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Ding-dong! Ding-dong! The clanging of the bells signaled the end of classes for the day, and now it was time for the students to partake in their after-school clubs. The bustling student body headed out to their respective clubs this way and that way; some ran outside for their sports clubs, and others walked down hallways for their more indoor-oriented clubs. Two students, in particular, were walking down the stairs to their club: Azul Ashengrotto, Housewarden of Octavinelle, and Idia Shroud, Housewarden of Ignihyde.
These two were about as different as night and day could be, but they both shared a fondness for board games, hence why they became members of the Board Game Club. While Idia preferred games that were more roleplay-based, Azul preferred games that were more about business. They couldn’t quite understand each other, but even so, they got along in their own way.
“I’m quite looking forward to club today, Idia,” said Azul as he walked alongside his fellow housewarden, who had his hands shoved down the pockets of his blue hoodie jacket. “Perhaps we can partake in the classic game of chess.”
“Nothing wrong with an old classic,” Idia replied. “I need something to rest my thumbs after that gaming session I had, last night.”
“Up all night, again, were you?” asked Azul, raising an eyebrow at the fiery-haired boy.
“Fwee-hee-hee!” Idia chuckled, grinning toothily. “I managed to finish the story of Eternal Fantasy IX on hard mode and got the special ending. Stayed up until Ortho made me go to bed at 4 AM, but it was worth it.”
“You know, it’s saying something when the younger brother is more responsible than the older brother,” Azul pointed out as he and Idia walked down the hall. “Honestly, you’re going to get insomnia with your night owl habits, and then…”
Idia sighed as he rolled his eyes, attempting to tune out Azul’s ramblings… but then, as he spotted something up ahead, he suddenly froze right in place, his eyes going so wide that they looked like dinner plates. Azul, having his eyes closed during his little monologue, did not notice until he was suddenly grabbed by the back of his blazer and yanked forcefully behind a pillar with Idia, who peeked around the corner.
“Idia, what in Twisted Wonderland are you doing?!” Azul asked, looking rather irritated about being grabbed, but before he could get a straight answer, Idia promptly shushed him.
“Look over there…!” he whispered as he pointed forward, prompting Azul to look to where he was pointing, and that’s when he spotted Yuuki Hajime, wearing her white lab coat, black leather gloves, and a pair of pink goggles. She was walking down the hallway, eyes forward and focused as she headed to wherever it was she was headed. While Azul just hunched an eyebrow in confusion, Idia gave a wistful sigh as he watched her, the tips of his blue hair taking on a pink tint and his pale cheeks turning the same color.
“Yuuki…” he whispered in an almost longing voice.
“You know Miss Yuuki, Idia?” asked Azul as he looked up at his senior.
“She’s only the Cutest Girl in Night Raven College!” Idia exclaimed before he muttered to himself. “Even if she’s the only girl in the school and I’m the only one who says so…”
It all happened completely by chance. Idia was expecting a package with a video game that he had pre-ordered, but due to an error, it somehow ended up at the Ramshackle Dorm, where Yuuki was staying. Worried that Idia would miss his package, Yuuki, accompanied by her cat monster companion, Grim, brought the package all the way to Ignihyde. Though their meeting was brief, Idia felt an odd sensation ever since he first saw her, but he didn’t think much about it. He honestly thought he’d never really see her again, after that… but he was wrong.
Every few days, Yuuki would stop by Ignihyde, dropping off things like food, drinks, and even Idia’s homework. He didn’t really understand, at first, and found her unannounced visitations slightly annoying… but gradually, he started expecting her to come by, and before he knew it, he started looking forward to her dropping by, even if it was just briefly. She would say a few words like “I’m just leaving this here” or “Have a nice day, Idia-senpai” and then she’d leave. However, something about that just stirred something in Idia’s heart… something he didn’t think he’d ever feel.
“Well?” Azul inquired as he stuffed a hand into his pocket. “Have you actually talked to her?”
“ERK!!” Idia cried as he tensed up, freezing up and bristling like a skittish little cat. “Err… well… um… no.”
“Well, maybe you should try talking to her instead of stalking her like a certain someone from Pomefiore,” Azul suggested while adjusting his glasses. “And I will not name names because he could be nearby as we speak…”
“I’m not stalking her!” Idia cried. “I’m quietly observing her from afar!”
“What you just said is the definition of stalking,” Azul countered before he sighed. “Honestly, Idia, I know you have a tendency to avoid people, but you really should learn some social skills.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest as he continued. “You’ll never really get to know her more if you just sit on the sidelines, all the time.”
“Well… I… err…” Idia stammered, trying to find the right words to say. It was true that he tended to avoid people like the plague, especially the types that didn’t really understand his passions, but… there was something about Yuuki that seemed different. She willingly went out of her way to bring her things, even though there were times he tried to send her away.
Maybe, just maybe… he could give it a try, just this once.
~TWST~
“Who in the world am I kidding?!”
Idia found himself standing by the statue of the King of the Underworld on Main Street, practically tearing his fiery hair out and gritting his sharp teeth.
“I can’t just go up and talk to Yuuki Hajime!” he cried. “First of all, she’s a girl, and second, I’m way outta her league!!” He sighed as he slumped down against the statue and slid down to the ground on his rear, then he looked up at the legendary being that his dorm had been founded after.
‘Why couldn’t I have been more like the King of the Underworld?’ he thought. ‘I bet if he were here, he’d have no problem talking to her. He was known for being such a smooth talker… I’m nothing like that. I bet the moment I go up to Yuuki, the first thing that’ll come outta my mouth is incoherent gibberish, and she’ll look at me like I’m from another planet, and then she’ll never wanna talk to me again.’
He heaved yet another heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging before he shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Oh, well,” he muttered. “Might as well head back to Ignihyde and see if I can play a few quests on Celestial Impact. I wonder if Crimson Muscle is gonna be online today. Maybe he can help me with that really difficult overworld boss… and while I’m at it, I better hurry and try a pull for that 5-star character for my party.”
Just as he went to do just that, though, just out of his peripheral eye… that’s when Idia saw Yuuki walking along, still dressed up in her lab coat, goggles, and gloves.
‘AAH!’ Idia yelped mentally. ‘It’s her again! What are the odds?!’
Thankfully for him, she didn’t seem to notice him as she kept walking… but now, Idia was curious. Where could she possibly be going to?
Suddenly, before he even realized what was happening… Idia began to follow after Yuuki. He kept a considerable distance away, though, close enough not to let her out of his sight, but far enough so that she wouldn’t notice him. After a while, he saw her enter the school’s Botanical Garden, but he froze as he stood in front of the door, then cast his eyes to the ground.
‘What am I doing?’ he thought. ‘Why am I following around a girl that I hardly even know? If anyone else saw me doing this, they’d think I’m a creeper or something!’
He sighed as he slumped against the wall, once again, staring up at the sky.
‘I’m such an idiot,’ he thought. ‘I feel like one of those crazy shoujo manga protagonists or something.’
Just as he was getting ready to walk away, once again, the door opened, causing him to turn to see Yuuki standing there.
“Oh!” she exclaimed in surprise before she gave him a friendly smile of greeting. “Hi, Idia-senpai!”
“HEE!!” Idia shrieked as he froze as still as a statue. “Uh… umm…”
“What’s the matter?” Yuuki asked. “Don’t you remember me? It’s me, Yuuki Hajime. I’m the one who keeps bringing you your homework and stuff, remember?”
“I… I know you…” Idia replied as he averted his gaze away from her face, sweat beading down his face.
“Oh, good,” Yuuki replied with a smile. “I almost thought you forgot about me.”
‘Such a cute smile…!’ thought Idia as he looked at her, his cheeks and the tips of his hair turning pink again, and he could feel his heart thundering in his chest.
“So, what are you doing here?” asked Yuuki.
“Uh… I…” Idia started before he started murmuring incoherently.
“What was that?” Yuuki inquired. “I didn’t quite hear you.”
“I don’t… know,” Idia answered, not quite loudly, but just enough for her to hear him. “I… I got lost… I guess.”
“Huh,” Yuuki muttered while tilting her head in perplexity.
“I’m just gonna go-” Idia started as he turned to leave, but then, he tensed as he felt a hand clasp around his wrist, causing him to turn to see Yuuki smiling at him as she held his arm.
“Actually, since you’re here,” she said, “can you help me with something?”
“W-wait, what?!” Idia questioned in surprise. “W-well, I… I, uh…!”
“I was expecting someone else to come and help me,” Yuuki began, “but he hasn’t shown up yet. I guess he got caught up with something and he’s busy, and since I don’t have a phone, I can’t call him or send him a message on Magicam. Listen, you’re a third-year, aren’t you? Maybe you can help me with this!”
Before Idia could even process what was going on, the Ramshackle Prefect dragged him inside the garden. As if the Housewarden of Ignihyde wasn’t nervous enough, being inside a place with so much plant life; now he was stuck in here with the girl that he was crushing on. What were the chances?
“So, here’s the thing,” Yuuki explained. “I have an Alchemy Class project that’s due in two days. Grim and I are supposed to make a potion that can change the color of gemstones.”
“Uh… o-okay,” Idia replied while he held his arm, shyly. “So… what do you need my help for? Why not get those other normies you hang out with to help you? The ones from Heartslabyul.”
“Hmm?” Yuuki hummed, blinking quizzically before she made an “O” shape with her mouth. “Oh! You mean Ace and Deuce. Well, they’re still kinda working on their own potion.” She sighed as she shook her head. “Besides, the last time I tried to ask for their help with a project, I lost my hearing for 3 days. I guess that’s what I get for not wearing my earplugs.”
Idia winced at that, though he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of incident happened that led to that.
“And as for Grim, he’s waiting for me back at the Ramshackle Dorm,” said Yuuki. “I just hope he hasn’t messed up anything while I was gone.” She then looked up at Idia. “So, Idia-senpai, since you’re a third-year, I was hoping maybe you’d know a thing or two.”
“Uh… umm… I guess I do,” Idia replied. “I mean, it is basically first-year stuff.”
“So you can help me?” Yuuki asked. “I’ve got a few things: nectar from a Lantern Blossom, a quarter teaspoon of crushed Moonstone powder, and… um… something else… I think there was one more component I need, but I can’t remember.”
“Uh…” Idia muttered while clutching at his arm and glancing off to the side. “Y-you need… um… p-petals.”
“Petals?” Yuuki repeated.
“Yeah,” Idia said. “Petals from a Prism Flower. They actually do grow them here in the garden. About a handful should do.”
“Why do they call them that?” asked Yuuki, intrigued.
“When you hold the petals up to the light,” Idia began, “they make a rainbow. I used them before for my Alchemy Project when I was a first-year. Potions that can change gem colors are, like, basic-tier things.”
“Funny,” Yuuki replied. “You sound like someone I know. He said the same thing, pretty much.” She paused for a moment. “Actually, I think I know where there those flowers are that you’re talking about.”
She walked over to a more secluded part of the garden, one that looked more like the woodlands in the mountains that surrounded the school. In a particular spot where there was lots of sunlight, she could see these shimmering flowers that sparkled in the rays. They actually formed a colorful rainbow over them as the sunlight shone on the flower petals.
“Are these the Prism Flowers?” asked Yuuki.
“Those are the ones,” Idia answered.
“They’re so pretty,” said Yuuki as she marveled at the flowers, her eyes shining in their rainbow light. “I almost don’t wanna pick them… oh, well.” She picked a couple of them and placed them in a small bag for safekeeping. “So… these will stay fresh for a while, right?”
“Y-yeah, they will,” Idia replied. “Prism Flowers seem fragile, but they are pretty resilient. Some grow back, like, the next day after you pick them.”
“I see,” Yuuki replied with a smile. “So you’re saying that even though they look pretty, they’re kinda tough… kinda like me.”
“Really?” Idia asked in surprise. “You don’t seem like the type.”
Yuuki giggled as she winked at the fiery-haired boy. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me. I may seem shy, at first, but I can be pretty formidable. Just ask Ace and Deuce. I’ve yelled at those knuckleheads more times than I can count on my own two hands.”
Idia blinked in surprise, not expecting such an answer from her.
‘So she’s not like those moe girls that I usually see in anime and stuff?’ he thought. ‘Then again, she does seem to have this maturity to her, even though she’s 16. I guess now that I look at her, she’s more like those big sisterly types.’
“So, is that everything?” Yuuki asked.
“Uh… y-yeah, th-that’s everything,” Idia answered. “Now all you have to do is put everything together and your potion’s ready to go.”
“Thanks, Idio-senpai!” Yuuki exclaimed. “I really appreciate your help!”
“Um… yeah, sure,” Idia replied with a small smile.
“You know, I’ve got a little time,” Yuuki said. “How about we sit down and have a little snack?”
“Oh… uh…” Idia muttered. “Um… I was thinking about going back to my room to play Celestial Impact.”
“What’s Celestial Impact?” Yuuki asked, which caused Idia to gawk at her as if she had suddenly grown two heads.
“You’ve… never heard of it?” Idia asked, prompting the non-magical Prefect to shake her head in response. “It’s only one of the best MMORPGs in Twisted Wonderland! With such awesome graphics and such an engaging story! And the characters are-” He stopped as he realized that he had suddenly started rambling on. “Err… I mean…”
Yuuki blinked at the flame-headed housewarden, who immediately tensed, wondering what her response would be. He thought for certain that she would laugh at him for his babbling… but instead, she smiled at him, almost endearingly. Honestly, though, it made him a little more nervous.
“So you like those things, huh?” asked Yuuki. “My older brother’s the same way about his video games.”
“So… you don’t think that’s weird?” Idia inquired.
“Not really,” Yuuki replied. “It just means you have something you like, that’s all. Truthfully, I get the same way when I talk about my favorite manga.”
“Y-you like manga, too?” asked Idia, his face brightening ever so slightly.
“Yeah,” Yuuki answered, “but I don’t get to read it very often, especially now that I’m here at this school. I’d like to get into some new series.”
“I-I see,” Idia replied. “Umm… I-I have some extra manga copies that I just have in my room, collecting dust. If you want… I can give some to you.”
“You really don’t mind?” Yuuki asked.
“Oh, I’m happy to get other people into some new series!” Idia added with a small but happy smile. “I mean… you don’t have to go all crazy about it like I do. I just… thought I’d ask.”
“I’d love to!” Yuuki answered without hesitation. “And… if you want, maybe I can come over to your dorm and play this Celestial Impact game with you.”
Idia’s eyes widened as his cheeks quickly turned pink again, along with the tips of his fiery hair.
“You… you mean that?” he asked, grabbing at his hair as he tried to get it to go back to its usual blue color.
“Sure! I wanna see how it looks!” Yuuki declared. “It sounds fun!”
“Uh… o-okay,” Idia said with a slight stutter, feeling even more flustered than before. “H-how about next Friday after class is out for the day?”
“Okay!” Yuuki exclaimed. “I can’t wait to start playing with you! Save a controller for me, okay?”
“Y-yeah, sure!” Idia replied. “Well… err… I-I guess I’ll see you then.”
“Yeah, see you!” Yuuki agreed, and with that, the fiery-haired housewarden turned and left, heading out of the garden. As Yuuki was getting ready to leave, as well, the sound of a twig snapping caught her attention, causing her to gasp silently as she looked over her shoulder. However, she quickly relaxed as she saw who it was that emerged from the bushes.
“Hey,” Leona greeted as he approached the Ramshackle Prefect.
“Hi, Leona!” Yuuki greeted back. “How did remedial classes go?”
“Oh, you know, the usual,” Leona replied with a shrug. “Boring as all hell. At least I got through it.”
“Well, that’s great,” Yuuki said. “I’m sorry you had to come all this way, though. I got somebody to help me with collecting the components I needed for my project at the last minute.”
“Seriously?” Leona asked, furrowing his brow in irritation. “Had I known that, then I wouldn’t have come. Oh, well.”
“Well, since we both have free time, now,” Yuuki began, “how about we hang out for a while?”
“Sure, I’m down,” Leona agreed as the two walked off together. “By the way, who ended up helping you?”
“Idia-senpai helped me,” Yuuki answered, causing the leonine prince’s eyes to widen in surprise.
“You’re kidding, right?” he asked, incredulous. “You mean that introverted radish sprout who would rather hole himself up in his room with those nonsensical video games of his… actually helped you?”
“You make it sound like it’s such a surprise,” said Yuuki.
“Well, it’s just that I’ve never known him to actually do anything for anybody unless it’s for that little brother of his,” Leona answered. “What got into him?”
“Well, whatever it was, I’m glad it did, either way,” Yuuki replied. “Although, it’s kind of weird. He seemed pretty flustered and his hair kept turning pink. I don’t know why.”
“Eh, who knows?” Leona asked.
XXX
Later that evening at Ignihyde…
“Welcome back, big brother!” Ortho greeted, cheerfully as Idia walked toward his bedroom. “You took a little longer getting back than usual. I already took the liberty of ordering your dinner and making it an express delivery! It should be arriving in 30 minutes and 20 seconds or less!”
“Thanks, Ortho,” said Idia as he opened the door and walked inside, disappearing into the darkness.
“By the way,” Ortho began, “Azul Ashengrotto told me that you would be with the Prefect of the Ramshackle Dorm, Yuuki Hajime, today. How did that go?”
The door closed before Ortho could get his answer… but then, it slightly opened again, just a crack, revealing his brother’s face as he muttered…
“It was… nice.”
With that, Idia closed the door behind him, the tips of his hair once again turning pink before a broad toothy grin creased his features.
“Fwee-hee-hee!”