Grim shouted out to announce the final decision that had been made and with that the skull ringing sound of the school bell rang, signifying the end of lunch and the beginning of classes.
🌖-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-🌔
Just as they'd discussed during lunchtime, the first years all met up at the botanical garden once classes were over and any extra homework was completed in the library. With an excited furrball rushing forward in the lead, they all walked to the forest that Trey had previously mentioned, each with at least some form of a smile on their faces as they spoke to each other about who knows what.
Once they arrived at their desired destination, Grim halted in his steps as he gazed at the large amounts of shrubbery surrounding him. The leaves were so vibrant and green that they looked like they'd jumped out of a picture book and the variety fruits on each of their branches came in a multitude of shapes, colours and sizes.
The grey creature's eyes began to sparkle as he looked upon the marvellous sight and he didn't wait any longer to rush headfirst into the greenery full of delicious looking foods.
"Waaah! There's so many chestnuts all over the place! And not only that, you can find all sorts of food here, pretty sure they even have some super rare types too!" Grim seemed to be talking to himself rather than his friends, despite the loud voice he used to express his thoughts. His words were filled with a simple joy and the sheer happiness they held made (name) let out a soft chuckle in response, something that made both Ace's and Deuce's cheeks redden.
"This place definitely doesn't hold back." The flower boy continued after his laughter quieted, raising his eyes to gaze at the beautiful trees and bushes around him with cheerfulness swirling in his (e/c) orbs. When he looked around at the vast nature before him, it wasn't hard to find many plant species that he'd never seen before and many more peculiar ones.
But nevertheless he found them stunning and just as breathtaking as the ones back home.
"Everything's just so..." The timid male let out a deep sigh, one that was filled with contentment, letting out any pent up exhaustion as he continued to smile at his surroundings. "...So calming... I really missed this feeling."
Deuce's heart was racing as he looked at the tranquil (name), whose usually tense shoulders had finally relaxed and whose body was finally easing up from the stress it previously held. The essence of a gardener radiated off him as the white rose in his hair seemed to shine under sunlight that peeked through the leaves and the smile on his face was caring and joyful, a look that made the Heartslabyul resident weak at the knees as he felt his heart only beating faster.
The blueberry boy had no doubt in his mind that Ace was probably feeling the same way, experiencing the same euphoric emotions as they looked at the soothing sight of a calm flower boy. But he didn't give it any further thought, only relishing in the moment as feelings for the soft male grew and he fell deeper and deeper for (name).
However, the harmonious moment was unfortunately interrupted by a sharp cry that came from the excitable mammal that had dashed away earlier.
"Ffgnaaaa! The thorns pricked my paw!!!" Grim shouted as he raised a paw that was now covered in little prickles that were stuck in his fur.
The timid male immediately snapped out of his previously tranquil state, a face full of worry and concern replacing his once relaxed visage as he raced towards the spot where his friend's voice came from.
The Heartslabyul duo followed close behind as the flower boy crouched down next to the tearful mammal and gently took his injured paw into his own soft hands. After delicately brushing his fingers over the tiny puncture wounds, (name) began to slowly pick out the thorns, sending reassuring glances and rubs whenever Grim winced from pain. Soon enough, they were all out, laying on the floor by their feet as the fluffy creature marvelled at the results of his dorm mate's skilful movements that had taken care of his injuries without causing any extra pain.
"Make sure to be careful next time. Okay, Grim? There are lots of plants that've developed self-defence mechanisms that can be really dangerous to you, and on top of that there are probably plants in this world that are even more hazardous." The (h/c) haired male calmly chided, a slight frown present on his face as he stood up to his full height and looked down at the now healed mammal. "You never know what kind of messes you could get into until it's too late so I highly suggest making it a habit to be aware of your surroundings."
"..."
"...This world?..."
The first year froze as he realised his slip up, every single muscle in his body tensing as he turned his head to look at Ace and Deuce, the spunky ginger being the one to utter that question.
(E/c) eyes were wide as (name) tried to calm his breathing which had slowly began to speed up, unfortunately he remained unsuccessful.
"A- ah..."
"(Name)?... What does... where do..." The blueberry boy was no better than his companions at forming words, deep blue eyes holding obvious confusion as he tried to piece together what exactly was going on. "What do you mean by... 'this world'?..."
The flower boy swallowed thickly as Grim had quieted down to be as quiet as a mouse.
No-
Even quieter than that.
He'd had a feeling that the other ramshackle resident was in a similar predicament as him, unknowledgeable of the ways of the world, so he wasn't quiet due to any shock but instead due to the knowledge that any words he spoke right now would immediately interrupt the serious discussion that needed to take place.
But as much of an important a conversation it was, (name) still dreaded every second of that moment.
"I-... I'm..." The poor flower boy was at a loss for where to begin. The countless flying thoughts, worries and anxieties only made him struggle harder to find the words, which made a long suspenseful silence draw out between the three them. As a result, the timid male's anxiousness would skyrocket and cause his brain to become even more jumbled, which would then make it even harder to form sentences. Causing an endless cycle that made the (h/c) haired male's eyesight grow fuzzy as his legs felt like they could no longer carry the weight of his body.
"I'm... not from here- not from this world..."
The first year managed to choke out, his breath erratic and eyes flitting across in every direction as his anxiety built up.
"My- my home- i- it i- it's not here... you won't find it anywhere..."
(Name) was clutching his chest with tightly gripped hands that clenched tighter and tighter the more he spoke and the more rapid his breathing became.
"I'm a stranger... to you- to this place- to this school- to everything-..."
His eyesight was covered with black spots, tears poking out of the corner of his eyes as his knees dipped, causing him to topple forward and land in someone's arms.
He didn't dare to look up, eyes paralysed as he looked down at the ground with shaky movements.
His whole body was shaking rapidly.
His legs were sprayed behind him like useless decorations.
His hands had gripped tightly onto the arms of the person who held him, tears beginning to fall down his cheeks as he struggled to get out any more words.
"...im sorry..."
But before he could get any worse, the anxious male felt something warm and soft touch his forehead as a calm voice spoke.
"I- it's okay, (name). You do- don't need to be so worried, we were just surprised." Deuce spoke in a calming tone, and even though he stumbled over a few words here and there, it brought a large amount of warmth into the timid male's body that was shaking so hard.
"Yeah! No matter where you're from we'll always care for you. And what's all that about being strangers to us? Didn't you hear what we told you during Athletics?" A friendly teasing smile grew on Ace's head as he lightly bonked the flower boy on the head with the back of his hand. "You're gonna need to get used to compliments for as long as we stay friends, and if I can help it, we're gonna stay friends for as long as know each other!"
"Y- yo- you guys....." The ramshackle resident finally managed the confidence to raise his head and look at his classmates who he'd grown so close to in only a couple days. He was at a loss for what to do, so completely unfamiliar with such kind treatment that the only thing he could do was cry.
So he did.
The (h/c) haired boy cried his heart out, both wailing from sorrow and smiling widely from happiness, switching between the two emotions frequently as the Heartslabyul students brought him into a group hug.
Grim joined in as he hugged their ankles, nuzzling his apprentice's legs as if to say 'I'm here for you' and that only cause the soft male to cry more.
"You guys... you're all so amazing..." He managed through sniffles and sobs. "I'm so lucky... I'm so happy... So so so happy, that I got to meet you guys..."
🌟💫🌙+++++++++++++———————————————++++++++++++++🌙💫🌟
After some time, (name)'s tears slowly began to fade away, disappearing into the silence until all that was left was his sleepy expression as he remained warm and comforted in his friends' arms.
"Hey... you feeling a bit better?" The ginger gently questioned once he'd noticed that his friend's shaking had stopped.
With a small hum, the flower boy nodded, a pleased smile on his face as he looked at the classmate's surrounding him. Thus the hug separated, ending the warm exchange as the first year let out a barely audible chuckle and wiped away the tear stains that remained on his cheeks.
"Yup... I'm feeling a lot better now thanks to you guys."
Suddenly, the timid male's face changed as he remembered something very crucial, eyes widening as he made a small gasp in exclamation.
"Oh! I should probably explain to you guys the finer details of why I'm here and all that stuff, like how the headmaster is even letting me stay here and all that."
"Only if you feel like it." Ace gave a mischievous yet friendly smirk as he responded.
"Okay! So basically..." The timid male then went on to explain the recent and intricate events involving his arrival, his stay and how the headmaster was supposedly researching his way back, along with other important details.
"So... that means that you'll leave one day? For sure? Without... ever being able to come back?" Deuce was hesitant with his question, almost fearing the answer as he averted his gaze down to the grassy floor with a fretful expression.
(Name) couldn't help but be hesitant himself as he responded, but eventually he managed to gather the courage to say what was on his mind. Placing a soft hand onto the blueberry boy's head as he wore a warm smile.
"Who knows. We're not even sure if there is a way for me to leave. But the one thing that I know for sure is that while I'm here, I'm gonna spend the most time with you guys as I can and I'm gonna savour every second of it! And if there is a way, I can assure all of you that I'll never forget any of you guys!"
The flower boy's touching words brought tears to the eyes of his furry companion, who didn't hesitate to jump into his arms as he wailed and clung to the (h/c) haired male's uniform.
"(Naaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmeee)!!!" Grim cried out. "I'm gonna miss you so muuuuuuuuccchhhhh!!!"
"Hey, chill out you damn furrball! (Name) isn't even close to going away yet and you're already acting like you're saying your farewells!" The anger-prone Heartslabyul student yelled at the fluffy mammal with an exasperated expression, lightly smacking him on the head as the creature dug his head into the timid first year's chest, staining his shirt with tears as he weeped.
The (e/c) eyed boy had removed his hand from Deuces head when Grim ran up to him, catching him safely with both of his arms and as he shifted the cat to lean in his left arm, he used his right hand to calmly rub his back like you'd do to a child. The action soon made the Ramshackle resident's howling slow to silence, as he'd fallen asleep comfortably in his dorm mate's arms, which made some of his classmates sigh while (name) only let out a small sympathetic smile.
"I think it's about time we get started on the actual chestnut picking now." Ace said as he crossed his arms and turned his head to search the forest for any visible chestnuts just waiting for the picking.
"Then it would be good to grab a basket and some gloves beforehand, we don't want a repeat of what happened Grim." (E/c) coloured eyes held a glint of concern in them as the timid male spoke, continuing his calming motions on a fluffy grey back before glancing towards a see-through building filled with plants, which stood tall and proud. "The botanical garden should have that stuff... if it's anything like the places in my world."
"Then let's go take a look, shall we?" Deuce responded with a wide smile and the (h/c) haired student at his side nodded with a matching one on his face. So, with the tiniest hop in his step, the group of troublemakers headed towards the entrance of the indoor forest.
Once they'd entered the glass establishment, the ginger at (name)'s side couldn't help but comment as they walked through the thin paths that danced around the shrubbery.
"Wow. It's so much bigger than I thought it would be."
The ramshackle resident's posture began to relax just like it had back at the forest as a calm smile grew on his complexion.
"I've been here once before, but I still get a bit of a surprise when I see just how... beautiful everything is."
The Heartslabyul boys' cheeks were dusted a light pink from the joy that seeped out of the timid male's words and before they could become anymore flustered, Deuce made a quick suggestion of what they should do next.
"Th- there should be a caretaker in this place, so we should split up to find them and ask them for the stuff we need."
"I'll go right, then." Ace casually claimed his area to explore.
"And I'll go left. (Name), would you and Grim be okay with checking the back?" Deuce asked as he lightly pointed a finger in the direction where the ramshackle dorm members would search.
"Not a problem. We won't let you down!" The flower boy's soft voice agreed as the male paused his petting to give a small salute to his companions before heading along his designated route in a light jog. The tuckered out Grim bouncing up and down in his arms as he slept like a log.
With fast paced beating hearts and their cheeks flushed, the Heartslabyul duo went their separate ways as well, all in search for the gardening equipment that would allow them to pick the necessary chestnuts.
🌟💫🌙+++++++++++++———————————————++++++++++++++🌙💫🌟
"Hm?..." The flower boy paused in his steps as a large, a large blooming flower catching his attention through his peripherals. It's petals seemingly sparkling under the sunlight as it's colour could only be described as indescribable.
"Wow..." (Name) could only let out that quiet exclamation at the plant's beauty before he took a couple steps towards the giant bloom in an attempt to get a closer look to its magnificence. However, before he was even halfway there, the timid male heard a grunt near his feet, one that was filled with displeasure.
The first year paused at the noise and when his brain finally processed what had just happened, the boy hurriedly removed his foot and backed up multiple steps while apologising profusely.
"Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorry! I didn't see where I was stepping and I ended up- Ah! I'm so sorry!" The (h/c) haired student apologised with a panicking tone as he bowed multiple times, the sleeping Grim still being held safely in his arms as he did so.
"Oi. You've got some nerve stepping on someone's tail." Someone grumbled but the ramshackle resident couldn't see his face as he halted his bow at the waist, fearing what expression he'd see on the person's face once he straightened up. However, he did notice that the voice sounded weirdly familiar, making the flower boy's brows furrowed just the slightest bit.
"A- are you the caretaker of this place?" The timid male managed to get out, despite stumbling on the first word.
The boy before him ignored his question and instead continued to grumble in a dissatisfied tone.
"I was right in the middle of taking a nice nap, then you go and walk all over my tail. This sucks."
"I'm really sorry about that!" The first year apologised once more.
"Can't you just stop saying sorry for one second? Yo-" Just as the stranger was about to go on to scold the anxious student and vent out his frustrations, his words came to a sudden halt, as if he'd just noticed something.
The point of a finger then came into contact with (name)'s forehead, pushing against it harshly until the previously hidden head was raised and (e/c) coloured eyes were looking at a pair of green orbs that belonged to a tan upperclassman.
The boy with lion ears smirked once he was able to get a good look at the nervous male's face.
"You... you're that herbivore that mirror said can't do magic? Hm..."
The long haired male then leaned in closer to the flower boy's face, causing the latter to tense up and his palms to grow sweaty at the close proximity, way too close for comfort yet his fear of confrontation refused to allow him to say anything. The tan student's noise twitched as he sniffed for something before the smirk on his face grew.
"Ha. I really don't smell a speck of magic on you."
And even though his tone was casual and the two remained in close quarters, the previous discomfort the timid male was feeling quickly evaporated.
What replaced instead was a sinking feeling in his stomach as his heart dropped and any confidence plummeted.
🌖-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-🌔
Sup everybodyyyyyyyy
I'm back :D
Sort of-
The new chapter's here!!! And next week is a very special day for me so 👀
A very special day involving birth-
But as such, I'm most likely not going to be able to get the next chapter out by then, I might be able to but-
We'll see *shrug*
🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈💞💖But I hope everyone has a happy pride month! 💖💞🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Until next time, guys, gals and non-binary pals!
- ✨Author-san