It was past 3 PM when the last subject ended, with the bell signaling its end, Mary wasted no time leaving the classroom in haste. She barely spoken a word to Lucas or Kaito, only a quick goodbye wave before she flee with Grim—the latter wondered what kind of coffee she chugged and she was acting overly eager for this assignment.

Grim finally got back on his feet after getting whisked away and carried in the redhead's arms, they were outside the campus gates near the Galaxy Express—the train manned by cats. "What's gotten into you, Mary? You didn't look too happy about the mission yesterday. Did Alan tell you something you didn't tell me?" Because when she got back to dorms last night, she disclosed nothing.

"Sorry I forgot, he did not tell me anything but Sho offered to bring me to this really gorgeous frozen yogurt shop. He said we can squeeze some short time to buy one!" Her emerald green eyes were glittering narrating the source for her delight.

That got Grim raising a brow, he was skeptical. "Huh, the other dude? With the bandana?" Wasn't Sho hanging out with Leo?

A cheery nod from Mary, they stood under the waiting shed near the tired lamp post. "Yes, we got to talk a bit after Alan spoke to me. Sho walked me to the dorm and he's quite nice, Grim, nothing like Leo"

Speaking of which, the subject of their conversation came to view and his face was also visibly excited as he jogged to them. Sho had a small but pleased smile on, "Hey, nice seeing you two early here, shall we get going?" He waved friendly to Grim, "Hi Grim, I'm Sho"

This was like the world going on a 360 degrees, Grim found his casualness not too good or perhaps he just had a bad impression of him after getting to that brawl with Lucas. "Yes I know, we already met"

Mary pouted, noticing the distant tone Grim had and how he held disdain for the boy. "Hey Grim, come on, he's going to treat us to frozen yogurt!" She softly shook his shoulders pleading to give it a chance.

All for a cup of frozen yogurt? Grim mentally palmed his face, damn this princess was so dense, clueless and handful at the same time. "I don't despise you, I mean I do but it's nothing personal" He stated to Sho, "Only being wary because half the people here doesn't like our presence and you fought with Lucas the other day"

Sho exhaled as a subtle guilt and forlorn sculpted on his face. He crossed his arms, "Yes I understand and I am sorry for giving you such awful first impression. I don't have any personal qualms with you either, can we start again? I just want to get some time to hang before the mission." And while Leo wasn't around yet, the annoyance would definitely resurfaced once that devilish influencer arrived and taunt him nonstop about his secret infatuation on Mary.

"Sure, it won't hurt to start again" Grim gave him a thumbs up, he wasn't upset anyway and half his thoughts were preoccupied by the unexpected visit from Chenya which he didn't tell Mary about. He wanted to but their conversation was too crucial and might make things more problematic for them.

But Darkwick Academy and Night Raven College knew one another's existence? Headmaster Crowley explained a while back that there were other special schools existing in Twisted Wonderland, educational institutions dedicated on honing an individual's magic and extraordinary talents like Royal Sword Academy but Darkwick? This was in Tokyo, not at Twisted Wonderland. That was some major tea Chenya shared. And if Riddle was reaching new heights of anger for Mary's indefinite return, welp, yes, they would really get themselves in dipshit soon.

Sho offered a hand to Mary, "Shall we get going?"

'Looks like I am third wheel again, huh?' Grim thought with a deadpan expression as he followed them inside the Galaxy Express.

--

The meeting held between the Seven Dorm Leaders and Headmaster wasn't always this solemn but hell, Azul could feel the weight of the unseen blocks on their backs by mapping through the topic they had been on since this morning. Professor Crewel was also present, he didn't talk since meeting began but his brooding, aggravated aura was evident that joking around was instantly out of question at the moment.

Next to Azul was his rival, Riddle Rosehearts, seething in silence. Last Azul heard the tyrant red King did a flip from the daily routine at Heartslabyul everyone found scary—from his demanding loud voice ordering to do things, scolding those who broke a rule, Riddle became quiet. Not even a reaction when his dormmates did something out of proper, at this even Cater and Trey could say their friend was more frightening when his anger reached beyond the thermometer.

Azul wasn't doing anything less anyway, this was Mary they were talking about, gods, his precious had been gone for more than a week.

"That's quite a report, Chenya" It was only the comment Headmaster could say after the bizarre cat boy from Royal Sword Academy gave all details of what he knew. The silence that followed was so thick and restrictive.

Leona shook his head from where he sat, troubled while Vil was trying not frown too much to avoid wrinkle lines.

Chenya didn't have any smile on as he floated mid-air, he observed each of their reactions—his gaze lingering longer at Riddle. "I know I am usually up to no good but this is not one of those moments." When he got the update from Trey that the Ramshackle Duo didn't return from their vacation trip, concern also encased the cat boy—why wouldn't he? Mary and Grim were friends. So he acquired extra assistance from fellow RSA mates and confirmed, the duo was lost in Tokyo where Darkwick Academy was located. "Alice is my friend too, so is her fluffy gray hare."

"Do you mind me asking? What is with this Darkwick Academy?" Kalim raised a hand, his question was not mix with sarcasm, only pure curiosity.

The floating tablet across him answered. "It's complicated."

Professor Crewel finally spoke, he glanced at Dire first and the latter gave a quick head nod. "It's a sibling school that built by our former best friend. Long story short, complicated things happened and we separated ways with them."

"Darkwick Academy is one of the strongest schools Twisted Wonderland had along with NRC and RSA" Headmaster Crowley explained next, trying to keep his tone neutral to make his statement accurate and not let emotions overwhelmed him. "They used to be here but with our opposing beliefs, its owner didn't meet halfway with me so we ended up breaking ties. Being in here makes them look normal" He took out his wallet, showing an old photo—younger versions of him, Divus and another person who had a baby face and aquamarine blue hair. "Cornelius didn't like the pressure of competition."

Azul raised a brow, he pointed a gloved finger at it. "That is the owner of Darkwick Academy?"

"Don't let his boyish looks fool you, he's just as old as we are and he hides his arrogance underneath that naive facade" Professor Crewel scoffed, leaning back on the chair. "He is not to be underestimated, he used his skills to transport the entire Darkwick Academy in another parallel existing world, in Tokyo where normalcy is ordinary, without magic. There he had no competition, he is extraordinary."

"We warned him about doing such magic, that it might create an unwanted ripples in the Universe's atmosphere but he didn't listen. Cornelius going to Tokyo opened portals connected to dimensions filled with negative entities and anomalies." Headmaster added.

Lilia didn't look pleased, his magenta eyes were lacking the usual amused glint while Malleus stayed quiet throughout. With how long he was already alive, he knew about Darkwick Academy in extension and the myth it created, wasn't a popular topic in Lewis Capital. "Then Little Dawn and Grim were kept there for a reason, Cornelius knew who they are."

"Yes that must be it," Malleus seconded calmly, "But whatever the reason, it's not known"

Riddle rose up from his seat, hands balled into fists. "There must be a way for me to go to Darkwick Academy"