After break, (in which Blue was suspiciously quiet) Vio walks to his next class, home economics. Before he can get even fairly close to his destination, a familiar voice rings out behind him.

"Vio!" Vio turns his head to see Blue heading towards him, and while his tone is chipper, his eyes say otherwise.

"Hello Blue," Vio says as the dirty-blonde boy reaches his side.

"What class do you have next?" Blue asks.

Vio rolls his eyes in amusement. "Home economics, just like you."

"Oh. Right." There is a pause. "We have that class together?"

Vio nods. "Yes. Yes, we do."

Again, "Oh." Silence.

Vio knows something's going on with Blue, but he has no idea what.

"Blue, are you alright?"

Blue eyes widen.

"Yes."

"You don't seem alright. Did something happen?"

Blue turns to him. "You mean nothing happened to you?"

Vio is genuinely confused. What does Blue mean by asking such a question? "No, nothing in particular." he responds at last.

Blue growls.

"I ask again, did something happen to you?"

Blue avoids Vio's gaze. "It's nothing."

"Blue, I'm sure it's not-"

"Nothing. Really."

Vio sighs. He's thinking, not for the first time, that Blue isn't very open with his feelings. Something is wrong, and he's concerned. He needs to find out. When he's curious, nothing will stop him in finding the answers.

As the two of the enter home economics, Vio gets a familiar feeling. The feeling that someone is staring at him.

He looks up.

The whole room is staring at him. Narrowed glares and angry sneers tell Vio that these stares are not friendly.

This is a truly frightening reality, and Vio has a feeling it's about to get worse.

As he takes his seat next to Groose (who, like everyone else, is giving him the evil eye) he begins to wish something he never would have expected.

I wish I sat next to Blue.

The stares surround Vio, and he can't break free from the feeling that Vaati did this. He warped their seemingly-innocent minds and MADE them do this.

Vio shudders. The room feels as if it is made of ice. He feels awful, even though he knows it's not his fault.

Class begins. It's the beginning of the year, and the class is starting their sewing unit. They're sewing tiny little pillows as practice. (What Vio will do with his miniature pillow, he has no idea. It's certainly not big enough for him or either of his younger siblings.) Just as Vio begins-

-Splat!

"Oh! I am so sorry!"

Vio turns his head towards the commotion. Mrs. Tiff's coffee cup has fallen onto the ground, its top popped off, its contents spewed everywhere. A good amount of it has clung onto Mrs. Tiff's silk blouse, and she stares down at it, shocked. Cawlin, the teacher's assistant, stands next to the mess, looking guilty.

"It's quite alright, Cawlin," says Mrs. Tiff, sounding dazed. "I just think I should... go to the teacher's lounge and change into the something... something that doesn't have a coffee stain on it." She briskly walks out of the room, muttering, "I need to get a new job."

When she leaves the room, Cawlin glances at Groose and winks. It's a signal, Vio thinks. But before he can think anymore, Strich slides a pair of fabric scissors across the table to Groose.

Vio has no idea what's going on. Everyone is still staring at him, but with anticipation rather than anger.

Vio is so confused that he doesn't notice Groose reaching for his miniature pillow. Vio does notice, however, when he snatches it from Vio's grasp. Before he can object, Groose has snipped the pillow into bits and pieces of purple fabric and fluffy cotton. Vio stares at it, unable to speak.

Cawlin rushes over and tosses the mess into the trash before high-fiving Groose. Delighted whispers surround them.

Vio turns to Blue, shaking. Blue catches his eye, and while he doesn't say anything, Vio can tell what he's thinking. It's a feeling between them both, a feeling that somehow manages to bring Vio back to reality again.

I know it's tough, the way things are now, but we're gonna get through this, Blue seems to say. Just... stay strong or whatever. We've got Red and Shadow on our sides, too. We can get through this. Together.