Hold on, she knows that touch. Looking over her shoulder, Yuu was met with a frown from Scarabia’s vice housewarden. Inside the hall going in the opposite direction, Jamil raised a brow, silently scolding her to watch her step.
What a way to start the day–by having the person you may or may not have a crush on help avert you from a near blunder. ‘Well to think of it that way…’ Yuu spotted a familiar white sweater just ahead of Jamil, Kalim being immersed in his own conversation with someone she couldn’t quite see. So quickly, the Ramshackle prefect gave a soft smile in greeting and mouthed, “Thank you.”
Jamil let out an exhale in response, before mouthing back, “Good morning, Yuu.”
“Good morning, Jamil-senpai.” Adjusting the magical beast in her arms, Yuu freed one arm to make a small motion of encouragement by forming a fist and tucking it close to her chest. “Do your best today.”
Perhaps it was from the cold or Yuu could have imagined it, but there was a slight blush on Jamil’s cheeks and his silver eyes brightened just a bit. He gave a nod and a wave before he had to catch up with Kalim to their homeroom. Turning the corner, Asim’s conversation partner took notice of Jamil’s approach.
“Viper-san, did you forget something?” Silver asked.
“No,” Jamil answered. “Just had a thought.”
Kalim tilted his head at his retainer and asked, “Hm? Like what?”
“Today might be easier than I expected.” Then Jamil pinched Kalim’s cheek to pull. “Unless you act up.”
“Ow, ow, ow!”
Having watched him go, Yuu didn’t realize her smile stayed curled on her face even after she saw the gleam of a golden hairpiece disappear. Since their reconciliation and basic establishment of a possible relationship, their interactions have been similar to the one just now–brief and yet wholesome. Some light touches, prolonged closeness, and an exchange of a few words. Even when texting each other, Yuu kept the ‘mindless chatter’ as minimal as possible and yet found herself chatting with both Jamil and Kalim for an hour a night. It was enough for now–if anything, more than Yuu anticipated. Her chest would still be pounding whenever she faced Scarabia’s vice housewarden. Even now, Grim glanced up after feeling it ram against his ear.
“Oi, Yuu,” he called, having kept his head down this whole time and missed what had occurred. “If we don’t get a move on, we’re going to be late.”
‘Oh shoots, the drink!’ Looking for her friends first, Yuu spotted them just as Deuce realized they had lost her. He glanced around and the Ramshackle prefect rushed to catch up before he could say anything to Ace or Jack. ‘Please let the vending machine have warm drinks.’
“Did you hear? There was another overblot incident.”
“Are you serious?”
Yuu glanced to the side, her ears leading her gaze to a small huddle of students about to pass her. Based on the armband patterns and the vest colors, they were from Heartsbalyul and Octavanille.
“Over the holiday, with Scarabia.”
“Wait, that air-head housewarden actually overblotted? Over what?”
“It wasn’t the housewarden this time, but the vice housewarden.”
“But I heard all of Scarabia’s students were forced to stay at school during vacation. Who else could enforce an order like that other than the housewarden?! These so-called dorm leaders, they’re all insane I tell ya!”
“Yuu.” The Ramshackle prefect jumped a little when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Belonging to Deuce, he asked her, “Everything alright?”
“Yeah! Of course,” she answered. The huddle had continued on, taking their conversation out of earshot. But the lingering feeling of dread it left on Yuu made her pull on her gloves.
“Your head’s been in the clouds every morning for a week now,” Grim’s grumbling muffled by her jacket.
“Are you having trouble sleeping maybe?” Deuce asked. “If something’s bothering you, you can always talk to us. We’re here for you.”
“Not sure what sound advice you can offer,” Grim commented, earning a frown and a small grunt from Spade for the remark.
Yuu couldn’t help but smile at the Heartsbayule freshman and feel her own heart melt from his concern. He’s always been such a sweet friend to her. “Maybe another time. We’re keeping the others waiting.”
However, the chatter didn’t stop with just that one huddle of students. Throughout the day–homeroom, the alchemy labs, and the lecture halls–Yuu always spotted a group or two muttering in the corner. While she couldn’t hear their exact words, it wasn’t hard to deduce that they were gossiping over what happened during the holidays. Not when they carried the same gloomy aura as the morning’s huddle–enlightening one unknowing student after another until they were like weeds left alone in flowerbeds. Noticeable and spreading throughout the field.
Why couldn’t you compare holiday dinners or brag about the trips you went on with your families? Yuu wondered, gripping the broom in her hand. It was flying class, the last class of the day, and the Ramshackle prefect had been hearing discriminatory remarks against Kalim and Jamil all day. Do you honestly have nothing else to talk about? Or do you think no one else will hear you? All of you just…just…
“Yuu!”
The Ramshackle prefect jumped and raised the broom, turning to the one who touched her from behind.
“Whoa, whoa!” Ace jumped back, seeing the broom raised. “Easy there! I come in peace, in peace!” Standing nearby, Jack also blinked at her immediate defensive behavior.
“Ace,” Yuu quickly put the broom down. “Sorry, but don’t scare me like that.”
“Scare you? I was trying to tell you that it’s gonna be the beginner’s turn for the exercise. Deuce’s the last one and he’s just about to finish.” He pointed ahead at the intermediate group of their class to prove his point, just as Coach Vargas got in position to pitch.
The boulder of muscle let out a cry and practically chugged the ball into the sky. Deuce leapt up with his broom and just caught the ball before falling to the ground. He regained his concentration which slowed his fall before rolling on the grass for a more or less safe landing.
“Hmm, your landing needs more work, Spade,” Coach Vargas commented, rubbing and rotating his throwing arm. “You must maintain focus from the moment your feet leave the ground to when it lands. You cannot be distracted once you’ve caught the ball.”
Deuce answered, “Yes, Coach!” like a soldier to a drill sergeant–which satisfied their teacher.
Yuu asked Ace, “Do you think he’ll lighten up on his pitch for the beginner fliers?”
“Would an easier toss get you out of the funk you’ve been in all day?” the Heartsbayule asked in return. “I get that it’s the first day and all, and Professor Trein was more of a snoozefest than last semester. But what’s gotten into you? You’re like a cauldron ready to blow off when Deuce or Grim make a mistake. Is it the overblot incident going around?”
Point made–noticeable to more than just the empathic.
Jack lowered his chin in thought and added, “My ears have been itching with nothing but that all day. But you two said it was broadcasted over Magicam, yet I don’t recall seeing anything about it. Then again, it’s not like I follow Azul-senpai’s account.”
“Based on your active lifestyle, do you follow any social media?” Ace asked, which earned a shrug from the wolf-man.
‘Sharp as a canine tooth this one.’ But noticing one of Jack’s ears flickering in a direction, Yuu accessed he honed in on the ongoing rumors and gripped the broom closer to her shoulder as she muttered, “Jade-senpai said it did.” That’s right, the truth came out over social media–which was part of Azul’s plan to expose Jamil’s manipulation. So there’s no need to be this upset over hearing all these rumors and exaggerations. “I guess…a part of me thought they wouldn’t be talking about it for this long, but it must be more enjoyable to spread stories in person.”
Ace rubbed the back of his neck with a frown. “It bothers you this much?”
“They weren’t there.”
“So what? Weaklings and losers want to cause trouble the first chance they get. You can’t stop that. It’s how this school functions,” Ace shrugged as he made his point.
Although Jack growled, “Cowards.”
Yuu couldn’t agree more. “That’s horrible.”
“That’s reality,” Ace shrugged.
Then a thought occurred to her. “But it wasn’t this bad with Riddle-senpai, was it?”
Ace blinked and then crossed his arms, frowning as he tried to recall. “Hmmm, well there was that one time when we redid the unbirthday party we got kicked out of that first time. A bunch of upperclassmen tried to sabotage it and ruin it for everybody before it even began. Deuce and I told Trey-senpai and Carter-senpai about it once it was over, and I guess they’ve been helping our housewarden however they could on the side. Nothing extreme like that has happened since, but I occasionally hear a sneer or two. Students at our dorm try to undermine everyone and anyone, and always shift the blame onto someone else. They never take any responsibility for their own actions, and refuse to acknowledge the consequences until they lose their heads.”
Yuu had no idea that had happened. Back then, she must not have been as attentive as she was now to what happened after Riddle acted like a repressive dictator. The more she thought about it, the naive it seemed to just assume no one held a grudge after Riddle endangered his own dorm when he lost control–and his only consequence appeared to be a slap on the wrist and an Unbirthday Party redo. To still be a housewarden must have been unfair to everyone else–no matter how suitable Riddle remained for the position.
“I see,” she let out. Then turned to Jack, “Was Leona-senpai okay after the Spelldrive tournament?”
He answered, “My housewarden is challenged daily for his position and stands his ground every time. Once, thirty members of my dorm tried to fight him but he hardly lifted a finger to put them all in their place.”
“Thirty?!” Ace exclaimed. “Just how strong is that guy?!”
With a gleam of excitement in his eyes, Jack smirked while holding a tight fist, “One day, I hope to challenge him as well–to fight him at his strongest. But I’m nowhere near his level to attempt such a feat just yet.”
“Is anyone at that kind of level?” Ace asked. “You guys at Savanaclaw are something else.”
Yuu would be lying if she didn’t agree with Ace. Yet, she recalled the effort Savanaclaw’s had been making since the Spelldrive tournament–the morning exercises she had to participate with Grim during their stay, and the little bit of diligence Leona’s made for it as well. She also heard of such efforts for the Spelldrive club as captain. It’s very subtle, but Leona changed since his incident for the better.
‘I suppose Azul-senpai overcame his incident as well ,’ Yuu assumed, also remembering the new point system for the Monstro Lounge. ‘ If Trey-senpai and Karter-senpai helped Riddle-senpai, and Jack and Ruggie-senpai’s been supporting Leona-senpai, then Floyd-senpai and Jade-senpai must have done the same for their housewarden. I wouldn’t want to go against the twins any day of the week, so surely. Over time, they got better. It just takes some time.’
-“It’s frustrating not being able to explain myself better, but…could you give us just a little more time to sort this out?”-
Kalim said something similar, too. Then a slap against her back snapped Yuu out of her thoughts and Ace gave her a wink before grinning. “Feel better now? Great! Do me a favor and have Grim lift you both off the ground the first time to catch the ball so we’re not here till sundown? I want another nap before club practice.”
Yuu scoffed and moved her shoulders for his hand to slide off her PE shirt. “No promises.”
Coach Vargos called a few names for the last group to come forth–the supposedly less-than-capable flyers who only manage to suspend themselves a few feet off the ground. One of them being Grim and Yuu, and so the conversation ended as the Ramshackle prefect had to collect her magical beast from criticizing Deuce–claiming that if the blue-haired freshman doesn’t improve, then Grim will catch up and surpass him. Everywhere else on campus was freezing, but Coach Vargos must have his own magic to keep the field as mildly warm for outdoor use, and thus Grim was back at peak energy. The warm drink from the vending machine this morning may have also helped. The magic of this world continued to amaze Yuu and cement the idea that magic truly has no limit–except for the one wielding it.
After sweeping Grim away from the Heartsbayule freshman, Yuu did her best to keep her attention on her partner as they got ready. The grade only counts when Grim could lift them both off the ground for her to catch the ball—at least, at this level. Although talking with Ace and Jack reassured her somewhat, the surrounding atmosphere of the chatting students didn’t dissipate. For one as sensitive as she, Yuu’s skin was prickling under her PE uniform and it wasn’t due to the climate. In fact, the air around her felt icier as those who had completed their flying exercises continued their back-talk. Rubbing her arms and her hands for warmth, the action wasn’t unusual for any bystander. But Yuu could feel the heavy negativity creeping into her chest and her lips quivered as her ears seemed to only pick up onto the tittle-tattle around her.
“Oi, Yuu!” Grim called, jumping on her shoulders. “Put the broom down. If you don’t pay attention, this broom is going to hit where it hurts once I take off. The grade won't count unless I carry us both.”
“Hm, right, right.” ‘Come on, Yuliang. Ignore them!’ She told herself, putting the broom down on the floor and standing side-ways beside it with bent knees to brace. ‘You’ve ignored this for how many years until you stopped listening all together. You’ve done this before, now do it again. Just ignore it, ignore it, ignore it all!’
As Grim jumped onto the broom–all four paws on the handle and ready for Coach Vargos’ call– Yuu did her best to mentally push back all of the babble. Tuning out the collective voices as the mesh speech filtered from being incoherent to a few words still struggling to stand out and reach her mind.
“I thought overblot was a rare occurrence, but it’s just one after the other at this school. What the hell is the Headmage doing about this?!”
‘Ignore it, ignore it, ignore it!’
“Ever since that flea-bag enrolled here, everything has been going downhill.”
Huh?
“Think about it. Does this school have a history of educating monsters? No, right?”
“Now that you mention it…”
“And that monster is always present when these things happen, right? Him and his ‘subordinate’ were there when my housewarden overblotted—even if he was a tyrant.”
“Mine, too.”
“Same.”
Rather than prep his swing with a pitch, Coach Vargos held the ball above his shoulder and called, “Grim, Sasaki. You’re up!” He tossed the ball with the flick of his wrist, flying three feet above his head to the pair.
“Here I go!” Grim exclaimed before empowering the broom with his magic. The magical cat expected to feel Yuu’s added weight once she jumped on, but instead, he felt the broom abruptly stop when she caught it in her hand. Grim fell into the snow as a result. “Hey, what gives?!”
THWACK
Yuu had swung the broom like a baseball bat and hit the incoming ball straight for her unsuspecting classmates. The group thankfully ducked just in time as the ball meteorically zoomed over their heads, and crashed through some of the tree branches…thirty yards away?!
“YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!” Yuu bellowed.
“SASAKI!!”
Like a snowball to the face, Yuu snapped back to reality and turned her head to the coach who stared with a gaping mouth and shifting eyes at what he just saw. In that brief moment, Yuu realized how quiet everything suddenly became. The chatter and the whispers stopped, and even the non-animal students heard the strain of the splintered branches before they snapped off the trees. All attention was on her, and Yuu uneasily gulped while Coach Vargos glanced between the obvious hole in the trees and the one responsible for it.
Yuu thought of only one thing… ’Whoops.’
“Sasaki, you can bat?”
That’s all the coach had to say?!
…
…
Jamil determined that today truly was easier than he expected. While sitting on the bleachers with a towel on his shoulders, Viper wiped away the sweat from his brow as the coach blew the whistle to end the basketball game–and today’s club activities. Thus, marking the end of the first tedious day of the week–school-wise, at least.
“You heard? Jamil Viper overblotted over the holiday.”
“Of course I heard. It’s all anyone’s been talking about. But what the heck happened? He’s always so cordial whenever I talk to him.”
“I heard only being vice-housewarden wasn’t enough for him, and he just snapped. Completely lost his mind.”
“I heard it was Kalim Al-Asim's whimsical demands that drove him to the edge. Did you know he was a total tyrant right before the holidays? I’m shocked that guy didn’t overblot like the other housewardens.”
They weren’t too far off, but all the same, not completely accurate either. Hearing similar rumors in the halls and the back of classrooms, Jamil further concluded the theory that Jade had lied about the livestream. Facts were distorted, and stories were fabricated–none which were either confirmed or denied by any student of Scarabia, and no one was brave enough to ask Jamil. Thankfully, Viper was able to keep Kalim distracted from hearing these allegations, but Allah knows how his club ‘activities’ were fairing with the up-to-date-with-the-hot-topic gossiper of Heartsbayule.
A couple of drills on the court were a good stress relief for the sophomore, but the game could have gone better if his teammates included him. It didn’t matter if someone was blocking him or not, no one would pass Jamil the ball. He had to steal it himself to have any play. Then a couple of fouls later done by a few of club members, and Jamil was benched with a few court burns on his arms and legs. Nothing serious, but something tells him this is going to be the treatment for the rest of the week.
Unexpectedly, as Jamil was about to assist with the clean-up, a bottle of water was presented before his face. “Seeeeeeenpai!” Ace grinned as the one holding out the bottle. “Nice playing out there! Thirsty?”
Jamil one-hundred percent did not trust that beaming smile. He eyed the freshman and the bottle with suspicion before accepting it. “I need to leave after we clean the gym, Ace. I’m not doing your part.”
“Can’t a guy offer some water to his senpai after a good game?” Ace asked, feigning hurt for the accusation. “Sure your team lost, but that’s because they forgot what ‘teamwork’ was over the break. Bumping out their best player, losers. Besides, Floyd-senpai changed his mind at the machine AFTER I already paid for the water.”
The eel-merman in question frowned after capping his vitamin water while lounging in the bleachers nearby. “The deal was you paid for the drink if I won you the match. I did, and you buy whatever drink I want–no complaining.”
Ace groaned and whined, “I can’t keep up with your eccentric mind, sometimes. Anyway, why waste a good bottle?”
The Scarabia vice housewarden still didn’t appear convinced. Not after all of that kissing up, but his underclassman had a point. “Just tell me what you want already,” Jamil sighed, twisting the cap.
“Not everyone wants something after a little show of kindness,” Ace stated.
“ You usually do.”
Ace frowned even more with his cheek puffed to the side. “Alright, fine,” he caved. “I wasn’t going to ask, but you pushed me.” Kneeling in front of Jamil as the upperclassman was about to drink, Ace whispered, “Did you start dating Yuu or what?”
Jamil gripped the bottle too hard and water splashed right onto his and Ace’s face.
“Ew, gross!” The red-head freshmen wiped the water off his face as he backed away and Jamil used his towel to do the same. Floyd watched them both nonchalantly as Jamil glared at Ace from beneath his towel. “Hey, I said I didn’t want to ask, but you thought I wanted something so indulge me.”
“Hm? What, what? Are you talking about Shrimpy?” Floyd asked, crawling over with a curious gleam in his two-colored eyes.
“That put you in a better mood? Look, Jamil-senpai. If it’s true and that’s your type, then…well I guess I didn’t expect that.”
‘That’?! How could Ace refer to someone he considers a friend as ‘that’?
Collecting himself, Jamil asked, “What transpired this question, Ace? And answer me fast before I leave you with all the chores.”
Floyd crossed his arms and nodded, “That was rude, Crabby.”
“Why are you both ganging up on me now? I’m just saying, there’s…”Ace struggled to say, “more to Yuu than you would expect. If he hasn’t told you already then…I really shouldn’t be the one to break it to you, so don’t make me. But that would be a crappy way to start a relationship if he hasn’t…”
“He?” Jamil repeated, dubious to believe what Ace was trying to convey.
Meanwhile, Floyd’s smile returned at this little joke. “Hm, you too? Aren’t the three of you always hanging out? Does Mackerel not know, too? That’s just sad. You’re making me feel bad for Shrimpy.”
“Hey, hey, hey now! So you do know.” Ace searched their nearby area and leaned close to whisper again, “That Yuu is a G-I-R-L.”
“Ah duh, it’s obvious–once you know her,” Floyd shrugged.
“Well excuse me for being cautious,” Ace frowned again, crossing his arms. “This is an all-boy’s school, and Yuu’s the special exception because of Grim. The rest of the school don’t need to know what else makes her a special case and she fits right in with us guys, so we’ve been playing along for her safety.”
Floyd hummed, “Sounds more like you two want to keep Shrimpy all to yourselves. Rather lecherous to me.”
A brow twitched on Jamil’s face at the thought, but he pushed that irritation aside to ask, “Did Yuu or the Headmage stress for this to be a secret?”
Ace frowned at the Octavinelle sophomore before answering, “Never mentioned it. So you know what? Out of place, out of mind. Who cares, anyway?”
‘You do, apparently.’ Jamil has half a mind to leave this conversation and this gym altogether. Why were they having this conversation again? They’ve digressed. “Just answer my earlier question, Ace. I’m losing brain cells by just talking to you.”
“Then answer mine. Are you two, or not?”
Oh for the love of Allah! Slowly and through gritted teeth, Jamil answered, “While it is none of your business, no. We are not.”
“Alright,” Ace raised a brow and scratched the back of his head. “Then why did she get so upset?“
“Hm?”
“Yuu’s been weird since this morning and being extra sensitive to the gossip that’s been going around—surely you noticed. Not so sure if either of you witnessed this side of her before, but when she gets mad, it’s no joke. I’ve seen her pissed off before, but she really blew up during flight class today. I told her to let it go but she went ahead and got herself in trouble for it. From my experience, the only reason a girl gets that vicious is if she's defending someone she cares for or she’s on her cycle.”
“Hmm,” Floyd hummed. “How brief was your experience?”
“More than you, I bet!” Ace snapped, a vein pulsing on his head.
“Huuuuh? You wanna repeat that?” With the good mood gone, Floyd stood up and leered over the freshman with his sharp teeth purposely visible from his snarl.
“Ack! Why are you always trying to pick a fight with me?! Jamil-senpai, help me out here!”
The Scarabia vice housewarden had officially left this conversation. “I’d say your prayers now, Trappola,” he suggested, not looking back as he headed for the broom closet on the other side of the gym.
As he heard the squeaks of tennis shoes and Ace’s cries echo from behind, Jamil rummaged through the tanglement of the mops and swift brooms. Then he paused before pulling one of them free from the cluster, just to wipe his forehead once more with his towel—and conceal the faint blush at the tip of his cheeks.
Yuu got mad…over him?