A few more weeks passed, and before anyone knew it, the announcement for who would qualify for the internship would be taking place tomorrow. Caramel had worked hard, and her grades were over the top! Everything was falling into place after grueling months of suffering under Connie's harsh treatment. On top of that, the cruel schoolgirl's grades were dropping, leaving her in the dust, where she was sure not to be picked.

However, as Caramel and Hori were headed into the dorm on the last night before the assembly, Connie walked by, smiling ear-to-ear.

"Ah, tomorrow is going to be a GREAT day!" she beamed. "No classes, no worries, and best of all, I'm FINALLY going to be leaving this stinking school behind to reach for the stars at BPS!"

"Why's SHE so happy?" Hori sniffed. "I thought her grades were TANKING."

"Well, at least she's not bothering us," Caramel put in, relieved Connie was in too much of a good mood to bully her. But Hori wasn't biting. She knew too well that ever since Caramel came to school, when Connie was in a non-blistering mood, it meant she had something plotted.

Brow knitting in suspicion, Hori dismissed herself from Caramel's presence and followed the black-haired girl. She seemed to be speaking to one of her cronies, a boy with white, red, green, and yellow hair and grayish blue eyes.

"Make sure no one follows you on the way there," Connie seemed to be instructing him. "When you find the file C. Charlatte, take the report card you find inside and switch it with MY grades."

"Connie, this isn't right," the boy objected. "If I get caught, they'll expel me!"

"Not my problem >:T. If you don't want to end up like the LAST guy that opposed me when dealing with that brat, you'd better shut up and do as you're told."

"...I swear, if I find a teacher on my way there--"

"Oh-ho, don't think that THEY can save you. I've got eyes all around. One glimpse and you're FINISHED. You get me?"

"...Yes,"

"Good boy. Now, back to bed. And set your alarm clock. Woe betide you if you oversleep tonight."

With a haughty sniff, Connie sashayed back to the girl's dorm. Hori stayed hidden until she was gone, then ran up to the boy she had threatened. "Ant, you shouldn't do this!" she protested. "Caramel worked so hard, this isn't fair!"

"I know it's not," the boy, supposedly called Ant, moaned. "But what choice do I have? I don't want to end up like Dempi. And if Connie doesn't find switched files, I WILL end up like him!"

Hori thought for a moment. She then heaved a sigh and turned back to Ant. "Don't worry. There WILL be a switch. Just...not with the files you were ordered with."

"What do you mean?"

***

Caramel sat in the auditorium, fidgeting nervously. Today was the day internships were going to be announced. The three had just left from their final exams, and were now waiting with anticipation for the headmaster to come up and announce who would be heading to the BPS tower and living in the city for a year next week.

"Remember, it's okay if you don't get it this year," Hori assured Caramel. "You have 3 more years to try before falling onto your backup plan."

"Yeah," Nitroz agreed. "Plus, it means we'd have more time to hang out together and improve!"

Caramel nodded absentmindedly at her friend's comforting words, not tearing her eyes off the stage. She was so incredibly anxious; all her efforts had led up to this one moment. She didn't want to write back to the Ninja Twins that she had to try again next year. She knew freshmen didn't usually have high enough grades anyways, but she hoped hers would be enough nonetheless.

At last, the headmaster stepped onto the stage, causing the students to quiet down. Caramel had never met him, but he knew he was an eagle, formerly one of the head BPS figures themselves, but retired to become headmaster of the school.

"Before I read off the lucky students for this year's BPS internships, I want to congratulate everyone on their hard work this semester," Eagle Empire said. "Thank you all for your hard efforts, and it's time to see who's have paid off."

"Will this guy just shut up and start reading?!" Caramel inwardly begged. "I don't know how much more tension and dread I can take before I snap!"

"Speaking of effort, I'm happy to announce that the freshmen, for the first time in a while, have made a commendable one this year!" Eagle went on, the corners of his beak turning up. "First up on our list, the ONLY freshman student with the qualifying grades, is Miss Caramel Charlatte!"

The school gave a round of polite applause, and a few even cheered. Hori shook Caramel's shoulder in excitement while Nitroz beamed with pride. At first, Caramel was overjoyed. But then, she realized that Eagle had said she had been the only one. Her friends would not be following her to the internship.

Caramel hung her head a little, sad that she would be heading onto the internship alone, but a small smile from her friends told her that it was okay. They would catch up with her another year.

Out of curiosity, Caramel looked over in Connie's direction to see her reaction, and was almost amused to see her face twisted in a contorted rage. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hori with a smile that was half-satisfactory, half-sad.

Eagle read down the list, that of which consisted of the students Noah Atlantis, Dempi Dory, Elwyn Clark, Eric Lexington, and other characters. Finally, when he reached the end of the list, he rolled it up and said his congrats to everyone, who cheered loudly.

Caramel walked outside, relieved that she had made it. She was going to go find Nitroz and Hori to speak with them, for she only had a week before she'd have to leave for the internship. She saw Hori in the distance, but as she made her way towards her, she saw Connie slam a boy with red, yellow, and green-dyed white hair against the wall.

"You IDIOT! I told you to switch the grades!" Connie roared, angrier than she ever had been with Caramel.

"I-I did!" the boy stuttered.

"Then HOW did that FREAK make the cut when I OBVIOUSLY bombed my grades SPECIFICALLY for that switch?!"

"Leave Ant alone, Connie!" Hori said bravely, stepping forward. "I told him to switch MY files."

Connie stood frigid for a few moments at the news. She then released Ant and turned on Hori, her face popping. "WHAT?!"

"I saw you threatening him last night," Hori revealed. "And I knew you'd double check to make sure he wouldn't skip on the plot. So I intercepted and told him to switch my grades with yours so you wouldn't suspect a thing until it was too late. I've already told Professor Yogi and Z about it. You're FINISHED, Connie. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to make something else out of your animation life."

Caramel, whom had been listening to the entire thing, was bewildered, shocked, and grateful all at once. She couldn't believe Hori had sacrificed her place in the internship JUST for her. Connie, however, looked ready to explode. She wound up, ready to sock Hori flat when Professor Yogibo and Professor Z came rushing down the hall. "What's going on here?"

Connie dropped her fist, not daring to burst out in front of the teachers. "Nothing," she muttered before trying to scamper off. However, Professor Z stopped her before she could get far.

"Yogi, could you take this young lady down to the office for a little talk?" he said innocently. Professor Yogibo nodded before motioning for Connie to follow her, but not before casting a knowing wink at Caramel, signalling her faith in her for the whole way.

Once out of sight, Caramel cannoned into Hori with a surprise hug from behind. "Oh, Hori!"

"Hey, there, Carri," Hori said sadly, turning to Caramel to see her and hug her properly. "That was exciting, huh?"

"Alrighty, then, group hug," Professor Z said awkwardly, trying to join in on the hug, but Hori pushed him away, without batting an eye. "Awww. Well, okay then

"You didn't have to do that," Caramel said. "You would've qualified if you had just left it well-enough alone."

"And let that bully win? As IF!" Hori sniffed. "No way. Don't worry, I'll get in next year."

"Technically, since the grades were Connie's and not yours, we could still squeeze you in--" Z offered helpfully.

"Nah. Nitroz will be lonely without a friend. You go on ahead of us. We'll webcam you! Tell us everything that happens!"

Caramel felt like crying. She was glad she would be heading to BPS at last, but Nitroz and HOri had grown on her considerably. It didn't feel right to leave them behind. However, she swallowed her tears and nodded, promising she would keep in touch as often as possible.

"I've just dropped Miss Parewell off," Professor Yogibo said, returning to the group of three. "Caramel, I do believe you have a special pre-trip orientation to attend. I'll escort you there."

With a final wave at Hori, Caramel sauntered after her favorite teacher, who cast a wise glance down at her, eyes shining with pride.

"I knew you had it in you, young animator."