It was the first day of school after summer, and the sun was shining brightly over Cedarwood High. The excitement was palpable in the air as students reunited with friends and shared stories about their summer vacations. Among them was Kiddy, a 15-year-old boy with dark black hair and an heart melting smile. He was walking down the hallway, his backpack slung over one shoulder, looking for one person in particular—his best friend, Ammy.
Ammy had been Kiddy's best friend since elementary school. They were inseparable, sharing a love for manga and exploring. Ammy was known for her sharp sense of humor; she could make anyone laugh with a quick-witted remark, but there was also a serious side to her. When it mattered, Ammy was the one who kept kiddy grounded, always ready to step in with a thoughtful word or a dose of reality.
Kiddy spotted her near their lockers, chatting with a couple of their other friends, Sam and Lily. Sam was the quiet, thoughtful one of the group, while Lily was energetic and always full of ideas. Kiddy hurried over, grinning as he called out, "Hey, Ammy! How was your summer?"
Ammy turned, her eyes lighting up when she saw Kiddy. "It was great! I went to that book fair in the city, and you won't believe who I met. The author of 'Harry Potter'! And I got you this!" She handed Kiddy a signed poster, his eyes widening in surprise.
"No way! This is awesome! Thanks, Ammy!" Kiddy exclaimed, carefully rolling up the poster and putting it in his bag.
Ammy smirked. "Don't mention it. Now, let's just hope Mr. Whiteman doesn't give us a pop quiz on the first day. I'm not ready for that kind of drama yet." Despite the joke, there was a seriousness in her voice. She knew how tough this year could be.
The bell rang, signaling the start of first period, and the group made their way to class.
In the 1st class, the friends shared their summer stories.
After the bell rang for the end of the first period, the students were surprised when their second-period teacher announced that they would have a free lecture . "You've all had a long summer," the teacher said with a smile. "Take this time to catch up with each other or relax. But stay inside the school grounds, alright?"Kiddy's eyes lit up at the unexpected free time. "This is perfect! Let's head to the gym," he suggested. "They've got a volleyball net set up".
Ammy, who wasn't much into sports, raised an eyebrow. "Volleyball, huh? I'll watch, but don't expect me to jump in and save you when you're losing," she said with a grin.
Sam and Lily agreed, and the group headed toward the gym. As they entered, the large space echoed with the sound of bouncing basketballs and shuffling feet. But Kiddy's attention was immediately drawn to the volleyball court, where a few students were warming up.
One of them, a tall, athletic boy with a determined look, caught Kiddy's eye. It was Eric, a fierce rival of Kiddy's since middle school. They had always been competitive, especially when it came to sports, with neither willing to back down. Kiddy knew that if Eric was on the court, there was no way they'd be having a casual game.
"Looks like your rival is here," Ammy said, noticing the intense look on Kiddy's face.
Kiddy nodded. "This just got a lot more interesting."
The two teams quickly formed. Kiddy's team consisted of himself, Sam, Lily, and another student they'd picked up from the sidelines. Eric's team was equally matched, with Eric taking the lead as the centre player.
The game started, and from the first serve, it was clear that this was going to be an intense match. Kiddy and Eric exchanged competitive glances across the net, each determined to outplay the other. The ball flew back and forth, with powerful spikes and well-placed serves keeping the score tight.
Kiddy jumped high to block one of Eric's spikes, sending the ball back over the net with a force that surprised even him. The gym erupted in cheers, and Kiddy couldn't help but smile at the small victory. But Eric wasn't one to be outdone. He quickly returned the favor with a powerful serve that slipped just past Sam's reach, evening the score once again.
As the game progressed, the intensity grew. Each team fought hard, pushing the score into a deuce, where every point felt like a battle. The gym was electric with tension, students from other games now gathered around the volleyball court, drawn by the fierce competition.
Kiddy's team managed to pull ahead briefly, leading by a single point. With one more point needed to win, Kiddy served the ball with everything he had. The ball flew over the net, landing squarely in the middle of Eric's side. But Eric, ever the competitor, dove to save it, sending it back over with a perfectly placed spike that caught Kiddy's team off guard.
The score was tied again.
The game continued like this. each team refusing to give up. Sweat dripped down Kiddy's forehead as he prepared for the next serve, out of breath but his spirit undeterred. Ammy, watching from the sidelines, could see how much this meant to Kiddy.
Watching the match carefully with a concerned look.
But in the end, it was Eric's team that managed to edge out a victory. With one final, powerful spike, Eric sent the ball past Kiddy's outstretched arms, hitting the ground just inside the line. The game was over.
The gym erupted in applause for both teams, recognizing the effort and skill that had gone into the match. Kiddy, though disappointed, couldn't help but smile as he shook Eric's hand.
"Good game, Kiddy," Eric said, a rare grin on his face. "Next time kiddy~."Kiddy nodded, catching his breath. "Yeah, almost. But don't think I'm going to let this slide. Next time, it's my win."
As the group left the gym, Kiddy felt a mix of pride and determination. He had given it his all, but there was always room to improve. The year was off to a challenging start, but with friends like Ammy, Sam, and Lily by his side, Kiddy knew that every loss was just another step toward becoming stronger.
Ammy walked beside him, a slight smile on her face. "Not bad, Kiddy. You gave it everything you had. Just remember, it's not about winning or losing. It's about how you play the game."
Kiddy laughed, the sting of defeat already fading. "I know, I know. But next time, I'm definitely winning."
Ammy chuckled. "dont forget about your studies though."
With that, the next lecture starts. kiddy comes back from the washroom after arranging his clothes.
After the intense volleyball match during the free period, Kiddy, Ammy, Sam, and Lily made their way to their third class of the day. This was a class that everyone dreaded: math with Mrs. Kensington, the strictest teacher at Cedarwood High. Mrs. Kensington was known for her no-nonsense approach, her sharp gaze that could silence a room, and her ability to detect any kind of mischief from a mile away.
As they took their seats, the atmosphere in the room was tense. The students quickly quieted down as Mrs. Kensington entered the classroom, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor. She wasted no time, immediately diving into the day's lesson on algebraic equations.
Kiddy sat next to Sam, who was diligently taking notes, but his mind was still buzzing from the earlier game. He glanced over at Ammy, who was already focused on the lesson, her brow furrowed in concentration. Next to him, Lily was doodling in the margins of her notebook, clearly uninterested in math.
After a few minutes, Kiddy started to get bored. He leaned over to Sam and whispered, "Hey, let's see who can make the best paper airplane."
Sam, always the more cautious one, looked hesitant. "I don't know, Kiddy. Mrs. Kensington is really strict. We'll get caught."
But Kiddy was persistent. "Come on, just one. It'll be quick."
Reluctantly, Sam agreed, and the two began folding small sheets of paper, trying to be as discreet as possible. Ammy noticed what they were doing and shot them a stern look, whispering, "You two better not get into trouble. We have a quiz at the end of this week, and I don't want you messing around."
Kiddy just grinned at her. "Relax, Ammy. It's just for fun."
Once the paper airplanes were finished, Kiddy and Sam exchanged a mischievous glance. They waited for Mrs. Kensington to turn her back to the class as she wrote an equation on the board. In that moment, Kiddy flicked his wrist, sending the paper airplane gliding through the air. It soared over a few rows of desks before landing near the front of the room.
Unfortunately, it caught Mrs. Kensington's eye as it landed on the floor.
She slowly turned around, her eyes narrowing. "Who threw that?"
The room fell silent. Kiddy and Sam exchanged nervous glances, trying to act innocent. Ammy sighed, shaking her head slightly. She knew this wasn't going to end well.
Mrs. Kensington's gaze swept across the room, but it quickly settled on Kiddy and Sam. "You two, come here."
Ammy gave Kiddy a pointed look, as if to say, "I told you so," while Lily tried to stifle a giggle.
"You both know that I do not tolerate disruptions in my classroom," she began, her tone icy. "You will stay here during lunch to write a two-page essay on why it's important to focus during class."
Kiddy and Sam nodded, not daring to argue.
As they return to their seat after receiving their punishment, Kiddy sighed. "Well, that could have gone better."
Ammy, crossed her arms and shook her head. "You never learn, do you?"
Lily laughed. "At least it was a good throw, Kiddy."
Kiddy chuckled despite himself. "Yeah, but next time, I'll save it for after class."
The group headed to lunch, with Kiddy and Sam already planning how to make up for their lost time. Despite the punishment, Kiddy knew that the day had been worth it. After all, it was just the start of the school year, and there would be plenty more opportunities for fun—and maybe a little mischief—along the way.
As lunch begins, they dive into their meals, enjoying the food and each other's company with smiles and laughter. The room fills with the sounds of clinking cutlery and cheerful conversation as they savor each bite, feeling content and satisfied.
As the fourth lecture began, Mr. Thompson, the English teacher, announced that today's class would be filled with games and interactive activities to make learning fun. The classroom buzzed with excitement as students eagerly anticipated what was in store.
Mr. Thompson kicked off the session with a game called "Story Chain." He explained the rules: he would start a story with a single sentence, and each student would take turns adding a sentence to continue the story. The goal was to create a cohesive and entertaining narrative, and the more creative and humorous, the better.
Kiddy, Ammy, Sam, and Lily were all excited to participate. Mr. Thompson started with the opening line: "Once upon a time, in a land where socks had minds of their own…"
Kiddy was the first to add a sentence. "The socks decided they wanted to throw a party, but they were missing an important ingredient: glitter."
Ammy jumped in next. "The glitter was located in the highest, most mysterious drawer in the sock kingdom, guarded by a grumpy old sock who hadn't had a good day in ages."
Sam took his turn. "Determined to get the glitter, the brave sock adventurers set out on a quest, facing trials like tangled shoelaces and stubborn lint monsters."
Lily added with a grin. "As they neared the drawer, they discovered that the grumpy old sock had a secret passion for baking, and all he wanted was a perfect recipe for sock-shaped cookies."
The story continued to unfold with each student contributing their own twists and turns, leading to an entertaining and unpredictable narrative. The class was filled with laughter as the story took unexpected and whimsical directions.
After the Story Chain game, Mr. Thompson introduced another activity called "Word Jumble." Each student was given a set of scrambled words, and they had to unscramble them to form funny or creative sentences. The students worked in pairs, and Kiddy teamed up with Ammy, while Sam and Lily paired up.
Kiddy and Ammy scrambled to unscramble words like "ecirpyta" and "sretni," eventually forming sentences such as, "The pirates were very curious about the secret treasure."
Sam and Lily, on the other hand, came up with sentences like, "The dancing cats wore magical hats that glittered in the moonlight."
The classroom was filled with laughter as students read their jumbled sentences aloud. Mr. Thompson praised everyone for their creativity and humor, and the students were left with high spirits, having enjoyed a fun and engaging English lesson that brought out their playful sides.
As the final lecture of the day began, the students shuffled into the science classroom, still buzzing from the energetic English class. The science teacher, Mr. Reed, greeted them with a smile and announced that today's lesson would focus on a challenging topic: chemical reactions.
He started by explaining the principles of various reactions, and then introduced a hands-on experiment. The students were divided into small groups, each tasked with conducting a series of experiments to observe different types of reactions.
Ammy, who had always had a keen interest in science, was in a group with Kiddy. As they began setting up their experiment, Ammy quickly took charge, demonstrating a clear understanding of the procedures and the science behind them. Her knowledge and confidence were evident as she accurately explained each step and anticipated potential outcomes.
Kiddy, on the other hand, felt a bit overwhelmed. While he was familiar with the basic concepts, Ammy's expertise made him feel less confident. As she confidently answered questions and led the group through the experiment, Kiddy struggled to keep up. He felt increasingly overshadowed, and despite his efforts to contribute, he couldn't shake the feeling of being outmatched.
Throughout the experiment, Ammy's explanations and enthusiasm drew praise from Mr. Reed, who commended her for her impressive grasp of the subject. Kiddy tried his best to stay engaged and help where he could, but it was hard not to feel overshadowed by Ammy's evident talent and ease with the material.
As the class started wrapping up and the students cleaned up their workstations, Ammy noticed Kiddy's subdued demeanor. She approached him with a supportive smile.
"Hey, Kiddy," she said softly. "I know it was a lot to take in today. If you need any help or want to go over the material together, just let me know."
Kiddy appreciated her offer and gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ammy. I just felt a little out of my depth today. Thanks for the offer I'll take it when I need it."
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Kiddy tried to shake off the lingering feeling of being outmatched. He forced a smile and chatted with his friends as they walked out of the school together. The conversations were light and friendly, but Kiddy couldn't completely rid himself of the nagging sense of inadequacy he felt after the science class.
Despite his best efforts to ignore the feeling, it lingered in the back of his mind. He watched as Ammy, Sam, Lily, and the others chatted animatedly about their day and made plans for after-school activities. He admired their enthusiasm and felt a pang of insecurity about his own abilities.
Determined not to let this feeling define him, Kiddy resolved to focus on his strengths and work on areas where he felt less confident. He reminded himself that everyone has different skills and that he had his own unique qualities. It was important to acknowledge his feelings but not let them hold him back.
As he said goodbye to his friends and headed home, Kiddy made a mental note to spend some extra time reviewing the science material. He was determined to improve and not let a single experience diminish his confidence.
Kiddy took a deep breath and decided to focus on the positive aspects of his day when he spoke with his mother. He forced a cheerful tone as he recounted his experiences.
"It was a pretty good day overall," Kiddy said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "We had a great time in English class with the games and the story chain. It was really fun working on that with everyone."
His mother's eyes lit up. "That sounds wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it. How did the rest of your day go?"
Kiddy nodded, keeping his smile in place. "The math and science classes were okay too. I'm just glad I got to spend time with my friends and have some fun."
His mother smiled, clearly pleased with his positive outlook. "I'm glad to hear you had some enjoyable moments today. It's great that you're making the most of it. If you need any help with your studies or just want to talk, you know I'm here for you."
Kiddy nodded, appreciating her support but keeping his feelings to himself. "Thanks, Mom. I'll definitely let you know if I need anything."
As he joined his mother for dinner, Kiddy focused on enjoying the meal and the comforting atmosphere of home, determined to deal with his challenges privately while maintaining a positive attitude.
After dinner, Kiddy felt a bit more at ease. The comforting routine of being home and his mother's warm presence had helped lift his spirits. Deciding to unwind further, he headed to the bathroom for a relaxing bath.
As the warm water filled the tub, Kiddy let out a contented sigh and slipped in, letting the warmth soothe away the remaining tension from his day. He leaned back, closing his eyes, and began to recall the best moments from his first day back at school.
He thought about the laughter in English class, the fun games with Ammy, Sam, Lily, and the rest of his friends, and the silly story they had created together. A smile crept onto his face as he remembered Ammy's encouraging words and the jokes they shared at lunch. Despite the challenges he had faced, there had been plenty of good moments to cherish.
As the bathwater continued to relax his muscles, Kiddy's worries slowly melted away. He decided that tomorrow would be a new day, full of opportunities to learn and enjoy. With that comforting thought, he drained the tub and wrapped himself in a soft towel.
After his relaxing bath, Kiddy headed to his room, where he found his little sister, Emily, sitting on his bed, playing with one of her stuffed animals. She looked up at him with her big, curious eyes and smiled.
"Brother! How was school today?" she asked in her sweet, eager voice.
Kiddy couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "It was good, Emily. We played some fun games in English class, and I got to see all my friends."
Emily beamed, happy to hear about her big brother's day. "That sounds like so much fun! Did you do any cool experiments in science?"
"Yeah, we did," Kiddy replied, ruffling her hair gently. "We learned about chemical reactions. It was pretty interesting."
Just then, their father walked into the room, leaning against the doorframe with a warm smile. "Hey, Kiddo. Sounds like you had a busy day. Everything okay?"
Kiddy nodded, his mood much lighter now. "Yeah, everything's fine, Dad. I had a good day overall."
His father nodded approvingly. "Good to hear. Remember, if you ever need help with anything, I'm always here."
Kiddy appreciated the support from his father and sister. "Thanks, Dad. I'll keep that in mind."
With Emily heading off to her own room, Kiddy settled into bed, feeling a sense of comfort. As he drifted off to sleep, the day's challenges seemed far away, and he felt surrounded by the warmth of his family's love and support.