Crona entered his cell, he looked at his bed, then the usual corner he huddled to, he was silent, he thought things had changed, he was wrong... The one person he thought he was rid of, was back in his life once more.
Crona went and rested on his bed, hugging his pillow, Ragnarok popped out, looking at Crona, helpless. He hesitated to act but rubbed Crona's head to attempt to comfort him, his motion was a bit stiff though, he wasn't used to this.
Crona smiled through tears, "Thank you Ragnarok".
"Ehh, if you say so", he still needed to grasp the concept of 'kindness', but he was starting to, somewhat.
Crona looked up out the window, the stars so distant, so vacant, so free, "Well, at least we'll be with Maka soon, and Soul, I, I don't know what to tell them, or how to start with it".
Ragnarok folded his arms, "What's there to start with? Just tell 'em straight up, Medusa's back and we need to warn everybody".
Crona's voice grew more shaken, "I-I don't want to lose all I gained, I don't want to go back there!".
Ragnarok nodded in agreement, "That's what I was thinking!".
Crona looked up at Ragnarok, who looked down at Crona, the two nodded at the same time, Crona then looked back out to the dark purple sky. "When we see Lady Medusa next, we should lure her in and wait for the right moment!", Ragnarok said, punching his fists together.
Crona agreed, "Yeah, I'll try, no, I'll do it, I c-can do that", Crona lay down and closed his eyes slowly, confident he was making the right decision, he was glad Ragnarok concurred, it relieved him a little in his choice.
Ragnarok watched Crona doze off, he rubbed his head a little, "Wonder what kind of grub that Maka girl had at her place..." he thought out loud.
Crona woke up, hearing the distant sun laughing to itself in glee. Crona rubbed his eyes and his vision came to, he yawned silently and looked around. "Another day Ragnarok, let's go", Crona said pulling himself up and reaching for the door.
He stopped suddenly, and looked behind him, a figure's head disappeared, Crona walked up to the window, there was no one there. All that went by were a few people here and there, no one suspicious, Crona relaxed a little, "That was odd".
Crona started his day by heading to the academy upstairs, having breakfast in the cafeteria, he had enough food for two people. Crona ate slowly, he was drained by his fears of Medusa's return, "How will I tell them? I'm still unsure, I wish I had Ragnarok's confidence".
Ragnarok burst out and ate most of the food singlehandedly, "It's not hard Crona, honestly".
Crona was stuck between two thoughts right now, he knew he could trust Maka and she'd do the right thing, but what if telling her would hurt her? Or Soul? Or his other friends? They had enough to deal with right now what with the term starting, Medusa truly chose an awful time to come back, perhaps it was intended.
"It's fine" Crona began, "We'll just play along with it, and then we'll tell Lord Death, he can handle it with us, I don't want to put more stress on Maka and the others. I can deal with it...".
"Deal with what Crona?", a soft-spoken, warm voice spoke behind him. The woman sat opposite him, "Are things ok?", the woman beamed at Crona, her blonde hair going just past her shoulders, her left eye covered by a patch, Marie Mjolnir had caught Crona off guard.
Crona went a little red, "Oh! Uh, yeah, don't worry, everything's fine, really!", he began to eat to avoid the awkward tension.
Marie ignored it for the time being, "I just found my way here" she moaned, "I don't know when I'll find my way about this place...".
Ragnarok seeped back inside Crona, "Play it cool, Crona!" Ragnarok claimed speaking through their minds connected as one.
Another person sat at the table, Professor Stein came for an early breakfast also, "Hello there, Marie, Crona, how're you doing today?". Marie and Stein began to converse, discussing their mornings and chuckling together.
Crona delved deeper into his mind, soon he snapped out of the trance and decided to depart. "I, I must be going, I'll see you soon Marie, see you later Mr. Stein".
Crona walked away quicker than usual, Stein narrowed his eyes, "What's come over him? He seemed fine yesterday, I haven't seen a look like that since, she appeared".
Marie shook her head, "I'm sure it's just a feeling you've got, your deductions aren't always on point ya know?", Marie stated, wagging her right index finger.
Stein raised an eyebrow and sheepishly grinned "You really think? Maybe I have been working too hard".
Marie nodded and continued, watching Crona briskly leave, "Crona sleeps in a cell, it can't be good for him. I heard that Maka and Soul are going to have him stay at their place".
Stein pulled out a cigarette, "Yeah, that's probably best, it'd help him, besides, Maka, Crona and even yourself witnessed that Witch's death".
Stein stepped up, "I'm going outside for a smoke, care to join?".
"Definitely" Marie responded.
Crona went down the hall and went around the corner, leaning on the wall, "That was too close".
"Tell me about it, get it together Crona!", Ragnarok scolded.
The school's halls were slowly growing livelier, with various students chatting away in their little groups.
Crona sighed, "It's fine Ragnarok, let's just tell them straight away".
This didn't settle well with Ragnarok, whose head peeked out of Crona's chest, "You mean give her a chance to escape? Medusa?!".
"No! Not at all! I don't want that!", Crona whined defensively, worrying that this would start another argument between the two.
Crona and Ragnarok's conversation gathered some glances and concerned looks, a few students began to make jokes about him.
"Pink-haired freak", a cocky meister said shoving into Crona and walking past him, the meister's weapon followed.
"Yeah, I heard he sleeps in one of the academy cells, what's more, dude sleeps in a corner!", the weapon added.
"Having a weapon like that makes me feel ill, least you're a normal weapon", the meister continued, and the two went far enough to which their voices couldn't be heard.
The last few comments hurt Crona inside, he grabbed on of his arms and slowly went upstairs to the second floor.
Another group began to make a few more jokes at Crona's expense. However, some familiar faces came toward them, "Woah, what's this about Crona?!" Black*Star said grabbing one of the students from behind and spinning him around to face Black*Star.
"Hey, relax Black*Star we were just-" the bully began, but he didn't have time to finish his sentence, Black*Star's patience shouldn't be tested.
"Just about to take a hike?!", Black*Star put the student down, he lost his balance a little but regained his composure.
Soul walked next to Black*Star, "He's a little violent, but Black*Star's right, back off of Crona, if you mess with him, you're messing with us, all of us".
Once Soul finished, the girls stood beside them. The group glanced at all of them, realising it was not a good idea to speak further, they walked off. "Whatever" one of them muttered, Soul and Black*Star turned to their partners, both of which were looking at the stairs Crona just climbed.
Kid, Liz and Patty walked in, Kid saw the group and instantly ran to them, "Hey guys, what's going on?", Kid had found a way to keep his concerns for his father inside him, he didn't want to worry his closest friends right now. The only person who knew about what was going on with Lord Death was Liz, and she swore not to say anything about it, yet.
Maka and Tsubaki ran upstairs, Kid was muddled, "Ok, now I'm worried, what is going on? What did I miss?".
Soul patted Black*Star on the back, "I'll leave it to you dude, I'm checking on Crona too".
Soul jogged away, Black*Star put his hands behind his head, "Something seems to be bugging Crona, and those puny students were making fun of him. No one mocks my pals, or hurts them on my watch", Black*Star truly meant what he said.
Kid smiled, "I see", he began, grabbing his chin with his thumb and index finger, rubbing it slightly, "Good to see you're on the lookout, I'm sorry I was too late".
"Don't worry Kid, my greatness shines through no matter what, you'll learn soon!", Black*Star stated, throwing a few jabs into thin air.
"Right...", Kid responded, trying not to laugh.
The two of them followed the others, Liz and Patty held back, "Sis?", Patty suddenly spoke, it was odd of her to be quiet for this long.
"Yeah Patty?", Liz answered, a little relieved her sister was actually functioning.
"Something's been bothering me about Kid...", Patty frowned, placing a very detective-looking hat on and following with "I have come to the conclusion... That he has not slept properly!". Patty brought out a magnifying glass from who knows where and began to focus on her sister's face, which looked a bit irritated.
Liz grabbed Patty's hat and glass and tossed it aside, she had feared when Patty would ask about Kid, given recent events. Patty deserved to know what was going on, as one of his weapon partners, but Liz felt her sister just wouldn't take it seriously.
"Do you want to know, Patty?", Liz asked with a forced smile, trying to brace herself for what would no doubt be a serious conversation.
Patty nodded, as soon as Liz was about to tell her, Patty cut in front of her. "WAIT! He didn't have an episode about the dining table chairs being off this morning, maybe that's it! Because they were off a lil...".
"They were?!" a voice shrieked upstairs, it was definitely Kid's.
Liz wasn't surprised, "Now you've got him back to normal Patty, you and your big mouth".
Kid dashed downstairs and out the doors of the school, no one could've had the reflexes to stop him in his tracks at the speed he was going. "Damnit" Liz mumbled, "Let's go fetch him Patty".
"Right!", Patty saluted, the two chased after their OCD-ridden meister, as class was soon to start.
Maka and Tsubaki tracked Crona down to the male toilets, Soul caught up soon after, "Where is he now?".
"In there" Maka said, sounding irritated.
"Well, I guess someone's gotta go in there and talk to him, being me", Soul said reluctantly walking into the toilets, Maka and Tsubaki moved away from the door and had to wait for Soul to pull through.
Black*Star saw Tsubaki and waved, "Tsubaki! Hey! Tsubaki! Come on! We have to get to class! Kid's ran off somewhere, so I'll just tell him about my legendary diet tips some other time! Come on!".
Tsubaki sighed, "Sorry Maka, I gotta go", Tsubaki quickly went to catch up with the ever pressing forward Black*Star.
"Don't worry, I'll wait for Soul and Crona here", Maka said looking concerned at the door to the room, then leaning against the wall next to the door and hummed to herself.
Meanwhile Soul entered the bathroom, "Crona, hey Crona!", Soul kicked on the stall doors, "Dude, don't start acting like this, this is weird, even for you!".
Soul stopped, "Plan B" , he thought, pulling out a cake he brought in for lunch, the thing was essentially pure sugar. "Ragnarok! I got some cake here just waiting here, with your name on it!" Soul announced with a slight luring tone.
A moment of silence passed, before Ragnarok's head peeked out of a corner, Soul rolled his eyes and sighed with relief, "There you two are".
Soul found Crona sat on the floor, "Dude, what's up?".
"N-nothing, I just-", Crona caught himself about to mention Medusa, he felt the need to fib a little and blame it on the other students. "I just didn't like what they were saying about me, that's all, I thought people here were nicer than that... I made an effort to change but they won't change...", Crona tucked himself in a little after speaking.
Soul sat next to him, "Firstly, Ragnarok, here's the cake, I guess I kinda promised it to ya", Soul handed it to Ragnarok, who devoured it within seconds.
Soul wiped his hands after seeing that display of gluttony, then turned his attention to Crona, "Look Crona, the point is, those guys aren't worth your time, Black*Star and I have your back, and we know Kid and the others would too. You're our friend, and that's what matters, you should only bother with us. When you get older, sometimes, you realise it's not about how many friends you have, but how many actual friends you have. Maka's worried sick out there and you have the others freakin' out too...".
Crona raised up, "Maka's worried?".
"Yeah, we all are, well, Kid was but he's gone off somewhere, I'm sure he is scared for your safety right now", Soul assured Crona with a thumbs up.
"Patty was right!", Kid had a measuring tape, he was arranging the chairs to be 'perfectly symmetrical', "I wish I saw it sooner!". Kid ran around putting the chairs in place.
Liz and Patty burst the door to the dining room open, wearing beige outfits and having hunting gear on them, Patty was prepped with a net, and Liz had an animal grasper in her hands too.
"Come on Kid!", Liz demanded,
"No Liz, I must finish this! I'll keep thinking about it if I don't!", Kid began to whine as his weapons closed in on him.
Soul brought Crona out, "Here he is, now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna have a talk with those guys we saw earlier".
Maka grabbed Soul's shoulder, "No, Soul, don't, getting into random fights won't look good on your report, even if yours is already shoddy".
Soul's eyebrow twitched, "What're you talking about? It's just like when it happened to you Maka! Those guys left you alone after that! They haven't bothered you since!".
Maka sighed, "I know Soul, but acting rationally is what I want us to do, we shouldn't use fear as a have a lesson soon, and we need to keep in mind that we're older now, just be mature and drop it for now".
Soul growled a little, "Fine, I'll go and run it by the office that Crona's staying at our place from Friday".
Maka and Crona began to walk in the opposite direction, "Alright, be back quick!", Maka commanded, "You don't want Stein to give you a lower grade do you?".
Soul gave a sarcastic shooing motion, he didn't care. So Maka and Crona decided to carry on their trek to class.
Maka and Crona walked into class Crescent Moon and took their usual seats, Crona was to the right of Maka, who left an empty seat next to her for Soul when he returned. "I-I'm really sorry about making you worry Maka..." Crona apologised,
Maka wasn't troubled however, "It's not a problem Crona, just let us know if anything's up, we tell each other things all the time, all of us".
Black*Star agreed, "Anyone lays a hand on you Crona, just let ol' Black*Star know!", clashing his fists together.
Crona smiled, "Thank you...".
Maka got her books out and was ready for class, still seeing that Soul wasn't around "Come on, don't be late again" she nervously muttered under her breath.
Soul then entered, Stein was just behind him, "Just in time Soul, now take your seat, hurry".
Soul sat next to Maka, "It's all done, he'll be moving in in two days". Maka looked at Crona, who seemed happy, yet something was bothering him. Maka didn't couldn't begin to think what was up, but she could always ask him when he moved in soon.
Stein sat on his chair and glided a little on the smoothened floor tiles, "Alright, for those of you who're aware we have a new teaching assistant coming in. She'll be here to observe for a few days then we'll have her helping out with anyone who's puzzled at any point".
Stein looked at Black*Star and Soul when he said that, turning himself around, Soul didn't really care, he just grumbled. However Black*Star was slightly offended inside, "Hey!" he eventually shouted out.
Stein spoke to the door, "Now if you can enter Akire?", Eruka slowly opened the door and came in.
Eruka simply reversed her name when it came to her other identity, she looked around the room, "H-hello there", Eruka scanned the room and saw the group of students she recognised. She could remember them from back when she, Medusa and Free were reviving the Keshin, she definitely noticed Crona, and Black*Star (who could forget him?).
Maka and Eruka locked eyes for a moment, Crona narrowed his eyes, he felt he knew who this 'Akire' person was, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Black*Star seemed to find her recognisable now he had time to look at her unlike yesterday. Tsubaki and Soul were clueless to her though, though Tsubaki actually tried to think, Soul just couldn't really care.
Stein spoke up, "Now don't be a stranger to Akire alright? She's here to help so do your best to be respectful to her...". Stein pushed himself to the center of the room, Eruka had a set by the board which she took, she was really nervous right now.
"Eruka" Medusa spoke through their minds, Eruka broke a sweat.
"Yes Medusa?", Eruka was watching Stein begin to teach, most eyes were glued on him.
"Are you in the academy right now?", Medusa asked, currently sat bored.
"Yes, I'm currently by that Stein person who's teaching the class", Eruka confirmed, staring at Maka and the others.
Maka was studiously taking notes, scolding Soul every time he attempted to put his pencil down. Black*Star didn't have anything to take notes on, most likely relying on Tsubaki so he could read her notes later.
After a few seconds Medusa carried on, "Is Maka Albarn there?".
"Yes Ma'am, she's here, Crona too", Eruka stated, making Medusa's smile widen.
"Alright, keep me posted whenever you can", Medusa ordered. Medusa had left, breaking the connection, Eruka came back to reality and was lucky Stein hadn't given them any papers yet.
"Alright class, I'm going to provide you with a paper on this, make sure to follow the material in your text books", it looked like Eruka thought too soon.
Eruka walked up and down the room, trying to assist whenever need be, soon Stein called her outside briefly, Eruka closed the classroom door behind her, leaving the students alone. In no time everyone was talking and fooling around, the only ones not doing so were Maka, Tsubaki, Ox and Crona.
Stein paused for a moment, "Just so you know Akire, you're not doing bad for your first day, but I'm going to be keeping an eye on you for a while. Don't think of it as too much of a negative thing, I just like to make sure we have a trustworthy staff member here at the academy. Because we once had a witch in this place and it wasn't pretty, things went downhill".
Eruka realised who Stein was referring to, being Medusa, Stein turned to Eruka, "Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you, you're doing very well!".
Eruka smiled, "Thank you S-Stein, thank you".
Kid, Liz and Patty turned up, Kid had some scuff marks and bruises from fighting back against Liz and Patty. "Sorry sir" Liz said, "This guy was being a total crybaby about our furniture placements...".
Stein chuckled, "Don't worry, just take your seats and I'll pretend it didn't happen, count yourself lucky I'm in a good mood" he said giving a peace sign.
The three went into class, taking their seats to the left of Tsubaki, Liz sat next to Tsubaki, then Kid, and then Patty. "Met the new assistant teacher huh?" Black*Star said.
Kid, Liz and Patty were stumped, Kid realised, "Wait, that's her out there?! She's quite young, seems familiar too...".
Maka spoke up, "I thought so too, but I think maybe we're just still living in the past, we need to embrace the future, if we daydream we won't get anywhere...". Everyone agreed, they then got back to their paper once Stein entered the room, the group prepared for a somewhat dull lesson on a Wednesday morning.