ಇ. broken melodies | chapter 5
⇢ ⁺ OBLIVION OF THE FULL MOON ˖ The secrets of the NRC start looming before Yuu.
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⁺ w.c : 9k+
Sweet delicate hibiscus aroma intertwined with notes of honey generously spilled into the black tea Yuu was drinking. Skirts of the school jacket she was wearing floated lazily, just as much as her hair disheveled from before, danced around. At one point she could have noticed how flying books tried to play with her blindingly white strands, but annoyance scalding within her veins made her stare at the refined tea; her reflection going with ripples on the liquid surface.
“Hm.”
She heard a sudden yelp coming from in front of her, but her gaze remained unswerving.
“Hmm.”
“Yuu…”
Elias let out a small laugh of embarrassment and received something resembling a snort from the portal.
“Not you too!” Elias exclaimed. “Come on, Yuu! You said it yourself that you want to see Vil!”
“Elias-san,” she finally glanced at him. “When I said that, I didn’t mean we must head out that instant. It’s literally ten in the evening!”
“Oh please, a little challenge never hurt anyone!”
“It’s not about challenge,” Yuu let out a sigh. “It’s about rules. You’re the dorm leader! What kind of example do you demonstrate to the residents of your dormitory?”
“Fine, mom, I got it. Next time it happens I warn my residents that we’re taking a little undercover trip to NRC. Man, imagine how disappointed they will be!”
“I am sure they will,” Yuu sighed again, taking a sip. “And as I’ve mentioned, I am not your mother, Elias-san.”
“You don’t get it,” he snorted. “They will be disappointed I didn’t take them with us.”
Yuu knitted her brows together at his statement.
“What else did I expect from the dorm which main foundation is curiosity…”
“Precisely!” Elias snapped his fingers, smiling dazzlingly at her. “Anyway! How do you find the tea?”
“It’s wonderful, no doubt, thank you very much,” Yuu nodded in defeat. “It lessens my worries.”
Yuu was nervous, to say at least.
She couldn’t define quite right how she felt at the thought of breaking the rules and basically intruding another school. From what she gathered, NRC students weren’t particularly fond of RSA ones, a hint of rivalry — to what extent? Healthy or not so? — lingered between. Plus, NRC most likely was an all-boys school as well, making it twice as hard for Yuu to proceed.
Ambrose said he will investigate her case on his own, not bringing her up to the public and government structures, and now she just went to the rival-school on her very whim. How foolish she was, letting everyone down! Stupid, absolutely stupid. Venturing forth into the den of potential problems was the last thing Yuu considered doing, and still found herself doing exactly this.
Elias’s energetic presence, although slightly tired as she noticed, was pretty much helping her stead herself and sort the thoughts out. She wasn’t alone, which meant two things: first, she had both moral and physical support on her way, and second, she took the responsibility for his actions, dragging him all the way. Spiky tingling feeling appeared in her stomach, turning it aching out of anxiety.
On the other hand, her initial task was to help. Who? Now that didn’t really matter. She was ready to help everyone in need, even if there was a whole world crying for aid — it was her only duty to provide.
Yuu thought of the Fairy Godmother, begging for strength internally, and closed her eyes for a mere second before opening them and witnessing Elias floating midair, searching for something.
“Elias-san?” She called, but he didn’t turn to her, albeit making a noise to demonstrate that he heard her. “What are you doing?”
“Well,” he dropped, pressing his hand to his chin, thinking. “We can’t just break into the NRC while wearing RSA uniform. I mean, I normally don’t travel there just for funsies. Damn, I think I need to go shopping to drop things into the portal next time.”
“We’re going to disguise ourselves?”
“Yeah, if I find something… Oh, that would do! Try this on!”
Yuu watched as he grabbed a piece of clothes out of the starry walls of the portal, and a simple black jacket appeared, then he threw it to Yuu.
“Leave your RSA jacket here,” Elias said and took off his own, throwing it into the portal abyss, its walls devouring it. “We’ll get changed when we’re coming back. Don’t worry, the portal has its own storage. You’re nice, so it might iron your clothes.”
“Is that so…” Yuu blinked in incomprehension at the amount of information, examining black jacket’s material. “Alright then.”
It most probably won’t do anything big, since they still were wearing RSA significant dark blue trousers and white blouses, but it still was at least something. Elias took off the bright blue brooch indicating his attachment to Pandora Charm, tucking it into his pocket.
Yuu followed his example and took off her white jacket of the RSA uniform, finding herself already missing it, as she grew quite fond of the whole concept of wearing uniform within school walls. She pulled the black jacket over herself, realizing that it probably belonged to Elias, because she basically drowned in its sleeves, its edges brushing over her thighs.
“Oh, right,” Elias took a look at her, standing in front of him and blinking plainly. “I forgot you’re tiny.”
“That is alright,” she shrugged, carefully putting her white jacket over the back of the chair and straightening it just in case. “That still would do as a disguise. It’s black, which makes us not as noticeable in the darkness. That is enough, I believe.”
“Yep!” Elias showed her thumbs up and turned around, not noticing how Yuu tried to recreate his odd gesture. “Now, off we go!”
He was about to take her hand, but jolted the second before actually doing it. He threw a quick uncertain glance at her, hesitating a bit, before she asked him. “Is everything alright, Elias-san?”
“Yeah, just wanted to take your hand when we jump out of the portal, but, uhm… It kinda looks like you don’t really like physical touch.”
Her eyes widened for a brief moment, lips parted at his precise observation. She frowned slightly and shook her head, then barely touched his palm with her cold fingers, thoroughly studying what she was feeling at this moment. Unfamiliar warmth spreading over her skin was strange, but bearable, and she nodded more to herself than to Elias, as if approving her own actions.
“I’m just unfamiliar with the concept, but I think I don’t really mind the idea of getting used to it. Gradually, that is.”
“Got it! Thank you for sharing,” he smiled brightly and took her hand in his, squishing it tightly and throwing a conspiratorial look at her. “Ready?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
And with that they jumped out of the portal.
When they land on, Yuu was very much surprised to find herself entirely intact. She didn’t know what to expect from the infamous NRC everyone mentioned ever so often, and stood up at once.
“Where exactly are we…” She mumbled, examining her surroundings and realizing they fell into bushes. She brushed off the leaves, carefully stepping out of it.
“I don’t know, heh,” Elias giggled as he did the same, turning his head from left to right, studying where they actually landed.
“You don’t know?..” Yuu echoed. “Did we just force an entrance to NRC without knowing where exactly we are?”
“Precisely!” Elias laughed. “I mean, that’s only my second time traveling here through the portal! I can’t control our destination at this point.”
“I fear asking what the first time resulted in,” Yuu replied, dusting the jacket.
“It was broad daylight then, plus it was career guidance day, so everyone was welcomed to visit. I just chose the way I find most comfortable for myself~”
Yuu hummed in response and turned around, scanning the surroundings they happened to appear in.
The difference was drastic, striking Yuu with a feeling of being completely lost. RSA campus, even lit with a moon’s radiance flowing through the night, brought comfort and the feeling of domestic coziness and tranquility.
NRC buildings that loomed before Yuu’s widened eyes were gothic in their style, and, unlike RSA ones, appeared magnificent. RSA, without any doubt, was an exquisite establishment, but NRC was far from being called exquisite — more likely sublime, dignified, resplendent. Almost menacing in a manner of speaking. The darkness of the night covered the place not with comfort, but with a palpable danger crawling in the bushes.
Horrendous beauty, if Yuu had to put it in two words. What’s even more strange, Yuu could almost compare the design and the whole atmosphere spreading in this place with the mansion in her world. The same sharp towers upfolding before her eyes, the same feeling of eternal obscurity covering her body in soiree embrace, and the same amount of giant trees which brought some comfort into the whole picture — what a peculiar place…
Although she wouldn’t have guessed it was a school if she were to travel here without knowing it.
Elias spoke, making her quit her sudden concentration at scanning the surroundings.
“Hmm, Yuu, can you please tie your hair?”
She blinked. “Huh? Is something the matter?..”
“Not really, your hair is just… Really white,” he explained, knitting his brows together. “Like, blindingly white. They almost glow in the moonlight.”
“Ah,” she muttered. “I see. I’m sorry for the inconvenience. Wait a second.”
She found a red ribbon in her pockets and lifted her hair up, tying it in a big bun. Some strands slipped out, falling on her collarbones, and she made a small ‘tsk’ sound, trying to tuck them back.
“It’s okay,” Elias reassured her and approached her small figure, fishing out some hair pins out of his one pocket. “May I?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
His way of making hair was quite clumsy and messy, but she felt the experience of doing it quickly as he tucked the remaining strands of her hair back. He himself possessed rather long and unruly hair, and, given his giddy and energetic nature, apparently experienced hair getting straight into the face when it wasn’t convenient, quite often.
“Okay, cool!” He concluded, taking one step from Yuu and appreciating their work together. “You’re still almost glowing, but we lowered the risk.”
“I suggest we lower it even more by speaking quietly,” she whispered, realizing that Elias’s voice was quite bright and noticeable, now that they appeared in the night. “And, Elias-san… Thank you for helping me.”
“No probs,” he winked at her and nodded. “Now, let’s investigate.”
“Alright… Do you know any noticeable places here?”
“Hm… Nothing in particular,” Elias whispered, waving his hand, so to indicate that Yuu must follow him, so she did. “The thing is, everyone knows Vil, for he is a celebrity, but we’re going to find him as a student, right? I know he’s a dorm leader, but no idea which one exactly.”
“He is a dorm leader too?” Yuu whispered in surprise, walking by Elias’s side. “He must be a very admirable person, as Neige said…”
And just as scary , Yuu thought internally. Him being such a big figure in this school wasn’t really helpful to Yuu in the matter of approaching him in the first place.
She tried to imagine what would happen when she finally meets him. What would she even say? Hello, I’m Neige’s acquaintance, I thought you might be suffering, let me help you? Foolish. Absolutely foolish, she concluded.
Being a natural doer rather than a planner, Yuu decided to gather some information first, which meant that it would be alright if they didn’t encounter Vil today (it would be even the best option, saying frankly), but she at least needed to know which dorm he belonged to.
Crawling in the night, she and Elias made it out of the forest they landed in, and silhouettes of distinguishable buildings loomed before them.
Yuu, being pretty quiet given her tiny figure and the natural way she walked, made almost no sound as they proceeded further, but obviously lacked the experience in being sneaky. That differed her from Elias, who was taller, stronger in his physique, but evidently had something stealthy about him in the way he was moving.
Yuu couldn’t recall if she had experienced this kind of a sneaky mission, but followed Elias, hiding behind the walls occasionally if they heard gusts of wind screaming in the night.
Even despite keeping on going pretty much successfully until now, Yuu noticed how fast her heart pounded in her chest at the thought of being caught. It might be all over once someone discovers them. The trust Ambrose put in her might just crumble, the responsibility for dragging Elias in her venture smashing her down, the weight of the mission the Fairy Godmother entrusted her killing her inside — all of that.
“I don’t recognize this building,” Elias silently said, Yuu almost bumped into him. “This campus is ridiculously big.”
“What do we do then?” Yuu whispered, becoming one with shadows as she moved to the side where a line of trees loomed.
“Proceed further, of course~” Elias said, giving a little nod and pointing out the building farther ahead. “It looks like the main building, if I’m seeing it right. Let’s go.”
They walked around the building that served as a little hiding construction, then approached the gates and found themselves on the foot of the small mountain, where the main building stood.
Lights were off, indicating that no one was probably there, although Yuu shouldn’t just brush the possibility off.
She felt a little bit more loose, sensing that no one was really around, and allowed herself to walk slightly less tensed. Elias, apparently noticing it himself, followed her example, and took his phone out of the pocket of his trousers. Yuu watched him with unconcealed curiosity as he stared at the screen and touched a small white button. She didn’t say anything, continuing her own observation and trying to figure out what was the point of this chain of quick actions.
Feeling her inquiring gaze on himself, Elias chuckled and whispered softly. “I’m taking photos.”
“Yes?” Yuu questioned. “Photos?”
“Girl, don’t you have photography in your world or something?” Elias decided not to pry on the matter further on, since Yuu only let out a little confused noise. “Let me put it this way. I capture this place with my phone, and the next time we travel here, I recognize where we are. Quite the strategy, yeah?”
“Oh,” she muttered. “It certainly sounds witty. You’re very smart, Elias-san.”
“That I am, yes~” Adorable ‘he-he’ escaped his lips as a response, and they kept on moving forward.
Come to think of it, NRC appeared to be just as huge as the RSA campus was. While enjoying the late evening’s cold but not unpleasant breeze, Yuu took a deep breath, calming her thoughts, and threw a quick glance at Elias, who apparently finished taking photos or so that he named the process.
“Elias-san,” Yuu mumbled, guided by her natural penchant for knowledge. “If I’m not burdening you with my curiosity, may I ask you a question?”
“Sure thing,” he nodded shortly. “Ask right away!”
“How exactly does your portal work? You managed to get us straight to the library back in RSA, but here we landed in an unknown spot, not to mention which is quite far from the main building.”
“Ah, that,” he chuckled, glancing over and suggesting taking another route, to which Yuu shortly lowered her head in a little nod. “Well, I can cast a portal leading to the place I’ve already been before. The distance doesn’t really matter, I assume, although I haven’t traveled really far.” He tiredly rubbed his eyes with his hand and suppressed a yawn which already was ready to leave his throat. “For example, no matter how hard I would want to visit, I don’t know, let’s say Coral Sea , I couldn’t. Simply because I haven’t been there before.”
“I see…” Yuu replied, arranging her thoughts. “But you’ve been to NRC before, as you’ve mentioned.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “The first time was when I was a highschooler. Students from all over the world gather here, visit both RSA and NRC and consider enrolling in one of the establishments.” He explained.
“You thought of joining NRC?”
“Right, you probably don’t know. RSA and NRC are top-tier schools, it’s the dream of every magic-user to get enrolled either in one or another. When the time comes and you graduate from whichever school you attended before, you get an invitation. I got enrolled in RSA, as you can see.”
“What are the requirements of getting enrolled in NRC?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “You saw it yourself when Excalibur was assigning newcomers according to the dorms they fit in. Somethin’ has to do with your personality alignment or so.”
Personality alignment, hm… Yuu wondered what was the real deal behind the process. RSA had its certain atmosphere which distinguished it from others, that was for sure, but Yuu had little time getting to know what exactly it was. Now, if NRC possessed something unique for them as well, then…
“Anyway,” Elias continued as they approached the road with huge tall lanterns alongside it. “The less times I’ve visited one place, the higher the chance of getting bumped into something unexpected when portal-traveling.”
“I see,” Yuu nodded. “Thank you for the explanation.”
“Seeing how curious you are, it’s a pity you’re not a member of Pandora Charm. You’ve got the spirit.”
You smiled in response and tensed instantly as they got extremely close to the point of their destination. Huge, enormously huge building loomed before them as they stood before the entrance.
“No, we’re not getting in through the main entrance,” he said, meeting with Yuu’s confused eyes. “The door’s probably locked and I’m not in the mood for triggering a signalization or something. Let’s find another way.”
“I feel like a criminal…”
“We’re not criminals,” Elias said. “Just adventurers!”
“Alright, let’s hope no one doubts your statement if we get caught…”
“I’ll make sure we don’t.”
They then made their way to the left. Yuu and Elias were bending down to pass under the windows as unnoticed as possible. Elias was peering inside from time to time, making sure that no one saw them, and was nodding to Yuu, in response to which she continued sneaking around.
She was stressing out deeply, her thoughts becoming a mess with worry rolling down her whole body. The closer they were getting, the more anxious she felt. Yuu bumped into Elias’s back and produced suppressed yelp when he pressed his index finger to his lips, and then nodded to the window…
Which appeared to be opened.
“And now let’s pray we’re not getting caught~” Elias giggled and approached the window, examining what was the best way for getting inside. “Okay, I can lift you up, you get inside, then help me doing the same.”
“Oh… Do you think I will manage to help you?” She pried, looking slightly worried, unsure of her own strength and competence.
“I’m hurt in the best way! You don’t think I’m too heavy?” Elias snorted and laughed playfully. “No worries, everything will be okay. Now, get on my shoulders.”
“Wait, Elias-san,” Yuu stopped him, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket. “Let me first handle it.”
“Hm?”
“Little one, I need your help.”
Elias watched as Yuu winced at the sight of bright pinkish sparkles bursting in the air, but relaxed as a pink butterfly appeared.
“Please vent forth for me,” she said, and the butterfly flew through the opened window.
“Oh, the pink one!” Elias noticed, his voice raising slightly in excitement. Yuu waved her hands, signaling him to lower it a bit, and he covered his mouth with his hands. “Sorry, sorry. But say, what do the pink ones do?”
“Pink butterflies are the best talkers,” she explained. “And they also can fly very far away from me. I normally summon them if I need to investigate the terrain.”
“How curious!”
The butterfly found its way back to Yuu, landing on her nose, and Elias watched them as they performed something close to talking, or so it seemed, as Yuu were nodding and humming.
“I see, thank you,” she closed her eyes for a moment. “The path is clear, we may proceed. Although it’s very dark inside, you might need a torch…”
“Torch?” Elias blinked. “Woah, easy, no need to go that far. I’ve got a flashlight ready in my phone if it’s necessary, but we can’t afford being caught, yeah? Plus, you too might need one, no?”
Yuu bit her lip, realizing Elias didn’t know she had an enhanced vision. Seeing in the dark was as simple as breathing for her, but how in the world must she explain to him the whole package of abilities that faes possessed?..
“I b-believe you’re right,” she stuttered.
“No worries, we’ve come this far, we’ll be alright. Okay, now get on.”
Elias turned her back at her, falling on one knee, ready to lift her up. Yuu frowned, being not entirely sure of the whole concept of getting lifted up, but took a light step nevertheless, and squeaked when Elias chuckled and almost set her flying with how much force he put in the action.
“W-woah, sorry!!”
“I-it is alright,” she mumbled, grabbing onto the window handles for her dear life, obviously not expecting that much strength from Elias’s fit, but elegant figure. She wondered where in the world he hid that force, but decided not to pry on the matter right at the moment, as they were engaged in this silly situation.
After crawling on the inner windowsill and quickly eyeing her current surroundings, confirming that everything was clear, she peeked out of the window, meeting with Elias’s questioning eyes.
“Clear?” He only asked.
“Clear,” she nodded, making her position firm and steady, and outstretched her hand. “Here, grab it.”
“Here I go!”
Elias grabbed her hand, his tendons becoming prominent against his pale skin, highlighting the amount of force he had put into his grip, and braced himself with one foot against the wall and pressed the other into the ground, preparing to leap. Yuu winced, not noticing how beads of sweat rolled from her forehead due to exertion, and her cheeks turned red, but she did not let go of Elias’s hand.
Elias made a noise, Yuu’s whole body almost bumping into the wall she was leaning against when Elias tugged her closer to the window as he jumped. She groaned, biting her lip, so the sound died out that instant. Elias finally made it inside, leaping above Yuu’s head, and landed on the ground with a loud thud, then performed a somersault, almost hitting the bookcase that stood nearby.
“W-woah!”
Yuu, feeling dizzy from the full breaking inside experience she didn’t really want to receive in the first place, breathed in and out heavily, trying to regain composure. The butterfly she summoned earlier flying in worry above her head.
“You okay?!”
Elias jumped on his feet, absolutely intact, and flashed to Yuu’s side, grabbing her shoulders and giving them a slight shake.
“Yes… I think,” she nodded. “Do you think someone heard you landing here?”
“I like to believe that they didn’t,” he smiled whimsically. “In any case, I’m glad you’re fine.”
“I am,” she confirmed, jumping from the windowsill, landing on her feet soundlessly, as if she was a cat. “Just not really accustomed to such activities.”
“Sorry,” he apologized. “You’re quite tiny, so…”
“I am not,” she pouted, much to Elias’s amusement.
“As you say, mo-”
“If you’re about to call me mother again, next time you’re doing it all by yourself.”
“Woah-woah, you’re a menacing one! And then you hear them talk of you as if you’re a pure, naive baby.”
“I beg your pardon?..” Yuu tilted her head while Elias was standing up.
“Shit,” Elias cursed. “Sorry, didn’t want to bring that up. Some students say you’re quite… gullible. Innocent.”
Innocent?
Yuu didn’t hear herself snorting at his words.
She felt disgust forming in her chest. How wanted she for it to be true, to be innocent and pure, untouched by the foolishness she possessed. It would be so much simpler if she was a naive young girl, genuinely trying to help everyone in need.
She wasn’t pure at all, and it was burning her to the ashes. She was instructed to help, and while carrying sincere intent to help, initially it was her aim, not her honest desire. Perhaps she was afraid to find that she hasn’t tried enough, that her feelings were clouded with egotistic will to explore this world, abandoning her task.
The thought of failing the Fairy Godmother burst within, making her breathe in sharply, and shake her head. No, no, it wasn’t the right time for her stupid brooding. She already ventured here to find Vil — either to help him or to help Neige. Truly, completely this time.
“Yuu?”
“Nothing,” she forced a smile. “I was just thinking, forgive me for that ungraceful display. Let us proceed. Do you know where we are?”
“It’s the storage room, I think,” he tilted his head to where buckets and mops were. “Let’s get out of here.”
He approached the door, slowly turning its handle to the right and opening it. He peeked out, recognizing the darkness that Yuu spoke of, and slowly went into the hall, waving at Yuu so as she went after him.
So she did, feeling the pressure of being trapped in four walls, and realized that there weren’t many places for hiding. Long, large halls with gothic lanterns and columns welcomed them as they carefully sneaked alongside them.
“I think I know where we are,” Elias whispered weightlessly, when Yuu looked at the clock and widened her eyes, realizing it was already 11 pm. “I hope we’ll find a desk with a student list somewhere or something like that.”
Yuu hummed in approval, following his careful footsteps.
A majestic atmosphere reigned in the corridors, shrouded in the cold of the night. Walking through the ornate halls, Yuu managed to cast quick glances at the portraits of people unknown to her, apparently professors of this institution. The sophisticated architecture of this place was very different from the more inviting and friendly RSA, within the walls of which there was a feeling of homeliness and tranquility. NRC made her feel slightly odd, but Yuu wasn't sure if the school in general made her feel that way, or if the fact of intrusion made Yuu swallow nervously.
Elias was about to turn right when Yuu concentrated her vision and noticed that the door to the left was slightly opened. She parted her lips, ready to warn him, but the sudden rageous howl roamed through the place, and Yuu shifted to her left, trying to become one with the wall, when Elias got it to the right, sneaking behind the corner.
With heart pounding in her chest, Yuu noticed how far from her Elias had retreated, and nervously bit her lip, quickly trying to make her way to him while going unnoticed. He threw a quick glance at her, literally eyeing her to come to him, but she hesitated.
“Don’t you just hate it?!”
A female voice cut through the place, making Yuu jolt and start panicking.
“Shit!” Elias whispered, swiftly rolling over to her and weightlessly murmuring an incantation to open the portal. “Let’s go!!”
Black hole of the portal appeared before him, and with one leg already in it, he reached out to grab Yuu’s hand, but it slipped, and Elias fell to the portal.
All alone .
“Elias-san!!”
“Wh— YUU?! Waaaaait! ”
His last call faded in darkness as the portal closed, Yuu remained sitting on the cold marble floor and frustratingly staring at the spot where the hole just was.
“Did you hear it?” A female voice pried, but no one appeared nearby, much to Yuu’s relief.
“No. You need some sleep, you start speaking nonsense,” male voice followed, apparently letting out a yawn.
“Oh come on, you’re making it unbearable. I just HATE those curtains.”
Wait. Curtains?.. What…
Yuu frowned, regaining composure, and decided to take the risk. She approached the door to the classroom where the voices were heard, and peeked in.
“Wh—” She quickly suppressed the urge to let the confusion slip from her lips.
Were they… paintings?
She focused her vision, recognizing two portraits, one of a young beautiful woman, and another of a man, hung on the wall so they couldn’t see her. Their silhouettes remained firm, the woman’s hands rested on the skirt of her expensive dress, but her lips were parting as she talked!
“It’s so dull,” she commented. “And we’re on the dark side of the wing.”
“So?” The portrait of a man sighed without showing any interest in her monologue.
“So!” She insisted, clearly annoyed. “I’m telling Mozus that these stupid curtains went out of fashion already in Baroque. Ugh.”
“I don’t think he’ll change them…”
“I don’t care what he thinks.”
Yuu quietly returned back to the corridor, slowly closing the door and blinking away all the confusion she had just experienced.
Talking paintings. Talking… paintings, huh.
Well, at least she hadn’t been caught, that was certainly relieving, although not really much due to Elias’s disappearance.
She sighed in defeat, carefully considering her next step. Now what? She doesn’t know the territory as well as Elias’s current location. Maybe the best she can do now is to search for him.
So she decided, sending the pink butterfly further ahead and carefully investigating the place all by herself.
After Yuu walked around more than a dozen seemingly endless corridors and checked at least as many classrooms, she tiredly leaned against the wall, feeling her temples pulsating and her eyelids filling with lead. A whole night without adequate sleep made her feel exhausted, but she quickly blinked away these sensations, following the butterfly as if it was a saving light, and pulled the doorknob.
A noisy, cold wind hit her face and she quickly stepped outside, finding herself on the other side of campus.
Breathing in freely after being trapped in four walls, she decided to simply walk ahead, guided by her intuition. Exploring it is, she thought, already abandoning the thought of finding Vil today.
Up ahead before her eyes loomed a very dilapidated building. What a curious finding, she thought, studying it while making her way towards. After venturing through the exquisite corridors, this place felt almost surreal and very odd, almost magical in a way. Following her natural curiosity, Yuu made her way to the entrance, her fingers brushing over dilapidated fence boards, but had to stop at once, jolting.
Far ahead, before the very entrance to the strange decayed building, was standing a young man.
Yuu's gaze traveled over his tall, stately figure and stopped at... were they horns? How delightful.. Yuu was fascinated by the intricate curls of his horns, descending her stare to his pointed ears, the tips of which playfully peeked out from under the coal-black strands of his hair that fell onto his shoulders. His bangs framed his chiseled cheekbones, slightly covering the thoughtful, even mythical look of the picturesque emeralds of his eyes. The brilliance of his enchanting gaze, like a firefly imprisoned in the iris of his eyes, was reflected under the light of the full moon towering above him.
Yuu exhaled meekly, realizing that she had stopped breathing for a split second, mesmerized by the beauty of this young man.
Finally slipping out of the magnetism coming from this boy, she realized that he had pointed ears, just as well as she had. Gasping at the realization, she studied him closely.
“Another… fae?” She muttered under her breath. “But how—”
The pink butterfly rushed towards the young man, and Yuu gasped, released from the grasp of his ethereal beauty.
“Come back, little one!” She whispered, but to no avail — the butterfly ignored her plea, as if glued to the man. At least that Yuu could understand.
She noticed him turning to where she stood, and lurked back into the shadows, holding a fading hope that he didn’t notice her. Curse faes and their enhanced instincts!!
Still, crawling in the darkness, she stowed the thoughts of the boy gently picking out his finger for the butterfly to land on it deep into her mind, and ignored the rapid beating of her heart.
✦•······················•✦•······················•✦
Yuu didn’t know where she found herself again, but at least the fact she was completely lost was pretty much clear. Fatigue shackled her movements, making it hard to proceed, but she did nevertheless, trying to ignore how much sleep she was lacking. Even with her fae inheritance and natural ability to stay awake longer than humans did felt as consciousness was wavering.
Maybe it also became the reason why she didn’t notice a rustle coming from the bushes nearby, and yelped, realizing there was no time to hide, as something just rushed towards her.
It was the time she must face the consequences. It is over. Now, for real.
“Hm?”
Squeaky voice reached her ears… from beneath? Yuu was ready to lift her head, since most people she happened to talk to were much taller than herself, but this time was different. She lowered her head instead, her eyes widening at once.
“Why are you starin’ at me like that?”
Yuu blinked once. Twice.
A cat-looking creature with its ears fur burning with bright, blinding blue light stared at her in response, its paws on its, uh, hips? What kind of anatomy did this creature actually possess, standing on its two legs in a very humanoid way, but being obviously animalistic itself?
Its pitchfork-shaped tail wagged in irritation at Yuu’s silent confusion before it snapped at her for staring once again.
“Ay, human!”
“I’m afraid I am not exactly—”
“Who the hell are you?”
“I am—”
“Nah, wait,” it produced a sound resembling a meow, much to Yuu’s absolutely devastated expression. “Whaddya want ‘ere?”
“I—”
“Oh,” the creature interrupted her again, but apparently being completely oblivious to the fact. “You smell nice. Like somethin’ sweet. Honey?”
Yuu decided to remain silent just to see what would happen next.
“Oi, why are you shut up?”
“Because you—”
“Actually—”
“Argh!!”
Yuu growled, which she didn’t see coming in no lifetime at all, surprised to find herself to give a reaction like that. She lowered herself, bending her knees so as to be at one level with the creature.
“Little magical cat-san,” she started, sensing how hyped up the creature became, and hushed it with her finger. “If you dislike being called that way, please introduce yourself, so I might do the same.”
“How could you not know the Great Grim!”
“Y-yes?” Yuu frowned, losing her grip on the situation.
“Ya know, the Great Grim,” the cat ‘hmph’ed at her for being, apparently, ignorant. “Doesn’t ring a bell?”
“I’m afraid it doesn’t, I’m sorry… Grim-san.”
“Sama!” He corrected her, leaning towards with an angry stare.
“Grim…-sama,” Yuu decided to play along. “My name is Yuu. Nice to meet you.”
“Never heard of you tho,” Grim shrugged.
Of course you didn’t, Yuu thought to herself, but smiled as the creature didn’t look very bothered or confused to see her.
“So, whaddya need? Those little bastards like to think they’re oh so smart and nice to go to their beds at 10, heh. You must be the naughty type. Or do you want somethin’ to eat as well? Late night snacks are the best ones.”
Yuu flew deeper into her thoughts. Grim happened to be the type to actually talk to her normally, if she could put it that way, which gave her a light beam of hope that he might help. Carefully analyzing Grim’s words — or rather, trying to decipher the slang — she hummed.
If she already encountered this little creature, maybe she could ask for help? What’s worse might happen?
.. Right?
“I’m looking for someone,” she probed cautiously.
“Who exactly?”
“Do you know a person named Vil Schoenheit? He’s a student at this school.”
Grim frowned and Yuu wondered how she could understand its expressions so easily, given the creature wasn’t humanoid at any rate.
“Yeah, I know him,” Grim replied, and Yuu’s eyes sparkled in delight. Finally! “Wanna me get you to him?”
“You could?!” She clapped her hands joyfully.
“For a price, yeah,” Grim nodded, Yuu’s lighten expression dropping its radiance as she realized that nothing could be that easy, but either way nodded for the creature to continue. “Bring me somethin’ to eat.”
“Y-yes?” She questioned.
“Humans these days,” Grim clicked his tongue in irritation. “Food. I wanna eat, ya know?”
“Yes, I understand… Alright then. How about you get me to Vil Schoenheit and I'll give you some?”
“Hmmm…” Grim stared at her, trying to detect if she deceived it, and even if it wasn’t in her plans at all, she decided to switch his attention just to be sure it’ll help.
“What food do you like the most?” She asked, seeing how Grim’s eyes started glowing with interest.
“Tuna,” was his outright answer. “Anything to do with seafood. Fish. Meat. Sandwiches! Oooh, also—”
“Tuna it is,” Yuu concluded before Grim was carried away. “Now, Grim-sa..ma, would you please be so kind to help me find Vil?”
“Follow my lead, henchman.”
“Henchman?..”
But Grim already ignored her incoherent noises and proceeded further. “Ya follow me or not? Vil’s busy dude, come on faster.”
“Yes, sorry. Please, lead on.”
So Grim did, and with that little cat-looking creature she felt much safer to walk on the streets. Maybe it was stupid of her — to let her guard down as she walked alongside, not sensing much fear of getting caught as she did before.
It was probably due to Grim’s odd, but funny entity. Somehow with having a feline creature around, the surroundings didn’t seem as dark as they were before.
Yuu was answering Grim’s silly questions while they were making their way, such as ‘What your favorite food is’ or ‘Why are you so tiny for a human’, which genuinely made her laugh in relief, but soon enough she felt her mind slip away again, not standing the fatigue towering over her and taking her whole body in its lazy embrace.
Tiredness felt different for her as a fae, and while she could stay awake much longer than humans, she was exhausted after a fight, not sleeping properly with Neige around, then the following day was quite an eventful one, and now, when she in the best case scenarios she might have found herself sleeping peacefully, she was exploring the school she had slightest idea about, trying to find a person she has never ever seen.
Her instincts went numb before that exact fatigue, and maybe Grim was thoughtful enough to ignore her silence, or maybe it didn’t really matter, because she could still recognize the creature’s endless monologue about food going on and on pretty lively and frivolously.
She also missed the moment where Grim pointed that it was already midnight, looking over her weary expression. As easily as that, she also failed to notice that they entered the main building again, making their way to an unfamiliar place that she hadn’t encountered before.
A look of fear clouded her face when she finally escaped her tired thoughts and bumped into a person .
Now this time, it was an actual student. A person, who most probably possessed no desire to hear out her silly explanations and excuses.
“You stupid henchman!” Grim yelled at her when she jumped out of the person she stumbled into and massaged her nose. “Look where you goin’!”
“I am deeply sorry!” She almost screamed at the person she smashed herself into, bowing as low as she could.
“Hey, it’s no big deal!”
The voice that she heard in response was masculine, but also pleasant. Yuu didn’t know what she was expecting in the first place, but it was at least nice to be reassured.
She straightened her back, preparing herself to whatever might come next, and opened her eyes.
Before her stood a young boy, visibly shorter than the one she saw near that dilapidated building, but not only did he look as if he possessed more of a youthful touch, his eyes also were more vigorous, so to say.
A pair of big, widened teal eyes stared at her in confusion as she scanned him further, her own gaze stopping at the curious dark blue pattern that matched the color of his short hair. Was it a sign of spades?.. Yuu frowned, not noticing how she leaned slightly forward to examine it closer, but the boy yelped and stepped away, his cheeks and the tips of the ears reddening at once.
“A-a girl?!”
Now that she was fully awake after hearing the exclamation, she stepped away in a jump as well, trying to cover her face with her hands, but realized it was simply useless the second after. Curiosity won, and she turned back to him, throwing a childish peek at the way he was stressing himself out.
“I’m sorry!” She managed to say, the boy stopping at once. “C-can we please talk?..”
That - that!! - was awful. That was over, for sure. At last she was found and caught red-handed. Not only was he a student, given she noticed the sports uniform on his fit body and the emblem of the school, but he also made it clear that it was against the rules for a girl to simply be here. Not to mention that late at night!
“What the freaking hell?!” He groaned.
“Why are you yellin’, you stupid Deuce?” Grim intervened. “Do you see a girl for the first time in your life or what?”
“It’s not that!” He took a deep breath before taking a more proper look at Yuu, who just awkwardly stood there.
“Pardon me…” She probed to make a normal conversation, but her strategy failed again.
“Am I seeing things?” The boy apparently named Deuce threw a glance full of genuine confusion. “No, no, wait… Argh, really, what the hell…”
“The girl begged me for help,” Grim said, now catching Yuu’s attention with his wording. “And I’m providing her with it, while you’re being all that screaming mess.”
“So you’re a girl,” Deuce concluded, massaging his temples but stopping at once. “Wait, asked for help? What do you mean, Grim?”
“She cried and kneeled before the Great Grim, begging for help,” Grim tried impersonating whatever was on its mind, when Yuu looked at him in total disbelief.
“So…” Deuce finally calmed down a bit, his eyes fixated on Yuu. “No way I’m believing Grim in this situation, he always tends to speak nonsensical, don’t mind him.”
So it’s him , Yuu thought, making a mental note to herself.
“But is that true? That you need some help or something.”
“I… yes, that much is true,” she confirmed, exhaustion crawling back into its lair within her body, making her words slightly incoherent.
“Uh,” he pressed a hand to his chin, losing in thoughts. “First, who even are you and why shouldn’t I just throw you out of here?..”
He spoke as if he wasn’t sure himself if he really intended to do as he said, or was he trying to convince himself that it was the only right reaction to give.
Yuu noticed how tense he was, perhaps understandably, yet something felt different about NRC itself and its inhabitants in particular. Grim was a magical creature, not a person (at least he appeared to be that). That tall boy with horns was an embodiment of magic itself, and while Ivy gave off the similar atmosphere about him, that black-haired young man felt extraterrestrial, and distant. Far, galaxies away different.
And now there was Deuce, who despite his gentle-looking eyes still expressed mistrust and wariness towards her.
She tried to regain composure and mumbled. “I… I am looking for someone in this school.”
“Go on.”
“I am looking for…” She took a small pause, but Deuce’s face remained unreadable. “Vil Schoenheit. Do you know him?”
“Schoenheit-senpai?!” He suddenly exclaimed, covering his mouth in surprise and returning his gaze filled with worry to Yuu. “And why would you seek him?”
“He… he might need my help… That is.”
“Are you really sure?..”
But Yuu couldn’t say more as she felt exhaustion devouring her, her eyes losing their brightness and vivid red hue, turning darker and wearier.
“Why did you bring her here, Grim?” Deuce asked.
“I thought I'd kinda dump her on the first dude I find, but it’s you, so I don’t know now.”
“Grim!” He raised his voice with clear annoyance. “Ugh… What do I even do…”
He peered over Yuu, as if trying to gather something from the way she blankly stared at him back, but to no avail.
“What an exemplary student would do…” He mumbled to himself, rest of the sentences going almost unheard. “She’s an intruder, but it’s more likely that she herself needs help… Argh!”
“I am sorry,” she bowed again, but not as deeply as she did for the first time, causing Deuce to look at her questionably. “I am sorry for causing trouble, and it’s absolutely understandable that you’re not pleased to see me here. If… if that is alright by you, please show me the exit, and you will not see me again.”
“Hey, no need to go that far…” His voice softened at her apology.
“Is the exit nearby then?”
“No, I didn’t mean that!!” He quickly corrected himself. “Look, uhm, you see, it’s kinda late, plus I’m going back to the dorm after a workout, so I need to at least change my clothes and things.. But I can take you to my dorm leader, he might help!”
“You can?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “I would be so, so grateful!”
“Y-yeah,” he nodded. “Come on, follow me. And Grim!” He stared down the cat-looking creature. “Don’t fool around with the visitors!”
“Intruders, ya mean.”
“Hold your tongue, would you?”
“He’s actually right,” Yuu said softly. “I am no visitor, breaking into your school so late at night.”
“Uh, yeah, but you kinda…”
“Yes?..”
“Don’t fit the vibe of an intruder, as one wouldn’t likely admit the fact of intrusion in the first place,” Deuce concluded. “Besides, it’s not that late. Though it’s kinda strange that there’s no one around at 8 pm.”
“Stupid Deuce,” Grim chuckled. “It’s midnight already.”
“IT’S WHAT NOW?!”
Yuu jolted at the way he yelled, his eyes flew to the clock on the wall, and it was the moment Yuu finally examined the room with seven different portals.
“Freaking shit!” Deuce cursed, taking off from his place and jumping to the portal at his left. “Dorm leader Rosehearts will finish me off for missing the curfew!!”
Yuu watched Deuce disappearing in the portal before realizing she pursued him, diving into the portal above of which a heart-shaped emblem and the name ‘ Heartslabyul ’ was written, and closed her eyes when the magical ripples absorbed her body and transported it to an unknown place.
Scarcely had she opened her eyes, she was struck by an absolutely stunning construction towering over her. The amount of hearts in the design threw a thought or two into her mind about how utterly familiar it all seemed, but she quickly dismissed everything, focusing on the strong rose scent.
She found Deuce rushing forward straight to the entrance and proceeded after him, running around the fountain and heart-shaped trees on the sides. Were there roses blooming on them?.. Ah, no it wasn’t the right time to think about it!
With the lights off she barely noticed Grim running along with her, whining about how tiresome running itself was and how no one actually gave him food in the end, much to Yuu’s embarrassment and inner anxiety rise. She promised him, yes, but after being mingled into Deuce’s rush, she made a mental note to repay him later, even in spite of the fact he didn’t help to begin with.
Deuce was just about to reach the door and sway it open when the doors almost knocked him down, if only he hadn't dodged them opening.
“Wow, easy, dude!”
A familiar vivid and playful tone rolled on Yuu’s pointed ears, and she lifted her gaze, meeting with none other than Elias himself.
“Elias-san!” She exclaimed, now rushing up ahead to him, forgetting about Deuce and Grim, but stopped abruptly when she saw another person on Elias’s right.
The boy, who was slightly shorter than Elias, swiftly put his eyes on Yuu, examining her figure in return. She didn’t mind as his pry red eyes studied her, focusing on the pattern matching the color of his eyes — red heart was drawn with careful precision. Yuu frowned, when a thought slithered into her mind, forcefully thrusting forth the idea of the spade on Deuce’s face and the heart on that boy’s rather interesting to consider. Images of the past flashed within her head, but she couldn’t fish out one in particular as the moment wasn’t right.
“Yuu!” Elias lifted his blue eyes at her as she approached him and the unfamiliar boy and made her way to her, carefully paying close attention to her appearance. “Are you alright?!”
“I am, do not worry,” she reassured him, side-eying Deuce who approached the boy with red eyes and catching the glimpses of his worried noises about time. “And that is?..”
She pointed at the boy with a nod, to which Elias only chuckled and turned to the subject of their current discussion. “Care to introduce yourself?”
“I was just about to do that when you rushed to that girl without any explanation,” the boy’s cheeky tone was quite fine and even nice to hear, Yuu noticed. “Besides, maybe Deuce could introduce her, hm?”
“You don’t get it!” Deuce shook his head. “Is dorm leader Rosehearts mad?!”
“Sure is, what else did you expect, ha!” The boy laughed menacingly.
“Damn,” Deuce frowned. “I’m doomed. Like, completely.”
“Who isn’t,” the red-eyed boy shrugged. “He’s a complete madman these days.”
“Ace!” Deuce insisted, revealing the boy’s name. “Don’t say that about the dorm leader.”
“Why though? Dude’s losing it.”
“I… hate to admit you’re half right.”
“Not just half,” Ace smirked. “I’m always right. Anyways, you there.” He called Yuu, attracting her attention to him. “Nice to meet ya. Did you cause a heart attack for Deuce when you met him? Because if you did, you totally gained my respect.”
“Heart attack? Respect?..”
Even when Yuu first landed in this world, she didn’t remember feeling that lost.
NRC students were strange and alien. The way they spoke was harsh, tactless, and even despite the straightforward, sharp honesty their words possessed, which Yuu admired, she couldn’t comprehend why they would be so… different. Uncomfortably so.
“Don’t mind Ace’s wording,” Elias said. “He likes acting all cool and that.”
“You know I act cool because I am cool,” Ace shrugged his shoulders, grinning slyly. “In any case, who are you?”
Ace scanned Yuu as she was about to part her lips and introduce herself, but was quickly interrupted by the strict sound of clicking of the heels somewhere within the building walls, and turned to Elias who somehow managed to hear it too. Normally humans couldn’t detect sounds at that distance, but either Elias just guessed it right, or maybe… There was something else Yuu didn’t know about him.
“We must go,” he warned her, grabbing her hand as the steps were starting to sound clearer with each second. “Now.”
“Alright,” she nodded, not minding her hand being grabbed, and turned to Deuce and Grim. “Goodbye, Deuce-san, Grim-sama!”
“You managed to get something who believes you’re that good?!” Ace snorted, bursting into laughter. “Man, that’s hilarious— Wait, wha—?!”
“Down the Rabbit Hole!” Elias said, and the portal appeared before their eyes.
This time he made sure Yuu jumped first, then he followed her example. Before she stepped into the darkness, she threw one last quick glance and noticed a short figure appearing at the entrance, flashes of red hair strands glowing in the night like a hellfire, and a pair of searing gray eyes almost destroyed her with a supercilious gaze.
How strange, Yuu thought, despite the clear, pure concentration of genuine rage devouring the boy’s figure, somehow she felt sadness spreading within. But she quickly brushed it off and watched the portal closing.
✦•······················•✦•······················•✦
“Phew!”
Elias landed on the chair that slid right under him and smiled at the teacup joining the little dance, strong aroma of black tea filled the place as the teapot poured the liquid.
“Smells really strong,” Yuu noticed, welcoming the teacup that popped in her hands, and a piece of paper practically loomed before her. “Is that… a menu?”
“Oh, right, this day makes it your fourth time here, right?” Elias took a sip and let out a sigh full of an almost palpable exhaustion. “Starting from today, you’ll be offered tea by your choice. It seems the portal also started learning cooking, so expect some creativity in pastries.”
“How… very interesting. I’d love green tea with ginger and cloves, if that is alright.”
Teapot flew to hear, pouring the drink, and Yuu thanked it, welcoming pleasant warmth.
“Say, that was quite an experience!” Elias exclaimed.
“I’ll be frank, Elias-san,” Yuu sighed. “I experienced genuine anxiety when we first arrived at NRC, then unconcealed fear when you lost me, then I was about to burst when I encountered Grim, I thought it’s over when Deuce found me, and at last my knees went weak when I saw that you were alright.”
“I’m sorry,” he said genuinely. “But… you just can’t deny that it was fun, right?”
“That…” Yuu lowered her tired gaze and gave up, a hint of a smile blooming on her face. “That I can’t argue with. It, indeed, was really fun. Although we didn’t find Vil.”
“I promised to help,” Elias said, returning her uniform jacket she already forgot about. “And I will. We’ll find him, don’t worry.”
She only nodded in response, with Vil suddenly becoming not the very first task in the list of the tasks she needed to sort out. Thoughts tangled in her mind, every new face she saw today flashed behind her eyes, making it hard to focus on one thing at the time.
No, she must have taken some rest to think. Yuu took off the black jacket that was now covered in leaves and dust, and returned it to Elias.
“Thank you for today, Elias-san. Our venture proved to be really informative, to say at least. Although I wonder what the consequences will be, given that two people and a cat-looking creature caught us.”
“Ace’s safe,” Elias reassured her. “He’s my friend and I pretty much trust that little rascal.”
“R-rascal?!..”
“That he is,” he chuckled. “I don’t know who the boy you got acquainted with though.”
“I think his name was Deuce,” she hummed. “And I sensed no danger coming from him, so I would like to believe he is safe as well.”
“It’s settled then!” He clapped his hands. “Say, how about we discuss everything that happened to ourselves while we were apart later? I’m sorry to break it to you, but, uhm..”
“I don’t mind, since I’ve noticed how tired you too were.”
“You wound me,” he giggled gently. “I might have taken it as an insult, ya know! My energetic self doesn’t like being called tired.”
“I apologize,” Yuu lowered her head in a bow, but Elias quickly dismissed it. “
“It’s alright, you silly. As much as I’m being all lively and animated during the day, I also enjoy sleeping tightly at night. And well, it’s past midnight, and I’m not in my comfy bed. Get it?”
“I understand,” Yuu nodded. “I as well won’t say no to a good sleep.”
“Perfect~” Elias said, snapping his fingers, and Yuu saw the portal opening above her. “Ready to try leaving the portal alone?”
“Y-yes?!”
“Sorry, sorry, it will just be best if we arrive separately,” he smiled at her. “Look, if someone from the school staff finds you and me together, they will suspect I kinda made you come with me, which I did in a way, but I don’t want to troubling you. What’s the fun in being lectured by Emery and his ‘You just don’t know how persuasive Elias can be’ speeches.”
“But I’m also responsible—”
“Relax, Yuu,” he threw thumbs up again. “Or I’ll call you mom again.”
“It was a pleasant experience, thank you very much for your company, see you tomorrow.”
“Haha!!” He laughed genuinely. “You’re being so funny when you’re tired!”
“Glad to satisfy your urge for a good laugh, now, if you’ll excuse me…”
“Thank you for choosing Elias airlines. We’re looking forward to flying with you again. Have a good evening!”
“Airlines?.. Either way, yes, Elias-san, goodbye. Sleep well.”
“Bye-beee!~”
And with that Yuu jumped, leaving the portal.
✦•······················•✦•······················•✦
After spending almost the whole day with Elias by her side, Yuu felt how lonely it was — to not hear someone giggling and telling jokes every so often, and frowned, but was instantly interrupted as she recognized the place she landed into.
The greenhouse!
An odd joy filled her heart at the sight of a familiar tall figure appearing before her, but she quickly dismissed that delight when she realized she got caught again.
“I-Ivy-san,” she gulped. “I… uh…”
“How was your trip to NRC?”
“W-what?!”
Ivy, unlike anyone who she met today in the evening, carried an aura of serene tranquility, making her own reactions slow down, the uneasiness and hypersensitivity dying out at once, leaving a place for peace.
Flowery aroma radiating from him was very much pleasant and welcoming as she stood up with the help of his hand.
“Don’t be so surprised,” his soft, ephemeral voice rippled in the air with a thin whisper. “I am the one covering Elias’s shenanigans when needed.”
“I see…”
“Oh,” Ivy turned to Yuu, bending over. She peered into the depth of his eyes watching her own, and held her breath, striked by his empyreal beauty. “My apologies. You seem very tired. I am in no position to detain you any further.”
“No need to apologize,” Yuu shook her head lightly. “But I am very grateful for your assistance. Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll take my leave.”
“See you hopefully tomorrow, Yuu-san. Get some rest, it’s painful to see your eyes losing their brightness.”
“Yes?..” She let out a refrained breath, not entirely sure of what he meant.
“... No, nothing,” he smiled at her and averted his gaze at last, stepping into the greenhouse. “I feel like I saw eyes resembling yours somewhere…”
The last sentence died out, pronounced almost in a complete whisper, as if he wasn’t sure himself whether he wanted her to hear it at all, and entered the greenhouse. Yuu saw him taking a flowerpot with Florence in it in his hands, and decided to let it be as it is for now, taking her leave and heading out to the clock tower.
As much as she would love to sort her thoughts out, first she must sleep.
And let the new day bring her the clearance of the mind she needed so much.
© yunarim 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝. 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲, 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧.
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