Rumours of Black's identity spread like wildfire outside the Academy campus. Within them, everyone knew before a few hours past. Whoever didn't directly see two students battling it out in the courtyard heard all about it, Alex's endless enraged screaming made it more than just overtuned drama. He wanted to make sure Black wouldn't come back. Even worse, people began to single out Jack and Scarlet for not helping the aggressor. Deliberate stares came from all eyes, and even fell upon the classmates of the controversial trio. From there, even they began to hate them; Black may have only disappeared for a day, but every student on the grounds made it their personal mission to make life miserable for them... and succeeded. Even teachers held no concern for their well-being, having chosen to outcast a student and care less about those who seemed to defend him. In truth, Jack and Scarlet hadn't yet come to a conclusion on how to feel about the misplaced shapeshifter. They felt bad, even if everything told them he was a criminal. True, he was suspiciously mysterious, but a spy? Surely a spy would have some kind of cover story, trying to fit in rather than attract curiosity. If he was a spy, there was no doubt that Alex had done well to sniff him out. But if he wasn't, why else would he be there other than to protect the people? Those were good intentions, and he shouldn't be cast out irregardless of where he came from or who he was tied to. Either way, the team wasn't a team, it barely even had been to start with. Jack had failed, and that's just the way it was.

Talks of staff meetings echoed the halls, obviously to discuss their next move. As retired or part-time Protector's, every teacher had an obligation (in moral at the very least) to act. Staff meetings occur regularly, as should be with any educational establishment, but it was news of an urgent call to action by the Headmaster himself that made it gossip. What spread around the academy, spread around the city. It was big political news too, the surfacing of an illegal immigrant in what should have been a secure system. In reputation, it was the secure system.

Classes were cancelled the day after, assumedly for the meeting of utmost importance. More juicy gossip than that: Jack, Alex, and Scarlet, were invited along too. They weren't actually present, seated outside in anxious peace of sound, like awaiting news on a loved one's surgery. Hours that felt like days past, before the softness of Croen brought them inside. A gaggle of colourfully dressed adults decorated the room, but they all moved for the students until they were at the front, faced with the Headmaster. Black beside him.

Before Alex could explode, he commanded the tone. "I, as well as the staff, have decided to keep Black on as a student."
"He--" Though Alex protested his leadership, there was no denying it.
"Though questionable, I feel no doubt of his intentions."
"But--"
"And thus, the staff agrees."
"And the Rule?" Jack asked, with permission, in reference to the political leaders of Stirly.
"I'll deal with them. In the meantime, Black is under my protection. He does not leave the school grounds. Right?"
"Yes, sir." Humiliated Black agreed, head down. He'd have done anything at that point.
"Sooo we're, like, a team again?" Scarlet thought aloud, raising her hand discreetly out of habit.
"Indeed. Perhaps now, Master Black's background will provide insight to his personality. Adapt to this."
Alex clearly had something to say, but the incredible difference in power had him beaten by Headmaster. His only option was to accept the outcome that had been chosen for him, whether he liked it or not. Black saw in each of them how they truly felt, and was somehow both surprised and unsurprised by the result. With a resounding 2-to-1 vote for him to stick around, his empty expression glowed. They were allowed to leave together as a team, plus one. Upon seeing the setting sun outside, Black turned to Alex, who'd yet to say another word. "That cloth was left to me by my mother."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll fix it. Keep your fringe on."
"Right." He squinted at him, but then smiled for the first time, although too subtle to notice.