Riddle and Hedgehogs

Riddle says that the closest thing to leisure time that he has is spent tending to the dorm’s hedgehogs:

“We have a system for taking turns doing that, so I don’t HAVE to visit them every day, but I still check up on them even when it’s not my turn. They’re very delicate creatures, and I would hate to see them neglected. I keep a close eye on their food and the area temperature.

Riddle mentions the delicate nature of hedgehogs again during NBC when Zero is wary of Jade and Trey, saying, “Smaller creatures can be skittish and easily frightened by contact of that sort. Trey, Jade —you must be courteous in your approach. Like you’re dealing with a hedgehog.”

It seems that Riddle is similarly gentle with horses, saying, “I seem kinder than usual when I’m tending to the horses? They’re sensitive creatures. It’s only natural that I be mindful of them.”

Ace asks what the point is in talking to hedgehogs when they don’t understand human languages and a Heartslabyul student says, “the housewarden talks to them in human language pretty regularly.”

Another follows with, “(Riddle) says it’s important to take care of them personally and build a bond rooted in trust” and the first student adds, “I see Riddle tending to the hedgehogs a lot even when it’s not his shift.”

Ace wonders at Riddle having a soft side: “Wish he’d show a little bit of that kindness to us students.” (Heartslabyul students: “Uh, aha ha…”)

Riddle becomes worried when the hedgehogs are let out in a vignette, saying, “Hedgehogs are very cautious creatures. Once one’s dug a hole and hidden in it, finding it will prove immensely difficult. Queen forbid… What if we don’t find them…?”

When Ace finds them he approaches them with, “Riddle was crazy worried. He dotes on you little fellas, right?”

After Ace returns safely with the missing hedgehogs Riddle says, “1 am beyond relieved that they’ve returned unscathed,” and thanks him for his efforts. Ace responds, “Whoa. Wish you’d flash me that nice little smile more often instead of nagging me nonstop.” 

(Ace originally fears that he had been the one to accidentally release the hedgehogs in the first place, but it is later confirmed that the culprits were other students.)

Riddle also has a chat line about tending to the hedgehogs to foster mutual understanding, and a voice line of, “Hedgehog couples and flamingo couples both get along swimmingly. It’s a wonderful thing.”