When Jonah opened his eyes, he could see the brick ceiling above him. The light was dimed, but it wasn't too blurry. He scrunched his eyes, trying to get rid of the blurriness when heard movement on his side. Opening his eyes again, a face suddenly popped up.

"Jonah!" Grim was staring at him with a worried expression, something that Jonah never thought would see from him.

"Grim..." he whispered back. Slowly he raised his hand and the demon-raccoon nudged his head onto his palm. Grim let out a purr as he nuzzled into his palm as Jonah had to blink repeatedly to make sure he was wide away. Huh… Grim was never been this affectionate. Well, it's never too late to learn new things.

Soon, two more heads popped up. "Good to see you awake, Captain," Ace said, his voice calmer than before, while Deuce sighed in relief. The two Heartslabyul students smiled at him which made Jonah smiled back.

"We're not in Heartslabyul anymore, are we?" he asked.

"No." Deuce shook his head. "We took you to the school infirmary."

He heard a sound of footsteps and soon the headmaster's face popped up as well. Underneath the beak of his mask, he could see the man's lips curled up as well and the glow of the yellow eyes seemed warmer. "How are you feeling, Mister Argentum?"

Jonah clenched and unclenched in fist underneath the blanket. He let out a groan. "Sore... Tired..."

Crowley nodded. "Can you sit up for a bit?"

Jonah tried to get up, but again, his whole body was sore all over. It felt like he just fell off his broom and got smashed under Deuce's cauldron. Grim jumped off his stomach and sat beside him, while Ace and Deuce helped him sit up. Crowley took Jonah's chin on one hand and use his others to check on his right eye. "Hmm..."

"Is there something wrong?" asked Jonah.

Crowley exanimated it for another few seconds before shaking his head. "No." Crowley let go of Jonah's chin and eye. "There's nothing wrong."

"But that ink thing just hit him in the eye!" shouted Ace. "Are you sure nothing wrong with him?"

Crowley smiled, reassuring him. "His eye is fine," he said. "But, if you guys are really worried, we can make some potions for his eye-drop."

Jonah nodded. "How's..." His index finger started to tap his knee in uncertainty. "How's Senior Rosehearts?"

The three of the crew looked at each other worriedly. "He hasn't wake up since the overblot," Deuce said as he stepped aside a bit. In the bed next to Jonah, lied Senior Rosehearts, eyes closed but breathing normally. He looks like he was just sleeping. But if he was, then Clover, who was sitting on the chair next to Rosehearts' head, and Diamond, who stood at the feet of the bed, wouldn't look so worried and desperate.

"Riddle..." Clover clutched the hand of the sleeping Heartlabyul Prefect, caressing the back of the gloveless hand with his thumb. Jonah noticed there were some bandages around his neck, probably from where Rosehearts had strangled him. He looked at Ace and Deuce. They also had some bandages in various places. Grim, Diamond and himself probably had the least between the groups. Even Rosehearts had bandages in most parts of his body, especially the gauzes around his head and right eye. Hopefully, it wasn't that bad…

Diamond frowned, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "What are we going to do if he doesn't wake up?"

"He has to," Clover quickly answered. He kept staring at the sleeping prefect. "He just has to."

Ace plopped down beside Jonah. "Can't believe he nearly killed us just because he throws tantrums when he gets scolded!" he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest and cheek slightly puffed up like a pouting child.

"Yeah... Just went wild 'cause he needs to release stress, yanno..." Grim nodded as he climbed back to Jonah's stomach, purring when the boy started to pet him. Huh. He does care.

Deuce sighed. "That was certainly dangerous."

Jonah massaged his temple feeling a headache coming. They had a point... Rosehearts nearly killed all of them, even before he overblotted. But still…

Starring back at the sleeping prefect, Jonah couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity in his chest. None of them, except himself and Rosehearts, actually knew what happened behind the scene. He was the only one in that rose maze of Rosehearts' memories. He saw all of those. He knew why…

"Why don't we let them rest for the night?" Crowley suggested, bringing Jonah back from his deep thought.

Clover looked up. "But, Headmaster-"

Crowley walked toward Clover and put his hand on his shoulder. "They are not going anywhere," he said with a reassuring smile and a gentle squeeze. "We'll come back tomorrow."

Clover looked back to Rosehearts, clearly not wanting to leave his side. He then sighed and nodded. Diamond walked toward his fellow senior standing up. Clover bit his lips when Rosehearts' hand slip from his. A sigh escaped from the greenette when he received no reaction. Diamond patted his shoulder before guiding him back, but his friends still stole glances at the sleeping prefect.

Jonah looked down at Grim. "Grim. You can stay with Ace and Deuce."

The demon-raccoon raised his head. "Why?"

Jonah smiled at him. "I don't want those ghosts to scare you if you're alone there."

Grim pouted, but then he nodded. "Alright..." He then flew to Deuce's shoulder. Ace gave Jonah a small pat on the shoulder before getting up and walking out of the room with his fellow first-year.

Crowley was the last one to walk out. "Have some rest, Mister Argentum," he said, to which Jonah answer with a nod. Crowley pulled the door, but not closing it entirely, there was still a small open gap.

Jonah let out another sigh. Winching, he threw his legs over the bed, slightly trembling when his shoeless feet touch the cold floor. His knees were shaking, but he kept walking toward Rosehearts' bed, gripping the sheet to balance himself. He looked up to the redhead's face. His eyes were still close, but listening closely, the breathing tempo was a bit off. "Are you awake, Senior Rosehearts?"

Nothing happened for a few seconds and Jonah was about to go back knowing he was wrong, but then Rosehearts let out a groan. Slowly, he opened his blue eyes, blinking slowly at him. "How did you know?" he whispered, voice slightly cracked.

Jonah shrugged. "A lucky guess." He walked up closer to his head. "How are you feeling? And please be honest."

Another groan came out of his mouth. "Terrible…" He tried to get up but the pained sound that came out made Jonah move and help him up.

"It'll pass. I hope," Jonah chuckled, trying to lighten the mood as he sat beside Rosehearts.

There was silence between them. The air was awkward. Jonah noticed the way Rosehearts kept clenching and unclenching his fists. Did he want to say something? Jonah himself wanted to say something. Maybe he should start first.

Jonah cleared his throat. "Senior Rosehearts. Can I ask something?"

The prefect looked up, a bit surprised but then he nodded. Jonah nodded back. "Is there something you want?"

Rosehearts tilted his head to the side, brow furrowed in confusion. Of course. That was a weird question. Jonah let out a weak chuckle before twisting his body so he was facing the other prefect for more focus. "I mean… If you have the chance, is there something you really want to do?"

Rosehearts shook his head. "I'm not-"

"It's okay." Jonah reached out to hold Rosehearts's right hand, frowning when the other flinched. "I won't judge you."

Rosehearts bit his lips and looked down, his left hand kept playing with his blanket. After a while, which Jonah thought he wouldn't answer, Rosehearts finally whispered, "I... I really wanted to eat that mont blanc too..."

Jonah smiled. "You should try that. Maybe we can try making those."

"Was it fun?" There was a small blush on Rosehearts' cheek and he averted his gaze. "The baking… I mean."

"It was." Jonah chuckled. "Deuce had trouble with the piping and you should've seen Ace's face when he nearly drops the hot pan." Rosehearts looked confused, but that was okay. Jonah was just happy he managed to make him react to something. "Anything else?"

"I... I like white roses, too."

"Do roses have different colors other than red and white?"

"They have pink, and yellow too. Also, green and orange. Sometimes lavender, novelty, salmon, peach, and cream. I heard that someone is trying to cultivate blue roses. They're considered to have magical power."

Jonah whistled. "Wow, that's a lot."

Rosehearts nodded. This time he looked up to him. "I once saw the lined them up to make a rainbow rose arc."

"Must've been pretty."

Rosehearts smiled a little, feeling nostalgic. "It was."

"Speaking of colors, what color do you think is good on a flamingo?"

"Well, the Laws of the Queen of Heart-"

"No." Jonah held Rosehearts' hand tighter. "What do you think is good for the flamingo?"

Rosehearts blinked again in confusion. But then, he looked down again. "Pink. I like the pink flamingos. It's natural for them."

Jonah nodded. "One day, you should teach me how to play that croquet game."

"Trey taught me when we were kids. I had fun playing with him. I want..." Rosehearts gripped his blanket tighter. His voice began to crack. "I always want to play with them more... But, Mama..." He sniffled. "Mama always says not to play too much... If I play too much, I wouldn't have time to study... And if I don't study... Then I can't make my family proud..."

"Why is that?"

Rosehearts whipped his wet eyes with his sleeve, but the tears just kept on flowing. "The... In the Rose Kingdom, women are superior to men... That's why... Mama always says that I have to be better... I have to be better and better... If not... I'll be left behind from the other... And I can't..."

Sobs began to fill the room. Rosehearts didn't even bother to wipe off the tears that fall down his cheeks. Jonah pulled Rosehearts down, letting his head rested on his lap. He didn't mind if his pants became wet, Senior Rosehearts needs this. He probably never experienced this. Never had the chance to actually cry.

"You must be tired, huh?" Jonah whispered, running his hand through Rosehearts' red hair.

"I'm tired..." he whispered back between his sobs and sniffles. "I'm so tired... I want to sleep... I want to play with the other... I just want to talk with more people... I just..." Rosehearts turned his head and looked up to Jonah. "Is there any rule... Is there any rule for me to get rid of this pain...?"

Jonah knew he can't answer that. Nobody can, not even the Law of the Queen of Heart. "To be honest," he sighed as he kept brushing Rosehearts' hair. "I don't know."

Rosehearts bit his lips, disappointed by the fact that he would not be able to enjoy all the things he had said. Forever he would follow his mother's rules and teaching without being able to take a break. He wouldn't be able to have a moment like this again. Just to speak everything he wants, being comforted by someone who would listen. By the time they were able to leave the infirmary, both of them probably wouldn't be able to see each other again. After all who would've wanted to befriend the Crimson Tyrant?

"I would."

Rosehearts looked up again, blinking in surprise. Did... Did he say all of that out loud?

Jonah smiled down at him. "You are not the Crimson Tyrant." His hand stopped brushing Rosehearts' hair, but slowly help him sit up again. They faced each other, with Jonah's hand on his cheek. "You just need someone to guide you along the way. I know you're a good kid, Senior Rosehearts."

"You're a good guy, Senior Rosehearts. You just need the perfect guidance. Therefore, Riddle Rosehearts… You are free from any punishment."

It is him.

Tears came out from Rosehearts' eyes again, this time wasn't because of sadness, but relief. Maybe he could... Maybe he could find a way to make up the time he had lost... Maybe he could finally get rid of this aching feeling in his heart... Jonah pulled him into a hug, and he just let him. He wanted to feel the warmth of someone's hug. He wanted to have a shoulder he could lean on. He wanted to have a comforting hand, running down his hair, erasing all those anxiety away...

He wants to have a dear friend like him...