[hey guys, author here. I must say I'm not very confident with writing the Savanaclaw dudes, but I tried my best! They're all so amazing, and so so so nuanced. Painfully so. Anyway this series was called "hidden isekai" in my notes app, and I don't know how else to describe it. Hopefully you like it haha. And as always, remember to drink some water and get some rest! And have a great rest of your day!!!]
-------------------Savanaclaw------------------
Ah isekai, a wonderful idea that would probably never happen to you... Is what you thought until about a week ago when you were thrown into the world of twisted wonderland.
More to the point, a self aware version of it, who knew the player existed. Except for one tiny little issue. They never saw your face. The screen blocking their view was always clouded over, and your voice was muffled. Despite that they'd grown to love you, you might even say a little dependent on the affection they would get~
All that to say, when you showed up at NRC wearing the uniform of your favorite dorm, you weren't recognized. Which gave you the perfect opportunity to pretend to be a student there, and observe from afar your favorite characters.
And it definitely should be from afar, because things aren't going well. Due to the frankly absurd nature of your being here, you had decided not to immediately reveal your identity as the player. And let's just say the characters aren't doing so well with the player completely "missing" from their world.
At this point, you're not even sure if you Should reveal yourself. Everything is way too chaotic, it might just make it worse.
...? Oh, are you curious what's actually happening in the dorms? Well, your wish is my command! Just remember, be careful what you wish for~
Sand, so much sand and coarse grass under your hands. You quickly stand up and brush the sand off of your clothes and hands and... Clothes??? What are these clothes!? Being a little too deep into the twisted wonderland rabbit hole, you recognize them quickly. It's a NRC school uniform with a tan arm band, Savanaclaw.
Your brain flashed a few ideas through your head, dream? Isekai?? Hallucination??? But all of those can wait, the sun is bearing down hot on your black outfit. You need to head somewhere cooler quickly. Looking around, you see the Savanaclaw dorm building. and y'know what? It works. Doesn't look air conditioned, but at least it'll have shade. And a pool! That might be fun!
Heading into the dorm, the difference was like night and day. The pool kept the place much cooler than outdoors, and it felt like an oasis in a desert! Or wait, would that be more like Scarabia? Doesn't matter, all that matters now is chilling by the pool and hoping no one sees you.
After all, looks wise you kinda blend in? You have the uniform. But that's about where it ends. You aren't a beastfolk, and you probably have the "wrong scent" or whatever. So it'd be better to avoid a confrontation with that group of battle thirsty students. now that you're thinking about it. ...where in the world are you gonna stay?
I wish I could tell you classes had just started, and there would be a good few hours to figure it out. But classes got out ten minutes ago, and students are already coming back into the dorm building. You barely have time to duck out of the way and try to blend in with the crowd.
Small wins though, Ruggie and Jack are part of the crowd! And they're having a conversation, which is barely audible over the sudden cacophony that is the Savanaclaw students. You're able to barely make it out, and it paints a strange picture.
Jack: "hmph, Ruggie? Have you seen the player today?"
Ruggie: "eh, they'll come back soon. Shyehehe they care too much about us to just leave!"
Jack: "are ya sure...? I mean when we were talking about this earlier in the cafeteria, you didn't seem nearly as confident.
Ruggie: "well you caught me off guard, I was in the middle of a bagel, y'know?"
Jack: "it was horrifying, I think that was the first time I've ever seen you not finish what you're eating..."
Ruggie: "I'll have you know I saved it for later! I ain't gonna waste food, no way no how!"
Jack: "yeah yeah, guess it just caught me off guard. ...anyway, sorry to cut our conversation short, but I wanna head out and train a bit more today."
Ruggie: "don't go overdoing it Jack, Shyehehe! don't need ya getting heatstroke in case they show up~"
Jack: "don't worry, I know my limits. Thanks though."
Jack heads off outside the dorm again, as Ruggie shakes his head. The smile falling from his face as he walks towards the dorm rooms, he has a paper bag in his hands that you can only assume is the bagel he mentioned earlier. And honestly it's a weird thought for Ruggie to stop eating like that, but it's none of your business.
In any case, you really need to find a better place to hide, and quickly. Before the lounge gets too crowded and it's guaranteed someone spots you.
You decide to go to the dorm rooms like Ruggie did. There are extra rooms in savanaclaw, right? Sure they're used as storage rooms, but they'll probably be fine. How much junk can the Savanaclaw students even have?
...a lot. The answer is a lot. You managed to find the extra rooms, and the door almost didn't even open. The bed is completely covered in junk, and the floor is piled to the ceiling. Welp, guess this is your life now.
It takes a few hours to clear off the bed and make the room livable (or at least maneuverable). Lying down and staring at the mess, you're hoping beyond hope that the junk piled up around you won't fall down and crush you during the night. And you can't help but start thinking as the silence fills your ears.
Sure, this could technically be a dream, but it doesn't feel like it at all. Maybe insanity finally took you, but you definitely still Feel sane. Which only leaves one option, isekai. The trope that took the anime scene by storm for awhile there, and now something you have to deal with... Yay?
Well, you can think more about the very serious problems that has later. For the time being, you're just gonna enjoy this! Watching your favorite characters from close up instead of through a screen, that's like a dream! You can't wait to see what the future has in store!
.
.
A few weeks later
.
.
Pain apparently, the future only brings pain. Yay...
Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic. But it definitely isn't going well.
Leona seems to be pulling a book two all over again, by that I mean he's barely shown his face over the last few weeks. Even in game descriptions never showed him as this tired or apathetic, basically never leaving his room.
Though the reasoning behind his current behavior was obvious after listening in on a conversation between him and Ruggie a week or so into your stay here, back when Ruggie still tried to wake him up for classes. You had just been walking through the hallways pretty early in the day, trying to avoid the students going to class. When you heard Ruggies distinct voice through a door, and let's just say you were a little nosy~
Ruggie: "Leonnaaa, wake up-! Hey!"
You hear the dull thud of a pillow hitting the wall.
Ruggie: "c'mon, why're you so stubborn about waking up recently? ...my job was way easier back while the player showed up..."
Leona: "hmph, they must've finally gotten tired of us. And who can blame them? A second prince, a mangy hyena, and a stubborn wolf. It was only a matter of time before they gave up on me, like everyone else."
Ruggie: "geez Leona, stop bein' so dramatic! They seriously cared about us, they'll definitely come back soon. So can you please just act like a housewarden again?"
Leona: "hah, talk about naive. What's even the point? They're beyond my reach, so why try? You've always been good at doin' my chores. So why not just do the housewarden stuff too, and leave me alone. I'm taking a nap."
You hear Ruggie sigh as he walks to the door, and you rush away from it, not wanting to be caught listening in.
Ever since then, Ruggie has been acting as housewarden in everything but title, and the amount of discontent rising up in the dorm is suffocating.
It's gotten hard to move around freely, even during class time. Since more and more students are taking after Leonas example and skiping. Luckily being surrounded by the students stuff everyday, eventually gave you a similar enough scent to a student there. At least in passing. And thankfully no one's looked too hard yet, they're preoccupied with their own problems.
Speaking of problems though, life seems to enjoy watching everyone suffer. Jack also hasn't been doing that well. He always seems tired out at night, way too tired for even a normal hard workout. More like dead on his feet. And today is a way hotter day than usual, so obviously you're worried about him.
And also obviously, you're gonna follow him to make sure he's okay. He doesn't seem to mind you sitting under a tree and watching him run around a track in savanaclaw, at least he hasn't complained yet. But he's seriously not looking too good, is he gonna pass out...?
...oh my gosh he actually passed out!!! What should you do!? Probably bring him to the pool??? That should cool him down! Yeah!
You take Jack by the shoulders, and start dragging him to the pool. He's heavy dangit! You also try to reassure him it'll be alright, although you're not sure he can even hear you right now.
"It's okay, it'll be okay. Just gotta cool you down. You'll be okay Jack."
Maybe not the most eloquent, but hey you're panicking. To be honest, most of the words are for you, more than Jack. Jack only seems semi conscious right now, yet those words make him jolt a bit.
Jack: "huh? ...is that you player...? I knew you wouldn't leave for good..."
Sadly that's all he can say, still very much disorented and unable to pull himself together.
And now you're panicking for two reasons, not only is he still relatively unconscious, but now Jack knows you're the player!? Oh geez, hopefully he forgets it when he recovers...
When you finally make it to the entrance of the dorm, Ruggie notices you. He walks out with an annoyed look on his face, shaking his head and looking over Jack.
Ruggie: "looks like heatstroke and exhaustion... I told him not to overdo it, seriously. Maybe he'll finally slow down after this. ...here, let me get this side. He owes me lunch after this!"
Ruggie helps you bring Jack into the lounge, much to your relief. Near the pool is a large gathering of students, crowded around... Leona? It looks like Leona was trying to take a nap near the pool. Which is just lovely timing.
He looks irritated when he notices you, Ruggie, and Jack. He stands up with a frown as he looks over you all. Then he sighs, looking disappointed.
Leona: "just put him in the pool, Ruggie, make sure he doesn't fall in and drown. What sorta idiot overexerts themselves that much?"
So you both set him in the pool, and everything seems perfect... Until Jack ruins it all. Recovering slightly, he says the worst words he can.
Jack: "ugh, my head... Thanks... Player."
You freeze, Ruggie freezes, Leona freezes. Then you bolt. Or... Try to. Leona catches you by the back of the uniform.
Leona: "huh, y'know I did think it was strange that someone would pretend to be a student for so long."
He pulls you a little closer, before leaning down and... Did he just freaking sniff you!?! He looks a little shocked (not nearly as shocked as you look from being SMELLED!?), but that expression is quickly replaced by a smirk. His voice is tauntingly amused as he tilts his head and looks you in the eyes.
Leona: "Thought you could hide from me forever, player? You're bold to hide in a lions den, I'll give you that. But I'm afraid this little game is done~"
...you're not getting out of this one, are you? I'd say accept your fate, but you don't really have a say in the matter~
