In the Scarabia Dorm, Jamil and Briar are unconscious, and are back to their original forms, and wearing their original clothes. Soon, the two begin to wake up.

Jamil grunts, "Ngh... Where am I?"

Briar also wakes up from her unconsciousness as well.

Seeing them up, Azul says, "Good. You've regained your senses."

"And we're glad that you're up too Briar. We were starting to worry," Sereia says.

Then Grim, feeling uneasy, "Mrah... That monster's gonna be hauntin' me in my dreams."

"J... Jahbeel..." Kalim sobs, and begins crying, "WAAAAAAH!"

"Somebody get Sea Otter a tissue already. Guy's equal parts snot and regret," Floyd says.

Then Jade says, "I suspect all that talk about punching him has gone out the window as well."

"I-I'm so glad you're alive... Sho glad..." Kalim continues in tears.

"Must you always be so dramatic?" Jamil says, and sighs.

In tears, Kalim says, "I...I never knew how miserable you were all this time. A-all this time..." Sniff "I never knew," Hic "just how much I put you through..."

"Which led to this spectacular betrayal," Azul says.

"Yuuup," Floyd replies, "Sea Snake's been mocking Sea Otter beneath his breath for pretty much their whole lives!"

Grim crosses his arms and rolls his eyes, "Geez, and you guys say I'M blunt."

Then Kalim says, "Y-yes, you're...kind of a jerk. But you're still the guy who's helped me all my life."

"Kalim..." Jamil replies.

Then Kalim says, "So let's just stop. We can stop holding back on account of our social status."

"...Uh, what?" Jamil questions.

Then Kalim says, "Starting today, we can be rivals that compete in earnest for the spot of number one. I want us to be equals... and I want us to be friends, Jamil."

"Equals? And friends?" Jamil says, and thinks of it.

Jamil turns to Briar.

Then turn to Kalim, "Heh... Why am I not surprised that's what you got out of this, Kalim? Then let me say this as one equal to another..."

But then shouts on the top of his lunges, "NOT! ON! YOUR! LIFE!"

Kalim is caught off guard from the outburst, "Uh?"

Everyone else is as well.

Grim yelps, "The heck?!"

Then Jamil says to Kalim's face, "You thoughtless, sloppy, idiotic, clumsy, ludicrously oblivious, arrogant, indelicate, pampered little rich boy! Who in their right mind would ever voluntarily be your friend?! What's in it for me now?! Nothing! And that's what I want—nothing to do with you!"

"Wh... Whaaat?! How can you say that?!" Kalim asks in shock.

"Yeesh. He must be feelin' better, 'cause he sure ain't pullin' any punches," Grim says.

"Ouch. Jamil really went all out," Jasper says.

"I guess he really wanted to get all that out of his chest," Briar says.

Then Tanzanite says, "He really is a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"I have to agree," Sereia says.

Trinket nods her head in reply.

"And what's wrong with that? I like the authentic Jamil much more, as a matter of fact," Azul says with a smile.

Jamil grunts with an annoyed expression, "Ugh. Your ingratiating smile is grossing me out."

"I'll admit, I've been curious about you ever since we were freshmen," Azul says.

"You don't say..." Jamil replies.

Then Azul says, "You did a bit too good of a job avoiding the spotlight. It backfired and piqued my interest. See, you never got any outstanding marks, whether in the classroom or in practical studies. But at the same time... You never got a negative mark in any class. Ever. It came across like you were maintaining a consistent five out of ten across the board. There was no way it could be unintentional. I've always had an inkling there was more to it. And it finally clicked for me when I heard Briar and her group's story."

"That makes sense. Azul is close to the top of his whole class year in Potionology... But you'd find his marks in Flight class closer to the bottom of the charts," Jade says.

"That's kinda extreme in its own way, y'know," Grim replies.

Then Azul says, "My suspicions were confirmed when I joined you for that Mancala game the other night. You maintained a perfectly balanced win/loss ratio to keep from throwing Floyd into a rage."

"Whoa, for real? You can do that?" Floyd asks.

Then Azul says, "If you throw too much, it becomes obvious. And if you win by too much, it sours the opponent's mood. There's an art to feigning defeat. You have to tune it just right. It requires considerable skill and mental fortitude to pull off.

"Meanwhile, you wiped the floor with me and didn't even try to go easy, Azul!" Grim says, annoyed.

Then Azul continues, "Heh. I knew I had you sussed, Jamil. Your true capabilities are nothing short of astounding!

"I know, right?! Jamil really is something special!" Kalim says happily

"You know, I think you'd get along far better with someone like me than with Kalim," Azul says.

He then asks, "How about it? Care to transfer to Octavinelle? You could join forces with me and make a name for yourself."

Jamil crosses his arms and says, "Not on your life. And where do you get off, monologuing at me out of nowhere? You couldn't sound shadier if you tried! I will be perfectly content never being friends with you, Azul."

"Goodness. That's a rather stinging rebuke," Jade replies.

Azul chuckles, "Heh heh heh... I don't mind. I've added a new truth to my secret collection today, so I'll call it even."

"Your secret collection of other people's weaknesses, you mean," Floyd replies.

Jamil huffs, "Hmph. You can't call it a weakness when it's already been aired to the whole world... There will be no more holding back for me. Not against Kalim, or the rest of you, or anyone. I'm never throwing another competition again."

"Good! But I won't lose, either!" Kalim happily says.

Jamil then remembers something. He reaches his pocket and brings out Briar's medallion.

He then presents it to Briar, "Here you go. I apologize for taking it without your knowledge."

"Thanks Jamil," Briar says.

She then takes her medallion and places it around her neck.

"Yay! Briar has her medallion back!" Sereia happily says.

Jasper soon begins to yawn.

"Are you tired?" Tanzanite asks.

"Yeah. We had a very long night," Jasper says.

"I have to agree. It's very late," Jamil says.

Kalim yawns, "Yeah. I'm tired of myself."

"Yeah. Let's all get to bed. We can really use some sleep," Briar says.

Time has passed, everyone in the Dorm is fast asleep for the night. Unknown to anyone, the door to the vacant room is open without anyone's knowledge. Then, in the Lounge, Grim is sniffing around the area to search for something.

He sniffs as he says, "Black stone... I smell a black stone in this room..." And finally Grim finds what he's looking for, "Aha!"

What he finds is another one of those black stones. He picks it up with glee, "There it is... There it is! Heh heh heh... Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!"

With that, Grim puts the gem in his mouth and with a gulp, Grim eats the stone

Grim is satisfied with the taste, "Ooh... Spicy, but with a mellow, rich flavor."

"Maaan... I scarfed that down way too fast. I'm still hungry... I want more black stones..." Grim says, and suddenly, let out a rather sinister chuckle, "Hee hee..."