I need to clear my head.

There's too much going on and I'm not thinking logically. I should've never made the deal with Azul, I know that, but honestly I'm so emotionally charged right now I'm not making good decision. Except taking the clothes, A+ on my part—who can afford new clothes in this economy? Or, I'm just uniquely broke but that's neither here nor there. I'm going to basically be a wage-slave to Azul, worse than that, if I don't win. So how do I defeat the scheming octopus at his own game? He planned ahead for so much—obviously.

Sure, I could be actively pursued, but they can't harm me. It's in the agreement. The Leech bros are definitely under Azul's employ, which is enough to… basically…

I'm…

Safe enough. I know they're worried but I have to have some time to myself. I'm already in tears and there's no reason for it—I'm getting way too attached to this place. Ramshackle is really the only home place I have here, and even if it's difficult to keep up and manage, I've made so much progress that the dorm really does look like a home now. A home I don't want to lose.

Besides, if I'm under Azul's permanent school-employ it's probably inevitable that he finds out—and honestly I am not ready to get fully into hentai-dream mode and become some sort of school prostitute.

Sounds like a bad end to me, so my only actual choice is victory.

So what am I missing? Something is staring me in the face. Something so stupidly obvious I SHOULD see it! I don't know what, though. The pieces are all there and I just can't fit the puzzle together.

This is so frustrating! I want to scream and cry and—and that's just not appropriate. I'll probably start bawling if someone asks me if I'm okay, or what's wrong—or any of those tear-inducing questions. They're all awful and I hate them! I feel like such a child right now, too. Just… awful. Terrible.

It's long after dark by the time I get some focus back, and realize I'm, of course, at Ramshackle's gates.. I like to wander at night and sing to myself on the grounds. It's peaceful, and honestly probably the healthiest form of stress relief that anyone uses at this school. We probably wouldn't be at two Overblots and two-post Overblot monster encounters if there was some therapy provided for the students. I'll suggest that to Crowley later, but considering his penny-pinching I doubt it'll happen.

Honestly, I'm soon too sad to continue singing. A deep sigh comes, as I lean on the gate, looking at my well-lit dorm. I never keep it this bright, myself. But… even as desolate as it seems, it's home. "I have one day to solve this mess." And I'm losing confidence in myself, too.

The fireflies here are always lovely. They come and go, but seeing them… is a little hopeful.

"Ah, the Ramshackle Housewarden. No Wei." He greets, and he's as curious as ever. I really was starting to think that Hornton was just a dream. Honestly, I'm staring a few moments in surprise.

But I can't help a little smile, it's really nice to see a friendly face. "Hornton. I was starting to think you were a dream."

Brows raise, his arms cross comfortably, sure, but his eyes are wide in surprise at hearing the name. "Hornton… is that… me?" He seems so surprised! I can't help the big, wide grin. Really, after all that fanfare and he's going to give me that over a nickname?

"I have a few of them, but that's the one Grim suggested. Others include: Mr. Mystery, Horn-guy, and honestly I'll probably rotate. You did give me the option of whatever name I chose… but you ididn't/i say it couldn't be many, right?" I'm not sure why his sudden, mysterious appearance hypes me up so much, but it really does.

And, he immediately bursts into laughter. Maybe that's what I really needed, to laugh with someone. To just—have a conversation that wasn't about the impending doom. I'm already feeling ibetter/i. "Hornton, and many more? Ha ha! What a fearless one you are!" But he seems so overjoyed about it too.

He really has a nice laugh.

It takes awhile for my giggling friend to calm down from his peals of laughter, but he settles, looking at me relaxed, and straight on again. "I perhaps should not have expected different—I did grant you the ability to name me as you liked. But I will only allow you to call me such strange names."

"I wouldn't really expect you to let anyone else call you by my weird nicknames, Mr. Nameless." He's going to have to get used to it. But this one I swear makes his eyes sparkle in amusement.

Though, a frown to his lips as he turns to the Dorm. "-I've noticed the lights on for a night or two, why is your Dorm so lively? What has happened here?"

Does he not know? I thought the whole school did with our expert rumor mill. Apparently it's run by the Pomefiore Dorm, but Cater's probably the head of the Heartslabyul division. I'm not actually sure, but I let out such a deep sigh. "I've got a story for you, Hornton… come, take a seat." I go to a nearby tree, and pull my long hair over my shoulder, so I don't get it tangled and caught in bark. I could cut it, but grandma loved my hair so much—I really regret chopping it off after she died. I never got the length back… so now that I do, I'll keep it.

"Ah?" Mr. Mystery questions, but he obliges the spot I'm patting at takes a seat beside me.

"Now, where do I begin?"

"The beginning?" I can't tell if Hornton's being cheeky or not, and I lean back a bit, closing my eyes and taking a breath so I don't cry.

"Well, as you noticed, I bet, there are anemones on students, right? And—Grim ended up being one of them—the flame-cat-demon monster. My only dorm member. So, well, honestly? I was going to let it be a lesson to them after I followed to see Azul Ashengrotto's weird-ass mafia performance. Let them learn a lesson about who they sign deals with, to read contracts, and… well. It was so many people. Two hundred and fifty-five people. And three of them are my good friends—Deuce, and Ace, from Heartslabyul. They're—freshmen in my class." Oh, yeah, I'm definitely rambling. "Seeing them drug off and struggling I guess got to me, because—well, that's not entirely true. The Headmaster came, and told me to solve it to make up for the expenses of my dorm."

"...The expenses of your Dorm…?" There's a curious look from Hornton. He's clearly considering my every word, and listening so intently I'm really, really surprised. It's very rare someone listens to me so much! I'm… not even really sure if I'm dreaming or not, someone PINCH me.

"Y-yeah. I mean, the food costs. He covers the cafeteria budget, and I have the Dorm budget to manage for supplies and repairs. My stipend makes up for the lack of funds… so basically I'm saving every penny. But I—I'm really, really tired of having to solve every problem that comes along because I'm trying to be a student too. Maybe—I guess I can try to get a part time job, and supplement the rest of the income?" Oh no, my eyes are so teary right now. "B-but I found out he can't interfere because Azul didn't icheat/i to make his study guide… and he's getting 10% of the Lounge profits. Probably net."

There's a deep, growing concern to Mr. Mystery's face. "S-so, I went to go talk to Azul. And… I guess this was a plot. He wants Ramshackle, and Crowley told him it was imine/i. I mean, obviously not. I—I don't even have an I.D.-how could I own a building? He was clearly just trying t-to foist it off on someone else so he didn't have to deal with Azul himself. G-grim came bursting in, and just seeing all the miserable students… I—I made a deal. I get a photo he wants from a museum under the sea, and he lets everyone go—and gives me 10% of current gross profits until I graduate. I fail to get the photo by the end of sunset of the third day, he gets the Dorm and I work for him until I graduate. H-he wants a second branch of the Monstro Lounge, which is stupid, I think."

"Ah… I see… you made a deal with Ashengrotto…" There's a frown on my friend's face. He looks concerned.

I take in a breath, wiping tears. "It was so stupid. It's so obvious he planned this out from the start. I've been stopped at every turn by the twins, or—just-by traps. It's—I'm not normally this dumb."

"In your failure, tomorrow at sunset the will become his—another, busy, bright Lounge, with so many coming at all hours." Why does he look so upset by that. Yet his gaze goes to my face. He pulls out a handkerchief, and gently offers it.

"Th-thanks." I take it, wiping my face. Ugh, I'm just going to cry into this for awhile, sorry friend. Floodgates are opened.

"You seem so… unhappy by that outcome…" I can't see his face, but I'm assuming he's sad too? "—but why are you discussing this with me, as if you've already lost?"

My friend falls silent for awhile as I cry it out. Taking several, deep breaths, before finally I pull away, wiping my face dry. I feel so, so exhausted—but better.

There's a contemplative look on my mysterious night-friend's face.

His face suddenly lights up a little, looking toward the dorm, and pointing. "Do you see the beautiful gargoyle statue, that sits against your Dorm?"

I lean, and squint. He's got some great vision. "Y-yeah. The raven. It's… one of my favorites. Even if it looks a little monstrous compared to the ravens I know."

There's a tut. "Gargoyles look like monsters to some, perhaps, but to look closer one can see they are a beautiful rain gutter that protects the walls and roof of a building from rain. Perhaps they do look frightening, but they were crafted to care deeply for the homes, and buildings they protect."

"The… opposite of what we expect…" The wheels are suddenly turning.

My friend stands, offering his hand to me. I take it, and a gentle tug has me to my shaky feet. "It is often that what we see, is the opposite of the truth." And what a sorrowful expression he holds. "And I, for one, do not wish to see such a serene place become so lively, so busy…" His hand holds mine, and his green eyes are so, terribly intense.

"—I think…" I start. "—I got it."

"Then prove to me, No Wei, that you will do all in your power to protect your Dorm from Ashengrotto."

"—I got it." I say with confidence. That—that was it. THAT WAS IT! IT ALL FITS! I can't help how I'm filled with excitement and I wrap him up in such a tight hug! "Thank you so much, Horton! I—I just—I just need teamwork and I've got this! Thank you, really, thank you!" I give him a squeeze, before I let go.

He has such a strange expression on his face. Shock, maybe? Surprise?

Are his tipped ears pink?

"After this is over, you have to come over—okay? I'll make cookies as thanks."

His eyes light up, but he regards me strangely. "Then, prove it with your success."

"Of course!" I turn, looking at the dorm, but when I look back…

"He's gone?" Huh. You know what? I only make friends with weirdos, clearly.

It all makes sense, he wouldn't freak out about the safe if the contracts were actually invulnerable. He's kept up an illusion with traps, tricks, and saying it! So we CAN destroy the master that he holds with all of the names of the anemone victims–but it'll take some powerful magic. And I know EXACTLY who could destroy it.

But I have to get rid of the Leech twins first. I need a two-front attack. So, if we both split on confronting Azul at the Lounge and divert the twins at the museum, we could even be able to get the photo and win the bet. Just because one is destroyed, Crowley SHOULD have another copy. If I want to win, I have to win fully! I have to destroy what he has on the other students, and I need the photo too.

It's going to be difficult, but I have a team.

This feels so much better, like I have hope.

It might be dark, but it's honestly not that late. I manage to stop by the school store and snag a cheap snack that'll tide me over until morning. It was on sale for two marks, and that's—that's not bad. It's some sort of cracker pack, and it's really just the right amount of calories to take away my hunger. I'm not starving—well, I am, but that's the period talking.

When I get back, there's a wide-grinned Ruggie standing there, and I'm not sure why he's so cheery. "Oh! Good! You're finally back No, which means you're just in time to clean up this mess." He gestures to Leona's room. Yeah, it's a sty.

"Your rent." Leona emphasizes.

Grim looks absolutely exhausted, he must've just gotten back from being tugged for a shift at the Monstro Lounge. Shit. "I'm tired of being used by Azul… Leona too…? I just wanna sleep…" Aw.

"So first we need to get the-" Ruggie starts.

"Uh, no." I say, immediately.

"What?" Ruggie gives me a curious look.

"Yeah I cleaned up Ramshackle from being a haunted house to an acceptable, neat living space. I really don't need anyone to tell me how to clean. Anything. So—you can leave, or you can follow my directions if I'm supposed to be leading this cleaning show. And I bet you I'm probably faster." Yeah, I'm really insulted.

"Yeah, we know how to clean!" Grim shut up.

"Are you two complaining?" Leona asks.

"Lay on the couch, we're stripping the bed." I say, and I go over, tapping his shoulder.

He gives me a look, and shrugs, going to plop on the couch as I start stripping the bed and throwing it all on the floor, leaving the bare pillows and the naked mattress. Then, I head over. "Grim—clothes in the basket."

The flaming kitty cat obliges, at least.

I go, finding the spare linens in the wardrobe, and pull them out, tossing them on the bed and head back over to make it as Grim's stuffing used clothes in the basket. I first case the pillows, and then flip out the fitted sheet, throwing the pillows, and the rest on top before starting to tuck a corner. "If you're going to help, Ruggie, get the other side."

I'm surprised when he obliges, and really we've got that bed tucked and neat in such a short amount of time. I slap the pillows—yep, nice and fluffy. "Okay, Leona, you can nap now."

Leona comes over, surprised, and looks over the bed. "That's different than how Ruggie makes it."

I push him over. The cat twists, and drags me down with a growl, flipping me on the bed.

Uh.

"Bunny." He warns.

Yeah. Hm. Uh. This is so absolutely awkward to have him between my legs and over me like this that my memories of thinking this is some sort of dream hentai production comes to mind. My face MIGHT be a little red but I grasp him, and tuck my leg over his, and place my other foot on the bed to bump him in the ass and forward.

He looks shocked as he leans forward, and I use the momentum and his off-balance to flip him over and pin HIM to the bed.

"Nighty night, sweet prince." I press a kiss to his forehead, and away I go like a bunny rabbit! FUCK!

I hear a cuss, and Ruggie bursts out laughing. "Anyway—let's get those dusters-" Oh yeah I fucked up.

"Grim, can you get the desk?"

"Mmm—fiiine!" Grim huffs, as he gets on the chair and over the desk, letting out a little gasp. I don't know what he's murmuring as I'm dusting, and putting up books and everything else as I go. How can he BE so messy?

I hear a chuckle from Grim, and I don't like that.

There's a scuffle between him and Ruggie, and I turn to look at them both.

"Leona, don't keep the priciest stuff out in the open." The ears are down, and Ruggie seems so upset—was Grim talking about—ugh! "What if someone steals it?"

"Don't lecture me like you're my mother, Ruggie." Leona barbs back. "It's not important, so who cares if it's stolen? If someone has the guts to steal from me, let them."

"You really don't have any concept of value, do you?" Huh, so this is what they argue about. "—ugh, what a spoiled, rich kid…" He murmurs. Even I caught that, hyena boy.

"OH!" SHIT! I forgot about the plans!

Grim screams in shock.

"Don't scream for no reason!" Leona scolds. Hah, I guess he's a little worked up from earlier… and I am too but uh let's not talk about that.

"I—okay, I came to a conclusion earlier! He has the contracts in the safe because they're not invulnerable." I start.

"Oh?" Ruggie looks interested.

Leona laughs with a grin. "There you go, Bunny." I kinda like when Leona laughs, too. "Finally you're putting it all together."

Maybe Hornton and Leona could be friends. Hornton seems a little lonely.

"Putting what together?" Grim asks.

"The contracts aren't invulnerable, it's why he has a safe—and it's why he freaked out when the safe was damaged. There's no reason to freak out if they were invulnerable. Remember? And it's how he got distracted and we escaped earlier. So—we know his true weakness: they can be destroyed, which means they can all be rendered void." I start.

"We need to go take them out now, then!" Grim declares.

"Not so fast." Ruggie starts. "The problem is the twins."

"You're right." I add. "Which means it will have to be two teams: one team to the museum and one to the safe." I'm looking at Leona.

"—no." Leona starts.

"Yes?" I ask.

"I don't mean your name, Bunny." His arms are crossed. "Count me out. It's too troublesome, especially going up against that disgusting octopus."

I take in a breath. "Ruggie? Grim? Can you excuse us?" I ask the two.

Ruggie raises his brows. "Uh… sure?"

"I guess…"

The two leave, giving each other looks. I hear them whispering once they're outside the door. I go up, and knock on it really loud.

"OW!" I hear them both shout.

"GO. AWAY." I yell back.

There's a lot of murmuring, but they're definitely off now.

Then, I turn my attention back to Leona.

His ears are flat against his head.

"I think we should just pretend I badgered you until it was less annoying to give in, so I don't have to cry about this, and finish cleaning before they get back." I offer. "I need to get back to dusting."

Leona hesitates a moment, frowning. "Badgering…"

"I can definitely start crying right now if that's what you want." I'm pretty close to tears.

"Fine! Fine." He waves his hand too, and I'm super annoyed to find out he can dust this entire place and throw it outside in such a simple spell.

Leona is LAZY.

"So—how about we go over the plan?" I wipe my eyes. Oh, bother…

"Bunny…" The king of Savanaclaw looks so upset too.

Yeah, he's open, so I go in for a big hug. I NEED hugs right now. "A-anyway. S-so I'm going to need you…"

The crying totally works every time, except now I can't stop and it's awful.