"Yoongi."

The boy in question sighed, picking a paperweight before putting it back down on the desk. "I didn't do it."

"You don't know what you stand accused of."

"Doesn't matter, it's fake anyway. Government conspiracy to keep me out of the classroom so I don't turn into a genius and plot the earth's eventual downfall."

"Yoongi, there have been several complaints from different students."

"Which students?"

"I can't release their names, Yoongi. That's part of student-staff confidentiality."

"What a shame."

"Yoongi, do you know what you did wrong?"

"I came to school."

"Please cut the attitude, Yoongi. I'm asking for a serious answer here."

"And I was being serious."

The principal sighed and leaned back in his chair. He'd been seeing far too much of Yoongi in his office for various offenses, but his recent behavior was very troubling to him. "Yoongi, you've been stealing school supplies from the other children."

"If - and I'm not saying that I did but if - I did, then so what? What's a couple of pens and pencils to anyone? Isn't part of our school motto sharing is caring?"

"That was your elementary school model, yes, but you're in sixth grade now, Yoongi. Your motto is Live with integrity. Stealing is not part of upholding your integrity, Yoongi."

"And again, not saying I did, but what's a couple of pencils?"

"Did you ever try asking nicely for them, Yoongi?"

"Yeah."

"..."

"Once. But they said no. They said they didn't want to share with me because they were afraid I'd break them."

"And why would they think that?"

"Maybe because - and I'm not saying I did but if - I may have broken several pencils in the past. That's certainly a possibility."

The principal sighed. "Yoongi, the point of this report and of you coming down here is because you're taking what belongs to other people without asking. Why don't you go home and ask your dad to buy you more pencils?" he asked, careful not to mention mom since he knew a little bit about the family's history.

Yoongi frowned at the desk. "I don't want to."

"Why not, Yoongi?"

"Dad's busy. He has other stuff he has to pay for."

"Like what, Yoongi?"

"Food. Electricity. Clothes. School. That kind of stuff."

"But he has a job, doesn't he, Yoongi?"

"Yeah, but he's been taking a lot of time off," Yoongi said. He didn't even know why he was telling the principal and not just lying through his teeth, but he found the words just spilling out. "When Jimin was missing, he took some time off, and now that Jimin is back, he doesn't want to leave him alone too much, so he still isn't working full time. And I guess Mom started sending money for us but I know we don't have that much even though Dad won't tell us."

The principal listened closely. He never wanted to punish Yoongi, but it was his job to do so and make sure all the students felt happy and safe. But he truly cared about his students, and he couldn't help but sympathize with Yoongi. "All right, Yoongi. I understand. And I think I understand that you wouldn't want to tell all your classmates about that, right? And that's why you stole instead?"

Yoongi nodded stubbornly, crossing his arms and looking out the window.

"Well, listen up. Anytime you need pencils or pens, you just come down and see me, all right?" the principal said, sliding several pencils over to Yoongi, who just looked at them before looking up at the principal. "You don't have to steal from the other kids because I'm happy to give you mine, all right?"

Yoongi waited a long moment before taking the pencils. Then, as though remembering something, he added, "Thank you."

The principal nodded, smiling, and stood up. "You're free to go back to class, Yoongi. Don't worry, there won't be any detention or anything. Just remember to ask me if you need anything before you resort to stealing from the other kids, all right?"

Yoongi nodded before slipping out the door as though expecting to get punishment if he stayed longer.

The principal just sat back down and exhaled deeply.

Maybe I can help Yoongi.

I hope I can.

***

In another school several miles away, another principal was sitting behind a desk, frowning at the report he was reading. Then he looked up at the boy in front of him before sliding off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb. "Yugyeom..."

The boy in question smiled innocently.

"Now, I know that there's no specific rule in the student handbook against this, but grinding against the floor is simply not allowed here."