"Their main target is Diasomnia." Jack explains. "Malleus Draconia." He doesn't seem entirely pleased with this, but Jack has already expressed his disappointment with his Dorm and their plot.

"And I am part of the planning committee for the Tournament. They will probably use some method of Ruggie's Unique Magic to cause disaster." Riddle frowns as he concentrates on it. "The order of arrival will be Diasomnia first—which means we will… I will need to go speak to Malleus and Lilia."

"How can Ruggie control—what, is he going to try and take control of Malleus and injure him?" I ask, because really if that's their main target.

"No. Bigger… I know there was some dealing with Azul Ashengrotto." Jack's ears are lower now.

"Dirty bastard." Riddle curses.

"Azul Ashengrotto…?" I ask.

"Don't make a deal with him—that's all I can tell you." Riddle shakes his head a little, and sighs. "But that's not the point. That means they probably have a means to enhance Ruggie's magic to control more than one target. But knowing Malleus's power, Ruggie can't hope to control him."

"So… maybe control… other people?" I ask.

Riddle's eyes open wide. Mouth agape.

"Bingo! There's going to be vulnerable people everywhere. People from all over the world come to this Tournament! And people without magic would be ripe for using… maybe even a stampede." Cater points out. "Think about it—enhance Ruggie's ability, and send a whole charge at Diasomnia as they enter first. Then there's no other dorms hurt, and you hopefully trample everyone on that team at once."

"So we need to talk to Diasomnia about switching out their people and sneaking in the players from another way to thwart their plan?" I ask.

"Yes. I will go immediately and talk to them…" But Riddle looks nervous.

"I'll come too!" Cater volunteers with a grin, but there's a weird edge to it.

I've heard a little bit about this Malleus—rumors about how he's big and scary but I have no visual… I guess he really is intimidating if it puts Cater and Riddle off their games.

"Then… we'll go confront Leona and Ruggie?" Deuce asks.

"Yeah—they can't just get away with this." Ace agrees.

Jack nods. "We protect the targets, then we confront. We need to do this as soon as possible, so we don't interrupt the games."

"Agreed." Riddle nods his head.

Ace nods his head. "Good plan."

"Of course, brilliant! As we should expect from our Housewarden!" Deuce is pretty confident in the plan too.

Cater grins. "I'll take care of my parts before the end of the day!"

"I'm counting on all of you. Do your best to not look suspicious. I demand it." Riddle's still in his serious mode—but what mode of his isn't serious? But he's still nervous.

"Well then, Jack, now you know the plan—are you going to join us?" Cater asks the best question of the plan-making.

"It's… okay." Yeah, sure, Mr. Tsun Tsun. "I'll join you guys… only this once." I thought so, Jack.

It's a little cute how he holds himself with his arms crossed and shoulders squared.

"Man… he's got zero honesty with his feelings, huh?" Grim comments.

"Called a tsundere." I whisper to Grim.

"Huh?" Yeah, he wouldn't know.

Does this world have something LIKE anime? I might never know.

"Well, let's go back to our dorms. I'm exhausted!" Ace is ready to call it a night, and honestly? Might be on that side except we have something called homework.

"And do homework, right?" I nudge, and Ace gives me the dirtiest look.

Suffer.

"And I'm hungry!" Grim declares. He's always hungry, though.

"Ah yes, right, for the freshmen…" Riddle, why? "I will overlook your violation of the rules, ifighting at school for your own personal gain/i this time, because it allowed us to properly proceed with our plan with such important information. But next time it is Off With Your Heads." And then there's that infamous teapot tyrant angry scowl. "Understood?!"

"Yes. We understand. Sorry." Ace, Deuce, and Grim are in eerie sync.

"Not sure why you're threatening me with that, Riddle. I don't even have magic." I shrug at him.

"Yes, sir…" He even got Jack!?

Talent.

Riddle gives me a iI will talk to you later smartass/i look. "Very well. Now let us head back."

I don't know what the three are whispering about, but I'm already catching up to Riddle. I'll escort him to his dorm this time. Well, to the dorm mirrors. Cater and Riddle aren't going directly back, after all.

"We'll finish this out before the tournament starts.!" I'm enthused, at least. We have a plan, after all. And that's the first step.

Riddle gives an indignant huff. "Of course we will, we cannot allow these events to tarnish the reputation of Night Raven College."

I don't think I care as much about this Spelldrive thing like my fellow students, but I don't qualify for participation and honestly I haven't really gained that school pride that a lot of students have—that's all on me. Besides, I'm from Texas. From the United States of America. Both are definitely bigger deals to be proud of than… well.

This place.

I will never say that aloud because I know Riddle would kill me.

I wave them off with Grim as they return to their mirror gate to their own dorms. It's a rough day for all of us, but… we'll be fine.

"Ready for food, Grim?"

"Of COURSE I'm ready for food, No!" The cat demon is off, eager to get grub.

I swear I see the mirror glow…?

iA cavern. A bird trapped in bone. Earthy, and old. /i

iThe lion lounges. Hyenas enter. There's no food. No water./i

iRage; the hyenas are cast out./i

I wake up, bleary-eyed and…

And there's Jack Howl standing over my bed. "Hey, get up."

I SCREECH.

Why the FUCK is there another boy in my bedroom!?

"Can you not?!" He clamps his hands over his ears, scowling.

I give him a dirty look. "You're the one that interrupted-… ...it… I don't remember the dream now." I yawn, still curled up in my no-boobs-showing position and giving quite the expression to the room invader.

It's still not fully light outside. iWhy/i?

Grim sits up, startled too. "Uh? What are you doing here in our dorm?!"

See! It's weird!

"While I was on my morning run, as it is the day of the Tournament, I wanted to make sure you didn't oversleep." Jack is a bad boy.

"Oh! That's right!" Grim. Please. "We'll catch the criminals and get to play in the tournament as a reward!"

I don't necessarily trust Crowley on this but why would I break Grim's little heart?

"We'll do our best." And I give Jack a look. "And can you not stand here while I get ready?" I haven't even gotten up from bed because I need to be in that protective tit position. Who sleeps in a bra? I know people do but I don't.

"...Right." I don't know why Jack looks so awkward this very moment but he at least leaves the room, and Grim follows—but of course Mr. Tsun Tsun has some parting words. "I'll see you at the arena—don't go back to bed."

"I want breakfast…" I hear the demon cat grumble.

I am so glad they at least leave me alone as I get ready for the day ahead. A nice, hot shower starts me on the right foot. Burning hot. Insanely hot. Mordor levels of hot. If the water heater didn't work in this place I would be in Crowley's office so fast his head would spin. Basic human rights in a civilized society: running and hot water for bathing.

I am also very easily chilly.

I am not looking forward to winter somewhere that's a temperate climate like this. In all honesty, I understand why those two—Jamil and Kalim—were wearing thick hoodies and sweaters. I'm going to have to find some winter clothes here. I'm definitely not from as hot of a climate as those two present, but hot enough to not like it when it dips below 50.

The very idea of snow here is iterrifying/i. Worst.

But, I am squeaky clean and dressed in proper athletic gear for today. I don't really have much to wear besides old uniform clothes, my current in-date uniform, and the athletic clothing—so, basically, since this is a day of no classes and there is the off chance Crowley might make good on his promise, I have to be prepared. Not that I'll be playing, but it's still appropriate to dress the part.

Also, the tennis shoes, sneakers, whatever—joggers? The sneakers are pretty great. Can't believe such supportive shoes are the default and honestly they're literally the only thing I own from Twisted Wonderland that fit properly. At least no one's commented on the small shoe size… yet.

I get some stretches in—I could definitely pull off a cartwheel or a somersault… but a handspring? I might sprain a wrist. But I feel so limber too—like I never stopped. Huh. Might be the whole being younger thing. I was still participating until after high school… Maybe I COULD do a handspring. I should try.

But in the end I still snag Grim as we head toward the stadium…

Well, I didn't realize this school went all out for these things. I am utterly amazed at all of the neat and tidy stalls set up selling a variety of wares—from strange goods to odd foods. I swear there's probably everything I can imagine here. I heard rumors from fellow students that this school doesn't do festivals half-assed and they were definitely right about that. I can barely believe my eyes. This is kind of like that one anime I saw in middle school and for the life of me I can't remember what it is called, but it had the catchiest opening…

There's so many people here.

I know a lot of them aren't students.

Wow, this is a little nerve wrecking.

But we have a meeting point, and looking at the sun, we need to be there pretty soon!

"Wow! Look at all of this! Look at all the food!" Grim. Grim please.

"We don't really have time to stop and eat everything in sight—the plan, remember?" I nudge Grim along, who looks maybe a wee bit heartbroken. Oh no.

"There's churros, fried cakes, smoked chicken-!" I did not know this world had churros. Twisted Wonderland +1.

Incluso si mi Español es malo, me encantan los Churros.

Honestly, all the Spanish I know involves food and my name.

Me llamo No Wei.

"...Aw… even in the end I didn't make it into the team." I hear Ace's glum conclusion of what was probably an obvious result as we meet up properly.

Deuce looks bummed too. "Same..."

"There's always next year, you two—you just have a year to improve." I am Miss Positivist today because we are going to stop Leona and Ruggie, and let this Tournament go off without a hitch. Hopefully. "Plus, we can support the upper class-men who are participating."

"You're right—but we have to be on guard for our mission." Deuce is already switching gears and fired up. Good!

"Right, right, we'll do our best." Ace seems a little… bummed. But we can fix that, right?

Grim is clearly not paying attention. "Oh—what's this? Takoyaki? I wanna eat it! I wanna eat it!" Uh, Grim.

"Later! We have shit to do, Grim!" Ace nags sternly. Nice to see him playing Mr. Responsible.

Honestly, this is probably going to be another disaster but that's just me being pretty negative.

We meet up with Riddle, Jack, and Cater at the agreed spot. "We were successful." Riddle starts, addressing us with their part on talking to Diasomnia.

"Good—so…" I start. "We should head to Savanaclaw and confront Leona and Ruggie then?"

Jack scoffs. "Of course. There's nothing more we can do here."

Cater's frowning a little. "At least we have the doubles in place… but there's still going to be a few injuries."

"It's unfortunate, but we have done what we can in this instance. Come—we must end this." Riddle gestures to us.

We head off to the dorm—it's like a secret mission to avoid other Savanaclaw members. Jack's on the look out, and gestures us through. We even take a long way around to the stadium, hiding out of sight just before a crowd starts to gather. Leona waiting impatiently for something. We can see from our spot hiding by the stands. Honestly, it's going to be a little weird popping out of nowhere

There's a large crowd, I think almost every student is there.

Leona's standing with his arms cross, ahead and away from the crowd. Looking in the direction of the entrance to the dorm from the mirror. He's waiting for Ruggie.

Who arrives as if summoned by magic, huffing as he makes his way over with a big grin on his face. "Leona, I did it! Did you see the broadcast!" We missed it, but it probably wasn't… fun.

There's a smirk on the Savanaclaw Prefect's face. "Yes. Good job, Ruggie. And bye Malleus, this year that throne is mine." Oh boy they are in for a rude shock.

"Long live the King." Ruggie says with that characteristic laugh.

"LONG LIVE THE KING!" The Savanaclaw members echo, cheering.

Cheering and whooping. Excited calls and happiness from what was really a heinous act that almost succeeded… well, we interfered.

But that's when we reveal ourselves.

"I think I've heard just enough of this!" Riddle declares, stepping out, being flanked with the dorm-uniform dressed members of Heartslabyul.

The shock on everyone's faces is at least priceless.