Our next jump will "personally scar" sir Rosé, so to speak.
"My mother was killed supposedly by this curse," he said, smiling. His eyes couldn't blink - he told me that his eyes were blind and now like glass eyes; a price to pay for losing a duel..whatever that means.
He poured me a cup of tea. Covering his mouth with his signature fan, he laughs. "But it's an old story! We're here to see if a similar case has happened before or not- at least, in your world's past."
"I don't remember such case," I said. "It's rare to find a care relating to a fairytale, much less in an era somewhere in time!"
"But you see, Yuuto-kun," sir Rosé said so confidently, smiling, I believe- under the fan. "I managed to get my hands on an obscured part of the criminal history of London! One very much named The Case of Sleeping Beauty- appropriately; at that too." He took a bite from his own chocolate chip scones- they are delicious, by the way, better than my mother's (sorry mum).
As I hear him ramble about the many things he managed to get his sneaky hands on- I noticed that I don't know much about this supposedly "ancient" boy. Sure- he resembled the bishounen shouta trope I always see in anime and manga alike- maybe an ouji-sama- with pink hair, rose hairpins and a butterfly hair clip, and equally unnatural fair complexion. He has the clothes of an ouji-sama in the victorian era, even to his collection of heeled shoes!- and what's that school uniform he wore, he told me it was from a prestigious magical school?
Either way-he was knowingly not from anywhere here. Even with his accent- not even from France.
"What good is magic if we don't put it to good use?" He once said, snickering beneath his fan. Typical fashion of an oujo-sama instead of an ouji.
Still, he looked glum about the very case we'll be jumping into. He had a longing, sad look despite not reflected from his glass eyes.
I had hoped that he would shrug away the very sadness and jump back to his usual mischievous persona.
I looked at the grandfather clock. Thirty minutes to class. I could still make it! ...I think. But have I really been here for far too long?
"Sir Rosé," I said, grabbing his attention. He turned to me, teacup still in hand. "Is it time for your class, Yuuto-kun?"
"Well, thirty minutes from now- I hope you don't mind if I-?"
He dismissively nods, waving me away. "Use my mirror if you must. It's connected to your apartment, so why not."
He took a sip from his teacup. As I enter the mirror; I turned to look at him one last time.
Strangely, his glass eyes were tearing up.
■■■
I landed on my bedroom- not landed, but instead fall flat to my face. It. Hurts. Ouch.
"Ow- okay, I have to fix the landing for sure," I rubbed my aching face. Looking around- nothing had changed at all. "Okay. Time doesn't move around so weirdly anymore- since sir Rosé has fixed it- wait, I should call him Rosé-san now- AAAgh, who cares! I have a class to look forward to!"
Okay. I lied. I am not looking forward to the class.
It was just a distraction I put up for my brain. Calling sir Rosé with a -san sure doesn't sound right- since he is foreign after all.
But he addressed me with -kun so casually? So maybe it's normal where he's from?
I grabbed my jacket and my laptop bag. I rushed down the stairs after locking my apartment door. Times like these made me wish that the Mirror is connected to anywhere near my faculty instead.
As I ran- and ran- I almost ran into people along the way- and ran- I really thought to my dumb of self; "Maybe I can make it in time!"
Yeah. As if.
"Agh!" A blur from what I saw. I bumped into a girl!
Great, Yuuto. Just perfect.
"Watch where you're going!" She shouted- trying to grab her scattered papers and books as well as her binder. "I'm sorry!" I bowed; trying to help her; but she smacked my hand away. Rubbing my hands- I gave a little peek at the papers- and I felt my heart dropped a little.
It was about sir Rosé. The so-called "Time Faerie of The Campus"- he's a local celebrity of a cryptid years ago, and is still one.
The paper is about a research. I think. And wanting to prove that he doesn't exist.
"These papers are not for your hands to touch," She huffed. "Now if you'll excuse me," she gave me a glare from her green eyes. "I have a class to look forward to."
"Er, yes, I'll be on my way," I gulped. She walked away; arrogantly, after another huff thrown my way. I sighed. Furrowing my eyebrows- I thought to myself-should I tell him, the ouji-sama? He's a nifty little doll, but he doesn't know there are people after him.
Maybe after class. Maybe.
I raced to the lecture hall. I don't want to be late- much less for a strict professor like Professor Wayne. I groaned internally- studying abroad sucked; especially if I'm not used to the flow of time here, since the existence of a certain someone who's constantly messing with it.
"I'm sorry I'm late!" I said- slamming the door open.
Quiet.
Silence.
"Eh..?" I blinked. The lecture hall was empty. Only I and the professor- who is setting up his laptop, (or is he leaving?) and me; who just arrived.
"Why are you here this early?" He said. He was just as dumbfounded as I am. "Your class won't start until tomorrow- if I recall correctly!"
I stood there blinking- had it not been for my actual self being there; I would have had my jaw dropped to the carpeted floor. As I stood there with a blank mind, the professor huffed; "Well I'm very much sure that your class won't start until tomorrow- so while I'm still in my good mood, you better start explaining yourself, Mister..?"
"Hisho, Yuuto Hisho," I said, gulping. I heard him again, sternly this time; "Well?"
Oh, lords above. How am I going to explain now?
"I,er," I stammered. Oh, I'll get my head cut off after this, I'm sure. I'm praying for a saviour- anyone, as I heard the impatient clicking of the professor's -presumably- dress shoes. I have no answer to save myself- not even in a life situation as daily and as frequent as this-
"-Pardon him, my good sir," I heard. It was a deeper voice of sir Rosé ; though his childishness is still present. "I'm sure he misread his schedule." I saw the professor had his hands on his hips, annoyed. Clicking of heels; I saw sir Rosé -wait, had he became taller? Or was it his magic?- smiling to the man, he himself clad in similar suit and tie instead of his usual getup.
"He was supposed to be with my students, but instead he stumbled upon your lecture hall. Again, I am very sorry," His smile carved on his face- almost as if he is a true porcelain doll; which crept the chills up on my spine, and I'm sure the professor too suffer the same chills as I do.
"Make sure he doesn't do the same mistake, Mr. Chanteur," the professor clicked his tongue, keeping his eyes on me. "To have your own lecturer saving you. What gives!" He sighed, collecting himself to leave the lecture hall. I turned to see Sir Rosé ; now in his original size- and felt a yank on my collar-and see myself dragged by this sixteen year old- shorter than I am. His furious clicking of heels and his huffs did not help me understand the situation at all.
"Why were you- How were you-"
"Cease your questions!" Sir Rosé said. "And no, the other people will only see me as what you saw me earlier! An older version that I aspire to be! But no, instead I am stuck in this body of a young prince of the Valley of Thorns!" I couldn't see him, but he seemed excited and happy. "But even so, I'm sorry to have riddled with your professor and classmates' memories, my dear Yuuto-chan," his ears twitched, he gave me the side eye glance-his pink glass eyes looked too life-like- and the doll-like boy grinned. "I really need you to come with me!"
Exasperatingly, I went; "Come with you to what- to where-?"
I saw him smile again- it widens; He took my hand and said; "It's time to go shopping!"