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Epel took a deep breath before he asked politely, “housewarden, may I be excused from cleaning duties next week?”
“No,” Vil batted an eyelid while he patted night cream on his flawless face.
“UGH, why?!” was Epel’s honest thoughts at that moment but he took another deep breath and asked, “why not, housewarden?”
“Everyone has to do cleaning duties, even I do them.”
Epel tried not to stutter as he explained, “will it be alright if I took on extra cleaning duties the week after? I promise the place will be squeaky clean!”
Vil’s eyes slowly closed and opened, “and why do you need to be excused next week?”
“Spelldrive exhibition match, how’d you like ‘em APPLES, YEEHAW! Uh, I mean, I got selected to play so I won’t be able to make it for cleaning day,” Epel calmed himself quickly.
“I see,” Vil was clearly unimpressed, “no.”
“But the match against Royal Sword Academy, we have to thrash them!” Epel voiced out then mellowed down and smiled, “we have to show them the spirit of tenacity.”
“No,” Vil was not buying it at all.
“But-”
“Cease this arguing, you’re putting me in a foul mood,” making Epel step back when he heard that.
Vil’s phone beeped and there was someone calling him. Vil took a peek and made a blissful sigh when he saw who it was, Leona. Epel saw all the anger leaving his face, to be honest he was quite relieved.
“Hey, how’s my beauty queen?”
“Kyaaa~” Vil made an endearing laugh and gestured to Epel to leave, “it took you long enough! My time is precious~”
Feeling defeated and unaccomplished, Epel had to hide it all inside as he nodded politely before closing the door to Vil’s room.
“Dagnabbi-” he remembered he was outside his housewarden’s room and shook his head.
An unhappy Epel trudded back to his dorm room and grumbled as he completed his homework.
That week at Spelldrive practice.
“Oi, you guys better use that one brain cell of yours,” Leona snapped as he cruised over his team on his broom.
Leona is the coolest, I’ll show him what I’ve learned!
Epel came forward and hopped on his broom swiftly before darting through the air faster than anyone else.
“Whooo, Epel, you’re the fastest!” Ruggie and the other players cheered for him.
“Did ya see that, Leona san?” Epel was beaming, “huh?”
Suddenly all the cheers fizzled out.
Like the world was his runway, Vil sauntered over to the Spelldrive club with a lacey parasol and a tumbler in his red high heels.
“Heh, whatcha doin’ here?” Leona cornered him cheekily.
“Do you have to ask?” Vil sounded annoyed, but he didn’t resist when Leona wrapped his tail around his slender thigh.
Epel groaned, why did they choose this time to meet. No matter how many flying loops he did, Leona’s attention was all on the beautiful queen.
“So that’s for me?” Leona eyed the tumbler, while his hand was on Vil’s waist.
“Of course, you’d better be properly hydrated,” Vil took a handkerchief and patted the sides of Leona’s face, “I blended in the mangoes you liked..”
“Thanks, babe,” Leona took a gulp and nearly half the drink was gone.
Ruggie stared at the tumbler, “aww man, I want a free mango drink too.” Epel flew down on his broom and felt his stomach gurgle, “Leona always gets a smoothie, it’s making me hungry.”
Poor Epel did not see where he was going and landed in a pile of mud, “I’m fine, everyone!”
In the Savanaclaw shower room.
“Dag’nabbit! ‘em splats of mud aren’t coming off,” Epel growled as he tried to scrub the mud out of his otherwise beautiful hair.
Leona with a towel around his waist made his way into the shower room and every other student fled in fear. They knew what was going on, he was waiting for his lover.
Epel saw the silhouette of a gorgeous model from the corner of his eye and winced when a soap sud got into his eye, “skinnier than a bean pole, ouch..”
He nodded slightly but couldn’t see clearly if Vil had taken any notice of him. The model in his own fluffy towel covering himself headed straight for Leona.
“‘Been waitin’ all day for this,” Leona grabbed him by the waist and pulled them together in a warm embrace, their towels tossed aside.
“Well, I’m here, aren’t I?” Vil wrapped his slender arms around Leona fondly.
“Ugh, where’s the shampoo?.. Argh, my eyes!” Epel winced as more soapy mix got into his big eyes.
As he tried to get the soap of his eyes, he couldn’t see the couple kissing.
Even though they had attended the same class earlier that morning, they kissed so passionately like they had not seen each other in months. Refusing to be separated, Leona pinned his lover to the shower room wall as they exchanged countless kisses.
“Tomorrow, my room,” Leona growled softly.
“I can’t wait,” Vil planted a gentle kiss on his nose. He appreciated when Leona bothered to remember his busy schedule. They held each other tightly and wanted their special moment to last forever.
“Phew, finally got the soap… eek!” Epel froze when he finally got soap out of his eyes. He quietly turned around and tiptoed out of the shower room with the stealth of a ninja.
The cold water pouring over them made Vil reminisce about the time they kissed under the rain, “I’ve missed my lion so much.”
“Ya should, you’ve stolen my heart,” Leona nuzzled his swan neck.
Before the last school bell rang, they kissed again.
That night at Pomefiore dorm, Epel had ruffled his hair into a messy bird’s nest thinking about the Spelldrive match coming soon.
“Gah, I can’t take it, I’m going to the basement to shout it out,” he got off his bed and left the dorm room.
“Don’t drop anything this time, Rook,” Epel heard Vil’s commanding voice.
“Of course, Roi du Poison~”
He hid behind a pillar and saw a smiley Rook nod graciously as he bid Vil farewell and carried off a boatload of parcels. They parted away and did not see Epel lurking at a corner.
And sure enough when Epel stared down the hallway where Rook had left, there was a letter on the carpet.
“Rook…” Epel shook his head and picked up the letter. He was curious who it was for.
To: Leona, From: Vil
“UGH… I bet it's some mushy loveletter. They could always text each other, isn’t that faster?”
Epel frowned at the letter, he was still very tilted with Vil for not letting him take part in the exhibition match.
He walked over to a fancy rubbish bin and stood there holding the letter in his hand.
“Why’s he gotta be so annoyin’.”
Epel stared at the bin intensely, “I don’t care if his letter doesn’t get delivered.”
He then let out a sigh, “dang it… I do care, Vil is my housewarden.”
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, “it’s late, I better get it to Leona as soon as possible,” and off he dashed, leaving a trail of sparkling lights.
“Arrow Afar~”
Somewhere in NRC, Rook smiled as his signature spell showed him the letter was in good hands. He knew the freshman could be relied on.
“Leona, that’s a letter for you!”
Epel waved to the lion beastsman who was lounging around in his spacious bedroom.
“Heh, it’s finally here,” Leona took the letter and read the contents.
Huh? It ain’t some love letter?
Epel eyed the letter curiously and the lion noticed, giving him a smirk, “you should be happy.”
He handed the letter back to Epel and reached for his phone, his tail flicking about playfully.
Epel skimmed through the formal letter until he reached an important sentence, “I nominate Epel Felmier as representative of Pomefiore for the Spelldrive exhibition match. Signed, Vil Schoenheit…”
“WHAAAAAT?! Ah- um, I mean, oh my. It’s great news!” from a screaming yankee the lavender haired boy regained his composure and held his hands together like a sweet child.
He did not know what made Vil change his mind until it clicked.
Ahh, so that’s why Vil said no at first, he was in a bad mood when he couldn’t meet Leona last week.
He sighed in relief that the couple was able to meet each other, for the sake of both dorms they have to!
Got ya letter, Leona texted Vil who replied, good. So dinner at Crisp N Dips tomorrow? Cater promised us a good spot.
Yeah sure, Leona’s flicking tail as he texted back was obvious he was a happy cat.
He looked up from his bed and saw Epel was still standing there, “oi, get back to your dorm. It’s late, I don’t wanna get chewed by your housewarden.”
“Yes sir!” Epel smiled and ran off like a free spirited kid.
It was going to be a great week ahead for the three of them.