Chapter Text
At the Mirror Chamber. Most of the NRC students have gathered to go back to their homes for the summer break, some going back home to spend time with their families and some visiting their friends' house to hang out. Others immediately went on vacation, especially the Headmage, while other students just stayed at the dorms.
***
At the Mirror Chamber…
“Ooh. I can't wait to go to the new resort at the Shaftlands. They have a large sauna and a spa area too!” A Pomefiore student exclaimed as he dragged his suitcase.
“Same here. Aah~ I can't wait to have a relaxing vacation after all that's happened.” The Heartslabyul student exclaimed as both he and his friend went inside the mirror.
The other dorm students followed suit as the sound of students chattering slowly faded as they left.
***
Meanwhile at Octavinelle...
The Housewardens, along with their Vice Housewardens and some of their dorm members gathered at Octavinelle for a meeting for where they'll be going for the summer break.
Ace glanced around the lounge, "Why are we here again?"
Deuce immediately spoke as he sat in one of the chairs, "We're supposed to talk about where we'll be spending our summer break. But the others aren't here yet though."
Ace sat beside him, hands behind his head. "Right, right..."
A brief silence. Then footsteps started to echo through the hallway and into the lounge, they then turned their heads to where the sound of footsteps were coming from.
Riddle was walking towards them, along with Trey and Cater.
Cater was the first one to greet them. "Heyya you two! You guys came here pretty early."
"First time seeing you two early." Trey remarked.
"That's quite surprising given that you two often get late for class." Riddle added.
"H-Housewarden!" The two of them immediately stood up from their seats.
"No need to be so formal. It's summer break already." Riddle said with a calm tone and the two eased up.
The three of them sat on the couch across Ace and Deuce. A brief silence then, again, followed.
Trey spoke up to break the silence. "I thought the others were already here."
Deuce then looked at Trey. "Some of us are already here, we're just waiting for the ones from Savanaclaw and Diasomnia to finally come over."
"Pshh... it's been like an hour waiting for them and they're still not here."
"We've only been here for 20 minutes, Ace."
"Still. That's TOO long."
"Haha, you two really are something..." Cater murmured, almost like a whisper.
Ace immediately looked at Cater. "Did you say something Cater?"
"No, no. I didn't. Oh! By the way, we didn't see the others and you guys said that they're already here. Where are they?"
Riddle let out a soft sigh. "I was gonna ask that."
"Hehe...sorry, Rids."
Deuce then replied, "They're looking at the place. Vil, Rook, Epel, Ortho and Idia are at Mostro Lounge."
"Huh, never thought Idia would get dragged with the Pomefiore trio." Trey chuckled.
"LMAO. He got dragged away again. Poor guy..."
"What about Kalim and Jamil?" Riddle queried.
"Kalim and Jamil are getting accompanied by the Leech twins to look around the whole place."
At the mention of the Leech twins Riddle's mind started wandering.
"The Leech twins huh..." Riddle muttered under his breath. 'I wonder how Floyd's doing...' When his mind registered what he was thinking, he immediately shook his head, trying to shake off the thought. “Why would I think of how he's doing??? What's gotten into me lately…” The red slowly crawled up his face. It wasn't that he was mad at the thought, he was just simply embarrassed to have thought about it.
"Are you feeling alright, Riddle? You're red right now." Trey said, his voice laced with concern.
"Are you sick Rids?" Cater said, concern etched on his face.
Ace and Deuce also looked at each other and back at Riddle. Concern also dawned between them.
Riddle coughed slightly and straightened his posture. "No. I'm completely fine."
"You sure? Y'know we could still visit the infirmary-"
"I'm alright Trey, really. There's nothing to be worried about."
"I can't let them know that I suddenly did that just because of thinking about Floyd. It would be utterly humiliating! To think of how he's doing when he's just as annoying to be with!”
A long silence followed…
Ace then suddenly spoke out of the blue. "Riddle."
“I swear this guy-!” Deuce then whispered towards Ace. "I swear Ace, if you piss him off you'll-"
"I'm not going to piss him off, Deuce. I just wanna ask something." Ace shrugged.
Deuce looked at him with a wary look then shut his own mouth, letting Ace speak... hoping it wouldn't end up with "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!!!"
"You may talk." Riddle looks up, replying with a calm tone.
"Soo... y'know that we're here to talk about the trip for summer break right?"
"Yes, what about it?"
"Did your Mom agree to this?"
Silence.
'Why did Ace just suddenly switch the conversation...?'
Trey, Cater, and Deuce looked mortified as Ace suddenly said that, color completely draining from their faces. As the three were about to say something to Ace. Riddle spoke up.
"Well...My mother is busy doing work during summer, so I don't go home and just stay in the dorm."
Everyone fell silent.
"So... does she know that you'll be doing this?"
Silent again...the sounds of the water and bubbles were the only noise that were heard inside the lounge. The silence, deafening.
"...she doesn't. I decided on this for myself."
"Riddle..." Trey said anxiously.
"Trey. I'll let you know that this isn't the first time that I did this. You know that."
That's right. This isn't the first time Riddle did this. He did this when they were still kids as well. Him, Riddle, and Chenya…It didn't go well at the end though.
"But what if-"
"She knows? I doubt she'll know, she's at a medical conference outside the Queendom of Roses. There are only a few students left at the dorms and she already knows that I'll be staying. She can't contact the Headmage for information about the students since he's already on vacation, nor can she contact the professors as they're also on leave for the summer break." Riddle's heart was pounding with anxiety and nervousness even though the emotions weren't laced on his face.
Everyone fell silent. Sympathy etched on their faces as they looked at Riddle.
“Riddle... Are you really gonna go against your mom this time?" Cater said with a soft tone. Concern etched on his face.
"I wouldn't say it's going against her but I...I just wanted to know what it's really like to spend time with all of you. Even if most of you are troublemakers... including those from other dorms." Riddle said with a calm demeanor, aside from stuttering a bit, even though his heart was still pounding with nervousness and fear. But there was also a hint of longing behind it all…a longing to experience the bond of being with the others.
"...Oh, Riddle..." Trey said with a gentle tone with a hint of comfort, he then gently patted Riddle's head.
"Awhh...Group hug!" Cater initiated as he pulled Trey to hug Riddle and called the other two to join the hug as well. Trey and Riddle jolted slightly as they were immediately grabbed for the hug but then eased up. Both Ace and Deuce looked at each other before deciding to join the hug, slight giggles and chuckles came out. Riddle on the other hand is getting slightly annoyed by how tight they're hugging him, but he was happy and content nevertheless.
But after a few seconds...
"Can all of you release me?! I can't breathe!"
Almost immediately, they all retracted from hugging Riddle.
"Sorry, sorry..." Cater apologized.
Riddle smoothened his clothes and spoke.
"It's fine Cater. But...I thank all of you for that hug."
Everyone smiled at him and said 'you're welcome Riddle'. Those smiles...gave comfort to him, smiles that he wants to see on his friends faces, smiles he doesn't want to fade.
They then talked for a few minutes, full of laughter and slight bickering, mostly Ace and Deuce bickering with each other.
“Hey-! I didn't take the dawnweed on purpose okay? Grim was the one who took it out of the pot!” Deuce argued.
“Well, I saw you bringing it.” Ace teased.
“That's because Grim placed it on the plant basket I had!” Deuce then retorted.
Hearing them bicker, Trey took the chance to whisper to Riddle.
"Are you sure you're okay with this? Y'know the consequences already..."
"I won't regret my decisions Trey. I won't ever regret them. Even if...I already know of the consequences."
Trey seemed to ease up a little, but the worry is still there... it's still present. But he pushed it aside for now as they continued on the conversation they had with the others.
***
Meanwhile at Mostro Lounge...
Vil and Rook were talking to each other on a small side table near the window as they gazed at the scenery from inside the lounge, while Epel and Ortho were talking near the counter.
As for Idia...he was hiding in the very corner of Mostro Lounge, a bit far from where the others were at. He was quietly mumbling to himself, "Why am I even here with these extroverts? And how did I even get dragged into this??? I wanna go HOMEEEE!!!" He was internally screaming in his mind wanting to leave that place, even though there were only 5 people there.
Idia looks at Ortho who was happily chatting with Epel. Ortho noticed Idia looking and looked back at Epel to say something before he went to the corner where his brother was hiding.
"Idia... why are you just hiding in a corner?"
"Y'know I don't like being around people irl Ortho..."
'I know, but I just want you to make more friends, Idia...' Ortho said inside his mind, but he knew he couldn't say that to Idia right now.
"Well, you could come out and have a seat around here rather than hiding in a corner."
"I don't know...I feel safer in this corner NGL and I feel like people won't notice me here."
"I doubt we won't notice you Idia." Suddenly another voice came up. Judging from the tone and the demeanor of the one who said it, it wasn't hard to guess that Vil was the one who spoke just now. Idia looked up to see Vil and Rook approaching him. "Great Sevens...this is a nightmare..."
"Covenu. It's quite easy to spot Roi de Chambre with his cheveux bleu vif~"
"My... what now?"
"He means your bright blue hair."
"Ughhh...curse this hair for being too bright..." Idia mumbled to himself.
"Did you say something, Idia?" Ortho chimed in.
"Nothing. Nothing. So...whatd'ya guys want with me?"
"Aye Roi de Chambre, we just want to talk to you."
"Huh...?"
"What do you mean talk to ME?! I just wanna be left alone here in the corner! Is that too much to ask???" Idia was internally screaming right then and there, wanting to be alone for the next few minutes as he knows that he has already been dragged to a summer break trip with some extroverts.
Epel walked towards the corner as well bringing some snacks along with him.
"Merci bien, Monsieur Pommette for bringing the snacks~"
"You’re welcome."
"SNACKS?! I THOUGHT THEY WERE ONLY HERE FOR A TALK?!"
"Ortho, what's happening right now???" Idia whispered to Ortho. But, Ortho just gave a small giggle.
"We wanted to talk to you about your plans for the trip." Vil responded with his usual tone as he sat at the couch across where Idia is sitting.
"My...plans?"
"Well, we can't have a trip with you always playing your video games."
As Vil added that reply, he suddenly froze in place with color immediately draining from his face.
"?!, You're...not proposing that you guys will confiscate my gadgets, right???"
"Of course not Roi de Chambre. We'll just be temporarily taking them from you."
"THAT'S THE SAME AS CONFISCATION! ORTHO, HELP MEEEEE!!!"
"Well...what they're saying is a fact though."
"Ortho..." Idia was looking at Ortho with pleading eyes, saying, "PLEASE DON'T LET THEM CONFISCATE MY GADGETS!!! I BEG OF YOU, ORTHO!!!"
"Hmmm...but-"
"What if we just limit his screen time? Ah think it'll be alright with Idia." Epel responded.
"Limit my screen time huh..." Idia mumbled as he pondered Epel's suggestion.
"Well, it could work. But I can also suggest another thing~"
Another silhouette walked towards them. It was Azul this time. Idia didn't mind him really, given they're in the same club.
"Azul Ashengrotto, I thought you said you had a lot of paperwork to do." Ortho chimed in with a cheerful tone.
"I've already finished all of them. There wasn't a lot of paperwork to deal with since it is summer break."
“So what was your proposal?” Vil interrupted to let the conversation immediately get back on track.
“Haha...well, I propose Idia to sign a contract with me.”
“Like I would sign one of your contracts!” Idia retorted.
“Tsk, tsk. It's not like my usual contracts Idia. The contract you'll be signing will be a schedule of your screen time, hehe.” Azul snickered with that usual smirk he uses in his negotiations.
“....I ain't signing that.” Idia retorted.
“Oh dear. That really hurt, y'know? This can actually benefit all- ahem…you.”
“And in what way, exactly?...you can't even force me to sign that contract because Floyd and Jade aren't here and I'm lowkey thankful for that ngl…”
“Could you say that again? I couldn't quite hear your mumbling.”
Azul pretends not to hear what Idia just said and proceeds to fix his glasses. He does look a bit pissed off though.
“N-nothing-”
“There's no use making Idia sign the contract, Azul.” Vil snapped.
“Oh~? And why's that?”
“You don't even have Floyd and Jade with you right now. So what's the use in persuading him?”
“Tsk.”
“Oui, Roi d’Effort. It'd be much wiser if we didn't persuade one who won't sign, no?” Rook chimed in.
“I would also like to not let you persuade my brother into doing something he doesn't like.” Ortho said with a mellow tone, emanating concern to his older brother.
Azul sighs, utterly defeated at the spot. He waved his hand dismissing the thought of making Idia sign the contract. “Well, there's no choice then. So what do you all think we do to Idia if he plays his video games too much then?”
Idia frowns and mumbles inaudibly under his breath, “tsk. Can’t these guys just mind their own business? I need to log in everyday to do dailies and quests, of course it's a huge toll if I don't log in, ughh…”
“We'll just let him be.” Vil stated firmly while the others in the room were looking at him with complete disbelief. Idia couldn't even believe it himself.
“...Vil...” Epel was looking at Vil with shock etched on his face, mouth agape.
“We'll just confiscate all his gadgets if he plays too much. That's it.”
“NO WAY YOU'RE CONFISCATING ALL MY GADGETS!!!” Idia shouted. He didn't want his gadgets to get confiscated, he really didn't want to.
Everyone looked at each other except Idia, he actually looked mortified at that moment.
“We'll resort to it if he games too much. He can play at certain times but not while we're doing preparations or if we're in events during or while on the trip.”
“Vil sounds like a mom…” Ortho whispered towards Epel.
“Experienced it firsthand…” Epel said while sighing at the thought of getting lectures from Vil firsthand back at Pomefiore.
“C’est parfait, Roi du Poison! We'll be able to control Idia's screen time if that were the case.”
Idia was now crouching down, grumbling and mumbling to himself. His words were completely inaudible, while Ortho was gently patting his back.
“I think it'll work-”
“Why do you guys want me to stop playing my video games, huh?” Idia's tone rose a bit as he snapped. Then everyone went silent.
Sigh… a short sigh broke the silence.
“Idia…”
Everyone then looks at Ortho who was still patting Idia's back, trying his best to calm him down a bit.
“What is it Ortho?” Idia looks up at Ortho.
“We…well…do have a reason why we're doing this to you.”
“...huh? Then what is it then?”
“We just want you to enjoy the vacation with all of us.” Rook chimed in.
“That's right. We're going to be seniors soon you know? So it's best if all of us do try to spend more time with the sophomores and freshmen while we're still here in NRC.”
Epel looks at Vil and Rook. He'll also definitely miss them once they go for their internships. “But we'll still be able to meet if there's a time to be reunite, right?”, Epel thought to himself. Even if the chance was a bit slim, he held on to that thread. As for Idia…
Oh.
Oh.
Understanding dawns upon Idia. “That also means that Ortho…huh…no wonder he really wanted me to join in.” Idia turns slightly and hugs his younger brother, Ortho didn't hesitate to hug him back. Once he becomes a senior and takes his internship, Ortho will still be at school as a sophomore. “That's right. Ortho is enrolled here as a student now.”
“Haa…alright, alright. I get where you guys got your resolve.” Idia let go of the hug and was now laying back against the couch with hands inside on either side of his jackets’ pockets.
“So, will you agree to not play too much video games while we're on the trip?” Azul spoke with his business tone…he can't actually differentiate if it's actually his business tone or casual tone.
“I'll try…but no promises.”
“That's settled then. But if you don't try your best to hold back in gaming, your gadgets will be immediately confiscated by us.”
“Got it…”
“Let's eat the snacks then!” Ortho said with his usual cheerful tone.
“Anyone want some apple juice?” Epel offered to the others.
“I'll take one.” Vil says as Epel hands him a bottle of apple juice.
“You'll get a fee for bringing food from outside into the Mostro Lounge, y'know?” Azul spoke as he sat on the couch next to Idia and Ortho.
“Well the Mostro Lounge is closed for the summer break, yes? So there won't be any fee.” Vil said with an annoyingly teasing tone towards Azul with a smirk on his face.
“Ugh. Some of you people are insufferable. Ahem. I'll have one of those apple juice then.” Epel gave Azul a bottle of apple juice and after he took a quick sip…Azul immediately chugged down the entire drink…
Everyone started chuckling as Azul drank the apple juice in one go. They actually never expected that Azul would actually just immediately swallow everything like a drunkard (Epel thought of him like a drunkard when he drank the apple juice).
“Never knew you'd chug the whole thing.” Vil was amused at the sight.
“The taste of the apple juice…is truly incredible. Truly business worthy!”
“Ah ain't sellin’ this to ya. This is my family's business, mind you.” Epel retorted before Azul could get his hopes up in trying to get his family’s apple juice business. Azul was trying to hide his pout…but pouted either way.
“He really was spoiled when he was young, huh…” Everyone thought as they laughed slightly at how Azul was getting pissed off of getting teased with his pout.
They laughed and talked about some discussions about class and what awaits them in their upcoming summer trip with the others.
***
The Octavinelle dorm hallways…
“WOAHHH! So this is what it's like in Octavinelle!”
“Kalim, I suggest you speak with your indoor voice…” Jamil warned Kalim as they are in a different territory…and Jamil is still keeping his guard up nevertheless of the occasion or event.
“Right. Sorry!”
“I just said to use your indoor voice you airhead…” Jamil muttered to himself.
“It looks like you're enjoying the trip around our dorm Kalim.” The silhouette with teal hair and a black streak on his hair at the left side of his face, near the left side of Kalim spoke.
“Your dorms pretty cool Jade. It's like a large aquarium in here!”
“Haha. Well, it may look like an aquarium, it actually isn't.”
“Because the entire dorm is literally underwater.” Jamil added.
Jade cast a side glance at Floyd as he just stands there while looking through the large window while Kalim runs to the other end of the hallway due to seeing a large jellyfish. Jamil sighed as he followed Kalim.
“Floyd, is something the matter?”, Jade called out as he walked closer to him.
“I'm boreeeedddd…”
“Ha…I knew you'd say that."
"When's goldfishie coming over?"
"I think he's already at the lounge with the other Heartslabyul students- why are you grinning all of a sudden?”
“Nothinggg~”
“You know it'll be “Off with Your Head” if you mess with Riddle right now and you'll be having a collar around your neck for the whole trip. Not to mention Azul won't be pleased if you skip your work right now.”
“Ya mean showing Kalim and Jamil around the dorm? That's boring, they can just navigate around the place using a map.” Floyd shrugs as he walks to the opposite side of the hallway. “I'm going to the lounge now. Byee~”
“Heh…I'll see you later then Floyd.” Jade waved at his brother before walking towards where Kalim and Jamil were.
Surprisingly, both of them were having a conversation about sea creatures. Kalim talked like a connoisseur, which was quite surprising for Jade. Jamil on the other hand also had a deep understanding of their topic.
“Looks like those two are getting along well.” Jade thought to himself.
“Look! A moon jellyfish!” Kalim exclaimed as he pointed to the jellyfish.
“Huh, it is. Why's it here though? Aren't they mostly found on shallow waters?”
“They’re mostly found in waters 100ft deep and it doesn't look like the place where Octavinelle is built is 100ft deep.” Kalim looks up the glass window to try to see the height of Octavinelle and looks down below. “Hmmm. Does that mean that there's a part in Octavinelle's dimension where the water is shallow?” Kalim pondered to himself.
“It's creeping me out that you're thinking rationally for once…”
“There is actually.” Jade chimed in.
“Oh, hey Jade!” Kalim turned and smiled at Jade.
“So there's shallow waters near Octavinelle?”
“Yes. Not far from here there are breeding grounds for moon jellyfish.”
“Ohhh…but why's this guy here though?”
“Maybe it got lost. Who knows.”
A small *ding* was heard.
“It looks like everyone is already at Mostro Lounge.” Jade gestured for Jamil and Kalim to follow him. “Let's get going then.”
“Alright!” Kalim exclaims as Jamil nods in response.
As they walked, Jamil then asks a question.
“That reminds me…”
Jade turns to look at Jamil.
“Where did Floyd go?”
“Ohh yeah! He was with you just a moment ago. Where'd he go?”
Jade walked to the side as they continued walking and answered, “He's going to see his goldfish.”
“His goldfish…? He has a pet goldfish?” Kalim tilted his head in confusion.
Jamil on the other hand was stifling a laugh and trying to maintain his composure in front of Kalim. Jade didn't bother to answer and gestured to them to follow him to Mostro Lounge.
***
Floyd's POV
As he walked towards Octavinelle's lounge in a hurried pace to see Riddle his mind wandered to the question, “I wonder what goldfishie is doing right now~?”
He then slams the door open of Octavinelle's lounge. As he exclaims…
“Goldfishieeeee~!!”
“Ack-, Floyd!” Riddle abruptly jolted from his seat as the others looked at the door with shock on their faces, which turned to faces of amusement.
“Looks like someone's here to see Riddle…” Trey said with a somewhat amused tone.
Floyd then closes up towards Riddle as he begins to “annoy” him.