-----

I yawned while I laid sprawled across the couch in Norman's office, tossing my knives into the air and then catching them one by one. I had thrown a knife quite high into the air and it started to drop towards me. I extended my arm to catch it just as the door busted open with a 'BAM!!'

"Hey, Boss!!" There was a sickeningly cheerful voice rang out, as none other than Barbara kicked the door open. As I startled in shock the knife fell past my hand, piercing the couch mere centimetres from my face.

I gulped drily, a bead of sweat rolling down my face. "Ahahahahahahhh-" I laughed nervously, pulling the knife out of the couch.

"Who's this?" Barbara spat, raising a curious eyebrow as she entered, followed by Cislo and then Vincent.

I hummed but ignored the ponytailed girl, stuffing the knife that had nearly severely injured me- wouldn't be the first time, though, into my thigh holster, as I grabbed a snack from the center of the table, stuffing it into my face.

"Hahhh-?" Barbara scowled, annoyed at my defiance, stomping on the table and leaning towards my face.

I hummed, eating the last bite of my breakfast- being the treats I made Norman begin stocking up on. "Nor- William Minerva isn't here right now." I mumbled, raising an eyebrow and turning to face the three in the room. As soon as I caught sight of Vincent's forehea-er, face, I suppressed my strong need to say something out loud. Something stupid, per usual.

All of the three Lambda escapees eyes' widened as they likely registered my likeness to their boss upon seeing my face.

"Ehhh??" Cislo hummed, sitting down across from me. "Just like a female Boss!" I raised an eyebrow and shrugged, sitting up on the couch.

My lip curled in unintentional disgust as I watched Barbara took a bite of her demon's meat. "Oh, want some?" She asked, raising an amused eyebrow.

I pursed my lips, trying my best to avoid saying something stupid that would get me killed. "No-thank-you, ahaha." I smiled thinly.

"So, who are you?" Cislo repeated Barbara's earlier question.

I hummed. "I'm sure Vincent knows." I turned to the footb-ahahahahah. Smart man with an uninterested shrug.

Vincent raised his eyebrows. "Boss told you my name?" He asked suspiciously

I frowned. "Sure. We'll go with that, since I don't know how much you know." I smiled with fake sweetness, standing up and grabbing my things. These people give me a sick feeling in my stomach. Likely the result of knowing they probably wouldn't tolerate my bullsh*t. "Oh, are the rest of the Gracefield kids here yet?" I asked with a hum.

Vincent tilted his head. "Soon." I chewed on my bottom lip, trying to suppress my desire to be an idiot again. Look cool, Y/N. Look cool.

I nodded in acknowledgement of the three Lambda escapees. "Then, see you all later." I waved as I left but stopped at the doorway. "Oh, remember." I smiled. "Norman isn't a god." I smiled once again before turning back, giving up on looking cool. "And, Vincent?"

Vincent raised his eyes in question.

"...your head looks like a football." I then bowed politely and took my leave, closing the door behind me.

-----

Vincent watched the albino girl leave, a dissatisfied look on his face.

"She's got spunk." Barbara murmured in admittance. "I don't like her, though."

Vincent nodded In agreement. "She's dangerous."

There was a long pause of silence before Vincent spoke again.

"...does it really look like a football?"

-----

I was walking across one of the many bridges spanning the inside of the massive hallowed tree, when I caught sight of a familiar crowd of children entering the hideout below. I smiled to myself exhaling in relief. They're here at last!!

I grabbed hold of the railing of the bridge and looked down, able to discern Ray, Emma, and many other specifically from the crowd.

I grinned and ran to the rope I'd tied to the edge of the bridge yesterday, while wallowing about in my boredom. Because why be bored when you can nearly experience death on a daily basis, amiright??? I grabbed the thick gloves I'd used for the slide earlier and pulled them on.

"LOOKOUT BELOWW!!" I called over the railing of the bridge. Then, with a solid grip, and praying silently that death was off once again today, I climbed over the edge of the railing, grabbing hold of the rope.

I managed to avoid slipping off of the rope and falling to my death as I sped down the line. "HEYOO!" I called, sliding down quickly, the rope-nearly-as-big-as-my-....nevermindahaha the friction between my hands and the rope as I slid causing my gloves to smoke dangerously. Jesus, I was glad to have them in between the rope and my hands.

A few kids pointed up in surprise as I elegantly slid down the rope, manifesting my inner bad*ss, and they began backing away, clearing a small space for me to land.

Some members of the crowd below, including Zack and Sandy, let out a loud whoop as I landed, rather heavily, but somehow managed to keep my balance. I grinned brightly, wiping sweat off my brow. "How you doin'?" I asked with a sly smile, scanning the crowd quickly to see if Ray had seen me. 'Who's smooth now, hmm?'

Speak of the devil, Ray soon walked up, following behind Emma. "Oh, you're okay!" The ginger exclaimed excitedly, pulling me into a quick hug. I hugged her back before pulling away with a smile.

"Good to see you too!!" I said happily, barely containing my sudden excitement for her and Ray to meet Norman. 'C'mon, Y/N, delay, delay.... delay until Norman is ready!!' "URGGG!!" I yelled inside my head, my right eye twitching slightly at the effort it took to keep my explosion inside. "W-well!" I exclaimed, my voice quivering at the immense pressure I had to yell, 'MR. MINERVA IS HOT OMG SO LETS GO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW!!' and then drag them along with me.

Clapping my hands together, I continued. "To start with, this 'hideout' is the ruins of an ancient demon clan. Other demons don't know about the ruins, so they don't typically come near it." I grinned. "I'll show you around, then! While you slow-pokes were taking your sweet, savoury time getting here, I was exploring the shelter!"

"And tempting death, apparently." Ray muttered, staring up at the long rope I'd slid down.

I laughed and then led everyone around the shelter, introducing them to a few of the kids I knew. The same children who offered hot chocolate and snacks to me, offered them to this new, significantly larger, group of children, who took them gratefully.

All in all, they were all fascinated by the shelter, enjoying the views and feeling their morale raise upon seeing the other happy children. Even Yuugo and Lucas wore faces of child-like wonder and I smiled warmly at the sight. They made it here! Now... there's basically nothing stopping us from surviving! Just a little more, Y/N! You can get them all out!

Hayato suddenly came bumbling down the stairs and waved out to everyone. "Minerva wants to meet the leader!!" He called out. Everyone turned to me and I blanched. Oops. I guess this time... I'm the leader?

"I- I've met Minerva already!" I chuckled nervously. "Then...can we agree to have Emma go meet him instead?" I offered. Everyone seemed okay with the agreement and we waved bye to Emma.

Once the ginger left, many of the Gracefield and Goldy-Pond kids clamoured around me with questions. "You met William Minerva?!" They exclaimed. I looked across the sea of children and chuckled nervously.

"Yeah!" I said cheerfully, beginning to show them around the shelter more, slowly approaching the place where Emma was meeting Norman. "He's...tall... and kind...and...uhh...handsome...?" I hummed, for lack of better words, tapping my chin.

Ray raised an eyebrow. "Handsome?" He asked suspiciously.

I stifled a snort. "Depends on your taste." I shrugged.

Ray hummed, turning away from me. "What's your taste?" He inquired curiously.

I raised my eyebrows. "Why you wanna know, ehh~?" I nudged him in the arm, although not expecting any reaction.

"No reason." Ray huffed, crossing his arms and pursing his lips.

As I watched him I suddenly stopped. "Oh!" I exclaimed, clapping my hands together, as I remembered something suddenly.

Ray recoiled in shock. "W-what??" He exclaimed in surprise.

I reached to take Ray's scarf off. "I forgot to give this back to you earlier-" I stopped speaking when I swore I saw the ravenhead's shoulders slump in disappointment. "Do you not want it back-??" I asked curiously.

Ray looked away, rubbing the back of his head. "I mean... I don't need it..." He hummed, puffing out his cheeks.

I rolled my eyes. "Idiot." I muttered, but I kept the scarf wrapped around my neck anyway.

I soon arrived at Norman's door, the crowd of children behind me. I knocked gently and started bouncing on my heels, an insuppressible smile spread across my face as I eagerly awaited Norman's entrance.

The door began to creak open and Emma leapt out, spreading her arms wide. "This is our family now!!" She exclaimed, with the happiest grin I've admittedly ever seen.

"It seems larger than I remember." Norman joked with a smile. "But what a great family!"

"H-huh?!! What do you mean-!!" Don exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"Wait, what?? Mr. Minerva was-??" Lani looked frantically between Norman and I.

I watched as the children began to realize who Minerva really was, bittersweet happiness spreading across their faces. Several of the youngest ones looked between Norman and I, as if checking back with me to make sure their assumptions were right. I nodded my head in reassurance, swallowing the lump that rose in my throat.

"You're alive!?" Nat's voice, riddled with cracks as tears streamed down his face, sent shivers spiralling across my spine. "The real thing!?"

"Nor- NORMAN!!" All the Gracefield kids exclaimed, several engulfing Norman in a hug. If you can call it that, seeing as it was closer to a tackle.

My eyes trailed to Ray, who looked dumbstruck, but only for a moment before his face cleared, leaving a stern look that sent even more shivers down my spine, which I didn't think was possible.

"Ray..." Norman said as the ravenhead approached, likely expecting a hug. Although what he received, to everyone's surprise but mine, was a harsh smack across the face. I stifled a snort as the albino fell to the ground from the impact. Sorry, Norman. Tragedy is when I cut my finger, comedy is when you fall into an open sewer. No hard feelings, right?

"How awful." Norman laughed lightly. "To get payback without so much as greeting me." He said, cupping his cheek, sending me a quick dirty look that went unnoticed by everyone else. I stuck my tongue out as he hid his scorn with a quick smile. "Looks like you were able to find something important to you." The albino finished, giving Ray an 'I-told-you-so' look.

I turned to Ray as his lips began to quiver and the tears he'd been withholding since reuniting with his best friend spilled down his cheeks. "Yeah... thanks to you."

I watched, in what felt like slow-motion, as the ravenhead's arms wrapped around Norman, Emma, and I, causing Norman to bend down several inches due to his height, and me, embarrassingly, needing to raise up onto my toes a little to match their heights, as the emo buried his face into our shoulders.

"I'm so glad you're alive...!" He exclaimed, hot tears continuing to spill down his face. 'Me too...?!' I exclaimed to myself in surprise, as Ray hugged all three of us idiots together. "Don't you ever die again, you dumb, dumb, Norman." The emo sniffled once again, his voice still quivering as he sobbed harder.

"Yeah...you got it, idiot Ray." Norman murmured quietly, wrapping his arms around us in a hug.

I wouldn't admit it, but I cried a little myself, as I was part of the bittersweet moment originally intended for only three.

We stayed in that position for a while before we- I mean they, all finished crying. Once everyone began to explain what had happened in the escape- despite Norman already knowing due to my explanation the day before- We backed away and Ray gave me a nudge in the rib.

"Handsome, huh?" He asked snakily, raising an eyebrow.

"Sweet home Alabama." I smiled innocently, despite knowing that Ray wouldn't get the reference.

"...I feel like I need to know what that means..." He muttered to himself, cupping his chin.

"Ahahahahnoyoudontsopleasedontaskemma-"

(THE END. FOR TODAY LOL.

PLEASE READING THIS CHAPTER IN THE MANGA HURTTTTTTTTT. A LOT. EVERY TIME. HELP.

THIS IS UR SIGN TO GO READ THE MANGA IF YOU HAVEN'T, BEFORE I BREAK UR NICO NICO KNEECAPS)