𝒲𝒾𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒲ℴ𝓃𝒹ℯ𝓇𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹： 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓌 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℱ𝓇ℴ𝓏ℯ𝓃 ℋℯ𝒶𝓇𝓉

𝐴 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡： 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 3

*
"Mother knows best. Listen to your mother. It's a scary world out there. Mother knows best. One way or another, Something will go wrong, I swear."

**
Main Street

Those outside of the library — Isfrid, Noé, Grim, Crowley, Trein, and Crewel — all turned as a loud voice broke the tense silence.

"Hah hah hah, did I startle you?" Coach Ashton Vargas bellowed with his trademark grin, his white teeth practically sparkling. "Yeah, I have a habit of doing that. But you're in good hands now. I'll have you out of that library in no time," He flexed dramatically, muscles bulging beneath his shirt. "WITH THESE MUSCLES!"

Before anyone could stop him, Vargas charged at the door like a rampaging bull. The ground shook as his shoulder collided with the reinforced oak.

Everyone flinched at the deafening THUD!

"NOOO!" Crowley screamed, throwing his arms into the air. "That door is a cultural asset that has been in place since this institute was founded...!" He looked ready to faint—but then blinked. "...Wait."

"The door isn't broken!" The Professors gasped in a mixture of shock and relief.

"Impressive!" Noé remarked, his eyes sparkling in awe as he crouched to examine the door. "He hit that with enough force to break stone, and yet there's not a single crack... what kind of enchantment is this?"

"An enchantment that's about to test my patience," Isfrid muttered under his breath, his icy tone sharp enough to make Noé stiffen slightly. Frost began to creep across the stone floor beneath his boots.

"Erm, Isfrid, I don't think violence will help here..." Noé tried with a nervous laugh, though he didn't loosen his cautious hold on the furious prince's arm.

Inside the library, the sound of Vargas's collision echoed like thunder.

Startled, Y/n gave a sharp shriek, stumbled over her own tail, and toppled forward — right into Riddle. The two went down in a tangled heap, only for Vanitas, who had instinctively reached out to catch her, to lose his balance as well and tumble after them.

"Cher—?! Y/n!" Vanitas gasped, grabbing her hand as they all went down.

"Agh!" Riddle wheezed beneath the weight of both of them. His face turned crimson as Y/n lay sprawled across his chest, Vanitas awkwardly draped over her, looking equally dazed. "Vanitas! Rose—Get off her at once!"

Vanitas quickly rolled away, though his eyes were wild with possessive panic. "S-Sorry, Y/n! Are you hurt?" he asked, voice trembling with concern as he brushed snow-like strands of her hair from her face. His gloved hand lingered just a moment too long, and his expression softened with obsessive fondness.

Riddle stood up hastily, straightening his collar as if to regain dignity. His glare could have burned a hole through Vanitas. "You reckless fool! Must you cling to her like some common ruffian?! She's clearly disoriented!"

Vanitas only smirked, his voice low and teasing but laced with jealousy. "Oh? You sound jealous, Rosehearts. Can't stand the sight of her in anyone else's arms?"

Riddle's face flushed scarlet again. "I—That's not—!" He cut himself off, fuming as he gently lifted Y/n and guided her toward a nearby chair. "You will remain professional around her, Vanitas. Do you understand me?"