“Hey Takashi, are you excited for the first day?” Its plain to see the answer but I ask him anyways.

“Yah! I’m so excited me, you and Rei are all going to the same school! We will get to hang out together like all day and make new friends that go along with us!” aww that’s a cute little food source. Yes, you are.

“Let’s go meet Rei and her parents out front. Best to not be late to our first day.” Takashi gives me a bit of a blank look after my comment probably not fully comprehending what I said. -sigh-.

“Um I’ll race you to Rei?” I still have difficulties acting my age sometimes. It’s been a constant struggle but I feel like once I get older I should be able to pass it off as just being a genius or something.

We break out into a sprint racing towards the stairs and running down to meet them.

“REI REI LOOK I WON!” Takashi ‘won’ the race of course. Despite my skill helping out I’m still a bit malnourished and I want to keep him nice and happy about being around me, so I let him win at things sometimes even in board games and stuff.

“AWWESOME!” Rei is a bit taller than both of us. Girls grow a bit faster than boys so it makes sense. She has long orange hair and brown eyes. She looks at Takashi with a glimmer in her eyes like the whole world around them is gone and its just them. Aw young love uh maybe a bit too young.

“Nice going Takashi! I’ll beat you next time” I encourage him a bit

“Ha na that’s what you say every time slow poke! Let’s get to class.” He takes off and jumps into the car with Mr.miyamoto

“haha Alright everyone let’s get there nice and early I’ll be around to pick you all up after class is done. You two boys make sure Rei isnt picked on you hear?” Mr.miyamoto gives a look at us. I nod while Takashi just looks lost at the idea of someone picking on Rei.

We spend the time on the way to school talking about hanging out and playing together again and how we think school will be. I obviously don’t crush their spirits by telling them the truth of it so I just spout some random things out to keep them happy.

“I bet we will make like a bijillion friends” I say. That’s something kids say right?

“YEAH LIKE LIKE A BIJILLION MILLION” follows Takashi

“umm but I don’t want a bijjilion I just want Takashi…” Rei quietly says after our Takashi’s outburst.

“That’s fine too” I smile, gotta play both sides to make sure both still like me and to secure that ice cream her dad promised us after school today. I’ll make sure to save some for mom.

We make it to school and have a fairly average day. I surprise my teacher when I display my ability to read, write and do math at a level far above what I should be able to. I spend most of the day just reading my book in the classroom. It’s a book from the library about introductory biology. I got interested since this world has so many different eye and hair colors, I was curious if there was anything else different. Then I realized I didn’t really know enough about biology in my old world to understand whats different about this one but the interest still remained.

“Class dismissed, Ikami please stay here for a moment” My teacher a middle-aged lady with a bright smile and giant chest with a dark unnaturally red color. It seems like a lot of people in this world are either flat or busty beyond reason. No real in between maybe its related to hair color?

“We will wait for you out here Haru!” Rei and Takashi go outside to play while they wait for me to finish up here.

“Yes teacher, what can I help you with.” I politely bow and wait for her.

“That! Its this behavior which confuses me? Did you receive previous lessons before coming here Ikami? I noticed you spent a great deal of time reading in class you are also much more mature than the rest of the students here.” She leans down to look me in the eye and I have to look up a bit to avoid looking down her shirt.

“No teacher, I learned everything from books. I enjoy reading and studying and want to do the best for my mom.”

“Hmm okay, well I don’t exactly know what to do with you since you’re not going to learn much this year or the next several at this school. So, I’ll have to talk with some of the other teachers about this. But for now, I’d like you to tell your parents that they may need to come in and talk to the principal about possibly changing you to a more advanced school curriculum.”

I get a bit nervous at this, as I understand it a lot of those more advanced curriculums cost money.

“Um I’m sorry teacher but I only have a mom… We are also not very well off so I don’t know if we can afford a private school.” I look down at my feet now slightly embarrassed about my social standing.

“Ahhh that’s a real shame we should still talk to your mother about possibilities and see if we can’t find something to help you out. We don’t want to waste a potential student when your clearly already ahead of your peers.” She pouts a bit and stomps her foot childishly. What is with adults in this world acting a bit like kids?

“Thank you for your concern teacher. If that is all I will be on my way” I make to walk away before I’m stopped once again.

“This is the book you were reading the whole class?” The teacher finally noticed what I was reading.

“Yes teacher, introductory biology. Its an old book outdated so it can be checked out from the library.”

“Gosh I read that book in graduate school, how about this I will bring a bunch of my old books for you to read in class from now on until we figure out something to do with your schooling situation how does that sound?”

I look up at her and put on my best fake smile “That sounds wonderful teacher. I have a great interest in studying a lot of subjects!”

“You’re not a normal kid -sigh- but that’s for the best honestly. Off you go your friends are waiting for you still.” I get shewed away. At least now I’ll have access to more books instead of one at a time that can only be changed out on Thursdays when mom has some time off work to bring me to the library.

I go outside the room only to be met with Takashi yelling about ice cream and doing a little happy dance while Rei watches a bit embarrassed and inching away from him. I join him in his happy dance copying his moves.

Later that night

“Goodbye Mr.Miamoto thank you for taking me to class!” I bow to him careful to hold my now slightly melted ice cream in a paper/plastic container.

“Goodbye Takashi and Haru! Be good! I’ll know if you aren’t!” He drives off half undressed from his police uniform. Enough that its not a violation to wear it in public while not on duty.

We trod up to our rooms I go to my apartment and neatly deposit my ice cream into the freezer. I take a bit of a nap so I can be awake when mom gets back.

I’m woken up by mom trying to gently carry me to bed, but I can hear her grunting in effort.

“Nuuu mom”

“Honey its time for bed.” Shes obviously very tired from work.

“But mom I got you somethin.” Still not fully awake I mumble a bit.

“That’s nice dear but I just got home and I’m very tired, I’ll look at your drawings in the morning okay sweetie.”

“I got you some ice cream, its in the fridge. I know you havnt had any in a long time…” I’m now carrying myself to our bed.

“That’s sweet dear but that’s your ice cream you, takashi and Rei went out with that Saya girl its better if you enjoy it.” Mom caresses my head as we cuddle up together.

“But mom I already had some I want you to have the rest.”

“Hmm fine I’ll have some in the morning if you split it with me.” Ahh stubborn to the end. That’s why I only took ate two bites since I knew I’d need to compromise with her on splitting letting her have more.

“deal” I start to doze off in her embrace in our small one-bedroom apartment we only have one bed but I’m still of the age its not weird yet.

The next morning

“Haru, how much ice cream did you have if this is the leftovers from yesterday?” Mom asks shocked at how much is in the container. Probably not expecting me to have enough self-control to not eat sweets when she never really gets them except for my birthday.

“A lot that’s why I wanted you to have the rest. My tummy hurt after eating it too much.” A lie but I want mom to enjoy it a little bit too.

“Hmm we can save it for your birthday that’s coming up…” wistfully looking at the ice cream. But trying to find a reason to not eat it.

“Noo you should have it. You work hard and you always get me books and make me eat the last of the dinner.”

“-tch- fine I’ll eat the rest of it. -sigh- why are you so stubborn about these things most kids would eat it up without another thought.” Mom gets a spoonful for herself with a wry smile.

“Oh, that reminds me my teacher says she needs to set up an appointment for you with the principle.”

“Oh? Haru what did you do? It’s only been one day.” She looks mildly disappointed while looking at me.

“Mom its nothing like that I’m more advanced than the other students and she was worried about wasting my time in that class.”

“OH! That’s much better than what I was expecting, my little genius.” she rubs my head with her skinny arms.

“I’m free on Thursdays as long as your okay with no library visit. But this sounds important.”

“Speaking of library visits my teacher said she can bring me some books until my schooling situation is handled.” I smile up at her. That’s one less thing to bug her about.

“Oh, that’s great honey, I know you finish them too quickly to make them last each week I’m glad you have another source of books until then.” she smiles warmly at me with a small bowl of ice cream slowly getting chipped away as she makes sure I’m watching each time she takes a bite.

“So, I’ll let her know when you’re available. I hope it works out that I can get a scholarship or something for higher learning or skip grades. But I want to stay near Takashi, Rei and Saya if possible.” I spent a great deal of effort buttering up to them and I don’t want to restart. Besides Saya is rich with deep political ties I don’t want to burn that bridge.

“Aw dear don’t worry we wont be leaving here for a long time so even if you go to another school you two can still hang out as friends!” She looks a bit sad at the mention of not moving for a long time.

“Okay mom! Have fun at work today I’ll have to leave soon I love you!” we finish up and mom packs away the rest of the ice cream. Her hands slightly shaky as she’s putting it away.