Ok, so for this particular chapter it's somewhat long but also a wave of emotions? Yea that's it, also we're approaching the Overblot and SDC performance. How exciting! I also wanna thank everyone who was patient and wished me well, I feel definitely better after that bit of break. Now then, on with the well awaited chapter, remember to enjoy and happy reading!
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"Whatever have you done so badly that you lost one of your children? Interesting how myself had nothing to do with it this time."
~ Kibutsuji Muzan 🥀
After practice, they all soon went back to Ramshackle dorm to eat dinner. Currently now, they were all gathered around the living room, talking amongst themselves.
"Whew... I finished my dinner, but I feel like I've still got room for more." Ace said as he looked over at (Y/N) who was quietly eating an onigiri she made as Kanzaburou peacefully slept in her arms.
"I know what you mean. It wasn't bad, but it just didn't have the spicy punch or richness I'm used to." Kalim sighed.
"The dishes used vegetables, white meat chicken, and fruit. I thought the portions were reasonably sized." Jamil said.
"It seemed rather bland than anything...."
"They described it as a toning menu, not a slimming down menu." Deuce said.
"All those veggies are barely a meal to me...I'm not even competing with you guys, so how about letting us have some more meat? And by us I mean me! Ooh, or at least something fried!" Grim exclaimed.
"I liked it. It was delicious and healthy." (Y/N) said as she took a sip of her tea as the doorbell was soon rung now alerting everyone.
(Y/N) got up from her spot to open the door only to reveal a ghost with a package.
"Special delivery! Is Epel Felmier of Pomefiore present?" The ghost said.
"Y...yes. I'm Epel." The male said as he approached the ghost now standing next to the raven haired female.
"If you could sign here? We've got ten large boxes for you. Mind if we drop them off in the foyer?" The ghost said as he gave Epel a piece of paper to sign.
"Sure, that's-wait, did you say ten?!" Epel said as he stared at the ghost in shock as he gave him back the paper.
"Yes. It's from...oh, this also says Felmier. I take it that's your family? They're all heavy, so be careful carrying them." The ghost said as he then started stacking the boxing inside the Ramshackle's foyer.
"The Ramshackle Dorm foyer's stacked floor to ceiling with boxes now." Deuce said as he stared at all the boxes.
"Ahhh! These have to be from Meemaw-ah, that is, from my grandmother. I've told her so many times over the phone that she doesn't have to send this stuff." Epel said.
"What is it? A delivery of silks from your home?" Kalim said as he looked over at the boxes.
"Oh, it's nothing so fancy. Um, my hometown produces a lot of apple based goods. So I suspect these are all, ah...apple juice." Epel said.
"Dude! Forget the Mostro Lounge, we could run our own drink stand with this much product!" Ace exclaimed now waking up the sleeping crow.
"Caw! How dare you wake me up! And I was having such a good dream too..." Kanzaburou said as he glared at Ace.
"Oh, there's a letter in one of the boxes. Let's see..." Epel mumbled as he picked up the letter and read it. "We had some unsold stock near its sell by date. You can share it with your friends at school. Fer cryin' out loud! Don't push yer stinkin' overstock on me, Meemaw! A...ahem. I mean, I can't believe they have so much they didn't sell." Epel quickly said as he cleared his throat.
"That's nice of her to send this to you." (Y/N) said as she looked over at the boxes.
"If they're sending you this much stuff, you must come from a real rich family." Deuce said.
"Huh?!" Epel said as he looked at the blue haired male in shock.
"Ooh, I think I get it. Are you so dedicated to your apple juice brand that it's all you want to drink?" Ace questioned.
"N...not at all, honest! Everyone's welcome to have some. It's 100% apple juice, no preservatives. It's loaded with vitamins, and Vil...probably won't yell at you for drinking it. Tastes real good, too!" Epel said.
"Yep. You're a total apple juice freak." Ace said.
"Ah, aha ha..." Epel laughed and smiled at them.
"Merci, Monsieur Pommette. I happily accept. Tell your family merci beaucoup on my behalf." Rook happily said.
"We can't leave the foyer blocked off with all these boxes. Let's get them to the lounge, at least." Jamil said as everyone started moving all the boxes to the lounge.
"I appreciate all of you helping with those boxes. Thanks, uh...very much." Epel said as he stared at the boxes in the lounge. "Why don't we open one up and quench our thirst? The citric acid and polyphenol in apples works wonders for fatigue. It should be the perfect drink after a hard day of dancing and singing rehearsal...I think." He said as Deuce grabbed one of the bottles and opened it.
"Ooh. There's a nice, tangy apple smell already, and all I did was pop the cork." Deuce said.
"What a piquant aroma. I shall partake as well." Rook said as he drank some of the juice. "Why...c'est bon! This is exquisite, Epel!" He happily said.
"Let me try a sip." Kalim said as he tried the drink. "Ooh, that is good! It's like I'm drinking an apple in liquid form!"
"It's 100% apple juice, so that's literally what you're doing. Mm...it is quite good, though." Jamil smiled.
"You should try some too (Y/N)." Epel said as he handed the female a bottle.
"Thank you Epel." She said as She eyed the bottle curiously before drinking the juice. "It's so good, thank you!" She happily said as she grabbed a cup to give Kanzaburou some juice. "Here you go Kanzaburou, drink up."
"Y...you're welcome." Epel smiled as he watched as (Y/N) happily gave some to her crow.
"Caw! Thanks Tomioka sama." Kanzaburou said.
"If apple juice is all it took to make her that happy I should have done it first..."
"She looks even prettier when she smiles!"
"This's the stuff right here. I could guzzle it by the liter!" Grim exclaimed as he grabbed another bottle.
"Hey, Grim! Don't put your mouth on the bottle!" Deuce said.
"I can't blame him for wanting to chug it from the source, though. It goes down great." Ace said.
"He eats black floor rocks like it's nothing." (Y/N) said as she deadpanned. "I don't think a bottle will harm him."
"It's not too sweet and not too tart. It goes down like a pleasant breeze blowing through an orchard, refreshing to the extreme! I'd go so far as to call this beverage a masterpiece that was clearly made with love." Rook said as he smiled at the male.
"Isn't it? It's made from a blend of several different types of apples. It's the pride of our hometown! And it's soothing for the throat when you add in a little honey. It could be great to drink after vocal practice! Ooh, and the apples themselves are delicious, even before they're turned into juice!" Epel happily exclaimed.
"Hahah! How nice to hear you speak with such enthusiasm. It's clear that you carry a great deal of fondness for your hometown, Monsieur Pommette." Rook smiled as he let out a small laugh.
"Unfortunately, though...I don't know if it's because we make it in a backwater part of the Shaftlands or what, but it's just not very well known." Epel said as he let out a small sigh.
"Wow. It's so good, though. Such a shame for it to go unnoticed." Kalim said.
"We get fewer and fewer tourists every year, too. The direction things are going, well..." Epel said before soon being cut off by Vil's voice.
"I wanna see what his hometown is like. Maybe I should ask..."
"How long are you all going to congregate in the lounge?" Vil questioned as he crossed his arms over his chest before eyeing the boxes. "...And what are these stacks of boxes?"
"Epel's family sent him some apple juice, which he has been kind enough to share." Rook said as the female nodded.
"I like it. It's very refreshing." (Y/N) said as she gave Epel a thumbs up.
"I...it doesn't have any added sugars! Or preservatives! And, um, it's not going to last for very long, so...you're welcome to have some too, Vil. If you like." Epel nervously said as he looked over at Vil.
"Hmm. Is that so? Perhaps if the mood strikes me. But it's just about 10 o'clock. That means lights out for you spudlings." Vil said as he glared at them.
"Caw! Spuds, potatoes?! Who are you calling a spud you hideous sore eye!" Kanzaburou said as he glared at Vil all while (Y/N) gently him to calm him down.
"You expect us to go to bed at 10 p.m.?! What are we, grade schoolers?" Ace said.
"Perhaps so, if your mindset moves you to equate an early bedtime with being a child." Vil said as he glared at Kanzaburou before looking at Ace. "You need a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night to maintain lustrous skin and hair. Speaking of which, I've been meaning to ask you...what products do you use for hair and skin care?"
"Uh...what do you mean, care?" Deuce questioned as he stared at the male in confusion.
"My hair tangles easily with repeat washes, so I use hair oil...but I don't put anything extra on my skin." Jamil said.
"My attendants back home always slathered me in moisturizers, but I haven't done any of that since I started school here." Kalim said.
"I don't use anything on my face..." (Y/N) said as Rook smiled at her words. "Nothing fancy on my hair as well..."
"Caw! That's because Tomioka sama has natural beauty!" Kanzaburou happily said.
Vil remained silent as he glared at Kanzaburou before looking over at (Y/N). He then turned his attention to face Kalim before finally speaking. "You strip away your natural oils and then leave your skin gasping for hydration? Are you mad?! I'm giving each of you a set of my personally formulated skin care products. Apply them every morning and evening after you wash your face."
"Ooh, you make your own cosmetics? Neat!" Kalim happily said as (Y/N) picked up a bottle staring at it curiously.
"I shouldn't be surprised. Of course the Pomefiore dorm leader would be an expert in herbalism." Jamil said.
"Epel and I have been naught but smooth and supple since we started using Vil's products." Rook said.
"Yes, and he makes other things, too. Sunblock, setting powder, lip balm, hand cream..." Epel said as he started listing the thing Vil would make. "He dumped-ah, I mean, gifted me...a bunch of it." He said as he immediately corrected himself.
"By the way, I see a lot of bottles here. How do you use all this?" Kalim questioned.
"Must I explain everything?" Vil said.
"Well..." (Y/N) said as she looked over at the bottles. "I've never seen such things. The Taisho era doesn't exactly have these things. They're...strange."
"Fine. I'll start with the facial cleanser." Vil said as he let out a sigh looking rather annoyed. "Kalim, you'll be my model. The rest of you, pay close attention."
"Y...yes, sir." Everyone said in unison with the exception of (Y/N) who simply remained silent.
"Kalim, what do you use when you wash your face normally?" Vil asked as he looked over at Kalim.
"Water!" Kalim happily said.
"Out of the question! First, work up a lather with this loofah, then massage your face with the foam." Vil said as he put the foamy product in his hands before putting it on Kalim's face. "No hard scrubbing."
"Ahaha! This tickles." Kalim laughed as Vil continued to put the product on his face.
"Once you've finished washing, use a refining toner. Apply it gently to your skin with a cotton pad." Vil said as he grabbed the cotton pad.
"You have to wipe yourself down again right after rinsing the foam off?" Kalim said.
"This is a secondary step for removing dirt from your pores. Next comes the moisturizer. Rub it into your palms and press down firmly with it to ensure it permeates the skin." Vil said as he grabbed the moisturizer next and put it on Kalim's face.
"Eh...just watching this is too much."
"Why so much steps? It looks like it takes forever...."
"Ooh, it smells all flowery. This is nice!" Kalim smiled as Vil put the moisturizer on him.
"Next is the milky lotion. Boys our age secrete a lot of sebum, so applying too much could backfire." Vil said as (Y/N) deadpanned.
"But...I'm not a boy..."
"Ahaha! It's kind of funny when you say our age." Kalim laughed.
"...Would you care to elaborate on that statement?" Vil said as he frowned at Kalim.
"I just mean, you're so mature compared to all the other juniors I know." Kalim said.
"Good. I was ready to come to blows if you had intended to call me old. Anyway, moving on..." Vil said as he grabbed another product. "What I just went over was the order of operations for your morning and evening care routine. This container here is a facial cream meant to be used once every three days for added care. Apply it before you go to bed. Work this oil into the ends of your hair before using a dryer. This body milk here is for use after showers. Apply it meticulously to your knees, elbows, and the heels of your feet." He explained.
"This is as hard as a Potionology practical." Deuce said as (Y/N) nodded in agreement.
"Hm, I wonder if Kanroji does that to her face..." (Y/N) hummed as she tapped her chin in thought. "Maybe I should try it?"
"Caw! You don't need all that Tomioka sama, you're already beautiful with your natural looks!" Kanzaburou happily said as he comfortably perched on the female's head.
"Natural beauty. Yes it's true.
"I can't say the same about the walking watermelon however..."
"Thank you Kanzaburou..." (Y/N) mumbles as she felt flustered by the simple compliment.
"Ooh, my skin's already feeling silkier after getting the Vil treatment." Kalim happily said before approaching closely to the female. "See, (Y/N)? Feel my cheek."
"It's squishy." (Y/N) said as she gently cupped Kalim's cheeks in her hand.
"Hey! Get your grimy hands off his clean face! Hands are a breeding ground for microorganisms." Vil scolded as he slapped the raven haired female's hand away.
"..........." (Y/N) remained silent again as she moved away from Kalim now staring down at the hand that Vil slapped away. Grim meanwhile was now glaring at the male before sitting himself in (Y/N)'s lap.
"I'll burn him to a crisp!"
"Oh no, don't tell me dear beauté has become upset."
"He's looking to get punched just like Riddle..."
"Caw! Hey hey! Listen here you stupid clown, you do that again and you can say bye bye to those things you call eyeballs!" Kanzaburou angrily shouted at Vil all while Rook smiled at the female in hopes of lifting up her mood.
"I hope he actually follows through..."
"In some ways, our dorm leaders got nothing on Vil. This is nuts..." Ace said.
"Shhh. He's right here." Deuce mumbled.
"Hey, Vil? Question. You became dorm leader because you're good at magic, right? Do you know any spells that can skip all this stuff and just magically gussy up our hair and skin?" Ace questioned.
"Magicians like yourselves should understand that most spells and potions are not permanent. Magic might create a temporary illusion of beauty and allow someone to indulge in a brief dream..." Bil explained as he looked over at the multiple products. "But I have no interest in spells that fade when the clock chimes midnight. What I seek is genuine, authentic aesthetic perfection. Like the Fairest Queen who earned the Magic Mirror's recognition."
"If that legendary mirror still existed, I have no doubt it would recognize your excellence, Vil." Rook said.
"...Perhaps. That talk ran a bit long. All of you, to your rooms now. And don't forget to follow the skincare routine before you go to bed!" Vil exclaimed.
"Caw! Magic mirror? Ha, I doubt it!" Kanzaburou laughed only to receive a glare form Vil.
"Y...yes sir!" They all said in unison as they walked off one by one. All with the exception of (Y/N) who silently stared at Vil before heading back to her room with Kanzaburou and Grim.
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"Myah...we're only on day one, and I'm already pooped." Grim yawned as he comfortably laid on the futon that (Y/N) set out for him and Kanzaburou to share.
"Now imagine how bad it is for the performers." (Y/N) said.
"Caw! At least we get the easy end of our practice. Shopping and snacks!" Kanzaburou happily added.
"It's all for my tuna bonanza. I gotta make sure they win this thing." Grim said as he smiled at the female.
"Caw! I think Tomioka sama will do better!" Kanzaburou added.
"Well it's both of us." (Y/N) gave them both a small smile as she picked up her crow and hugged him close. "You and-" (Y/N)'s eyes widen as she heard someone singing, now cutting her off mid sentence.
"kowareru yoona kagayaki wa keshiteageru"
"Hm? Who's that making noise in the yard?" Grim questioned.
"I know that voice..." (Y/N) mumbled as she approached where the voice was coming from now noticing that Kalim was outside.
"kowareru yoona kagayaki wa keshiteageru"
"Hmmm..." Kalim stopped singing before letting out a small sigh. "I keep missing that note."
"Hey, Kalim! If you stay out late, Coach Vil is gonna chew our heads off!" Grim exclaimed now catchy the white haired male's attention.
"Whoa! Grim and (Y/N)? And Kanzaburou is there too. Did you hear me from the dorm? Sorry about that!" Kalim said as he gave them a small smile.
"How can you still be going after getting worked to the bone today?" Grim questioned.
"You're very diligent senpai." (Y/N) said as she looked over at Kalim. "But rest is just as important as practice."
"Haha, it's not what you think." He said as he gave a small laugh. "This is the first time I've ever done something like this. I'm...pretty upset that I got passed over for main vocals." Kalim said as he let out a small sigh.
"Huh? You didn't look upset to me." Grim said.
"I wasn't when it first got announced. But when I climbed into bed and closed my eyes, it started nagging at me. I couldn't just lie there working myself up. Figured I'd let off some steam by practicing. I've...never felt this way before." Kalim said.
"Well, some people are just good at hiding the way they feel behind a facade..." (Y/N) mumbled as Kanzaburou looked up at her sadly.
"Ahah. You've had everything handed to you on a silver platter before this, I bet. Guess that's what it's like when you're mega rich. Must be nice!" Grim exclaimed as (Y/N) lightly hit his head.
"Ah, well...yes and no. I don't think that's quite it. I'm always chosen. Always. That's such an obvious truth that I never even consciously processed it. But now I see that was only possible because of Jamil's constant sacrifices. He created that truth in my mind by always holding back. By always letting me win." Kalim sadly said as he sighed. "...It stings. Galling doesn't even begin to describe it."
"You wanna talk about galling? Imagine how I feel not even making the cut for the audition to start with." Grim said.
"Caw! That's because you were bad!" Kanzaburou said as Kalim chuckled a bit at his response.
"Ah, you're right. My bad! I didn't mean to rub it in. Goodness, there I go again! I'm super sorry, honest." Kalim said as he apologized.
"Geez, getting a sincere apology makes me feel like I kicked a puppy or something. Ace or Deuce would of hit me with a comeback..." Grim mumbled at the thought. "Ahem! Look, if that's how you feel, then you'd better win!"
"That's a good way to look at it. I'll keep working hard, so don't give up on me, ok? I wouldn't want to disturb the others' sleep, so I'll stop for now and call it a night." Kalim said as he smiled at them.
"Have a good night senpai." (Y/N) said.
"Caw! Good night, see you in the morning Kalim!" Kanzaburou said.
"Right." Kalim nodded as he happily smiled. "Good night (Y/N). Good night to you too Kanzaburou and Grim!" He said as he walked back inside the dorm.
"Let's get back to our room, (Y/N). My paw pads are freezing out here." Grim said as the female nodded in agreement.
"Right." She agreed as she took her leave with her two companions as they were all unaware of Jamil standing outside as he heard their small conversation.
"..............."
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After the conversation with Kalim, everyone eventually went to sleep. (Y/N) was peacefully sleeping as she then had another strange dream.
👑 Dream World 👑
"Ahhhh!"
"Someone is...screaming."
(Y/N) then walked around to find out where the screams came from only to stumble across the girl from her last dream who was known as Snow White. He was on the meadow ground staring at a man before her, clear fear written on her face.
"I can't! I can't do it! Forgive me. I beg of Your Highness, forgive me." A huntsman said as he kneeled before the young girl.
"Forgive him? But..for what? What exactly did he do?"
"I...I don't understand!" Snow White said as she stared at the elder male in confusion.
"She's mad, jealous of you! She'll stop at nothing!" The huntsman said as (Y/N) silently watched them before the scene changed. She was now standing in front of the same Queen from her last dream.
"That blundering fool!" The Queen angrily said as she stared into her cup before tossing it away angrily. "Now to transform my beauty into ugliness. Now, begin thy magic spell." And with those words said, her appearance changed into an elderly woman.
"She looks...so different. But why is she doing that?"
"A perfect disguise. And now, a special sort of death for one so fair. What shall it be?" She asked herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"She's...jealous of that girl. Jealous...angry at Snow White..." (Y/N) said before the scenery soon faded.
"The same woman I saw in my dream...but she's clearly angry. Don't be jealous if a young girl lady Queen, I still think you're beautiful..."
(Y/N) opened her eyes feeling someone shake her awake as her eyes met with Grim's. "Huh?"
"About time you got up. Follow me and be stealthy about it. Everybody else is sleeping, so stay on your tip toes!" Grim whispered yelled to her before quietly walking out of the room.
"Alright..." She mumbles as she picked up Kanzaburou in her arms and quietly followed Grim.
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Soon enough they all made it to the lounge where both Ace and Deuce were waiting for them.
"Ah, there you are. Come on over here." Ace said.
(Y/N) blinked as she stared at the two Heartslabyul male's before letting out a small sigh. "Why am I getting a bad feeling already..."
"That dinner we had just wasn't filling. So I was thinking about the pastries Trey made for us. The ones sitting in the fridge right now. Wouldn't it be a shame to let perfectly good food go to waste? Trey said we should eat them today, too." Ace said.
"You're still hungry?" (Y/N) questioned as Ace gave her a nod.
"Yea of course!" Ace said.
"I'm not here for sweets. I'm just, uh...thirsty! I want a drink of water." Deuce immediately said.
"Snacks taste a hundred times better when you're sneaking them at night. Heheh! Throw that fridge door wide, baby!" Grim laughed as he opened the fridge now revealing the sweets.
"I'll grab a piece of the chocolate cake." Ace said as he reached for the cake.
"That apple pie is calling my name!" Grim exclaimed as he eyed the pie.
"I'm not looking. I don't see any of this." Deuce said as he looked away from the fridge.
"You shouldn't eat so late at night. You might get sick." (Y/N) said as she watched them take out the sweets.
"Caw! If you get sick don't blame us!" Kanzaburou said as he immersed agreed with the female.
"Relax (Y/N) everything will be ok!" Grim said.
"Hey, Deuce. Turn this way a sec." Ace said now getting the blue haired male's attention. With that, he shoved some of the pie in Deuce's mouth.
"Hm? Mmph! Whaphza big idea?!" Deuce frowned as he glared at Ace as his mouth full of pie.
"How's Trey's homemade apple pie? Now that you've had a bite, you're our partner in crime." Ace smirked as (Y/N) facepalmed at the sight.
"Everything tastes better when it's forbidden!" Grim exclaimed as he stuffed his face with the sweets.
"Well, I can't let the slice go to waste now that I've bitten into it. If it's just one piece..." Deuce said as he began to join them.
"I think I'll wash this down with some of our confiscated soda." Ace grinned as he then chugged down some soda as (Y/N) let out a small sigh before getting herself a cup of water.
"My, my. What have we here? A pack of little rats scurrying through the kitchen under cover of night?" A familiar voice said now catching them all by surprise.
"Myah?! That's...Vil!" Grim exclaimed as he tried to hide the sweets.
"Disobedient children require discipline." Vil said as he glared at them.
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"Look, we're growing boys, ok?! Of course we're gonna get hungry at night." Ace said as he glared at Vil.
"Speaking as a Heartslabyul student, I can't possibly ignore Trey's homemade sweets. That would just be wrong..." Deuce said.
"Any moment now." Vil said as (Y/N) stared at him in confusion.
"Huh? What do you mean, any-" Ace said before being cut off by sudden pain making him clench his stomach. "Hrk!"
"Mrah?!" Grim said.
"Urgh!" Deuce groaned before all three of them suddenly fell on the floor causing (Y/N) to stare at them with widened eyes.
"They're all collapsing!" (Y/N) said as she stared at the trio who laid on the floor. "What's wrong?! Are you guys ok?!" She exclaimed clearly worried.
"Caw! Don't tell me you're dying!" Kanzaburou said with a slightly panicked tone.
"B..body's...going numb..." Ace mumbled.
"Rrrgh... I can't stand..." Grim groaned.
"What's going on?" Deuce questioned as he tried to stand up only to fail due to the pain.
"I knew this was a bad idea..." (Y/N) said as she took a sip of her water as she continued to stare at them with a hint of concern.
"Wait... Did you poison the food in the fridge?!" Ace said as the female immediately widen her eyes in shock.
"P...poison?!" The female choked out before spitting her water on Vil.
"Pff...hahah! Do it again Tomioka sama!" Kanzaburou exclaimed as he laughed at a now drenched Vil.
"Hey!!" Vil glared as he wiped the water from his face. "It's not poison. It's a curse." He said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"A curse? How do you curse food...?" Deuce said.
"It's my signature spell. Fairest One of All.
It gives me the power to place a curse upon anything I touch. A curse so potent, not even I can lift it before its stated conditions are met. I imagine you'd like to know how I've hexed the food I confiscated from you today. Shall I tell you? Any fool who partakes of this shall be immobilized until the next sunrise." Vil explained as they all stared at him in shock.
"For your safety, that water had better not been cursed." (Y/N) mumbled as she glared at him.
"No the water was alright." Vil said as he rolled his eyes at her comment now drying his face with a tissue he seems to pull out of nowhere.
"Y...you can do that?!" Deuce said.
"That's even more sinister than poison! It doesn't even taste any different!" Ace exclaimed.
"I told you to avoid foods loaded with sugars and additives until the SDC show. You clearly aren't taking your roles as ensemble members seriously! You can stay on the hard floor until morning as punishment." Vil said as he stared down at the trio on the floor.
"B...but I didn't even take the food! Someone else shoved it in my mouth!" Deuce tried to defend.
"No excuses! This is collective responsibility." Vil said as he then. Looked over at (Y/N). "Manager, seeing as you did not partake, I'll let you off this time. But don't start indulging just because of your said position. Now get back to your room, unless you want to root yourself into the floor with the spuds."
"Caw! Try it you stupid clown! I dare you to do something to her!" Kanzaburou angrily said.
(Y/N) continued to glare at Vil before sadly looking over at them on the ground. "I'm sorry guys..." She said as she took her leave heading back to her room.
"Caw! I hope you stub your toe tonight!" Kanzaburou said as he glared at Vil.
"Myah! (Y/N), come back! Don't leave me!" Grim cried out.
"Cease your yowling! Hmph...why must they all act in such an unbecoming manner? I simply cannot fathom why." Vil said as he then took his leave as well now leaving them behind.
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Here I am, back in my room after abandoning my friends..." (Y/N) sighed as she was now in her room watching as Kanzaburou peacefully slept. "I should bring them some blankets, at least." She mumbled now thinking to herself.
"I could always drag them back to their rooms..."
Soon enough, the mirror glowed once again now catching her attention. A familiar voice could be heard from the other side of it.
"...lo? Hello? Are you there today?" The voice of Mickey said as (Y/N) stared at the mirror in shock.
"Mickey?" The female questioned as she approached the mirror. "I knew I wasn't dreaming..." She quietly said.
"Whoa! You startled me!" Mickey exclaimed as he looked at the raven haired female before smiling at her. "Your voice is coming through the mirror especially loud and clear today. Your voice is coming through the mirror especially loud and clear today.
Can you see me?" He asked as she nodded.
"Yea, I see you." (Y/N) said as she looked back at Mickey.
"He looks much friendlier than I was expecting..."
"I told some friends of mine about what you said in my last dream..." Mickey said as he let out a small sigh. "But Donald and Goofy have never heard of Twisted Wonderland, either. Donald even said it was a ghost prank, and that I shouldn't listen!" He huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"My classmates told me the same thing." (Y/N) said as she frowned a bit. "Wait, you're not another ghost are you?"
"What? Of course I'm not! I sure hope you're not one..." Mickey said as he smiled at her. "That's good. But this is getting stranger and stranger. Just now, those animated cards and dancing gloves said to me, Oh, you're back again? This is definitely no ordinary dream."
"Aha, looks like we're both getting weird dreams." (Y/N) said as she gave him a small smile. "Oh yea, I almost forgot. Hey Mickey, can I take your picture?" The female said as she held out her Ghost Camera.
"My picture? Sure, go ahead!" Mickey happily said.
(Y/N) readied her camera, about to take his picture before the sound of ringing alarmed them both.
"Huh? ...hear...ringing..." Mickey said before he soon faded away.
"W..wait.." (Y/N) said as the glowing light in front of the mirror soon faded. "He faded out...and I couldn't take the picture.."
👑 Flashback 👑
"I've checked and read every book but no information came up. Your time period shows up in these history books, but I'm afraid none of them mention anything about the organization you've mentioned to me." Crowley said as he placed the book he was reading down.
"Hm..I understand." (Y/N) said as she gave him a small nod.
"I don't mean to say such a thing now, but is this organization, is it really true? That wasn't some sort of lie or jape?" He questioned as the raven haired female simply shook her head.
"Not at all. I promise I wouldn't lie about such a thing. If it wasn't true, I wouldn't know how to use my breathing technique." (Y/N) said.
"I understand. So the only explanation that I see is that you've come from another planet. Or perhaps you were summoned here from another dimension?" He said.
"I'm not really sure..." She mumbled
"Well tell me, do you wish to leave?" The raven haired male said as he stared at her sadly. "Is that what you desire?"
"I...I..." (Y/N) swallowed as she felt her eyes feeling watery before giving him a fake close eyed smile.
"(Y/N)?" Crowley softly spoke as he stared at her with concern.
"I'm not needed anywhere. Not here or back there. I wouldn't know what I want." She said as she still smiled only to receive a hug from him.
"I enjoy your presence my dear." He mumbles as she hugged him back. "And I'd rather you not say such a thing and simply smile truthfully." He softly spoke as she silently cried into his embrace.
"M...mother? aha I'm sorry for this, I...I really am." She mumbled as she wiped away her tears only to receive a small smile from Crowley.
"It's quite alright." Crowley smiled as he gently pat her head. "I don't mind at all, I'll admit the thought of hearing it myself is rather warming." He said as she simply hugged him again.
"T...thank you."
👑 Flashback End 👑
(Y/N) smiled to herself as she remembered her conversation with Crowley. The memory made her eyes water slightly before so soon took a deep breath to calm herself.
"I wonder...where is Mickey located?"
👑👑👑👑👑👑
It was now morning and (Y/N) was already up and dressed ready to start another day, Kanzaburou was also Now up as he took his place on her head.
"I hope you slept well Tomioka sama!" Kanzaburou said as (Y/N) gave him a small nod.
"Yes. Thank you." She said before soon hearing knocking at her door as she approached it, she opened it to reveal a smiling Rook.
"Good morning senpai." (Y/N) greeted as Rook happily smiled at her.
"Bonjour, belle! Today is off to a most magnificent start, wouldn't you say? We'll be doing morning practice sessions starting, well...this morning! Come to the Pomefiore ballroom." Rook happily said as he held out his hand for her to take.
"Alright senpai." She nodded as she took his hand letting him lead the way.
👑👑👑👑👑👑
Soon enough, they arrived at the Pomfiore ballroom where they met with the sight of everyone talking amongst themselves. (Y/N) the approaching Ace, Deuce, and Grim.
"Last night was awful..." Deuce said.
"I'm aching all over after having to sleep on the hard floor." Ace said.
"I'm not even in the ensemble. It's fair, I tell you..." Grim said as he let out a sigh.
"Caw! Really? I slept perfectly well and so did Tomioka sama!" Kanzaburou happily said on to receive a glare from both Grim and Ace.
"It should have been you..." Grim said now practicing in a staring contest with the crow.
"Caw! I'm just an innocent crow!" Kanzaburou teased.
"Guys? Are you okay?" Epel questioned as he stared at them with concern.
"Ah, everyone's here. Good morning." Kalim happily greeted.
"Good morning to you too senpai." (Y/N) said as she received a hug from Kalim.
"I heard a bunch of noise last night and leapt out of bed. I thought someone was attacking. But no..." Jamil said as he then looked over at Ace and Deuce. "When I went to see what was going on, I found you guys sprawled out on the ground."
"You'd have to be pretty dumb to start attacking n Ramshackle dorm..."
"I doubt anyone would attack when (Y/N) is around..."
"It wasn't by choice, ok?! Vil used his signature spell on us." Ace said.
"Did he really?" Jamil questioned.
"Yea. He cursed the grub in the fridge. Is that scary or what?!" Grim exclaimed.
"He put a curse on food?!" Kalim said as he stared at them in shock.
"Now I'm gonna be wondering if everything I eat between now and the SDC is cursed. It's got me all paranoid." Grim mumbled.
"At least it wasn't poison." (Y/N) said as Grim simply sighed.
"I'm pretty careful about poisons, but I'll have to be extra careful if there are curses involved." Kalim said.
"Poison? What does he mean by that?"
"Anything using magic will leave at least some trace behind, but..." Jamil said as he thought about the curse. They mentioned "Hm..."
"Maybe I could identify it if I brush up on my sensory abilities?" Kalim suggested.
"You're not exactly sensitive to start with, you know. Mastering that seems a bit out of your reach." Jamil said.
"Hey, don't say that. You never know until you try!" Kalim said as he smiled at him.
"Uh, are we not gonna address the part where Kalim said something about poison?" Ace said.
"Hm? Oh, it's just that I've had my food poisoned before." Kalim causally said as if it were something normal.
"What?!" They all exclaimed in unison as (Y/N) stared at him in shock.
"H...how can he say that so calmly?"
"Yea, that's why I got brought on as his poison tester during the holidays." Grim mumbled.
"I've had some awful experiences with it. Before long, I started being suspicious of pretty much everything I was about to eat. But it's exhausting weighing whether or not you can trust whoever cooks your food, let alone whoever sits at your table. It really got in the way of enjoying a nice meal, you know?" Kalim said.
"I can see why." Deuce said as he gave him a small nod.
"Can't say I wouldn't be worried too..." (Y/N) mumbled now thinking about the Insect Hashira.
"If I know a dish isn't poisoned in advance, then I can more fully savor it. And if I figure out it's bad as soon as I take a bite, then I can avert a much worse situation..." Kalim explained. "...for myself and the other party both."
"The other party?" Epel said.
"Suppose the food poisoner sees the error of their ways and realizes they've done something wrong. If I'm already gone, then that wouldn't do them any good, would it? I wouldn't want to deny someone the opportunity to redeem themselves after recognizing the error of their ways. That would just be awful." Kalim said as he let out a sigh as Jamil listened on silently.
"..........."
"He speaks about this so casually.."
"The Land of Scalding Sands has more legends than just those of the Sorcerer of the Sands. There is also a tale of a street thief who became king." Kalim said as he smiled at them.
"Whoa. That really happened?" Grim asked.
"Could you tell us about it senpai" (Y/N) said as Kalim nodded at her.
"One day, the thief met a Princess and fell in love." Kalim started off as he then glanced over at (Y/N) who seemed to be listening intently. "He had a change of heart, and he came to regret his life of dishonesty and larceny. After that, he went on to rescue the sultan and princess from the villain who plotted to take over the land! Then he married the princess and became the next sultan, and everybody lived happily ever after!" Kalim happily said. "I just love that story to bits! Everybody trusted that the street thief was changing his ways, and they all gave him a second chance."
"So, the moral of the story is that there's no undoing past wrongs, but what matters is what you do after that?" Deuce said.
"Guess reality is not as simple as bad guy gets there just desserts, the end." Ace said.
"Exactly! So I consider it very important for me to survive. Though in the end studying just allows me to enjoy fine meals. Ahaha!" Kalim said as he laughed.
"You're laughing, but what you just described sounds really dark..." Epel said as (Y/N) nodded in agreement.
"I wouldn't say that. If he can laugh about it, then it's not exactly morbid, is it?" Jamil said.
"Kalim senpai is a far cry from the other dorm leaders, that's for sure." (Y/N) said as she gave a small nod. "Nevertheless I still like him as he is." She said which caused the white haired male to blush.
"Like him? Like, like him like him?"
"That's not far..."
"Well she's not wrong about the other dorm leaders..."
"Yea, seriously. He's too nice. Makes my hair stand on end." Grim said.
"Caw! What's so wrong about that? He's still a favorite." Kanzaburou proudly said.
"Right, I almost forgot about that..."
"Awww, really? Do I sound that strange to you?" Kalim questioned.
"It's not that. You're just...er a bit different from the other people on campus. Epel said. "...I think."
"Actually, I transferred to this school two months late. I wonder if that's got something to do with it." Kalim said as she smiled at them.
"What?!" They all exclaimed in unison.
"You can transfer in here...?" Epel said.
"Is it really that surprising? The prefect got a special transfer too, right?" Kalim said as he looked back at (Y/N).
"I was technically at orientation..." (Y/N) said.
"I thought Night Raven College only admitted folks whose souls were chosen by the Dark Mirror." Ace said.
"You're correct. But about a month after Jamil left home, I suddenly got a letter of acceptance from the school. I forget if it was an oversight in selection or some special exception or what, but the black carriage came for me right after that." Kalim said.
"So they belatedly recognized the nature of your soul?" Deuce said.
"Hmph. I'm still skeptical that the Dark Mirror actually selects students based on that." Jamil said. "Knowing the Headmage, he probably arranged for a backdoor admission so he could get some generous Asim family donations. And just like that, my nice, free campus life went up in smoke." Jamil quietly said to himself.
"Well, I love every day I spend at this school. And I got to make friends with you all over again, Jamil!" Kalim happily said.
"I keep telling you, we are not friends." Jamil said as he was then interrupted by clapping which grabbed everyone's attention.
"I see my spuds are all present and accounted for." Vil said as he looked over at the group.
👑 Extra 👑
Elsewhere in the school, Crowley was walking out of the library now heading back to his office only to notice a letter and a small gift bag on his desk.
"Oh, now what's this?" He curiously said as he opened the letter now reading it.
"Headmage Crowley, I hope you find comfort in this letter as well as the gift. My mother passed away when I was simply a young girl, but I never expect someone to take such a role in my life. Especially someone who's rather funny yet also caring as yourself. I will admit, though you're not the most responsible, but you are rather kind when it comes to me at least and I appreciate it. I also want to thank you for that talk we had, it made me feel better. Happy even. Such a gesture made me feel loved again as I used to. I'm not sure if you all celebrate such things, but Mother's Day was quite a while ago, so I decided to give you a little something to show how much I appreciate what you have done for me. Thank you and know that I like you just the way you are.
~ Sincerely (Y/N) Tomioka
Crowley read the letter over again as he stared at it in shock, before moving over to open the gift. Once he opened it, he was met with a plush doll of himself and handmade sweets.
"Well this was certainly a generous surprise." He smiled as he picked up the plush now admiring the little details before looking at the letter one last time. "Indeed I do appreciate it. (Y/N) such a good young girl, I am truly honored that I made you feel loved and I would hope you continue to feel this way."
"Thank you...my dear child."
👑👑👑👑👑👑
👑 Twisted Wonderland Secrets 👑
• Epel would one day like to introduce (Y/N) to his grandmother.
• (Y/N) would like to visit Epel's hometown.
• Rook enjoys the time and interactions he has with (Y/N), even if they're small.
• According to Kanzaburou, Vil is the most hated NRC guy by him on his list.
• Muzan is aware of the missing Water Hashira only through other demons who've fought against some slayer.
• Vil actually got irritated when Kanzaburou mentioned (Y/N)'s natural beauty.
• (Y/N) actually made Onigiri for Rook and Epel to have when Vil wasn't around.
• Rook was left in awe when (Y/N) mentioned she doesn't do anything fancy to her face or hair.
• The way Vil treated (Y/N) reminds her of her times at the Demon Slayer Corps.
• After slapping away (Y/N)'s hand, Kanzaburou has now had enough of Vil's attitude.
• (Y/N) found all of Vil's products strange considering she's never seen any like them.
• Kanzaburou says (Y/N) doesn't need any products for her face because he strongly believes she's beautiful without the need of them.
• Rook agrees with Kanzaburou when he mentions (Y/N)'s natural beauty.
• The real reason why (Y/N) got upset when Vil slapped her hand was because there was only one person who did something similar to her back at the corps.
• Both Grim and Kanzaburou didn't like the way Vil treated (Y/N) when she touched Kalim's face.
• Epel thinks (Y/N) looks even prettier when she smiles.
• Rook gave (Y/N) a comforting smile in the hopes of making her feel better.
• Some of the guys actually want Kanzaburou to follow through with his threat towards Vil.
• Vil actually managed to make Jamil look like a good guy in Kanzaburou's eyes.
• When (Y/N) and Kanzaburou practice for their audition, they're actually given snacks and are taken shopping by Crewel as a reward for a job well done.
• Crowley actually managed to make (Y/N) cry. Not because she was upset, but because she genuinely felt parental care and love from someone who wasn't Kanzaburou or at least related to her.
• The same care (Y/N) holds for Crowley, she also has for Crewel.
• Kanzaburou believes everyone will suck in their performance except for (Y/N).
• Back at the Corps, when (Y/N) wanted to receive some form of physical comfort, she would pick up Kanzaburou and hold him close to her chest. This is a habit she still does.
• When (Y/N) spoke about a fake facade, she was talking about herself.
• (Y/N) doesn't understand why the Queen is so jealous when she's already beautiful in her eyes.
• If by chance the water (Y/N) drank was poisoned or even cursed, she would have actually tried to cut Vil's hand.
• Vil was not pleased with how (Y/N) practically spat all her water on his face.
• Vil sees (Y/N)'s threats as simple jokes.
• Kanzaburou is praying on Vil's downfall. His first wish is that he stubs his toe.
• (Y/N)'s patience is slowly thinning.
• (Y/N) finds Mickey's cheerful and happy attitude rather enjoyable.
• The Taisho Era is mentioned in NRC history books, but none mention the Demon Slayer Corps. This was the main reason why Crowley was left confused.
• This was the first time where (Y/N) openly called Crowley "mother" leaving him in shock, however he did admit he doesn't mind being referred to as such.
• The way she was comforted by Crowley when she was crying actually made (Y/N) feel rather safe.
• Rook was actually happy that (Y/N) took his hand and allowed him to walk her to Pomefiore.
• Kanzaburou isn't aware of the conversation that (Y/N) had with Crowley.
• Kanzaburou likes to brag knowing that Ace and Grim were sleeping on the floor while he slept comfortably, however he did feel bad for Deuce.
• When (Y/N) admitted she liked Kalim the other guys felt jealous meanwhile Kalim felt flustered.
• Kanzaburou openly admits that Kalim is a favorite of his.
• Jamil doesn't like how Kalim still refers to them as friends.
• The gift (Y/N) made for Crowley was all handmade.
• Crowley's irresponsible and funny nature makes (Y/N) smile, especially when he shows his care for her.
• The sweets that (Y/N) made for Crowley consisted of cookies and dorayaki.
• Crowley enjoyed (Y/N)'s gift for him and even felt more so better knowing that he was able to make her feel loved.
• (Y/N) also received some of Vil's beauty products but most likely won't use it solely because of what Kanzaburou said about her having natural beauty.
• Crowley openly admit that (Y/N) is his child.
👑👑👑👑👑👑
A reference towards Tanjiro pose, but make it Kanzaburou and Tomioka. I simply got the idea after a few of you guys mentioned this from the last chapter.
And this but solely because I wanted to use this with them.