𝑀𝒶𝓁 ੈ♡˳

Ep 1

🐙 Today we start preparing for the music concert "Blazing Jewels"! Have you heard our dorm song, "Entanglement"?

🦈 Yeah. It's a cool song, isn't it? I'm really looking forward to singing it!

🐬 Me too. I like the jazzy melody and the mature atmosphere. But we have to come up with the choreography for some parts, right?

🐙Yeah. We have to think about what kind of choreography to use with the song... it's a part that tests our sense of style. Well, with us three, singing won't be an issue. We'll have plenty of time to come up with the choreography. I already knew our singing ability back in middle school. It saves us the trouble of improving our singing skills, so we can focus on coming up with choreography and expressing each part.

🦈 Even if you're good at singing, are you and Jade okay with dancing? It took you two twice as long as me to be able to stand and walk. You can't dance if you're bad at using your feet. I don't have any problem.

🐙 I can't say that there's no problem yet. But I'll definitely get it done. There's still plenty of time until the announcement. I can practice as much as I want.

🐬 Yes, I'll do my best too. I'm also interested in the act of "carving handprints".

🐙 Oh. I'm surprised you're interested in handprints.

🐬 When I looked up how to make handprints, it seems that you press your hand into cement made from a mixture of limestone and clay to leave a mark... As the representative of the Mountain Lovers Association, I thought I should experience art that makes use of natural materials.

🦈 Jade still likes weird stuff. I just want to beat the other dorms at singing and dancing.

🐙 Hehe... Although our reasons are different, all three of us seem to have the same desire to liven things up more than any other dorm. Let's get pumped up and practice for the live show!

🐬/🦈 Understood. / Ok.

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Ep 2

🐙 I want to practice the dance especially carefully. Today, let's think about the choreography for the arranged parts. What kind of performance would be well received by the audience...? But it's hard work trying to appeal to the masses. The scope of the research is too broad... It would have been better if it were a competition that was evaluated by judges. If they had done that, I could have researched the preferences of all the judges and their past evaluation trends, and come up with a performance that would suit that... Well, there must have been some intention behind them asking Night Raven College students to perform. What do they want from us, the students… Let's analyze carefully and think about our performance!

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Ep 3

🐙 ♪Now, let us hear your wish~ ...Yes. My voice is in perfect condition today too. But if I put a little more vibrato into this part, the expression of the song might have more depth. To make the vibrato resonate beautifully, it is essential to practice long tones. I should incorporate this into my daily singing practice plan... But in fact, wouldn't it be better to add a fall rather than a vibrato...? To improve the accuracy of our performance, I should try out all the ideas I can think of. Let's compare several patterns on a recording and consider which expression resonates best with the audience.

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ep 4

🐬 In middle school, I formed a band with Azul and Floyd... but I never thought the day would come when we would all work on music together again. When we first formed, we each had different ideas about the direction of music we wanted to play, and we often clashed. Even after we decided on the songs, we just couldn't get along... it was a really hard time. I wonder what will happen this time. Hehe... I'm looking forward to it.

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ep 5

🐬 Singing won't be a problem with our group, but I'm worried about the dancing. Land dancing is different from sea dancing, which uses tail fins. I haven't danced with human feet very often. Before I can match the rhythm and learn the movements, I have to wonder if I can move my feet the way I want to... I'm worried, but it's exciting to try something new. Let's do our best to leave our handprints in the "Groovy Arena."

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ep 6

🦈 I've been listening to "Entanglement" a lot lately. It fits my mood right now. The eerie feel of it, like jumping out of a dark place to scare someone, is interesting so I never get bored of it.Ah, wouldn't it be cool if we incorporated that kind of feel into the choreography too? I think Azul came up with the choreography for my arranged part. Oh well. I'll work on with my thoughts in mind too.

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ep 7

🦈 ♪ Dance, your swaying heart left and right, an illusion seen through closed eyes - Ah, maybe I sang pretty well just now. "Maybe I should do it like this?" I thought and came out of the classroom right away and it was the right decision. I think I'll sing it a few more times before I forget how it felt. When I stood up during class, Red Squid-sensei just gaped at me like a mackerel and then looked angry for some reason. The next time we meet, he'll probably give me another long lecture. Well, I'll ignore him. I'm still not tired of practicing our performance... I'll make sure I don't get caught.

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ep 8

🦈 I want to practice dancing while looking at a big mirror, is there a good place? Come to think of it, I heard before that there is a room in Pomefiore where all the walls are mirrors... Shall I go there now? But it's a pain to go all the way there... ... Hmm? Hey, maybe this window in the hallway could serve as a mirror? Let me try stepping. ... Ah, I can see my feet clearly after all! Oh, I don't have to go to another dorm. I found a good place. Let's practice here.

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ep 9

🐬 (Cough, cough... )

🐙 Jade... Did you just cough?

🐬 Yes. Sorry, was I too loud?

🐙 No, it's not that! We have a live show coming up. We need to keep our throats in top condition. Take these throat lozenges, they're great for moisturizing the throat. And put on a mask right now! That's right. I'll turn on the humidifier too. We need to make sure that Floyd and I keep our throats in good condition too.

🐬 This is, the best I can ask for.

🐙 If you can't sing properly during the live show, all our practice will be for nothing. Of course you need to take care of your throat, but you need to make sure you're in good physical condition too!

🐬 That's great. (Cough) Oh dear, that cough just now was just from inhaling dust while I was cleaning...

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ep10

🐬 ♪Future disappearing like bubbles - it all depends on you - Phew... Just as I thought, it feels good to sing in the clear early morning air. It was worth getting up early. Now that I think about it, I once heard that it felt good to shout "Yaho!" from the top of a mountain, so I tried to do it... Then, just like now, I felt a sense of excitement in my heart. So it might feel good to sing from the top of a mountain. I'll try it next time.

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ep 11

🦈 Hmmm, hmmm… ♪Let's turn here...

🐙 Floyd? Why are you practicing your dance in the middle of this hallway?

🦈 Oh, it's Azul. This window reflects your whole body, so it's good as a mirror.

🐙 I see. It certainly is a good place to practice... No, we should avoid dancing here after all.

🦈 What about it? Why? You're not going to say something lame like we'll get in the way of the dorm students passing by?

🐙 What I'm worried about is if there's a spy from another dorm. If we practice in such a conspicuous place, it's the same as making the performance public.

🦈 It doesn't matter if people see us. We're performing different songs for each dorm, so there's no way they're going to copy us. If you're really worried, Azul, prepare a different place to practice. It's tiring to move around to practice.

🐙 Let's ban the common room from entering for a few hours a day, except for the members who will be performing in the live show. Just for that time, we'll prepare several full-length mirrors in the common room. What do you think?

🦈 That's fine. Well, get it ready.

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ep 12

🐙 We've decided on the choreography over the past few days, so today we'll try to work the dance together as a trio.

🐬/🦈 Yes. / Ok.

🦈 Haha! What was that dance of yours just now? It was so bad!!

🐙 Be quiet, Floyd! I think everyone is like this when they first start.

🐬 As I thought, the way you dance with your fins and your feet is very different. When I was turning, it was hard to keep my balance and I thought I might fall.

🦈 It's funny to see you two dancing I'll record it on my phone.

🐙 Hey... Don't take pictures without permission!

🐬 Azul, calm down. Isn't it more likely that Floyd, who doesn't take pictures even when I ask, is recording us? If you watch the recording, you can look back on which moves you're not doing well.

🦈 Right. I'll share this hilarious data with you later, so you can watch and realize how bad you guys are.

🐙 Damn it! I can't stand being left in such a shameful state, but this is all for the sake of improving my dancing... If that's the case, then let's improve as quickly as possible!

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ep 13

🐙 It's been a week since I felt saddened by the poor performance of my dance and Jade’s... We have been working hard every day to improve our dancing. Today, let's dance smartly!

😺 What's up Azul. Were you bad at dancing? I'll laugh at your bad dancing!

🦈 Oh, it's the seal and the shrimp. Did you come to see how we were doing?

MC

-Sorry to bother you

-Please let me have a look

🐬 Please feel free to watch as much as you like.

🦈 Have you and Azul really improved in a week? If you haven't changed, I'll squeeze you.

🐙 Oh, so scary. But I don't think you'll be disappointed.

🐬 Of course, me too.

🦈 Wow, you two look so confident.

🐬 Hehe... I studied a lot about how to dance with your feet, not your fins. I promise you that I won't show you a pathetic side by focusing too much on dancing and neglect my singing.

🐙 Let's start practicing. I'll show you how much I've improved... the results of my efforts!

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ep 14

😺 I thought I'd laugh at Azul and Jade's dancing, but... they weren't bad at all!

MC

-I was fascinated

-They were also good singers

🐙 Hehe, isn't that right? This is the result of our efforts!

🦈 Both of them were hilariously bad at dancing until recently... Your legs seem to be moving pretty smoothly today. Did you use some kind of magic?

🐙 No. I just spent all my free time practicing dance.

🐬 I also watched the recordings of my dancing over and over again, striving to improve my movements.

🐙 Hehehe... I've improved so much in such a short amount of time. If you keep practicing like this, the crowd will definitely go wild! If I do that, in the future, my name will be widely known to the world!

🦈 You don't really need to make a name at the live show... If I uploaded a recording of that crappy dance to the internet wouldn't it be a quick way to become famous?

🐬 Certainly, I found it interesting when I watched it myself, and it may actually create a buzz.

🐙 I see. Nowadays, there are ways to earn money from videos through ad revenue and support from viewers, so maybe it's actually possible...? ...No! I really don't want to make a name for myself with such an embarrassing video.

🐙 Honor must come from having your name engraved in the music hall!

😺 Hey, henchman. There's a video of their terrible dance moves. Let's get it secretly!

MC

-Let's stop it.

-I'm a bit curious...

🐙 Come on, you two! Let's practice to perfect our performance!

Azul had hoped his second year on land would've meant his body was more used to its human form. But being on two legs was unsteady and walking caused his knees to ache and his back to clench. He often remembered his first transformation where he could barely get his body past a crawling position. No matter what he tried, his knees would buckle under him and send him back to the ground. He had felt eyes burning into him as he failed over and over again. The eyes of the doctors and the advisors and his mother bore into him as he flailed like a child. He could tell what they were thinking: "this isn't going to work." That had been the most embarrassing day of his entire life and he counted himself lucky that the twins were not there to witness it. His eyes had burned with humiliation as his dreams of Night Raven College began slipping away. How could he attend a school on land if he couldn't do anything but lay there? His doctor had suggested using something called a walker - a device to give him extra "legs" - was he was still learning. Maybe then he could still attend the school he longed for. It was his final chance, his only remaining option. Mortifying. Why was it that those stupid morays could run along like everything was so easy? Granted, with this transformation they gained legs. Azul lost them.

Azul was able to use the cane instead by the time school was in session. Many of the other students thought it was just for a bit of pomp and circumstance. It lent itself well to the aesthetics he had built for himself. Little did they know. But little they needed to. He was happy to let them all assume he simply had a fun and unnecessary accessory. They wouldn't know of his weakness. He could get around well enough that it was hard to tell that he actually used it as support. Except, of course, when that bitter, biting pain reared its ugly head. What was it about the cold that elevated every pin and needle that buried itself in his flesh? But life goes on, there's work to be done.

The best snowy days were the ones where classes were cancelled and Azul could hole himself up in his room until his body could sort itself out. He yearned for darkness and quiet and the comforting crush of a massive pile of heavy blankets pulled over his head. That would be good - a little crevice carved out only for himself. He would tell his employees he was doing important business. That way, they wouldn't bother him. And they would never know the octopus had shoved himself back into the pot.

But those days were rare. More often than not, classes were still in session and Azul would have to drag himself out of the dorm and into the elements. Cold, he could handle. His skin put up no complaints. It was actually kind of nice to not feel like he was constantly sweating against the unfamiliar heat of the surface world. He could mask the pain in every step well enough that no one would know of his struggle. But there was a greater enemy out there. Ice. It was slick and nearly impossible to see especially when his breath clouded the lenses of his glasses. If he hit a patch of ice with his cane at just the right angle, it would slide and cause him to stumble. Humiliating. He hated the snow, he hated the ice, he hated anything that could cause him to make a fool of himself in front of his classmates. His only solace was zipping his coat way up past his mouth and securing his hood around his head. It was close enough to a crevice. It made his heart pound a little quieter.

On this particular snow day, classes went by fast enough. Though Azul didn't take in any of the content. He was too busy going through a checklist in his head over and over again. The Mostro Lounge was always busy on days when the weather was not good for relaxing outside. Which meant that he wouldn't be able to crawl into bed when he was done with classes. Even worse, Jade had spent the morning coughing and blowing his nose which meant he was unfit to work the floor. Azul had no other choice, he would have to pick up the slack. He would have to be on his feet for several more hours - probably until it was closing time. Just thinking about it exacerbated the terrible ache tightening its fingers around his spine. But he could bear it. With white knuckles around his cane, he would have to bear it. He didn't have a choice.

The final class of the day came to an end and Azul needed to get going. The snow had mostly stopped falling but he was too smart to fall for this trap. The white blanket around him was still just as slippery and treacherous. He had a habit of watching his feet when he walked, something from his early days on land that just wouldn't go away. He would always force his head up when someone was near but alone, he kept his eyes focused on the ground. He would not be bested today. Not by something as simple as ice. His speed was abysmal, he would be better off crawling back to the dorm, but he couldn't risk going any faster. His cane already felt wobbly in his gloved grasp. He stuck to following the footprints of previous pedestrians, thinking it a safer path than plunging his boots into fresh snow.

Though the snow had stopped falling, the wind whipping around tossed the powder directly into his face. Somehow, it even managed to get behind his glasses and sting his eyes. A string of curses accompanied him with every step. He felt himself growing more and more frustrated as he moved along. He could barely see. He didn't want to be out here. He didn't want to be taking tiny steps in hopes of staying upright. All he wanted was his bed - his crevice - and some sort of painkiller that probably wouldn't work. He wanted all of this to go away. He wanted the sea. He wanted his real legs back. The ones that took him wherever he needed without complaint. The ones he could rely on. Eight of them - balanced and strong.

Azul had gotten too caught up in thoughts of home. He didn't see the patch of ice coating the steps down main street. He knew as soon as his cane touched down that he had made a mistake. He had hit the ice dead center. There was no chance he would win this battle. The end of his cane flew forward, taking his left leg with it. His body rocked back and his right knee immediately buckled. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as he prepared for impact. His back was the first thing to hit the stone steps, followed by his head which was thankfully cushioned by the hood of his coat. His body rolled itself over and down three more steps before he found himself flat on his back on the street, staring up at the sky.

He barely dared to breathe as the fiery pain spread across his back and down both his legs. He squeezed his eyes shut and commanded his limbs to stop trembling. He went through the checklist in his mind, the one he had made years ago to guide him after a fall. Step one: sit up. Step two: find your cane. Step three: get to a kneeling position. Step four: push yourself to-

"Hey, are you okay!?"

Damn it. Someone's here.

Azul turned his head towards the stairs. It was the Ramshackle prefect. He pushed himself to a seated position way faster than he would have liked. His head spun and throbbed with the sudden motion. The prefect came down the stairs carefully but their feet were so steady even on the ice. There was no fear of their body betraying them. And even if it did, the consequences would be minimal. They would still be able to stand.

"I nearly fell down those this morning," they continued. "That stone gets really slick." They reached their hand down towards Azul. He froze. They hadn't asked if he needed help. They hadn't even waited to see if he could do it on his own. Did he really look that pathetic lying on the ground? His instinct was the slap the hand away and bolt the other direction. But his cane was lying too far away to reach. He would have to crawl to it. Disastrous. He had one choice to save face. He took the prefect's hand. He could feel the warmth even through the gloves.

It seemed to take no effort to pull him up to stand. His knee bent nearly forty-five degrees the moment he put weight on his foot. A squeaky grunt surged up from his chest but he clenched his teeth to stop it in its tracks. He hoped the prefect didn't notice. He cleared his throat and straightened his off-kilter glasses. He knew he looked like a disaster. Time for some damage control.

"Thank you," he said. "I expect a bill for my rescue to be coming soon?" The prefect chuckled a bit. Azul forced himself to smile back, hoping to look casual. In reality, there was a sharp stabbing in his left knee that forced him to balance on the tip of his toe, putting most of his weight on his right side. This was bad. He was barely good at standing on two legs, just one would not work. He needed his cane. But how could he get to it without broadcasting his weakness? He was starting to sweat. Perhaps he could slide his way to it, dragging his left leg along just as a balancer. That would hurt. Seven, it would hurt. But it was better than crawling after it. It was his only choice to save face. But the prefect was already on the move.

"Are you heading back to the lounge?" Azul was stunned. The prefect scooped up the cane, brushed the top off with their hand, and held it out to Azul without a word about it. He could barely move. What was their angle? Did they want him to explain himself? Did they know just how badly he needed this? Was this leverage? Was this a game? What did they want?

But the prefect didn't say anything. They just held the handle out towards Azul. Their expression was neutral, absently pleasant, as it often was. Azul could spot a twinkle of malice or mischief from a mile away but there was none to be found. He took the cane and set it on his left side. Relief flooded him as the strain on his right leg was eased.

"Yes," he answered, just remembering that a question had been asked. "Business never stops." The prefect chuckled again. They began to walk. Azul fell into step next to them, grateful for their slow, even stride. Was that intentional? Were they slowing down for him? Did they pity him? Did they know how easy it would be to leave him behind? Why did they slow for his sake?

"Perhaps," he said, trying to sound casual as if every join wasn't screaming in protest at his movements, "you'd like a drink on the house."

"Oh, I know better than to take something 'free' from you." Azul laughed, though it sent a pang through his chest. "But I'll come warm up for a while."

"Good. Though, you are aware of our policy that all patrons must have a purchase to be able-"

"Yes, Azul, I know the policy." As they continued, there were no words exchanged about the fall or the cane or how Azul kept biting his lip against the pain in his left leg. Everything felt normal. He was proud of himself. He had played it off expertly. The prefect had no idea.