Usagi could admit, when she first noticed the late night visitor she was a tad...alarmed.

That ended the second she started talking ice cream flavors with "Midori", since he apparently found it too amusing to give his actual name. Sure, the horns were a bit weird and he was inhumanly beautiful, but ten minutes with him told her all she really needed to know about his personality.

The poor guy was lonely, and very happy to have a new friend he could talk to freely without worry about them being intimidated by him. He had looked so happy when she brought out those two chocolate ice cream cones to share.

"So the gargoyle on the western tower was built around the time that the Sorcerer of the Sands was alive?" she asked.

"The stone and carvings are consistent," said Midori. The ice cream was long gone, but he was beyond happy to have someone to share his hobby with.

"I wonder if Kalim or Jamil know of any gargoyles in their homeland."

"Are there any in your land?" asked Midori curious.

"Well there aren't any like the ones here...but we do have carved animals near the shrines and temples. The shrines dedicated to Inari have fox statues for example, and there are a lot that have Foo dog statues."

"Foo dog?" asked Midori.

"They're lion-like dogs that usually have a 'male' and a 'female', with a cub," explained Usagi. She once had to do a make-up assignment for cultural studies, so she had picked the Foo dogs because it looked easy.

Seeing his open interest, Usagi went into detail as she remembered most of that assignment. Midori looked absolutely fascinated that Usagi's homeland had a special sort of statue that warded against ill fortune and bad spirits. It had never occurred to him that gargoyles could protect against more than bad weather.

"So what exactly happened during the tournament?" asked Midori. "I noticed a commotion before the games."

Usagi had an exasperated look on her face.

"Leona-senpai apparently got it into his head that the best way to generate some actual interest in his dorm among the sponsors was to take out the Diasomnia dorm prematurely. Something to do with the housewarden taking all the spotlight from his dorm," said Usagi. "Was not expecting to put my purification abilities to the test so soon."

"Purification?" asked Midori.

"According to the doctor, my core is still pretty immature. It must have woken up when I was fourteen or so," explained Usagi. "However the scans they did showed I have a strong predisposition to healing and purification magic, and that I could become a powerful light-attribute mage if trained correctly."

"Historically speaking, such people were often taken up by religious sects upon discovery," said Midori.

Usagi made a face.

"I am so glad I was born in modern times. I'd make a terrible priestess or nun."

Midori chuckled at that.

He rather enjoyed his little chats with Usagi. She was a breath of fresh air to the boredom of his day.

~*~*~*~*

"I'm so bored," sighed Usagi. "I seriously need a break from studying."

"Same!" said Cater groaning. "Riddle always get extra antsy during exam time."

"Sounds like you two could use a distraction," chuckled Lilia.

Not even Kalim was spared, as Jamil had him nose-deep in books just to keep his grades high enough to stay in school.

"It's too bad there's no arcade nearby," said Usagi. "I used to spend hours there."

"I'm not much of a gamer anyway," said Cater. "A movie theater would be fun, but students aren't allowed off campus until exams are over. And the one theater they do have only shows outdated movies."

"Why don't we rig a laptop with a projector?"

"Riddle would behead me if I brought that sort of distraction to the dorm," said Cater. "And Sebek's too loud."

"Why not Ramshackle? It's secluded enough that we can have a real movie night and won't have to share snacks or anything," said Usagi.

That and if they timed it right they could invite Midori too. It had gotten to the point where it felt weird not seeing him at least once every night, even if they only chatted for an hour or so.

"Isn't Grim doing extra lessons because his last test was bad?" asked Cater.

"He got his hands on some 'special study guide'," said Usagi. "He's been working really hard the past couple of days."

"Special study guide?" said Cater alarmed. "Please tell me he didn't get it from anyone from the Octavinelle dorm."

"I honestly don't know. So long as I get a passing mark I really don't care what grade I get, so I never asked. Besides, Riddle is a really good tutor."

Cater took one look at the booklet Grim had and made a face.

"Yeah, I was afraid of that," he sighed.

"What?" asked Usagi.

"The housewarden of Octavinelle has this really bad habit of selling 'special study guides' during exams to the lazier students. Last time he did this, Riddle nearly blew a fuse and the headmage allowed him to create the Monstro Lounge in the dorm just to get the victim's magic back," sighed Cater.

"Say what?!" said Grim. "You mean I traded for a fake guide?"

"Oh no, the guide's legitimate. Riddle confirmed that much at least. It's just that everyone is so quick to agree to his terms they never read the fine print and it bites them in the ass soon after," explained Cater. "I bet the deal was that you had to be in the top of the exam scores to complete your end of the bargain?"

Grim nodded.

"Let me guess. He neglected to tell Grim that he also sold that same guide to a number of people...like Ace and Deuce?" said Usagi.

"Got it in one. If everyone gets the same high grades, then those who took the deal can't complete their end and they end up being his lackeys until someone convinces him to let them go," said Cater with a wink.

"Why did you immediately single your friends out?" asked Lilia curious.

"Because I'm pretty sure I saw them with the same study guide," said Usagi dryly.

"Oh dear," chuckled Lilia. "Riddle won't be pleased with that."

Usagi made a note to speak to this...housewarden...tomorrow.

"On an unrelated note...movie night?" said Usagi hopefully.

"I think the living room is big enough," said Cater. "It shouldn't be too hard to find a decent movie to stream, and the WiFi is fairly decent despite being this far from the school."

"I have a laptop and it shouldn't be too hard to get a projector," said Lilia.

"I'll source the snacks," said Usagi quickly. Cater nodded vehemently to that.

Lilia had some rather...eccentric...tastes when it came to food. Even Kalim asked before he tried anything Lilia suggested.

"So what should we watch?" asked Cater.

"How about a monster movie? Or we could watch that hero movie Ace told me about. The one with the claws?"

"I think I know which one you mean. That is a really good movie," agreed Cater.

"Actually, do you guys mind if I invite one more?" asked Usagi.

"I don't mind, do you?" asked Cater.

"The more the merrier. Who are you planning to have join us?" asked Lilia.

"I made a friend who has a weird habit of visiting every night. Apparently he really likes taking walks at night and observing gargoyles. I get the impression people don't invite him to much for some reason," said Usagi. "I'm sure Midori would enjoy a quiet night in."

"Midori?" asked Cater.

"It's what I call him. He never really gave me a name, and he has the most striking green eyes," said Usagi enthusiastically. "In fact he's from your dorm Lilia."

"There are a few from my dorm who have green eyes. Perhaps I know him," said Lilia.

Inwardly he had a pretty good idea who "Midori" was. It would certainly explain his good mood of late.

Later in the Octavinelle dorm

"So you want me to void the contract on Grim?" said the housewarden. His name was Azul and Usagi had the feeling he was deeply amused by her request.

"I highly doubt he would be very good for a restaurant. Never mind the obvious health code violations from having a cat in the kitchen or near food...he's such a glutton he'd likely eat the customer's order before they even get served."

"So you're offering an alternate deal to release him from the one he made?" said Azul, glasses glinting.

Usagi stared at him.

"If you're trying to emulate Gendo Ikari, you're doing a really poor job at it," she said dryly.

"Who?" said Azul, utterly baffled.

"He's from a series in my world called Evangelion," she clarified helpfully.

Azul ignored her comment...and made a note to ask Idia about it later. Perhaps he knew what she was talking about.

"In any case I can't exactly release your familiar for free. It would be bad for business."

Usagi gave him a flat look.

"What would be an equal trade?" she asked.

"You could always wait tables or do dishes," said Azul.

"Unless you want a lot of broken glassware..." she commented dryly. "I have a bit of a reputation for being a klutz. And I refuse to be 'pimped out'."

Her mother had taken her to the doctor, and the only comment they had gotten about the matter was that Usagi was still maturing and that she should grow out of it. She was still in her 'gangly' stage, whatever that meant.

Azul looked at her for a moment.

"There is one other option. However you would have to put something up in return," said Azul.

"What?" asked Usagi.

"Your dorm. Since you are the only living resident besides your familiar, you technically have full control over Ramshackle. And I'm always looking to expand," said Azul.

She blinked.

"And what would I need to do in order to break the contract?"

"It's simple really. There's a photograph I want retrieved."

"That's it?" asked Usagi.

"Unless you'd rather discuss...alternative...arrangements."

"What's the time limit?"

"Three days," said Azul. "If you can't retrieve the photo in three days, your dorm is forfeit."

"Do you mind waiting until after exams are over?" asked Usagi.

"Not at all," said Azul.

~*~*~*~*

"So you made a deal with Azul?" asked Cater.

Kalim was just glad that Jamil was allowing him to join movie night. It kept him out of the other boy's hair for a few hours, and Kalim had been studying rather hard.

Once he verified the safety of the food...and that Lilia hadn't touched any of it.

"He wants me to retrieve some photo in three days...after exams are over of course."

"What sort of photo?" asked Lilia.

"I'm not too sure," said Usagi. "He said it wasn't important, so it must be personal."

"I can't wait to start the movie!" said Kalim.

"I know right?" said Usagi. Then she spotted something. "Midori's here!"

"Who?" said Kalim.

"Her friend," said Cater. "I'm kinda curious who he..."

Cater stared hard.

"This is your friend?" said Lilia, shaking with repressed mirth.

Midori, or rather Malleus Draconia, looked bemused and delighted to be invited to their little gathering.

"Lilia. I was unaware you would be here as well."

"You never mentioned you made a new friend, Malleus," said Lilia with good cheer.

"Is that your actual name?" asked Usagi, completely oblivious.

"Only you would accidentally befriend a crown prince and not know it, Usagi-chan," laughed Cater.

Usagi's stunned face was too funny, and Cater had great glee taking a photo of it for later. Even Lilia was cackling.