Chapter Text
“Sorry, I’m late!” Jonah slammed the door of the Mirror Chamber open, already out of breath. “After lab cleaning took longer than usual.”
Crowley waved his hands dismissively before motioning for the prefect to sit. “It’s alright, Mister Argentum. We’re about to start.”
Jonah looked around, waving sheepishly because of his lateness. Kalim al-Asim waved back at him while Azul Ashengrotto and Lilia Vanrouge (wait, why is he here?) gave him a nod of greeting. Vil Schoenheit and Leona Kingscholar looked slightly annoyed, which was understandable from their part. Idia Shroud’s tablet didn’t text or say anything. Taking a seat next to Riddle Rosehearts, he could hear the redhead scoff.
“This is the first meeting of the year, and you are late?”
Jonah winched. “I was too into the cleaning.”
“Were you together with Ace, Deuce, and Grim?”
“Yeah, why…?”
Riddle just stared at him.
Jonah smiled sheepishly. “Okay, I can see your point.”
“At the very least, you came,” Schoenheit chimed in before looking at the only Vice Prefect in the room. “Unlike someone who makes it his habit.”
At least Senior Vanrouge looked apologetic. “I apologize. Us fae hath divers time concept with humans. One instant I saw him ere his nap and then he disappeared once place of learning is cashiered.”
“Are you sure he’s not ditching you on purpose?” Idia commented.
“Don’t be so brazen,” Lilia crossed his arms in front of his chest, frowning ever so slightly, but not enough of a full glare. “I am sure that he is burdened by a fate so troublesome.”
“Oh! We might be able to help!” Kalim suddenly chimed in. He picked up the book next to him and flipped it to the first page. Several colourful papers were stuck on the page, many with notifications of upcoming due dates and appointments, including today’s meeting. “Jamil taught me and I started to make stick notes on my book, so I got reminded every day of what the upcoming meeting.”
Leona let out a scoff. “And here I thought fae has good memories.” Lilia raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t say anything. The Savanaclaw prefect turned toward the headmaster. “Whatever. If the hotshot won’t be here, might as well start.”
Crowley nodded at Leona, knowing that talking about the absent prefect won’t lead to anything. “Right.” He cleared his throat. “Now, then, let us begin. Mister Rosehearts, if you will?”
“Yes, Headmaster.” As Riddle stood up, he gave a document to Jonah, motioning him to take one before passing them to others. He then pulled a rolling blackboard and stepped forward to the spot where Crowley previously stood. “The progress for the Nationwide Magical School Joint Cultural Festival has been going pretty well.” He picked up a chalk and tapped one of the pages from the document. With one stroke of the chalk on the board, the exact data he had written down got copied onto the board. “During the Winter Break, we have sent the information to parents and various schools as an invitation. This also includes the announcement for the Vocal and Dance Competition, which becomes the first climax of the festival.”
Jonah looked up from his document. “First, you say? There’s another one?”
“Actually, yes.” Riddle tapped the board again. Another set of writing was copied down. “It is technically not part of the joint culture festival since it is outside the committee’s handling, but at the end of the festival, the final round of the Union Cross Championship is only for Night Raven College students.” Riddle circled the campaign name to make a point.
Jonah pulled a nervous smile as he tilted his head, saying his next words slowly. “Remind me again what that is?”
Riddle rolled his eyes, but he was so patient in his next explanation. “It is part of the school’s 100th anniversary celebration. Instead of the usual Interschool Magishift Tournament, it is changed into the Union Cross Champaign, a big tournament between the four great schools: Night Raven College, Royal Sword Academy, Diamond Crown Academy, and Three Wishes Institute.” Underneath the tournament name, Riddle dragged his chalk, and the symbol of the four schools he had mentioned was drawn there. “The preliminary for the tournament contestants will be announced soon, but that is outside my responsibility as the festival head planner.”
“That is right.” Crowley nodded, feeling proud as the Heartslabyul Prefect. “All of the 100th anniversary programs, which include the Union Cross Campaign and the Quartet Exchange Program, will be handled by the school instead of the student committee and dorm leaders.” He turned back to the prefect. “You may continue, Mister Rosehearts.”
Riddle nodded. He erased the tournament information and then focused on the school festival. “Right. We have accepted interviews from the press, but they are particularly preferring the Vocal & Dance Championship.” He circled the VDC point, frowning slightly.
“It shouldn’t be a surprise,” Azul chimed in. “The VDC is a very well-known tournament where each school’s great singers will be taking part in.”
“So, it’s not just a school singing contest?” Riddle asked.
“It did start as that,” Vil answered instead, “but as the eras changed and as new genres were discovered, the music greatly improved, together with the dances and performances. As a result, it’s recently been called one’s gateway to becoming a professional singer.”
“With the audience being able to vote for the finalist in real time, it has that appeal that excites the crowds, you see,” Azul added. “And it is no exaggeration to say that this competition brings forth new stars. Not to mention, we also have some famous stars participating this year.” Azul turned to Vil, putting up his customer service smile he usually has. “Isn’t that right, Mister Vil?”
Riddle hummed. “I know Senior Vil is in the entertainment industry, but I don’t know the details. Cater is the one more familiar with social media. He mentions Senior Vil a couple of times.”
“Oh? You don’t research your fellow prefect, Mister Riddle?” Azul looked so fakely serious, pushing his glasses up as they glinted under the light. “You should know by now that Mister Vil is a very popular celebrity who started with fashion but has now ventured into movies, even!” He gestured dramatically toward Vil. “He gets flooded with invitations whenever Fashion Week comes around. He was the number one runway model during last year’s Autumn & Winter fashion collection. Moreover, he is one of the only high school students who has more than 5 million followers on his social media. Anything he advertises gets sold out immediately, or so the rumours say.” He chuckled. I’m surprised you don’t know anything.”
Throughout his promotion, Kalim, Jonah, and Riddle were the only ones who were most interested, listening closely to every word Azul had said. Lilia and Crowley didn’t say anything, nodding and smiling along without any words. Leona and Vil looked ever so annoyed as if they were listening to the bank telemarketer promoting their newest program. Idia didn’t say anything, but it seemed that he muted the audio.
“W-While there is a benefit on research,” Riddle huffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest, seemingly offended by the accusation. “I do not want to accidentally find something confidential. Unlike you.”
“Oi, you Octo Punk,” Leona slapped his knee so hard to gain everyone’s attention, “shut your silver tongue or I’ll rip you a new one. We don’t want to hear you stroking other’s men dick.”
Azul didn’t look offended at all, still had his customer service smile. “How vulgar, Mister Leona.”
“Hm, you sure have a talent for baseless advertisement, Azul.” Vil leaned back, crossing his arms, clearly unimpressed. “All of those are so perfectly natural they’re not even worth bragging about.”
“But it doesn’t change the fact that we have a celebrity joining in the competition,” Kalim said.
There was a faint beep of Idia unmuting. “Celebrities actually. Neige LeBlanche's name was trending all over the net a few days ago.”
Jonah blinked. He looked up at the floating tablet, alarm bell ringing in his head. There was something familiar about that name. That name should mean something to him. “Neige… LeBlanche…?”
“Oh, I’ve seen him a couple of times towards the television commercial,” Lilia said. “The number one most loved actor of today, isn’t he?”
“Diasomnia people watch TV?” Idia asked.
“Yet of course!” Lilia smiled so widely. “We are high place of learning students, after all. We watch soap operas and e’en play games.”
“H-heh…” Idia let out a nervous laugh. “That’s unexpected…”
Ridle looked down at his document. “Neige LeBlance…” He flipped the pages until he reached the spot he wanted. “Oh. He’s the representative from Royal Sword Academy along with the seven other members of his group.”
“Royal Sword Academy?” Jonah perked up, also flipping the pages. “Do the other two schools also join in?”
“Yes. Diamond Crown Academy and Three Wishes Institute have sent their application as well.” Riddle pouted as he flipped the next page. “Though I feel like TWI sent the entire school.” He showed the page he got, which had the list of participants.
Jonah flipped to the page, and his eyes widened. The students from Three Wishes Institute who joined nearly filled an entire page. “I-Is that allowed?”
“Oh! Vidya did mention that she will be performing.” Kalim bounced on his seat. “Huwaaa! I can’t wait to see her on stage!”
Crowley nodded along, looking so proud. “We have two celebrities, girls who study under an idol curriculum, and an entire theatre troupe. It is no exaggeration to say that this competition is the star of everything.” He looked up to Riddle again. “Mister Rosehearts, I ask that you please make sure everything is in order so we do not encounter trouble on the day of the competition.”
Riddel nodded back. “Yes, Headmaster.” Then he turned toward the other prefects. “But I might ask for help from the other member from time to time. With the many agendas we will be having, I do not want another chaos like the last time.”
Leona scoffed, mostly out of amusement. “It was a one-time thing.”
“One-time too many,” Riddle retorted with a deadpan stare toward the beastman.
“Of course we’ll help you, Riddle!” Kalim cheered eagerly. “I can hardly wait for the festival!”
Riddle let out a sigh of relief so quiet that you almost missed it. But Jonah felt proud of the prefect. Maybe, if they are still in the past, Riddle might be too proud to even ask for help. But this Riddle is someone who keeps learning every day. He might not be brave enough to stand up against his mother at the moment, but it is the baby steps that matter. “One last thing. I will be sending a reminder to each club president for their exhibition.”
“Exhibition?” Jonah asked.
“Every club will be showing something, whether it’s a performance or craft pieces, to the visitor as a show of what you’ve been doing through the year,” Riddle explained. “Not only that, students from the Fourth Year will be presenting what they’ve learned during their internship.”
Jonah nodded along as he muttered, “Oh, that’s why I haven’t seen any older students beyond Third Year.”
“Other than that, that’s all the current report from the Event Committee,” Riddle closed his school festival document. “Anything further will be discussed in our next meeting.”
“Thank you, Mister Rosehearts,” Crowley said, nodding to Riddle in gratitude. “Gentlemen, let us adjourn the meeting for today. Please continue making preparations for the festival.”
Jonah watched as the other prefect walked out following Crowley. Lilia and Kalim were chatting about their potential club’s performance. Leona just yawned as he walked out. Riddle waved at him when he walked out, still with his open document. And last one, not counting the whole Board Game Club, was Vil. He looked rather troubled, annoyed even. He had his phone in his hand, scrolling through something. The Pomefiore Prefect only glanced at him, and the sting suddenly appeared.
He winched, reaching to rub his right eyes. Azul noticed it. “Hey. You okay?”
Jonah could’ve told the truth that his eyes felt hurt every time an overblot was building up, the same pain when he overblot. But he kept it to himself. Azul doesn’t need to know a lot. “I’m fine. Just dust.”
Azul still stared at him. The worry ceased slightly, replaced with curiosity. “You don’t wear your eyepatch again.” His hand reached to touch his bangs, sweeping it to see the captain’s yellow eye, now splattered with back inks. “Now that I think about it, you haven’t been wearing it for a while. Did you lose it or something?”
Jonah shook his head, smiling for reassurance. “I’m just trying new things.” He stood up as their group walked out. “I saw Senior Vil looking like in a deep thought.”
“I wouldn’t blame him,” Azul said. “He and Neige LeBlance had been working together in many movies. Perhaps knowing they’re singing opponents caught him off guard.”
“I sure hope so,” Jonah said. “Anyway, about the exhibition Riddle mentioned.” He opened the document again, on the page where the potential locations of all of the school clubs’ stands. “You did mention something that we need to perform soon in the last meeting. Is this what you were referring to?”
“Yes. It’s still two months away, but Riddle would probably want the details soon to set the stands.”
“What do you guys do usually?”
Azul shrugged. “Just some stands where people can play the game we have. That way, we don’t need to use that much of the budget. But we really want to make this year grand.”
“I don’t understand how you are so excited about a presentation.” Idia let out an exasperated sigh. “I can’t even fathom how I’ll stand on that stage to announce whatever. I just know that all I’ll hear from the audience when I stand up there will be ‘Wait, is his hair burning? Is he from the Shroud Family?’, ‘Look at how gloomy he is…!’ and all that stuff. Ahh, can’t deal…” His tablet moved around. It was rather funny how, through his tool, Idia might sound expressive. “Someone as introverted as myself requires a lot of EXP just trying to stand on stage, ugh…”
“We still need to put on something, though,” Jonah said. “I mean, I can do the presenting while you do the thing behind the scenes.”
“Ah, Mister Argentum. Always the hero.” Azul patted Jonah’s shoulder. “But this can be a good opportunity for Idia’s practice. If he can’t even handle a simple school festival, how will he handle an actual internship?”
“‘Simple school festival’ my ass.” Idia sounded like he was rolling his eyes. “I think my voice transmission sounds so much better than my actual geeky voice.”
“But your actual voice sounds nice,” Jonah said.
Idia’s tablet bounced. “A-Ah, you can’t just say that with a straight face, Jonah!”
“You hear that, Idia?” Azul put two hands on Jonah’s shoulder as he pressed his cheek against the captain. He didn’t even make an attempt to put on puppy eyes. “Please do it? For him?”
Jonah stared at Idia, smiling sheepishly. But it was enough to make Idia silent for a few seconds before responding again. “Geh… I’ll think about it.”
Azul just smiled and patted Jonah’s shoulder before leaning back as if saying that he did a good job. “Glad to hear that.”
Jonah let out a sigh. “Using me against him. Never change, Azul.”
Azul just raised an eyebrow at him without putting down his smile. “Oh, don’t look at me as if you won’t do the same thing.”
Jonah smirked, the corner of his lips raised. “You got me there.”
“I can see why a lot of people ship you two,” Idia muttered.
“Shipping us where?” Jonah asked.
Idia let out a sigh. “Forget it. I’m leaving.”
Jonah just chuckled. “By the way, Senior Azul. Have you heard of the parfait shop just at the port…”
“Mira, Mira. Please enlighten me.”
The screen of his phone lit up. The screen showed a vertical ellipse with an intricate pattern resembling a mirror edge. In the centre of the ellipse, a sound wave appeared, vibrating every time it spoke. “Yes, what would you like to know?”
“Currently, who is the most beautiful of all?”
It showed a loading circle for a few seconds before pinging. “The first web result that I obtained using the keywords ‘beautiful’ is…Neige LeBlanche.”
He gritted his teeth. “Neige…” His arms holding the phone dropped to his side, clutching the communication device hard. He breathed in and out, trying to smother the bubbling irritation in his stomach. Neige. Neige. It’s always Neige.
He walked toward his vanity, putting his hand on the table to ground himself. His makeup is still intact, but is it enough to beat a naturally adorable face? His heart thumping loudly and his eyes playing tricks upon seeing reflection, changing each beat; a woman with a crown, an old hag, and back to him.
“I’m not going to be like her…” he swore. “I will take him down with my own hand. This will be the time.”
His phone beeped again. “I am sorry, I could not quite catch that.”