*Ciel's POV*
I began to open my eyes as I can hear voices calling out to me and Azul, the voices were muffled as my consciousness wasn't fully back. I carefully sit up as I wince from the pain from my cuts and bruises. I lift my hand and began to rub my head as my hearing began to return to me. I look to my side to see that Azul was still unconscious but was breathing. I let out a sigh of relief before I felt more pain as I groan.
"Ow... I had forgotten how much that hurts..."
Then all of the sudden, I was tackled by three individuals into a hug and bopped on the head once more. I saw that it was Ace, Deuce and Grim, they had upset looks on their face as they were looking at me with concern and relief. After a while, the three got off as Deuce helped me to my feet as I felt sore since I was unconscious for while. They let go as they backed up to give me space as we heard some noise beside me as Azul opens his eyes.
"Ngh..." Azul groans as he sits up.
"Oh, hey, you're awake." Floyd states as him and Jade were near him.
"Azul, how many fingers am I holding up?" Jade questions while holding up two fingers.
"Er... Eight?" Azul answers but was unsure in his answer.
"Um, Azul? That was the wrong answer." I stated as he had a look of disbelief.
"Still in shock, it seems. But your blot-induced rampage has subsided at last." Jade states in relief.
"That little tantrum you threw really put us through the wringer, y'know." Leona groans
"Uh, Leona, I'm not sure you get to say that." Ruggie argued as I shake my head.
"That's not important right now."
"What did I...do?" Azul questions as he looks around.
I also looked around as I wince at the sight around me, the area was in a complete mess with the exception of the dorms. The pathway was cracked, the rock hills and walls were either cracked like the pathway or completely destroyed. Some of the pillars were damaged but not to badly from the looks of things. Though I did feel bad that the place needed to be fixed, which will take a while. It seems the others also didn't like how things are looking right now as one of the twins proceeds to tell Azul what he did.
"You overused your magic and overblotted. You don't remember it?" Jade explains
"You were sucking everybody's magic dry left and right, bawlin', 'Give me your poweeerrr!' It was the cringiest thing I've ever seen. I'm still not over it." Floyd informs him, still trying to process what had happened.
"Oh, no... Me, going berserk? I don't believe this..." Azul states in shock
'I guess he never thought this would happen to him in his entire life.' I thought to myself.
"Hey, I can't exactly blame a guy for gettin' bent outta shape when something you've been building up for years gets ruined. I mean, if someone broke the coin bank I've been saving my money in, I'd hold a grudge for life." Ruggie states with a frown.
"But all those shady business dealings have gotta stop. You oughta learn from this." Grim says with a glare.
"How about you guys learn not to coast through exams using someone else's notes?!" Jack shouts at Grim, Ace, and Deuce.
"No one else could have made those notes. After all, I'm still amazed Grim got an 85, actually and it was all thanks to those notes." I stated as I gave Azul a small smile.
"...What?" Azul questions in surprise
"Y'know, it's true. One all-nighter reading that study guide you wrote was enough to bag me over a 90 on my exams." Ace reveals.
"Yeah. It was seriously on point."
"I heard from the headmage that you wrote that guide yourself, analyzing a whole century's worth of test question trends. I'm still not okay with your shady practices, but your work took serious guts. That much I'll admit." Jack states
"Hmph. Your clumsy attempts at consolation aren't helping me in the least." Azul states as his eyes began to water.
"You say that and your eyes says otherwise." I inform him as the twins nods in agreement.
"Awww, what's the matter? Are you gettin' teary-eyed, Azul?" Floyd questions in a teasing tone
"Dear me. You've gone back to that ink-spewing crybaby again." Jade inquires while teasing him.
'Wow, they don't hold back...' I thought with a sweatdrop
"Hey! You two signed an NDA covering that exact topic!" Azul reminds them as they both chuckle.
"Right you are. My mistake." Jade apologized
"Oh yeah, that reminds me... Here's that photo of Prince Rielle you asked for. We got ahold of it. The sun hasn't set yet. I think that seals our victory." Jack states as I took out the photo from the bag.
"Yup, so I hope you keep your end of the deal liked we promised."
"What's this? It's just some picture of a buncha mermen fingerlings huddled in front of a camera." Leona questions as he looked at the photo
"Is it some kinda group photo of an elementary school class? What's you want it for, anyway?" Ruggie asks as Floyd laughs.
"Aha ha, that takes me back! This is a picture from our school field trip. Me 'n Jade are right here. Aaand... See the kid sulking way off in the corner? That's baby Azul!"
"What?!" Everyone shouts
"I knew it!" I exclaim as it wasn't hard to put two n two together.
"AAAH!!! No! Don't look! Please don't look!" Azul exclaims
"Well well, Azul. You sure are spirited all of a sudden. Shouldn't you get a little more sleep? Considering how far things have already gone, it would be easier for you to let this one go." Jade suggests as the others besides Floyd looks at the photo.
"Let's see here." Ace states
"What's in the corner...?" Leona asks, pointing at the photo.
"Are you talkin' about the octopus who's more rounded than any of the mer-kids, even holding the pic at an angle?" Ruggie inquires as Leona nods
"Whoa, Azul! I never knew you used to look like that!" Grim exclaims in shock.
'So that's what this was about...' I thought to myself before smiling
"Aw. He's so cute and round." I says before pausing as I thought about it.
'Why did that sound so wrong?'
"AAAaaaAAAaaaAAAaaah!!!" Azul cries out as he fell to his knees.
"I... I get it. I totally get what you're feeling. Everybody's got a past they wish they could erase! I saw nothing! Neither did the rest of you, okay?! Never speak of this again!" Deuce states in understanding,
"Never pegged you as this, uh...passionate." Jack states in an awkward tone.
"Let's not question it, Jack." I state with a smile as I rub Azul's back
"Aaargh... I was going to expand the Mostro Lounge with a branch cafe and simultaneously erase the shame of my boyhood... It was supposed to be the perfect plan! Two birds with one stone!" Azul cries out.
"Hey, you know what they say: a rabbit in hand is worth two in the bush." Ruggie states
"I got my schoolmates' yearbooks and the negatives from the photographer... I succeeded in laying claim to every single old photo of me through a whole web of deals... But there just wasn't any legal way to dispose of that one last photo." Azul explains.
"That doesn't mean it's cool to make other people do your dirty work for you!" Grim exclaims as I nod in agreement.
"Yeah, while I do understand why you wanted to get rid of it. I don't think having it be stolen was the best move."
"I don't see the big deal, really. I like the old Azul. He'd make a better meal than the one we've got now." Floyd informs the group.
"That's not the point at all!" Azul exclaims
"You put in an incredible amount of work. You don't have to be that hung up on hiding it." I reassure him as he struggled not to cry.
"*Sniff* This is the worst. I could crawl into an octopus pot right now."
YOU ARE READING
An Earl in Night Raven College (Book three)
Fanfiction(Black Butler x Twisted Wonderland) Some time after the events of the Spelldrive, the time has arrived for Ciel and his friends to take their final exam. Much to Ciel's surprise, Grim, Ace and Deuce are all oddly confident, and when grades roll in...
