The Amaryllis trio were sitting in the dining room, having their breakfast. But as when Yuuna sat down, the three residential ghosts who help guard the ice palace-like dorm.

"Hey, Yuuna. Why so bleary-eyed?" asked ghost A, who was hovering above Yuuna.

Y/n perked an eyebrow because Yuuna looked like she couldn't sleep at all. 'Is she turning into L?' thought Y/n who calmly sipped her mint tea.

"You look like you've seen a ghost. Heh heh heh" ghost B laughed as his own pun.

"Today's the last day of the fall semester. Look sharp and don't bungle the landing" Ghost C stated.

"Oh yeah, tomorrow's the first day of the winter holiday. Have you three decided what you'll be doing?" Ghost A asked.

Y/n let out a groan. She knew exactly what she had to do once she gets back to the Land of Permafrost. During the holidays, it's extra special due to all the festivals. Like the Amaryllis festival, a flower that blooms during winter, along with citizens buying Flower of Eternitys or collecting them in the wild, since they only bloom during winter as well. What Y/n has to do is do a heck of a lot of paperwork...

"Huh?" Grim's ears perk up a bit as he turned to look at the three ghosts. "What's a win-ter holly-day?" he asked, taking a bite of his waffles.

"It's a 2-week break we get when school is out for the season. Most students go home to celebrate Christmas and the new year with their families" Y/n explained to Grim.

"And they have fancy dinners, too" Ghost A added.

"Wait, there's FOOD?!" yelped Grim.

"And plenty of it. Roast turkey, pie, a ham as big as your head, you name it...Not that us ghosts can eat, of course," Ghost C said.

"Some ghosts head home to the netherworld to spend holidays with their family too, y'know" Ghost A mentioned.

"Yeah, and some of 'em never come back! Heh Heh Heh!" Ghost B laughed.

"Spendin' time with the family while gettin' your grub on sounds nice..." Grim muttered.

"Say, what's your family like, Grim?" asked Yuuna, looking at the raccoon who sat on a soft pillow on top of the table.

"I remember wakin' up hungry and alone." Grim started. "It was real cold. I was waitin' out there for someone to come get me for ages. What after that again? It's all so foggy..." Grim said, starting to get sentimental. "But hey, I'm forward facin' kinda guy anyway! The future's way cooler than the past! Especially 'cause I'm gonna be rich and powerful sorcerer! Gah ha ha!"

"Way to stay positive, Grim" Y/n praised as Grim crossed his arms, looking all prideful.

Ghost A let out a sniffle. "Awww, poor little Grimmy had it rough!" he said, feeling sympathetic for the raccoon.

"How'd you like to spend the holidays sitting around the fireplace with us?" Ghost C asked.

"Myah! ha ha! If there's good food to be had, consider me ready for some holiday cheer!" Grim cheered.

"What are you gonna do for the holidays, [nickname]?" asked Yuuna turning towards the Levia-fae.

"Well, I have to go back to the Land of Permafrost to do my duty as Empress. After all, winter is quite the busy season" Y/n said.

"Working instead of having a break? Sounds tough" Ghost C said.

"You have your sympathies," Ghost A said.

Y/n let out a laugh. "It's not that bad. You get used to it after doing nothing but work for the past 716 years."

Yuuna, Grim, and the ghosts all sweatdrop a bit.

"Listen up, whelps. Your holiday vacation starts tomorrow. I'm sure all of you are foaming at the mouth to get back home" Crewel starts off. "But every year, there's always some foolish pup who forgets about his homework and spends the whole break goofing off. Just remember that I have severe punishment in store for any such slackers out there. Are we clear? You have permission to use the Dark Mirror to return home for the holidays. Report to your dorm Mirror once you've packed your things!"

"Yes, Professor!" yelled the students.

"Seriously...? Who forgets about homework and just goofs off?" questioned Y/n. (Author: *sweating bullets*)

"Well, you used to doing work, so..." Yuuna let out a nervous chuckle.

"Well...that's true I guess" Y/n muttered.

Students began chatting as soon as class was over.

"Ugh, finally!" Ace said while stretching out his limps. "A break from this cramped dorm life!"

"Good grief" Deuce sighed. "Night Raven College doesn't kid around with holiday homework. Look at all this" he sweatdropped by his own pile of papers that were his homework.

"Speaking of going home, I guess you're spending the holidays here, Yuuna, Y/n?" asked Ace.

"No. I'm going back to Permafrost, but they are staying" Y/n said, pointing to Yuun and Grim.

"Will you two be spending the holidays in the dorm?" Deuce asked Yuuna and Grim.

Yuuna nodded.

"Yup. We've made plans to have ourselves a feast with the ghosts!" Grim said.

"Oh, right. There's plenty of ghosts on campus to keep you company, so it won't be just the two of you" Ace patted Yuuna's back.

"Mhm. But I'm really sorry I couldn't be with you, Yuuna. If I don't return, I'm going to be pestered by my lady-in-waiting" Y/n shivered at how scary her 1st lady-in-waiting can be.

"Hm? A Lady-in-waiting? What is that?" asked Grim.

Deuce, Ace, and Yuuna all looked eager to know what a lady-in-waiting was. Y/n let out as she decided to give a simple explanation, "A Lady-in-waiting is an Empress's personal servant. They are quite different from Personal Maids and stuff. In fact, Ladies-in-waiting help the Empress's job. Most of them are from noble families"

"Ooooh" they seemed to get it.

"But when school lets out, don't the cafeteria and school store shut down too?" Deuce mentioned.

"Mrow! I didn't even think about that. Where'm I supposed to get food for my feast?!" exclaimed Grim

"Surely the headmaster planned for this...I hope" mumbled Yuuna.

"Sounds like you'd better check in with the headmaster soon" Deuce said.

"Don't worry, if it does slip his mind, I'll have someone special to deliver your meals to Amaryllis for free from those food delivery apps" Y/n said.

"Alright. Thanks" Yuuna thanked Y/n as she nodded.

"Speaking about the headmaster, you need Crowley's permission to use the Dark Mirror, so my guess is he's probably there right now." Ace suggested. "Let's find out"

The group nodded as they all headed to the Mirror Chamber.

As they walk inside the Mirror chamber, they met with a crowd of students who were using the Dark Mirror to head home. Y/n then noticed something.

'Hmm, as expected. No one from Scarabia is here' Y/n thought.

"Wow, it's already packed with students going home," Deuce said, looking around the room.

"Hah, they all look so antsy. Now then, where's the headmaster?" asked Ace.

The group looked around in Y/n drew their attention, "There" she pointed to the headmaster who was talking to the crowd of students.

"All right, everyone. Announce your destination to the Dark Mirror and keep a tight hold on your belongings." Crowley instructed the students. "If you let go for any reason while in transit, your luggage will get spirited away elsewhere," he warned. "If you have any possessions you absolutely cannot afford to risk losing, send them by post from the school store"

Ace, Deuce, Grim, and Yuuna exclaimed.

Y/n had a deadpanned stare, feeling second-hand embarrassment. 'my gosh, god kill me now'

Yuuna tried to hold in her laughter but failed miserably, letting out some small giggles.

"Wearing an aloha skirt in the middle of winter?! He's obviously ready to go on a tropical vacation!" exclaimed Ace who looked at the headmaster in shock.

"He's not even trying to hide it" sweatdropped Deuce.

"He, Headmaster!" Grim called out, making his way toward the idiotic headmaster as the group followed. "We gotta talk!"

Crowley turned to Grim, the two-brain cells, and the two only female students of NRC. "Why, hello." he greeted. "What brings your merry little band here?" he asked.

"Have you planned for Yuuna's and Grim's situation over the break, Headmaster Crowley?" Y/n asked, having a glare at the crow.

Crowley finished under her icy glare. 'Don't look at me like that, Master!' he whined in his head. "Ah...Ahhh! Ahhh, yes!" he remembered. "Of course, I've planned for it! What kind of headmaster would I be otherwise? Why I was just about to make arrangements online to have food delivered to you!"

"In other words, you were gonna leave us to starfe. I'm guessin' you ain't even tryin' to find a way back home for Yuuna, either" Grim grumbled.

"How rude. I most certainly am. In fact, I'll be spending the winter break expanding my investigation area to a tropical land I've never visited before" Crowley said, coming up with the best excuse he could think up, while sweating bullets under Y/n's gaze. "T-that's how deeply my diligent streak runs"

"You don't look dressed for an investigation to me" Ace muttered.

Y/n still glared at Crowley with a deadpanned expression through her face.

"What he said! You look ready to go soak up in the sun!" Grim shouts.

Yuuna just shook her head in disappointment.

"How could you suggest that?" Crowley gasp, looking offended. "I've only clad myself in appropriate attire for my venture. When in a foreign land, do as the locals do. Escaping winter's frigid bite to kick back in a hammock and sip coconut juice while gazing at the tranquil ocean waves...I have NO such refined and indulgent vacation plans whatsoever, I assure you"

"What an incredibly specific denial..." mumbled Deuce.

"Didn't have to think about his REAL intentions" Y/n mumbled as well.

"It ain't far for you to have all the fun!" Grim shouted. "I wanna go on a tropical vacation too. Take us with you!"

"What? But that would spoil my delightful gateway from-" Crowley then corrected himself when Y/n's glare on him grew more intense. "ah, ahem! This investigation will be dangerous. Yes, very dangerous. Best that I handle it alone. Besides, I'd much prefer if you stayed on campus. I have a critical job for you, as a matter of fact. It's so critical, the very survival of Night Raven College hinges upon it" Crowley came up with another excuse that was actually true.

"The school's survival? Really?" asked Yuuna, a bit doubtful.

"Ahem" Crowley cleared his throat. "The fires in our campus cafeteria and fireplaces are all furnished via fire fairy magic. They've lived in the cafeteria fireplace for many years...But if we don't supply them with dry firewood every day, they will fade away. Should the fire fairies disappear, our whole campus would be gripped with cold every winter...in which Y/n wouldn't mind..." Crowley mumbled the last part. "You can see how the school's survival would be at stake"

"You know, I've wondered how the school stays so warm without central air" Deuce mumbled to himself.

"So it was magic" Ace muttered. "Kinda obvious in hindsight"

"Normally, our kitchen ghost takes over fire duty extended school breaks...But this year, his daughter had a baby, so he's visiting the netherworld to see his first grandchild" Crowley informed them.

"Eh? Ghosts can have children?" questioned Yuuna.

"Ghosts can do the dirty?" Y/n turned her head in confusion.

"Thus, I would like you two to handle things in his absence. Should you take on this job, your holiday provisions will be provided in full. I'll even arrange for a holiday feasts. Roast turkey, pie, a ham as big as your head...In fact, I'll throw some piping hot spare ribs and mashed potatoes to sweeten- er,salt?- the deal. What do you say?" Crowley turned to Yuuna and Grim, as Y/n just looked like she wanted to disappear.

"Mrah! Sounds like a one-way ticket to a food coma!" Grim exclaimed. "H-hmph. I guess I'll hear you out, at least" he huffed.

"Dude, you are a born sucker" Ace complained.

"If that's what it takes to get our meals..." Yuuna moaned from the pain.

"Yes indeed. Plus, someone needs to handle fire duty if you want to stay warm over the holidays" Crowley added. "Just by throwing firewood into the fireplace every day, you'll stay both warm AND well-fed. That is as we say, two birds with one stone. Oh, what a generous deal!" he continued, looking at the group except for Y/n herself.

"Y'know, this does sound like kind of a gimme compared to the usual messes you dumb in our laps" Grim says, calling him out.

Y/n sighed in disappointment as her dull eyes adverted to the floor, causing the floor to ice up a bit under her cold gaze.

"Doesn't it, thought? You would be surprised at just how kind I can be," Crowley complimented himself. Suddenly, he got reminded of something. "Oh yes, and since I'll be out for a while, I'd like to give this to you," he said, handing Yuuna a new phone.

"Oooh, a smartphone?" Ace asked, looking at the device in Yuuna's hands. Y/n lifted her head as she looked at the device in the human girl's hands. "You can use this to call me in the event of any emergency. It is to be used ONLY for emergencies, mind you. Do try not to burn through its bata cap browsing Magicam of the like" Crowley said.

Yuuna nodded. Now she had two phones, her old one, and the one Crowley gave her. "Don't worry Yuuna, I can do a data transfer for you since the one Crowley gave you is new" Y/n offered.

Yuuna brighten up at her suggestion. "Thank you"

Crowley sweatdropped. "B-but didn't I say not to-" he was intruppted when Y/n did her creepy sweet smile that caused a shiver go down his spine. He cleared his throat, decided to change the subject. "N-now then, if you excuse me, I have many students to transport home to their families. I'll leave the rest in your capable hands. Ah, I'd better make certain to peruse some tourist pamphlets before I set out. Goodness gracious, I'm so very busy...." he mumbled before walking away.

"Myah ha ha!" Grim laughed out loud. "Now I got to chow down on a fancy feast over the holidays!"

"I still get the feeling you just look a sucker's deal, but hey, whatever floats your boat" Ace sweatdropped.

"Hey, guys!" A voice called out. "You can stop standing in the middle of a hall and blocking traffic now!"