Chapter Text
The students had begun returning to school, and with them, the teachers also returned to their work in preparation for the start of a new academic year. As usual, teachers began their duties two weeks before the students in order to prepare their classrooms, make sure everything was in its proper place, and review and organize the students’ schedules.
There had been a previous attempt to let students organize their own schedules, but the experiment didn’t survive even a single week before chaos took over. The system was quickly canceled, and Builderman—being the school principal—became solely responsible for arranging every student’s schedule himself. When the task had been left to the teachers or the student council, the students flooded them with requests, changes, and constant complaints, making it impossible to manage.
But this annoying responsibility had an unexpected upside: Builderman began to know his students by name, which improved his relationship with them and raised his reputation as a “caring” principal, as they described him. The students’ complaints disappeared… though things weren’t nearly as smooth for the teachers.
---
There was only one week left before the students returned to school, so everyone was reviewing what they had.
While Mr. Dusekkar was looking over the schedules, he frowned at the paper in front of him and said:
“Well, I’m not saying I doubt your choices… but Noli and Sven? Together? In history class?”
The two of them were a constant source of concern—so much so that the teachers ignored the rest of the students’ schedules and focused solely on keeping those two separated throughout the day. But history was an intensive subject for the third years, and it ended up placing them in the same period.
Builderman sighed, took off his helmet, and set it on the desk. He flipped through the two schedules he had already memorized by heart, as if something might suddenly change… then let out a defeated laugh and said:
“I’m sorry, Matt, truly. I can’t change this for at least a month. The students already received their schedules, and I can’t make changes for them without doing the same for everyone else. That would be unfair. I wish you the best of luck with those two.”
Dusekkar lifted his glasses and adjusted them with his free hand as he exhaled:
“Oh, of course you will. And you absolutely should… because I’m going to need it.”
---
The students didn’t know what had happened in the administration office. They didn’t hear Builderman’s resigned laugh or Dusekkar’s complaints.
All they received was a neatly printed schedule and a strange feeling that things were more carefully arranged than usual.
A few days later, the school announced that the year would begin on time. It wasn’t exactly an exciting event… except for those who looked forward to chaos, since their school was never free of it. Still, everyone had someone they wanted to check on—that’s what brought them to this moment, gathered in one of the least-used hallways of the school.
Their main reason for gathering was to compare schedules and see who would be with whom… which immediately revealed that Noli and Sven were together, to the point that both of them fell silent—something extremely rare—to make sure it wasn’t a mistake from the administration.
Aside from that, everything was normal. Azure and Two Time were always placed together in their classes ever since middle school, as if Builderman did it on purpose. Unfortunately, Chance was lucky enough to share only one class with Elliot.
“Seriously? Noli and Sven get a class together, and me and my delivery boy only get one?” Chance complained as he looked at the paper.
“And who exactly is your ‘delivery boy’ supposed to be?” Elliot questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, don’t be jealous, sunglasses boy… It’s our first class together since freshman year. Let us enjoy it in peace.” Noli muttered with a grin as he looked at his schedule. One class with Sven… what a blessing!
Sure, he had skipped history classes in his second year, but now? He’d attend them regularly. Unless Sven skipped them too, of course.
“I… actually might go see Builderman. There’s no way he put us in the same class, right?” Sven said as he rubbed the back of his neck with his claws, then turned to Noli.
Noli thought for a moment, then shrugged with a smile:
“If he made a mistake putting us together… let’s not tell him. Keep it a secret. It’s the best mistake ever made, and this is just the beginning of this damned ye—”
Before Noli could finish, someone interrupted him.
“And we should also welcome our dear Noob and Guest on their first year of high school, and may Spawn bless our school year together.” Two Time interrupted, reminding them of one of the younger members of their group.
“By the way… who volunteered to help Noob find their math class? They have no idea how the high-school building works…” Chance asked, waiting for someone to answer.
…
“Well, didn’t Azure do it? Didn’t he say he’d help Guest too?” Noli said while taking out his phone to check the group chat.
Elliot answered, “No, Azure offered to help Noob only. Guest will be with Tab in sessions with the school specialist for the entire first week.”
“A school specialist? Why do they need a whole week with them?” Sven sighed as he locked his device after saving his schedule.
“It’s just to avoid last year’s problem, you know? When their grades dropped in almost all subjects because they wouldn’t talk. Their teacher insisted they were staying silent on purpose and not because of any health issue. So… yeah.”
“I’m shocked Builderman hasn’t fired him yet,” Chance commented. Their principal never tolerated any mistreatment toward students, especially when the teacher was clearly at fault, but he was also fair enough not to punish anyone without evidence.
“Perhaps Spawn kept him there for a wisdom we cannot reach… for the ways of Spawn are not easily understood,” Two Time muttered, their smile trembling nervously.
“Someone is still mad because that same teacher yelled at their partner,” Noli said, rolling his eyes.
“They’re not actually my partn—”
“No, we’re not starting that argument again. Let’s go to class.” Sven cut them off.
---
Walking with Noob was oddly comforting. Azure usually avoided Two Time’s circle of friends, yet he always ended up being literally dragged to sit with them.
So when the Freshman asked if anyone could help them find their classrooms—and with the others taking too long to reply—Azure decided to volunteer despite his hesitation. He normally avoided them because of their terrifying social energy during parties… but now? He wasn’t sure the picture he had drawn of the kid matched the person walking beside him.
“So…” Noob clasped their hands together. “How’s everything going with the school garden? I mean… after the break, it might’ve wilted a bit or grown weeds?”
Their voice trembled slightly as they looked up at the older student.
Azure paused for a moment, then said:
“I checked it this morning before coming. There were some weeds… I might remove them during lunch or after school.”
“Really? I’m in the dorms too! If it’s too much for you, I can help… I know some basics about flowers—if you don’t mind, of course!” Noob said, excitement fading awkwardly.
Noob had never seen Azure walk with anyone besides Two Time. And Two Time was a very quiet person. Yes… sometimes scary, and many students avoided them because of their unstable devotion to Spawn, but they were still relatively calm.
So when the group invited Azure to sit with them (or rather dragged and forced him)—Noob was already worried. Being a quiet person with a small circle and suddenly joining a loud, chaotic group? Terrifying.
But it seemed Azure was getting along with them… or at least with some of them.
“Of course… but maybe it’ll become a group effort if Two Time is free.”
“Oh really then! That would be great… the more the better.”
“And if Guest can come, even better,” Azure added, thinking Noob wouldn’t want to feel like a third wheel.
“Ah, alright then! I’ll ask Sixer and let you know what they say.”
“I’ll keep an eye on my phone then,” Azure said with a small nod as the classroom finally appeared in front of them. “Here it is.”
“Yeah, I noticed… and I’ll be with Sixer in most of them, so I’ll be fine! Thank you so much for the help, I didn’t expect anyone to respond at 3 a.m…” Noob said, scratching their neck shyly.
“I see… and you can ask for help any time you need it.” Azure said as he gently patted the younger student’s head.
“O-Of course! I’ll head inside now!” Noob said quickly, flustered, and slipped into the classroom.
…
Azure looked down at his hand in long silence.
“…Why did I even do that?”