So somehow, I am literally standing on the field in front of maybe even tens of thousands of people in the actual Spelldrive Stadium of Night Raven College. I am obviously out of my element and out of my league. This is terrifying. Public speaking is one of my big terrors. I would rather face another Overblot, no, TWO Overblots than do this! But I got forced into this role! I do not want to be here and I wasn't even really interested in playing! I don't have magic! This is a disaster! HELP.

I see Leona's smirk directed right at me and he gestures a thumbs down, mouthing that he is going to take me down and that's so rude. What did I do to him? I am NOT a ringleader. Sure, I helped foil his plot but he needed to be stopped!

I also do not like there is a camera crew on the field, standing between our teams, and gesturing for Leona and me to come forward. I try and shake my head in refusal but I get the BIGGEST push from Deuce and Ace.

"Go on! You have to talk to them!" Ace encourages.

"I don't WANT to!" I huff, and I get another shove. FINE.

Fine.

Grim's huffing. "I could do it!"

Deuce shakes his head. "Remember, team Captain has to—besides, you have to—uh—show them your greatness without words!" Yeah okay fine Deuce you are right that would be a disaster.

"Ha ha, you're right! They're going to love the great Grim!" Yeah...

I join Leona, and a man with a microphone and a woman holding the strangest camera I've ever seen. My hands are already twisting nervously in my ponytail. I do not want to be here and I do not want to talk. I don't even want to play this. I have to—obviously-but this is not me being willing or anything!

"Seems our new Captain is a bit camera shy!" The man remarks.

Leona laughs a little. "What, cat got your tongue?"

I want to die right now this is horrible. Save me. "Yes."

"So, what IS your name?" He asks, and that mic is in my face and I lean back a little bit.

"No Wei." I respond.

The entire crowd shuts up.

"C-can you repeat that?"

"No. Wei." I repeat slowly.

"… … ...Young man…" He sounds so stern.

I give him and the camera such a blank look. Oh no. What? What did I do!? Oh my God what is even going on why is everything so quiet?! Oh my God oh my God-! Yep, is having problems.

"That IS his name." Leona saves me? I guess?

"How… ...are your parents here so we can ask them about that? It's so… unique." Why.

"...No… they're… they're pretty dead." I know I sound so awkward right now.

"O-oh. I'm so sorry! They would be so proud if they could be here today, I'm sure!" I do not appreciate this man's sympathy nor the whole crowd starting to murmur about it. "A-anyway." Good, he's nervous too now. "What Dorm are you from?"

"...Ramshackle…" CAN WE STOP ASKING NO WEI QUESTIONS PLEASE?!

"Is that… a new dorm?"

"Mhm." I respond, and I want to crawl under a hole and die thank you so very much I hate public speaking so much help me SOS 123 STOP.

"And… those are your dorm members?" He's pointing behind me.

"The ones not in red." I respond.

Leona is laughing his ass off. Great. I want to crawl in a hole and die. "Ha ha ha ha where did that boldness go, No Wei? You were taking charge off the field but the second there's a camera you're a scared little bunny?!" His team is laughing too… except Jack. Jack's a bro.

Doubled over laughing.

Why won't the ground swallow me up yet? Please?

"We're very familiar with Leona Kingscholar! He is a fan favorite, after all—but you're brand new! The crowd and everyone at home would love to know more about you and this team of yours'! How did you end up Captain?"

I glance behind me and I see my entire team is laughing or trying not to laugh. I hate all of them. "…Bullying."

"AH, selling yourself short? No Wei here is an amazing coordinator of his fellow students. He's, already, banded together several students from different dorms for a common goal without much effort at all—he's even wrangled one of my freshmen in his band of friends. Doesn't even end at people—there's a monster, and ghosts on that team after all." Leona's got an arm around me, giving a stiff and inescapable hug. "We've even become friends."

I swear to GOD I hear Crowley sobbing somewhere.

"Really?! Night Raven College is infamous for how the students rarely cooperate for a common goal! How is this possible?" I have a mic so close to my face and I cannot get away from Leona's grasp, either. I hate him.

"...I… guess it's my special talent…?" I offer, lamely. "I—I just—I mean… I like having friends… h-here at school…" Yeah, he was right. I am a nervous bunny.

"Well, then! We'll look forward to your progress and examine your team work today then, No Wei!' Why is he so enthused!

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it too." Leona's grinning and it is so sinister.

He gives me a very tight squeeze and lets go.

Praise the LORD I am free.

"Now then—" The mic is almost in my face and I take a leap and off I am cartwheeling all the way back to my team. I stop, and stand straight, brushing off my hands. That is my exit out I am done I am not talking to anyone else I do not care!

"Oh! What a fluid exit too! So, Leona, are you ready to play?"

"We'll have fun, bunny." He's giving me a wave too. I wave back so stiffly. I hate all of this.

Deuce and Ace are laughing. I'm getting pats on the shoulder.

At least Deuce tries his best to stop. "S-sorry. W-we didn't know you had s-stage fright…"

"Let's just play…" I sigh. I'm already worn out.

We get into position—I'm thankfully in the back. I do remember the strategy used previously in our last match with Savanaclaw. With them worn down, we will probably score a point or two at least. I honestly hope this isn't just a slaughter.

The disc is thrown and the match starts. I'm not surprised when the other team catches it and makes their way forward.

It IS intense, at least. There's magic flying—and a lot to cover. I'm coordinating from the back and honestly, we're making some surprising progress. We even score a few goals! It's amazing! Though, we're also thrown back from some power moves from Jack and Leona.

I am also very thankful I can still perform some gymnastic moves because they literally save my skin from getting hit by a couple spells.

The commentary of the match is lost to me, too—because there's so much cheering from the crowd and honestly I don't want to hear it.

Sure—sure. It's exhilarating. It's FUN! But it's also… Well, we are soon running out of time. It's about three points difference because I know Savanaclaw is just playing around with us. We could get pretty close! Grim has the disc! And there's an opening between Ruggie and Jack he could make a clear power shot!

"Grim—shoot for the-!"

I wake up, with the biggest headache I've had in years. What the actual fuck. "Ow…" I know that was a whine but what is this pain and throbbing in my skull? Hangovers are nicer than this.

It's… night out?

I see Grim, who smiles bright and wide. "Oh! Good! You're awake!"

"What…?" I ask, dazed and confused.

"...Right before the end of the game, Grim threw the disc and it hit you in the end… you fainted. You don't remember?" Ace fills in the blank.

"… … ...No wonder my head hurts…" I sigh. Oh, yeah, this sucks.

"Ah… my shot WAS going to make it…" No. I was in the WRONG DIRECTION, GRIM!

"...Yeah… that… wasn't something for beginners." Jack's here too. Oh. Huh.

This is the infirmary. I haven't been HERE in a hot minute. I guess I was due.

"Anyway, I'm glad you're awake, No." Deuce offers me a smile. What a friend.

"...My head hurts…" I complain.

"I was worried—we'd be in trouble if you didn't wake up." Deuce. What?

"You missed the entire Tournament. They're cleaning up right now." Ace, I don't care.

"Who won…?" I should at least know that.

"Diasomnia." The disappointment in Leona's voice is clear, and I look to see that Ruggie is by his side. Huh. A whole party here for me.

Or is this revenge.

Hm.

"We couldn't even touch them." Ruggie looks pretty disappointed, too. "They obliterated every team. What a disaster. I mean… at least you just got obliterated by Grim."

HA. HA. HA.

"Leona, Ruggie! You woke up!" Jack looks relieved.

"I thought I'd only use the infirmary for naps…" A scowl, too. Oh. Did they get knocked out? Leona seems frustrated.

"It's annoying that none of the Diasomnia students are here." Ruggie grumbles.

"I've heard the rumors—Diasomnia's Dorm Leader is a monster. You don't want to mess with them." Ace… that's kind of rude. Is it speciest with Grim here? That's a good question.

"Yeah—he was amazing. You would've been in awe, No." Deuce… uh.

I don't really care about Spelldrive.

I just want some aspirin.

"I get why everything thinks they'll never win against him." Ace adds.

"Can I get… something for my head?" I ask. Desperate.

"Ah—here." Jack is a sweet angel that hands me some water and a little potion. I down it without a second thought. Some of the aching relieves itself instantly.

"Thanks…"

"Thinking you'll be defeated before you start is the easiest way to lose." Jack… he's a bit on a high horse. "I'll prove that I can win against Diasomnia without cheating!"

"Cheating has its advantages, you know…" Leona is a bad influence.

I give him such a tired look. "You didn't learn shit from this, did you?"

Leona gives me such a smirk. "I learned a bit about you, bunny. Was there anything else to learn?"

That fucker and that smirk. "...Really…"

"I gave it everything I got this year, and next year will be the same." Leona declares.

"Leona's back to normal." And there's that Ruggie laugh.

"Man, already thinking about next year…" Jack laments a little.

"We'll play next year for sure, too!" Grim's all fired up.

"Can I not?" I ask weakly.

"We'll do our best to make the Heartslabyul team next year!" Deuce declares.

Ace is all smiles, too. "I don't want to embarrass myself then like how the end of our match was." He's mocking me.

"Count me out." Please.

I turn my head, spotting a little kid scampering in. Oh—what cute little ears on him! He's so adorable—he's small, with red hair that fades to orange. He's wearing what looks like a large yellow, decorated tunic with a white layer underneath—and a large medallion with a blue feather. He's so excited as he comes up to us. "Uncle! I found you!"

Uncle?

He immediately launches and clings to Leona's leg.

"A child?" Grim asks.

"Uncle Leona!" He hugs so tight, and there's absolute distaste and horror on Leona's face.

"Damn it… the annoying kid is here… why…" Oh my GOD that kid is so precious! And Leona is so irritated. HOW CAN HE?

"Uncle Leona?!" Jack is taken aback.

"Look at that little angel…" Oh my GOD. I want like four kids. I love children.

"This brat is Cheka… my brother's son. My nephew." He explains unwillingly as the child hugs him so tightly. "Get off."

"Nephew?!" So many say in shock.

"So… that's who's next in line for the throne?" Ruggie's… wait.

Wait. That's right.

Leona's a prince.

So that means this cutie pie is the crown prince.

"You had so many cool matches today, Uncle! Can you teach me Magishift?! Please?!" How can you say no to that face?! Cheka's adorable! My GOD.

And he's impressively climbed up Leona for more hugging.

"Ugh! Stop. Don't shout in my ear!" Leona is not a kid person, is he? "And where are your bodyguards?"

"Mmmm! Well, I wanted to see you so I left them behind! Hee hee!" That's so cute. Just. My HEART.

"Mmm… so… the core of evil that is Leona… is…" Jack starts.

"This icute/i little angel." I can't help but gush.

"Wow… how is he attached to someone like you?!" Grim. That's rude.

But a correct question.

"Ah—shut up and stop staring!" Leona scowls at us.

"Hey, hey! Uncle! When are you coming back home to visit!? Next week? After? Did you get my letters? Did you read them? Huh?" Oh, Cheka ADORES his uncle! This is just so cute!

Leona's put Cheka on the ground at this point, and gets back into the bed. Turning away. "I already told you I'll be back during the holidays—ow!" Cheka's climbing back on him. "Don't sit on me!"

"The kid's just climbing on him like a jungle gym…" Jack, this is adorable.

I see my school bag beside me… I am slowly taking out the ghost camera and oops did I just get a picture?!

"I will KILL whoever did that." Luckily, Leona is facing away from us.

Ruggie's in laughter. "Amazing! Now I know why Leona never wants to go home!"

"Ohh!" The kid turns to look at us. "So—are you all Uncle's friends too like Bunny?" Wait.

Who is bunny?

Ace can't help his snickering. "Yeah, we're friends—right, Uncle Leona?!"

Ruggie's laughing his ass off. "Ah—it hurts so much t-to laugh!"

"I swear you better stop laughing—I WILL remember this!" Leona snarls at us. I get a picture as he turns around to set Cheka back on the ground. I get the worst glare. "No. Wei."

I grin.

I'll die and I don't even care.

It is a bit of a kerfuffle soon, as guards rush in and there's a whole thing over the run-away prince. They're not surprised he ran off—but there's some scolding, and in the fuss we're also getting discharged.

Good. I want to get back to Ramshackle… and escape Leona.

Really, there is no place like home. It's a nice, long, wonderful bath for me…

Before I know it, it's morning.

"...I'm glad that day is over…" I sigh. It's been one thing after another so far at school, and honestly my head still hurts a little but we've… succeeded. So far.

The day's a blur. So many people come to visit to make sure I'm okay, and I even make another trip to the infirmary with a very strict Riddle. It's sweet, but I just want.. rest.

Before I know it, I'm back in bed, and asleep.

But—but I wake up, with the mirror glowing.

"Am I dreaming…?"

I get up, going to the mirror. I see a strange… a… part of a figure? A shadow? What is that?

And the next thing I know it's morning. "What was that… shadow…?" But all that responds to me is Grim's snoring.

Maybe it's a concussive dream.

At least we don't have classes today.

"Night… Grim…"

And I'm back asleep.