After getting tossed out of the party and y/n seeing that weird room again, Ace went on a rant,"Ahhhh, I'm so pissed! Screw that tiny, red tyrant! Does he think he's the Queen of Hearts or something?" he grabs at his hair tightly as y/n regains her breath secretly.

"To think I've already gotten kicked out for disobeying the dorm leader... What happened to me wanting to be a good student?" Deuce groans as he slings a hand over his eyes,"Ugh, this collar is so heavy. It hurts, too..." Grim whimpers as y/n rubs at her own neck, or tries to at least,"Tell me about it..." she sighs with crossed arms.

"Ya'll look so stylish with your meowtching collars~" a voice purrs from above y/n, who and the rest, jump at the sight of a literal floating head above hers,"Holy crap!" they all scream as y/n staggers over her foot a bit.

The head was of a grinning boy with wild short, choppy purple hair as three bobby pins pinned to his bangs both left and right sides of his face. A pair of purple cat ears with a piercing of a speech bubble containing the word 'up' in his left ear as well as three arrow piercings in his right ear. Lastly, he has yellow slitted eyes that reminds y/n of a mischievous cat.

"Ffgyaaa! A floating head!" Grim screeches as he hugs y/n's leg,"Oops. I fur-got to bring out my body." the boy grins as the rest of his body appears and he immediately starts to circle y/n, humming with interest.

"W-Whoa. So you do actually have a body. Who are you?" Deuce asks with awe as the boy takes a mocking boy,"I'm Artemiy Artemiyevich Pinker." he says before booping y/n's nose,"I'm a mysterious little thing, both like a person and like a cat, capable of using magic." he says and y/n steps back a bit, but the boy wraps his tail halfway around her waist to keep her from moving back.

This made the other two boys narrow their eyes at the other,"Arte... Come again?" Ace asks with a raised brow,"Everyone calls me Che'nya~" the boy, Che'nya, purrs as he goes behind y/n and rests his chin on her shoulder while his arms sneaked around her middle,"At the very least... I'm on a different level than those guys in there." he says as he uses his tail to point in the direction of the party.

"Um, I'm sorry. But, which dorm are you from?" y/n asks as she took note of the lack of NRC uniform and armband while awkwardly pulling herself away,"Why not have a guess?" Che'nya grin widens as he twirls a piece of her hair.

"Well, you've got ears on your head, so you've gotta be from Sa... Salmonya Dorm!" Grim claims and Che'nya presses his own nose,"Bzzzt! Incorrect." he says before making cat paws with his hands,"Salmon swim in the sea. I'm a little kitty cat, not a juicy salmon." he jests as he bats the air slightly.

"And anyway, there are other dorms that have students with ears growing out of their heads." Deuce tells Grim as y/n remembers seeing a few animal eared students in different dorms other than Savannaclaw.

"That little tyrant's plunged my mood down to rock bottom. Outta my way." Ace frowns as he pushes past Che'nya who tilts his head,"Riddle, a tyrant..." he snickers a bit before rubbing his head against y/n's, who blushes at the boy's constant affections.

"Hehehe. Well, mew're not incorrect~ He's been a serious tom since he was little..." he purrs as he presses his nose against y/n's neck and kneads her sides a bit, causing the girl to squirm at the weird feeling,"Hehehe~" he chuckles as his tail sway a bit while y/n tries to pull herself away from him.

"Do you know something?" Deuce asks as he helps y/n to escape from the overly affectionate cat, who pouts for a brief moment,"Maybe I do, maybe I don't." he shrugs,"Which is it?" Grim frowns as he crosses his arms,"What's this? Do you wanna know all about Riddle?" Che'nya teases with a hand on his hip.

"You bet I do! Just what kinda life do you have to have to run into that?" Ace says with annoyed eyes,"You should ask your glasses fur-end all about it." Che'nya suggests with a nod of his head towards the party.

"Glasses... Do you mean Trey?" Deuce asks with confusion, but Che'nya zips his lips before making grabby hands for y/n, who sighs before walking over to him, already knowing he won't say anything unless he gets to fond over her for some odd reason.

Che'nya purrs as he hugs her from behind with his tail wrapped around her one leg,"He's known Riddle since he was just a little kitten. If mew wanna know about Riddle, he's the one to talk to." he finally explains as he nuzzles his nose into y/n's hair.

"They were childhood friends? It didn't seem that way at all..." Deuce admits and y/n squirms in Che'nya's hold a bit,"It's as they say Deuce. Things aren't always as they seem..." she says before squealing when Che'nya gives a lick to the back of her neck, his tongue actually rough like a cat's.

"If mew thinks so, then it must be so." Che'nya says before pulling away from y/n,"So there's nothing for mew to talk to me about meow is there." he says as each of his body parts starts to disappear before it was just his smiling grin left,"See mew." he greets before his mouth finally disappears.

"What an overly affectionate guy..." y/n mumbles as she rubs the back of her neck before shivering when she feels something brushes against her leg along with humming,"Ah, oi!" Deuce searches for the cat boy, but to no vail.

"He had a weird cat-titude." Grim says before covering his muzzle,"...Ah! I'm talking like him!" he exclaims and y/n snickers,"The puns are a strong disease, buddy." she snickers.

"We really can't spend all of our school life with these collars on. Let's go see what Trey has to say. And..." Deuce suggests before being cut off by Ace,"I will not apologize to get this off, so don't even say it!" he glares and points accusingly at Deuce,"Stubborn much?" y/n raises an unimpressed brow at Ace before walking over to pat his shoulder,"Let's all ambush Trey when he's alone." she suggests before they all left.

"We should camp out in the library. Trey is bound to return that cookbook sooner or later." Deuce suggests and everyone agrees before heading for the library.

Meanwhile, back in Heartslabyul hours later...

"Laws of the Queen of Hearts, No. 249 states: 'The one in charge of feeding the flamingos must wear pink'." Riddle recites as he glares at a trembling student,"You were supposed to be the one in charge today. Where is your pink? For whatever reason are you not wearing it?" he interrogates.

"My deepest apologies, Dorm Leader... I-It's being washed! Please, don't cut off my head!" the student pleads with a trembling voice,"This makes the second time you've broken the rules. I can only overlook so much." Riddle says with an icy tone before flicking his magic pen at the student's direction.

"OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!!"

The student screams in pain as the collar clicks around his neck painfully,"Write a 5000 word apology and weed the garden for a week. Then I will gladly unseal your magic." Riddle says as the student began to sob,"...That's..." he cries, unable to utter a word.

"I'm not taking your head because I want to! It's because you all refuse to stop breaking the rules!" Riddle states loudly with gritted teeth,"Enforcing the rules so strictly is for your own benefit. Understood?" he hisses before waving the student off,"Trey, Cater. Take him outside." he orders.

"...Yes, Dorm Leader." Trey and Cater say with deep frowns on their face before doing as they're told.

But, that's when it happened again. Y/n felt her chest tighten up painfully so as she sees the dimly lit room once more. Only this time, three more drops of ink gather into the small pool forming on the ground.

She gasps for air slightly as she grabs her chest,"Hey, you okay y/n?" Ace asks with worry as the girl shakingly nods, her vision returning to normal,"I think the collar is giving her a hard time to breathe..." Deuce furrows his brows as Grim pats y/n's arm slightly,"I'm fine guys, really... I just swallowed a bit of wind, is all." y/n reassures them with a shaky smile.

"If you say so." Grim says with doubtful eyes before his ears picks up footsteps,"Look alive, guys." he says as he points at Trey returning the cookbook,"Trey." Deuce calls out as the group approaches him.

"Oh, it's you guys." Trey utters as he turns to them,"We figured you'd come to the library to return the cookbook for the Mont Blanc and camped out here." Deuce tells him,"We really can't agree with the way Riddle is doing things." Ace says bluntly.

"This has gone too far, Trey." y/n says and Trey sighs,"... I bet." he utters sadly,"What do you really think about him? Have you been his lap dog since you were kids or what?" Ace asks and Trey seems quite surprised at the question.

"Who told you that?" he asks,"From a guy named Che'nya." Deuce reveals,"Really nice guy, by the way." y/n chips in,"Che'nya... Ah, that guy." Trey murmurs as the name clicked in his brain.

"Aren't you older than him? Just tell him what's what already. What's wrong with you getting angry at him?" Grim asks as he perches himself on y/n's shoulder,"Of course, I'd do it if I really had to. But..." Trey bites his bottom lip as his fist shook,"I just can't bring myself to." he says.

"Why!?" Ace asks loudly with a glare,"Everything Riddle is was made under a strict upbringing." Trey tells them,"Huh...?" Deuce hums as y/n narrows her eyes,"What do you mean by that?" she asks.

"His parents are famous Healers. So famous that there isn't a single person in his homeland that isn't aware of them. His mother was especially talented, and she wanted Riddle to follow in her footsteps." Trey explains while y/n clenches her fist behind her back secretly.

[So it was his bastard of a mother, huh? Well, I've got a few words for her then.] she hisses mentally while remembering her own parents strictness towards herself.

"So from dawn till dusk, his every move was decided for him, down to the smallest thing, as part of a regimented study program." Trey continues,"Down... to the smallest thing?" Grim raises a brow and Trey nods at him,"From what he ate, what he wore, what he consumed, to his friends, everything was decided for him." he shakes his head as he sighs.

"Nevertheless, Riddle never complained and strived to meet those expectations. He even managed to perfect his Unique Magic at the age of ten. He's maintained his spot at the top of the class since middle school. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that must have been." he says as y/n scowls to the side,[I can...] she thought bitterly as unwanted memories came forward.

*Y/n, what is this?*

*It's my test, mom...*

*A 89 point out of 100? Why did you score so low, child? Are you that stupid in class?*

*B-But, mom... I got the highest score of everyone...*

*I don't want to hear it. Now, go to your room and study what you have missed! Study the entire book until you remember everything! If you can't then no dinner for you!*

*Yes mom...*

Y/n bites back a growl as she spoke,"So the reason Riddle is who he is today is because of his parents? That's low of them!" she spat,"Riddle fully believes being bound by strict rules is for one's own benefits. He's convinced that ruling by fear and bounding rules is what leads to one's growth."

"After all, it worked for him, didn't it?" Trey gives them a bitter smile before it immediately disappears,"Similarly, that means there's no greater evil to him than breaking said rules. I mean..."

"If he encourages rule violation in any form, it would be like rejecting his whole existence that was formed by said rules. That what you're trying to say?" Ace cuts him off,"... I completely understand why you think of him the way you do, and that his way of doing things is incorrect. But for me... I just can't bring myself to scold him." Trey confesses.

"This sucks..." Grim's ears droop as y/n clicks her tongue,"I didn't think the dorm leader had a history like that..." Deuce frowns,"There's one thing I know for sure after hearing all this." Ace then points at Trey,"The way Riddle is now, is your fault." he accuses.

"EH!?" everyone looks at him with shock,"Yeah, Riddle didn't get to choose who his parents were. Who does? But you've grown up with the opinion that what they're doing to him was wrong, no?" Ace raises a brow at Trey,"That's..." Trey tries to think of something to say, but his words got stuck in his throat.

"If you think Riddle is making the same mistakes as his parents did, say so. Put him on the right track. What good is it to coddle him just because you feel sorry for him? You're just going to watch while he becomes hated and isolated from everyone?" Ace glares as y/n's hair shadows her eyes.

Trey says silent at this as he processes Ace's words,"H-Hey... Ace!" Deuce tries to shit his friend up, but y/n shakes her head at him silently telling him not to,"Or is it something else? You just keeping quiet 'cause you're afraid of losing your head? So lame! Nevermind childhood friends, you can't even call yourself a friend!" Ace shouts as he pokes Trey's chest harshly.

"HEY! YOU BOYS OVER THERE! BE QUIET IN THE LIBRARY!" Crowley shouts at them as he pops out from behind a bookshelf,"You're the loudest here." Grim points out and Crowley sweatdrops,"Oh my, apologies." he says before clearing his throat,"My goodness, the library is for quiet study ro reading." he says.

"What are you doing here, Headmaster?" y/n asks and Crowley jumps at the question,"I came to research how to get you back to your home world. See? I haven't forgotten. For I am gracious. There is no better place to research than the library."

"Of course I didn't come here because I wanted to borrow the next part of one of my favorite novels before someone else got the chance, oh no, definitely not." he says very quickly before sweatdropping at the sight of y/n's doubtful look.

He clears his throat,"In any case, may I ask why all of you are loitering around with such grim faces?" he changes the subject,"About that..." Deuce proceeds to tell Crowley everything about their situation at the moment.

"I see. So that's the situation..." Crowley hums with fingers pinching his chin,"You're against apologizing to get the collar removed, but you don't feel that you can persuade Riddle to let this go without causing a scene." he utters,"Pretty much, I guess." Ace shrugs.

"I see. If you don't believe you can get along with your dorm leader, you do have the option of transferring to a different dormitory." Crowley then lifts up a finger,"However, you were placed in your current dormitory based on the quality of your soul as perceived by the Dark Mirror. Should you choose to transfer, it will come with quite a number of tedious procedures and rituals." he explains.

"I could transfer, huh? That just feels like I'm admitting defeat, though, so I'm good." Ace immediately denies the idea,"Hmm. In that case, how about challenging Mr. Rosehearts to a duel to take his place as dorm leader?" Crowley suggests.

"Eeeeeeeeehhhhhhh!!!??" everyone shouts in shock,"Everyone! You're shouting!" Crowley hisses in a whisper,"Don't say such weird things, then." Ace whispers,"It isn't weird in the slightest. After all, that is precisely how Mr. Rosehearts became the current dorm leader." Crowley reveals in a normal tone.

"Now that you mention it, how are the dorm leaders chosen at Night Raven College?" Deuce asks,"We heard that Riddle became dorm leader a week after he started school." Grim says as y/n nods in agreement.

"There are many ways for the dorm leader to be decided, from simply being nominated by the previous dorm leader, to winning in a duel against the current dorm leader. Challenging the dorm leader is one of the more simple options." Crowley explains.

"But isn't using magic for personal fights prohibited?" Ace asks,"Personal ones, yes. Going through the proper channels with the headmaster overseeing the duel is another matter." Crowley says.

"It's also against the rules of a duel to place a handicap on your opponent. That means you would be able to get the collar removed without apologizing to Riddle. But..." Trey trails off.

"All students are given the right to take the role of dorm leader the moment they enter this school. What you say, Mr. Trappola? Will you challenge Mr. Rosehearts?" Crowley smiles coily.

"Okay. I won't know if I can do it unless I try." Ace nods with determined eyes,"Count me in, too." Deuce steps up,"Don't forget me!" Grim raises a paw,"Grim, unfortunately students from another dorm cannot issue a challenge." Crowley immediately shuts him down.

"Ffgna!? Then who exactly is gonna take my collar of!?" Grim screams as he pushes a paw on y/n's cheek, squishing her face a bit,"Gwim, watch the cwaw bud..." she muffles with a sweatdrop.

"All I gotta do is order Riddle to take it off when I become dorm leader." Ace says, grinning with confidence,"Aww. I'll finally have a chance to show off my true power, too..." Grim says as he climbs on top of y/n's head and flexes his arms.

"Are you guys serious? Even you, Deuce. I never would have expected this from you." Trey admits with a baffled expression,"Really? As a man, don't you want to aim for the top sometimes?" Deuce smirks as he cracks his knuckles a bit,"And if you're gonna challenge anyone, there's no one better than the team's leader." he adds.

"Here it is, bad-boy mode." Ace grins at him,"Huh? But isn't this...normal?" Deuce asks as y/n giggles,"Allow me to take care of all the necessary preparations." Crowley offers with a hand on his chest.

"Alright boys, seems it's settled then! So, what's the plan?" y/n grins with crossed arms,"Yeah. Anyone got any bright ideas?" Ace asks,"Hmm. I really don't see us beating Riddle with magic. But if it's a fist fight, we got this." Deuce grins with a clenched fist,"True! He does look like a little twig!" Grim exclaims with a grin.

"Oops, I forgot to mention. In this duel, any attacks other than magic are forbidden." Crowley tells them,"Huh!?" Deuce's jaw drops at this,"Ha ha ha! Have a fun, rule-abiding duel! The formalities will be taken care of by tomorrow, so feel free to make your challenge at whatever time you wish. I bid you adieu." Crowley greets before swiftly leaving the library.

"A-Alright! I'm not super confident in our magic, but... We got this in the bag!" Ace says with confidence,"Y-Yeah!" Deuce stammers a bit,"My head it riding on this! You better go all out!" Grim screams,"You guys got this! Don't lose hope just yet!" y/n encourages with a thumbs up.

"You guys..." Trey stare at them with wide eyes,"When I become dorm leader, I'm gonna put him in his place and make him say, 'I was wrong, I'm so sorry'! And I'll stop him paralyzing everyone with his crazy rules!" Ace declares as he points a finger to the roof.