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You’ve had your fair share of new experiences during your time at Night Raven College.
It’s only been a few months since you appeared in this new, foreign world, but they’ve been the most eventful months of your life, filled with crazy, unexpected events the likes of which you never imagined you’d ever experience firsthand.
As a result, you’ve reached the point where you’ve just come to expect the unexpected. This is just a part of your life now, and you just have to accept it.
That said, you don’t want to accept every crazy thing that happens to you. After all, you have to draw the line somewhere.
Regrettably, that’s easier said than done.
An example of this very unfortunate fact takes place on the Sunday preceding the last week of school before everyone goes home for winter break - a day you had planned to spend peacefully at Ramshackle dorm since you and Grim had no plans to go out.
That plan goes right out the window when you wake up and find Rook Hunt in your bedroom, ominously leaning over your bed. Before you can even get the chance to scream, the blond cheerfully sweeps you up into a bridal carry and proceeds to run off to his dorm with you, leaving behind a still sleeping Grim whom Rook had smartly placed in a different bedroom before you woke up so the monster wouldn’t be woken during the kidnapping process.
While this isn’t your first time being kidnapped since Floyd often likes to randomly grab you and take you places when he’s in the mood and Leona had ordered Ruggie to kidnap you when you were investigating the accidents their dorm caused back in October, this is one of those experiences that you’d rather not grow accustomed to if you can help it.
Sadly, you don’t really have much say in the matter since your kidnapper today is Rook Hunt, one of the NRC students whom you least want to cross.
Since becoming acquainted with Rook, which happened as a result of you joining the third year Alchemy elective course after finally escaping your accursed flight class, you have learned that he is not someone to trifle with, much like the Leech twins.
Without question, despite his cheerful, friendly exterior, this expert hunter is a dangerous person, one of the most dangerous at NRC in fact, at least in your opinion anyway.
Now, that’s not to say you’re afraid of him per se since you know thanks to all your interactions with him that he’s not a truly bad person. He’s a quirky individual who marches to the beat of his own drum, but he’s not in any way malevolent.
You just recognize that he, like the Leech brothers, is a person who could be very dangerous to you if you were to ever make an enemy out of him.
If you were to ever fight him, you’re not confident you could win. That’s why you want to avoid such a situation at all costs.
Fortunately, it seems that Rook only has positive feelings about you since he’s always friendly with you. Although, you can’t say you’ve ever seen him not act like that with anyone, so it’s really hard to tell what he’d be like if he truly disliked someone, which is a worrisome thought in itself.
Unfortunately, this means that you’ve become someone Rook likes to observe, just like Leona, even though you made a valiant effort to be as boring as possible like Ruggie instructed.
As a result, it’s not uncommon for you to suddenly get the feeling that you’re being watched or for Rook to approach you at random. He’s slowly but surely becoming a part of your everyday life, and you have no idea how to feel about that.
Honestly, you cannot even begin to fathom why Rook finds you so intriguing. Sure, you were able to immediately recognize him for the threat that he is during your first meeting with him, which is not something everyone can do, but you don’t think that’s enough to make you someone worth so much of his attention.
All you can do is hope that Rook will get his fill of you after watching you for long enough since you really don’t think you’re all that interesting. That’s why you just leave him be, thinking that he’ll eventually get bored of you.
Plus, he’s clearly the type that enjoys the thrill of a good chase, so running away from him is definitely not an option, because you absolutely do not want to deal with Rook when his hunter’s instincts are set off.
You also don’t want to deal with him if he were to ever find out about your Quirk since you’re worried that he’ll become like Jade who is always so eager to have you fight his brother, so he can observe your Quirk in action to his heart’s content.
While you don’t think Rook would gain an interest in fighting you, he’d probably increase his observation efforts tenfold if he found out about your power and the fact that you came from another world since, in his eyes, you would become a unique kind of prey he would be unable to find anywhere else, so you must avoid that horrible outcome at all costs.
For a moment, you had been worried that that’s why he had kidnapped you since this is the first time he has ever done something like this. You feared that this is what happens to the people whom he wants to learn more about in greater detail.
Thankfully, your worries were proven unfounded when, as the two of you departed Ramshackle dorm, Rook explained that Vil had wanted to speak with you about something that was of the utmost importance.
That’s why, in addition to freaking out about getting kidnapped by Rook, you’re also currently freaking out about what Pomefiore’s dorm leader, Vil Schoenheit, could want from you.
Oh man, this can’t mean anything good for me. You internally panic. If I’m being kidnapped, then I must be in trouble. Maybe I’m being taken to their dorm, so they can do whatever they want to me without having to worry about there being any witnesses.
The question is: What in the world did you do to warrant such drastic measures being taken?
You thoughtfully frown. I haven’t gotten into a fight with any Pomefiore guys since that large group of them went after me and Grim last week since none of them are stupid enough to make a move so soon after seeing Vil-senpai so angry, so it can’t be that Vil-senpai is mad about me beating up any of his dorm members. But what else could I have done to unintentionally piss him off?
After ruminating over that question for a moment, your eyes widen. Oh no, did Grim do something behind my back? Am I being punished for not doing my job properly and keeping him in line? What if he set something really expensive on fire and never told me?!
Unfortunately, that’s a very real possibility. While you usually do a good job of keeping Grim in line, there are times when he is left to his own devices, so he could’ve easily done something he shouldn’t have and kept quiet about it to avoid getting into trouble with you.
You internally groan. Great, just great. If that really is what happened, I’m screwed. I’m probably gonna end up enslaved at the Pomefiore dorm to pay off my debt. I may never see the light of day again.
Obviously, you can’t allow that to happen. Sure, you’re willing to take responsibility for your negligence, but you absolutely do not want to do it strictly under the Pomefiore dorm’s terms, at least not without some kind of backup to ensure you don’t get stuck in a situation you can’t get out of.
That’s why you need to find a way to escape from your current situation. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done since beating Rook-senpai in a fight would be very difficult for me, and if I somehow managed to break free from his tight hold so I could run away, he’d be able to catch me before I could get too far.
It’s for that reason that you haven’t put up much of a fight since Rook grabbed you. You knew it was pointless, so you didn’t want to waste your energy.
In a situation like this, conserving your energy while you think of a solid plan is the way to go, so that’s what you intend to do.
Regrettably, no matter how hard you rack your brain, the only somewhat good plan you can think of is trying to escape once you reach the Hall of Mirrors. If you put up a fight there and manage to break free from his hold, you could make a break for the closest mirror in hopes that you’ll find an ally who will back you up since you doubt Rook will act carelessly and try to kidnap you in front of other students.
Since that’s the only plan you can think of at the moment, you decide to roll with it, because, at this point, anything is better than nothing.
Just after you come to that decision, Rook suddenly exclaims, “Trickster, you are so tense! Whatever is the matter? Such a deep frown does not suit your lovely face!”
All you can do is stare at him incredulously. “Rook-senpai, you’re currently in the process of kidnapping me.”
He gasps, “Kidnapping? Non, non! I am escorting you, my dear mademoiselle! This way you can reach Vil in a swift and safe manner!”
“I do apologize for this happening so suddenly, but it just so happened that Vil’s schedule for this morning opened up at the last minute.” Rook explains, “Ever since you joined our class, he has been wanting to properly sit down with you and discuss an important matter, so he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to invite you over to our dorm.”
The blond beams, “Naturally, I was all too happy to help! I have been most looking forward to this meeting after all!”
You do a slow blink. Huh, so that means I’m not in trouble after all.
What a relief. Now, you don’t have to worry about being in danger.
Of course, this still begs the question of what this sudden meeting is all about and why Vil has been wanting to meet with you for apparently a while now.
Up until this point, you’ve barely had any interactions with him. Sure, you’ve spoken with him in class and have encountered him when on your morning runs with Jack, but those exchanges were always very brief.
The only time you’ve really had a proper discussion with Vil was when he apologized to you last week for what his dorm members did to you, and even then, it’s not like the two of you talked for that long.
You never got the impression that Vil had any interest in you, so you really have no idea what this is all about.
“Why exactly does Vil-senpai want to meet with me?” You ask, figuring this is the only way to get the answers you’re seeking.
Regrettably, rather than give you the kind of response you’re hoping for, Rook just cheerfully replies, “You will see soon enough! I would hate to ruin the surprise!”
A sigh escapes you. “Could you at least tell me why you used your magic to put me in the Pomefiore uniform? Is this a requirement for visiting your dorm?”
Originally, you had assumed that Rook gave you this uniform since he was pressed for time with this kidnapping, and doing that was quicker than allowing you the chance to change out of your pajamas into your usual clothes.
Now that you know you’re not actually being kidnapped, you want to know why Rook felt the need to give you this uniform to wear.
“Non!” Rook replies, “I simply decided that this was the best choice of attire for you since I knew Roi du Poison would not approve of your usual casual wear, although I personally find it quite charming how you’ve accumulated so many articles of clothing from your companions. Friendship is truly a very beautiful thing!”
And now, it all makes sense. Rook was just making sure you were well dressed for this upcoming meeting.
Considering you are meeting with a celebrity, it makes sense that you would need to dress accordingly, and unfortunately, your wardrobe selection leaves much to be desired when it comes to clothes that are appropriate for such a situation.
So, Rook’s decision definitely was for the best, although you really wish he would’ve just said all this from the start and saved you from all the stress he caused you.
You release another, much heavier sigh. Good grief. What kind of crazy situation have I gotten into this time?
When you finally reach the Pomefiore dorm, you immediately start gaping at the sight of a castle that looks like it came straight out of a fairytale.
Once you’re inside the dorm, you then find yourself marveling at its luxurious interior that looks just as fancy as its exterior. It really feels like you’ve somehow found yourself in a completely different world, one you’d normally only experience via fantasy books.
Unfortunately, you don’t get to enjoy this surreal experience to its fullest since you can feel many piercing stares aimed in your direction.
By the looks of it, the only Pomefiore student who’s happy to have you here is Rook, but you can’t say you’re too surprised since he and Epel are the only students from their dorm that have ever been friendly toward you.
Ugh. Now, these guys are really gonna hate me. You grimace. They’ll definitely be pitching a fit later about me getting this special attention from Vil-senpai, not to mention the fact that I’m wearing their dorm uniform.
It’s a good thing winter break is coming up since you’ll get a break from these guys, and hopefully, the time apart will lead to them forgetting about today’s events.
Thankfully, Rook passes right through the lounge where his fellow dorm members were mingling, so you don’t have to deal with their glares for long.
Now, I’m actually grateful that Rook-senpai decided to carry me. You muse. Thanks to him, the others couldn’t risk pulling anything with me, so we got past them quickly.
A part of you wonders if that’s exactly why Rook went with this course of action. After all, thanks to last week’s events, he’s fully aware of how unpopular you are with his dorm members.
As if reading your mind, Rook remarks, “I apologize on behalf of my dorm members, Yuu-kun. They are all quite protective of Roi du Poison due to their great admiration of him.”
He sighs, “Regrettably, while their love of Vil is the epitome of beauty, the green beast that is often summoned as a result of that love is not.”
Obviously, by green beast, he must mean jealousy since it’s often referred to as the green-eyed monster.
“You’re not the one who owes me an apology, Rook-senpai.” You reply, “Those guys are old enough that they should be taking responsibility for their own actions, so I have no intention to hold you or Vil-senpai responsible for what they do.”
The corners of his lips curve upwards as his eyes fall half-mast, an expression he often wears when he’s particularly pleased. “The way you face adversity so unflinchingly is truly a thing of beauty, mademoiselle. I could never get enough of your bold, defiant gaze.”
As always, Rook is very generous with his words of praise. If it was anyone else, you’d think you were being buttered up, but you know he means everything he says since there’s never an ounce of deceit in his words.
That’s probably why you can’t bring yourself to dislike him despite his eccentricities. Due to the kind of people you grew up being surrounded by, you can’t help but like genuine people like Rook who are the complete opposite of Mumei and everyone else in the underworld.
However, that said, if he could cut back on the stalking, that would be great. You’d definitely like him a lot more if he did that.
You’re drawn out of your thoughts when Rook announces that the two of you have reached your destination, which turns out to be Vil’s dorm room; at least, that’s what you think this room is since it’s clearly someone’s room, and Vil is the only person here.
Vil, who’s currently seated at a table off to the side of the room, looks up from a script he had been reading and raises a prim brow. “Was carrying her really necessary, Rook? If she can keep up with Jack on his runs, then she shouldn’t have had any issues keeping up with you.”
While he gently sets you down in the chair opposite his dorm leader, Rook grins, “I had merely wished to give our beloved guest the royal treatment while escorting her. I thought it was rather befitting since she was set to meet with our dorm’s queen.”
As Vil sighs at his vice dorm leader’s words, you gasp, “I forgot about Jack! He’s probably wondering where I am right now, considering this is around the time we meet up for our morning runs.”
“I already contacted Jack to let him know you had business with me.” Vil replies, catching you off guard. “So, you do not need to fret about him.”
“Oh, good.” You sigh in relief. “I would’ve hated to make him worry.”
After silently eyeing you for a moment, Vil turns to look at Rook and asks, “While I have no particular issue with it, I feel inclined to ask about my guest’s attire. What brought this about, Rook?”
“Since we invited Yuu-kun at the last minute, she did not have time to prepare an appropriate outfit for her visit.” Rook answers, “I decided that the least I could do was provide our dorm’s lovely uniform for her to wear since I knew it was something you would approve of.”
“I see.” Vil sets his script down. “Very well. I did set this meeting up quite suddenly, so I have no right to complain about your methods.”
Now, you’re starting to think that Rook’s earlier behavior was all his own idea. More than likely, all Vil did was tell Rook to go fetch you, so the blond just did whatever he deemed was necessary to ensure he completed that task.
While a part of you is tempted to tell Vil just what exactly his vice dorm leader did to get you here, you refrain in the end since it would just be your word against Rook’s, and you’re sure that Vil will be more likely to take his own dorm member’s side rather than yours.
Even if you did want to say something, you don’t get the chance to do so since Vil is quick to get this meeting started. “Rather than waste any more time, let’s address why I called you here today.”
As Rook leaves the room to fetch some tea for everyone, you keep your focus on his dorm leader and do your best to not look as nervous as you feel since you can’t help but have a bad feeling about this.
When you nod to show he has your attention, Vil remarks, “Since you began attending Crewel-sensei’s third year elective course, something has come to my attention that I can no longer ignore for I fear things will only get worse if I fail to intervene.”
He frowns, “That something being your constantly slovenly appearance, which you seem to have a complete disregard for.”
“Every time I see you, your hair is always messy, just like your uniform.” Vil tuts, “Even worse, it seems you pay absolutely no attention to the horrible condition of your hair and skin. If you actually use any kind of special products for them, I would be very surprised.”
“Normally, I do not involve myself with people outside my dorm, but if I have to share a class with you, then I must do something about you, both for my sake and for Night Raven College’s sake.” He adds.
His eyes narrow. “Night Raven College is a very prestigious school, so it’s our responsibility as students to ensure our conduct and attire never do anything to besmirch its great name. That’s why, as one of the NRC dorm leaders chosen to represent our school, I cannot allow you to continue as you are, especially when you yourself are also technically a dorm leader.”
All you can do is stare at him with wide eyes. Wow. So, this is what it’s like to completely destroy someone with just words alone. Celebrities don't mess around.
You should probably be offended by Vil’s merciless words, but you can’t really bring yourself to feel upset since it’s not like he said anything that was untrue.
After all, you are very much aware of the fact that your appearance always leaves much to be desired, so you can’t really fault him for complaining, considering the leadership positions you’re both in.
Honestly, considering how the only complaints on this matter that you ever hear that aren’t from Pomefiore students are from Riddle whenever he adjusts your tie for you, you think you’ve gotten off easy up until this point since you do understand that your usual attire really isn’t very befitting of such a prestigious school, although you think you’re far from being the only person who needs to dress more properly.
Regrettably, while you always do try to make yourself presentable, those efforts always end up going down the drain thanks to one reason or another. Usually, it’s because of Grim’s antics or all the fights you get involved in.
Since you know Vil doesn’t want to hear excuses, you don’t bother providing him any. However, you also don’t want to make any empty promises about becoming better at managing your appearance.
That’s why you reply, “I would like to be better about taking care of my appearance, but I can’t promise I’ll always be successful in that endeavor since I often find myself in situations at school that result in my clothes and hair getting messy.”
“The solution to that problem is simple.” Vil replies matter-of-factly. “Make sure you always have the supplies necessary to fix your appearance whenever you find yourself in such situations. There’s no rule stating that you cannot carry a hairbrush or any other necessary beauty products in your bookbag.”
Realizing he makes an excellent point, you nod. “You’re right. I’ll start doing that then, and I’ll put forth more effort into making sure my uniform looks good too.”
He crosses his arms. “Good. I’m glad you’re at least willing to do the bare minimum. Of course, I have no intention to be satisfied with just that.”
It’s at that moment Rook re-enters the room, pushing a trolley containing tea and snacks for the three of you.
While Rook is taking care of putting everything out onto the table, you find yourself hoping that you’re not supposed to use a special kind of etiquette here since you are very inexperienced in that area.
Deciding to err on the side of caution, you make sure to pay close attention to Vil and Rook before you finally try any of the refreshments since the last thing you want is to give Vil something else to complain about.
After giving you all a moment to enjoy the refreshments, Vil picks up where he left off earlier. “Judging from what you said earlier, it does not appear that you willingly leave your dorm in such a slovenly state. Instead, it seems to be the result of situations you find yourself in at school.”
When you nod, Vil remarks, “While I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt in that particular matter, especially considering what happened last week, that does not excuse the clear lack of care you provide your hair and skin.”
He shakes his head. “Your skin is practically screaming for hydration, and do not even get me started on those singed, split ends of yours.”
You wince, “The latter would be thanks to Grim who can be pretty haphazard with his fire magic. I do my best to dodge, but I’m not always completely successful.”
Rook laughs, “What a lively dorm Ramshackle is! It’s good to have a companion that can always keep you on your toes!”
While Vil sighs at the other blond’s words, you weakly chuckle, “It’s something alright…”
“In regards to my skin, I know the importance of using moisturizer and such, but with the kind of budget I have, I just can’t afford it.” You sigh, “Even with me working part-time at both the Mostro Lounge and the Mystery Shop, I can barely afford to feed Grim’s bottomless pit.”
“Ah, the woes of being a single mother!” Rook dramatically places the back of his hand against his forehead. “To be in such a trying position at such a young age must be quite the ordeal! You have my utmost admiration for all your efforts to take care of your little family, Trickster.”
Looks like Rook has jumped onto the bandwagon of calling you a mother like everyone else. Oh well, at this point, you’ve come to accept this role you unwittingly ended up with, so you don’t bother complaining nowadays.
After sparing his vice dorm leader an exasperated look, Vil returns his focus to you. “In other words, if you had access to such products, you would use them?”
“Sure, I’d hate to see anything I come to own go to waste.” You answer, “Besides, I’m not against using those kinds of products. I just don’t ‘cause I can’t afford them.”
He nods approvingly. “Good. Then, I’ll give you a set of my personally formulated skin and hair care products. I expect you to use them every day from now on.”
Your eyes widen. “You make your own cosmetics? Wow, that's amazing…”
Once the rest of his words properly register in your mind, you ask, “Is it really okay to just give me those products for free?”
Vil waves his hand dismissively. “I do this for everyone in my dorm, so adding one more person to the list will not be an issue. If this is what it will take to get you to take care of your appearance, then so be it.”
“Okay then, if you’re sure.” You pause for a moment before bowing your head. “Thank you for going out of your way to help me, Vil-senpai. I know you did it ‘cause I was basically an eyesore, but I still appreciate you being willing to go this far to help me.”
When you lift your head, you see Vil watching you with what you think might be a smidgeon of approval in his always critical gaze. “At least, you know when to show appreciation when it’s due. That’s a good step in the right direction, Potato. If you continue on this path, there might be hope for you yet.”
As you silently mouth the word “potato” in bewilderment, Rook beams, “Oui! I can already picture Yuu-kun’s beautiful metamorphosis! Under Vil’s tutelage, she will begin to shine externally just as much as she does internally! Merveilleux!”
“Naturally, I won’t accept anything but the best possible results.” Vil smirks, “I will make sure this new pet project of mine succeeds. Failure is not an option.”
Well, at least, this is better than getting punished. You wryly muse. Although, something tells me that I’m not really getting off easy...
Much to your great surprise, Vil wastes no time in beginning your makeover. After you all finish your tea, you are promptly escorted to his large, luxurious bathroom, so he can wash your hair in one of his sinks.
The whole time, Vil lectures you about the importance of hair care and gives you the dos and don’ts that you now need to live by. While you’re not completely confident that you’ll remember everything, you do your best to pay attention in hopes that you’ll at least remember the really important details.
Once your hair has been washed and dried, you’re put in front of a vanity, so Rook can trim your hair and take care of your split ends. All the while, Rook regales you with stories to keep you entertained while Vil gets his skin care products ready for the next stage of your makeover.
You can’t help but be amused by your current situation since it’s such a stark contrast to all the other times you’ve received a haircut.
Back in your world, Tokumei would silently trim your hair for you, always making sure to keep it short enough that you wouldn’t have to worry about anyone grabbing it during your cage fights.
Rook is the complete opposite of the always quiet and apathetic Tokumei, and you’re very grateful for that fact since you much prefer this kind of haircut over the ones you had in the past.
Even though these circumstances were basically forced on you, you don’t really mind the situation you’ve found yourself in. Rather, you find that you are actually enjoying yourself.
More than likely, it’s because you have never gotten the chance to receive a makeover like what you’d often see girls experience on TV. While you’ve never really cared too much about your appearance, you’d be lying if you said you never had an interest in giving such activities a try to see what the experience would be like.
Plus, it’s hard to hate being basically pampered and getting all this special treatment. You’re completely unused to this, so you can’t help but want to make the most of this situation and indulge yourself since you rarely get the chance to do so in your constantly hectic life.
Once Rook is done with your hair, which looks very nice now - nicer than you thought it could ever look, Vil gets to work on applying several different types of skin care products to your face, taking great care each time to explain what they’re all for and how to properly apply them.
During this time, as you witness firsthand the effort he constantly puts in every day to take care of his appearance, you find your respect for the dorm leader growing. It really is admirable how much hard work he puts into his appearance each and every day.
It’s clear that Vil is the type of person who appreciates hard work, much like you, so you can’t help but admire him, even if you can’t completely understand why beauty seems to be so important to him.
“You really are amazing, Vil-senpai." You comment, "I didn’t realize just how much hard work went into maintaining one’s appearance.”
“Everything worthwhile requires our utmost effort.” Vil remarks, “You can't simply get everything you desire by wishing and hoping it will all magically fall into your lap. Only true hard work can lead you to your goals.”
The corners of your lips curve upwards. “I like that line of thinking. I much prefer hardworkers over those who don’t want to put in any effort whatsoever. While working hard doesn’t always mean you’ll get exactly what you want, it’s better to do that than to just give up at the starting line or quit because something’s too difficult.”
“Exactly.” Vil gives you an approving look. “I’m pleased that even a potato like you can understand that. Most people your age don’t understand the importance of hard work, so I’m glad I won’t have to drill that into your head along with everything else you need to learn.”
Not long after that, Vil finishes what will now be your everyday skin care routine and gives you the opportunity to look at yourself in the mirror.
Much to your amazement, you discover that you look like a completely different person when you see your now silky smooth skin and cute haircut. You never thought it possible for you to look so nice, considering you’ve always thought of yourself as having a pretty average appearance.
Sure, you got plenty of compliments about your looks back in the underworld, but most of them were related to your figure since you knew the perverts there were more interested in looking at your body than your face.
As you internally scowl at that thought, Vil, who had taken a step back to study you, asks, “Do you understand now how important basic care of your appearance is, Potato? Just that alone can make the world of a difference for someone.”
“Indeed!” Rook smiles, “You look magnifique, Trickster! I can only imagine how much more beautiful you will become thanks to Vil’s tutelage! I cannot contain my excitement!”
A smile rises to your lips. “It really is amazing what just basic skin and hair care can do. Thank you both for all your help. I promise not to let your efforts go to waste.”
“You better not.” Vil huffs, “There’s nothing I hate more than seeing my efforts go to waste.”
His eyes narrow. “And I do not want to see any more of your usual apathy on this important matter. Do not just follow my orders. I want you to actually care about how you look.”
With the memories of your past still fresh on your mind, you, without thinking, reply, “It’s not that I’m apathetic. I just came to the point that I didn’t want to care about my appearance since I was better off that way.”
Upon realizing what you just said, you start internally cursing yourself for saying something you shouldn’t have. Meanwhile, as Rook gives you a surprised look, Vil raises an eyebrow and asks, “Oh, really? And just how did you come to that foolish conclusion?”
Knowing there’s no way out of this, you avert your gaze. “There was a time when guys gave me a lot of unwanted attention because of my appearance. Since I was in a position where I couldn’t fight back against them, I figured the only thing I could do was make sure I wasn’t something worth looking at.”
That’s how you came to prefer wearing baggy clothing since it helps hide your curves and chest, although you also just enjoy how comfortable such clothing feels as compared to tighter clothes.
Sadly, there wasn’t anything you could do while in the fighting ring. There was no hiding your figure there since you needed to wear properly sized clothing in order to ensure your movements wouldn’t be hindered.
Plus, it was practically a rule that female cage fighters had to wear more revealing attire since it was more entertaining for the crowd if they got to see lots of skin.
As a result, you could never escape all the creeps from the underworld and their disgust-inducing gazes.
More than anything, you just wanted to fight back, but you couldn’t, not at the risk of upsetting Mumei who wouldn’t have appreciated you attacking his sources of income.
Honestly, you hated dealing with those perverts even more than you did Mumei’s abuse. You hated being treated like a piece of meat - like you were just an object that solely existed for everyone else’s entertainment.
It’s the worst possible feeling you have ever experienced.
“Yuu-kun.”
At the sound of Rook’s unusually gentle voice, you turn in surprise to see that he is now kneeling down by the chair where you’re still seated.
Upon meeting his surprisingly solemn gaze, he says, “You will not have to experience such undeserved cruelty here. I promise that your beauty will be appreciated with the utmost respect it deserves.”
If those words had come from anyone else, you’d think you were just being given an empty promise since it’s not like anyone can actually control how everyone in NRC treats you, but you know that’s not what Rook is doing here.
Because, when you see the serious look in Rook’s eyes, you can’t help but think that if anyone could fulfill such a lofty promise it would be him.
Before you can try to formulate a response, a frowning Vil joins the conversation. “If anyone dares to do anything untoward to you, you have my permission to retaliate. If the Headmage makes any complaints, like I’ve heard he’s done in the past, you can tell him to talk to me.”
As you stare at him in surprise, Vil narrows his eyes. “And then, you will give me the names and descriptions of whoever dared to get in the way of my latest pet project. I will make an example out of them, so everyone will know not to interfere with my hard work.”
For a moment, you just sit there, completely dumbfounded by their words. Considering you’re not particularly close to either of these upperclassmen, you hadn’t expected them to be so willing to come to your defense like that.
Once you finally get over your surprise, a pleasant warmth envelops your chest, which steadily grows stronger with each passing second. “Thank you both very much. I really appreciate your support, and I’ll do exactly as you say.”
When you smile at them, Rook jumps to his feet and beams, “Merveilleux! I am most delighted to see your beautiful smile gracing your features once more! It’s like reuniting with the sun once the clouds have finally passed!”
Vil rolls his eyes. “Save your poetry for another time, Rook.”
His eyes then focus on you. “Now that the reason behind your stance on your appearance has been addressed, I expect you to work hard from here on out, Potato. Do not disappoint me.”
With a grin, you playfully salute him. “Yes sir!”
All the while, you find yourself thinking, I had thought Epel would be the only guy I could ever really get along well with in this dorm, but maybe I was wrong.
Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.