Kiddy, despite his tendency to loaf around, invited everyone over, knowing it would help his friends and maybe motivate him to study seriously for once. His mom, Daisy, welcomed the idea, happy to see them working together.
Ammy arrived first, as expected, already armed with her textbooks and a plan. She set up her study materials on the dining table, shooting a determined look at Kiddy. "Today, you're actually going to study, got it?" she said, her voice leaving no room for negotiation.
Kiddy groaned, already sensing that he wouldn't be able to talk his way out of this. "Yeah, yeah, don't worry. I'll study," he muttered, but the grin on his face
suggested otherwise. However, he knew better than to test Ammy's patience, especially with exams right around the corner.
Sam and Lily arrived together, with Sam carrying Lily's books since she had forgotten most of them at home. "You're hopeless, Lily," Sam joked, making Lily pout. She wasn't looking forward to the study, but with Sam there to help, she felt more at ease.
Harry and Mando followed shortly after, with Harry, as usual, ready to tackle any subject, while Mando seemed more interested in just passing. "I'm aiming for a passing grade—nothing fancy," Mando said with a grin, which made the group laugh.
The study session began, with Ammy taking charge from the start. She split everyone into different corners, with Sam helping Lily, Harry guiding Mando, and Kiddy sitting right next to her. Kiddy tried to sneak his phone out a couple of times or make jokes to distract the others, but every time he did, Ammy shot him a stern look, and he immediately went back to his notes.
"Focus, Kiddy. You're not slipping out of this one," Ammy said sharply when she caught him doodling in his notebook instead of solving math problems.
Kiddy let out an exaggerated sigh but picked up his pencil again, not wanting to deal with Ammy's wrath. "Fine, fine. You're really strict, you know that?" he grumbled.
Ammy smirked, shaking her head. "You need it. Otherwise, you'd be napping right now."
The rest of the group watched with amusement as Ammy single-handedly kept Kiddy in check.
Felia, who had shown up later, sat in her usual corner, quietly studying on her own. She didn't need help, and she wasn't one to participate in group study sessions, but she was there more for the group atmosphere than anything. Every now and then, she glanced over at Kiddy, silently amused at how Ammy kept him on a tight leash.
As the study session continued, Ammy quizzed Kiddy on math and science, refusing to let him slack off. Whenever he tried to joke around, she would call him out, and he'd immediately get back to work. "Ammy, you're no fun," Kiddy whined after another failed attempt to distract her, but there was no bite in his words—just a grudging respect for her persistence.
"Someone has to make sure you pass," Ammy replied, not even looking up from her notes.
Despite his usual antics, Kiddy actually started focusing. With Ammy constantly on his case, he found himself working through the material faster than he expected. The others were amazed—especially Lily, who leaned over to Sam and whispered, "Ammy's like Kiddy's tutor."
Sam laughed softly, nodding in agreement. "No one else could get him to actually study like that."
As the group sat around Kiddy's living room, stretching their tired limbs and yawning from hours of intense studying, Daisy, Kiddy's mom, walked in with her usual warm smile. She looked at the group, who were clearly in need of a break, and asked, "So, how's the studying going?"
"Pretty good," Sam said with a tired grin. "But I think we all need a little break."
Lily chimed in, "Yeah, my brain feels fried."
Daisy chuckled and said, "Well, since you're all taking a break anyway, how about playing a little game to relax? I know a fun one!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and the group immediately perked up at the idea of doing something fun.
"What game?" Kiddy asked, already intrigued.
"It's called 'King and Queen,'" Daisy explained. "One person becomes the king or queen, and they pick a partner. Both get immunity, meaning they can't be kicked out of the game. Then, the king or queen gives a challenge to someone. If that person can't do it, they're out."
Everyone seemed interested, except Felia, who hesitated for a moment. She wasn't used to these kinds of games, especially in big groups, but seeing everyone else nod in agreement, she reluctantly agreed to join in.
"Alright, let's play!" Sam said, full of energy again.
Just as they were about to start, the front door opened, and Kiddy's father, Mr. Edward, walked in, looking tired from a long day at work. "I'm home," he called out, loosening his tie as he entered the living room.
Daisy, always quick to include him in everything, smiled brightly and said, "Perfect timing! Why don't you join us in a game, dear?"
Mr. Edward blinked in surprise, looking around at the group of kids and teenagers. "Me? Playing games?" He rubbed the back of his head, clearly flustered by the idea of playing with the kids. "I don't know..."
"Come on, Dad! It'll be fun," Kiddy urged, clearly amused at the idea of his father playing along.
"Yeah, Mr. Edward!" Sam added with a grin. "We won't go easy on you, though."
"Alright, alright," he finally agreed, still a little embarrassed but unable to say no to Daisy and the excited looks from the kids. "I guess I'll join in."
Daisy clapped her hands together. "Great! I'll be the queen first."
Everyone watched with anticipation as Daisy picked her partner. With a mischievous smile, she pointed to her husband. "I choose you, dear."
Mr. Edward, still embarrassed, sighed but smiled back. "Of course, you do."
As the king and queen, they had immunity from the first challenge. Daisy looked around at the group, her eyes finally landing on her son, Kiddy. "Kiddy, your challenge is to clean the entire house for the next week."
Kiddy's jaw dropped. "What?! No way! That's not fair!" he protested, waving his arms dramatically. "This is supposed to be a short game, not a punishment for a whole week!"
The group burst into laughter, while Kiddy's father tried to hold back his own chuckles.
Daisy, still smiling, waved a hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. How about something smaller, then? Just go get us both some water, and we'll call it even."
Relieved, Kiddy nodded. "Now, that's more reasonable." He quickly ran off to get the water, while his friends continued laughing at his exaggerated reaction.
When Kiddy returned with two glasses of water, Daisy gave him a teasing smile. "This is just the start, Kiddy. Don't think you're safe yet."
The game continued with the next round, and everyone was eager to see who would become the next king or queen.
After Kiddy's mom laid down the rule about choosing a partner of the opposite gender, Harry hesitated for a moment, unsure. He had originally planned to choose Mando as his partner, but with Daisy's mischievous smile and the new rule, he looked around at the group.
"Uh... okay then," Harry muttered, scratching the back of his head before finally deciding, "I choose… Ammy."
With Harry and Ammy now immune from being eliminated, the next step was to decide who would be challenged. Ammy's eyes darted to Kiddy, a mischievous glint appearing in them. Without hesitation, she pointed directly at him.
"Kiddy," she declared, her smirk widening, "your challenge is to get me and Harry some water."
Kiddy stared at her, incredulous. "Again?! What is with you and needing water? I just did that for Mom!"
The group burst into laughter at his bewildered expression. Even Kiddy's dad let out a hearty chuckle from where he was sitting next to Daisy. Meanwhile, Ammy shrugged casually, clearly enjoying her moment of power.
"Hey, hydration is important," Ammy said with a mock-serious tone. "Now go on, servant."
Kiddy rolled his eyes but couldn't help laughing as well. "Fine, fine, but this is the last time, okay?" He trudged off to the kitchen yet again, muttering under his breath, "Why is it always me?"
As Kiddy left the room, Sam leaned over to Harry and whispered, "Well played, dude. You made the right choice with Ammy."
Harry, chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it worked out."
When Kiddy returned with two glasses of water, he handed them to Ammy and Harry with exaggerated flair. "Here you go, your royal highnesses. Hope you're both very refreshed now."
Ammy gave him a smug smile. "Perfect. You've done well. Maybe I'll go easy on you next time."
"Yeah, sure you will," Kiddy shot back, playfully narrowing his eyes at her.
Next, Sam became the king, a devilish grin spreading across his face as he turned toward the group. Without hesitation, he chose Lily as his partner.
The group sensed something coming, and Kiddy's face dropped immediately. He already knew what was about to happen. Groaning, Kiddy stood up just as Sam, in a grand, dramatic tone, said, "Kiddy, bring us water."
Frustrated but resigned, Kiddy rushed off to the kitchen once again, the group erupting in laughter as he disappeared. A moment later, he returned with two glasses of water. He gently handed one to Lily with a forced smile, then turned to Sam with a different attitude. Kiddy slammed the second glass into Sam's hand, making sure he noticed the difference.
Sam, amused by the gesture, chuckled and said, "Hey, I'm the king here!"
Kiddy, in a sarcastic tone, replied, "Sorry, your majesty. Your servant apologizes," and gave a dramatic bow, making everyone laugh even harder.
With the room filled with laughter, Kiddy sat back down, pouting as the group continued to tease him. Despite his frustration, he couldn't help but smile a little as the game went on.
Next, it was Mando's turn to become king, and as soon as he claimed the title, Kiddy, still frustrated from his endless water-fetching, groaned, "I also want to be king!"
Mando chuckled at Kiddy's outburst but didn't indulge him. Instead, he turned to the group and chose Lily as his partner. The two immediately began whispering, plotting their next challenge, while Kiddy, sitting in the corner, desperately tried not to make eye contact, hoping he wouldn't be picked this time.
Lily whispered a suggestion. Mando's eyes lit up, and with a nod, he stood up and grinned at the group. "Alright, for this round, Felia is up for the challenge."
Felia, who had been sitting quietly, raised her eyebrows in surprise and shot up from her seat, startling everyone into a chuckle. She looked around the room in disbelief, clearly not expecting to be chosen.
Mando grinned and said, "Felia, your challenge is... to do a backflip."
Felia's eyes widened as she turned to Lily, who gave her an innocent yet mischievous smile. Felia immediately glared at her friend, silently communicating her frustration through a sharp look. Of course, Lily had remembered Felia's gymnastics days back in middle school, and now she was paying the price for her friend's inside knowledge.
The group watched with anticipation, waiting for Felia's move. Though slightly embarrassed, Felia sighed and stood up, brushing off the nerves. She took a deep breath, gathering her focus, and with a graceful movement, executed a clean backflip.
The room erupted into cheers and applause, with everyone impressed by her unexpected skill. Felia sat down quickly, her face flushing as she blushed from the attention, but she couldn't help but smile at the praise.
Meanwhile, Kiddy sat back, pouting again. He grumbled under his breath, "When am I finally going to be king?"
The game continued, the laughter and lighthearted challenges filling the room, with Kiddy still waiting for his turn to seize the crown.
As the game continued, Kiddy's frustration grew with each passing round. He had been running around fetching water and completing challenges for what felt like forever. After being called upon for the third time to fetch water, he slumped back into his seat, quietly grumbling to himself.
"I'm not losing this game... No way. I'll win this, no matter what," he whispered under his breath, determined not to be the next one out.
Meanwhile, the first elimination happened when Mando couldn't complete a math problem challenge posed by Ammy and Daisy. Mando stared at the paper, trying his best, but ultimately admitted defeat. "I guess math wasn't my strong suit," he said with a chuckle before taking a seat with a grin, officially out of the game.
As the game went on, after two more rounds, Sam was eliminated. He had teamed up with Ammy and Daisy for a challenge, but their tricky tongue-twister proved too much for him. Sam fumbled through the words before giving up, laughing at his defeat as he joined Mando on the sidelines.
With two eliminations, the tension in the room rose. Everyone was wary of the formidable duo of Ammy and Daisy, knowing that no one was safe from their clever challenges. Kiddy, however, was boiling with determination.
Just then, Kiddy's father, who had been watching the game unfold from the side, leaned in with a curious smile. "Hey, is Ammy your best friend?"
Kiddy, slightly caught off guard, nodded. "Yeah."
His father chuckled, glancing at Ammy, who was busy plotting her next challenge. "She reminds me of your mother when she was young."
Kiddy looked surprised. "Really?"
"Yep," his father said with a nostalgic smile. "Your mom didn't like studying much, but she was clever. Always found a way to get things done."
Kiddy couldn't help but smile at the comparison. He glanced at his mother, who was laughing with Ammy over another challenge, and then back at his dad. It was a strange thought, but somehow it made sense.
As the game continued, Kiddy straightened up, his frustration transforming into fierce determination.
Kiddy finally grinned as he became the king. After being teased and running around for what felt like forever, it was his turn to take control. His devilish smile made everyone suspicious of what he might do next. He was happy but also calculating, looking around the room for the perfect partner.
His gaze fell on Felia, who had been quietly participating but not making much of a
fuss. "Felia," he called, "you're my partner."
Felia, a bit surprised, stood up and joined him. They huddled together, whispering plans to shake things up. Kiddy, eager to cause some mischief, came up with a bold idea to get two people out at once.
"Alright," Kiddy said with a smirk. "This challenge is for Dad. You have to lift Mom for 10 minutes while the game continues."
His father, caught off guard, quickly protested. "What? That's ridiculous!"
Kiddy, grinning even wider, taunted him, "Oh, what's wrong, Dad? Can't lift Mom? Are you not strong enough?"
That did it. His father, now enraged by the challenge, stood up, eyes blazing. "I'll show you who's strong enough!" he growled.
With Daisy blushing in surprise, Kiddy's dad scooped her up in his arms, much to everyone's amusement. Daisy, although embarrassed, couldn't help but laugh as her husband carried her.
The game continued, but Kiddy wasn't done yet. To everyone's shock, he managed to become king three more times in a row. Each time, he plotted to take out more of his friends. First, he eliminated Harry by making him solve a tricky riddle within 30 seconds. Then, Lily was sent packing after failing to do 20 push-ups in a row. Finally, Kiddy's biggest challenge was aimed at Ammy.
Ammy, knowing Kiddy too well, was ready for a challenge, but Kiddy pulled a fast one on her, challenging her to balance a book on her head while hopping on one leg. She
tried her best but wobbled, and with a laugh, she too was out.
As Kiddy's father continued holding Daisy, who was laughing softly in his arms, the 10 minutes finally passed. Everyone watched in amazement as Kiddy stood victorious after eliminating three players in a row.
Now, only a few players remained, and the final round of the game was about to start. Kiddy's grin grew wider as he prepared for what could be his ultimate victory, determined to win the game once and for all.
As the final round began, Daisy stepped forward with a smirk. "Alright, here's the last challenge. Each team of king and queen will have to give one last challenge to the other team. If a team fails, they lose. The other team wins."
Kiddy grinned mischievously. "Our challenge," Kiddy announced, "is for you two to find five things that I've hidden around the house."
Daisy raised an eyebrow. "When did you even hide them?"
Kiddy, still smirking, replied, "When I went to get waters for everyone. That's when I hid them."
Everyone, including his parents, was shocked by Kiddy's cleverness. While Daisy and Edward were still processing, Daisy threw her own challenge at Kiddy and Felia.
"Your challenge," Daisy said with a grin, "is to solve this riddle by the time we find the five things: 'I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?'"
The game began. Kiddy's parents immediately started searching for the hidden items, while Kiddy and Felia focused on solving the riddle. As they tossed ideas back and forth, suddenly, Ammy gasped.
Kiddy turned to her. "What? What happened?"
With a sly grin, Ammy whispered, "I found the answer!"
Before Kiddy could react, Daisy quickly interrupted, "No cheating, Kiddy!"
Frustrated but determined, Kiddy and Felia had to continue searching for the answer on their own. Meanwhile, Daisy and Edward had already found two of the hidden items, sending Kiddy's team into a panic.
Daisy triumphantly held up another item, leaving just two more to find. Kiddy, although feeling the pressure, took a deep breath and thought things through. As he glanced around the living room, something caught his eye — a family photo from one of their hiking trips. In the photo, they were holding a map.
Kiddy's eyes lit up. That was it!
Grinning widely, Kiddy turned to the group and announced, "The answer to the riddle is a map!"
Everyone went silent for a moment, shocked by Kiddy's sudden comeback. Daisy and Edward, still holding their found items, accepted their defeat with a chuckle.
"Well," Daisy said with a smile, "it looks like we've lost. Good job, Kiddy. You and Felia win."
Edward nodded, clearly impressed. "You're a clever one, just like your mother."
Kiddy beamed with pride, and the group cheered for him and Felia. Daisy then said, "Alright, you guys enjoy the snacks, and make sure you study later."
Everyone laughed and relaxed, enjoying the break before they got back to their study session, grateful for the fun distraction.
After the study session ended, everyone started to leave, congratulating Kiddy for his unexpected victory. First to head out were Sam, Lily, and Felia. Sam gave Kiddy a pat on the back, saying, "Nice comeback, Kiddy!" Felia, on the other hand, was busy playfully scolding Lily for revealing her gymnastics secret earlier. They all said their goodbyes to Kiddy and headed out.
Not long after, Harry and Mando followed. As they left, Harry smiled and said, "You and Felia made a great team today, man." His words made Kiddy pause for a moment, realizing that he had picked Felia as his partner in every round without even thinking about it. His face flushed slightly as the thought lingered, and he quickly shook it off. Meanwhile, Ammy, who had been quietly observing, felt a tinge of jealousy toward Felia but hid it well.
With everyone gone, only Kiddy and Ammy remained. They chatted casually about their studies and other shared interests, enjoying each other's company as the sun began to set. As a few minutes passed, Ammy stood up, stretching. "I should get going," she said.
Kiddy's mom, Daisy, overheard and quickly chimed in. "I'll drop you off, Ammy. I need to get groceries with Edward anyway."
Grateful, Ammy agreed, and soon enough, they were on their way to her house. When they arrived, Daisy and Edward stepped inside for a brief chat with Ammy's parents. That's when Ammy learned something surprising: her parents and Kiddy's parents were childhood friends! The revelation left Ammy momentarily speechless, as she'd never known about their deep connection.
Before leaving, Daisy smiled at Ammy and said, "Make sure to take good care of our energetic brat, okay?"
Edward nodded in agreement with a chuckle, and Ammy, still processing the surprise, waved them off. As they drove away, Ammy stood there, a smile creeping onto her face, happy with how the day had turned out.
Meanwhile, back at Kiddy's house, he replayed the day's events in his mind. Everyone was happy, and they were all ready for the upcoming exams.