Hodge! Podge! Counseling time!

Darkwick's #1 Most Caring Educator | 18+

[yourprofessorhyde]

I feel like I'm forgetting something.

Was there another meeting today? Did I miss something to do? I've talked to Cornelius about the student council, filled out that paperwork that Dante was nagging me about, spoken with Haru about the budget. And I called Shohei five days ago, so he probably won't pick up for another week.... When is his rebellious stage finally going to end? I want to call him more frequently.

Was it Taiga? Nah, I'd remember that.

Dionysia is still stuck on trial, Clementia's got no updates... Maybe the Hotarubi kid? No, Moby's got that handled.

Hmm... I can't think of anything or anyone. Looks like I've got free period until the honor student's counseling session! I'll make good use of the time to finish grading their midterm papers.

Super lucky~.

Ah, Romeo? Just tell him I forgot, okay? ☆

[yourprofessorhyde]

"Hyde. There are lines that shouldn't be crossed."

Dan-dan, you sound so serious when you say that. More serious than you normally do. Quiet too, and grave, like the one you dragged yourself out of.

You used to be way more expressive back in our school days, remember. We were practically bosom buddies!

Eh? I'm wrong? Haha, you think so? I remember so much about you, though! Like how you were su~per easy to rile up. You'd scrunch your nose up and get this cute little pout on your face whenever someone teased you a little. I was the one teasing you? Haha, may~be!

It's hard to believe, right? You're so stiff now. Maybe the casket was just too uncomfortable.... Not to mention, rigor mortis is some powerful stuff! I thought they would have to snap your legs right in half just to finally fit you into place.

Now that you're out of the morgue, those muscles of yours still seem pretty stiff. I could help you, if you'd like. If you let me take a look at your chest...

Boo, boo. I'm only offering my help. Calling me a pervert is too harsh, even for you. I'll start crying from a broken heart, Dan-dan! If I can't see your face clearly, what will I do?

I mean, I have to stare you in the eyes when we talk now. It's harder to get a read on you otherwise, and those sunglasses to~tally don't help. Can't you take them off for me? Ple~ase? The eyes are the window to the soul, right?

It's the only part of you still left alive.

You're so serious today. Quiet, and grave. I can make out the ti~niest furrow between your brows, like you're making the effort to squint but can't. Your eyes look worried. For the students.

Don't overdo it.

You're so kind, Dan-dan.

"... I'll keep that in mind."

[yourprofessorhyde]

"The ghouls who have been gathered here by the new moon's whisper shall save the world from profound tragedy."

He said the same thing when I enrolled, you know. It's pretty much the same speech, year after year after year. I told him he needed to spice it up, or the assembly's gonna get stale. He actually listened this time. That's why I got to bring the memory pot out this year. Being worried over saving face... What, is he Moby?

Dan-dan looks as bored as I feel. That's just his face though, haha! It's been stuck that way ever since he came back from the dead. I bet deep down he's just squirming with worry over the implications. Asking a bunch of kids to fight off some crazy armaggedon? Probably not the best feeling. He's always been a huge softie. That's what landed him here in the first place.

Anyways, like I was saying. Everyone's been holding their breath over this great big awful end-of-the-world for ages now. It's su~ch a downer! At this point, isn't waiting the actual tragedy? None of our poor students even care if it's real or not anymore. Talk about coping.

Here's the thing, though: it's definitely real.

It's a threat greater than anything we've faced before, more dangerous than anything we could fathom. The biggest, most awful, most tragic event in Darkwick history... No, even worse than that, probably. Way worse. It has to threaten the entire world, you know? And it's definitely, absolutely real. I'm sure of it.

How do I know that?

Because I'm going to make sure it happens.

If there's really a profound tragedy threatening this world, then I'll find it. I'll drag it here with my own two hands, if that's what it takes. When it finally breaks free, I'm going to make sure it destroys e~verything.

I mean, we don't need that kind of dead weight hanging over our shoulders, right? Let's just get it over with!

Stop it? Sorry, it's too late for that. But if it makes you feel any better, you've got a better chance in here than out there.

It's nearly ready, so be good and wait patiently just a little bit longer. And do your best to save yourself, 'kay?

I'm rooting for your happy ending.

[yourprofessorhyde]

Wanna know a secret?

I'm not supposed to say anything, but... I'll loosen my lips, just for you. Come on, come closer.

A little closer.

Honor student. You won't be able to hear me whispering at that distance. Are you sure you really want to know?

Thank you. You really are a good student.

You've met Professor Moby, right? He's pretty hard to miss. Do you think it's strange for Darkwick to employ anomalies?

No? You don't think so? You think it's natural for us to work together if we can...

Haha, that's true. As expected of our very best honor student.

Professor Moby isn't the only anomaly on staff.

I mean, it's pretty obvious if you think about it. Maybe Professor Moby is too distracting. The chancellor and his cats look a bit strange compared to the average person of his station, and Professor Dante... He's got his fair share of problems. That janitor, too. In fact, you could even say that most of the staff are anomalies.

Pretty crazy, right? It's great to be able to pass as human. The gen ed students don't suspect a thing.

And that's why it's hush-hush, got it? It'll be a little bit problematic for me if it gets out. So let's keep this a secret just between the two of us.

... Ah, me? Maybe. Why, do you want to see it? Want me to show you?

Haha! That's so bold, honor student! No wonder you get along so well with the ghouls. In the future, you should give these kinds of things a little more thought.

You wouldn't be able to forget it, after all.

So be careful. I'd hate to see my students get hurt.

[yourprofessorhyde]

I don't know!

I'm not all-knowing, so I can't possibly read your mind. And just so you know, I don't usually take this kind of interest in my students. You're the super special exception! There's nobody else I'd look after this way. Oh, but don't tell anyone I said that. They'll start getting grumpy about the favoritism.

Anyways, back to what I was saying: I'm not all knowing, you know? There's something that I've been curious about. Something only my cute little brother can answer for me.

Why did you become a ghoul?

Aww, don't be like that. It's only natural for an older brother to be curious. Besides, just think of our poor old mother. Both of her sons, vanished into thin air. I bet she's just going nuts with worry right now! You know she's always been a little high-strung.

Seriously, though.

Did you chase me here, Shohei? Was what I left behind really that awful? Was the reason you sold your soul to a big bad demon just to nip at my heels? Cause that would be pre~tty silly.

Careful how you answer that, Shohei. I'll get angry.

… Ju~st kidding! Such a stuck-up demeanor doesn't suit me. That's just not my style! A kind and caring older brother would ne~ver say such a thing.

You're your own person, I know that. Even if you're still attached to your big brother, that is.

Hm? But you still picked up the phone when I rang, didn't you? You're so reliable like that! No, not always, but sometimes! You answer most often when you get surprised. Like about that gala, or maybe it's about the honor student. Is my cute baby brother finally experiencing the springtime of love? Oh, but it's such a pity. That poor, unfortunate girl...

It's alright, I get it. You want something to hang on to, just like anyone. So just keep picking up my calls.

In return, I'll make it so that you won't regret anything, okay?

Not one single thing.

Oh, he hung up on me... Same as ever, isn't he? Haha.

Now, what should I say to our little Romeo? Choices, choices~.

[yourprofessorhyde]

He doesn't know.

I unnerve him now. Or I upset him, or I upset him because I unnerve him, and that makes him angry. They're different feelings even if he says it's all the same thing. An easy mistake to make, especially when you're as young as he is. Not that I'm much older, hahaha!

He's always been silly like that. Avoiding things, pretending that the effort isn't worth the risk. That's probably why he gets dragged around by that Leo kid so often... It's easier to deal with the consequences when you can tell yourself that it was someone else's idea. It's kinda pitiful, in all honesty. You'd think he'd learn to stand up for himself after so long.

He used to do the same thing with me, you know? I mean, he was such a shy kid! Always clinging to my legs like he could hide behind me. Wanna see baby pictures? It's a pity he doesn't hide behind me anymore. I bet he wants to, though~!

That's why he gets that bright little light in his eye when he looks at me, all mad and confused. I'm not someone to hyde (haha, get it?) behind, not like he wanted. That sort of thing is impossible to return to! Time travel isn't invented yet.

He's thinking too hard. The answer isn't nearly as difficult as he makes it out to be.

Before he's anything, before he's anyone, Shohei is my cute and cowardly baby brother.

Isn't he lucky~? Now, about those baby pics...