Chapter Text
“Azul, how are you not dying with that jacket?”
“Willpower,” he answered with a stiff nod.
“I agree with Yuu-san,” Jade decided. “Azul-san, the dress code is more lax around the holidays. Surely, you can discard any unnecessary clothing. I’d hate you to have a heat stroke.”
“Yeah, Boss,” Floyd chimed. “But if you die, dibs on your stuff.”
He rolled his eyes before retreating back to his quarters. “Very well. I’ll ‘dress down’.”
Yuu sighed. How could a man so charismatic and composed as Azul be so childishly stubborn? Then again, he was pretty emotionally stunted. Speaking of-
“Hey, senpais? Can I ask you something?”
Jade offered a nod. “Most certainly.”
“I’ve been having these weird dreams lately. Except, they don’t feel like dreams. They’re more like, memories?”
Ok that sounds creepy. Try that again, Yuu.
“But they’re not like-“
How do you even word something like this?
“It’s not like I’m there, either. It’s almost like I’m watching someone else’s memories.”
“Sounds freaky,” Floyd hummed.
Jade was more serious, brow slightly furrowed. Something about the mirthlessness made her uneasy. “What do you mean?”
She took a deep breath. “I dreamt about Azul after the Overblot. It was really fuzzy, but then it kept happening- getting clearer and clearer every time.”
It sounds even weirder saying it out loud.
“Sometimes it’s not him, though.”
Even creepier.
“Sometimes it’s Riddle-senpai, or Leona-senpai- but that one’s more rare and short.”
“What do you exactly see in those dreams with Azul-san?”
She sighed, trying to find the words. “People- well, er, merfolk. Kids, specifically, being really mean to a small octopus-mer. Looked like a small Azul to me.” She chuckled, “he was so cute, too. Squishy cheeks.”
Floyd laughed. “Sounds like him!”
Jade wasn’t as mused. “Continue.”
“People being mean, poking fun at him, just to swim off saying he’ll spray ink or something.” Her heart pricked with pain. “He was all alone. So, he started studying really hard. That’s when you two showed up. He thought you two were going to bully him.” She pointed to Jade. “You were impressed with the sigils, even though he didn’t want you to touch them.”
His eyes widened in slight alarm. Or surprise? One of the two. His mouth was a thin line. “Where did that scene take place?”
“At a school underwater. There was a crack in the wall that Azul squeezed into it.”
“Woah, that’s freaky,” Floyd decided, face twisting a bit in repulsion.
“That does sound eerily similar to the events back then,” Jade agreed more subdued. “I had nearly forgotten them. I wonder if he remembers?”
She stared. “Wait, so that really happened?”
So no Magic, but ESP, apparently.
“Sorry for the wait,” Azul interrupted, arriving in far more casual attire.
He still insisted on pants, although jeans were better than whatever he was wearing before. A plain button-up matched it. Floyd, in contrast, wore gym shorts and a loose sleeveless shirt. Jade was between the two in terms of formality. He had a short-sleeved shirt on with cargo shorts. He had the audacity to wear a fanny pack strapped over his chest.
Ah. Azul usually dressed them, didn’t he? That could be neither confirmed nor denied.
“I shoulda brought mine,” Floyd lamented, eyes on the pack on Jade’s chest.
“We have time for you to get it,” Azul assured easily.
“Nah, it’s fine.”
“Before I forget,” the cephalopod continued, attention now on Yuu, “do you still have those knives Savanaclaw gave you?”
“They’re at Ramshackle, why?”
“We should get them.” His tone was curt and blunt, like a dulled blade. “As a safety precaution.”
Jade’s eyes widened. “You think that’s necessary?”
Floyd nodded, a twisted smirk tugging at his lip like a hook in the mouth. “I think it’d be better just to squeeze ‘im if he gets outta hand.”
“We are capable of defending ourselves,” Azul phrased tactfully. “Yuu-chan, your best weapon is your aim. If Jamil-san gets too rowdy, I want you to use your tools.”
His blue gaze didn’t waver from her. His tone was precise, cool, and carried a weight Yuu couldn’t describe. His words weren’t what mattered. It’s what went unsaid.
“But I can’t just carry weapons like that around campus,” she protested.
“They’re just as dangerous as Magic,” Jade agreed. “If Headmaster Crowley poses a threat, you have strength in numbers.”
Her brow furrowed. “I’m just me .”
“Wow, Shrimpy-chan~!” Floyd cackled. “I thought you were smarter! You have all of the school behind ya. Use ‘em!”
“That sounds bad,” she deadpanned, following with the toneless joke, “I’m not you three.”
“I see,” Jade interrupted, eyes on Azul. “If something so dangerous were to happen, she could claim self defense. It could look bad on Headmaster Crowley. Even if he dealt with the problem internally, there’d be too many people rallying against any serious consequence. He wouldn’t want anything controversial reaching the ears of the board, either.”
“Precisely,” he hummed.
“So what do you want me to do? Yuu gawked. “ Stab him?”
“I want you to do what’s necessary,” Azul corrected with a certain edge to his voice. “You can’t easily kill anyone in that form, if that’s your concern. I’m asking you to defend yourself if you got caught in the crossfire.”
She paused. Azul was a smart guy. He had scary intelligence lurking behind those classy glasses and plastic smile. He knew any risk, and calculated accordingly. If he was so concerned, even with his arrogant self and tweels?
Why was that so disturbing? She had fought Riddle and talked down Leona just fine! Sure, she clocked Riddle’s jaw and watch Leona disintegrate Ruggie’s- ok don’t think about that - she even stopped a group drowning! What was so different about this?
What was he hiding?
“Azul.” Her voice was low, as if stalking him from a difference. “What are you not telling me?”
He sighed, pushing up his glasses with a finger. “You give me too much credit. I don’t know what’s going on inside that man’s head.”
“Humor me,” she demanded flatly.
His cool gaze was chilling, unwavering like the stilled seas before an unseen storm. His lips were thin, pensive. “It takes a cunning sea serpent to know a conniving snake.”
“What are you doing here?” Jamil’s eyes were formed into an irritated glare, simmering with an emotion he had hardly let boil.
“Ah~” Floyd sang, pointedly ignoring him. “It’s like summer here~!”
“It is unfavorable for us to return to our hometown during winter,” Jade put simply.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” he all but hissed.
“What’s going on over here?” A summery voice greeted. Yuu immediately checked his eyes to find a complete lack of malice.
Normal Kalim-kun. Good Kalim-kun. We like this Kalim-kun.
Jamil fumbled. “Kalim!”
The prefect didn’t seem to notice the blunder. “Hey, Azul. What’re you doing here?”
He returned his smile. “Hello, and how are you today, Kalim-san?” He scanned the horizon, that business smile sparkling in its pseudo-splendor. “Scarabia is as splendid as ever! Although, outside is a winter wonderland, you see not a trace of that in the summer heat of Scarabia. This would make a wonderful location for an in-house resort.”
“Oh?” There was not a glint of understanding behind those round, red eyes. “Not sure I follow, but thanks for the compliments!”
“Speaking of a staycation, so to speak, I didn’t know all of Scarabia was to spend their holiday here. I was surprised when Yuu-chan informed me.”
“You guys too, right?” He replied with that unwavering grin.
“That’s right!” He returned with similar enthusiasm. “What a wonderful coincidence! Then should we not, as prefects, take this opportunity to deepen the bonds between Octavinelle and Scarabia through a joint training camp?”
Jamil choked on air behind his housewarden.
Kalim beamed. “Sounds great! I’d love for you guys to stay with us!”
The vice muttered into his ear, “I’m against it, Kalim.”
He blinked back at him. “What? Why?”
“We’re giving up our vacation to study in order to catch up to the other dorms,” he explained evenly. “You want to invite the enemy into our dorm and reveal all our secrets to them?”
Kalim frowned a bit, thin brows furrowed in confusion. “‘Enemy’ is a bit much. Besides! They can help keep Yuu-chan company for when we’re busy. It’s good to have extra eyes, y’know?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he sighed, voice barely above a whisper.
“Azul is the top Mage at our school,” Kalim insisted excitedly. “Having them stay here will benefit Scarabia! Turning away a guest that came all this way would sully the Asim name!”
Azul beamed. “You really are a truly kind and warm-hearted person, Kalim-san! Allow me to teach you what I can, so that both of our dorms may prosper!”
“The two of us will be happy to assist with any cooking or cleaning,” Jade assured.
Floyd chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. We’re pros from the Lounge.”
Kalim’s smile sparkled. “That’d be a great help! Then Jamil will have less work.”
“Don’t worry about me,” the vice assured sharply, only for the chatter to continue. “You’re not listening, at all.”
“Well then!” The prefect chirped. “I know you just got here, but why don’t we get this practice started? Leave your things over here!”
The trio followed Kalim down to the sleeping quarters, leaving Yuu and Jamil alone. Great .
“Did you instigate this?” He asked bluntly. His tone lacked malice, but it definitely wasn’t kind.
She dodged the question. “You need to take a break. Extra hands won’t hurt, right? And if you’re so worried about my health, they can always help me out while you deal with Kalim-kun.”
He sighed. “Fine. Please, just talk to me next time.”
That felt too easy . She blinked. “Sorry. You’re right. I should have.”
He stared back at her, unsure how to exactly accept this apology. He settled with a nod before following Kalim like a distant shadow.