A/N Took me a bit to post it here after updating on AO3, BUT HERE IT IS! I'M BACK BITCHES!
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…
Sam enjoys the energy that Yuu brings to his shop. It's lively and welcoming, and above all—it bridges the distance between him and the first-years. It usually takes most first-years at least a month to even consider visiting his shop on their own. Yuu, however, had cut that time in half with their warm smile and amicable nature…
And of course, the cute work uniform that Sam had given them—can't forget about that, when everyone keeps talking about it. It's hard to ignore the frilly headpiece that Yuu wears in their hair, or the large ribbon that's tied around their waist. It's a simple outfit overall, consisting of a short-sleeved shirt, lace-trimmed stockings, black shorts, white shoes, and a ruffled white half-apron. Though, on someone like Yuu, it only accentuates their charm.
They like the uniform well enough, especially since the coloration was made to match Sam's clothes. It's the one thing that Yuu won't stop gushing about whenever anyone compliments their appearance. No matter how many times they've said it, Sam never grows tired of hearing how happy Yuu is to match him in some way.
The shop sees a lot of students throughout the morning, though most notable is the influx of students from Scarabia. It's so crowded, as everyone is rushing to grab last-minute gifts for their Vice Dorm Leader. Sam had highly anticipated this scenario, as he had since prepared a set of birthday cards and simple gifts at the side for such customers.
Yuu does a wonderful job collecting payments in exchange for these gifts, ensuring that the crowd remains at a reasonable size within the shop. Curiously, there is one customer that refuses them, saying that he is here for something else entirely.
"I'm here for a pick-up." The young man has a list ready to go, too. Dark eyes stare wearily at Yuu, showing some sign of recognition. "You…You're that magicless student from the opening ceremony."
"Do I know you?" Yuu tilts their head to the side. "Hmm…"
"No—I believe this is, officially, our first meeting." The young man sighs, taking a moment to hand off the list to Sam as he drops by. "However, I do know of you."
Somewhat—there is still a lot that he has to learn of this peculiar magicless student. But from what he does know, well…there's a lot more to them than meets the eye.
"Hmm…" Yuu gives him a questioning look, a smile soon forming on their lips. "Well, I'm Yuu! And I think you're really pretty!"
With brown skin and long, dark brown hair that's plaited into tight braids, and makeup that is skillfully applied to his face, the young man is certainly a beauty that catches Yuu's eye. He only blinks in response, not knowing what to say. It's not the first time anyone has ever complimented him, though coming from someone like Yuu…
"I apologize—but I'm not in any position to accept any of your feelings." It's far too soon, and more than that, he is too busy to deal with any of this so early into the day.
"It's fine!" Yuu laughs. "I didn't mean it like that, anyways. I just wanted to say what's on my mind!"
The young man huffs out a laugh. "Is that so?"
"Mm-hm!" Yuu takes a quick moment to collect a customer's payment. "Say, say…are you from Scarabia?"
"What makes you say that?" The young man doesn't see any harm in prolonging this particular conversation.
"Your clothes!" It's a lot different from the Scarabia school uniforms that Yuu would see from time to time, but the coloration is still similar enough, despite the hoodies and parachute pants. "Are they comfy?"
"I suppose so." The young man has already spent a year wearing the dorm uniform. "You might be new to this, but you are quite perceptive. So what is it about Scarabia that makes you so curious?"
"It's about the Vice Dorm Leader!" Yuu knows that they're not involved in any way, but after seeing how everyone is so eager to grab a birthday gift for their Vice Dorm Leader…well, Yuu is rather curious about them. "What kind of person is he?"
The young man blinks. "What kind…aha. Well, that depends on who you're asking, but he is definitely someone who should sit back and enjoy today instead of getting so involved."
"Is that so?" Yuu places their hand on their chin. "Hmm…well, tell him good luck! It seems that today is going to be especially busy! Though, I hope that he still has a very happy birthday!"
The young man only chuckles, seemingly amused with Yuu's antics. "I'll tell him myself. I'm sure he'll appreciate it."
The irony is not lost on Sam as he observes the interaction from a small distance. It's endearing, really, to see Yuu act so friendly towards a complete stranger. He wonders how they'll react if they knew the truth…but he decides to keep it to himself. After all, it should give the Vice Dorm Leader something worth laughing about in the following days.
Sam does his best to contain his laughter upon hearing Yuu blurt out, "I forgot to ask for his naaaame!"
Such a shame that Jamil Viper has since left his shop…
"Better luck next time, Kooni-chan." Sam gives their shoulder a reassuring pat. "Keep up the good work!"
The shop gets a lot noisier when Grim shows up to voice his grievances. Apparently, there's only so much he can do on his own without Yuu…not that he'll ever admit that outright.
"How much longer are ya gonna work?" Grim stretches out his body on the plush, purple carpet that's spread across the floor.
"Just a few more hours to go!" Yuu quickly drops into a crouch and reaches out to give Grim's stomach a few light scratches. "Be patient—I'll buy some salmon for you for dinner!"
"Salmon!" Grim's pupils dilate. "Aahhh, aaah—can we also get fatty tuna?!"
"Hmm…" Yuu tilts their head. "That's pretty pricy, buuuuut…okay!"
"In stock now~!" Sam doesn't waste a second showing off his wares. Whatever the heart desires—he always has something in mind to offer.
"Yay~!" Yuu lifts Grim into their arms, giving his body an affectionate squeeze. "Gonna eat good!"
And it's going to get even better once they have enough money to buy a rice cooker!
"Kooni-chan should try to eat more." Sam lightly taps a packaged bread to Yuu's head as soon as they've stood up. The crinkle of plastic catches their attention, as does the pint of milk that is held out for them. "Enjoy!"
"Don't I get anything?" Grim is quick to complain.
"Only if you help out!" Sam gives Grim's nose a light tap.
Grim fixates his resting bitch face on Sam, not at all amused with his suggestion. It sounds like too much effort, and yet…
The offer—it beckons him.
Which is why Grim spends the next two hours, eavesdropping on the conversations that students were having with each other. His ears twitch with each topic that seemed relevant to the task that Sam had assigned him. He was gauging their interests, trying to figure out what it is that they wanted the most. Foods, materials, books—whatever.
Anything that could help Sam out at his shop was fair game, and Grim was eager to fulfill his tasks if it means getting something out of it. He doesn't know what to expect, thought at the very least, he would like at least ten cans of tuna.
It's not.
"Eeeh?" Grim scowls at the sardine that's waved around his face. "All this for a sardine?"
"There's more where that came from!" Yuu sets down a plate of sardines. "And even more!"
"This is just to hold you down for now." Sam isn't one to weasel his way out of payments. A deal is a deal—this is mostly done as a favor for Yuu, who was worried that Grim was hungry.
"Feh!" Grim bats the sardine with his hand, his eyes immediately tracking its movements as it sways from left to right in Sam's hand. "Grr…"
It's just a simple fish—it's nothing compared to tuna and salmon, and yet… There's something about it…
"Give me that!" Grim pounces without much warning, the sardine immediately going into his mouth. He takes his time eating it, not caring much for the bones he crunches on nor the audible purr that rumbles in his throat.
"You've trained him well." His behavior is certainly a lot more manageable, compared to what Sam has heard from Crowley.
"But I didn't do anything." Yuu furrows their brow, their eyes falling shut under the gentle hand that affectionately ruffles their hair.
"You've done enough, Kooni-chan." Even if they aren't aware of it. Crowley was certainly onto something when he described Yuu as a Beast Tamer.
Sam has seen his fair share of humans over the years. Those with magic, those without, those with different ancestry, and those with different backgrounds—none of it comes close to how seemingly normal Yuu's existence is. Normal in many ways, save for their origins and the calming affect that they seem to have on everyone by simply being there.
His friends on the other side have their own observations to make as well, though it differs completely from his. After all, they can see far more than meets the eye. It's how he becomes aware of the uncomfortable truth about Yuu's soul.
"When two become one…" he hears them whisper to each other.
It doesn't mean much to him when he first hears it, though the longer he pays close attention to unsteady steps that Yuu makes when they walk, followed by their occasional bouts of clumsiness… Something starts to click.
"When two become one." What a peculiar phenomenon. "How tragic…"
It makes Sam want to spoil them even more—anything to keep that smile shining brightly on their face. Because he knows the price that one pays in order to even walk on such an unsteady path. And still, Yuu smiles as though nothing is wrong.
As though the price that they had paid hasn't entwined their soul in such uncertainty. Dancing so carelessly between life and death, paving the way for a new existence.
"What will you become?" Sam continues to observe Yuu with such curiosity, growing more and more enamored with their genuine amity. There is so much promise in such a strange, magicless child. As his friends on the other side continue to remind him of the melancholy that hides behind that precious smile, Sam finds himself guiding this lost soul onto a steadier path.
Still so uncertain, yet no longer so lonely…
"Ahh! My ribbon!" Sam only laughs when the colors of Yuu's uniform changes to match those of Grim's colors. From his dark fur to his tattered striped ribbon, to even his bright, blue eyes.
Grim's pupils dilate, his tail quivering for a moment. "Now you look just as handsome as me!"
"Aww, it's cuz we match!" Yuu sees through his attempts to play off his genuine happiness for pride towards his own looks. They're quick to grab him, holding him close to their chest as they nuzzle their cheek against his. "Precious, precious Griiimmm!"
"That's enough!" Grim's tail flicks as he pushes his paw against Yuu's face. Despite his annoyance, he still refrains from unsheathing his claws. "Unhand me!"
Sam watches on, marveling at the sight before him. So this is the form that this child's soul has chosen, having prioritized connections over strength…
"You truly are a beast tamer at heart." Dire Crowley has certainly hit quite the jackpot with his magicless ward. Sam can only wonder how long it'll take for him to realize that… "Assuming he hasn't already been tamed."
What an interesting time it is to be at Night Raven College…
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…
"Where the hell did you find the cash to buy salmon and fatty tuna?" Ace, as usual, quickly makes himself at home in the Ramshackle Dorm. "Is that a rice cooker—have you been holding out on us?"
Ace's train of thought immediately comes to a grinding halt when Yuu suddenly hands him a bowl filled with steaming white rice. He mutters a quick thank you, thoroughly distracted for the moment until it dawns on him that—no, they have to address this now.
"You barely even have any clothes, how the hell are you eating such high-quality food?" Ace tries not to appear so envious, but he is. Fuck it—he wants in on whatever hustle is netting Yuu so much money.
"We earned it!" Yuu chirps, quickly throwing a look over his shoulder at Grim, who has long since passed out after gorging himself on freshly cooked salmon—his bowl of rice left mostly untouched. Sam made good on his word and rewarded the two of them generously for their efforts. Not only providing the aforementioned salmon and fatty tuna, but also a rice cooker, eating utensils, plates, and bowls… Honestly, the list goes on.
"Couldn't you have at least gotten yourself a better sweater—wait a second!" Ace had to look twice, because he almost didn't notice the sudden change in quality of Yuu's clothes. No longer was his sweater so worn out, and his shorts didn't have any holes at all—a fact that Yuu was all too proud to confirm himself. And most notable, are the black tights that he switched out for thigh highs. "Guess you're not that much of an airhead after all."
A mischievous smirk tugs at his lips, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he reaches out to pinch Yuu's nose.
"Are you gonna eat or no?" Yuu puffs up his cheeks. "I thought you came over to have dinner with me?"
"I just came over to kill time because of how suffocating Heartslabyul can be." Ace laughs when Yuu slaps his hand away. "But if you're that lonely, I guess I'll make some time for you."
He tries to play it off casually, but Deuce's sudden appearance throws a wrench in his plan as the former delinquent quickly exposes his plans to throw a few madol in Yuu's general direction. "You forgot your wallet if you're planning on helping out the Prefect!"
And just like that, Deuce joins the dinner table, blissfully oblivious towards Ace's annoyance as Yuu goes on and on about his day today. From all the tasks he successfully carried out in Sam's shop, to the chaos that came from the students of Scarabia purchasing last-minute birthday gifts.
"Hey, hey—did you know it's the Scarabia's Vice Dorm Leader's birthday?" Yuu is all too eager to bring up the topic of birthdays, mainly because it allows him to effortlessly segue into asking, "When's your birthday?"
He looks expectantly at Deuce and Ace, Grim carelessly tossing and turning in his sleep on the table, exposing his stomach for all to see. Yuu's fingers quickly stroke the soft fur on Grim's stomach, his ears and nose twitching from the slight disturbance as a purr begins to rumble in his throat.
"Mine's in June!" Deuce quickly replies, his eyes shining brightly at the salmon that Yuu adds to his plate. "Oh, thanks!"
"Hehehee!" Yuu laughs, his gaze soon shifting towards Ace. "And you?"
Ace furrows his brow, mouth forming into a pout as he promptly considers the pros and cons of sharing his birthday with someone as unpredictable as Yuu. Knowing that airhead and the past antics that they've have between each other, Ace is expecting a prank of some sort in his future if he says anything. "Hmmm…what's the catch?"
"Birthday gifts, duh!" Yuu says as though it's obvious—because it is. "Trying to hide it from me?"
"What's the point when Unbirthdays are so much more interesting?" And more common, so long as the schedule allows for it within Heartslabyul. "Geez, you're being nosy!"
Upon saying that, Ace reaches out to pinch Yuu's nose. He laughs at the way Yuu's face scrunches up, that familiar whine soon leaving his mouth.
"Stop picking on the Prefect!" Deuce does not hesitate grab Ace's nose, his grip a little too rough and firm for comfort.
"Hey!" This was between him and Yuu. "Stay out of this!"
"Don't fight!" Yuu's hand immediately grabs Deuce's nose, the sight alone adding to the chaos that Grim momentarily awakens to. He takes one look before deciding that he's too tired for this shit and goes right back to sleep.
It takes a good five minutes before any of them releases each other's nose. Afterwards, Ace huffs out a weary sigh, and says, "It's this month."
Predictably, Yuu reacts almost at once, his hand tugging on Ace's tie as he quickly demands an explanation. "How soon?! Did we pass it?! C'mon, c'mon, c'mooon—tell meeee!"
"Alright, geez—lay off!" Ace finds himself laughing, unable to comprehend Yuu's train of thought and impulsive behavior. Just what made him so persistent over something as simple as a birthday? "You're a lot more trouble than you're worth."
"You're like the last person who should say that." The irony of Ace's words is not lost on Deuce, earning him a quick, "Fuck off!" from Ace himself.
Yuu can only laugh and laugh, as he pulls out the Ghost Camera that Crowley had given him and takes a photo of the imminent banter between Ace and Deuce while Grim sleeps through it all.
Flash!
…
…
It takes a couple of days, but Yuu manages to corner Trey at the library. Apart from finally returning that dang umbrella that they kept forgetting about, Yuu just wanted to ask a simple question.
"When's Ace's birthday?" A bead of sweat rolls down Trey's face as Yuu's finger pokes into his chest. "C'mon, you have to plan around Unbirthdays—you oughta know a good chunk of your dorm's birthdays!"
Yuu is…not wrong. But…why?
"Trying to plan around another Unbirthday?" Trey looks inquisitively at Yuu, thinking back on how much Riddle's mood has improved since they entered his life. "If you'd like to help out, I can give you a schedule—"
"We'll worry about that later—just give me the date!" Yuu had already tried and failed to get anything out of Ace himself, with the way he kept dodging the question and playing pranks on them. Most recently, was yesterday's broom fiasco that landed the both of them in a wet patch of grass. Yuu was still trying to wash out the grass stains in their gym uniform… "And Ace's favorite dessert if you know it…"
"Very well, then…" Trey adjusts his glasses, somewhat disheveled from how Yuu literally pushed him into a corner. "You're quite the mischievous Prefect, huh?"
"Ace won't say a damn thing!" Grim taps his paws impatiently on Yuu's head. "Thinks we're gonna pull a prank…"
At this point, he might actually go through it—Yuu's scolding be damned. How dare Ace deprive the all-powerful Grim of Yuu's tasty desserts!
"Well, given this month was full of quite a few landmines for our Unbirthday plannings…" Trey takes a quick peek at his phone's calendar. "It's in a few days, actually—huh. A little too close."
"Whatcha mean by that?" Grim tilts his head to the side in question.
"We usually have celebrations for birthdays within all dorms, but…given recent incidents in Heartslabyul…" Trey coughs into his hand.
"Ahh, Riddle!" Yuu nods their head. "We'll worry about that later, anyways day, day, daaayyy—what's the specific day?"
"It's the twenty-third—try not to get too distracted, you still have classes to worry about." Trey's fingers gently tousle Yuu's fluffy, white hair, his eyes taking note of their improved appearance. Newer clothes, and healthier complexion…still as scrawny as ever, though Yuu does appear to be filling out a bit. A lot like Riddle, now that he actually thinks about it… "Make sure to brush your teeth, I've heard from Deuce that you've guys been having quite the extravagant meals at the Ramshackle Dorm."
And by heard from Deuce, Trey overheard from Riddle when he scolded Ace and Deuce for staying out so late. The two had only managed to escape punishment because Ace had mentioned Yuu's name, which has…certainly become quite the weakness for Riddle.
"It's honestly adorable." Trey laughs to himself, thinking it cute that Heartslabyul's Dorm Leader had fallen for quite a unique Alice. "Stay out of trouble, okay?"
"Haaaiiii!" Yuu raises their hand into the air, their lips pulled into a wide smile.
"Oh, and it's cherry pie." Trey doesn't hesitate to grab a recipe book for Yuu to follow. "Try to take it easy and ask for help if you need it."
Though, knowing Yuu…well, they shouldn't have too much trouble making such a simple dessert.
Thud!
"Ahhaha…" However, it's Yuu's tendency to pass out that still worries Trey. "Grim…"
"I'm on it—hey, wake up!" Trey pinches the bridge of his nose, wondering just how much trust he should put in such a rowdy cat monster. Grim does a decent job at waking up Yuu, but…
"Well, the ghosts should know where to find me." Still, Trey lets out a sigh in exasperation. Really, how his workload has increased between managing Riddle and the Ramshackle Prefect…
Oh, well—it's not like he has it in himself to complain. Especially if involves someone as selfless as Yuu.
"You got dirt on your face…" Really, it all comes too naturally for Trey.
…
…
"Just whistle while you work,
And cheerfully, together we can tidy up the place."
Yuu hums a tune, face and clothes covered in dust from all the sweeping that they've been doing. Slowly, the Ramshackle Dorm has been looking cleaner and cleaner with each passing day—though, it's still a long way from looking presentable. Especially with how often Grim ditched them to take a nap, having grown tired from the constant sneezing fits caused by the dust in the air.
Chirp, chirp!
"Heheheh!" Yuu holds out their finger for a blue bird to perch on it. It whistles a familiar melody, from the very song that Yuu had been singing earlier. "When hearts are high, the time will fly, so whistle while you work~!"
A few more birds fly through the door and windows that Yuu had left open, to allow for better ventilation. They circle around their head, chirping together in harmony before separating from each other to clear some of the cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling. A couple of squirrels were already making quick work of the dust caking the windowsills, using their fluffy tails as brooms. Meanwhile, at the side, a chipmunk angrily chitters at one of the ghosts for the sudden scare he gave it.
"Sorry, sorry!" Boris apologizes, not expecting company on such a short notice.
And the list of unexpected guests only grows, when a certain Tsunotarou shows up, having followed the sound of music that he heard from outside the Ramshackle Dorm. He was surprised, mainly because he was expecting to see Yuu in the garden again. Instead, he stands at the entrance, waiting to enter the building, hoping for someone to take notice of his presence. All so that they could invite him inside.
Fortunately, despite how absent-minded they could be, Yuu spots their good friend, Tsunotarou, almost at once.
"Tsunooootarou~!" Yuu points finger guns at him, sending the bird that had been perched on their finger towards him. It twitters about, singing an unfamiliar melody, soon settling itself down on one of Tsunotarou's horns. "Aaaaayyy!"
"Aaayy?" Tsunotarou furrows his brow, gaze fixated questioningly on Yuu. He stares for a full minute, his fingers slowly mimicking their gesture. Albeit, not as confidently, with enough uncertainty that prompts Yuu to rush to his side. They almost trip on their own feet, quickly catching themselves, though not without stumbling a bit too far to the side, nearly hitting the wall. "Child of Man?"
Yuu hums along with the bird's melody, hands gently grabbing onto Tsunotarou's hands as they carefully position his fingers, so as to match their earlier gesture. Yuu looks up at Tsunotarou, smiling as they greet him with another pair of finger guns. This time, Tsunotarou returns their gesture, laughing afterwards at how novel the experience has been.
"Aaayyy!" Yuu laughs along, body shaking with giddiness at the sight of Tsunotarou enjoying himself. "You have such a nice laugh!"
"I could say the same for you, Child of Man." Tsunotarou chuckles at the sight of Yuu holding up their index fingers to their head, mimicking his horns in a manner that he has long since recognized as affectionate. "What have you been doing?"
"Cleaning!" Yuu puffs up their chest, sounding especially proud of themselves. "I'd say I've been doing a good job!"
"Have you?" Tsunotarou shifts his gaze towards the decrepit hallways of the Ramshackle Dorm. There's a noticeable improvement, though not enough that it makes a significant difference. There is still dust as far as the eye can see, with cobwebs and minor debris scattered about—though, it is quickly being handled by the animals in the area. The sight alone reminds him of a close companion, whenever he is troubled. Always, the wildlife seems to find him and assist him in any way they could.
It's such a curious occurrence, one that Tsunotarou often finds himself thinking back on. How nice it must be, to have such remarkable assistance. Even more curious, is the tiny bird that shows no fear as it sings while perched on one of his horns.
"You wanna help?" Yuu asks so innocently, handing Tsunotarou the broom that they were using. "I need an extra hand, since a certain someone left to nap without me."
Yuu pouts cutely, mildly annoyed that Grim had ditched them. At the very least, Grim could've asked them if they wanted to come along…
"Oh well—the time should go by faster, with you around!" Yuu clasps their hands together.
"Is that an invitation?" It feels more like a demand for Tsunotarou, but as usual, the Child of Man surprises him by saying, "Yep!"
An invitation to clean…
"How quaint." Even knowing that he had magic that he could use… "Very well."
"I'll go get the bucket and rags!" Now Yuu can make a dent on that fireplace!
Tsunotarou laughs quietly to himself as he watches Yuu run off, his attention soon focusing on the singing bird perched on one of his horns. It seems to have changed its melody, giving him an expectant look as he starts to sweep the floor. The melody comes and goes, with an indignant chirp here and there.
"Oh, he wants you to sing along!" Yuu understands the little bird's behavior that seems to puzzle Tsunotarou. It's still rather young, its parents within the vicinity, taking on more complex chores high above them.
"Sing?" Tsunotarou arches his brow. "Sing what?"
"Anything!" Yuu sets down the bucket of water that they were carrying. Taking a moment to clear their throat, Yuu quickly falls back on an earlier melody, the words of a nonsensical song coming so naturally to them. "So whistle while you work!"
The tiny bird quickly responded to their melody by repeating it, prompting Yuu to call back with a wordless refrain. The bird matches their pitch, their voice a vibrato that Yuu tries to mimic. It's a charming sight—one that Tsunotarou refuses to ruin with his much deeper voice. Even if the little bird starts tugging on his hair to join along.
"You're quite fearless." Tsunotarou wonders if it has anything to do with Yuu's presence. "I apologize, but I am not familiar with this tune."
"Then make one up!" Yuu suggests, their nose wrinkling at the wetness that their hands dip into when pulling out a rag from the bucket. "You don't have to right now, but maybe some other time. Don't get too mad—the little guy just wants you to feel included."
"Oh…" Tsunotarou's eyes widen in alarm, words dying in his throat. He is too stunned to find his voice, unable to look away from Yuu as they start wringing excess water out of a rag.
Chirp, chirp!
"Included…" It takes some time, but soon, Tsunotarou is smiling. He doesn't say much after that, all too content to sweep the floors in silence while Yuu cleaned the fireplace. The thought of using magic briefly crosses his mind, but only in regards to cleaning Yuu's clothing. As easy as it would be to use magic to clean the entire place, Tsunotarou finds that he doesn't want to.
Because he wants to spend as much time as he can, with a task that Yuu had given him. It's so simple, and yet, it's enough to quell some of his burgeoning frustrations.
"Thank you for helping out!" Yuu offers Tsunotarou the other half of the popsicle that they had split in two. "I was gonna share this with Grim, but…I can buy another tomorrow!"
Friends who work hard deserve a treat!
Yuu nods their head at the thought, almost taking a bite out of their popsicle before stopping themselves. "Oh—don't feel forced to help out if you don't want to!"
"I don't actually mind, Child of Man." Tsunotarou smiles as he looks at the popsicle in his possession. Not only was he invited over, but he was also given a frozen treat. One meant to be enjoyed with friends… "Hmm, hmmm."
"You look happy for someone covered in dust!" Yuu laughs. "Say, a friend of mine's birthday is coming up. If you're not too busy… Would you like to come over?"
Yuu would love to introduce Ace and Deuce to their good friend, Tsunotarou.
"You never cease to surprise me, Child of Man." Though, given his schedule in the upcoming days… "I will try to make time for the celebration."
"I'll make sure to save you a slice of pie if you can't make it!" Now that Yuu thinks about it, they don't really know his schedule… But they don't feel like prying too much.
Not yet at least.
…
…
"You're oddly happy." Ace notices a change in Yuu's demeanor. He's still the same, dopey-faced klutz. Smiling, even when Grim's attempts to get the broom to float end in failure, resulting in Yuu falling flat on his ass…multiple times, while Grim clings to his head for dear life. "Man, you guys suck."
"Shaddup!" Grim hisses, his fur bristling as he continues to try and channel his magic through the broom. He wants it to float off the ground—even if it's just a mere centimeter. "You're just too heavy for me!"
"Sorry, sorry!" Yuu laughs it off as Grim jumps off his head, landing back on the broom as it remains motionless on the ground.
"Is that what it is?" Deuce pips up, hooking his hands underneath Yuu's arms in order to lift him off the ground. "I guess Yuu might be heavy for someone as small as you."
Though, his weight still is concerningly light for a human…
"Hhhhrrghhh!" Grim shakes the broom, struggling a bit with its size. He needs Yuu's help with this, but he'd rather not ask for it while Ace is teasing his ass. "Move, dammit!"
Ace laughs and laughs, casually watching from a meter above the ground. His broom is stable enough in the air, easily supporting his weight. Far better than Deuce's constantly wobbling broom keeping him closer to the ground and on his feet.
"You're really good at this!" Yuu says with a smile on his face, his words too genuine for Ace to mock. He clicks his tongue, his face heating up with a blush the longer that Yuu stares at him. "Not so much running, though."
"Yeah, yeah—why don't you rub it in my face after you stop tripping on your own feet?" Until Yuu stops tripping and falling like some newborn fawn, Ace doesn't want to hear any gloating from him in regards to how much better he is at running. Especially when it would also allow Deuce an opening to brag about his own stamina and athletic ability. Like hell he's gonna let Deuce one up him like that! "Hey, how long are you gonna hold him up like that?"
"Oh—sorry!" Deuce carefully sets Yuu down, making sure he's stable enough on his feet before removing his hands.
"It's okay, it's okay!" Yuu chirps, completely unbothered by Deuce holding him up in the air like some sort of cat. "Ehehehe~!"
It makes him want to do the same to Grim…
"H-Hey!" Grim hisses, his limbs flailing about in the air as Yuu holds him up. "Put me down!"
"You're so cuuute~!" Yuu holds him close, not at all bothered by the forceful paws pushing against his face. "You're working so hard today, Grim!"
"Obviously!" Grim huffs, easily placated by Yuu's words. It's enough that he stops rejecting Yuu's affections, allowing himself to be nuzzled and embraced.
"But you still can't get that damn broom off the ground!" Ace only laughs as he easily slaps away a fireball.
The shrill screech of a whistle startles the group, causing Ace to fall off his broom while Grim covers his ears, the loud noises too much on his sensitive ears.
Thud!
Deuce snorts at the sight, trying his best not to lose his composure as Vargas makes his way over to them. Vargas gives Yuu's hair a gentle ruffle as he passes by, his gaze fixated on Grim and Ace.
"Don't waste excess magic on tasks other than flying—you are aware of the consequences, yes?" Disciplinary measures aside, Vargas knows that Crowley has lectured these particular students on the concept of blot. "I trust we know better than to earn ten extra laps around the track."
"Yeah…" Ace heaves out a sigh, still somewhat disoriented by his fall. He wants to slap away Yuu's hand when he reaches out to help him, but Ace decides against it. Especially since Vargas still has his eye on them. "Better not piss off teacher."
Not when Yuu's become quite the teacher's pet. Seriously, it's just his luck that this airhead has most of the staff enamored.
"How do you keep your broom up in the air?" It's a simple question from Yuu—though, it's enough for Ace to give an answer.
"You just gotta concentrate while keeping an eye on your own weight—not like you can do it." Ace gives Yuu's nose a light flick. "Maybe Grim can take a few lessons from me."
"Or maybe I can ride with you!" And just like that, Yuu refuses to remove himself from Ace's back. "Ehehehe…"
Yeah, he kinda deserved that. "Oh geez—you don't even weigh that much, but you're somehow disrupting my balance."
The broom won't stop rocking!
"What was that about taking lessons from you?" Grim smirks, his pupils dilating as he manages to get his broom off the ground. It's for only a few seconds—but it's just enough for him to start gloating. "Witness the Great Grim, Yuu!"
"Yay, yayy!" Yuu claps his hands happily, the action cheering Grim on as he keeps focusing more and more on the task at hand. Soon, he's got the broom floating in the air, somehow supporting his own weight. It's not much, but it's far more than what even Ace was expecting.
"Damn, that's actually impressive." It's impressive because it's coming from Grim…but Ace keeps that to himself. He'll let that damn cat have this one—if only because Yuu is concerningly close to his neck. Geez, he's got no concept of personal space… "H-Hey—what're you doing?!"
"Holding on!" By wrapping his arms around Ace's waist!
"Give me a warning at least!" He almost lost control of the broom!
"Nice save!" Vargas saw it all. "Keep it up, and you'll be able to fly across the field!"
Not that Vargas is expecting much distance from most of the first-year students in his class. But it's certainly an improvement from what he saw during the first week of the new school year.
"Keep those muscles in check!" Vargas blew his whistle, signaling the end of class period. "You'll be feeling it soon enough."
Unfortunately, it wasn't soon enough for Ace to prepare himself. It's only as he sits down at his seat for lunch that he immediately finds himself unable to lift his own arms. He can't even lift a damn spoon—what the hell?!
"Ow, ow, ow!" Ace winces, a bead of sweat trickling down his face. He flinches at the clattering sound his fork makes as it falls onto the table.
"You shouldn't have gone all out." Deuce is completely unbothered by the strain of his own sore muscles. It's nothing he isn't used to, and more than that, he wasn't the one who overexerted himself in an attempt to show off. "Just like any other physical activity, you gotta go slow if it's your first time."
"Are you gonna eat that?" Opportunistic as ever, Grim immediately starts digging into the food on Ace's plate—a savory hamburger steak.
"Grim—you have your own food!" That Yuu is currently cutting into pieces because Grim wanted grilled chicken and steak. "Grimmm…"
"Too late." Deuce exhales before stuffing his mouth with oyakodon—quite sloppily at that, due to his inexperience with chopsticks. Just like the other night before, Yuu corrects the way Deuce holds his chopsticks, minimizing the mess he was making as he ate. It's still a work in progress, but Yuu smiles at the noticeable improvement that Deuce has made.
"Tchhh…" Ace clicks his tongue, sighing in exasperation as he realizes he'll have to get up and get another plate of food.
However, Yuu helps him out just this once—a bit annoyingly at that, with the way he brings a spoonful of curry to Ace's mouth. Ace stares at the spoonful, narrowing his eyes as his nose picks up on the array of spices wafting off the curry. It's on the mild side, but nothing he can't stomach. Still, he…isn't quite sure what to make of this.
"Didn't you just put that in your mouth?" Ace knows he just saw this knucklehead take a couple of bites already.
"Do you really care?" Yuu furrows his brow. "I'll get another spoon if it bothers you."
…
"Fuck it." Ace opens his mouth and allows Yuu to feed him. Like a baby bird that's being fed by its mother. He tries to play it cool, when he hears Deuce snort.
"Aww, you guys are sure being cute today!" And then Cater shows up, bringing Ace down yet another level where he struggles to maintain whatever shred of dignity he had left. It sure isn't a lot, and the photo that Cater snaps with his phone only makes him feel worse.
Of course, Yuu chooses to bring another spoonful of curry into his mouth, and Ace can only open his mouth and accept it. He chews slowly, enjoying the mild taste of curry mixed in with vegetables and rice. He tries to ignore the way that Yuu all too easily brings that very same spoon into his own mouth as he, too, enjoys a spoonful of curry himself…
"Indirect kiss~!" Yet again, Cater ruins the moment with a comment that has Ace's cheeks flushed red.
"Shaddup!" Ace averts his gaze, automatically opening his mouth when he feels the spoon against his lips. Were it not for the soreness in his arms, he would have slaughtered Cater…or at least smacked him upside the head. Seniority be damned, Ace wants revenge. "I'll get him some other day."
Maybe a small prank or two…
"Open up, ahhh!" Until then, Ace has to deal with Yuu's surprisingly assertive nature. At the very least, he has good taste in food…
But it does nothing to shield him from the feeling of helplessness he experiences as he struggles to get out of his seat, once all the food on their plates has been eaten.
"Heheheh, you two are seriously too cute." Cater snaps yet another photo, too enamored with the sight he sees when Yuu carries Ace on his back. "You're getting quite a lot of attention on MagiCam."
"Yeah, I'm sure it's helping boost your follower count." Ace rests his head on top of Yuu's, fluffy white hair lightly tickling his face. "You better tag me in that shit."
Like hell he's being left out of potential clout!
"Wouldn't imagine leaving you out of it!" Cater winks at him, playfully poking his tongue out of his mouth. "Yuu-chan sure is getting quite a lot of popularity, though…"
Lots of envious followers in the comments wishing that they were Ace…
"Geez, the simping is off the charts." Still nothing worth blocking people over, but it's getting somewhat close. Mainly out of annoyance. "Shoot your shot elsewhere, buddy—is that Rook?!"
Well, that explains all the flowery language. It's just Rook being his usually chatty self.
"Well, that's enough MagiCam for one afternoon." Cater shoves his phone into his pocket. "Say, say—you need any help getting to class?"
"We'll be fine!" Yuu chirps, seemingly oblivious to the purposely annoying behavior that Grim is displaying towards Ace for taking his spot on Yuu's back. Ace can only glare at Grim as his paw taps at his face.
"Get this damn cat off of me!" Deuce quickly removes Grim off of Ace's back, struggling a bit as Grim purposely sinks his claws into the fabric of Ace's blazer.
"I'm not a cat!" And yet, despite Grim's words, his behavior is very catlike—enough for Yuu to meow playfully at him. Predictably, Grim ignores this, choosing to take out his ire on Deuce and Ace instead.
Really, he's making it far too obvious that he has such a soft spot for Yuu…
"Maybe one more pic!" Cater pulls out his phone, snapping a quick photo of the sight before him. Though, it's more of a video that he records instead, as he mistakenly taps on the wrong button. Fortunately, the video he gets is far more interesting than a still photo—the squabbling between Deuce and Grim, the cheeky comments that Ace directs at both Grim and Deuce, and the carefree, happy-go-lucky smile on Yuu's face as he enjoys the moment that plays out. It's somewhat chaotic, that certainly gets the group a few stares from passing students.
But there's a certain camaraderie that's blooming before Cater's own eyes, like a rose that's been perfectly cultivated. Such a lovely sight that calls out to Cater's own heart. The way he yearns to be part of such a moment, instead of watching from the sidelines. As he's always done, again and again…
"Cay-kun, are you coming along?" Yuu's voice snaps him out of his thoughts.
"Huh?" Cater blinks a few times, realizing that he had stopped walking while the others had kept moving forward.
"We still have some time before class, Senpai," Deuce chimes, as though Grim's paws aren't pushing against his face, hindlegs rabbit kicking his chest with enough force to make an audible sound.
"It's not like you got anything else to do." Although Ace's words are harsh, they're just his way of saying that Cater's presence isn't unwanted.
Cater blinks again, laughter bubbling in his throat. His heart skips a few beats, a light blush dusting his cheeks pink. He smiles, once again shoving his phone into his pocket. Only this time, it stays there. So that he can pay more attention to his cute, underclassmen.
…
…
"You've had quite the day, Child of Man." Tsunotarou enjoys Yuu's ramblings as they list off today's events, while they continue to make good work of cleaning out the fireplace. Tsunotarou sweeps up the ashes that make it onto the floor as more and more come out, the further that Yuu progresses with their cleaning. It's time consuming, but somehow, soothing—the way that everything slows down when he's with them. The tiny bird perched on one of his horns begins to sing again, signaling to the two that it wanted them to join along.
Grim is nowhere to be seen, having called it a day after getting smacked with a bunch of dust from a squirrel's tail. He was already exhausted from today's flying lesson during gym class, but somehow, the dust just tipped him over the edge, after he made noticeable progress with helping Yuu clean out the entrance hall.
Likely, he was also preparing himself for the inevitable bath that he and Yuu will have to take before eating dinner. Hence his refusal to leave the bedroom.
"There's still so much left to do." Yuu wipes the sweat off their brow, smudging soot against their skin. "But…at least the area's looking decent enough for a birthday celebration!"
It could be better, but there's only so much Yuu can do within the span of a few days. Without magic at that—and while it would be nice to ask Tsunotarou for help, Yuu doesn't want to make such a selfish request.
And yet, somehow, they find that the garden is where Tsunotarou voluntarily directs his magic towards. Seeds begin to sprout, far earlier than expected. Everything lined up in neat rows, grouped up by what kind fruit and vegetable will grow, with a few herbs and flowers here and there. It'll take time to harvest any produce, but the garden is already thriving. Which is good enough already for Yuu, as they gently pat a vibrantly-colored sprout.
"They're just like your eyes!" Yuu laughs, catching Tsunotarou by surprise.
"My…eyes." Tsunotarou places his hand on his chin, pausing for a moment to think. A small smile spreads across his lips as he realizes that yes, Yuu is correct. Both his eyes and the sprouts are green. It's not the same shade, but that isn't quite the point of the conversation. Rather, it seems that Yuu is complimenting his eyes with the way they stare and stare. "Hmm, hmmm—quite bold of you to look me right in the eye."
"Staring contest!" Yuu furrows their brow, looking determined not to blink as they hold their gaze with Tsunotarou.
"Very well—challenge accepted." Tsunotarou playfully smirks, expecting an entertaining minute or two from Yuu…only for their eyes to start drooping. Within seconds, sleep overtakes them. "Oh…I guess I win."
Tsunotarou uses his magic to keep Yuu from hitting the ground, not wanting them to get hurt. He reacts almost instinctively, old habits dying hard as he remembers the various time that he has done this for a close companion of his. More and more, he is reminded of a silver-haired boy with such uniquely colored eyes…
Though, Yuu's hair is pure white like snow instead of silver, with golden eyes that aren't as unique, but still rather rare. An existence that is just as human as his, but one that raises more and more questions the longer that Tsunotarou spends time with them.
The tiny bird perched on one of his horns has accepted his presence, beginning to tweet out a random tune in hopes that Tsunotarou will join along. Usually, it's just Yuu playing along. And while Tsunotarou still does not understand what it is that is expected from him, he tries to mimic along, at least making some progress for once.
The bird almost seems to laugh at him for his clumsy melody, but it's enough for the bird to keep answering to his wordless refrain. The gift of song is not Tsunotarou's strongest suit when done so spontaneously, but at least it's not anything so cacophonous.
"What say you, little cobalt blue?" Tsunotarou holds up his finger, allowing the tiny bird to perch on it. "Are you impressed?"
The bird only fluffs itself up, wings flapping a few times as it shifts its gaze towards Yuu, who now rests against Tsunotarou's leg. A deep chuckle escapes from his lips.
"Even when I have won, I still lose." Tsunotarou, however, is not upset. Rather, he is amused, given just how many surprises his friendship with Yuu has given him so far. "Friend…"
What a delightful concept…
…
…
"Hi beautiful!" Sam finds himself smiling at the reaction that Jamil has for Yuu as he's greeted by them. It's unexpected, when Jamil had only expected to hear Sam upon entering his shop.
"Kooni-chan seems to have taken a liking to you!" Sam hopes that it encourages Jamil to respond, as a boy such as him would benefit from interacting with someone as special as Yuu.
"Well, I'm certainly flattered." Jamil clears his throat, beads of sweat rolling down his face. "But…"
"You are beautiful, and that's that!" Yuu promptly shoves a bag full of items that have been prepared beforehand. "What I say is what I say. How you interpret it is up to you. But I do think you should take more pride in yourself! So accept the compliment, or be more honest about how you feel, okay? If you don't like it, just say that. And I'll stop!"
Of course, from Sam's perspective, it's less that Jamil doesn't like receiving compliments, and more that he has difficulty trusting anything out of his control.
"Right." Jamil doesn't know what to make of Yuu, having expected someone more like his Dorm Leader instead of…whatever the hell this is. "Thanks, I guess."
It beats whatever flattery he hears from other students, whenever someone works up the nerve to try and ask him out on a date. It's genuine, though he still feels like Yuu is expecting something from him.
And yet, Yuu never asks for it, far too easily distracted as Sam sends them off to handle a couple of tasks.
"Just what are you up to?" Jamil hides his apprehension quite well behind a seemingly calm façade.
"It's just as Kooni-chan says—how you interpret it is up to you." Sam isn't the type to give such direct answers.
Jamil furrows his brow. He wants to ask another question, but he chooses instead, to just pay Sam for the items he had requested. He leaves the shop afterwards without another word, still perplexed.
Sam only laughs, finding amusement in seeing such a calm and collected boy stumble. Had he not been caught unaware, perhaps Jamil could've figured out that Yuu had been trying to ask for his name. There are better ways to do such a thing, but Yuu always seems to choose the path that leaves the biggest impression.
"Good job!" Sam affectionately ruffles Yuu's hair, appreciating their help on their day off. "What are your requests this time around?"
"You got anything for birthday celebrations?" Yuu also hands over a list of ingredients that they'll need for a cherry pie. "It's for a friend!"
"In stock now!" Sam effortlessly sets down a box full of party supplies onto the counter. "Party poppers, banners, streamers, horns, hats, balloons—I'll even throw in some confetti if you're fine with the cleanup!"
"I'll take it!" Yuu accepts the offer without a second thought.
"It's all yours, Kooni-chan." Sam pushes the box towards Yuu. "Now if you'll excuse for a few minutes, I'll find the rest of what you need today."
Sam is as diligent as ever, even throwing in a few extra ingredients for Yuu to use. Fresh cherries, lemons, flour, cornstarch, butter… A carton of eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract—oh, and even another frozen dessert that they can share with Grim!
"Thank you!" It's a lot for Yuu to carry on their own, but they don't mind. It's not that heavy, after all…
Though, that doesn't stop a certain Rook Hunt from dropping in to check up on Yuu. He's been paying close attention to their whereabouts since responding to the posts that Cater has made on MagiCam. Such comments can be off-putting to most—maybe even a little stalkerish, but Yuu takes it all in stride as Rook continues to talk and talk. There is no ill intent behind his actions. It's just his way of observing others who have caught his attention.
A bit strange, but Yuu likes strange!
"Thanks, thanks!" Yuu smiles at Rook as he takes their bags, alleviating some of the heavy weight that they were carrying.
"Oh làlà—you have quite the impressive strength!" Rook takes note of the box that Yuu still carries in their arms. "Marvelous!"
"Ehehe, you're pretty strong too!" It's not that obvious at first glance, but Yuu can see the muscles that are hiding underneath Rook's uniform. "How fitting!"
"And how observant!" Most first-year students make the mistake of underestimating Rook's physical prowess, especially those who are not from Pomefiore. But not this Trickster—even with their tendency to space out. "You never cease to amaze me, little Trickster."
"Likewise!" It's never a boring moment with Rook around!
…
…
"Mmmrrghhh—how much longer?!" Grim's arms are growing tired from mixing the cold butter and flour together with a fork. It'd be easier with magic, but Yuu refuses to let him use it without Trey around to guide him. Especially after all the cleaning that they've done with Tsunotarou—no more messes until after Ace's party!
"When it's sandy!" Yuu is in the middle of cutting and pitting each cherry, sometimes even letting their cravings get the best of them and eating a few. "Sweet!"
"Gimme one!" Grim opens his mouth and catches the cherry half that Yuu throws at him. "Yum!"
"Score!" Yuu laughs, pitting yet another cherry. "Heehee, we should do this more with the leftover cherries!"
Of course, that's assuming that there's enough cherries for there to be leftovers. But Sam was quite generous when he gave Yuu the ingredients that they needed. He even made sure that they had enough eggs for the rest of the week.
"Omelet, omelet~!" Yuu is already thinking up ways to eat those eggs.
"Omurice!" Grim joins along, holding up the fork in the air for a moment. "Tamagoyaki!"
"Oyakodon—tamago sando!" Yuu pits another cherry, eating one half and tossing the other half into Grim's mouth. "Tasty, tasty!"
Once all the cherries have been cut and pitted, Yuu switches places with Grim, allowing him to work on the filling while they finished up the rest of the pie dough. It goes a lot faster, as Yuu has the dexterity that's needed to mix the cold water into the dough. And though the urge to eat every cherry within his reach certainly crosses his mind, Grim holds back from doing so. Instead, he actually follows through with the task that he's been given to make the pie filling. He mixes the ingredients into a saucepan and turns on the stove. Even when the sweet scent makes his mouth water, he still keeps his appetite in check.
As a result, Grim puffs out his chest with pride as Yuu praises him for a job well done. He rubs his nose, looking rather smug—even when Yuu starts to scratch him behind his ear. Not even his involuntary purring is enough to distract him from basking in the glory of his own feats.
And it pays off, as Yuu opens up a can of tuna for him. He's not allowed to eat too much, since they're on a budget that's meant to last the week, but sometimes, when Grim behaves, Yuu rewards him with extra food.
"Good kitty, good kitty!" Grim doesn't even mind the comments from Yuu—he's not a cat, but he knows praise when he hears it. And coming from Yuu…well, it's enough.
For now, at least.
"Geez—at least clean up after yourself before passing out!" Grim might have his complaints, but that doesn't stop him from continuing where Yuu left off. So while Yuu rests their head on the kitchen counter, sleeping the minutes away, Grim takes the dirty cookware into the sink. They've certainly made quite the mess in a couple of hours… "This is gonna be a pain in the ass to wash…"
Grim doesn't even know why he's bothering to take over such an annoying task. Doesn't know why he turns on the water, face contorting into a scowl at the sight of the sponge and dish soap. He doesn't want to do this…but someone has to do the dishes.
Vaguely, it crosses the back of his mind that he could leave this for Yuu to do tomorrow…but it's quickly pushed aside as Grim hisses up a storm at the sight of Austin and Bradley phasing through the walls.
"We'll take over from here!" And so, Grim avoids the necessary, yet annoying task of dishwashing duty for another night.
Splash!
Though, that doesn't keep him from getting his fur wet as Yuu drags him into the bath, later that evening.
"Gotta get that flour and butter off your fur!"
"At least let me do it!"
Splash!
…
…
Ace doesn't know what Yuu is planning—and he knows Yuu is up to something. Because it's his fucking job to be the sneaky bastard that's ready to throw anyone and anything under a bus, should the moment present itself to him. He wonders if maybe—just maybe—he's misjudged Yuu.
Maybe there is something else going on in that head of his, besides mindless elevator music.
Thud!
"Ahahahaa!" Or maybe he's giving Yuu too much credit. The guy did just fall off his broom after hanging upside down for a full minute. Grim is getting better and better at supporting Yuu's weight, but it sure as hell isn't anything stable enough to keep the two of them upright.
"Having fun?" Ace hovers over Yuu on his broom, smirking when he sees him hold a thumbs-up. "Still doin' better than Deuce."
Who is still taking the subject a little too seriously, Mister Wannabe Honor Student.
"You know, glaring at the broom won't make you fly higher." And neither will Ace's comment, but that doesn't stop him from being so snarky with Deuce.
"Keep talking like that, and I'll make sure to leave your ass on the ground after the Prefect passes out while carrying you." Deuce does actually keep to his word when that happens after lunch. Were it not for Cater, Deuce would've left Ace behind after lifting Yuu off the ground.
"If you're gonna be so sassy, try not to overexert yourself during flying practice." Cater lightly chides Ace for his behavior.
"Whatever!" So long as Yuu continues to give his sorry ass a chance, then Ace will keep testing his luck. Even if it means eating dirt every once in a while, and having it posted on MagiCam. It's not so bad…
Even if some of the comments on MagiCam piss him off.
…
…
Grim rests on the kitchen counter, watching as Yuu begins to weave the lattice for the pie. The dough and filling have been chilled for the occasion, allowing for an effortless assembly. In the background, Avery, Boris, and Claude, with the help of Austin and Bradley, set up the party streamers and banners. The parlor has already been decorated, as has the entrance hall.
It isn't much, but Yuu hopes that it's enough for Ace. At the very least, he can't say anything bad about the pie that they're making. That's the one thing that Yuu will fight him for talking shit.
Thankfully, it doesn't come to that. On the day of his birthday, Ace surprises Yuu and Grim by wearing a different outfit for the occasion. He wears a white jacket over a black shirt, with a pair of black pants and a red sash that reads "Birthday Boy". A red ribbon is pinned to the left side of his chest, with gold lettering displaying the month and day of his birthday—September 23.
"Not a single word." Ace covers Yuu's mouth, having heard enough of Deuce's teasing on the way out of Heartslabyul.
"You look like a total dork!" Grim laughs and laughs, even when Ace starts pinching and pulling at his face.
"Apparently, this is what you're supposed to wear on your birthday—or so the tradition goes." Deuce coughs into his hand, trying to muffle a laugh that managed to escape.
"You better watch your ass when it's your turn to wear the froofy birthday suit!" Ace pokes his finger into Deuce's chest.
"That'll be a while." Deuce can't hold back a smile.
"You look so handsome!" Yuu can't resist giving Ace's cheek a little pinch. "Happy birthday, Ace!"
"Y'all are so dead to me." This is the worst birthday ever…
Most of the other dorms gave students the option to opt out of such an age-old tradition…but not Heartslabyul. Oh no—Riddle demands that such tradition be upheld for the sake of order and blah, blah, blah…
"When's that little bastard's birthday?" Ace is already scrolling through MagiCam for any possible clues—there has to be something.
"Mornin' Crewel-sama!" Yuu greets their professor upon his arrival, which certainly startles Ace to the point he almost drops his phone.
"I'll be nice to the Birthday Boy, and let that slide—but for future references, do not use any cellular devices around me during class hours." Crewel smacks his pointer audibly against a nearby workbench. "Let's begin today's class with a refresher on safety, due to yesterday's incident with an open flame. Unless you are capable of protecting yourself with magic, do not skimp out on protective gear and proper lab etiquette."
As Crewel continues his lecture, one particular first-year student from Pomefiore lowers his head, trying his hardest to hide his noticeably shorter hair. His Savannaclaw partner—a tawny-haired meerkat beastman—lightly elbows him in the side, barely holding back a few quiet laughs. It's all in good fun…maybe. But his laughter is quickly cut short when Crewel quickly keys in on the long, unruly hair that's left loose.
"Make sure to keep all long hair tied back—I have extra hairties should you ever need one." Crewel forcefully ties the boy's hair back into a ponytail. It's not painful by any means, but it is quite humiliating and enough for the Pomefiore boy with noticeably shorter hair to get the last laugh as his partner cowers behind him. "A ponytail is sufficient, so long as it stays confined in some way. We've already seen what an open flame can do, and some of these chemicals can be far harsher and less ideal than getting one's hair entangled."
Ace groans, already growing bored with Crewel's lecture. Deuce, despite having heard it before during the first week of classes, is still writing down notes, repeating a few key phrases every so often. Yuu, at first, was listening intently, only to then doze off, head now resting on the counter. Grim paws and paws at their face, often squishing down on their cheek—but there's no response from the sleeping Prefect.
"Geez, he's really conked out." Ace is almost jealous—especially since Crewel has such a soft spot for Yuu. Not even his birthday would be enough for someone like Crewel to go easy on him for sleeping in class…
And the same also applies to Trein, who does nothing about Lucius when he plops down on Ace's lap and starts pawing at the ribbon pinned to his jacket. He lets Ace pet him but nips at his fingers every so often—a warning, to not get so comfortable around him. Hilariously, Grim gives him the cold shoulder afterwards, obviously jealous with the attention that Ace had given Lucius.
"I thought you weren't a cat?" Ace can't resist teasing Grim, laughing when the little catlike monster started hissing up a storm. His laughter only grows louder when Grim sinks his claws into the fabric of his pants and starts climbing up his leg. "You seriously are a cat!"
"I'm not!"
Deuce watches with vague interest, sweat beading down his face as Yuu's breath hits his ear. Really, how does he keep getting roped into carrying Yuu on his back?
"Please wake up…" There are students staring as they walk past him and the others.
Yuu, thankfully, stays awake during gym class—and as usual, is ahead of Ace and Deuce, picking Grim off the ground when they catch him collapsing, still nowhere near as physically active as them to keep up.
"You did better, good kitty, good kitty!" Yuu holds him up in the air, spinning him around as they then pull him into a hug. "Precious, pwecious!"
Grim is too tired to even argue with Yuu's babying behavior. He lets it slide, though he does bite down on Ace's hand when he tries taking advantage of the moment.
"Little bastard!" It's his birthday, goddammit—what's with the constant disrespect?
"I'm still mad!" Grim buries his face into Yuu's chest, deciding that he's had enough of looking at Ace's face. Even Deuce isn't exempt from his grumpy behavior, as he nearly bites down on Deuce's fingers when he tries petting him.
"So scary…" Deuce doesn't understand how Yuu can handle such a volatile creature.
"Impressive beast taming!" Vargas drops by, nodding his head at the sight of Yuu cradling Grim in their arms. "You've come so far, little beast tamer!"
"Heehee!" Yuu only laughs.
"Tch, is it really that difficult to tame a beast like that?" Ace doesn't see what the big deal is, the sting of Grim's bite souring his mood.
"Beast taming is a skill that cannot be taught." Vargas places his hand on top of Yuu's head, fingers gentling tousling their hair. "Nor is it anything that magic can fully replicate. It is a rare phenomenon that one can be born with, though—it is usually a gift bestowed at birth, like the gift of music or beauty."
"Oh—like a blessing?" Deuce perks up, somewhat familiar with the subject as he came across it while skimming through a few books out of boredom. "I think the fae are usually behind that…"
"Something like that, but don't quote me on that—my expertise is in physical activity." Vargas flexes his biceps purposely for emphasis. "You're more likely to learn more from an expert such as the Headmaster. Of course, you can also find out from a fellow fae student—do try to be tactful about it, however."
The last thing Vargas needs is to break up any fights, when there are still some lingering hostilities between humans and the fae. There's been a noticeable improvement over the years, according to Trein, but not enough for Crowley's liking, given his constant reminders to the faculty.
"Anyways, I hear it's your birthday!" Ace groans as Vargas congratulates him on growing another year older. It's as embarrassing as ever, even without the froofy birthday suit…which he has to change back into, once gym class is over.
Cater is as insufferable as ever, taking multiple photos of Ace during lunchtime. There are a few highlights, however, as Ace finds himself receiving random gifts from other students who notice his sash.
"Maybe it's not so bad, being the birthday boy!" Ace looks through the random baubles he's been given. One is a puzzle, and another is a spinning top. There's even a cupcake in the mix, with a pair of dice and a brand-new deck of cards. "Say, Prefect—wanna see a trick?"
Ace is curious to see just how gullible Yuu is to fall for such a simple trick.
"Okay!" Yuu looks away from Trey, who had just finished cleaning up his face with a napkin.
"A sleight of hand, I take it?" Trey has been keeping a close eye on Ace after seeing him pull a few pranks on unsuspecting Heartslabyul students.
"Man, don't be such a buzzkill!" Ace already has Yuu's attention with the way he shuffles the cards. "Let me have some fun, dammit!"
"What's going on?" Oh great—now Riddle's here to bring the mood down.
"Just gather around, I'm about to show our magicless Prefect a cool little trick." Ace tries to play it cool, even though Riddle's scrutinizing gaze is a bit much.
Surprisingly, it goes a lot better than expected. Even if Yuu reacted as predictably to the card he's snuck into their pocket after having them pick a card, Riddle is just as baffled by the trick.
"How did…what?" Riddle stares at the Queen of Hearts, trying to figure out how it ended up in Yuu's pocket. "Was it really your card?"
"Yeah!" Yuu hands the card back to Ace. "You're really good!"
"Are you sure you didn't use actual magic?" Deuce asks, eyeing Ace suspiciously.
"I would never!" As much as Ace likes to joke around, card tricks are the one thing he absolute refuses to do with magic. "My older brother wouldn't let me hear the end of it if he ever found out I used actual magic for something as simple as a card trick."
"Did he teach you how to do magic tricks?" Grim taps his paw on Yuu's hand and opens his mouth, allowing them to feed him a spoonful of their pudding. "More caramel next time!"
"Yeah, though he started cuz of our dad." Ace thinks fondly on his father, his gaze falling on Yuu as they continue to share their pudding with Grim. "He's magicless like Yuu—though, he's far more impressive."
Yuu could probably learn a thing or two from him…
"I'll try to introduce you to him one of these days." Ace barely avoids the little flick that Deuce aims at his forehead. "Nice try!"
"Fighting is against the rules!" Riddle's expression grows stern.
"S-Sorry." Deuce coughs into his hand.
"You really love your Papa, huh?" Yuu doesn't find any offense in Ace's words. They can see the love and affection in his praise. "You're a good kid!"
Ba-dump!
"What the fuck?!" Ace averts his gaze, his cheeks heating up with a blush. "Quit being so sappy!"
"My, you seem happy." Trey can't help but smile at Ace's bashful behavior.
"Aww, Ace-chan is blushing~!" Cater jumps at the opportunity, snapping a photo that he quickly uploads onto MagiCam. "Hope you enjoy the birthday wishes!"
"Yeah, yeah…" Ace rubs the back of his head.
The rest of the school day goes without any issues, even with the constant birthday wishes and attention. It could be better, but Yuu brightens up his mood with the promise of a surprise, and it's…
"Surprise!" Yuu sets off a party popper, confetti and streamers covering Ace the very moment he stepped into the Ramshackle Dorm.
"Eh?" Ace blinks, taking note of the decorations hanging on the wall as Yuu slips a party hat onto his head. "Eh?"
Despite having an inkling of what Yuu had in mind for him, seeing it all with his own eyes just…
It just…
Really, really makes him feel so…happy. And that's—that's not anything he wants to show so easily to Yuu. Especially with Deuce looking so suspiciously at him.
"No balloons?" Ace quickly tries to hide how flustered he is by the surprise.
"I don't like balloons." Yuu sticks out his tongue. "Hate the popping."
"Hate!" Grim taps his paws on Yuu's head, his fur bristling slightly at the memory he has of the balloon popping in Yuu's face as they were blowing it up. The experience itself was bad enough for his sensitive ears, but then he saw the tears that had streamed down Yuu's face… "Bad!"
"Bad!" Yuu repeats.
"This is a balloon-free environment!" a passing ghost—Avery—comments.
"I'm not gonna ask." Mainly, because Ace would prefer not to say too much right now. Not while his face still feels like it's on fire…
"Come, come!" Yuu grabs onto Ace's arm, early tugging him along to follow.
"Okay, okay—I'm coming! Just stop pulling on my arm!" It's really starting to dawn on Ace that he can't handle Yuu when he's so damn excited. Usually, he's able to play it off with a snarky comment or joke…but this little weirdo has him stumped.
The slice of cherry pie that Yuu serves him only flusters him further, just because of how good it looks. It's better than anything he's seen being sold in those high-end pastry shops he's seen on MagiCam. The taste itself is incredible, his mouth practically hurting from how delicious it is.
"Did you also make this yourself, Prefect?" Deuce asks before taking a bite out of his slice. Unlike Ace, who is straight up eating his slice with his bare hands, Deuce is using a fork.
"Yep!" Yuu is especially proud of his hard work, having seen how much Ace is enjoying his slice. "Eat up, eat up!"
"Aren't you gonna eat too?" Grim asks, muzzle covered in pie crust and cherry filling.
"Already had a slice!" That's a lie, but Yuu doesn't want to bring attention to the absent guest that he had invited over. It's a shame that Tsunotarou couldn't make it, but Yuu made sure to set aside a slice of pie for him. It was the first thing he did after the pie had cooled off last night. Grim had complained that he had eaten a slice without him, and Yuu played along—it was easier that way. Plus, Grim was acting so cute, that Yuu couldn't resist teasing him! "Don't worry about me—I can always make more!"
"So what do you have to say about that, Ace?" Deuce looks towards Ace as he uses his thumb to wipe away a stray crumb on his face.
"I expect nothing, and I'm still let down." Despite his words, Ace is smiling. He certainly doesn't mean it, but it has the intended effect of pissing of Deuce.
"Are you fucking serious?!" How easily does the delinquent in Deuce come out, as he scowls at Ace.
"That's a damn lie, and you know it!" Grim can see right through Ace's deception. "You're a bad liar!"
Ace only laughs and laughs, as Yuu uses the Ghost Camera to take a photo to preserve the memory being formed. The flash may have distracted him for a moment, but the smile on Yuu's face keeps him from saying anything else. It's hard to say anything, when his heart is beating so fast from hearing Yuu say his name…
"Happy birthday, Ace!"
…
…
"It's a little late, but welcome back, Tsunotarou!" It's late in the evening, long after Deuce and Ace had since left for their own dorms, when Yuu reunites with their friend. They had been waiting in the garden, with only the full moon to light their surroundings.
"Child of Man…" Tsunotarou's eyes widen in shock. "How long have you been here?"
"I have no idea!" Yuu smiles. "Does it really matter?"
Tsunotarou blinks. "I guess not…Heheh."
He hadn't expected Yuu to wait for his arrival. That's…That's definitely a first.
"I saved you a slice of pie, if you want it now!" Yuu gestures at the Ramshackle Dorm. "Or…do you wanna talk a bit first? Say…when is your birthday?"
"Fufu, I see you're already planning ahead." The look is obvious on their face. "Very well—I was born on the eighteenth of January. What of you, Child of Man?"
"I…hmm." Yuu furrows their brow, their smile quickly turning into a frown. "I don't know."
They don't know a lot of things, now that they actually think about it… Or rather, they can't remember.
"Humans usually place so much significance on such a date." Too see one not even know the date of their own birth… "I suppose even some humans wouldn't know, as even some fae forget their own birthdate."
It's a clumsy attempt to reassure them, but Yuu appreciates the gesture. "How do you usually feel about yours?"
"I don't feel any different from usual." It's hard to, when he's remained the same for many years. "Unlike humans, we fae can age for many years without any significant chances to aspects like our appearance."
"Say, what exactly are you?" Yuu has been meaning to ask—they just kept forgetting. "You keep mentioning the fae, so I assume you are one. But what kind specifically?"
How…curious.
"It's not often that I encounter others who ask me such a question." It's such a new experience, that Tsunotarou finds himself enjoying it. "But I shall answer your question—I am a dragon fae."
"A dragon—wait, is that why you have those horns?!" Yuu lights up, their eyes sparkling in awe. "Ahhh, that's so cool! Can you change appearance?"
"I can, actually." Yuu's enthusiasm is filling Tsunotarou with a sense of pride. "Although, I do not wish to transform so carelessly. Maybe one day, I'll show you my true form."
"I'm looking forward to it!" Yuu holds up their fingers to their head, mimicking Tsunotarou's horns as they tend to do, in that charming manner that he finds so endearing. "Tsunoooo—tarou! What is your favorite food?"
"Frozen desserts." Tsunotarou smiles, remembering how he shared one the other day with Yuu. "When I breathe fire, the inside of my mouth gets hot. Having a frozen treat at that point enhances their flavor even more."
"I see, I see!" Yuu nods their head eagerly. "While I'm at it…what's your least favorite food?"
It might do them some good so they can avoid it for Tsunotarou's birthday…
"Whole cakes." An unpleasant memory crosses his mind, though Tsunotarou does his best to keep it from souring his mood.
"Wait—cakes?" Yuu frowns. "Why?"
"Whole cakes," Tsunotarou gently corrects. "I don't hate sweets, but their size is rather excessive. Whenever they're served on birthdays and the like, they give me heartburn. I can never finish eating them."
"Wha—you're not supposed to eat them alone!" Yuu grabs onto Tsunotarou's arm, their sudden touch catching him by surprise. "You share whole cakes!"
"I know that quite well, but…I never have anyone to eat them with during cele…brations…" Tsunotarou trails off, the distraught look on Yuu's face causing him some distress. There's a pang in his chest that he can't quite comprehend, but the longer he looks at Yuu, the more he finds that he hates it. It's an unpleasant feeling… "Please stop making that face."
"I'm sorry…" Yuu quickly forces a smile. It takes a moment, but genuine happiness soon shines through it. "Say, let's share a whole cake together on your birthday!"
"A…Aha…haa…" Laughter soon peals out of Tsunotarou, almost echoing from how loud and boisterous it is. He isn't one to be so loud, but he can't help it. This Child of Man is just so…endearing. "Yes, let's do that. Perhaps that will change my impression of them. I'm looking forward to it."
Yuu beams at him, their touch no longer so foreign but comforting. "I keep asking questions—it's your turn to do the same."
"Fufuu…" Tsunotarou could have never expected such an exchange with Yuu. Time and time again, they continue to surprise him so pleasantly. "Tell me—that melody…how do you find it so easily?"
"To sing?" Yuu tilts their head to the side in question. "I just say whatever pops up in mind. I told you before, just do what comes naturally!"
"It's easier said than done." That little bird had quite the laugh at his attempts. "I'm not so adept at doing something so impulsive. I guess that is what sets us apart."
"I think you just need more practice!" Ever so optimistic, Yuu's words reassure him. "For me, it just comes and goes—like so!"
Yuu releases his arm and takes a few steps away from him. They look toward the sky, taking in the starry sight and the full moon. They inhale deeply, eyes closing for a moment in thought. Exhaling, the words soon come out in a melody that surprises Tsunotarou.
"I know you,
I walked with you once upon a dream.
I know you,
That look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam."
Tsunotarou's gaze is fixated on Yuu, their movements clumsy as they twirl around in their attempt to dance for him.
"And I know it's true,
That visions are seldom all they seem.
But if I know you,
I know what you'll do.
You'll love me at once,
The way you did once upon a dream…"
Yuu turns to face Tsunotarou, managing to curtsy for him. They smile at him, almost urging him to join along. And just like that, he starts to hum a tune—a melody that sounds almost similar to theirs, but different. It's far gentler instead of whimsical, almost like a lullaby…
A precious little song that seems to hold such importance, from the way Tsunotarou's features seem to soften as he hums.
…
…
"Basking in a cradle's warmth,
A starlit spark of joy..
Stay with me,
The eyes upon which I gaze…
Be not afraid,
Even should this dream fade away…"
Watching from afar, sitting on the branch of a tree outside of the entrance gate of the Ramshackle Dorm, deep-red eyes gleam under the moonlight. There is so much wisdom and age behind the youthful visage that those eyes belong to—a fae of the Diasomnia Dorm, Lilia Vanrouge.
"Go to sleep,
Go to sleep, little darling…
And may your dreams guide you to the light…"
His far deeper voice rumbles in his throat, still rather gentle despite its gruffness—especially for the boy with silver hair that sleeps at the base of the tree.
…
…
…
A/N Ayo, what up—it's been a fucking while, lmaoooo. Anyways, I'm back!
So quick update—I have a full-time job now since last year (which is why I haven't written anything despite my plans to focus on my Pokémon fics). I graduated university in like 2022, and apart from dealing with overtime and whatnot, I've managed to get dragged back into Twisted Wonderland amongst my sudden One Piece hyperfixation. Break week got me acting unwise, and my sudden Twisted Wonderland exploits on NA and JP on my phone has gotten me up to date to some extent, while I farm events.
I've effectively locked in. At the time I finished writing this fic, it was 5 am and I had work in like…seven to eight ish hours (I work second shift, it's fiiine). It is currently 2 am, and I'm waiting out for like a stream for the next Halloween Event. Again, it's fiiiiine.
Got like 13K words of the original like…2K I had written for over a year, within the span of a few weeks. God damn, it feels good to be back. And unlike before, given the time that has passed and story updates have gone through, plus the English release of Twisted Wonderland, do expect some noticeable changes with the story from here on out. The changes mainly being me using recent information and whatnot, as shown here, since the NA release of Twisted Wonderland had just updated Book 7 to have this particular lullaby that's been on JP for over a year. :V
Speaking of which, I'm sticking with the translations I've been using for the past twelve chapters. Maybe I'll grab onto some stuff here and there, but otherwise, we're still using Tsunotarou, and the whole Dorm Leader and Vice Dorm Leader. I've been using them far longer than NA TWST has existed, and I'll be damned if I make myself use math for the whole madol to thaumark exchange—fuuuuck that. I do enough of that in the lab already when I'm grabbing averages and whatnot.
Also, to everyone on JP Twisted Wonderland, let's fucking gooooo, Gojo Satoru got fucking isekai'd as Yana-fied Jack Skellington, lmaooooo. Jokes aside, I'm excited for The Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween event. It's gonna be a blast! JUST ONE MORE HOUR TO GO UNTIL THE EVENT REVEAL!
With that out of the way, do feel free to review. I'm always a slut for hearing what you guys think, either on here or through my inbox on tumblr, at klonoadreams.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Until next time, stay safe!