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twst novel. ( episode i: the crimson tyrant ) pg. 57-84
What an old building. When Yuuya went to shut the window, however, something leaped straight into his chest.
“Whoa!”
A blue flame burned dazzlingly bright before Yuuya, who fell on his behind.
”Phew. It started pourin’ outta nowhere.”
“Gr-Gri…”
Grim smirked at Yuuya’s flapping mouth. “Nyahahah! What’re you gawkin’ at me for? Don’t tell me y’already forgot my awesome visage.”
“Grim?!”
The monster that’d been chasing Yuuya from the moment he woke up in this nightmare was laughing at him again.
He should’ve gotten the boot after causing that huge incident at the ceremony earlier. One would’ve thought they’d take measures so he could never step on the premises again; So how’d the little guy end up here? Perhaps no one had expected him to be this vindictive.
After careful review, he noticed the pillory Riddle placed on him as punishment was gone.
“What’re you doing here?!”
“Ain’t it obvious? I’m gonna beat you and enroll! Certain factors got in my way over and over again, but now I’ve got ya cornered!”
“Hold it. Fighting me won’t prove anything.” Yuuya took a deep breath, extending both hands out in front of him. “Especially when they wouldn’t let me into their academy!”
A little fire leaked from the corner of Grim’s fangs.
“What’s that ‘sposed to mean?”
Grim’s big eyes squinted at Yuuya as he explained what’d happened after he’d been ejected from the Mirror Chamber.
“Y’mean you can’t use magic?”
“That’s right.”
“Great. Didn’t see that comin’. Way to be a major letdown!”
"You don't have to be so blunt..."
The shame he suffered at the ceremony came crashing down on him again. And to rub salt in the wound even further, Grim let out an exaggerated sigh.
“So beatin’ you ain’t gettin’ me anywhere, huh. Guess I’m gonna hafta find an alternate route.”
“Alternate route?”
“Yup. How ‘bout I hold you hostage and threaten the Headmaster?”
Yuuya kept his distance from Grim, who was edging closer little by little, poking at him with the tip of his broom. The desire to fight him might’ve vanished, but he’d have to remain vigilant.
“Why don’t you just give up?”
“Yeah, right. No way am I throwin’ in the towel now.”, Grim declared stubbornly, leaping to the top of the couch, his line of sight still lower than Yuuya's. He began to speak with an overwhelming passion.
“I’m a bonafide genius who was born t’be the greatest mage that ever lived! So I waited, and waited, and waited for the friggin’ black carriage to one day come strollin’ in and take me off to the esteemed Night Raven College. But then, it… it never came t’carry me off… “
Grim fell silent, rainwater trickling down his drooped ears. The sight of his unmoving, plush-like form all drenched like that had Yuuya starting to feel sorry for him.
He was stuck on what to say when suddenly Grim gave a full-body shake and sent water flying.
Well. He was clearly back to his hateful little self, pridefully smirking with a ‘hmph’.
“The Dark Mirror and that Headmaster are blind as bats. I’m the man who’s gonna be the greatest mage that ever lived. It’d be the biggest blow to the world ever if they lose out on me, so I’ve gotta attend no matter what!”
“Who knows what they’ll do to you next time. You should cut this out before things get more dangerous.”
“Not a chance! I’m gonna be a great mage!”
Grim yapped and yelled, and didn’t seem much in the mood to take his advice. Not wanting to have to defend himself again, Yuuya rattled off a quick “okay, okay” as he held up his hands defensively.
"What exactly is a ‘great mage,’ anyway?"
"Only the bestest mage that ever was."
Well, that wasn't much of an explanation. What could he even say to that? Undeterred, Grim’s eyes were twinkling as he went off about his aspirations to achieve his ideal.
"They're the strongest, most popular guy around, and can do pretty much whatever. Everyone'll be singin' my praises once I'm a great mage. 'Grim-sama's the coolest!. 'Grim-sama's sooo tough and talented!'"
“Oh, yeah? That sounds nice.”
Grim appeared satisfied enough with Yuuya giving small nods when it seemed appropriate, and snickered mockingly as he continued.
"Don't it? Tough break for you, though. You're just not upta snuff. The greatest can't be a magicless boy wonder. Nyeh heh heh!"
"I don't... I mean, that's okay with me, I guess."
"Yeah, right! Who wouldn't wanna be one?"
WIth a wickedly villainous smile on his face, Grim crossed his arms.
"Quit tryin' to play it cool. A guy like you's GOTTA want to use magic like me."
Things would definitely be more convenient and interesting if he could use magic. Yuuya could believe that.
But it didn't make him ache with yearning—no matter how much Grim boasted. He didn't feel the slightest bit jealous or envious when it came to these mages.
"Th-The heck's your problem? Did ya miss the part where I said an amazin' mage like that's capable of literally anything?"
Magic. Another world. None of it excited him whatsoever. All Yuuya really wanted was to go home, back to his original world.
"What a weirdo."
Grim sat on the couch, pouting. Then his eyes went wide.
"Hey! The bottom of my paw's gone white!"
And there it was, pink pads covered all over in cotton lint. "Guess it's from gettin' wet and then walkin' in all this dust."
The mopping wasn’t even half done, and the couch was still sitting there, covered in clutter. As he mused out-loud about the dust, Grim looked around and realized just how grubby the place was.
“It is pretty ashy and musty here. No way am I gonna catch any winks like this. Get to work already!”
Did Yuuya just hear him right? “Did you say, catch some winks…?”
“Yep.”
“You mean you’re staying here for the night?!”
“You got it. You seem like a guy that’s pretty quick on the uptake. Tell ya what — I’ll skip out on the whole ‘takin’ you hostage’ part if ya give me a place to stay.”
“But didn’t they kick you off campus? I… I don’t want any more trouble. The Headmaster said he’d be back soon.”
“You’re a real jerk if you’re willin’ to toss me out in this rain! What, d’ya want my awesome coat to get all soaking wet and have me catch pneumonia?!”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just…”
—felt like he might throw gasoline onto the fire that was the monster who caused that whole huge disturbance. Then, while wondering what to do next, Grim jumped up with a scream.
“Somethin’ just fell onto my back!”
“Oh, maybe...—I knew it. The ceiling is leaking! Seriously, how old is this building?”
“Well, get crackin’ and patch the thing!”
“Uhm, I can’t. I’ve never fixed a leaky ceiling before.”
“It’ll be over in a jiffy with a spell or… —oh, yeah. You ain't got any magic.” Grim blurted out, as if the fact had only occurred to him just now. "Fine, lame-o! Then get yourself a bucket and do this the boring ol'-fashioned way."
What a selfish little creature. As Yuuya looked down in wonder, Grim, who'd been cackling like a hyena on the couch, stopped moving.
"Nyh—"
"What is it? Another leak?"
"N-Nyah..."
"Huh?"
Grim reached a paw out towards him.
"Is it something for me?" Yuuya placed his palm on top, only to be met with a smack.
"No! Look behind ya!"
"Behind me?"
When he turned around the room was enveloped in a cloud of white, billowing smoke. Maybe it was another round of flames? Not that it was possible to identify the source, or wherever the smoke was coming from.
Yuuya tilted his head down, then upward.
"Hee-hee."
His eyes locked onto the wisps.
"E-hee-hee. E—HEE-HEE-HEE!"
The room echoed with laughter as Yuuya stood frozen in disbelief,the foggy entity flying about.
Then, as Yuuya waved trembling hands around to clear the smoke, it slipped away into the darkness. He strained his eyes and peered into the gloom next to hear a voice that sent shivers down his spine.
“We haven’t had a visitor in… who knows how long.”
At that instant, lightning crashed down outside. Light poured through the torn curtains into the darkened room as if it were bent on shredding them further.
“Welcome to our humble abode!”
Something translucent floated in mid-air with its arms outstretched and a creepy smile playing on its face.
“Ghost!”
White, floating, and see-through? That right there was a bonafide ghost.
Grim shouted first, a raw cry of “Get back!” as he slapped at it with his tail. But the white has only disappeared for a moment before it reformed. No matter how many times he swiped at it, his tail went straight through and the ghost didn’t seem phased at all.
"I-I-It feels kinda creepy-crawly... "
Grim tucked his tail between his legs, cowering beneath Yuuya. The ghost merely cackled with glee at the sight of their terrified faces.
And it wasn't alone, either. Sure enough, there were a great number of eyes overlooking them, floating in the air all around.
"We're always happy to have a visitor. It's been such a drag."
“All the people who used t’live here got scared of us and flew the coop.”
Their white bodies had no legs, and instead faded away into thin, lizard-like tails. They drifted along, a vague, but definite presence, fluttering ever closer.
Yuuya felt a tremendous chill run through his body, as if the impending spirits had immersed him in icy water. His knees wobbled, his jaw shook, and his teeth clattered against each other. It was almost as though the shiver would rise from beneath him and travel directly to his heart.
Light seeped through the ghosts from the candle left on the table.
"We've been searching for some new friends..."
They blew up their ghastly faces as their bodies turned red.
"—new GHOST friends, that is!"
His legs were frozen—whether it was from the cold or the fear, he didn't know. He couldn't even raise his voice at them. All the immovable Yuuya could do is glance towards Grim at his side, shivering ears and all.
Shivering, just like him. The little guy had to be scared—or so he thought, until he looked down to confirm his suspicions and caught Grim sporting an entirely different expression than he imagined.
A low growl rumbled in his throat, nose wrinkled. Flickering flames peaked through the gaps between his fangs, reflecting brightly in his eyes.
"Th-The almighty Grim-sama... ain't afraid of no ghosts!"
The monster had been so afraid just moments ago, but now he was back on his feet, every hair standing on end. Yuuya couldn't believe how much fight in him there was. Grim stood on all fours in front of the astonished Yuuya and shouted.
“Feast your eyes on this!”
Fwoosh! Just like at the entrance ceremony, the surrounding area blazed, engulfed in flames
“Augh, come on! The place’ll catch fire!”
Yuuya reached out to stop him, scowling at the heat, but Grim slipped right through his fingers.
Fireballs went whooshing across the room as he frantically chased after the flying ghosts.
“Too slow, Joe. It’s gonna take you forever to hit us with that magic. Your forever, of course, since ours is already over.”
“Shaddup!”
Yuuya rushed to put out the flames, beating them with his sleeves or a shoe as Grim rapid-fired about the room in a fit of rage.
In hindsight, the leaky ceiling was a blessing. The wet floor and furniture only smoldered when exposed to the flames.
But he could tell the rapidly intensifying blaze would get the better of them soon. It was only a matter of time before a fire broke out.
"Wait, Grim! Stop! You've got to calm down!", Yuuya shouted with all his might, but the wind and rain pelting the window drowned him out.
"Hee-hee-hee. Where're you looking? Over heeere."
"Dammit. Don't get cocky just 'cus you're see-through! Enough with all that vanishin' just to reappear!"
Everything turned in on him like a whirlpool: Grim's yelling, the ghosts' shrill laughter, and the violent thunderstorm that delivered the final blow to make his jittery heart pump ever faster—as if it were racing out of his chest. He couldn't help but feel anxious and scared.
But why wasn't Grim's fire striking home?
Those specters weren’t exactly speedsters. They fluttered closer, then away, and closer again, ever the teasing troublemakers. Heck, he could probably hit one with a ball.
Did they possess a special kind of power then, he wondered? Though upon closer inspection, Grim was simply squeezing his eyes shut every time he fired. He would never land a hit with that sort of guesswork.
The time for the flames to engulf the couch had come.
—I have to stop him.
He finally mustered up the courage to leisurely approach Grim from behind, who was too preoccupied with the ghosts to notice. He kept watch for the moment the fire-spitting ended and then seized him by the stomach with both hands, lifting him high into the air. Yuuya was hell-bent on carrying him out of there.
Unable to avoid a ghost that got in his way, he passed through its white body, shrieking as the cold air of an open refrigerator wrapped itself around him. Nevertheless, he managed to roll safely into the hallway, slamming the lounge door shut so violently that it might come unhinged.
“That… that was terrifying.”
He slumped down in front of the door as all the strength left his body.
Grim went stiffly silent in his arms at the abrupt interruption. Then, as if realizing what had just happened, he whipped his neck around to glare up at Yuuya.
“What d’you think you’re doin’? Just stay outta my way!”
“But everything would’ve caught fire if you kept that up!”
“Then you do somethin’ about this mess.”
“I-I mean… I would if I could.”
“What are ya, chicken?”
“No, I just… I’ve never been in a fight before!”
Grim laughed derisively as Yuuya shook his head so vigorously that it might fall off his shoulders.
“Quit bein’ so bossy then, useless.”
“Sorry.”
The words struck painfully true. There wasn’t much he could do except apologize.
But if they backed down now,at best, the ghosts would gain new friends. At worst, they'd burn down with the house and join them after all that agony.
"You know," Yuuya said in the friendliest tone possible as he pointed to Grim's eyes. "I was watching you earlier and, um... aren’t you squeezing your eyes shut? I was thinking, you can't aim with your eyes closed."
"What?" Grim titled his head, jutting out his mouth to reproduce his fire-breathing from only to realize his habit for the first time. “It ain’t like I can help it. Whenever I shoot out my fire, my eyes just shut on their own.”
Was he klutzy or what? Not that Yuuya was one to talk.
When he ran towards the ghosts, he probably squeezed his eyes shut in fear as well. Maybe even Grim was terrified, deep down. Only, unlike him, who stood petrified, he faced it alone.
There had to be some way he could help. Yuuya thought about it a bit, and then, inspired by a glance down at Grim on his lap said, "Yeah. It really IS that easy."
"I'll tell you where the ghosts are: right or left, or even up, and then you can follow my cue and spit your fire. That way, we can hit them with your magic."
"And why do I gotta start takin' orders from you?" Grim huffed, and then began to lash out, likely ready to recklessly rush back into the lounge.
Yuuya stopped him with a squeeze. "Wait. Just listen to me."
"No way! Why're you actin' so high and mighty when you've done squat?!"
"I’m sorry! But at this rate... "
"Ready or nooot..."
From above came a cheerful voice, to which he almost replied.
They both looked up, terrified, to find a ghost's upper torso looming out of the closed door.
"WAUGHHH! They're here!"
Specters slid through the wall to line up in front of them.
"Hate to interrupt, but we got tired of all the waiting."
The tip of his nose grew cold and icy. The ghosts were fast approaching.
"Don't come any closer!"
"Stay FAR away!"
Yuuya threw up his hands in defense at the exact same time that Grim frantically unleashed his fire.
"Hothothot!"
A ghost burst into flames before their very eyes, or, to be more accurate, the space where his fire had landed simply wasn’t there anymore. The ghost’s body disappeared in the light, as if a lamp had been lit in the shadows. The magic had struck true.
"... What a pushover." Grim muttered at the agitated ghosts. "Hey, you! Point me towards the next one."
"G-Got it!"
Yuuya rewrapped his arms around Grim and lifted him up to aim.
“Now!”
He yelped as a pale light flashed before his eyes, another ghost disappearing right into thin air.
“I nailed it! How’d ya like that, huh?!”
Grim, still held tight in Yuuya’s grip, looked back at him and laughed.
“C’mon! Steer me to my next target!”
“Okay!”
If Grim couldn't pin them down on his own, all he had to do was point him in the right direction. There was no need for words as they moved in sync and their aim was dead on. There wasn't a single complaint this time around.
In fact, he was happily spitting fire all over the place. Yuuya struggled to support him with both arms, as though he were holding a runaway hose. But together, they’d overcome the ghosts.
“Nyahah! I’m the strongest!”
“Y-You mean heaviest.”
It wasn’t like lifting an ordinary house-cat, that’s for sure—not when his hands were cramping and the force of the flames felt like it might throw him backwards.
“Quit yer cryin,” Grim said as he patted Yuuya’s arm with a cheerful grin. Guess he was in a better mood after obtaining such a decent director.
The fire didn’t spread where the ghosts were hit. Instead, their bodies subsided like ripples in water, hissing as they began to vanish.
“Eek. Two-on-one’s not fair.”
“Stuff it! You’ve got way more on your side!”
The ghosts tried to fade away one by one through the wall, but Yuuya chased them relentlessly to every corner of the lounge while still holding Grim.
“Fnyaaaah!”
“We’re gonna disappear for good!”
“Fall back, guys! It’s time to split!”
Before he knew it, the laughter and the screams had died down. All he could hear was their panting breath and the sounds of the waning storm outside.
Not a single ghost was left floating about the lounge. There was a bit of a singed smell hanging in the air, but it seemed alright, otherwise. Just the original lounge in all its dark, dank charm.
Grim leapt from Yuuya's arms, landing with a thunk and proudly puffing out his chest, paws on his hips.
“Hah! I totally trounced those ghosts!”
“That was incredible, Grim!”
Grim seemed surprised.
“Y-Yeah…”
Given how certain the little monster was of his abilities, it was strange to see him so taken aback by genuine praise.
Though when Yuuya laughed, he joined in with a happy snicker.
“You weren’t half bad yourself.”
And, while his smile was as malicious as ever, the fear Yuuya felt when he saw it for the first time was almost gone.
“What in the world just happened here?!”
They started at the sound of a booming voice. Crowley, not a ghost, stood at the dorm's entrance when they turned around.
“Oh, thank goodness it’s you, Headmaster.”
Something flashed before Yuuya's eyes as he attempted to explain the situation.
“Not AGAIN!”
He lowered his gaze to find Grim trapped in the Headmaster’s Lash of Love again.
“I heard such awful screams, whatever they were, and then, lo and behold— I find this monster again. So persistent!”
Crowley hoisted Grim with a hand and an expression that suggested he was up to no good, prompting Yuuya to grab his arm and try to prevent him from tossing the creature outside.
“Grim, he… he saved me from those ghosts.”
“Oh? Would you care to explain?”
“You see, just now there was…”
Crowley nodded his head in affirmation as Yuuya recounted their terrifying encounter, starting from the top: Grim jumping in through the window, the ghosts attacking them, and the way they worked together to drive them away.
“Those screams must have come from the ghosts.”
“That’s right! I’m the innocent party here!” Grim swayed, still being held by the scruff of his neck.
“I do seem to recall this dorm had a mischievous ghost problem, with them chasing out students and whatnot. That’d explain why I forgot it was abandoned.”
To think he was about to have to spend the night in a place like this. It was one thing to forget about a “mischievous ghost problem,” but what if he’d ended up as one of them?
Crowley simply laughed when Yuuya politely asked if that was possible. “Certainly not! It’s merely a ghost joke. Still, I'm amazed you got it to comply.” He held Grim like a swing planter as he muttered to himself. “How did you manage to tame such a ferocious monster, Yuu-kun?”
“Tame? I’m the one that trained Captain Useless over here.”
“Ah, you see? You’ve an amazing ability to get this rebellious little rascal to do as you say.”
Yuuya mustered the confidence to confront both Crowley, who admired his prowess, and Grim, who was enraged.
“Oh, Headmaster.”
“Yes?”
“So, uhm. Did you finish your research at the library?”
Crowley’s expression suddenly vanished. It was replaced by a slight, pondering tilt of the head and a slow nod, as if he were choosing his next set of words carefully.
“Indeed. Mind you, I investigated every possible method available to me, including interviews with other teachers and the Internet.”
Yuuya remained silent to prompt him to continue.
“... But no matter which way I turned for information, this ‘Japan’ you speak of is nowhere on the map. It hasn't existed anywhere in Twisted Wonderland since the dawn of time.”
“Then, I really…”
“—came here from another world entirely, yes. To complicate matters further, there’s nothing to tell. I'm proud to say that in my hundred years as Headmaster, I've never witnessed something like this. With no precedent to go on—I was unable to find a way to return you from whence you came.”
“I see.”
There it was, finally, and he couldn't bring himself to believe it. He'd been scared to the point of tears at the thought of never going home, but now it seemed too improbable to be real.
Somewhere in the back of his mind though, he must have thought 'everything will turn out all right.' He trusted that something that horrible would never happen to someone so ordinary.
But he was wrong, and now he didn't know the way home, or at least, it wouldn't be easy to find. How should he even live from now on?
When Crowley placed Grim on the ground, Yuuya shivered at the sound of a small cough.
"It pains me to say this, but... I can't allow someone who isn't a student to remain on the grounds free of charge. The call for equality in education, as it were."
All Yuuya could do is hang his head low and say, "I understand."
"Now, if you're willing and able to work for me, that's a different story altogether."
"Huh?"
"Apart from the teachers, the only active members of our personnel are ghosts. You can probably imagine the drawbacks of such a system."
Crowley's eyes glittered. It was hard to tell with the mask, but Yuuya could have sworn the faintest arc of a smile played across his lips.
"As an educator, it's simply heartbreaking for me to have to abandon such a penniless young man. But if you're interested in being our handyman, not only would it be extremely helpful, but I'll continue to assist you in your search for a way home. In the meantime, I'll let you rent this dorm, and—ah, meals will be provided, though it will have to come out of your own pocket."
He wanted to hug Crowley as the man beamed down at him with that what-say-you smile.
Now, he at least had a chance. He'd been given a goal, food, and a roof over his head.
"That's more than enough. I really appreciate it."
The tears finally spilled down his cheeks from sheer relief.
"My goodness," said Crowley, chucking in amusement. "It's quite alright, for I'm boundlessly gracious. Ah—I do have one condition, however."
"Of course! And what would that be, sir?"
"To take care of Grim-kun."
"Take care of... wait, me?!"
Grim, who'd been sulking and pointing at him, twitched his ears in response.
"Yes. Leaving you to your own devices on campus when you're without magic leaves me anxious, but with Grim-kun at your side, you'll be able to overcome any problem that may arise. The two of you—a monster and a magicless otherworlder—need only work together, and from the look of things, you've already become quite chummy."
"But I'm not very—"
"That persistence he has is particularly impressive, and if left alone... well, there's no telling what he'd do. But with you at his side, Yuu-kun, I can rest easy."
In other words, he was about to be put between yet another rock and a hard place. But as Yuuya was too panic-stricken to speak up, Grim gladly interjected.
"You're gonna let me enroll?!"
"No." Crowley firmly rejected the suggestion. "You'll be working as handymen, cleaning the campus, and handling our equipment, as I mentioned. Not as a student."
"Cleaning?" Grim stared in blatant disgust. "Ugh, lame. I hate doing annoyin' stuff like that."
“My word… such attitude.”
The Headmaster's voice became increasingly agitated, as though offended now, and things were about to get worse. Before Crowley called the whole thing off, Yuuya hurriedly brought Grim towards him, whispering into one of his large ears.
"Watch it. Do you want him to throw you out again?"
"But I don't WANNA do chores."
If this was going to work, they had to be in it together. Living with a selfish creature like Grim would likely be a trial in and of itself, but it was better than being out on the street.
Besides, Crowley was right. The help of someone who could cast magic would be very appreciated. Yuuya knelt and fixed his gaze on Grim. The look he plastered on his face for show made it seem like he wasn’t exactly thrilled by the prospect either; he only hoped it would make Grim see him as a comrade in misery.
"Stick with me and I bet the Headmaster will give you another chance" Yuuya said, using anything he could think of to persuade him. "I'm sure they'll let you in sooner or later."
"Nnngh."
"You're just going to sneak back in when they kick you out, right? Why don't you join me and save yourself the trouble?"
"Mmhh."
"There'll be food, and you won't have to go outside in the rain anymore."
"Food... ? Y'mean I can have cans o' tuna whenever I want?"
"For sure." Yuuya nodded repeatedly. Was that his favorite? A tuna can or two wouldn't be hard to afford.
Perhaps he was moved by the otherworlder's desperate plight, or perhaps he saw it as an opportunity. Grim eventually had his paws on his hips and declared: "Alright."
"I decided I'm gonna live here and work. Just for now."
"Good! Then we have a deal." Crowley, who had been watching the proceedings, nodded in accord. "After carrying out your janitorial duties, you are free to use the library and other facilities. I'm sure there's plenty you have to look into, Yuu-kun. You are free to utilize this dorm anyway you see fit."
"Right."
He accepted a rustic, golden key—the key to the dorm—from the Headmaster's keyring, recalling how it gleamed with no scratches or nicks when they entered the building. Despite its age, it looked to have been treasured. Yuuya gripped it tightly.
"Thanks so much for everything."
He then patted his chest in relief as he shook Crowley's other hand. For the time being, he had all that he required.
Grim smiled brightly beneath Yuuya's feet, swiping at something that clinked against his claws. It was a white satchel that Crowley had brought.
"Somethin' about this bag smells yummy."
"That’s correct. A soup pot is what it is. I assume the both of you are hungry?"
"Food!"
Grim leapt at what was under his nose, prompting Crowley to seize the satchel and hand it off to Yuuya.
"Now, play nice and distribute it amongst yourselves! And tomorrow too, since you'll be acting as one from now on."
Now that he mentioned it, he was feeling famished. He hadn't eaten anything since the bento box he had for lunch, and who knows how long it had been since then. The realization made his stomach rumble.
"Please accept this as well, Yuu-kun."
"What is it?" He cradled the soft bundle in his arms.
"A nightgown, and the uniform you'll be wearing starting tomorrow. The ceremonial robes are quite difficult to move in. Ah, how extraordinarily gracious I am."
Not being a student, Yuuya felt apprehensive about taking the garments at first, but finally accepted when he was told there were “plenty to go around.”。As he unwrapped the bundle, a black jacket and white shirt peeped out.
"Actually, a vest should be included in this set, but I wasn't prepared for this dorm in particular. Even so, that ought to suffice."
"Yes, of course. Thank you for everything."
"Oh, there's no need to thank me. I'm merely gracious beyond words! After eating, make sure to get some rest. Your laborious quest begins tomorrow."
He then departed, softly patting Yuuya on the shoulder.
Crowley was a peculiar man, exuding excessive excitement, astonishment, and melancholy all at once, but he was also Yuuya's only ally at the moment.
He gave him food, and a place to stay. He may be a bit slack in certain aspects, but perhaps he truly did have a "gracious personality," as he repeatedly stated. Yuuya couldn't help but trust him.
"Hey."
As he looked after Crowley’s absent silhouette in the doorway, Yuuya tossed a “what” over his shoulder toward Grim. When he turned around, the creature was standing on the desk, nearly eye-level with him.
"What do they call ya?"
Come to think of it, he hadn't told Grim his name.
"Yuuya. I'm Kuroki Yuuya."
"Yuu-agh... Y'wah... Ugh, forget it. I'm goin' with Yuu. Count yer lucky stars, Yuu, 'cause the almighty genius Grim-sama's gonna make you his underling!"
Grim stuck out his chest with confidence, his puffy white fur appearing soft to the touch.
Yuuya, past the point of anger, just chuckled at his exaggerated display of superiority. Grim was selfish and violent, but he had his honest moments.
He could be relied on for his sorcery, and he was brave to boot. Yuuya was sure he’d never had a friend like this; he’d be relying on Grim plenty in the future.
"Sure. Nice to meet you."
As Yuuya shook hands with one of Grim's little paws, just like he had with Crowley, and the rough tip of a claw brushed against his palm. It was a little startling, even if he hadn't exactly scratched him, but more importantly, his soft pads felt nice.
Grim bared his teeth in a laugh as he returned the favor.
"You can start by forkin' over all that food to your new boss."
There came laughter, and a chorus of 'good mornings' that echoed softly around him.
A blackboard whitened by chalk dust. A clock with a slightly warped second hand. A faded, sun-burned bulletin board. Gentle morning light enveloped this vague, but all too familiar scene.
It was a high school classroom, and Yuuya was standing at its entrance.
A classmate sitting by the window looked his way. Yuuya had sat in that seat for the last six months since enrolling.
"Aren't we missing someone?"
The remaining students all turned their heads at the same time, their piercing gazes staring directly through him, as if he wasn't there.
"You think?"
"Sure you aren't just imagining things?"
Their classmate emanated a curious blankness, but they were just confused. Their demeanor and the manner they spoke were completely devoid of malice.
"... Oh, well. My mistake. Sorry for being weird."
The boy next to him was instantly convinced and immediately began another conversation. Are you ready for class? Nah, I was busy with my club stuff. Someone show me your notes. Conversations between friends echoed around the classroom. Not a single person had noticed that Yuuya wasn't there. It wasn't so much that he was forgotten as it was that a student named Kuroki Yuuya had never existed here in the first place.
As soon as the bell rang, classmates took their seats one by one. Only Yuuya's empty seat in the crowded morning classroom remained still.
He felt no sorrow, no resentment. Only relief stirred in the depths of his heart.
That's all right. This would do. This is exactly what he desired.
Because he had always, always—
Twst novel
Good thing Yuuya doesn't know. Although if Yuuya knew would they still want to go home?