Lanette hovered behind Professor Greadrock, golden dust still clinging to her wings. She had been the one to summon him the moment the screaming started.
All the girls watched from the upper-floor railing, faces pale.
"What happened here?" Greadrock's voice was ice cold.
"A Molth attack in the dorm, Sir," Beatrice answered quickly. Her dark eyes reflected no hesitation.
Greadrock's eyebrows twitched. A Molth? Here? What in the seven heavens is Edward's investigation team even doing?
He climbed the stairs; His white coat flapping, "All of you — back to your rooms. You look like you've seen a ghost. Sleep."
"Yes, sir!" The girls scattered like startled birds, Nodding obediently.
"Wait!" He stopped after reaching the upper floor and pointed at the three unconscious girls sprawled in the mess.
"You're just going to leave them here?" He asked.
The students hesitated, then awkwardly came closer and lifted Parmiss, Shinigami, and Eurika by arms and legs like sacks of flour.
Greadrock's gaze landed on Eurika. His eyes twitched.
That girl again…
In his mind, the memory slammed back like a bad play,
..
That day in class. The paper. The bottom of Eurika's sheet had been defaced with a long, curling mustache drawn in bold ink.
"How's Miss Monika doing, professor?"
His heart had nearly stopped.
Monika… my first and only love.
She had left him for a man whose magical family mustache could literally change shape. A living, breathing fashion statement. She had boarded the midnight train like a 1930s melodrama, waving from the window while her new lover's mustache waved back.
"Armin, I really do like you," she had said. "But… the mustache."
He still hated mustaches with the burning passion of a thousand suns. Every time he saw one, he wanted to set it on fire.
Which was why, the moment he saw Eurika's prank, he had roared:
"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY CLASS!"
Greadrock blinked back to the present. The girls were already carrying the trio away.
He cleared his throat, voice returning to its usual frost. "Lanette, call the cleaning fairies. Make this place look less like a circus tent."
As the fairy saluted and zipped off, Greadrock allowed himself one small, bitter smile.
At least the Molth didn't have a mustache.
Unnoticed was the vacuum cleaner that still had a molth inside it. Faint smoke emitted from it and faded into the room.
...
On the other side in the garden of their dormantory were Marv and Kazuto. Walking to their dorm.
"Ha, Miss Nightingale is such a beautiful and kind lady. Her eyes, Her lips and the self way she speaks is just lovely." Marv talked, while moving his hands in the air like gesturing for love.
"Don't you find all women pretty?" Kazuto replied uninterested.
Marv lifted up his finger and replied, "Yes, You are right. Every girl is pretty and I love all girls." His cheeks were faintly red while saying this.
"Ha... Whatever." Kazuto's face dropped.
Soon they both reached the golden gates of the dormitory.
"Hehe~" A quite playful voice echoed in the garden.
"Seems like my two favorite boys are back." Linetta, teasing as ever spoke. She floated in the air. Her blueberry colored dress emitted a fairy trail and her body floated in a dramatic rhythm
"You mean your favorite victims?" Kazuto spoke up.
She chuckled softly and asked, "Aww, You really see it that way? How disappointing."
Kazuto's face cringed.
"Oh, My dear Linetta, If you will please open the way for us," Marv changed his pose into that of a poet and softly asked. His eyes blinked softly like a Prince asking the hand of a Princess.
Kazuto's eyes widened looking at Marv, he then put his hand on his head and sighed.
Linetta moved back, for the first time the teasing fairy with no shame had a soft blush on her face.
"Oh ah, Yes," Unable to form a normal reply she took a breath of air─ Calming herself and speaking up, "Hehe, Go on my lovely good boys, the way is yours."
Creak!
As the Gates of the Dormantory creaked open.
"Thank you, the pretty fairy around my dorm." Marv bowed while resting his hand on his chest.
Both Marv and Kazuto entered inside.
Linetta's face still blushed a little before being clapped to place by her own hands, she vanished into dust, entering the lantern in the form of light.
"Ah, so Marv─" Kazuto spoke up hesitantly.
"Hm, What is it?" Marv asked, his hands tied behind his neck as he walked freely, inhaling the fresh air of the garden that smelled like green tea.
"Well, why are you so… flirty with ever women?"
Marv smirked, moving closer to Kazuto, "Oh, you don't like that boy?"
Kazuto moved his face backward from Marv's, "No, It's just." He lifted up his hands, "Nevermind."
"Oh," Marv's eyes widened as he went back to his initial pose, "As you say." He smiled.
Up in the close distance near the door of the dorm they saw Eurika's elder brother "Edric Fiore."
His face was gloomy, his balance of expression was unequal and his eyes were like a thief hiding something.
"Oh, Hey you!" Marv waved his hand from a distance.
The grass was swaying in the breeze.
"Huh." Edric finally snapped back from his thoughts, as he then looked towards Marv and Kazuto.
"Oh, hey you both." His expression was soft and his voice tired.
"Hi! What are you doing here?" Marv extended his hand with a bright smile, marching towards Edric like a confident little baby.
Kazuto walked slowly behind him, his hands in his pockets.
"Oh me?" He pointed at himself, "I was helping in the cafeteria as they needed to settle some things."
Edric shook Marv's hand.
Marv paused as his hand touched his. He began staring at his hand.
Edric's face started to go red.
"What are you doing?" A drop of sweat formed on his face and his other hand tightened.
Kazuto finally reached up to them noticing the arm of Edric that looked like it was about to punch Marv.
Marv for a moment just stood inspenting. Edric tightened his other hand.
Marv finally looked up and with a soft voice whispered, "Light eyes, soft slim body, long hair."
"Huh!" A confusion grew on Edric's face, "Eh, what?"
"What'swrongwith you, Marv?" said Kazuto.
Marv smiled looking at Kazuto and then back at Edric, still holding his hand,
"Your hands are soft and warm. Eyes big, lips soft, and long hair. Just like a beautiful girl." Marv replied. His eyes shining brightly.
Like a litmus paper, Edric's face turned bright red.
Snap!
He pulled his hand back, holding it from embarrassment.
"Ah! What that!" Edric blushed, "Please Excuse me"
He quickly opened the door to the dormitory and rushed in.
Kazuto stood there, his jaw dropped.
"Have you control some over yourself, Marv? He is a dude."
Marv turned his face towards him and replied, "Well, I love to appreciate beauty around me." He then lifted up his finger again, "Plus, I am 'gynephilic.'"
Kazuto tapped his head with his two fingers and took a breath, "Damn…" He said.
Marv walked in front of him and bend down with his hand tied back looking him in the eyes and spoke softly,
"Wanna do something?"
Kazuto just stared at him, knowing that this really isn't going to be anything normal.
He took a breath and replied, "No, I will go and rest. You go do something."
"Sure then." He replied.
Kazuto waved his hands and then left inside.
What's his problem!? Kazuto thought after finally being alone.
...
Inside from a window, Edric's gaze were dropped at Marv.
Do you think He will be a problem?
A voice echoed behind him.
He sighed, "I don't know. Maybe he actually liked the way I looked."
Edric looked at himself in the mirror, "He is right... I do look like a girl."
Ha, So be it. But I won't tolerate any further mistakes.
The voice spoke.
Edric nodded and the began thinking again as the strange voice faded into smoke.