Chapter Text
Despite the amount of “fun” he’d had last year, Grim could safely say that he was glad neither he nor his henchmen had decided to participate.
Grim rolled over, snorting.
Good for them as well; they’d put everyone else to shame if they did.
Grim rolled over onto all fours and stretched slowly, groaning, before standing up.
They had, however, been drafted into helping with numerous acts this year, and honestly, it was just exhausting.
With his henchman running all over the place, all those scary people demanding her time, she hadn’t had much time to spend with him, and Grim was constantly tired because of it.
They were in Pomefiore again, and Grim could see, from the pillow that had been provided for him to sleep on, his henchman across the way, talking to that smiley Kalim about something. She was smiling and laughing, and altogether seemed in good spirits.
Their first year had been eventful, but so far, the second was proving much less dramatic, aside from a few small instances, and Grim couldn’t help but feel grateful.
A Great Mage like him enjoyed his beauty rest, after all, and without the interruptions, she’d been able to spend more time with him, get more tuna, and spend less time in life-threatening situations.
Now if only she’d turn down the beast-taming, and Grim’d be living in paradise. Knowing Yuu, though, she’d be followed around by another three or four scary dudes by the end of the festival.
Grim yawned before hopping down from the pillow and heading across the hall. He had to dodge between legs, as numerous purple-wearing students were going this way and that, and Grim could see Vil order people around from a position off to the side.
He was about halfway across the dance hall when he smelled it.
Grim froze and sniffed again, and he could feel his stomach rumble. Following his nose—he was quite talented at that—he located his target.
A dark-haired student, only a bit taller than Epel, carrying a large tray. He was stiff and heading in the direction of his henchman and Kalim. There was a rather foggy look in his eyes.
None of those were what Grim was interested in; rather, the divine smell emanating from the tray in his hand was more of interest to him.
Bracing himself and taking careful aim, Grim waited only a moment for the student to pass by before pouncing. There was a yelp and a crash as the student went to the ground.
The tray, though, was caught deftly in Grim’s arms. He smirked as he saw the delicate objects atop it.
Leaning forward, he gave a sniff.
“Hmmm, mushroom and goat cheese.” He grinned at the student, who looked more confused than anything.
“Thanks for the food, sucker.”
Then he cackled as he dashed away, platter in hand, leaving the idiot behind in the dust.
Feh. If he wanted food, then he had to guard it better. That was what he lived by.
Stopping a bit away, when he was sure the other wasn’t following, Grim tossed one of the small bites into his mouth, the taste exploding across his tongue.
Grim let out a happy purr, even as he tried to unpack the ingredients from the taste alone.
The mushroom and the goat cheese were clear, but what was this other flavor…?
It was familiar. It almost reminded him of those rocks he’d find, but different.
Maybe his henchman would know.
It was only a few short steps towards the two, and she turned just as Grim began hopping up the steps leading onto the risen platform where they were talking. Kalim waved happily, and Yuu smiled.
Grim didn’t bother trying to hide the happy blush on his face as he offered the plate up to her.
“Henchman, look what I found!” He neglected to mention how there were definitely more than two at first.
Yuu eyed the platter before turning.
“Thanks, but I’m not…” She trailed off at the look Kalim was giving her before sighing.
“You’re starting to look like Jamil, you know.”
The smiley idiot just laughed at that as Yuu examined the snack carefully, in the way she was wont to do when presented with anything food-related.
In Grim’s opinion, his henchman was too focused on how the food looked, rather than actually eating it. She’d gotten better, though.
“Huh, mushroom and cheese?” She looked towards Grim.
“Goat cheese, with spices,” he responded dutifully.
She nodded.
“Maybe I should bring one to Jade…” she said slowly. The thought of the mushroom eel made Grim shiver, though.
At least you could generally figure Floyd’s mood from a glance.
Still, Grim watched as Yuu lifted the piece to her mouth and, in one bite, gulped it down, chewing.
She looked thoughtful as she chewed.
“It’s… flavorful. The goat cheese helps bring out the…” She trailed off, and Grim couldn’t help but frown. He always enjoyed listening to her food reviews. It was one of the many things they had in common that put them a step above everyone else in this school.
“Yuu?” He put his paws on her knee, shaking it. She didn’t respond. Looking up, Grim witnessed the Directing Student’s face paling in real time as she hunched over, hands hugging her stomach.
“I…” she began, before her face contorted with pain. She began gagging and turning red.
It was Kalim who reacted the fastest, though, and at her first reaction, he’d already begun to move.
“JAMIL!”
There was a blur as the other boy moved through the crowd faster than Grim had ever seen him move.
Kalim was laying Yuu down, face a mix of grim certainty and anger that seemed oh so foreign on the other boy’s face.
Grim felt like he was moving through water himself, and something in his stomach disagreed with him as he found his vision slowly turning dark, just as Jamil came to his knees beside Yuu.
There was no need for him to ask what happened, and Grim could faintly see Vil walking through the room in the most hurried manner he’d ever seen the Pomefiore dorm head take.
“Yuu’s been poisoned,” Kalim said easily, as the room seemed to grow deafeningly loud.
The last thing Grim saw was Yuu’s own face, as black liquid began seeping out her nose.