"Alright, you dogs. The time's up. Submit all your answer sheets."

Jonah let out a groan as he slammed his forehead onto the table, weakly raising his answer sheet for Grim to take. He let out a loud yawn as he rubbed his eye. That was only the second test and he was already so exhausted. He had been pulling an all-nighter repeatedly that he was sure his eyesight had gotten worse.

"Captain?"

Jonah looked up toward Ace and Deuce who walked toward his table. "Hey, guys..." he gave him a weak wave.

"How was it for you?" Ace asked.

Jonah yawned. "I don't know... I sort gave up by the time I reach the gargoyle part."

Ace and Deuce exchanged a glance with each other. Then, Ace perked up. "How about we study at Heartslabyul today? I'm sure Trey can make us some tea."

"Yes!" Grim cheered. He shook Jonah's shoulder. "We need to feed that brain of yours some vitamin."

Jonah lifted his head and ran his hand down his face. "Tea sound nice..."

Ace nodded eagerly. "That's right. Tea and cake. That'll lift your spirit."

Jonah hummed as he gathered his stuff and walked with the boys out of his classroom. Maybe if he wasn't so tired, he would notice how Ace kept his hand on his shoulder or how Deuce was walking a few steps behind him just in case he would suddenly fell from exhaustion. Grim was flying in front of them, leading the way. However, he suddenly stopped and Jonah nearly crashed into him if it weren't for Ace pulling him. That surely woke him up.

"Guys, what's wrong?"

He felt Ace grip on his shoulder tightened and Grim's tail swishing dangerously. Looking past the cat, Jonah noticed a familiar group walking toward him, the one in the center greeted him with a nod. "Jonah."

Jonah nodded back. "Hey there, Senior Azul."

Azul looked at him from up and down. "You don't look so fine."

Jonah chuckled weakly before he was cut off by his own yawn. "I was... Tired. My brain is steaming."

Azul chuckled. "Ah, working hard, are we?"

"Yeah." He then realized something. "Oh, and Senior Azul."

"Yes?"

"Umm..." Jonah rubbed behind his neck sheepishly. "I don't think I can go to work today."

"And why is that?"

Jonah winched. Azul didn't sound like he was judging him, but he still felt bad for this. "Look. I really need to pass this! So, uh... I promise I'll work overtime once we finish the test."

Azul laughed. "Why do you act like I'm about to fire you?" Azul walked toward him and put an arm around his shoulder, pulling him slightly away from the group. "So, you are asking for some days off." Jonah gave him a small nod. Azul chuckled. "That wouldn't be a problem."

"Eh?"

"In fact, how about I give you an order: I don't want to see you in Mostro Lounge until the next semester."

Jonah frowned. "Are you sure you're not firing me?"

Azul laughed. "Of course not~ Why would I fire my favorite employee?"

Maybe it was just his imagination but Jonah felt like Azul gained some height slightly because his shadow completely covered his small figure as he towered over him. "In all seriousness, Mister Argentum?" Did his voice also become deeper? "For the next few days, I don't want you to enter Mostro Lounge. I have some personal business these days and I don't want anyone to get involved."

Jonah frowned. "Can I ask what is this business?"

Azul actually glared at him. A warning sign. "It's a secret for anyone besides me and the Leech twins."

Jonah frowned deepened. "Final order, Boss?"

Azul nodded. "Yes."

Jonah sighed, raising both of his hands, surrendering. "Fine. Fine." He stepped back, glad that he was out of Azul's shadow. "I'll keep my hand away from you."

Azul pushed his glasses up his nose. "Glad we can have a compromise, Mister Argentum."

Jonah hummed, looking back to his friends who for some reason seemed to try their best to stay away from the Leech twins. "Guys, let's go."

All of them gave a collective affirmation and thus they walked away. Jonah glanced back again, seeing that the Octavinelle Trio were also walking away in the opposite direction. Though, he noticed how Azul also glanced back. Both of their eyes met and for some reason, Jonah felt chill.

He felt like he was missing something important...

-----

"Alright, Captain, this is an easy one. What are the uses of the philosopher's stone?"

There wasn't any answer.

"Captain?"

Looking up, they saw Jonah already fell asleep, head rested on the arm of the sofa and book had fallen off his lap. He was snoring softly, probably extremely exhausted. Paying close attention to him, they would notice the bags under his eyes or how some of his hair slipped out from his ponytail from the constant hair-messing he did.

"Should we wake him up?" Deuce whispered to Ace. The ginger-head looked at Jonah one more time from top to bottom before shaking his head.

"Nah. Let him rest," Ace whispered back.

Grim flew toward and picked up the fallen book before coming back to their lounge table. "He fell asleep on his desk last night. Stupid captain pulling an all-nighter again."

Ace sighed. "Damn. If only there's something we can do."

"Too bad we can't share out notes," Grim muttered.

"And why is that?"

The three of them jumped in their seat at the sound and turned toward the source. Riddle walked toward them, carrying some books under his arm. "Why can't you share your notes if you want to help him?" the prefect asked again.

"Well..." Ace scratched the back of his head. "You see..."

"This note is..." Deuce clicked his tongue. "Sort of magical."

Riddle raised an eyebrow. "How?" He stretched out his hand and Ace gave him his book of notes. Flipping through the pages, Riddle frowned. "There's nothing on this."

"That's the thing," Ace said. "Only the owner of the book can read what's on it."

"And since Jonah didn't own one, he can't read it," Grim added, ears down. "And I thought we can help him with this."

Riddle looked up to the sleeping boy then sighed. "Maybe I can help," he said, giving the book back to Ace.

Ace blinked in surprise. "You can?"

The corner of Riddle's lips curled up. "As the prefect of Heartslabyul, I won't let even just one student fail or get expelled from this dorm. But first..." He looked up at Jonah again. "We need to get him into a more comfortable place."

-----

The first thing Jonah noticed when he regained his consciousness was the softness underneath him. Scrunching his eyes before opening up slowly, he felt his body was less tired now. Getting up slowly, he rubbed his eye, trying to make his brain work again.

"Ah. You're awake."

Jonah blinked several times before looking up to the source of the voice. "Senior Riddle?" The captain looked around the room. He was sitting in a bed bigger than the one in his room and with fluffier pillows and a softer blanket. He noticed the various red color spread around the room, from the curtain on the bed to the wallpaper. "Am I still in Heartslabyul?"

"Yes." Riddle walked toward him, a book in his hand. "You're in my room actually."

"Your room?" Jonah scrunched up his forehead again. How did he get here? He remembered he was studying with Ace and Deuce then- Oh. "Oh geez. I fell asleep, didn't I?"

"You did," Riddle said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You know, you should've forced your body to study all the time."

"But didn't you do that?" Jonah mumbled under his breath. He instantly regretted it from the way Riddle tensed up. "Sorry."

The redhead shook his head. "It's okay." He leaned to the wall next to the bed. "But not everyone spent the same studying methods as I do. I've been studying like this since I was a child. I'm used to it and it's actually perfect for me." He turned his head toward the smaller boy. "But even I have time to rest."

Jonah hummed. "That is true."

Riddle nodded. "Oh. Here." He gave the book to Jonah who accepted it. The boy opened the book. It was filled with notes for alchemy, written in very neat handwriting which made it even easier to read.

"Is this your handwriting?" Jonah asked, flipping through the pages.

"Yes. Those are my alchemy notes back when I was still in first-year," Riddle explained. "Hopefully there isn't much change with this year's curriculum."

"Wow..." Jonah closed the book again. "Uh..." he scratched his chin sheepishly. "You think I can borrow this?"

"Of course." Riddle smiled a little at him. "You can borrow my other notes too."

"Thanks, Senior Riddle!" Jonah grinned so widely at him, looking way better than his tired expression previously. "You're a life-saver."

Riddle quickly covered his mouth and turned his head away, hoping to hide his bright red cheeks. "Y-You're welcome."

-----

"Alright." Crewel tapped his cigarette holder to his palm, watching the tense look on the students' faces. "Your two hours test starts now!"

Jonah quickly flipped his answer sheet, writing his name on the top corner along with his seat number. The test was surprisingly less stressful than the previous one. He could answer some of the questions even avoid those trap-choices in the multiple choices section. Though the essay part was another problem, he felt way more confident this time. Maybe it was because Riddle's note was exactly what he needed, or because Grim forced him to go to bed early so he wasn't so tired, or maybe because of that half-burnt toast, the ghosts tried to make for his breakfast so now he didn't need to think in an empty stomach.

There are those who are looking out for him...

Alright. Gripping his pen tightly, Jonah started to write his answer.

He will pass this for them.