Trey Clover knows something is off when a frightened second-year runs up to him and rambles on about how his umbrella had gotten stolen while he was out in the rain, checking on the roses. There's another second-year that backs-up his claim, and then another.

As if things haven't already been so strange, with what happened during the entrance ceremony…

"Where did you see it head off?" Trey has an inkling of who the culprit is, based off the seemingly ridiculous description of the umbrella floating away. The second-years know better than to pull a fast one on him without proper preparation. Unlike the first-years, who are all too new to the rules of Heartslabyul, he isn't as lenient on the second-years.

He takes his leave as soon as he's given directions, making sure to bring an umbrella with himself. Sure enough, waiting in the Hall of Mirrors, is the second-year's umbrella, floating ominously in midair.

"No need to hide yourself—I know who you are." It's not a threat—just a statement. Trey means to harm to whichever ghost decided to play a prank on one of the second-years. He does, however, want answers. "State your business, and I may go easy on you."

He crosses his arms over his chest, eyes staring intently at the ghost that decided to show itself. He arches his brow, feeling that that is going a little too smoothly…

And then the ghost blows a raspberry at him, before exiting the Hall of Mirrors.

"Of course it's never this easy." Trey sighs inwardly, knowing better than to expect much from a mischievous ghost. Still…for a ghost to play pranks outside of its own territory… "It's far too strange."

It gets even stranger when the ghost moves at a slow enough pace that Trey can keep up with it, without having to even run. There is something so deliberate about this—the way that the ghost was guiding him in a specific direction—that Trey refrains from using his magic. His umbrella shields him from the rain as he continues to follow after the ghost. He shows no hesitation—not even when the ghost leads him to the abandoned dormitory that other students would only enter, either on a dare or test of courage.

He goes through the front gate, and walks up to the front door, pausing for a moment before knocking on the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

There is no response…but then door does swing open, allowing Trey access to the foyer, which is covered in dust and cobwebs. Just the sight of it alone makes him want to clean it up, but it's not his responsibility. So he continues moving forward—though not without closing his umbrella and shaking off most of the excess rainwater.

Bit by bit, he sees more of the decrepit dormitory, though he'd prefer not to have seen anything to begin with. Soon, his gaze is drawn towards the umbrella that's laying in the middle of the hallway to his left. He did promise his junior that he'd bring it back, though as soon as his hand reached around the handle…

BAM!

The door slams shut.

"Ah." How predictable…and he fell for it, anyways. "Alright—what is it that you want?"

Yet again, Trey receives no response. Instead, he almost jolts at the sound of what appears to be a body hitting the floor. The fact that he can recognize the sound itself says a lot about his experience during the past two years at this school…

"Is someone there?" Besides the ghosts, of course—but again, Trey receives no answer, so he continues down the hall of the first floor. That is where he comes across the unconscious body of…is that the magic-less boy from the ceremony?

A closer look reveals that yes—it's him, only…without that oversized sweater. Huh…he's a lot scrawnier without it…

Well, then…

"Can't leave him alone." Trey adjusts his glasses by the corner before kneeling down the boy's side. He places his hand on the boy's shoulder, and gently starts to shake him awake. "Hey—are you okay?"

No response.

"H-Hey!" Trey says a little louder this time.

"Zzzz…" This time, he gets a response and…it looks like boy is just sleeping.

"But on the floor?" Trey tilts his head as he looks at the broom by the boy's side. There's a massive pile of dust on the floor that's nearby, almost blending in with the rest of the dust that was around it. "Was he cleaning?"

That seems to be the case, from how clean the floorboards behind him were. Even more telling is the dust covering the boy's clothes, standing out considerably on the black-colored fabric. From his tank top, to his shorts, to his leggings, to even his boots…

"That's a lot of dust…" And the boy is still sleeping in most of it. Just the sight of it reminds Trey of his siblings, whenever he came across them, passed out amongst their toys. Unsurprisingly, it's the comparison that drives Trey to hook his hands under the boy's arms and lift him off the floor.

It's not much different from what he does with Riddle at times. Of course, that is something that will most definitely be kept between the two of them, now that Riddle has become the head of Heartslabyul. Speaking of Riddle…

"How tall are you?" There's not much of a difference that Trey can make out at the moment. Yes, Riddle is shorter than most boys his age, but at least his weight wasn't anything too concerning. The same, however, can not be said about the magic-less boy, who is far too light for comfort.

"152 cm…" the boy murmurs sleepily, now somewhat awake. "Is that you, Boris?"

"Boris?" Trey arches his brow. "Who's Boris?"

It takes a few blinks, but the boy soon realizes what's going on. "Oh…you're solid."

"Pardon?" Why wouldn't he… "Are you talking about the ghosts?"

Is one of them named Boris?

"Yeee!" The boy giggles playfully, his hand soon reaching up to tap Trey's glasses. "Hi-hiiii, Megane-kun!"

There's a pause…and then a sudden tap to the area underneath his left eye.

"Ehehe, clover~!" The boy continues to giggle, until it slowly starts to go quiet, before… "Zzzz…"

His eyes are shut again, and his body has gone limp. It's a rather comical sight, considering how Trey is still holding him up in the air like some sort of cat.

"Him?" Something seems off, but…Trey isn't in any position to make assumptions, so he keeps it to himself. Maybe some other time… "Or maybe never."

It really depends on his new…acquaintance?

"That sounds about right." Trey isn't the type of person to leave people be, when it was obvious that they needed help.

Growl.

And all too suddenly, it makes a whole lot of sense. The way that ghost brought him here… Why it was Heartslabyul that was targeted in the first place, when it could've happened to any other dorm…

"Well played." Trey smiles. It looks like he'll have some explaining to do, when Riddle finds out that he's left the Heartslabyul Dorm so late in the evening… No matter. "Do you have a name?"

"Naaaame…?" The boy's eyes open again. "It's Yuu!"

"Well, Yuu…" Trey begins. "My name is Trey Clover. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Even if the circumstances are rather strange…

When Crowley returns to the Ramshackle Dorm, he finds that it's a lot cleaner than it was before… At least, there was an attempt, but it's an improvement nonetheless. He pauses for a moment, having heard a sound. He wonders if his ears are playing a trick on him.

Thud!

They're not—it's coming from the kitchen, which…is the last place that Crowley wants to see, after eating dinner. And still, he checks anyways, to satisfy his curiosity. Chances are, it's Yuu doing…something.

It's not.

Instead, it's a certain vice head of Heartslabyul, who is in the middle of cooking something over the stove—which still works well, surprisingly enough. Even more surprising, is how much cleaner the kitchen is. This is probably the cleanest it's ever been.

"Trey Clover?" Crowley calls out to the third-year. "What are you doing here?"

"I was summoned." There's no better explanation beyond that. He smiles at Crowley, hoping to take attention off Yuu, as they sit on the floor, surrounded by a few cans of tuna.

Bam!

Of course, Grim ruins it by tackling a can of tuna for himself. He wraps his arms around the can, trying to convey a message to a half-asleep Yuu. It takes them a bit, but something soon clicks in their head, so they open up a can for the cat-like monster.

"Here ya go!" Yuu laughs carelessly, pausing momentarily as a thought crosses their mind…only to quickly discard it, because they promised Grim tuna. And Grim was gonna get his tuna. There is absolutely no need for them to take any of it.

Growl.

No matter how hungry they are.

"Hiya, Crow Man!" Yuu waves at Crowley, having forgotten his name…did they even get his name? "I'm sorry—who are you again?"

There is a lot that Crowley wants to say to that, as he had introduced himself to Yuu earlier. But that quickly gets thrown aside, when his attention focuses on the grey-furred menace that's resting comfortably on Yuu's lap.

"I thought I threw you out of the school!" Crowley resists the urge he has to point at the catlike monster. "What are you doing here?!"

Grim almost drops the can of tuna in his paws. "Ggh…!"

Sensing his concern, Yuu lifts their tank top to hide Grim away. "Oh no—run, Grim!"

"My tuna!" The can falls to the ground, miraculously keeping its remaining contents. "This is the exact opposite of running!"

"I can still see him, too." For all the havoc he caused earlier, Grim has certainly become a lot more…docile. Where's the fire he used to set the head of Scarabia's ass ablaze? Or the hostility he showed to being treated like a mere cat? Curiouser and curiouser, Crowley can see something has happened since their initially meeting. "By chance, have you managed to train him?"

"I am not trained!" Grim's head pops out of the neckline of Yuu's tank top.

"Heehee, that tickles!" Yuu laughs at the way the flames from Grim's ears feel against their skin. "Why isn't it burning?"

"Because it's too much of a damn hassle if my ears keep setting everything on fire!" Grim angrily huffs out, resisting the urge he has to purr when Yuu's fingers scratches the area underneath his chin. "Stooop!"

"Please don't kick him out!" Yuu fixates their gaze on Crowley, who can only tilt his head in question as he observes Grim. "I like him!"

"He has been pretty harmless." Trey's words manage to pique Crowley's ever-growing interest in his unexpected guest.

"I see…" Maybe, just this once… "I guess I can make an exception—but I'm still not letting either of you off the hook that easily. After all, I can't simply allow someone, let alone a monster, who hasn't been selected by the Dark Mirror, to remain within this school. I also can't let you freeload without doing anything in return…"

That comment earns a chuckle from Trey. Rules are rules, though Trey can tell that there is some leniency behind Crowley's actions. The thermos in his hand says all, as does the bundle of clothes under his arm. Of course, Trey refrains from bringing any attention to it.

"All in due time," he thinks to himself as he continues to stir the pot.

"Seeing as your soul was called here by the Dark Mirror, the school will have to take responsibility as its owners," Crowley explains, hoping that his words get across to Yuu. "So for the time being, you'll be permitted to stay here for free."

"Yay!" Yuu pumps their fist into the air.

"Geez, you're loud…" Grim mutters under his breath.

"If you'll allow me to finish…" Crowley coughs into his hand. "You'll be permitted to stay for free, but you'll have to cover for any other necessities for yourself. That said…"

Crowley walks towards the kitchen island to set aside the thermos full of soup he had on himself, as well as the bundle of clothes. It's the best he can provide on such a short notice, with how late it is to make any purchases at the school store.

"Because I am so kind, I have brought you supper!" Crowley smiles widely, trying his best to ignore the fact that Trey Clover was already making food for Yuu. At the very least, he has provided Yuu with a change of clothes for the night…even if it is just a t-shirt and a pair of shorts…

Which might not even fit them at all, due to how small they were…but no matter! Because really, it's the thought that counts.

"I also have a proposition for you, since you have nothing else to your name." Crowley had made sure to discuss it with the rest of the school staff over dinner. "I'll have you do maintenance and odd jobs around the campus. If you do that, then I'll allow you and Grim to stay inside this school."

Yuu perks up considerably at the mere mention of Grim's name, which is exactly the response that Crowley was hoping to see.

"I'll also grant you access to the school's library, so feel free to gather information on ways to return to your world, or whatever your heart desires." At that, Trey can't help but make a comment.

"How generous," he says, catching Crowley's attention.

"Of course!" Crowley's smile only widens. "Because I am so kind!"

"But only after you've finished your work!" Crowley's demeanor quickly shifts as his tone turns serious. "Understood?"

"I'm not okay with thaaaaat…" Grim's ears start to droop. "I wanna wear that fancy uniform and be a student!"

"Would you rather I toss you out?" Crowley has no qualms doing such. Unlike Yuu, Crowley is not obligated to keep Grim around.

"C'mon, Griiiimmm!" Yuu rubs their cheek against Grim's head. "Be niiiiice!"

"Ffgnaaa…" Grim would love nothing more than to swipe his claws down Yuu's face. And yet, somehow…he can't find the energy to do so. It just seems so pointless when it's done against Yuu. And so after a good fifteen seconds, Grim sighs and finally admits defeat. "Fiiine! I'll do it."

But that won't stop him from complaining.

"Good Grim, good Grim!" Yuu never once questions their forgetful omission of an honorific to Grim's name.

Not even Grim himself bothers to correct it. It's just too much trouble…

"Since that's all settled!" Crowley claps his hands together with a smile on his face. "Welcome to Night Raven College!"

"Ohhhhh, so that's supposed to be a raven and not a crow!" Yuu blurts out, likely referring to the mask on Crowley's face.

"Isn't it obvious?" It should be…but Crowley keeps that to himself. "Now, then, Clover…do try to avoid staying out any longer than you need to. The most that I can confirm with your dorm head, should he ask, is that you were helping me out with an errand."

"I'll keep that in mind." That should take away some of severity for whatever punishment that Riddle has in mind for him. Rules are rules, after all, and Trey has already broken a few of them.

Crowley leaves the Ramshackle Dorm, though not without saying a few words to the ghosts that live here. "Do try to remind Yuu to take a bath. If the stove still works, then I don't see why the hot water shouldn't either."

It is only after Crowley has left the premises of the formerly abandoned dormitory, that the ghosts' heads peek out from a random area on the ceiling. The three of them look at each other for a moment, before nodding their heads simultaneously in agreement. They're not quite done with clearing out the mess in the room that they've designated for Yuu…but it's enough that they'll be able to sleep on a clean bed.

With that in mind, Avery, Boris, and Claude head toward the bathroom on the first floor to start cleaning up whatever mess has been left due to years of negligence. As that goes on, Trey finishes what he's started in the kitchen.

There's a part of him that knows that he's made food with stolen ingredients from the school's kitchen, which he serves on cutlery…that was also stolen from the school's kitchen. Really, just about anything that wasn't here before is stolen…

"Another!" Including that can of tuna that Yuu is opening for Grim.

"Make sure to clean up after yourself." Trey runs his handkerchief under the tap and uses it to clean the dust off of Yuu's hands and face. "I'll be leaving, so try not to cause too much trouble."

"Thanks for the food!" Yuu starts eating the bowl of cream stew as soon as Trey had finished wiping their face. There's not much refinement in the way they eat, and Trey is almost tempted to correct Yuu himself, but he quickly stops himself.

In the first place, it's not his responsibility, but more than that, there's something about the way that Yuu eats that reminds Trey of a certain memory. It stays at the back of his head, just lingering in ways that he can never forget. It's almost heart-wrenching, considering the circumstances behind that special memory…

Which makes the things that he's noticed about Yuu stand out even more as he compares and contrasts. It's not exactly the same…but that doesn't dismiss the other similarities that are there. So Trey sticks around for another ten minutes, serving Yuu another bowl of cream stew after they're done with the first serving. He has to push the bowl out of the way midway through, because they've passed out yet again.

Thud!

Their forehead hits the table, and it startles Grim, though he doesn't say anything as he finishes the last of his canned tuna. He stretches out his body in a catlike manner before asking what Trey was looking at.

"Nothing," he says while adjusting his glasses. "Just lost in thought."

It's not a complete lie.

"Shouldn't you get going?" Grim wipes his mouth using the back of his paw.

"That's right—I should get going." These thoughts of his will just have to wait some other time. "But first, I should clean up my mess."

"We'll take it from here." A ghost by the name of Claude shows himself to Trey as he lifts the bowl off the table. "Any longer, and you'll get into even more trouble."

"Right." Trey coughs into his hand. "Then…I'll be heading back."

It's still raining outside, though it's not as heavy as it was earlier. The walk back to the Heartslabyul dormitory is uneventful as ever…until the second-year from earlier rushes up to him and asks about his umbrella.

"Ahh…" It seems that Trey has forgotten all about it. "You'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Guess that means he'll have to visit that dormitory again.

"How troublesome." There's a smirk on Trey's face as he adjusts his glasses by the corner. He doesn't really notice it, until a certain orange-haired third-year by the name of Cater Diamond snaps a photo of his face.

"That's a nice face you got there!" Cater claps his hand on Trey's. He smiles at him in that same, carefree manner, his green eyes soon focusing on the image displayed on his phone's screen. "What's got you in such a good mood? You owe me, since I had to cover your shift during the welcoming party!"

Trey closes his eyes and sighs. "I'll tell you later. I have to talk to Riddle first."

"Hmmm, you're in a lot of trouble, you know?" Cater chuckles. "It's a good thing you have a lotta second-years vouching for you, or else it would've all been over for the rest of us!"

"I apologize for my actions." It was never his intention, though he supposes he could've showed some urgency while he was with Yuu. "I will take full responsibility for everything."

"You're so serious sometimes." Which is the exact opposite of how Cater usually acts. "Hope you're ready for your punishment!"

Thankfully, it's not as severe as it could have been, thanks to Crowley keeping to his word, and explaining the situation to Riddle. So Riddle makes an exception.

"Don't let it happen again," Riddle's tone is as harsh as ever. At the very least, his face was no longer so red with anger.

"I assure you that there won't be a next time." The feel of the collar around his neck isn't exactly something he'd wish to experience again. It doesn't stay on that long, but it's just enough that Riddle is able to get the message across to any potential rule breaker in Heartslabyul.

It could be worse.

Click!

And then Cater snaps a photo to upload on his MagiCam account.


"Let me go!"

"Stay still, stay still!"

Splash!

There's a lot of water that gets sent out of the bathtub as Yuu struggles to bathe Grim. He keeps complaining about his ears, but the fire in them continues to burn brightly despite the water that's poured over his head.

"I'm trying not to get anything in your ears!" Yuu is a lot more alert than usual, as a result of Grim's defiant behavior. "You're almost done!"

The scent of the soap that's lathered into his fur is a bit much, but only because of how new it is. It's nothing, compared to the flowery products that Yuu had put in their hair.

"Where did you even get this?!" Grim wails as more soap is rinsed out of his fur.

"Just somewhere that we know has extras to spare," Avery chimes in from behind the door.

"It won't be missed," Boris adds.

"Most definitely not!" Claude laughs.

It will be another week before the head of Pomefiore discovers what has gone missing from his room. And contrary to what the ghosts of the Ramshackle Dorm had to say, it will be missed.


A/N Anyways, I've done enough dicking around, so have another chapter. It's a little longer than last chapter. Almost 4000 words!

Shout-out to friend, torinokomachi, who has a Twisted Wonderland fic of her own, black or white, which I HIGHLY recommend! :D

Anyways, we got Trey in this chapter, as well as Cater, Riddle, and maybe a bit of Vil—idk, his was more so implied.

In any case, I'm having a blast cranking out these chapters. It's really fun, since there's ALWAYS something that's happening.

Let me know if anything seems off, because I'm only one person, and part of this was written past midnight. Things slip by me sometimes, so again, let me know.

Other than that, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, because I sure did! Lots of implications about Yuu are thrown about, so ahh…keep an eye on that. And once again, the main assumption is that Yuu is male, due to Night Raven College being an all-boy's school.

If you have the time, do feel free to leave a review. I always crave validation, as it's what keeps me going.

Until next time, everyone! KD OUT! XD