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A satisfied hum wakes him out of deep sleep. Matthias blinks, shuffling forward further into the mass of pillows and blankets messily tangled together in Ninomiya’s bed. Towards Youhei himself, too.
Last night had been rough for Matthias. It was obvious in how slow he was moving today.
His head had been throbbing dully from the moment he woke up, and he's sure Ninomiya had picked up on it the second he had woken, with Matthias groaning softly as he pressed his fingers to his temple, his other hand occupied weakly around Ninomiya’s waist. Ninomiya was barely awake, but he still managed to look up at him with a tension in his brows and
“H… Has the alarm gone off yet..?” Matthias out.
“Ugh… Fuck no. Kind of glad it hasn't, if I'm being honest.”
Matthias smiled slightly, sitting up in bed properly with another small groan. His vision was spotting, and he pressed his hands into his eyes in an attempt to get it to stop.
“Still not feeling good?” Ninomiya questioned, pushing his body up to face Matthias and check his temperature. His hand was always a soothing cold, and Matthias found himself sighing with a familiar sense of relief as the other touched his face. He thinks back to last night, Ninomiya’s voice low and soft and warm as he rambled about his home back in Nagoya.
Matthias would like to visit, if he ever got the chance. He spoke about it so fondly, it made Matthias’ heart beat faster in his chest as he thought back on the memory.
“Yep. Still got a bit of a temperature. We'll... uh, go visit Hirose after this game, yeah?” He gave him a reassuring grin, patting his cheek and getting out of bed with a stretch.
“Well… We're up this early, I should probably use the extra time to get ready.”
Matthias hummed, eyes but not legs following him to the bathroom.
From his position in bed, he watched as the rebel started on his morning routine— facewash, moisturizer, base makeup patted on so quickly and lazily Matthias swore he could've blinked and it’d be done before he could even realize.
He always took so long on his eyes, though. Matthias guessed it was worth it, of course, because his eyes always managed to complete that rebel aesthetic of his. How authentic, Matthias mused, to waste no time on foundation or primer or any of the other items he had learned deeper about in his time handcuffed to the violinist, instead spending the majority of his time on eyeliner and the messy blending of his eyeshadow, curling his eyelashes and piling on thick layers of clumpy mascara.
Ninomiya's finger dipped into a pallete full of glittery colors, all lined up in their little square confinements, each one different from the next. Matthias liked this pallete. It seemed Ninomiya did too. His finger digging deep into the pan of the darkest purple shade was proof of that.
In seconds, there's a sparkly, shining green and purple covering the initial layers of matte black Ninomiya had caked onto his eyes.
He was in the middle of pulling on a new shirt when the alarm started blaring. Matthias did his best to hurry up and get changed too. He was still quite sluggish, so he took a while longer than he usually would've.
“God… That alarm's fuckin’ awful!” Ninomiya griped, grabbing hold of a lethargic Matthias’ wrist and pulling him out of the room towards the cafeteria as soon as he was changed.
They arrived at a similar time as the rest of the group. Matthias couldn't focus much on what was actually said, but he could recognize the tension left behind from the prior game. It was far quieter than the last two meetings, and he felt oddly guilty for the relief that came from the silence.
Matthias really wouldn't be able to keep his head up if they started shouting so early on. He still felt a bit lethargic, obviously, his attachment to Ninomiya even tighter and more obvious than usual.
He was practically wrapped around him. Hands taut up against his waist.
Ninomiya didn't seem to mind all that much. He was thankful for that.
The man beside him poked him in the stomach as Monomoko began to explain the game. He blinked, squinting at the rabbit sitting in the very front of the room, perched atop and sitting politely on one very long table. Beside her, there were boxes lined up, each one of different size. One of them was so large, it couldn't even fit on the table, and had to be placed right beside it. That box in particular was just about as tall as the roof of the cafeteria. He wondered what would be inside that one.
He wasn't paying much attention to the chatter from his peers, “Today, there are prizes at stake.”
Near instantly, he could feel both himself and Ninomiya perk up.
The rabbit continued, staying still on its lunch-table podium in front of them, “Each box has been labeled with the name of a student. Subsequently, each box contains a treasured item from that student’s home.”
Matthias was slightly confused. He himself hadn't been home in a long time. How could any of the people working here have managed to make it all the way to Belgium?
…Then again, the rabbit could teleport, he reasoned, curling his arms around himself and squeezing tightly. There was a dull ache in his stomach. Beside him, Ninomiya raised an eyebrow, before poking his hip.
It seemed everyone else had similar thoughts. They'd been in everyone's homes? How?
The rabbit answered none of their questions. Matthias figured it wouldn't for him either, so he kept quiet.
Besides, he wouldn’t want to say something he wasn't supposed to. If they knew what he had really been doing away from Belgium… He'd be in trouble, wouldn’t he?
Ruka, with a quiet tremor in her voice, asked a different question.
“…How do we get the prizes though..?”
“I'm glad you asked. Each student will be asked a question about a fellow student. If you answer this question correctly, you will obtain that student’s reward.”
After a moment, the rabbit, tilting it’s head, continued on again.
“…Whether you all decide to trade your rewards is up to you.”
“So we can't even win our own stuff?” She frowned, looking at the boxes on the table with hesitance.
“Atleast everyone's got leverage… They'd be worthwhile trades.” Tei sounded hopeful, almost.
“But, how do we know whose prize we have?” Matthias asked, leaning forward slightly as he spoke.
“That is up to your own discretion. You may choose to publicly state that a reward belongs to you, or you can keep the information private.”
“Dumb.” Came Maekawas instant reaction.
Denden smiled, bringing her free hand up to her hair to twirl blonde around her fingers, “It might be fun swapping all of our rewards around though! Like one of those secret Santa games!” Kumada scowled at her.
“Unless someone doesn’t feel like giving a reward away. What if someone wants the thing they won more than the thing that was actually meant for them?”
“Then they can choose not to trade.” Came the rabbits response. “It's really as simple as that.”
It was hard to focus on the rest of everything else after that, but he tried his hardest. The prize aspect excited Matthias, but it also made the twisting feeling in his stomach tighten and turn even more. He just hoped things would go well today.
That was until Akiba spoke up.
“God, I hope Tsukigata gets the horse.” Right, Matthias had mentioned dressage to him just a few days ago! He was happy Akiba had remembered their conversation.
“That would be amazing!” Matthias hadn't seen Bijoux in years. He missed her. The idea of him getting her back right here was insane, but he was definitely a lot more excited now that Akiba had mentioned it.
“Does everyone understand the rules of the game?”
Ignoring Monomoko's question, Ruka frowned. “The… horse wouldn't fit in any of those boxes, though.”
“Seriously, man?” Ninomiya spinned to look at her. Ogura scoffed, mumbling something about his inability to be proper with a damsel as fine as Miss Yokoi, “Look at the one right by the end of the table. It's basically the size of an actual room on its own.” Ruka let out a hum of acknowledgment, before she muttered something about being too tired to see it.
“Do… Could it actually be a horse?” Isoda questioned, squinting at the large box and tilting their head.
Nishiguchi frowned. “I don't wanna know what they would have to do to a horse to fit it into any of the other boxes-” “Awful things.” Akiba cut in, much to Ogura's dismay, “If they're actually giving you a horse, it’s gotta be that box.” Nishiguchi continued.
“Does everyone understand the rules of the game?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just start already.”
“Very well. A student and question are being randomly selected. Please stand by.”
The beeping tune started up. Matthias bounced slightly on and off of the heels of his feet.
“Yokoi Ruka, please step forward.”
Ruka sighed, a disappointed smile making its way up to her lips. “Okay, but I'm warning you, I'm… not on my A game today.” Still, she stepped towards the table. Hopeful.
“Please identify the student that holds themselves responsible for the dissolution of their family.”
Matthias blinked. That was heavy. It wasn't unexpected, but he had been hoping these wouldn't be as invasive as the ones revealed two days ago.
He didn't want to have anything revealed that would make these people think less of him.
Ruka had gotten the answer to that one wrong. He hoped that if his was something terrible, they just wouldn't guess it was him at all.
“Ugh. Beans! I thought I had that one.” Ruka pouted, stepping back to her seat beside Ouno.
“Beans?” Ninomiya echoed. The tune started up again.
“Ogura Noriko. Please step forward.”
“Ahah! You've no idea what you've summoned!” Ogura grinned, hands placed proudly on her hips. Matthias had no doubts about her ability to get this one right. She was a goddess, after all! “Allow me to adjust to my esper charging stance!”
Akiba watched her, bringing up his pointer finger to tease, “I feel like your foot's a little bit too far to the left, honestly.”
She turned around immediately, looking completely unready for such a critique. “Guh- I…It's not! I know how to do an esper charging stance!” The goddess yelled, stomping one of her feet in annoyance.
Matthias could concur. In the time they had spent together, Miss Ogura had done many esper charging stances. It was second nature to her, of course! She wouldn't make a mistake as simple as that…! Even if she did, that’d be fine. Goddesses could make mistakes too, he was sure of it.
Akiba smiled as she turned back to the rabbit.
“Please identify the student that was disowned by their family and forced out of their home at age 16.”
Ogura looked to the ceiling, lips furling into a decisive pout, “…I'm narrowing my options.” After a moment, she cupped her hands together, closing her eyes to think. “The light of truth beckons me.”
“Think real hard.” Akiba spoke up.
“…Akiba Taku.” She said, barely a second after he himself spoke.
“That answer is correct. Please collect your prize.”
She grabbed it quickly. Akiba complimented her on getting right, and she grinned once again as she stood in front of him.
“Aha! Easy!” She shouted, waving the box around excitedly, “My access to limitless knowledge makes this game a complete wash!”
Ninomiya glanced at Matthias, smiling slightly himself. “Is it bad that I'm kinda wondering if she actually just pulled some esper shit?” Matthias shook his head. It wasn't impossible. Ogura was a deity of many feats.
“Here! Take your reward!” The goddess placed it in front of Akiba before sitting back down beside him.
“Wh…Really? I don't even have anything to trade.”
Ogura was a truly kind soul, Matthias noted, humming slightly as he leaned into Ninomiya's shoulder.
It was still hard for him to focus. The next few rounds went by in a blur. Denden ended up with Isoda's question, giving his reward back to them quickly. Ninomiya perked up as he saw what it was.
“Fuck, we can get instruments?!”
If Ninomiya ended up with his violin, Matthias would love to hear him play it.
Hirose ended up with Kumada's reward after that. The tune played, and Monomoko called for another student.
“Tei Atsushi. Please step forward. “
As Tei got called up, Matthias watched, eager to hear the next prompt.
“Please identify the student who has facilitated the trade of multiple illicit and illegal substances.”
There was that same twist in his stomach aagain. Matthias should've expected this, really. All of these things theyve leaked about him have made him seem so awful. He's going to get in trouble. Slowly, he curled in on himself. He's going to get into so much trouble.
Ogura. Ninomiya. The others, too. They're going to be mad with him. He can't even tell them what's really happened.
The boy beside him piped up, “How illicit are we talking here? Cause, uh-”
“Multiple illicit and illegal substances, Mr. Ninomiya.”
He wants to believe that this one is Ninomiya’s. He wants to believe that this one isn't his, that the sharing of this secret won't ruin everything for him forever. That this secret won’t make them look at him differently.
“So to be clear, uh-”
“If a student was only involved in the trade of one particular illicit substance, this statement is not about them.”
It's not Ninomiya's. It's clear with how Monomoko interrupts him. With how dismissive she is of him. It's not his.
Maybe the reward will be worth it. Maybe it really is Bijoux, enclosed in that box.
It would make him feel better. Having her here after losing her so long ago.
“Well, that… Rules someone out atleast, but…” Matthias stills, expecting Tei to turn to him.
He doesn't. He turns to stare at Ogura instead.
“W..Wh… What are you staring at me for?!” The goddess cries, pale cheeks flushing almost instantly.
“I mean… I dunno, all that computer stuff!”
“I didn't…I…I wouldn't! Wh…I would never!
Tei raises an eyebrow. “You swear? Because if this is about you, I'll give you the reward. You can just say it was you. I'm not gonna care.” Atleast he knew Tei wouldn't mind that much, if he truly meant that.
Ogura shakes her head rapidly, “It's not me!”
Tei turns to him then. It's instant.
“Alright then. Tsukigata.”
“That answer is correct. Please claim your prize.”
Everyone is looking at him now. Reassessing what they knew about him. Ninomiya grabs him by the shoulder.
“Woah. Woahwoahwoah. For real?”
He doesn't know what to say. Or how to explain it. Or if he even can. He stutters for a moment, before hanging his head in shame. “Later, okay? I can explain it later.”
What he didn't expect was for Ninomiya to smile at him. Wide and open, inviting and without hate or disdain. “Hey, man! Go nuts. You honestly keep getting cooler.”
“I…It's not like that.” Shame pools in his stomach. And his mind. And his heart. And his blood. Matthias hadn't done it for fun. Or because he wanted to. It wasn't something he chose to do, and he'd never ever be proud of it.
He was going to get into so much trouble. He hated that. He shifts his gaze to Tei, standing in front of his reward.
Tei winces, staring up at the box. “I'm… Not sure I can really move this.” With that, he tries pushing it forward. It doesn't budge at all. “Erm.. Tsukigata, it’s all yours. I just, really don't know how I'm going to move it across the room.”
“I mean… We can try after the game, yeah? I might be strong enough.” Akiba calls from his spot across the lunchroom.
“Yeah, but like… Isn't your back all fucked up anyway?” Ninomiya reminds him. Hirose murmurs something about not wanting to make that worse. Tei nods in agreement.
Ogura chuckles, a mischievous smile on her face, “A box like that will be no match for my magical skill! You all shall writhe under my impervious ability! Leave it all to me, Hidemi!” They all turn to look at her. He's grateful to have the group's eyes off of him. “Aha… After the game, of course.”
“Another student and question are being randomly selected. Please stand by…”
Matthias can’t help but stare at the box. He hopes it’s the horse.
It was the horse. It was definitely the horse, he had decided. Why would they mock him by placing such an idea in front of him if it wasn't the horse? If it wasn't Bijoux, what else could it be in there?
Once the game was over, only a few people remained in the cafeteria.
Nishiguchi and Yaitabashi, Akiba and Ogura, and Tei. Ikeda had taken off the handcuffs and walked off, complaining about how stupid it was to get excited over a box that was probably full of nothing. Nishiguchi scoffed, “Well, maybe. But if it is the horse… I wanna be around to see it.”
He could concur. Matthias wanted to see what was in that box so badly. He bounced back and forth on the balls of his feet, walking forward and pulling Ninomiya with him with an intense excitement the other boy hadn't ever seen from him.
“Tsukigata! Man, chill out...!”
He could hardly hear him. His hands pressed against the simple gift wrapping around the box, ripping it open fervently. He'd bite it off with his teeth if he had to, he thought.
Then came the tape, wrapped tightly around the opening flaps of the thing… It had holes poked in the side. For air flow? Why would a box without anything living have breathing holes? Matthias wasted no time in running to the kitchen to grab a boxcutter, almost tripping over one of the tables in his wake. He didn't miss Akiba asking him if he was good, he was just too focused on getting the box open.
Nishiguchi laughs to herself and whispers to Yaitabashi. It’s something about him pulling Ninomiya around like a ragdoll.
He's almost forgotten his sickness from just over an hour ago.
He cuts it quickly. The cardboard falls down and opens around his reward like a flower blooming in Spring.
Matthias almost squeals.
It’s a transport trailer. Painted blue and white, with little star details. It's his transport trailer. The one his parents let him paint way back when he first got it.
Even better than the trailer, though, is the neigh that comes from inside. Matthias knows that whinny.
“Well shit. It's actually the horse?” Akiba murmurs from his place beside Ogura.
“Naturally. It must be a divine being, seeing as it's capable of withstanding the despicably heinous aura of this building…!”
“Wouldn't that make all of us divine beings too, though?”
“Gh…! No! Definitely not! Not all of us!”
Matthias opens the door to the trailer as quickly as he can.
“Bijoux…!” He cries.
It's almost as if the horse was just as eager to see him. She pushes into him almost instantly, nudging at his side lovingly. He's so focused on loving the beauty in front of him, he doesn't even realize the hot tears beginning to stream down his cheeks.
“Am I the only one who's questioning how they got a horse in here?” Yaitabashi tilts his head, leaning closer to Nishiguchi as if they're part of the same conspiracy.
"Definitely not." Tei speaks up, eyes still on the trailer.
“Well. The rabbit can teleport, right? Maybe it can… move other things. Or… something.” Nishiguchi reasons, trying to wrap her head around it too. She taps her fingers against eachother, thinking deeply as she does so.
Yaitabashi crosses his arms “Or something. Right.”
“I'm… More concerned on where we're going to put her, honestly.” Tei bites at his thumb.
“Solid concern. We're also supposed to be, like, killing eachother, right? This can't be a good area for a horse to like… thrive in.” Akiba leans against the wall, now half-standing in-between Ogura and Tei.
Immediately after Akiba’s question, the rabbit appears.
“Hello.”
“Shit!”
“Is it bad that I'm kind of getting used to it just… showing up, like that?” The part-timer murmurs, wringing his hands and smoothing out his overalls.
“Absolutely…! Don't get used to anything here, Tei Atsushi! Anything but resistance means defeat!” The painter demands, turning to him with a determined, proud smirk on her face.
The rabbit doesn't wait for silence. She's nothing if not short with them. “If you would allow me to explain.”
Tsukigata and Ninomiya poke their heads out of the trailer, the horse following soon after.
“I understand there's been some confusion regarding a reward. So I'll take now as a good time to explain and clear up some questions.”
Before anyone can say anything, in response, she picks up again.
“If a student is given a live-animal as a reward, it is their responsibility to care for it. However, that does not mean we are exempt from making sure you have the proper facilities to this care.”
Tsukigata nods, focused only on the rabbit’s words. Well. As much as he can be, with the mare beside him chewing at his sleeve. Ninomiya looks incredibly amused.
“We have provided you with the proper items to maintain a good and healthy training and lifestyle regime with your reward, and you may find all of these items in the courtyard.” The rabbit turns, presumably to teleport away again, before she's stopped.
“But wait!” Tsukigata steps out of the trailer, pulling both Ninomiya and Bijoux with him.
“How am I supposed to move the trailer to the courtyard? And… Really, is it okay to be keeping her here?” He taps his finger against his chin.
Monomoko stills for a moment, dipping it's head.
“In regards to the trailer, it will be moved after the night-time announcement later. For your other question, if you mean to say you're… worried about the game negatively affecting your reward, I'll guarantee that if something were to happen to your reward, the game would not move forward and a trial would not take place; it would be pointless.”
“Huh. So if someone kills the horse it won't do anything. You don't gain anything from harming it.” Nishiguchi reasons, looking at the trailer.
“Exactly. Now. If that's all of your questions, I'll be on my way.”
Even if they did have anything else to ask, they wouldn't have had a chance.
“Annnd it’s gone. Shocker.” The archer clicks his tongue through his teeth. He shrinks slightly, worn out from the events of the hour. How the hell did they get a horse in here?
Ogura pulls forward. Akiba loses his footing, gaining a pitiful look from Tei. “Hidemi! Introduce me to your loyal steed at once! We must feed her the greatest of grassy snacks! And… Er… What else do horses do…” She whispers out that last part to herself, thinking for a moment, “And ride off into the sunset towards salvation! Yes!” She finishes, smiling. “This shall be our arc, Hidemi!”
Tsukigata takes her by the hand, pulling her (and consequently Akiba), along, leading them towards Bijoux.
The afternoon will be filled with cheer and happiness. Come night-time, there will be nobody in the storage room, for they will all be too busy focusing on horseback riding, and absolutely NO microwaves will be dropped on anyone's head.
Bijoux will eat a hole through the lab, and they will be freed by the end of the week. Everything is happy. Everything is fine. They are all friends. Not only that, but theyll get help for both Matthias and Ikeda! Yes! They are ALL friends!