Twisted-Wonderland: Our Precious Treasure (Part 2)

(108) TTotSS: Happy Vacation!

"That's the last one I can find." The kitchen ghost floated down to the opened blue cooler on the floor and put the plastic of chicken nugget with the other frozen food in it.

"Thank you so much!" The student knelt and closed the cooler. He picked it up, along with the three duffel bags, slinging them over his shoulder, making sure that no contents were spill from it. "I better get going if I don't want the Mirror Chamber to be too crowded."

"Good luck, Bucchi!" the kitchen ghost waved at the running hyena who waved back at him. Laughing in excitement, Ruggie zoomed through the hall, climbing up the stairs toward the Mirror Chamber. Some students looked at him weirdly, some whistle or even cheered 'good luck' for him, which he answered with his signature snicker.

"Hey, hey!" he shouted, squeezing himself between the crowds. "Stop standing in the middle of the road. Step aside, please!"

Among the crowds, Ace and Deuce, both with their own backpack, turned to the familiar voice. "Oh, Senior Bucchi." Deuce greeted when Ruggie stopped next to them. "Need any help there?"

Ruggie shook his head. "Nope. I'll be fine."

Ace whistles, circling him as he examined the luggage. "What's with all the stuff?"

"I got all the food that was about to expire from the cafeteria and the school store." Ruggie grinned. "They give it to me for free every year during the long break."

Ace paused, looking at the luggage, then to Ruggie's small stomach. "You sure you can eat all of those?"

"What're you saying~?" Ruggie laughed again. "Once I get home and hand these to the local street rats, it'll be gone in no time." His fingers started drumming the strap of the duffel bag as he mumbled, "Gotta make sure that Granny eats her fill over the holiday."

Looking up, he realized that the crowd wasn't as full as a few moments ago. "I better get back soon before this stuff melts!" He fixed his hold of his luggage and turned around, running backward as he laughed at the two first-years. "See ya next year, Heartslabyul Braincell Duo!"

"Hey!" Ace shouted but Ruggie already ran ahead to Vil who stood near the mirror with a clipboard in his hand. "We're not that stupid!"

"Wonder what he meant by 'local street rats' though..." Deuce mumbled, watching Ruggie jumped through the Dark Mirror.

"Ruggie lives in the slum of Afterglow Savannah." Turning around, he saw Leona walking toward them with both hands in his pockets. He stopped next to them, but his gaze set on the mirror. "There are a lot of families stuck in poverty there. So, during the holiday, he brings back as much food as he can so the kids there can eat. That's just a hyena instinct to share their prey to those weaker than them."

"Can't you do anything?" Ace asked, folding his arms behind his head. "You're the prince, right?"

Leona scoffed. "As if my brother would listen to me. I can't change the law beyond the grassland border. The only reason I'm going home now is that I have some unfinished business with Farena."

"Going home?" Deuce looked at the senior from top to bottom, noticing the lack of bags. "You're not bringing anything, Senior Kingscholar?"

Leona shrugged. "Got my wallet and phone. I have enough clothes at home."

"And what about your homework?" The three of them turned to Vil who walked toward him, one eyebrow raised at the fellow third-year. "You're not trying to set a bad example to your juniors, are you, Leona?"

"I'll do that when I get back," Leona smirked, gaining an irritated look from Vil. "What about you, Vil? Don't you have some holiday commercial you need to shoot?"