I'm almost out of breath when I enter the infirmary. It was almost yesterday I was here myself… for reasons. I'm getting a look from a certain attendant of this place, a suspicious look at that. I mean, understandable considering my previously reckless, even negligent actions. I'm not going to admit to anything aloud or make any further eye contact.

I am guilty as Hell.

I see two Heartslabyul students here. "Who are you two?" The sandy blond-haired one asks.

The green-haired one, though, recognizes us immediately. "Oh, they're from the Ramshackle Dorm—remember? They were at the Unbirthday Party…"

"See? We're famous~" Grim, this is not a good thing.

"Could you tell us anything from the recent accidents?" I do not suspect Heartslabyul as there are clearly injuries here—if it's something considering the upcoming tournament, then you wouldn't put your own dorm in peril.

The blond sighs. "I don't know what happened… I was walking and talking to him while we were heading somewhere and just fell down the stairs."

"It was different from normal accidents…" The other chimes in.

"It was like… my body moved, and I couldn't control it." That. That rings so… loudly for me and I'm just not sure why. Hm.

Too much goes on in magic school.

Grim looks so concerned about this right now, he's going to give these students a permanently incorrect impression. I don't necessarily mind, either.

"Thank you for the information. I appreciate your cooperation with us." I am a very polite investigator.

It's a study room we find the next individual after talking to the infirmary attendant. Actually, we get to talk to a couple groups about the experience. It's all pretty much the same: they were doing some run-of-the-mill activity when they had the accident and it felt strange; like they weren't entirely the one moving. I definitely suspect magic being involved, but I'm not sure exactly how the magic works.

Or who. There's no who. While we don't get to talk to someone from every dorm… but I think this is our activity for the day. I really need to get to more cleaning.

The pair of students are Pomefiore; and they have no idea who we are. "Excuse us." I start.

"Hey, hey, you were one of the injuries—what happened?" Grim, be more… gentle.

"Grim…" I lightly scold.

"Who the hell are you two?" A purple-haired drama queen asks.

Right, this is that dorm as Mr. Handsome but Rude. Fuck.

"Look—look at how emotionally devastated he is right now! After training so hard, and so long for this Tournament and now he can't even hope to participate." Another sandy blond student, and equally as dramatic. This whole dorm is filled with this type, isn't it? Oh. Boy.

"And how dare the two of you approach us, asking for us to recall such a terrible, and painful experience without showing a bit of sympathy for my plight! I challenge you to a duel!" SO much for being hurt if he wants to fight.

"Yeah, I don't have magic." I start.

"Why does that matter?!" The blond one huffs.

"Fine. Grim. Burn them alive." Okay I don't feel great either I guess, or really I'm having no patience today after dealing with Crowley.

Grim looks at me. "Really!?"

"Wait—wait!" Oh, someone sees some reason. Mr. Hurt seems to be feeling talkative all of a sudden. "Fine—fine. I will tell you my tale of woe."

I am starting to have a least favorite dorm; and of course Ramshackle is my favorite. I guess Heartslabyul is number two.

I guess.

Oh God he's sniffling.

"While we were in the laboratory… the cauldron he was holding slipped from his hands!" Sandy starts. "The potions spilled EVERYWHERE!" Bottom dorm by far.

"Are you listening?! Will you remember all of that!?" Okay Mr. Drama please stop.

Grim nods.

I give a brilliant smile. "Of course, we won't forget your woeful tale any time soon." Two weeks when this hopefully blows over. "Please take care, both of you. Grim—let's go… we have so much to consider."

WE leave, and I am already tuckered out.

Heartslabyul and Pomefiore are off our list, as is Diasomnia… so there's four more to cover in the next few days. We can narrow it, best, if we know what dorm has the least or no injuries.

Grim's lack of critical thinking skills show when we enter the dorm. "It just sounds like they're clumsy."

"No—" I starts responding when a… bell rings? A doorbell? "We have a doorbell!?"

"Oh, who is that?!" Grim seems maybe a mite excited.

While I didn't know we had a doorbell. No one has courtesy then.

Ace lets himself in anyway. "Hey! Glad to see you're in a better mood, Grim!"

"Oh… you." Grim! How rude. "We're busy! We don't have time to play around right now."

"I need to start teaching him better manners." I sigh.

"Busy? What, are you two not done with your homework yet?" Ace asks.

"No… actually… Come to the living room, we'll explain." I gesture him in the partially-cleaned space. I need a ladder for a lot of the stuff that's left right now.

Ace plops on the couch as if he lives here, and sort of, he kind of does.

"Crowley wants us to solve the mystery of injuries!" Grim declares.

"It's a little more complicated than that." I explain. "There's a large rise in the accidents, thus, suspiciously, it's all members of tournament potentials and instead of doing it himself, he bargained in a dirty fashion for our help." I sigh. That Headmaster gets on my nerves.

"So you're in charge of investigation…" Ace gives a thoughtful hum.

"They all just sound like they were clumsy or careless!" Grim sounds frustrated.

He's wrong, too.

I am not entirely surprised to hear the door slam open and someone run in. I'm also not surprised that it's Deuce. "Ace! We have a big problem!" There's panic on his face.

Oh no. More Heartslabyul drama.

Ace seems pretty calm despite Deuce's distress. "What's making you freak out?"

"Trey fell down the stairs! He's hurt!" Deuce knows the right words to get me up.

Oh no, and he's such… wait. He might be another victim.

"No way—even four-eyes?" GRIM. He doesn't have a last name.

"He's not the clumsy sort—we should go see him." Definitely another victim in my eyes. He's pretty observant too, he might have more answers for us than some of the other students. I hope so, at least.

"Yeah—that's not like him at all." Ace agrees.

"Let's go see him and ask!" Well, finally. Grim's up, we're all up.

Deuce leads the way like a man on a dire mission that may not have any survivors. I guess he really cherishes his upperclassman. Or, he just gets attached to people. I don't know either way, honestly.

Honestly, I don't find the path to Heartslabyul or the Dorm itself to be an intimidating structure, I'm starting to grow familiar of it—because we are getting led here repeatedly. Though I won't argue with it when we're getting fed or it's a problem situation, like this one. Especially one that isn't caused by its foul-tempered Housewarden.

Now, I haven't been to Trey's room yet—we've seen the four-room that the freshies we're with share. And it makes me more and more thankful that I only share residence with Grim right now. We've got a lot of space. And I've cleaned up another room to satisfactory levels but Grim doesn't seem interested in bunking anywhere else. Probably because he still fears the ghosts and my ground rules keep them out of the bedroom at night except in cases of emergency.

Now if only my fellow students and Headmaster would not barge in on their whimsy.

The winding, chaotic staircases of this dorm are a structural marvel as much as they are a nightmare of some architect. I wonder who designed them; and was this really what the Queen of Hearts's kingdom was like? Absolute chaos? It's frightening to think of—and considering Riddle's temper for the not-out-of-place, I can't imagine the Queen of Hearts herself.

I also want to know where she got her support because I am in absolute envy over here.

I miss my girls.

This whole sports-bra and baggy life isn't great. It might cause a wee bit more back problems in the future. I need to do more stretches… Ugh.

I need to rehearse my fear-of-swimming to Coach Vargas too, just-in-case… Parents drowned works pretty well. I mean, they did, kinda, but that's beside the point.

I hope Trey's okay. He's probably the nicest one at this school. By far.

There's a knock on his door before we come in, hearing his voice—that means he's conscious. I wonder what he thinks seeing the gaggle of us spill in.

"Trey—are you feeling alright?" He's so worried. Deuce—my heart.

"Hey! Four-eyes! We're here to check up on you!" Grim!

"Grim." I scold softly.

Cater's casually sitting in the desk chair with a smile, while Trey is tucked into bed—enough. They look pretty calm and relaxed, at least. To me that's a pretty good sign.

"Oh! A-Deuce Combo and the Ramshackle Pair!" Cater's pretty good at the naming business, I'll give him that, but I'm better at the nicknames, Magicam Addict.

"Hey Cater—what's A-Deuce combo?" Ace… really? It's you two nerds.

"It's you two." Cater knows what's up; they are a pair that shares a brain cell.

"You should stop making up weird nicknames!" Deuce protests, but I think most of what's coming out is concern for Trey.

"Anyway—the important thing is what happened to Trey." Ace is on the right track.

"Ah… I just fell down the stairs. I tried to catch myself when I fell but my right leg took most of it… I'll be on crutches for a bit." Trey explains. A couple weeks, with that wrapping. Looks like a pretty bad sprain… I remember how many girls got sprains at gymnastics, myself included.

My left wrist sometimes aches.

"That's bad, isn't it?!" Deuce is—oh right.

"I won't be able to compete in the Spelldrive Tournament this year, either, unfortunately." Trey does look disappointed—so he was another tournie victim.

Hm.

"...If it was a small injury, I wouldn't offer this… but have a canned tuna." Grim actually hands over a canned tuna that I'm not sure where he put it and that bothers me immensely—but oh MY GOSH THAT'S SOME CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! "Get better and rest up, okay, Glasses?" The genuine concern. The GENUINE worry for someone else.

Okay I may have tears in my eyes I feel like a proud mama right now.

"Thank you." Trey reacts appropriately as he takes the can and thanks him. Right—he has younger siblings. Makes sense.

"Ah—whatever, this is still bad. We lost our top player AND we have to redo selection over this…" Cater sighs. I guess he was on the selection team.

Hm. You know. Trey doesn't seem the super athletic type but the more you know. Man of many talents. He's probably taken.

He is the number one husband material at this school. Bakes. Reliable. Nice. Talented. Fairly smart. Yeah, he's definitely already taken too.

I will vet them one day probably, can't have them getting on with someone bad.

I'm actually the most worried for Deuce…

"Oh?! Player selection!?" Deuce and Ace have a taste for that stardom too, huh? They shouldn't look that eager, but Trey honestly looks amused at them.

He's going to be an amazing dad one day.

There's a knock on the door, as Heartslabyul's own teapot tyrant comes in. "And why are all of you gathered here? Trey is clearly injured."

"It's irritable Riddle!" Grim gasps.

"Friends visit injured friends even when there's not a lecture to be had, Riddle." Okay I have a smart mouth today.

Too much Crowley.

"Irritable, Grim? Why would I get mad unless you were breaking rules—or being incredibly stupid." Riddle is giving me a look and throwing some heavy shade! It's earned, he's right. I don't say anything. But his absolute attention turns to Trey. "How are you feeling, Trey? Do you need anything to eat or drink?" Aw…

"None of you need to worry so much—I'm fine." Trey assuages.

"But… you were hurt because of me…" Oh, the mournful tone Riddle uses stabs me right in the heart. I'm too sensitive to all of this right now.

"What do you mean?" Ace asks.

"I… was on my way to the third years' classroom and…" Riddle starts. "I told Trey I was going to be late to Magical Shift practice. Then I slipped on the staircase, Trey caught me. He was injured because of that…"

"I made the choice, there's no need for you to worry." Trey soothes.

"But…" Riddle starts to protest.

I notice Ace is pretty close, leaning down to whisper. "You know, this is like…"

"The others. Suspicious." I whisper in return.

"Oh—Riddle, there's no need to be so guilty." Cater's bright voice attempts to comfort. "We just all have to be here for Trey as he recovers!"

"Well, yes, you're right, Cater." Riddle agrees.

I do like this side of Riddle.

"Okay! Let's give Trey some time to rest. Everybody out!" There's Cater, sweeping us out now. I just give Trey a wave before my retreat.

We're down to the lounge pretty soon, him ushering us the whole way. Okay, so, Cater probably has something to say because we're not being… escorted out.

Riddle crosses his arms. "What was it you couldn't say in front of Trey?" Same brain here, Riddle.

"You're very observant, Riddle. Very well! No—you look like you know something about this?" Ah, well, Cater…

I take in a deep breath. "Headmaster Crowley approached Grim and I and coerced us into investigating. The rates of injuries are up, and all of them are Spelldrive Tournament players. So we've been interviewing a few groups and trying to figure out something. At this point, I'm pretty certain someone is doing it. It's clearly some form of sabotage but I need to figure out what dorm, before finding a who or what group." I start.

"I see… so Headmaster put you up to an investigation…" Riddle frowns, displeased by this.

"See? Grim wouldn't just come like that." Cater grins.

We just had some character development here Cater! SHUSH.

"Actually, I also found this recent uptick in injuries suspicious, thus, I asked Cater to investigate as well." Riddle's actions are not surprising in the least.

Cater's also so unassuming as someone that would be investigating anything. That's a genius move there.

"I found that the targets so far are only the top players, like Riddle and Trey." Okay, so it's not just any tournie hopeful. Cater's got some good info.

"I have never been tripped up by someone, tripped, or pushed down before then… However, it felt like my body moved on its own accord. It was an exceedingly unpleasant sensation." Riddle explains.

"That's like all the others!" Grim explains. Good, he's off the clumsy theory. Finally.

"I believe it's a ploy to weed out the competition for the Tournament." Riddle and I are on the same track too.

Ace looks a little bewildered. "So they're injuring the competition so there will be less opponents for the Tournament?" Why is this beyond the realm of possibility for you, Ace? Are you not really into sports? Are you sheltered? Or maybe I have less faith in people than anyone here or something. Hm.

"The competition will be viewed world wide, Ace. Those that participate and succeed are guarenteed a bright future. Of course, it's not surprising that people would go any lengths to win." Riddle concludes.

I wasn't entirely aware of the scope.

"It is strange… you weren't pushed with wind magic, right?" Cater asks.

And that's the angle I don't have on the situation. I have so little experience in magic and in types of magic that this is actually a good insight. I really did need to run into them about all of this!

"No, I didn't feel anything like that." Riddle's so serious.

But why does that phrase keep hitting me over the head? My body moved on its own. What and where. When?

Ugh. This is bothering me.

"The injuries are even happening during classes. What is going on?" Cater's pretty worried too.

"We will have to capture and get a confession out of the culprit. No. We will help your investigation." Oh boy I just got more party members.

"Huh!?" Grim, don't. "You'll help? Why? What are you scheming? Especially you Cater." Suspicious! And we had just made some progress, too… sigh.

"Grim…" I sigh. Never mind. Grim has the least faith.

"Ah, why do you see me in such a negative light? You're giving me a bad rep! Our Vice Housewarden is injured—of course I'd help!" Cater gives him such a look, too.

"Well, we'll help too!" Ace volunteers.

"We will avenge Trey!" Well there comes out that trouble side of Deuce…

"...You two are oddly motivated…" Riddle looks at them suspiciously.

"It could be friendship." I offer to Riddle. But I know better.

"Oh! I think I know." Cater grins. "You're both going to try out for the open player positions, right?"

Let me have my dreams, Cater.

Ace unabashedly grins, "That obvious, huh?"

"No! I wasn't thinking that at all! I want vengeance." Calm down BatDeuce.

I'd watch that show.

I don't think they have Batman in Twisted Wonderland and that's an absolute tragedy.

"Well, I could possibly consider it if you manage to apprehend the culprit." Riddle sighs, disappointed in them both. They deserve it.

"Yes!" They both cheer.

I am also disappointed in the dumb ass duo.

"We need a plan if we want to catch the culprit." Riddle continues.

Ah, well, I know how the rest of my weekend is going.

"What is it?" Grim asks.

"One plan would be to figure out the next victim and guard around them." Riddle explains. But there's multiple dorms and multiple player choices, that's a problem already. "We can keep students safe in that manner, preventing accidents and observe those with suspicious behavior."

"But what student, and from what Dorm?" I ask Riddle.

"Well! You're quick to get into this, No. We already have some ideas on the next targets—I'll put the info in a group chat." Uh, Cater.

Uh.

"Cater… that is a lot of help…" Deuce comments.

Yeah, Cater is surprisingly observant. Suspiciously so?

"It's no problem at all! Anyway, shall we go look after some potential targets?" Cater's all grins, but he's worried like the rest of us.

"Let's go!" Grim's pretty excited. It's nice.

I take in a breath as we head out. "We're going to check out Pomfiore first—I know you two haven't been to this dorm before." Cater's a little excited? "Don't. Touch. Anything."

"Got it."

But, I frown. "But what Dorm is causing this?" I ask as we walk. "Because the injured students Grim and I have interviewed are Heartslabyul, Pomfiore, and Diasomnia, they're not on the suspect list. That still leaves the other four."

"Some of the injuries are from Scarabia and Ignihyde as well." Riddle informs us.

"Octanville and Savanclaw, then—so we should keep an eye out for those students around these situations that may or may not trigger when we investigate possible victims." I reply as we're heading to our dorm destination. "The possible consequences to something like this don't seem worth it..."

The mirror glows, and I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to visiting here...