ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 38 - Change Of Plans

"We’re going to have to put them in the orphanage. But Dominik told me that you have suspicions about the place and are going to investigate it. Is that right?"

"Yeah." Kurt crossed his arm and nodded as he looked at the now orphaned kids and back to Hudson. "It’s just a quick visit though. I want to get a feeling of the place, see if anything nefarious is going on. If everything’s good, I’ll register those two in there as well. Two birds, one stone."

"Does that mean you are going to keep investigating the zealots? You are free to walk away from this."

"No, I can’t walk away now. That bishop is still on my case, and we haven’t found those missing kids yet. It’d be cowardly of me to just up and leave."

"That’s a good head you have on your shoulders. Very well, I’ll allow you and Dominik to continue your investigations and tell the other prefects not to intrude on your work. And although you’re not an official prefect yourself, you have immensely helped and pushed this case forward. On behalf of everyone who works here, you have my deepest gratitude and respect."

Hudson gave him a sharp salute and spoke to Tristan and Rupee. "You two are all finished up here. Go with Uncle Kurt and he’ll take you to a place where you can make lots of friends."

"But what about mommy and daddy? Aren’t they worried about us?" Rupee asked Tristan.

"U-uhm... A-about that erm..." Tristan stuttered not knowing what to say.

"Actually, your mommy and daddy are on their own secret adventure!" Dominik chimed in.

*Gasp!* "They are?!"

"Yep! And the mission was given to them by none other than the king himself, Maxwell Dorothy!"

"Wow! That’s so cool!" Rupee’s eyes sparkled.

"They even sent me a letter to give to you. Here." Dominik reached into his coat and gave her an envelope.

’Seriously. One day I need to see what he keeps in there.’ Kurt made a mental reminder to himself.

Rupee quickly unsealed the letter and began to read it but just as quickly scrunched her face the more she looked at it.

"I can’t read this! Here, you do it big brother." She shoved the letter to Tristan.

"O-oh, okay. It says:

’Dear Rupee and Tristan,

How are you doing? This is mommy. When you get this letter, it means that you just completed your adventure and safely made it to the prefects.

Congratulations, we’re so proud of you. Mommy and daddy are also on an adventure that was issued by the king.

It’s a little sad but we’re going to be gone for a while, but don’t worry the nice prefects will find a place for you to stay where you’ll make lots of friends.

We don’t know when we’ll be back, but we will send you another letter every week so don’t feel lonely my sweet children.

Rupee, be a good girl and always listen to your brother. Tristan, be a good big brother and take care of your sister. We love you both very much and are praying for you both every day.

Thinking of you always,

Mom & Dad.’

Tristan closed the letter and looked confusingly at Dominik.

’Damn, that kid’s only eight years old but he read the whole thing without making a mistake. He might just have a bright future ahead.’ Kurt thought.

"See, what’d I tell you? There’s nothing to worry about. In fact, your mom and dad are pretty impressive if you ask me." Dominik rubbed his nose in pride.

"Mmhm!" Rupee ferociously nodded her head up and down.

"So uhm... where are we going?" Tristan asked Dominik.

"Didn’t you hear? It’s a place where you’ll make lots of friends. Come on, let’s go!"

"Let’s go!" Both Dominik and Rupee marched out the station hand in hand.

"Uhm... uncle Kurt... a-about that letter..."

"Dominik probably wrote that up in order not to reveal the heartbreaking news to your sister. She’s too young after. I mean, so are you but... you know."

"H-ha ha... y-yeah. I understand." Tristan smiled sheepishly.

"Dang, you really are a smart kid. You don’t have anything to fear from now on. I promise to you that all those scumbags will get what’s coming to them. I will find each and every last one of them and bring them the reckoning they so righteous deserve. Now come," Kurt tapped his back and walked ahead, "Let’s mosey before we lose them."

"Y-yeah," Tristan whispered as he clenched his fist, "I’ll kill them too. For mom and dad."

"What was that?" Kurt looked over his shoulder.

"N-nothing! I’m coming!" He caught up to Kurt and held his hand.

*meow?*

The little cat watched all of them leave from outside but instead of following them, went the opposite way.

.

..

...

"Hey Austin, why do you look so angry?" Gary sat next to him during break time.

Austin, who sat alone at the cafeteria, glanced to see who was talking to him then went back to poking his food, "...None of your business, loser. Now go away. I’m busy."

"Busy playing with your food? That’s not very productive. You’re supposed to eat your food."

SLAM!

"I’m brooding here for fuck’s sake!" He slammed his hand on the table, dropping his food on the floor in the process.

"Shit! Now look at what you’ve done!"

"I-I’m sorry. I was just checking on you."

"Who asked you to! *tsk!* I’m leaving." He abruptly stood up and began to walk away.

"Aren’t you going to clean that up?"

"Not my job!" He raised a middle finger and left the cafeteria.

"..... Oh, Austin. What will I ever do with you?" Gary smiled as knelt on the floor and picked up the mess left behind.

"Uhm, Gary?" Two girls came up to him and looked at him in pity.

"Yes?"

"Why do you always try to talk with that creep? He’s always mocking you and forgets your name even though you remind him." The girl with straight-long hair spoke first.

"Yeah, like, seriously, you should just, like, forget about that creep. No one likes him anyway. He’s always sitting alone and mumbling to himself like he’s some sort of badass. Total loser energy." The girl with a blonde ponytail and loose clothing spoke next.

"Creep? Loser?" Gary’s eye twitched when he heard that. He stood up and over them with a threatening demeanour. "Why the fuck are you calling Austin that?"

The girls twitched at his sudden mood shift. That quiet and friendly boy always looking for Austin’s attention was now gone.

"Have you two even tried talking to him, huh?"

"I-I, uhm. W-we were just–"

"Shut up, you blonde bimbo bitch, and listen up. You too bitch no.2. I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear what you just said but mark my words if I ever hear you talking shit like that again I swear," He leaned in to whisper to them, "I’ll make you both disappear and no one would even bat an eye."

He backed away from them and was back to his usual friendly self.

"Cool?" he asked with a gentle smile.

"Y-yeah, we’re cool." The blonde said first.

"S-sorry for speaking like that about him. We won’t do it again." The black-haired girl bowed and dragged her friend away.

".... Haaa... now where did he go?"

...

’Fuck! I need to calm down and think. I can’t let these little setbacks slow me down.’ Austin thought to himself as he power-walked through the hallways while biting his nail.

’Doesn’t the main character usually get a system by now? Where the hell is my golden finger!? It’s been a whole month since I reincarnated but still nothing! Things are getting out of control.’ He left the academy building and sat in the courtyard.

’Emelie is acting hostile towards me despite us barely knowing each other and Diana is talking about how she loves some random limp dick named Kurt! Even Kiana is grasping her dirty little mitts onto Prince Junior’s love life. Do I just abandon them and go for the sub heroines instead?’

"There you are, Austin. I was worried you might’ve caused trouble again." Gary sat next to him again as he ate a jam filled bread.

’No...’ Austin ignored him, still lost in his thoughts. ’The sub heroine’s route is only unlocked after completing the main game. Mia and Amy are just going to have to wait. Besides the main girls H-Scenes are just too tempting to let go. Especially Diana’s.’

Austin licked his lips as he thought about the events of the game.

"You eat something tasty? Wanna trade? This jam bread is quite good." Gary pointed the food to Austin’s mouth.

"The fuck?! What’s wrong with you!" He smacked it away.

"Aww, what a waste."

As Gary was picking up yet another mess, Austin decided to shoot his shot and ask him a question he knew he’d not know the answer to but tried anyway.

"Say, Gunther..."

"Gary."

"G-Gary. Do you know of any person named Kurt?"

"Kurt? Can’t say I do."

’I knew it–’

"But if you’re looking for someone specific, I know some people who’ll be able to help."