Chapter Text
“Today, I will give you puppies a big assignment.”
Mr. Crewel’s voice spread across the room, raising confusion amongst the students of Class 1-A. ‘What makes this assignment different from any other assignment that he felt the need to announce it the 1st thing in the morning homeroom??’ is what most people there thought.
“Ughhhh, Crewel always give the most annoying possible assignment…” Ace, already making faces even before the assignment is even explained sighed. “Let’s team up as usual, yeah?” He said, turning his head to Deuce and Yu next to him.
“Ah, yeah, sure.” Yuu absentmindedly agreed, trying to stop Grimm from nodding off right after class has just started. “I mean, we always team up so…”
“Still, I wonder what kind of assignment will it be this time? I hope it’s not another potion that involves mandrakes… I had enough of running around to try and catch them…” Deuce shuddered, remembering yesterday mishaps.
Slowly the room was filled with murmurs and whispers of the students, when suddenly a whip cracks through the noise.
“Quiet, puppies!!”, and silence immediately followed.
“I will explain the assignment now. Listen carefully if you don’t want to be punished.” He began writing on the blackboard behind him. “In this project, you are allowed to make groups with students from another class and grade. The maximum number of students allowed in one team is 11, and you are allowed to forgo making groups, and do it alone.”
“Ohhh, interesting, mixed grade project? That’s pretty rare.” Yuu quipped.
“We can ask help from seniors, that is very reassuring!” Deuce face brightened.
“Hmmm, I still have a feeling this is gonna be troublesome as hell though…” Ace shakes his head.
“The principal has decided to ask for students’ cooperation in promoting our school in preparation of the school anniversary, where we will open our school gates once again to the public.” Finishing his writing on the blackboard, Crewel points at the words written on the board. “So, he requested the students to make and upload videos on the internet. The videos will be judged after every submission is finished, and the final submission must be done before 3 weeks has passed.”
“We are gonna open the school gates again?!” Yuu, surprised, accidentally raised his voice higher than usual. Memories of the disastrous Halloween week flashed through his mind.
“If we have to deal with those Magicam Monsters again-“, Deuce immediately cracks his knuckles “I WILL MAKE THEM REGRET COMING HERE.”
“Oh my god that stupid principal learnt nothing from the goddamn event huh?!!” Ace shouted, ruffling his hair in annoyance.
Not only them, the other students of 1-A started protesting to Crewel, obviously traumatized by the amazing experience that is the Halloween week.
“The group whose video is chosen as the best will have their team compensated.”
“WE WILL DO IT!”
After all, they are still NRC students.
“So… a 15-minute video huh…” Walking together with Yuu and Ace to the cafeteria, Deuce pondered.
“We all agreed immediately after hearing that money will be involved, but I just can’t imagine what we are gonna make, you know?” Ace sighed, he knows that he is one of the students that yelled the loudest when Crewel said there will be compensation, but after thinking about it again, it just sound soooooooo troublesome.
“The video can be anything… there is just too many options to think about…” Yuu said, holding Grimm like he is a plush toy.
“Rather than that I am more offended that the great me is forced to work with you guys because I am stuck with my underling!” Grimm pouted, clearly trying to get out of Yuu’s hands.
“Well, do you really want to make the video yourself?? With those tiny itty-bitty little paws?” Ace sneered at Grimm, who immediately retaliated by blowing fire at his face. “OI!! I ALMOST GOT HIT YOU SHITTY CAT!”
“Hey, hey stop fighting you two, you guys are still in the hallway, what if Riddle catches you fighting here?” A reassuring and calm voice calls out to them, making all four of them look at the direction of the voice.
“Trey-senpai!” they all said, waving at him to come closer and join the conversation.
“What a coincidence, its pretty unusual to see you not with Riddle. What’s up?” Yuu asked, moving closer to the walls to not block the hallway.
“Hahaha, it’s not that weird, Riddle was just going with his friends to make the video assignment, you see.” Trey laughed. “Oh, maybe you guys are also talking about the assignment just now, if so, have you guys decided what to do?”
“That’s the problem, senpai, we have no idea what to do for the video…” Deuce said. “Have Clover-senpai decided what to do with the assignment?”
“Honestly, I was thinking of making a baking guide, but I think it will be pretty hard to do, I have never baked sweets while being recorded.” Trey smiled.
“Heyyy, what are you guys talking about, crowding up on the side of hallway like that?” Another voice suddenly joins the conversation.
“Ruggie-senpai!” The 1st year shouted, ignoring that they are in the hallway.
“Ruggie, I thought you would be with Leona in the lunchtime. Did he sent you on an errand or something?” Trey asked, which Ruggie only answered by shaking his head.
“Nah, today Jack-kun is buying lunch for Leona-san, so I am sort of free right now.” He explained. “Jack-kun also need to know how annoying getting the Deluxe Katsu Bread in the lunch rush is, shishishishi”, he laughed.
“I see… hey, Ruggie-senpai, have you decided what to do for your video assignment?” Yu asked, hoping to gain some info on what other people are doing.
“Video assignment? Ohhh right, that project. I was thinking that me and Leona-san is just gonna do some Spelldrive showcase or something, but if we only have that I cannot imagine winning the 1st place like that.” Ruggie shakes his head. “Leona-san probably don’t even care about winning, but I really need that compensation.”
“Ruggie-senpai is also in trouble huh… I can’t imagine having to take care of Leona-senpai while also doing this project…” Ace pats Ruggie’s shoulder, casting a pitying glance at him.
“Ace-kun! Deuce-kun! Yuu-kun! Oh, and all the Senpais too!”
“Why are you humans crowding up in the hallways! WHAT IF MALLEUS-SAMA SAW THIS? MOVE!”
Yuu didn’t even need 1 second to know the source of voice is Epel and Sebek. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Ohh, Epel, not everyday I see you walking with Sebek, what’s up?” Yuu waved to the two as they joined the group.
“We bumped to each other on the way to cafeteria. Then Sebek-kun said he doesn’t have a group for the video project yet, so now we are searching for other people who don’t have group too.” Epel explained.
“I do not understand why those humans do not want me in their group. Our group will definitely be the best barring Malleus-sama group with me in it!” Sebek said confusedly.
“They probably thought you are too loud or something, Sebek-kun…” Ruggie points out.
“TOO LOUD?! THE NERVE OF THEM!”
“See?! You are practically screaming here!”
“Gosh, what kind of uncouth conversation are you guys having, that you felt the need to be so loud and block the hallways?” Two pair of elegant footsteps approach their slowly expanding group.
“Vil-san and Rook-san! … Sorry.” Epel apologized to the two third years, who stopped in front of their group. “We were just talking about the new video assignment.”
“I am sorry for bothering senpai! We will move to another place post haste!” Sebek immediately bowed his head. He must be thinking something along the lines of ‘Malleus-sama will be disappointed if he knew I bothered his grademates!’
“Non-non! I was just interested in your conversation Monsieur Crocodile! No need for apologies.” Rook said, smiling brightly.
“I understand what you are talking about now, shall we go into the cafeteria instead of standing here?” Vil offered, “We can sit together as we discuss the project.”
“Huh? Vil, Rook, are you two offering to help us?” Trey asked. “It would be quite hard to help several people at once don’t you think? Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Beaute! 100 points for Chevalier Des Roses! That concern for your fellow friend is very touching! But please don’t rag yourself worrying about us! We only have the intention to see the beautiful flowers bloom on the stage!” Rook’s long monologue accompany them as they moved through the corridor and into the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was bustling, crowds of people moving all over the place, getting food from the provided selection on the front. Yuu’s eyes scanned through the lively room, searching for a table to sit down.
“Heeey!! Yuuuuuuu and everyone!” A cheerful voice pierced through the rowdy cafeteria, immediately bringing everyone’s attention to the direction.
“Kalim-senpai and Silver-senpai, may we all sit with you?!” Yuu answered back with an equally loud voice. After receiving confirmation from the other party the rag-tag group sat down at the big table.
“It’s not everyday Yuu, Ace, Deuce, Epel, Sebek, Grim, Ruggie, Trey, Vil, and Rook are all together! So, what happened?” Kalim cheerfully asked, patting the seat next to him as everyone slowly took their seat.
“Well, it’s also unusual for Kalim-senpai to not be with Jamil-senpai, right? Considering he has been insanely overprotective after you two started dating.” Ace points out the weird lack of Jamil next to the Scarabia’s dorm leader.
“Today, Jamil said he has to take care of Azul after he fails to fly in Vargas-sensei’s class this morning! So, he just gave me the lunch and tell me to go eat with Silver!” Kalim smiled, “I am happy Silver wants to eat with me! I like eating with Silver!”
“Um. I also like eating with Kalim too.” Silver smiled softly. Immediately the atmosphere becomes very fuzzy. As expected from the 2-A infamous “Irritating combi”. When they are together, it’s like a world for themselves.
“Ugh, these two princes(ses)…” Yuu said, he can only watch as the two somehow made things weirder. “Anyway, we were just talking about the new video assignment. Surely, senpais’ class also got it right?”
“Ah, you are talking about the promotional video project, right? Yes, our class did get informed of it.” Silver looked up, trying to remember the details. “Umm… I am sorry I cannot remember it very well…”
“Hahaha! It’s because Silver fell asleep before the explanation started!” Kalim laughed as he started opening his lunchbox. “But it’s ok, because Jamil wrote it down and gave it to me! Do you guys want the note too?” Kalim offered.
“No need, Asim-senpai! Rather than that, would Kalim-senpai and Silver-senpai mind telling us what you two are going to do for the video? We are stumped.” Deuce refused.
“Hmm. Kalim and I are a team, right now we haven’t really thought of what to do, but Kalim said he wants to dance and sing something. But I think it will be pretty hard to make a ten minute video only with singing and dancing, it will be exhausting too…” Silver recounted their plan to the brigade.
“Music… Oh my GOD THAT’S IT!!” Yuu suddenly slammed the table, standing up in the process. “I got an idea! But it requires all 10 of you to play!”
“So, you want us to join your team? Sure!” Kalim is the 1st one to agree, followed by Epel, Silver, Trey, Ruggie, Vil, Rook, and finally Sebek. And now, their team has finally reached the maximum number of people allowed in 1 team.
“Ok guys, so we will show u something after school, then we start preparing to record, ok? I need to get my old phone from Ramshackle dorm so you guys will understand what I want to do.” Yuu said. “After all, lunch time won’t be enough to record and all you know.”
“Yeah! All we have done so far is just talk! I am starving let’s eat!” Grim cheered. Followed by everyone as they took food, eat, talk, and laugh as long as the lunch permits.
And thus. The rag-tag team of 11 people + 1 cat was born.
Little did they know, the prefect is about to unleash unseen hell on everyone in Twisted Wonderland.