Chapter Text
The cafeteria at NRC was filled with the hustle and bustle of students enjoying their lunch time meal.
At a table, a familiar group of 1st years sat. Thanks to Professor Crewel's antidote, Ace, Deuce, and Yuu we're all reverted back to their correct ages.
Jack stepped up to the table, taking the seat next to Yuu. "So, how are you three feeling?"
"I'm feeling alright, though kinda sore." Yuu popped a spoonful of stew in their mouth.
"Speak for yourself. I feel like crap." Ace whined as he bit into his sandwich.
"Same. I feel like I went through the ringer." Deuce said, head propped up on his knuckles as he poked at the content on his tray with a fork . The duo sat across from Jack and Yuu. The Heartslabyul boys sported a matching set of collars courtesy of Riddle.
"Man, this is bull. How come as soon as we're back to normal, we get slapped with collars but you didn't?" Ace griped.
Yuu stirred the content of their bowl. "Because apparently you two successfully pissed off Riddle while I didn't."
"I can barely remember any of it. Seriously what the hell did we even do? Somehow I have to go see Vargas later to scrub all the flying brooms and clean the storage shed." Ace dropped his head down into his arms on the table.
"Yuu!" A chipper voiced called out from behind. A pair of tan arms wrapped themselves around Yuu's shoulders, causing Yuu to fumble their spoon, thankfully they caught it before it dropped into their bowl.
"Hello Kalim." Yuu looked up at the white hair boy.
"I heard what happened, I can't believe I didn't get to see you all yesterday! You should have visited Scarabia. I would have loved to help babysit!" More like Jamil would have been babysitting thought Yuu.
"Kalim." Another voice joined behind Kalim. Ahh speak of the devil Yuu mused.
"Hey Jamil." The darker haired boy of the Scarabia duo stood behind Kalim. Eyeing the group as he carried a tray with food he had prepared for Kalim and himself.
Jamil shook his head before giving his House Warden a stern look. "Kalim you know you wouldn't have time to be babysitting anybody when you need to be making sure you're prepared for your upcoming Magic History test."
Kalim gave a laugh as he looked at Jamil. "But I know you'll make sure I'm prepared Jamil." He turned his focus back on the group. "I insist the next time you're all free you come to Scarabia."
Yuu felt sympathetic towards Jamil, the young man was always trying to keep Kalim focused. "We'll consider it Kalim. But perhaps after we all finish up our own upcoming tests? Even with everything that's happened, we still have our own coming up with Professor Crewel." Yuu poked the cheek of the boy clinging to them.
Kalim released his grasp on Yuu. "Awesome, we'll see you all later then!" Kalim gave the group a wave before heading towards their own table, Jamil gave them a nod and followed behind Kalim. Yuu made a mental note to make sure to help Jamil with any prep and cleanup at the next Scarabia party they attended.
Ace smirked at Yuu. "Well aren't you just popular today?"
Yuu cocked a brow at Ace as they took another bite of their food. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"No, I think Ace is right." Deuce answered next "First, Trey said Lilia showed up in the morning carrying you in a pair of dragon PJ's"
"Trey looked like he was going to have a heart attack when he couldn't find you this morning." Jack spoke up.
"I'll have to apologize to him again the next time I see him." Yuu sighed.
"Okay, but then. When we're finally back to normal, Azul and the twins show up outside of Crewel's classroom."
"Yeah, Floyd flopped himself on me and talked about a promised play time. Man he really is freaking heavy when he just goes limp like that." The moray merman was incredibly intimidating when he wanted to be but the sight of him flopped over Yuu's back like some kind of large cat was pretty funny.
"But then Azul said he wanted you to come by the lounge later." Ace pointed his fork at Yuu.
"Something about wanting input on future menu ideas?" Deuce took a bite of his pasta.
"After that, Silver stopped you in the hall between classes and said that Malleus wanted you to visit the Diasomnia dorm for tea tonight."
"Tsunotarou and I are friends, it's no surprise he'd invite me to tea. I have tea with Riddle all the time."
"You know I'm still shocked you call him that."
"Listen, he gave me permission to even after I learned his actual name. At this point it's way to funny to see how people react when they figure out who I'm talking about."
"Well yeah, it was kind of funny when Leona found out."
"I don't think I'd ever see Leona Kingscholar of all people do a spit take but I was wrong."
"Vil and Rook stopped us to chat as well just before we hit the cafeteria."
"Somehow your potato title got an upgrade too."
"You're just jealous you two are still just spudling 1 & 2."
"That also reminds me, we'll have to tell Epel what happened when he gets back."
"Yeah, he missed out on watching you all run around causing chaos because his family needed last minute help on the apple farm."
"You know with everything that's happened, I just thought about it, but any luck finding Grim?"
Yuu shook their head. "At this point I don't know. He still hasn't turned up this morning and I'm getting worried."
"Yeah, everybody we've asked hasn't seen him either."
"Is there anybody left you can think of asking?"
The group sat thinking for a bit, before Yuu's eyebrows shot up in realization. Snapping their fingers.
"Have either of you talked to Ortho today?"
"No why.... Oh!" Deuce soon realized who might be able to help.
Yuu pulled out their phone, scrolling through their contacts until they found the younger Shroud brother. Ace and Deuce watched as Yuu gave him a call.
"Hey Ortho, I needed to ask...
Ahh yeah actually that's exactly what I was calling about.
Yeah... Really? Really?!?"
Yuu broke into laughter.
"How am I not surprised? Is he alright?
Uhh huh.
Ohh. Geeze how bad?"
Yuu let out a sigh.
"I'll talk to Idia about that the next time I see him, thanks Ortho.
See you later, bye."
Yuu hung up the phone, shaking their head.
"Well?" Ace and Deuce asked in unison.
"Well.... Good news. I know where Grim is now. He's with Idia."
"Wait seriously?"
"Yep, so Grim's safe however...." Yuu pinched the bridge of their nose before taking a deep breathe through their nose and exhaled. "He might have set some stuff on fire."
"Ehh?"
After classes had finished, Yuu returned to Ramshackle to drop off their bag and change clothes. To Yuu's surprise near the patio stood Ortho and Idia, a rare appearance for the reclusive Ignyhide dorm leader.
"Idia, you didn't have to come in person, I was going to stop by your dorm to pick up Grim."
Idia shook his head. "No that's.." his voice trailed off into a murmur..
"What was that?"
"Brother was saying he wanted to wait till as long as possible to spend with Grim but couldn't risk any more property damage." Ortho chirped.
"Ortho..." Idia's hair tinged a slight pink at the end in embarrassment.
Yuu giggled, knowing how fond Idia is of cats, even if Grim insisted he wasn't one. "It's okay. Speaking of which, where is my furry monster?"
Idia unzipped his hoodie and pulled it aside.
Yuu couldn't help but smile at the site, a tiny Grim was curled up, asleep in his jacket.
"When did you guys find him?"
"Ortho found him in the botanical garden yesterday afternoon." Idia scratched Grim's head gently.
"Big brother needed some plant samples for a report and I found Grim tangled up in some vines. I brought him back with me and brother kept an eye on him until you called."
"Thank you both for taking care of him. Although Ortho mentioned that he burned some of your stuff Idia?"
Idia shook his head. "I was feeding Grim and he was not thrilled when I cut off his tuna supply. He set my bed on fire."
"The estimated damage was roughly 8.5% before brother caught him and we extinguished the flames."
"I hadn't really expected to have a quick time event irl in my own room. I don't know how he did it since the bedding should have been flame retardant. I'm actually impressed."
Yuu sighed. "I'm sorry about this Idia, I promise I'll help pay for the damages. I can probably ask Azul the next time I see him if he'll let me work some shifts at the lounge."
Idia shifted, gently pulling Grim out and handing him over to Yuu. "It's not that big of a deal. I already ordered a replacement." He zipped up his jacket. "Well my social meter is drained and I need to recharge. You up for the raid tonight?"
Yuu suddenly remembered the mobile game they played with Idia and their weekly raids.
"Ohh shoot Idia I can't, I've already got plans."
"Plans?"
Yuu paused for a moment as a thought crossed their mind, smiling at Idia.
"I've got a date tonight."
Idia choked. "A DATE? Who maxed out their social link with you?!?"
"Malleus."
"You're going on a date with HIM?" Idia looked absolutely shocked. He knew Yuu had some serious RPG Protag vibes but he never thought they were a full on otome MC going for an end game character like Malleus.
Yuu place a hand over their mouth, trying to mask the giggle that was starting to form. But Idia's expression was to much and Yuu burst into laughter.
Idia and Ortho looked on in confusion as Yuu calmed themselves down, giving one last snort before wiping a tear from their eye.
"I'm just yanking your chain Idia. I don't have a date with Malleus. We're just having tea. As you would say, I haven't maxed out my social link with him yet. But I promise I'll run the next one with you alright?"
Idia gave Yuu a grin. "You know I always wondered why Rook calls you a trickster, but now I can see why."
Yuu shrugged, flashing a grin of their own. "Well, with all the stuff ya'll put me though, you can't blame me if I have a bit of my own fun every now and then, right?" Yuu gave Idia a playful slap on his shoulder. "Now I gotta go see Crewel and get Grim back to normal."
Yuu turned to Ortho. "Make sure your brother gets to bed before 3AM please."
"Hey! I went to bed at 2AM yesterday."
"That's really not much better Idia."
"Brother your gaming log showed you went offline at 2:43AM last night."
"Ortho please don't rat me out like that."
"I'll see you later Ortho, and I'll catch you online Idia."
"Good afternoon Prefect Yuu."
"Catch you later Yuu."
Yuu watched as the Shroud brothers exited the gate of Ramshackle dorm. Yuu looked down at Grim. Scratching him under the chin. He opened one big blue eye at them before giving a big yawn and stretching his tiny body out.
"Well good morning sleepy head. We're going to go see Crewel and get you back to normal. As adorable as you are this way, I think I miss my regular sized monster." Yuu placed a kiss on top of Grim's head. He shook his head and gave Yuu an annoyed look. "Now stop that, I couldn't resist. Let's get going. The sooner we get you back to normal, the sooner you can have your favorite premium tuna." Grim's ears perked up and he gave Yuu a big grin. The expression on the tinier version looked so odd that Yuu couldn't help but laugh again.
Yuu turned and began their journey back to NRC's main building with Grim. Yesterday had been an utter whirlwind of activity. Yuu couldn't help but be amused by all that had happened(what they couldn't remember of it, they'd have to ask the others to help fill in the blanks.)
As much fun as it was reliving their adolescence, Yuu was happy to be back to normal.
Though it might have been nice to be small just bit longer so I didn't have to take my alchemy test. Yuu thought as they closed the gate behind them. They smiled down at Grim.
"Alrighty the Great Grim, let's go." And with that, Yuu was off.