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HEARTSLABYUL DORM - ROSE MAZE

Red petals swirl violently in the air—slicing, twisting, vanishing like confetti caught in a storm. Riddle's cries echo as magic pulses from his body in unstable waves.

Riddle: "Nngh?! What just—"

The violent winds still. The garden is silent except for the rustling of fluttering paper.

Ace (blinking): "Huh? I'm still alive? What's with all these playing cards?"

Deuce: "All the rose trees... They turned into cards?"

Name (stepping forward, voice low but firm):"It's Trey. He did something—he protected everyone."

Trey (rushing in front of Riddle): "Riddle, stop this right now!"

Cater (eyes wide): "Wait... Is that your 'Paint the Roses' spell, Trey?! But—how?!"

Grim: "Myah! All the magic-sealin' collars are gone!"

Yuu (standing close beside Name): "I can feel the magic fading from the air... He disrupted the spell."

Trey (calmly, but with urgency):"What did I tell you? My magic can overwrite characteristics for a short time. So I used it to make 'Riddle's magic' into 'my magic'."

Cater (half-whispering): "That's one hella sneaky loophole..."

Riddle (eyes glowing with fury and disbelief): "N-No... No! Off with their heads! I SAID, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!"

Name (stepping closer, tone sharp):"Riddle—look at what you're doing! Look around you!"

Heartslabyul Student A (backing away): "He... He was really gonna do it!"

Heartslabyul Student B: "He's completely lost it."

Heartslabyul Student C: "He's like some kinda monster!"

Riddle's hands tremble, the roses in his magic turning black and crumbling.

Riddle (voice cracking):"What?! Was my magic overwritten by yours?! Does that mean your signature spell is stronger than mine?!"

Trey (softly):"Of course it doesn't. Riddle... breathe. Listen to us."

Name (cutting in):"You always talk about rules. About right and wrong. But what about kindness, Riddle?""You say you're doing this to protect people, but you're hurting them instead."

Riddle (staring at Name, pupils dilating):"...Name, even you? Are you turning against me too?"

There's a haunting silence. His voice softens, almost begging.

Riddle:"I made everything perfect—for you. For the dorm. I followed the rules so you'd all see me. So you'd see me."

His voice breaks, his obsession pouring through like a dam shattered.

Riddle:"I memorized the rules. I made everyone follow them. I made myself follow them. Because if I didn't—if I slipped, even once—I'd lose everything. I'd lose you."

Name's eyes widen. Yuu clenches his fists, stepping protectively in front of him.

Yuu: "Riddle, that's not love. That's fear. You're not protecting Name—you're trying to control everything around him."

Crowley (stern):"Cease immediately, Mr. Rosehearts! Any further attempt to use magic will leave your magestone completely tainted with blot!"

Riddle (shaking, breath heaving):"But... I'm right! I have to be right! There is NO! POSSIBLE! ALTERNATIVE!"

Trey (reaching out, desperate):"Riddle, stop—please!"

Name (voice raised, firm and echoing like thunder):"Riddle!"

Everything halts.

The wind. The magic. The spiraling roses. Riddle freezes like a marionette with its strings cut.

Name (soft now, heartbreak clear in his eyes):"You're not alone anymore. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone—not even me. Just come back to us."

Riddle's lip trembles. Then—

His body convulses.

The Overblot begins.HEARTSLABYUL DORM – ROSE MAZE

Dark energy floods the rose maze like ink spilled on silk. Thorns curl in midair. Shadows coil around Riddle's frame as the wind howls with arcane rage.

Crowley (staggering back):"Cease immediately, Mr. Rosehearts! Any further attempt to use magic will leave your magestone completely tainted with blot!"

Riddle (voice distorting):"But... I'm right! I am right! There is NO! POSSIBLE! ALTERNATIVE!"

Riddle's body twists in unnatural contortions. His pristine uniform shreds, replaced by something regal and monstrous. Black ink floods from his mouth in slow trails as rose petals swirl like razors.

Trey (shouting):"Riddle, stop! A dark aura is flowing out of him—did his whole body just change?!"

Riddle (eyes glowing, voice echoing like shattered mirrors):"Heh heh heh... AH HA HA HA!""You are fools to defy me! You are not welcome in my world. In my world, I AM the law. I AM order made manifest!""The only response I will accept from you is 'Yes, Housewarden Riddle.' All who defy me will lose their heads! AH HA HA HA HA!"

Crowley (horrified):"Dear me, what have I done? I've allowed a student to overblot in my presence!"

Grim (panicking):"'Overblot'?! What does that mean?!"

Crowley:"Overblot is a dangerous condition that mages must avoid at all costs. He is overcome by negative energy—he's lost control of both his magic and emotions."

Yuu (clutching Name's arm):"This is bad. If we don't stop him, he could die... or worse."

Deuce (grimly):"Please explain!"

Cater:"To put it in layman's terms... he's in evil berserker mode!"

Trey:"If he keeps releasing magical energy, we could be looking at a loss of life here—his included."

Grim (shrieking):"UH, WHAT?!"

Crowley (straightening his hat nervously):"The well-being of my students is my top priority. Therefore, I must evacuate them immediately.As for Mr. Rosehearts, we must restore his consciousness before his magical energy runs dry.For as bad as losing him would be... there are scenarios that are far worse.""Listen well: I need all of you to seek help from the other housewardens and members of the faculty."

Ace (shouting mid-charge):"Hiiiyah! Take THAT!"

Cater, Grim, & Trey:"Huh?!"

Deuce (summoning his cauldron):"I summon thee—cauldron!"

Grim:"Myah?!"

Riddle (smirking darkly):"What do you fools think you're doing?"

Cater (facepalming):"Um, hello?! 911? We've got an idiot emergency!"

Grim (shouting):"You DID hear that part about how reeeeeal bad things are happenin' with him, right?!"

Deuce (breathing hard):"That's why we need to stop him now! I don't want that on my conscience!"

Ace:"And I'm not giving up till I hear him say 'I was wrong and I'm sorry.'"

Trey (resigned):sighs "All right, let's do this. I can overwrite his magic for a little longer. In the meantime, do what you can!""Headmage, please evacuate the other students!"

Name (stepping forward, voice fierce):"Wait—I'm not leaving!""I won't run from this. He's obsessed with order, with perfection... but that obsession has him in a chokehold."

Yuu (firm):"Then we fight with you. Together."

Crowley:"Wait! This is dangerous!"

Cater (groaning):"Ugh... Are you S-R-S, Trey?! You can't beat Riddle!"

Ace:"So what, you're not even gonna fight unless you KNOW you can win?"

Grim (pointing a paw):"Yeah, that's weak."

Deuce (gritting his teeth):"This is the only way we can think of to snap him out of this!"

Trey (glancing at Name):"Yeah... I don't want to lose him. There're too many things I've left unsaid."

Name (quietly, but intensely):"We'll stop him. I won't let him break—he's gone too far, but he's not beyond saving."

Cater (groaning):"Fine, but if I die, I'm haunting ALL of you."

Crowley (turning to flee):"Ngh... I'll be back as soon as I've gotten the students to safety. Stand firm until then!"

Riddle (screaming in pure wrath):"Such defiance, from every last one of you?! I shall take ALL of your heads!"

Trey:"Riddle's body can't take much more of this. We need to stop him—NOW—before it's too late!"꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚૮꒰˵•ᵜ•˵꒱ა‧₊˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷FLASHBACK ENDHEARTSLABYUL DORM – ROSE MAZE

Trey:"Riiiiiddle!"

A surge of magical pressure bursts from Riddle's body like a dam breaking. His fingers twitch, eyes wild with a mix of sorrow and rage.

Riddle (trembling, voice rising):"You think you know everything about me? You don't know the pain I've endured! The pressure—THE RULES!"

Grim (nervous):"Uhh, he's crackin' again...!"

Name (stepping forward, face firm):"Riddle. Stop this. You don't have to keep forcing yourself to be perfect. No one's asking you to."

Yuu (firmly, standing shoulder to shoulder with Name):"He's right. You're not alone. Just breathe. This isn't the way."

Riddle (locking eyes with Name):"You're always standing beside someone else. Smiling for everyone but me. I follow every rule—I was trying to be good enough for you!"

Name (voice calm but unwavering):"You don't need to be perfect to be loved. Especially not by me."

Riddle (cracking):"But you smiled at Ace. You walked with Yuu. You ignored me!"

Ace (muttering):"Uhhh is this about me? Why is this always about me?"

Riddle (voice distorted, blot flooding his body):"I gave you my respect, my loyalty—everything! And all I wanted was your heart in return!"

The ground shudders violently. Black and crimson magic erupts from beneath Riddle's feet, rising like smoke from burning roses. His uniform stretches and twists, morphing under the weight of the blot. Thorns spiral up his arms. His crown of roses sharpens, dripping with ink.

Crowley (arriving just a moment too late):"Dear me! I've allowed a student to overblot in my presence!"

Grim (tail puffed up):"Myah!! Is that what overblot looks like?! He's a whole horror movie!"

Deuce (stepping in front of Name and Yuu):"Headmage, what do we do?!"

Crowley:"We must restore his consciousness before his magic completely overtakes him!"

Riddle (voice warped and thunderous):"You defy me? You DARE to question the laws of this world?! Then I sentence you ALL—OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!"

He slams his palm into the ground—twisting the rose maze into a storm of thorns, heart-shaped guillotines erupting from the vines.

Name (magic glowing faintly from his hands):"Riddle, I'm ending this. You don't get to use love as a leash."

Yuu (nodding, determined):"We're right behind you, (Name)!"

Ace:"I'm not leaving until he admits he's wrong!"

Trey (summoning his spell):"I'll overwrite as much as I can—but we've gotta move fast."

Crowley (to the group):"Do what you must! I'll evacuate the other students!"

Cater (ducking a flying card-soldier):"Okay but like, can someone evacuate me too?!"

Riddle (floating, eyes glowing red):"This is my kingdom now! You will love me—or you will be punished!"

Name (stepping forward, eyes narrowed):"You don't want love. You want control."

He launches a wave of shimmering energy—his own signature spell clashing with Riddle's rose storm. The magic crackles midair, warping as blot pours off Riddle's skin like ink from a torn page.

Riddle (fixated, obsessive):"You were supposed to choose me! Not Yuu. Not Ace. Me."

Name (gritting his teeth):"I never said you weren't important, Riddle... but I'm not a prize to be won."

Yuu (throwing up a barrier beside him):"Let's bring him back. Before he loses everything."HEARTSLABYUL DORM - ROSE MAZE

Trey:"Riiiiiddle!"

Riddle:"Gah!"

Ace:"He's back!"

Cater (exhaling):"Well, it's about time... We were just about losin' our heads here—figure of speech, sorry—'cause we thought you might never wake up!"

Riddle (panting, dazed):"Gasp... Gasp... What in the world happened...?"

Crowley:"Ah, Mr. Rosehearts appears to have regained consciousness. Excellent."

Trey (kneeling beside him gently):"Don't worry, Riddle. Just try to rest, alright?"

Ace (crossing his arms):"Yo, that's exactly the kinda coddling that got him here in the first place. Now look at the garden—tore up from the floor up! We could've died, y'know."

Deuce (frowning):"He's not wrong. Things were looking bad for a while there."

Grim (huffing):"For cryin' out loud... When you humans let that stress build up, the results are never pretty."

Riddle (softly):"The truth is, I... I really wanted to eat the chestnut tart."

Ace (blinking):"Huh?"

Riddle (still trembling):"And I don't care if the roses are white, or the flamingos are pink.And I prefer honey to sugar cubes in my tea.And I like milk tea better than lemon.And... after a meal, I want to sit around and talk with everyone..."

Trey (quietly):"...Riddle?"

Riddle (tears welling up):"And I really wanted to play with you and Che'nya more, Trey... Sniff... Sniff...WAAAAAAAH!"

Cater (whipping out his phone halfway, then stopping himself):"Riddle Rosehearts, in tears... Hashtag #WOW... but like, also #Yikes, huh?"

Ace (unmoved):"You think a few crocodile tears is all it'll take for me to forgive you?"

Deuce:"Give the guy a break, Ace. He was clearly suffering."

Name (gently, stepping forward):"Riddle... No one's asking you to be perfect. You don't need to bottle yourself up to be worthy. Especially not to me."

Riddle (looking at Name, his expression crushed and vulnerable):"I tried to follow every rule... To be the kind of person you'd have to notice. But in the end... I only pushed everyone away."

Yuu (placing a hand on Name's shoulder):"We're your classmates, Riddle. You didn't have to force yourself. If you just let us in... we would've been there."

Trey (finally speaking firmly):"I'm sorry, Riddle. I knew you were suffering, and all I did was pretend not to notice."

Riddle:"Sob..."

Trey (lowering his gaze):"So I'm gonna say what I should've said earlier. Your way of doing things was wrong. You owe everyone an apology."

Riddle (through tears):"Sniff... I'm sorry... I'm really sorry."

Ace (eye twitching):"I know I've been saying I wanted an apology, but now that I got one, y'know what?One stupid 'I'm sorry' doesn't even begin to cover what you did!"

Cater:"DUDE. Way to be a capital-J Jerk!"

Ace (snapping):"And proud of it! Have you forgotten how he made a total fool outta me?!How he just threw away that chestnut tart we worked our butts off to make?!You think a few tears and a shaky 'sorry' make up for that?!"

Grim (nodding slowly):"Wow. I ain't never met anyone better at holdin' grudges than I am."

Riddle (panicked, looking at Name then Ace):"T-Then what do you want me to do?!"

Ace (smirking):"Well... I don't got a birthday coming up anytime soon."

Deuce (confused):"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Ace:"So I demand a do-over for the unbirthday party!But this time? We don't gotta lift a finger.YOU'RE the one bringing the tart!And no getting Trey to make it for you!"

Trey (chuckling despite himself):"...Now that's poetic justice."

Cater (snickering):"Not gonna lie—this is peak Ace energy."

Ace (crossing his arms):"Do that, and we're square.Oh—and admit you just wanted that tart from the beginning."

Riddle (lowering his head):"Yes... We're clear."

Crowley (stepping back in with a hand wave):"Ah, yes. Compromise is a beautiful thing! I believe that concludes this matter."

Name (softly to Riddle as they help him up):"Next time, just talk to me. You don't need to scream to be heard."

Riddle (blushing, clinging just a little longer than necessary):"If I do... you'll stay beside me, won't you?"

Yuu (dryly, but gently):"Only if you behave."

Grim (grumbling):"This school's full of psychos..."꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚૮꒰˵•ᵜ•˵꒱ა‧₊˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷HEARTSLABYUL DORM – ROSE MAZE

The air was finally calm—no more shrieking roses, no more magic-fueled chaos—just the gentle rustle of torn hedges and the lingering scent of scorched fondant.

Cater (hands on his hips, surveying the wreckage):"Welp, looks like we got some cleaning up to do.All that work making the garden Magicam-worthy, and now it's a total tire fire. Laaame."

Trey (gently supporting a weak Riddle):"I'll help out."

Cater (waving him off as he grimaces at a melted teacup stuck in a bush):"No, no. Why don't you get Riddle to the nurse's office? That was a full-blown overblot, man. We need to make sure he's really okay."

Crowley (clearing his throat, dramatically flipping a feathered pen in his pocket):"Mr. Diamond is correct. I shall accompany you. Ensuring Riddle's full recovery is paramount."

Trey (nodding):"Understood. Thank you, sir."

Riddle (weakly, glancing behind):"...(Name)."

Name (stepping forward, voice soft but clear):"I'm right here, Riddle. You focus on healing. I'll check in on you later, okay?"

Riddle (blushing as he's led away):"I... I'd like that."

As they disappeared down the path, the rest of the group exhaled like a collective weight had been lifted. Then—

Grim (sniffing the air like a bloodhound):"Man, am I STARVED after usin' so much magic! Hmmm... Hey, check it out!"

He darted toward a shimmering black object resting among a pile of collapsed playing cards.

Grim:"That's another black magestone—just like the one we found at the Dwarfs' Mine!"

Deuce (squinting at it):"You're right. Wonder where it came from?"

Ace (crossing his arms):"Just don't put it in your mouth this time."

Grim (already licking his paw):"No way! After how great that last one tasted, I can't get this thing in my mouth fast enough!"

Ace:"Aaand there it goes."

Cater (groaning):"Oh Grimmy... Have some self-respect, honey. That was literally trash."

Grim (chewing with his eyes closed):"Ahhhhh... Rich and sweet, but with a complex hint of bitterness in the aftertaste.Equally delicious, but a very different mouthfeel from the last one I ate."

Yuu (wincing):"Let's just hope that doesn't make him sick..."

Name (raising a brow):"...I guess this is just a thing now?"

Ace (shrugging):"As a monster, maybe his stomach works differently than ours."

Deuce (still concerned):"Even still, eating trash can't be good for anyone."

Grim (sniffing the ground again):"Oooh! I just tried the grass! The flavor was surprisingly pleasant! Crisp, even!"

Deuce (rushing to stop him):"That's our lawn! Don't eat that!"

Name (gently pulling Grim back):"Grim, babe, no. You're not a lawnmower."

Grim (pouting with a mouthful of dandelions):"...Coulda fooled me."

Cater (clutching his stomach and turning away):"Ugh... AFK while I go throw up...But... seriously, guys. Thanks."

Ace (pausing):"...Did you just say something?"

Cater (already walking off with his hand waving over his head):"Hm? Nope. Not a thing~!"

Yuu (sighing with a chuckle):"Y'know... I kinda thought our first week here would be boring."

Name (grinning):"Oh, yeah. Super boring. Just casual overblot trauma, magical explosions, and a sentient raccoon eating cursed gemstones."

Grim (muttering with his mouth full):"I'm a GREAT MAGE, not a raccoon...":♡.•♬✧⁽⁽ଘ( ˊᵕˋ )ଓ⁾⁾*+:•*∴HEARTSLABYUL DORM – TEA GARDEN

Heartslabyul Student A (standing proudly beside the teapot centerpiece):"All hail our leader, the Red Sovereign himself... Housewarden Riddle!"

Heartslabyul Students (in perfect, dramatic sync):"We salute you, Housewarden Riddle!"

Riddle (adjusting his gloves, chin lifted with regal pride):"Hm. The garden roses are red, the tablecloths are white... Yes, this seems a proper unbirthday indeed."He glanced down at the teapot."...Is there a dormouse asleep in the tea—Er, well, I suppose it's fine either way."

Trey (smiling wryly):"Not everything has to change completely, you know.Like, maybe spread the jam on your scones instead of on the dormouse this time?"

Trey (offering a reassuring nod):"Let's try to set the bar at 'it's great if it's this way,' not 'it absolutely has to be this way.'"

Riddle (pausing, then nodding softly):"Yes... that makes sense."

Just behind the crowd, (Name) stood beside Yuu, both watching the scene unfold. (Name)'s locs were decorated in gentle red and white beads today, matching the tea garden's theme—a touch that hadn't gone unnoticed.

Ace (groaning loudly):"Sigh... I can't believe we got roped into cleaning up and prepping the garden again."

Deuce:"Well, at least the Housewarden recovered from his overblot without any complications."

Cater (snapping a picture of the garden with perfect lighting):"And the garden is Magicam-worthy once again! Hashtag #nofilter on this gorgeousness!"

Grim (hopping onto the table and sniffing around the scones):"Blah blah blah! Let's just eat already!"

Cater (winking):"Then eat we shall! I'll get the—"

Riddle (abruptly raising a hand):"Wait a minute!"

Cater (startled):"Huh?"

Riddle (pointing with narrowed eyes):"There's a white rose...!"

Ace (eyes widening):"We missed one?!"

Cater (sputtering):"Ace, Deuce—I told you to make sure to paint every rose!"

Deuce (defensive):"Wait, this is our fault?!"

Trey (stepping forward, worried):"R-Riddle, listen—Please, try to understand! Oh no... not again?!"

(Name) (stepping between them quickly, voice gentle but firm):"Riddle, breathe. It's just one rose. You've come so far... don't let something so small ruin your moment."

Riddle's eyes landed on (Name), and instantly, the tension in his shoulders melted like butter in the sun. His breath hitched slightly, heart squeezing. Even after everything... she still stood here. Still talked to him.

Riddle (visibly blushing, voice low):"Well... I suppose I can overlook one or two missed roses."

Cater (gasping dramatically):"R-really?! That's so generous of you, Riddle!"

Riddle (glancing at (Name) again, then back to the group):"If we work together, we should be able to get them painted in no time."

Ace (throwing his arms up):"What?! They still gotta be painted?!"

Trey (chuckling softly):"Even so... I'm impressed. You've changed, Riddle."

Grim (chewing on a tart):"I'm starvin' here! Let's just get these stupid roses painted or whatever!"

Yuu (grinning and nudging (Name)):"You've got the magic touch. Literally saved us from round two of 'Off with their heads.'"

(Name) (smiling sweetly as she summoned a little glamor magic to paint a rose):"Guess I'm just good at calming fiery hearts."

Riddle's face flushed a deeper red, nearly matching the roses themselves. He watched her every move like she was his guiding star. And just maybe... she was.

Riddle (raising his voice, commanding but lighter this time):"All right, everyone. Is everyone ready?"

Heartslabyul Students:"Yes, Housewarden!"

Grim:"Let's paint these roses and EAT."꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚૮꒰˵•ᵜ•˵꒱ა‧₊˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷HEARTSLABYUL DORM – TEA GARDEN

Ace (wiping his mouth with a napkin):"So what happened to that tart, Housewarden?"

Riddle (sitting upright with poise, but his gaze flickers toward (Name) before answering):"I made it for you, as I promised I would. Here: one strawberry tart, crafted by yours truly."

Trey (smiling as he inspects it):"Nice! The shape's a little off, but I can tell you put a lot of work into that glaze.A fine job indeed, especially considering it was your first!"

Ace (raising an eyebrow, unimpressed):"Oh, puh-leeze. How about we actually TRY it before you start fawning all over him, Trey?"

Cater (snatching his phone):"Hold it! Don't you start cutting that before I get my Magicam snap! ...Okay, got it!"

(Name) (smirking beside Yuu, whispering):"I'll give him points for effort. He was sweating bullets over that tart yesterday."

Yuu (grinning):"More like a whole bakery worth of stress. I saw him triple-check the measurements."

Ace:"Tch. I see Cater hasn't changed a bit either. All right, let's dig in!" munch

Grim (already chomping through a corner):gulp

Deuce (chewing slowly):"Hmm...?"

Trey & Cater (in sync):"This is kinda..."

Everyone:"Salty!"

Riddle (eyes wide, blinking rapidly):"Whaaat?!"

Ace (nearly coughing):"Err? This isn't kinda salty—it's a full-on salt lick! What did you put in this?!"

Riddle (shocked):"But I followed the rules exactly, and measured everything precisely! Unless... Oh!Could it be... from the oyster sauce?"

Deuce (choking):"Sputter Wait... did you actually use that Walrus-brand oyster sauce Trey jokes about?!"

Riddle:"But Trey said that oyster sauce is an unlisted secret ingredient in all tarts!He said all the finest bakers use it..."

Ace (staring at him in disbelief):"And you actually believed him?! How could you not tell that he was joking?!"

(Name) (trying not to laugh):"Wait... no way. You really dumped oyster sauce in a strawberry tart?"

Yuu (chuckling, covering his mouth):"I thought he was being sarcastic. I didn't think Riddle would actually take it seriously."

Cater:"Even if you believed the joke, it was only supposed to be a splash. How much did you put in?"

Riddle (folding his arms defensively):"It's an unlisted ingredient! How could I measure it if he wouldn't tell me how much to put in?!"

Trey (wheezing with laughter):"Pfft... Ah ha ha ha ha! I can't believe someone actually fell for the ol' oyster sauce prank!"

Riddle (forcing a weak laugh, clearly embarrassed):"Ha ha ha... Yes. Quite humorous indeed. I truly am a fool."

Deuce:"Ha ha! It really is so disgusting that it's actually kind of funny!"

Ace:"Yeah, what else can we do but laugh?"

Grim (still munching):"You know, in its own weird way, I think it's actually kinda good!"

Cater:"Right? It really isn't half as bad as you'd think."

Deuce:"Seriously? You're agreeing with Grim, Cater? He literally eats garbage off the ground."

Cater (shrugging):"Look, I'm not saying it's amazing or anything!"

Trey:"But you like it because it's not sweet, right?"

Cater (caught off guard):"Huh?"

Trey:"You've never really liked sweet things, right?"

(Name) (teasingly):"Wait, what? All this time and you've been faking your sweet tooth for Magicam pics?"

Cater (groaning):"Yeah, you got me. But how did you figure it out? I've never told anyone that."

Trey:"Because you casually bring up my Paint the Roses spell every time we're eating sweets.You hide it pretty well, but that was a giveaway."

Cater:"Ack! My secret is out! This is so, so embarrassing! Especially after what happened to you and Riddle.I should have learned by now that keeping your feelings on the DL is not a great idea."

Trey (patting his shoulder):"How about I cook up a quiche for the next unbirthday party?"

Cater:"That sounds totes amazing to me. Just make sure it's as photogenic as the tarts!"

Che'nya (suddenly appearing on the table, munching):"Mm mm mmm! Your baked goods are always so delightful, Trey." munch munch

Riddle (jumping slightly):"Che'nya?! What are you doing here?!"

Che'nya:"Hmm? I came to celebrate my unbirthday with all of you. A very merry unbirthday to you, Riddle."

Riddle (frowning):"The unbirthday party is a Heartslabyul House tradition. It does not pertain to you."

Che'nya (grinning as his tail twitches):"And those two? What about them?" gestures to (Name) and Yuu

Grim (pointing):"Hey! You're that weird semi-invisible cat guy from before!So you never told us—what dorm are you from?"

Trey:"Che'nya isn't even a Night Raven student.He's a student at our long-time rival school, the Royal Sword Academy."

Deuce:"Whaaat? You go to a different school?"

Ace:"The frickin' Royal Sword Academy, no less?!So there are other magic academies? Wow, that school has a really cool name!"

Heartslabyul Student A:"Did that guy just say the 'Royal Sword Academy'?!"

Heartslabyul Student B:"He's one of those pompous jerk-faces?!"

Heartslabyul Student E:"What?! Who's from Royal Sword?! We gotta run 'em outta here!"

Che'nya (licking the crumbs off his paw):"Well, now that I've tasted some tart, perhaps I should see myself out."

Heartslabyul Student A:"He's running for it!"

Heartslabyul Student B:"After him! Don't let him get away!"

Grim:"Whoa, everyone turned bloodthirsty real quick."

Riddle (sighing):"The vast majority of Night Raven College students perceive the Royal Sword Academy as the enemy."

Trey:"No surprise, given that they've kicked our butts every year for a hundred years straight..."

Cater:"Hey, stop harshin' the vibe! This is supposed to be a day of celebration.Can't we all just enjoy our unbirthdays?"

Grim (stuffing another tart into his mouth):"Myah! Merry unbirthday or whatever! I'm gonna eat till my stomach explodes!"

⸻

SAVANACLAW DORM – LEONA'S ROOM

Ruggie (leaning against the window sill):"Awww, sounds like those Heartslabyul twits are having some kind of feast today. Must be nice.How come Savanaclaw doesn't have any traditions that involve eating lots of free food?"

Leona (grumbling from his bed, one eye open):"Bah, it's a beautifully sunny day and they're stuffing their faces with cookies and cake?Grossin' me out over here."

Leona (turning to face Ruggie, voice low):"Anyway, Ruggie. You know that's not what I'm here to ask you about."

Ruggie (grinning slyly):"Ah, that. Just leave it to me, Boss. All the preparations are proceeding smoothly!"

Leona (smirking darkly, stretching):"Then those fools won't be happily guzzling tea for much longer.That goes double for that snob Malleus.They got no idea what's comin'..."He chuckled under his breath, then full-on laughed."Heh heh. Ah ha ha ha ha ha!"