When y/n's eyes fluttered open, so was a bit confused by her new surroundings. She looks up and sees the surface of the water, so meaning she's underwater, and the room she's in if most likely a classroom with stones used as a table and seating place,[That's gotta be uncomfortable after a while.] she grimace before spotting three silhouettes in a corner.

They were small, so they were obviously children, and judging by their strange silhouettes, they're merkids. Though one looks a bit strange. The kid had multiple limbs and was a bit round. That and they were hiding in a small pot.

"I was only ever meant to be inside an octopus pot." Azul's voice causes her to jump a bit as he steps up beside her, his eyes also trained on the kids.

"Wow, look it's Azullulu, the ink barffer!" Merchild A teases as he points at a little Azul,"Hurry, get away. He's got all those creepy legs!" Merchild B laughs as they back away a bit.

"Kn-knock it off... Wh-why would you say that..." little Azul whimpers as he peeks out of his pot a bit,"Swim away! We're gonna get inked~" Merchild A says as he swims away with his friend,"Gyahahaha! He's never gonna catch us." Merchild B cackles as little Azul starts to sniffle then sob.

Y/n frowns heavily at this,"Who cruel... Children bullying others at that age, that's just... Just so awful." she utters,"Unlike other merfolk, I had legs covered in suction cups. I was an introverted child who could never speak their mind. No good at school or sports, I was left all alone. A dumb, clumsy octopus." Azul claims while y/n hums in thought at this.

"That guy barfs ink when he cries and pollutes the water wherever he goes." Merchild A complains as he and his friend stood ways away from Azul,"And he's out in no time during tag, it's so lame." Merchild B says and y/n sees little Azul drop his head in sorrow.

"Ohh, really? Then why don't you just leave me be and go run around playing your pointless games!" Azul scowls and y/n places a comforting hand on his arm,"Easy there. You're wasting your energy getting angry at those who don't even matter." she says and Azul takes in a deep breath and exhales, his shoulders relaxing a bit.

"I lack the tail to swim quickly. But, instead I have ten arms and legs I can move at will. That means I have five times the ability to write tomes than those two armed fools. I can spit out the ink needed to write spells at any time." he explains with a victorious smirk.

"Just you wait. Someday I'll put you insolent mers in your damn place!" he vows and y/n sighs at this as little Azul is now found in his little pot sitting in a corner. Though he looks a little older now.

Two more, long, silhouettes swam up to him and y/n can already tell who they are,"Hey, little octo, why are you holed up in there?" Floyd asks as he peers into the pot,"Shut up. Leave me alone." little Azul spat as he turns away from the twins.

"Amazing. All those shells are covered in spells and curses. Magic to shapeshift, magic to steal someone's voice..." Jade says with awe as he looks through each shell with writings on them,"Have you been using those eight legs to write all these this whole time?" he asks and Azul pops out of his little pot to snatch his shells back from him.

"Don't touch them! You wanna get inked?" he threatens as he emerges out of his pot more,"I'm gonna keep studying and become just as powerful as the Sea Witch!" he declares,"So don't get in my way! Just go away!" he tells before going back into his pot.

"Jade, that octopus is pretty funny." Floyd comments with amusement as the twins look at each other,"Yes, Floyd, he is very interesting." Jade nods in agreement and y/n smiles at this.

"Huh, guess you made some friends after all." she says, but Azul doesn't respond to her, instead her continues with his story,"I kept studying like that until several years later..." he says and y/n turns to see all three Octavinelle Trio's silhouettes looking older. Heck, Little Azul looks even slimmer now.

"I heard that a kid in another class got super skinny and even got a girlfriend." Floyd whispers loudly as he and Jade huddle around Azul reading a book,"In exchange, his beautiful tenor has gone completely silent." Jade adds as Azul hums with boredom,"You don't say." he says as he turns a page in his book.

"In another class, someone with frizzy, unruly hair suddenly became a silky, blond." Jade says,"In exchange, they lost their tail that swam so fast." Floyd cooes in amusement as he hands upside down,"Hmmm, I see." Azul nods absent-mindedly.

"And, Azul, isn't this all your doing?" Jade asks and Azul finally looks up from his book at them,"...Mine? Why?" he tilts his head innocently,"I can't imagine any of those airheaded fish being able to pull off such impressive spells." Jade comments,"You've been studying magic for so long." Floyd points out as he turns himself upright.

"...Pfft! Hehhehheh! Hahaha! Is that so?" Azul laughs with a shake of his head before shutting his book closed,"I can't believe I've been found out already." he utters,"We were right?" Floyd perks up at this and Azul nods.

"Yes, you are. I finally perfected it." he announces before pulling out a familiar piece of paper from his pot,"All I need is someone to sign this magic contract then I can take whatever ability I want from them... I call it, 'It's a Deal'! With this, I can make them all kneel before me. Everything you've ever taken pride in, is now mine! Ahhaha!!! Ahahahaha!!!" he laughs cruelly as their surroundings turn white.

"So that's when it all started. The contracts I mean." y/n mutters as she turns to fully face Azul,"I haven't forgotten what happened for even a moment. Those who made fun of me. The faces of those who bullied me." Azul tells her as he pushes his glasses up.

"I bid my time, observing them from a distance. Their weaknesses, their failings... I know it all! Press on their weak points and I can take their fast tail. If I know what's bothering them, I cane take their beautiful singing voice. With this golden contract I am unbeatable!" he smirks widely.

"I am no longer the dumb, clumsy octopus left all alone. Everything is under my control with this power. All those who ever made fun of me, will now kneel before me." he declares before yelping when y/n slaps the back of his head.

"You know, for a smart guy, you're really dumb." she says and Azul glares at her,"What give you the right to say that to me!?" he yells and y/n gives him a stern expression,"Think about it. You acknowledge the fact you're a strong, talented wizard, but what you're doing with that power isn't right. You're just as bad as your bullies." y/n tells him and Azul flinches at this.

"I'm right, aren't I?" y/n smirks before pressing a finger against his chest,"Besides, I think you've bested your bullies for a long time already. I mean, come on! Who the heck opens a restaurant in high school? Excells in class and you even have real friends! I think, that's amazing!" she smiles widely.

"Trust me, nobody is gonna ever accomplish the things you have." she reassures him and Azul's expression softens at this,"You think so?" he asks and y/n nods,"I know so. Heck, even the prideful Leona acknowledges your incredible skills." she says and Azul huffs a breathy chuckle.

"How do you do it? How do you know the right words to say?" he asks and y/n playfully takes his fedora off and puts it on her own head. This made Azul turn pink a little as the girl smiles up at him warmly,"Because, I know those are the words I want someone to say to me." she says.

"You've been bullied before?" Azul asks softly with wide eyes,"Yeah, but I didn't let it get to me. They gave me a bunch of horrible nicknames and ostracized me from everything, even my mom. But, I went on with my life and left those who don't matter to me behind." y/n says with a proud smile.

"Though, there was this one nickname I took pride in." she adds in jokingly,"Oh, and that is?" Azul asks with interest,"Monster." y/n says,"Why?" Azul asks with wide eyes,"Cause that nickname reminds of the day I fought back against my bullies. Literally. I punched one in the face so that her entire front teeth fell down her throat." she laughs and Azul joins in.

He then boldly wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her flushed against him,"You are a very interesting human, Miss Prefect." he compliments and y/n smiles with pink cheeks,"And you are an amazing wizard, Azul." she says as they both smile at each other, allowing their surroundings to fade to black.

Both of them gasp in air when their beings are snapped awake from their dream-like state,"Oh, they're awake." Floyd says as the twins tend to Azul and the rest to y/n,"Hey, you okay y/n?" Ruggie asks with worry and y/n nods,"I'm fine, don't worry." she reassures him.

"Azul, how many fingers am I holding up?" Jade holds up four fingers and Azul squinted at them,"Ei...ght?" he groans as he slowly sits up,"Okay. You appear to still be out of it, but I'm so relieved. We were able to stop your blot induced rampage." Jade says with relieved eyes and a smile as he and Floyd help Azul up and Ruggie pulling y/n to her feet.

"...Jeez, pain in the neck." Leona sighs with annoyance,"Leona, you're in no position to talk." Ruggie whispers to him with an awkward smile,"What... did I do?" Azul asks in a daze,"used magic so much that you overblotted. Do you remember?" Jade informs him with furrowed brows.

"'Give me your strength~'. You were crying while running around sucking people's magic. It was hard to look at, super uncool." Floyd says with a disappointed look as Grim scurries up y/n's shoulder and nuzzles her cheek.

"I-I... went on a rampage... Unbelievable..." Azul utters with disbelief, disappointed with himself,"Anyone would be pissed if something they'd been working on for so long got erased right in front of them. If someone went and cracked open my piggybank I'd never forgive them." Ruggie reassures him in his own way, frowning at the thought of someone even daring to do such a heinous act.

"But you gotta knock it off with the shady business, y'know? Shape up." Grim tells Azul,"And you should 'shape up' and stop using test notes created by someone else!" Jack scolds him as y/n giggles,"He's got you there buddy." she says, petting Grim's head.

"But still, no one could ever pull off with putting a test note like that together like Azul could!" she praises and Azul looks up at her,"...Eh?" he voices his surprise,"You're right. Azul's test notes got me a 90 even though I only spent one night pouring over them." Ace says sheepishly,"Yeah. It was a great secret weapon." Deuce nods in agreement.

"The Headmaster told us you made that by going through the past 100 years of test questions. I can't say I approve of what you did, but... Your determination is crazy impressive." Jack praises and y/n goes to stand next to Azul.

"I told you, didn't I? Everyone knows how great you are." she whispers to him with a grin and he turns pink a bit before turning away,"...Hmph. Your words don't bring me any sort of comfort." he says, his voice overflowing with different emotions.

"What now? Azul, are you getting a little misty eyed?" Floyd teases as he and Jade peer at the emotional merman,"My, my, have you gone back to being the ink-spitting-crybaby?" Jade says mischievously, although his words held no ill intentions or meaning.

"You two! You should be under contract to keep that confidential!" Azul hisses at them,"Oops, my apologies." Jade smiled innocently, not at all sorry,"Ah, oh yeah. We brought the photo of Prince Rielle just like you asked. Since the sun is still above the horizon, that makes this our complete victory." Jack declares as y/n carefully retrieves the photo from her jacket.

Everyone, except Azul, crowds around her to get a good look of the photo,"What's this pic of?" Leona questions as he studies it,"...There's a bunch of tiny merfolks, I don't get it." he admits with confusion,"An elementary school class photo...? What d'ya want this for?" Ruggie asks with a hand on his chin.

"Aha, this takes me back." Floyd leans down close to y/n,"This is a photo from when we went there in elementary school. Me and Jade are right here." Floyd points to two younger eels grinning in the photo,"And..." he then moves his finger over to point at a little round octopus Azul hiding in the corner.

"Nestled over in the corner is... baby Azul!" he reveals with a grin,"What!?" everyone, except y/n and the twins, scream in disbelief at this,"Waaaaaaah! Stop!!! Don't look! Please don't look!" Azul pleads as he tries to snatch the photo from y/n, but the twins were blocking his way.

"My, my, Azul. You sure perked up quickly. Why don't you rest some more? Giving up now is the best idea." Jade says as he pats Azul's shoulder,"Which one?" Ace asks with eagerness as he looks at the photo,"Hiding in the corner..." Leona points it out for him.

"Are you referring to the timid looking guy with octopus legs that's twice as wide as any other mer...?" Ruggie describes,"Azul, were you really this chubby back in the day?" Grim asks with awe and surprise as he looks between baby Azul and present Azul.

"So round... So cute... So squishy looking. I wanna give baby Azul a hug~" y/n cooes with pink round cheeks while Azul only throws his head back with his hands covering his red face,"AaaAAAAaaAAAAaaahhhhh!!!" he screams in horror before peeking between his fingers to stare at y/n's blissful smile. He turns even more red.

"I totally get how you feel. Everyone has a past they want to erase!" Deuce nods with knowing eyes before waving his a hands around rapidly as he shuts his eyes,"I didn't see anything! You guys should forget you saw anything!" he says loudly.

"You really just go with the flow, huh?" Jack sweatdrops at him,"Shit...!" Azul hisses as he removes his hands from his face,"I was supposed to expand Mostro Lounge and completely delete my dark past at the same time... My plan was flawless...!" he shouts in despair and defeat.

"They say those who chase after two rabbits will end up with neither." Ruggie tells him,"I've gone through and edited every other photo... From the graduation albums to the film in the photo studios. The photo from the museum was the only one I couldn't legally get my hands on..." Azul explains with a sigh.

"Stop going around and making others do your dirty work, y'know!" Grim scolds him as he jumps down from y/n's shoulder,"This pic is totally fine. I like the old Azul. You used to be so tasty looking." Floyd reassures Azul in a teasing manner,"That is not the problem here!" Azul shouts at him as y/n approaches him,"There's no need to hide your true self Azul. You worked hard to get where you are now." she reassures him as she hands him the photo.

"...I'm done. I wanna hole up in an octopus pot." Azul whimpers as he looks down at the photo,"There, there~" y/n rubs his back in a comforting manner.

"Anyway. We brought the photo as promised. We cleared all of your conditions." Jack states firmly with crossed arms,"Well, the contract is already dust in the wind, though." Grim says with a smug smirk.

"But you know, I'm not cool with stealing. Azul. Isn't it your policy to keep your dealings legal, right? Take responsibility and get it back to where it belongs." Jack says and y/n places a hand on Azul's shoulder,"If you want, I'll go with you." she offers.

"... Understood. But at least let me run it through some editing software to erase my shame..." Azul pleads and y/n immediately snatches the photo out of his hand,"Oh heck no! Not on your life Ashengrotto!" she says as she runs away to stand next to Jade.

"Hah, you don't know when to give up." Leona smirks in amusement,"He's right. Memories are to be treasured." Jade says as y/n gives him the photo before Floyd tackles the girl into a hug,"So when're we gonna go? We're all going, right? I'm so excited! We haven't been there since elementary school." he says with pure excitement.

Grim then starts to sniff the air and then the ground,"Hm? Why are you sniffing around on the ground, Grim?" Ace asks as Grim's ears twitch a bit and his tail swish,"My gourmet hunter senses are tingling... My favorite pitch black truffle has fallen somewhere around here!" he says with delight as he searches the area.

"Are you a pig?" Ace asks with disgust,"Ffgna! Found the black rock!" Grim shouts as he holds up a familiar black rock in his paws,"Those nose of the Great Gourmet Hunter Grim cannot be fooled!" he cheers with a grin of victory.

"...A black rock?" Leona raises a brow at this,"Grim, don't. You. Dare. Eat that rock." y/n warns the little monster from Floyd's arms,"Thanks for the food!" Grim ignores her and eats the rocks in one swift chomp,"Oh come on!!" y/n gags in disgust as she sticks her tongue out at the scene.

"Mmmm... It starts out heavy and rich, but then there's a punch of saltiness... I'll never get tired of this flavor! Y'know!" Grim hums in delight as he licks his lips clean,"Please tell me there's a chef school around here." y/n sighs with a face-palm.

"Are you eating crap off the ground again?" Deuce scolds him,"There's no point trying to stop him, we just have to accept that monsters have different tastes." Ace says with a defeated tone as ymn wiggles out of Floyd's arms.

"...Is that raccoon always eating black rocks off the ground?" Leona asks her with narrowed eyes,"Not always, but... Grim has a strange gluttony we just can't explain." y/n sighs with a shake of her head.

"Is something the matter, Leona?" Jack asks, but Leona waves him off,"Nah. It's nothing." he says calmly, but his eyes didn't leave Grim's form.