This Is Part 8 Of The "What If Yuu Didn't Want To Go Back?" Series!

This is part 8 of the "What if Yuu didn't want to go back?" Series!

(I, the author of this work, do not consent to this work being crossposted/translated without my knowledge or used to train an AI, ever.)

Masterlist

Vil stares for a moment, just a moment, and then smiles. Grim is still looking at me weird, but says nothing.

We leave to eat. Grim's strange looks halt when he sees breakfast: poppyseed bagels with cream cheese and lox. We eat instead of talking, and I take the time to admire just how clean this place is.

Everything is so shiny. There aren't any paintings or pictures, noticeably, but there is a mirror hanging over there. It was probably put there to allow people to look at the oven without having to turn around, given the location and angle.

Looking in the mirror... Hey, it's Korrak and Mandible! And...Rook? Looks like he's intercepting them, too. At least he's giving them food first. Korrak walks toward the stairs with half a poppyseed bagel in hand.

Oh, well. That's none of my business. I'm done with my bagel, though, so it's off to the Backstage Room!

Grim finishes his breakfast on the way, and I brush him until his coat is soft and even. He doesn't complain about me stopping this time, but he does set off on a quest of magically dressing himself.

When I finish my routine, we head off to put my new phone up, and then it's off to History of Magic.

Trappola isn't here yet, surprisingly. I figured he'd've learned his lesson after yesterday, but I guess not. Oh, well. His problem! We'll snitch again if he starts today with a repeat of yesterday.

By the time we sit down and start talking to Deuce, Trappola walks into the room- with a collar on?

"I see your stares. Don't ask."

With that, he sits. Deuce stares right at him for a solid 20 seconds before speaking.

"We don't even have oolong."

"Not what happened."

I sit there, contemplating why this kid is wearing a heart-shaped collar with a lock on it to class. Very much a "Heartslabyul" look, though. Half is black, half is red, and the outlines are gold.

The bells rings, and Trein starts the lesson. I take notes and help Grim do the same with his levitation magic. He picks up on it pretty fast, and his writing is easily legible within 5 minutes.

Crewel gives Trappola a funny look when he walks in, but says nothing and the way he teaches seems normal. This is only the second time I've had him, though.

More note-taking commences. I'm rather tempted to question Trappola where he got that and why he's wearing it, but class is ongoing, so I refrain from asking and make sure Grim does the same. He shoots me dirty looks whenever I close his mouth for him, but he stays quiet.

Grim and I actually manage to stay conscious all through P.E.! That's a win for us.

"What, you think you're special just 'cause you didn't take a nap when you fell?"

"Nope! We think we're special cause we aren't the ones wearing a collar, and one of us is a cat."

Trappola turns bright red. "What the hell?!"

"Mya-ha, that's what you get!"

"He has a point, Ace. How did you get that, anyway?"

"Shut up, Deuce."

"Hey, Trappola, remember that one time you were snarky with Deuce and wound up cleaning all the chairs in Trein's room? I do."

Trappola shuts his mouth, forgets his lesson, and speaks again. "Hey, you can call me 'Ace.' I don't mind. Why do you only ever call me by my last name?"

"That's what the headmage called you during the entrance ceremony. Besides, we also call you 'entrance ceremony claustrophobe.'"

"Behind my back?"

"To your face, entrance ceremony claustrophobe."

"Okay, guys, that's enough."

"Shut it, Deuce."

"Dude, what is your problem?" Evidently, Deuce has finally had enough.

"It probably has something to do with the collar." Okay, being a dick here won't help, but I'm bored and hungry, so I'll care after lunch.

"Yeah, it does!"

"Myeh... I'd just take it off."

"I. Can't."

"Why not?"

"You say that like you don't know."

"They're first years from a different dorm, Ace. Of course they don't know. You have to tell them."

Trappola says nothing. Apparently, that thought didn't occur to him. I'm guessing most of them don't, though.

Trappola sighs, but still doesn't say anything. Deuce, clearly fed up, turns to us. "Our housewarden's signature spell is called 'Off With Your Head,' and he uses it on Heartslabyuls who break the rules. The spell places a collar around the target's neck," Deuce motions to Trappola, "and seals away their magic. I'm not sure what Ace did to get collared, but only Riddle can remove it."

I remember one of the Pomefiore sophomores explained all of the housewardens and dorms to the freshmen, me and Grim included. That's how I know Riddle Rosehearts is the Heartslabyul housewarden, a sophomore in the dorm based on strictness. No wonder, huh?

"Myaah... hey, Redhead, did you complain about yesterday in front of Rosehearts?"

Trappola looks stunned. "Yeah... How'd you know?"

"You swear when you're mad. That's probably banned."

"...You're right."

Grim appears prideful of his accomplishment, chest out and everything. Trappola looks lost. Deuce looks hungry.

"Let's go to lunch. Come on, Ace."

Grim and I wave. "Bye, Deuce! Bye, Trappola!"

The walk back to the dorm is tiring, but it's nice knowing we're just a little step closer to whatever it is we're reaching for.

I have something to say about the What If Yuu Didn't Want to Go Back series.

Recently, I have come to realize that I cannot upload one part a day and still post long, quality updates. I need some time to figure out how to get the plot to go where I want it to, among other things.

For that reason, the series will be put on hiatus- but fear not! I will return to it when I know what I'm doing. Also:

I am starting a new series, which will be uploaded while I plan out WiYDWtGB. Part one will be uploaded later today.

I hope I can continue to post content that entertains you all!

This is part 17 of the "What if Yuu didn't want to go back?" Series!

(I, the author of this work, do not consent to this work being crossposted/translated without my knowledge or used to train an AI, ever.)

Masterlist

Today did suck. Grim and I nearly fell asleep during every class except P.E, when we fell asleep and were just left in the shade because Vargas wouldn't let anyone carry us to the nurse. Lovely. That nap gave us the energy to report him, and then it was spent.

I can't remember anything else. Just reading my notes feels like a fever dream. The writing is so messy, it's barely legible, if at all- I can hardly read anything at this point.

The one thing I do remember is going out into the forest for some peace and quiet with Korrak and Mandible. Oh, and falling asleep on Korrak. That too.

Waking up is better. I feel more refreshed already. When I turn to look, though, Korrak is awake.

He sees me staring and laughs softly. "Morning, lil' bro."

I smile. This world really is the best thing to ever happen to me. I have an older brother! And, thinking back, I've probably called Vil "mom" at some point, which probably makes Rook the dad.

"This is nice, isn't it?"

I smile. Grim is right, this is nice. There's a gentle breeze blowing softly, the sun is high enough to light the area but low enough to be out of our eyes, and the clouds are floating lazily overhead, shifting shape as they do.

Korrak has the right idea, lying on his back and looking at the sky.

"I've heard p-people say that it's th-th-these gentle little moments th-that make life comfy." He closes his eyes and reopens them after a second. "Never understood that u-until now."

"Never paid attention to them?"

He shakes his head, the grass underneath his hair rustling quietly as he does. "Never h-had any I could p-p-pay attention t-."

He pronounces "attention" as "addention" and stutters at the word "to," but only once. Instead of trying to say both letters, he just gives up after the first holdup.

"Why not?"

"B-being calm is a p-privilege I just couldn't afford." His expression saddens. I didn't even realize I had spoken until he answered me.

"Yeah," I start, knowingly this time, "I get that. Like life is a racetrack and being content is taking a leisurely walk, and by the time you realize running is optional, you're surrounded by people who either don't know or don't care and you have to keep going or you'll get trampled. Like there's a wall of people between you and joy, and the only way to slow down and survive is to be removed from the track entirely. I get that."

"Y-yuu..." Korrak is crying now. I don't know when he started, but there are tears running down his cheeks.

"Do you really f-feel like th-that?.. H-hey, you can s-stay on the t-t-t-t-track. Don't go." His voice drops to barely a whisper. I almost can't hear him over the breeze.

"P-please, not you t-t-t-t-too..."

Oh, he doesn't know the part about leaving the track was supposed to refer to me suddenly waking up a student at Night Raven College- he thinks I'm still suicidal.

"Korrak... That's not what I meant by that."

"W-what could you h-h-have meant? Did you j-just lie down f-for a nap and sit u-up in T-T-T-Twisted Wonderland?"

"Uh... pretty much."

"What?" This time, Mandible talks. Korrak lies still, presumably processing what I just said. He soon turns, looks at me, and gives Mandible a "You do the taking" short of look.

"So, I... I'm not from a world with magic. I'm from another track, so to speak. One day, I woke up in a coffin, met Grim, and got sorted into Pomefiore. In under ten minutes."

"What the fuck? Yuu and Grim didn't meet until the first day entrance ceremony?"

"Kinda. When I lived in the other world, I had a cat. He had a condition where the end of his tail split into a trident, just like this," I'm holding the end of Grim's tail now, he's snuggling into me and purring in a successful attempt to calm me down, "and he was my only friend, and he died, and I was never the same. And then, I saw him at the entrance ceremony, and..."

I'm crying now. Korrak has moved onto his side, wrapped his arms around me, and placed my head near the junction between his neck and shoulder. I'm hugging back, and Grim has moved to the same spot on me to purr.

"It's okay. I'm o-okay. I have Grim back, and I have magic, and I'm happy."

Everyone is crying now. Me, Korrak, Grim, and Mandible, crying and hugging and smiling and lying on the ground and, in Grim's case, purring.

"As much as I hate to interrupt this, Roi de Poison would like you all back inside before twilight. Is is dusk."

Rook is right. We have our skincare routines, and dinner, and bedtime, and I should probably shower. At the very least, though, I think I'm a little closer to cracking the smokescreen that is Korrak Dinak.

Rook leads the four of us back into the dorm. Vil is waiting patiently at the door, likely to make sure we're okay.

The clock says we've been out in the woods for over two and a half hours. That gives us enough time to shower, do our usual skincare routine, and still get to bed on time.

Before we go to the Backstage Room, Rook hands each of us a small plate with some very appetizing food on them.

"Eat quickly," he whispers, and then he is gone. I listen, but Vil stops us.

"Do not choke. Take reasonable bites."

We did need the reminder. Finally, we're off! Hopefully, some hot water will help me sleep.

The shower did help. I passed out the instant I flopped onto the soft, welcoming comforter, and that was that.

Not a great day, but an excellent conclusion. I'll take it.

We don't wake up too early this time, either. Korrak and Mandible aren't in the room by then, so we just go straight to the Backstage Room and get that managed.

"Yer tellin' me you ain't never seen 'n apple tree? How th' fu- fresh hell does that work out?"

Epel's morning over-breakfast talk is extra entertaining when you also listen to Vil sigh in the background.

"You think everything has apple trees? No. Korrak, pass me another one of the fruits."

Mandible chews on his apple and Epel stares in disbelief. "Y'all're city folk? An' here I thought you lotta come from somewhere interestin'!"

Oh, if only he knew.

This is part 7 of the "What if Yuu didn't want to go back?" Series!

(I, the author of this work, do not consent to this work being crossposted/translated without my knowledge or used to train an AI, ever.)

Masterlist

The morning brings Rook right to my door, ready to intercept me and Grim on our way to the Backstage Room.

"So, what's this about? It had better be good if you're delaying my brush time for it."

"Alas, Monseur Chat, this is not the place to tell."

"Did Vil send you?"

"Ahh, Monseur Mystery, you are so clever!"

Hmm. Well, as long as I'm not late to class, I suppose. When we finally reach the massive door that leads to Vil's room, Rook knocks twice upon it, and it opens. The other side bears a familiar face.

"Yuu, in here. Now." Vil speaks quickly. Rook pushes us inside the room and closes the door behind us. Vil looks mad. "Why haven't you been brushing your hair?"

I blank. Mouth open, no words blank. Vil shakes his head.

"Come here." He motions to me with his hand. I sit in the chair in front of him, and he starts brushing through my hair. It hurts a little, but I bear through it- kind of my own fault, isn't it?

After a few moments, I gather my courage. "Is this what you brought me here for?"

Vil continues running the brush through my hair. When I look in the mirror, his face betrays no emotion. His voice- as usual- is calm and strong.

"No, I brought you here regarding something else. However, as your housewarden, I cannot let this kind of negligence continue. You do have a human brush, do you not?"

"Yeah... myaah, I've seen it. Not in use, though..."

Rook chuckles. "Still tired, Monseur Chat?" Grim just nods and goes back to purring.

"What did you call us here for, Vil?" Instead of speaking, he hands me another box. It's smaller than the first one, and has a sort of flap on one side. I stare at it, confused, until Rook takes it, removes the lid from the other box, and slots the smaller one neatly onto the side.

"The smaller box contains a toothbrush and toothpaste for Grim. Don't use them now, but he needs to brush his teeth in the evening, preferably with minimal help."

"Minimal help? What, do I levitate the brush?"

Vil sighs. "No, the handle is made specifically to be comfortably and effectively held by a cat. The toothpaste is what I figure you will need the most help with."

I smile. Vil turns my head to the left and starts brushing the side of my hair. "Secondly: it has occurred to me that you, as someone from another world, lack finances, and the only legal documents you have are the ones related to your presence and attendance at Night Raven College."

I swallow. That's been eating at my mind for a while now, but I've been ignoring it. Live in the present, right? "That's correct."

Vil turns my head to the right and starts brushing the other side of my hair. Rook and Grim glance at my face, suddenly concerned, but Vil remains consistent in his demeanor: calm and strong.

"I have paid for your uniforms and school supplies. Do not tell, but do not be afraid to ask me if you need something."

I smile. There's a sickness settling into the pits on my stomach, a fear of what will come after I graduate. I have no documentation- where will I go?

"Monseur Mystery, are you ill?"

"Not really... I hope."

Vil turns the chair I'm on until I'm facing him directly. For once, I see emotion on his face: sympathy and concern. That sympathy leaks into his words as he speaks.

"Are you homesick? I could certainly try sending you ba-"

"No. No. No. Please, please don't." My voice, my words, my feelings spills out of me before I can stop them. "I don't want to go back to where I was, I want to fit in here- and I do. I have friends, I have a dorm, the teachers like me- do you realize how new all of this is? I'm happy. I feel safe. All I need is magic, and... even without it, this place- this world- is more of a home to me than Earth ever was. I've been here three days, and I never want to leave. Ever since I saw Grim, and wound up in Pomefiore, and realized people here like me, I wanted to stay. And that hasn't changed."

Silence. Vil is staring. Rook is staring. Grim is staring, and giving me a funny look.

"Magnificent! Magnifiqué! Spoken straight from the heart- glorious!"

Vil and Grim are still staring, but at Rook. Vil sighs and turns to me, care in his eyes. "I'm glad you're happy here. Don't be afraid to ask me if you need something, okay? And, speaking of..."

Vil hands me a phone. "That's yours. Let me know if you need help setting it up."

I smile. Vil runs the brush through my hair a few more times and motions for me to stand. "You still do need to do your skincare routine and eat breakfast. You have plenty of time. Go put the phone away, and you can set it up tonight."

I smile. So many of my worries and concerns were resolved today, and It's not even first period! Maybe the low blood sugar is making me more emotional. Who knows? At the very least, I can relax, just a little more than I could before.

"Thanks, Mom."

This is part 12 of the "What if Yuu didn't want to go back?" Series!

(I, the author of this work, do not consent to this work being crossposted/translated without my knowledge or used to train an AI, ever.)

Masterlist

Vil's words echo in my head like laughter echoes in a cave. My brain struggles, trying desperately to wrap itself around this information, and it suddenly succeeds.

Tears resume flowing down my face- tears of joy, because, finally, I am alive. I am real. Finally, after all these years and all this pain, I live. For the first time, I live. I've been alive this whole time- since my arrival- and I didn't even know.

Perhaps Vil and Rook know I'm crying happy tears because they remember my rant, or perhaps it is because of the stupid smile on my face, and my laugh, my most genuine laugh ever, unrestrained.

This whole time, the ripples on the water were mine- and I didn't even know. Maybe I'm too used to bad things- maybe I died before, and this is the universe's mercy. A new world, and my first life.

The pieces are all here, not yet assembled, but here, and I am aware of them all. I have Grim, I have parents, I have friends- given how Rook and Vil seem to care for Korrak and Mandible behind closed doors just as they do for me and Grim, maybe I have a brother or two. Maybe Epel is a cousin. Who knows? This is my first life, and I love my shiny new family.

I love us, all of us, with all of our imperfections and weirdness and disadvantages and problems and quirks- I love this family, and, maybe, that includes me. It certainly includes Grim, and he's my familiar, so...

Oh, well. Who cares? Finally, my breaths sustain life- my life. My heart beats with meaning, with purpose other than obligation. I have a whole life ahead of me, for the first time ever.

Once again, Rook's arms are wrapped around me, his chin resting on my shoulder.

"Your joy is beautiful, Monseur Mystery."

I look. Grim is... crying? So is Vil.

"Are you guys... alright?"

Vil nods. Rook pulls back, revealing his own, tear-stained face to me.

"We are more than alright, little one." Despite his tears, Vil's voice does not break, and his eyeliner does not run.

"Your elation is contagious, Monseur Mystery."

"Rook, Vil, Grim... thank you. All of you." My voice breaks. "I just can't thank you enough. Thank you so much, for everything. For all the little moments when I needed help and you were there, thank you. For every time I needed a hug, or a hairbrush, or a reminder to eat something other than fish, or a reason to live before I realized I was alive, thank you."

We stay there, the four of us, for a long moment, just crying shared tears of shared joy. It only lasts, however, until Vil looks at the clock on the wall.

"It's nearing bedtime, little one. Go to your room and get ready to sleep." He smiles. "You've earned it."

I nod. "Alright."

"Would you like an escort, Monseur Mystery?"

I laugh. Even in these vulnerable, important moments, Rook is still... well, Rook. He's always himself, always open and never vulnerable, somehow, until these little moments. And, somehow, the subtlety of that change just makes it all the more golden.

"I'll take it, Rook."

When we arrive at the dorm room, I take care not to wake our roommates. Rook just leaves, as he probably has some important Vice Housewarden business to attend to. Grim and I wave before the door closes.

I take a look at my magestone. The black only covers 3/4 of it now, so I can probably attempt a spell without overblotting.

I close my eyes and grip the gem tightly in my palm, imagining myself in my pajamas before I wave the pen.

When I open my eyes, I have changed clothes. Admittedly, it takes a lot to avoid squealing out of delight. Alas, excitement is tiring, and I have yet to finish my skincare routine.

Grim and I head to the Backstage Room, finish up, and leave. We don't talk, but there's an air of contentment as I brush him, an acknowledgement of the fact we both know: today, a new chapter in our lives has started.

I can't wait. Even as I lie on my bed and try to sleep, my heart pounds. Why wouldn't it? Today has been filled with so many firsts- first willing cry, first spell, first time realizing I not only exist but live.

Despite that, when my heart calms, I immediately sleep. I do not dream; I am too tired. And yet, my excitement remains.

When I wake, Grim wakes with me, and I am ready. I want to see what the day will bring, I want to live and laugh and love, and not in the midwest-white-lady way.

Korrak, despite not being exited in the morning, at all, ever, is still in some kind of better mood than usual.

I brush Grim like usual, but without the air of "I don't really belong" that used to invade every moment of every day, both before and after I gained life. The absence of that once-constant aura is welcome, and, for once, I feel hope. Real, genuine hope, just for the day.

I spend breakfast trying to get water in a glass to hover midair, and, though I do fail, it's only because the magic didn't break the surface tension.

My writings: Masterlist

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What if Yuu Didn't Want to Go Back? (Ongoing)

Trigger warnings: pet death, suicidality, swearing, mentions of being forgotten, homelessness, neglect

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Part 14

Part 15

Part 16

Part 17

Part 18

Part 19

Part 20

Part 21

Part 22

Part 23

Part 24

Everyday Freak of Science (Ongoing)

Trigger warnings: experimentation, eating disorder, flashbacks, vomiting

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Oneshots

Noodling Around