Twisted Hearts ((On Hiatus))

Chapter Two: School Business!

Hia's POV

"So, those guys with anemones on their heads made a contract with Azul so they could get a good score on the test. But then they were deceived..." Jack summarized as he sat on the refurnished couch of the Daybreak Dorm lounge area, "It looks like being in the top 50 was the condition for their contract but with that number of students, it would be impossible for more than half of them to be in the top 50. Azul knew that would happen, huh." "So it seems," I said as I sat down on the chaise lounger with my pets getting on as well, "I knew it was weird for Grim to score more than 80 points." "Geez, there's no point if you get good grades because of someone else, you know!" Jack said in agitation-his fangs being barred, "They just wanted to compete and show off that they could score higher. How idiotic." "It's sort of annoying that all the students here don't have Howl's initiative..." Headmaster Crowley said as he suddenly announced his presence to us, "If they were all so serious, I wouldn't be having trouble~." "Wha-!?" Jack yelped in shock, "Headmaster!? You startled me...!" I sighed through my nose as I pinched the bridge of my nose. Crowley sighed before speaking, "I couldn't manage to stop Ashengrotto's "business" again this year." "Headmaster, do you know something about this?" I questioned, feeling a headache developing. "Azul Ashengrotto. He's a 2nd year who has since been Octavinelle Dorm's Prefect." Headmaster explained to us, "Just like Rosehearts, he is a very exceptional 2nd year and a very good Prefect, however... He's a little—No, he is very problematic." "Problematic?" Jack asked, "You mean that little scam of his? Why don't you just order him to stop what he's doing then?" "That's..." Headmaster started before shaking his head and starting his sentence again, "It is because I am a teacher that I cannot prohibit what he's doing." "What do you mean?" The beastman asked. "It's related to the test notes that Ashengrotto tempts the students with... He does not actually do anything as illegal as steal any of those answers and solutions from the teachers here." Crowley explained to us, "He thoroughly researches all of the past exam questions that Night Raven College has given for the past 100 years and makes notes based off them. They are basically "crib notes" that he has refined by himself with thorough research." I looked at the older male in shock, "All the exam questions from the past 100 years!?" "That guy's pretty awesome for being able to do all that with his own powers." Jack said, "Hm? Wait... Is it because it's not actually cheating that makes it troublesome...?" "Precisely, Howl." Headmaster Crowley said, "From a teacher's standpoint, we cannot exactly prohibit notes that a student has put tremendous amounts of effort in, especially since it's done under legal means. And since he was "simply being kind" and helping his friends with studying so—" "So if you ban it, it's basically like telling the students "Don't study" or "Don't ask your friends for help"." Jack said before he growled, "This is annoying..." "Exactly." Crowley said. "Headmaster, you mentioned not being able to stop his business again, didn't you?" Jack asked-pointing out what the older male has said, "Did the same thing happen last year, too?" "Indeed. Though, the news about his notes wasn't really wide-spread last year. I thought it wouldn't turn into quite the problem this year but..." Crowley said to us, "This year, it appears that a rumor saying that if students wanted to get a high score, they should come to the Mostro Lounge was spreading around the school." "But no one had warned them about what would happen if they violate the contract?" Jack asked, practically reading my thoughts. "It seems like it. As a result, students that Ashengrotto has made contracts with started appearing one after the other." Headmaster Crowley said, "And now, all students in all year levels scored an average of 90 in all subjects...! It is, of course, favorable compared to having all the students fail but...!" "That means almost all of the students cheated..." I said with some thought, thinking over the facts Crowley had just given us. "So, does that mean that the guys who lost to him last year still don't have their magic today?" Jack asked the principal. "Well... He went to negotiate with me about managing the operations for Mostro Lounge in exchange for giving the students back their magic." Crowley said. "What!?" Jack gaped as I groaned in annoyance, not liking where this was going... 'Why, why does this school have to be run by someone like him?' I thought before turning back to the conversation before me.