“Wait, are you seeing our schedule?” Lylith gawked, refusing to accept what she saw.

“What the f- what the fuck is this?” Rylan replied in shock, staring.

Language and Literature - Wing A, floor three, room eight. Science and biology - Wing B, floor two, room twelve.

“Who approved of our schedule? Who thought this was a good idea? Our classes are on the opposite ends of the school!” Lylith exclaimed, her right eye twitching ever so slightly.

Meanwhile, David was silent behind the bewildered duo, a hidden scowl on his face. It was soon replaced by the most predatory grin ever to not be seen, as he whispered, “You poultry Scheiße.”

Rylan and Lylith both turned their heads to David as they heard him mutter. “You good bro?” The American said with an eyebrow raised. The New German simply shook his head in response.

“I bet this is the headmaster’s doing. Well - if he wants to play games with us, we’ll play. And, one way or another, we’re going to dominate in the end.” David said stiffly, his hands balled into trembling fists.

Lylith just sighed, shaking her head. “Let’s not...jump to conclusions just yet. I mean, we don’t have any real evidence that he did this on purpose. Plus, even if this is him, he can’t really do anything to us besides making our lives more annoying, right?”

Rylan snorted. “Don’t jinx us. Please.”

“Don’t worry guys, I’m sure nothing will happen, as the authors of the story we’re in are kind and merciful people,” David mumbled, suddenly turning to face nothing.

“What was that David?” Rylan asked, perplexed.

David turned back around. “Oh, it was nothing.” He said.

Rylan and Lylith looked at each other in confusion, before deciding to ignore the odd moment. “Well, what are we going to do with that?” Lylith said a few moments later, gesturing towards the pile of broken chair parts.

“I-uhh...oh, there! There’s a garbage chute.” Rylan said, spotting it.

Walking over to the waste disposal chute, he pulled its handle to open it.

As the three of them began disposing of the chair bits, Rylan paused.

“Hey, David - I think you might be able to fit in there. Why don’t we test it ou-” Rylan yelped as David punched him in the arm.

“Alright, alright! I was just kidding!” Rylan said, rubbing the side of his offended appendage gingerly.

“But seriously, it looks like you can fit inside ther-” Rylan barely dodged David’s punch, dashing off while laughing as the smaller boy pursued.

- - -

Thomas and Javqua entered Mr. Acinterin’s class. Most of the other students were already there, and so was Mr. Acinterin himself - preparing his biology lesson.

Today’s lesson was, unfortunately, one of the more boring ones, but that was fine.

Since there was a little time before class started, Thomas decided to start a conversation. “Javqua.” He said quietly.

“What?” Javqua said, turning to face him.

“I think we should’ve made a group chat with the others. You know, so we can communicate throughout the day, and share in-” Thomas stopped talking to turn as he heard shouting coming from the halls.

“I TOLD YOU WING A WAS TO THE LEFT!” A human voice shouted, reaching a volume and pitch only obtainable by an enraged female.

“YOU CONFUSED ME WHEN YOU SAID THAT WE’RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FUCKING BUILDING!” A pissed Rylan screamed as he and Lylith sprinted by, seen through the open classroom door.

Before Thomas could question where David was, the German came sliding into view on his belly, having seemingly tripped.

“RYLAN, PICK UP DAVID, CARRY HIM FOR ALL I CARE! WE’RE GOING TO BE LATE ON OUR FIRST DAY!” Lylith screamed.

Thomas, Javqua, and the rest of their class gawked as Rylan did just that, picking up a struggling and cursing David before continuing his run.

There was a stunned silence before Javqua broke it. “O…kay. Well, that just happened. You think they’ll be fine?” She asked Thomas.

“Oh, they'll be fiiine.” Thomas chuckled with a grin.

- - -

Lylith and Rylan continued running, getting more and more dishevelled as they did so. Their new uniforms had been ruffled already, and their hair wasn’t looking much better.

“T-three minutes,” Lylith wheezed, as the three of them turned a corner. “T-thr-..two minutes left!” She gasped.

They spotted their classroom, room eight, at the end of the hall - it was so close, and yet so far.

Lylith reached it first, unburdened by the weight of another human being. Only to see...a closed door?

“WHAT?!” She seethed, eyes seemingly going red as she rattled the door handle to no avail.

“You’re late.” A smug voice said on the opposite side of the door. “I don’t tolerate lateness in my class-”

“We’re not! There’s one minute left!” Lylith spat. This wasn’t at all she wanted her new school year to start. Being late on the first day - wearing messy clothes - being seen screaming and running down the halls-

“Actually, according to my implant, it’s already reached-”

“OUT OF THE WAY!” Lylith turned just in time to see Rylan careening towards her, David thrashing around in his arms.

The New German finally broke out of Rylan’s grasp - only to slide at a high speed on the smooth floor, and ram right into the door.

Lylith and Rylan watched in equal parts horror and awe as the door crumpled from David’s impact, snapping off its hinges and landing with a heavy thud.

Meanwhile, David face-planted onto the door on the ground, before quickly picking himself up with a little jump, like a spring.

After a pause, Lylith and Rylan decided to timidly walk through the desecrated doorway. There, they saw their new classmates flabbergasted at what had just happened.

Looking over at their dipshit teacher who had locked them out, they saw the Magistra sitting on the ground, with ruffled feathers and an open beak - understandably shocked.

“Is he-” Lylith turned to Rylan and David. “Is he okay?” She asked quietly, and David shrugged.

“Sorry we’re late - it won't happen again.” Rylan apologized with a grin, as he walked over to his seat, carefully sitting down so as not to pull a David.

- - -

Thomas and Javqua were talking and eating where they usually sat in the cafeteria when Rylan, Lylith and David joined them.

“How was your first day of school?” Javqua asked. She noticed them look at each other with slight smiles on their faces, whispering something she couldn’t hear.

“Well...I’d say it went alright. The only issue was when our jackass teacher locked us out of the class for supposedly being late, and David broke down the door.” Rylan said.

“What? How did that happen?” Thomas asked, his eyebrow raised, and Lylith only grunted in response.

“It’s because we got lost in the hallways. Because someone gave us bad directions!” She looked at Rylan, who scoffed.

“Okay - you’re the one who-” Rylan took a deep breath, before letting it out slowly.

“I said I was sorry.” He said, arms crossed, and Lylith opened her mouth to speak, before closing it.

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s just...never have to use David as a battering ram again.” Everyone laughed at her words, the tension at the table gone.

David himself gave a little thumbs-up, muffled laughter coming from beneath his mask.

Thomas turned to Javqua, watching her laugh with the others.

He could tell that, just like him, she felt at ease around their new friends.

For just a moment, Thomas wondered if they’d have become friends without the headmaster’s antics uniting them. What am I thinking? Of course we would. He smiled.