You were making a potion over winter break due to Grim having gotten into a severe situation. One that could revive. A potion that required hydrangeas to make.

While researching the potion, a boy from a nearby mansion snuck into the abandoned building you were doing your work in. He seemed intrigued in your work, wanting to know your process and wanted to be helpful to you.

You decide to let him help, scolding him if he risked himself too much just to help you gather hydrangeas. Yes, he successfully got some and the other ingredients they needed, but while Ace waited on you to mix the ingredients together; you turned on some zombie movies for the terracotta ginger to watch.

You finished mixing the potion at some point, making quite a bit-- perhaps even a little too much. While you were giving a small dose to Grim to revive him, Ace took a small vial of his own and stole some from the bowl, stuffing it into his pockets to hide the fact he had done so.

Ace was growing tired of his overbearing brother, and much like Grim was now, staggering and awake as a zombie-- Ace would much rather not want to have the life he does. He could only pray that the potion would have the reverse effect on living things.

When he snuck off to go home that night after a short bike ride with you to his mansion; he learned that was not the case. However...

The following day, when you were bringing Ace home on your bike once again, but this time-- you had been caught by Ace's overbearing older brother, Hanafuda. Due to Grim leaping off of your shoulder, Hanafuda chased Grim on the cliff side, and Ace blocked the way.

"Don't do anything to it! I know you're allergic, but that's not okay!" Ace backed up when Hanafuda wouldn't let up, foot pressing into a loose part of the rocks, slipping off the edge and into the flower field.

After a few moments, Ace sat up, groggy and fuzzy mentally. He had no idea he had become a zombie too now.

You and Hanafuda were both shocked by what you had witnessed, shaky and riddled with guilt for allowing it to happen, but unlike you-- Hanafuda's guilt didn't last long and it turned into digust.

"Take him and leave. A digusting vermin he is." He must have disliked zombies, the entire opposite of you.

You let out a sigh and watch Hanafuda go inside, before letting Grim hop up on your shoulder, trekking down to the field of hydrangeas safely to fetch Ace, scooping him up into your arms, hauling him over to your bike.

You remember that you met Ace at NRC previously, and that's how you knew his name, but... now things will be much harder.

As you place him into your room with AC on full blast, you consider solutions as to how you're going to hide the fact that one of the Freshman--like yourself--is now a zombie.

"I'm sleepy..." Ace rubbed his eyes groggily. That didn't surprise you, but for now, you tended to his wounds and switched him into clean clothes. Then, you laid Ace down and left the room. You should clean up Ramshackle before making yourself food... It won't be good to leave Ace hungry though, so you should make him something too.