I’m carrying a plate of strawberry pancakes back to Yuan Shu’s class. What did I do to deserve this? I’ve existed for a mere twenty-four hours, yet it feels like I’ve done this for years, having to take care of the Devil Child.

  The halls are lively. Since classes set their own schedules, each class is able to set breaks as long as they get their work done. I notice a small girl in purple barking orders to nearby purple-clad classmates. I really don’t want to deal with Dong Zhuo at the same time.

  Dong Zhuo notices me and pretends to be timid as she walks up to me. I let out a sigh and stop, realizing I’d much rather spend time dealing with her nonsense than Devil Child’s. “Yes, Dong Zhuo?”

  “M-Mr. Lei!” She lets out some fake sniffles. She looks to the pancakes in my hand. “Y-You know breakfast foods shouldn’t be allowed in the school, right?”

  I raise an eyebrow to her. “Well firstly, such a rule doesn’t exist. Secondly, these are for Yuan Shu.”

  As Dong Zhuo hears the name, she shudders, for real this time. “Oh, never mind. Good luck.” she speaks quickly, dropping the facade as she turns around to head back to her group of hall monitors. Actual sincere words from her for once. She knows if I wasn’t doing this, her and her gang of cronies would be tasked with doing it. I guess even the most terrible students can become decent when compared to someone of Yuan Shu’s caliber.

  I return to the classroom, I notice some of the other students of Yuan Shu’s have arrived. Yuan Shu’s classroom is a lot of gold and pink, Other than that I’m pretty sure Yuan Shu bought the furniture at the same place Yuan Shao did. Except while Yuan Shao only bought the expensive option, Yuan Shu decided to buy the option above that as a “superiority tactic.” Desks look ornate and the carpet that has flower designs and looks as if they belong in a rich person’s mansion instead of a school classroom. Even the walls have a matching ornate design. The white board has a golden border around it. I pray it is covered with golden colored paint, but knowing Yuan Shu, it probably isn’t. In the back of the classroom lays a throne. That’s right, an actual throne, just Yuan Shu’s size. I don’t know what she plans to do when she grows larger, buy a new one? Each student in the class wears the class uniform, yellow ribboned tops with pink lace and a bow around each sleeve, a pink bow in front of their neck under the front collar. Each also has a plaid yellow and pink designed skirt. Well, except one student, but I’ll get to that in a bit.

  Speaking of their clothes, let’s talk about those who are wearing them. This classroom is full of kids who all look similar in age to Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu already appears to be much younger than most kids at Falofhan. Think about the same size as Dong Zhuo and you’re on the right track. I think anyone who joins this class must be a friend of Yuan Shu’s. How she made friends in the first place I’ll never know. The rich parents thing might help bribe a few.

  Currently in the room are four kids. Yuan Shu sits upon her throne with her head in her hand, upset and waiting for pancakes. A girl with bangs and short dark green hair barely touching her neck sits on the ground next to the bookcase in the corner. Her blue eyes scan every word in the book before silently turning the page. That is Zhang Xun. For the most part she isn’t a problem, just a quiet child. Two kids are chasing each other around the classroom, playing a game of some sort. One has long brown hair tied into two low pigtails that sit on the front of her top, her pink eyes complimenting her uniform. That one is Liang Gang. For the most part just sit her in front of a TV with a show about ponies or something and she will be out of your hair. The other one chasing her has short crimson hair with brown eyes and a freckled face. She is the only one in the class who never wears a skirt. She wears yellow shorts with a pink vertical stripe on each side, still honoring Yuan Shu’s dress code. Ji Ling is her name. She is honestly not too bad to deal with, but her questions are endless and she’s a ball of energy. To my luck, it appears some of the more obnoxious kids haven’t come in yet.

  “About time you showed up!” her shrill voice interrupting my train of narration. The Devil Child speaks, turning her head in my direction. “I’ve been waiting for hours!”

  I walk over, refusing to humor her and drop the paper plate into her lap. “Look, I have to go check on someone. I’ll put on a video about a pony or something to keep you girls occupied.”

  At the sound of “pony” Liang Gang stops running which causes Ji Ling to run into her and bounce off onto the ground. Liang Gang turns suddenly, “Magic is Friendship Ponies are Magic?!” She gasps, her hands come together as she begins clapping.

  “Yeah, sure, that one.”

  Yuan Shu chuckles. “No need for jokes, Mr. Lei. We all know I’m the only one important enough to be checked up on.” By ‘important’ she means troublesome. Her right hand goes to her left cheek, the opposite of her sister, “Oohoohoohoohoo!” A laugh that runs in the family.

  “You know I’m not the joking type,” I say, walking into my office and bringing out my laptop. I begin to open the sites as I get the program ready to play on the overhead projector.

  Ji Ling sits up, rubbing the side of her head where she fell. “Oh, Mr. Lei, did you hear we have a new student in the school?”

  I play oblivious. It just seems easier when talking with some of these kids, “Oh really? Where did you hear that?”

  “I heard it at dinner last night!”

  Yuan Shu scoffs. “A newcomer to our school? I hope she doesn’t come to my class. She’s probably not even royal enough to grace me with her presence!”

  I wish I was not royal enough to grace Yuan Shu with MY presence.

  Ji Ling looks to Yuan Shu as she walks over. “I heard that she’s in your older sister’s class.”

  Yuan Shu chokes on her pancakes, coughing at the news. I thank Yu Ji for this bountiful karma, amen. Yuan Shu continues coughing as I head into my office, coming out with a small paper cup of water and hand it to her. After vigorously consuming it, she takes a second to regain control of her breathing, before she lets out a banshee shriek, “WHAT!?”

  “Yeah! Apparently, she’s nice also! She doesn’t care about any class rivalries and stuff, just wants to be friends with people! I hope I can be friends with her! We can play together!” Ji Ling laughs, beginning to imagine it.

  Yuan Shu crumples the paper cup in her rage. “Hmph! Why did my sister get the new girl?! I’m better than her in every way! She should want to join our class!”

  I let out a sigh, knowing arguing with her is pointless, even though she just said she didn’t want her in the class. The moment she hears her sister has something, she wants to take it from her. Yuan Shu stands up, causing the half-eaten pancakes on her lap to flip off and spill onto the carpet. “I’m going to have her see the error of her classroom choices! I’m going to show her my classroom is better! Then Shao will have to admit that I am the more regal-er and elegant sister! Oohoohoohoohoo!” She heads out the front door of the classroom.

  Well, great, now I have to go follow her. I look to the other three students who are just looking at me. “So yeah, you fine with the pony show while I go deal with that?”

  “YES!” Liang Gang squeals, holding her hands together.

  “Yay! No work!” Ji Ling raises her hands up enthusiastically.

  Zhang Xun peeks up from her book for the first time since I walked in. “Okay,” she mumbles before returning to her reading.

  I nod as I press play on my laptop and the video shows up on the front of the whiteboard. Liang Gang even runs to her desk, pulling out a plastic pony as she begins singing along with the theme song.

  Now, I have a job to do. My first guess is Yuan Shu is heading to Yuan Shao’s classroom. Guess I’m on the case.

  Back in Yuan Shao’s classroom, Qu Yi and the others have returned from judging her clothes. She is sitting at her desk and is working on her packet.

  She looks up to see both Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang across from her, their mouths gaping in awe. “She caught up to us already and she came in late,” Lu Xiang says in disbelief.

  Qu Yi smiles shyly. “Um, well, I’m used to studying a lot.”

  Lu Kuang raises her hand before exclaiming, “I elect that Qu Yi is our leader now!”

  “Eh?” Qu Yi blinks at them a few times, a confused expression plastered on her face. “What do you mean?”

  Lu Kuang smiles and points to Yan Liang. “You’re fired,” then points to Qu Yi, “You’re hired! You get to help me and Xiang on our packet!”

  Yan Liang looks aghast, “W-Wha? But I always help you two on your packets!” She stops for a moment at a realization. “Didn’t I?” She tries to think back to it.

  Lu Xiang looks up to Yan Liang calmly. “It’s not that you’re bad. It’s just that Qu Yi is faster, and we want more free time.”

  Yan Liang looks at Qu Yi’s packet. “It’s true, I suppose. She did catch up and we had nearly an hour head start.” She glances up at the Lu sisters. “Well, you two had a whole day and an hour head start.”

  “Hehe.” The two chuckle as their eyes look toward the opposite directions of the room.

  Qu Yi looks at each of the three, looking to Yan Liang for help, a blush creeping on her face. “Um, look I don’t know if I’m good at teaching, but I can try to explain it if you guys want me to? We covered this stuff at my old school.”

  Wen Chou puts her arm around Qu Yi’s shoulder from behind. “Heh, Newbie! I’m sure you’re just being humble!”

  Lu Kuang peeks up. “Speaking of, Wen Chou, what question are you on?”

  Wen Chou is mid-smile as she peeks down at her packet, doodles covering the front page, taking over everything EXCEPT where the answer is supposed to go. “Um, this first question has me stumped.” She scratches the back of her head, not as embarrassed as she should be.

  “I-I can help you also.” Qu Yi smiles sympathetically, somewhat embarrassed for Wen Chou.

  Qu Yi begins looking around the room, the talking breaking her focus on her work. She sees each group of desks working differently. Yuan Shao has Shen Pei explaining everything to her on the whiteboard. Some girls that Qu Yi hasn’t met yet are talking amongst themselves. In the back a lone desk sits with food flooding the top of it. The girl seated in it is eating while she is working. Gao Lan sits alone with the desk next to her, Zhang He’s desk, still empty. Apparently, Wen Chou wasn’t lying when she said they wouldn’t see her for the rest of the day.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Still a lot of people I haven’t met in this class,” she mutters to herself. “I hope I can remember everyone’s names…”

  Yan Liang looks to Qu Yi happily. “It’ll be easy, as long as you don’t mix up the family and given names again.” She chuckles to herself, still thinking the mistake from yesterday was a joke.

  “Right,” Qu Yi responds before thinking to herself, “In this place the first part of the name is the last name.” She looks to both Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang. “Those two both have the Lu as their last name, so that’s why they are sisters. Also…” She pauses for a moment. “They appear to call each other by just the actual last part of their name if they are close enough.” She’s mentally sorting the rules of this place, hopefully preventing repetition of the mistakes from yesterday. “I wonder who else is related in this school?”

  Yuan Shao stands up. “Well looks like the time is 1:00, so, it’s time for our daily lunch hour! Remember to be elegant and graceful and show off our classroom’s standards to the school!” Quite a few of the students stand up and begin talking, some heading out of the room.

  Wen Chou stretches in her seat. “Well, that took long enough.” She proclaims loudly. “Wanna go get some grub, Newbie?”

  Yuan Shao interrupts as her pompous laugh is spread loud and clear. “Ohohohoho!” her left hand to her right cheek as per the usual. Shen Pei also follows behind her. “I must say you are a fine addition to our class, Qu Yi. I admit I was skeptical at first, but the more I’ve seen you work, the more I’ve grown accustomed to the idea!”

  Qu Yi smiles, feeling unsure of the compliment. “T-Thanks, Ma’am.”

  At the doorway another similar, higher pitched laugh rings out. “Oohoohoohoohoo!” Those who remain in the class look over. There stands Yuan Shu, right hand on her left cheek. She steps in after her laugh, trying to talk like a noble, despite the fact she will shriek and scream in most other situations. “So, dearest sister! I hear you happened to obtain a new ruffian in your class! How very fitting for one so lacking the right to hold our family’s lineage!”

  Yuan Shao smirks, seeing Yuan Shu. If there is anyone who can one up Yuan Shu, it’s her older sister. “Ah, young Shu. I can hear the jealousy in your voice. You should know a bit more about ruffians. Why, I hear one of your students wears trousers with their uniform! How very unladylike for one that is supposed to represent our family’s name! Ohohohoho!”

  Yuan Shu’s face shows visible annoyance, but she quickly regains her noble composure. “It’s not I who is jealous. After all, I hear your class schedule starts at 11:00! Someone should be sure to check for bags under their eyes. You see, in my class we start at 11:01, giving us a full extra sixty seconds of beauty sleep!”

  Yuan Shao nods, playing coy. “Oh yes. Oh yes. Very impressive. However, it is only natural for those who aren’t gifted with elegant beauty to try to overcompensate for it somehow! Ohohohoho!”

  Yuan Shu’s face turns red for a second, but she shakes her head regaining herself. “Well, dearest sister. I must say, I’m surprised to see you still sporting that garb! If one is truly as noble as you claim to be, you must wear something that shows off your elegance to the world!” Yuan Shu does a twirl, causing the dress of hers to fluff around with each sway of movement.

  Yuan Shao smile remains unphased. “Why Shu. I wouldn’t dare think of changing. Having superior grace and nobility allows me to wear the same outfit as my fellow classmates, while still standing out as class president. I’m so sorry that gene seemed to have skipped you!”

  Strike three, she’s out of there. Yuan Shu’s face shifts from confident to a glare that can kill. She loses all her composure as she begins throwing a tantrum. Each step she takes is a full-strength stomp. “IT’S NOT FAIR!” she screams bloody murder, thankfully making my job of locating her child’s play, not that I’m trying to undermine the effort of playing children.

  Qu Yi stares at the short girl with her ringlet pigtails in complete confusion. At this point, Yuan Shu is on her back kicking and screaming, feet and hands pounding the ground. Qu Yi’s never seen someone do this, much less someone in a school.

  Yan Liang looks to the group still situated around their table. “Now would be a good time to make our escape,” she whispers. The Lu sisters nod as they hastily stand up. Wen Chou grabs Qu Yi’s hand leading her out, half pulling her. The group passes Yuan Shu successfully during her tantrum. Well, until Qu Yi is in arm’s distance. Yuan Shu grabs onto her legs.

  “It’s not fair! You should have joined my classroom! My big sister doesn’t deserve you!” Qu Yi looks confused and concerned at the young girl who has streaming tears with a look of complete anger.

  “Emergency!” Wen Chou shouts. In a swift moment she lets go of Qu Yi’s hand, runs to her from the side and lifts her up princess carry style. The group quickly runs out of the room with Qu Yi being held in Wen Chou’s arms, surprised with the suddenness of everything. Needless to say, another hit was done to Qu Yi’s attempts at masculinity.

  The group stops near the front entrance of the school. Four of them panting with Qu Yi wide-eyed at the current situation. “C-Can I please be put down now?”

  “Oh right.” Wen Chou takes a breath as she helps her to her feet. “Sorry Newbie. Yuan Shu is just awful. Knowing you, you would have been too nice to her and enabled her.”

  Qu Yi’s face is still beet red. “I-It’s fine I suppose. So that is Yuan Shao’s…?”

  “Younger sister” Yan Liang speaks up. “I don’t like talking bad about people, but she is just one to try to avoid at all costs. I know some people think Yuan Shao can be a bit much, but seeing how her sister turned out…”

  “We got lucky.” Lu Kuang speaks up between pants, her hands resting on her knees. “We got out before the REAL tantrum began.”

  Her sister looks to Qu Yi and adds, “One time she went on for hours and hours. Some classes even got canceled because of the noise.”

  “That, sounds really bad.” Qu Yi thinks for a moment before responding, “But if she’s such a big problem, why does the school allow her here?”

  “Money probably,” a voice is heard from the side, causing everyone’s eyes to shift to see who it was. Wearing a white vest over a blue button up long sleeve shirt and a pleated skirt, is a short girl with dark brown hair tied in a bun on top of her head. It is Cao Cao, the president of her own class. Both Yan Liang and Wen Chou step in front of Qu Yi, being naturally protective of her.

  “Wah! It’s Cao Cao!” Lu Xiang gasps, as she hides behind Lu Kuang. “She’s going to try to get our secrets!”

  Cao Cao sighs, side-eyeing the twins. “If there were secrets I want, it certainly wouldn’t be from you two.” She turns to the trio of roommates. “Sorry to eavesdrop. We were just on our way to lunch.”

  “We?” Wen Chou looks at Cao Cao in confusion, looking for another person.

  “I’m right here…” a quiet voice speaks up next to Yan Liang, causing her to jump slightly. A girl wearing the same uniform as Cao Cao stands next to Yan Liang. She has the same hair color as her, but her hair is in two low pigtails with a large cowlick on her head stretching up to the heavens. It is Cao Cao’s sister, Cao Hong. “I thought I was a part of the conversation…” she sighs, “I even responded and everything.”

  The group looks around awkwardly, none of them noticing her input.

  “Anyway,” Cao Cao breaks the tension, trying to return to the topic. “I think Yuan Shu is here because the Yuan family donates quite a bit to the school.”

  Wen Chou scoffs. “I don’t know why you’re trying to act friendly with us. Your class has always been rivals with us.”

  Cao Cao nods. “I can understand your natural skepticism, but I believe the student behind you said she wouldn’t mind being… what was it? Oh yes, ‘friends.’” She focuses her attention on Qu Yi.

  Qu Yi smiles. “Well, I think rivalries can be friendly, at least I heard they can.” Not that she ever had any friends or rivalries before Falofhan.

  Yan Liang frowns, whispering to Qu Yi, “I don’t know if friendly rivalry is something we can have with Cao Cao… She seems to want to win by any means necessary…”

  Cao Cao, on the other hand, grows a smug smile, getting approval from Qu Yi. “Don’t worry, you two, I will not steal your new roommate if that’s what you’re thinking.” She rolls her eyes.

  Wen Chou begins to speak up, “Hey wait, did we ever tell Cao Cao she was our room-”

  “I have my ways to get information I want to know,” she says looking at her nails. “But I do think it would not be fair to hide from her that my class has the highest average of test scores, and we study above our grade level. So, if Qu Yi wants to get a true experience a private school has to offer academically, she should begin the transfer to my class sooner rather than later. She has excellent intelligence. She would fit in well.”

  “There it is!” Wen Chou shouts in annoyance. “You are trying to take Newbie from us!”

  Cao Cao fake yawns. “You know, ‘Newbie’ can be considered an insult to some people, right?”

  Wen Chou takes a step forward, her fists clenched. “You short little twerp!”

  Yan Liang grabs Wen Chou’s arm, trying to stop her. “Don’t do it Wen Chou. She’s trying to aggravate you!”

  “Well, she’s finally doing something right!”

  Time freezes as Qu Yi is lost in her thoughts. “Highest test scores? Study above grade level? That did sound appealing, at least to her at her old school. She already skipped a grade once. A head start in life, that’s what she has been working to all these years, right, to help her mother? Her thoughts turn to both Wen Chou and Yan Liang, how much they have been willing to help her, not even questioning her about things that she doesn’t know how to do ‘as a girl.’ Not only that, but everyone in her current class also seems friendly and relaxed. Her mind goes to the new students she just met today, Yuan Shao’s speech in her room, and a quote from yours truly back on the bus. My words repeat in her mind. “The grades are worth very little, chump change. It’s about you interacting with people, making bonds, friendships, going out and doing stuff with those friends you meet. Participating in school extra activities, the stuff you DIDN’T do at your last school.” She finally decides to speak up.

  She mutters quietly, “School isn’t just about grades.”

  Wen Chou and Yan Liang both stop and look back toward her.

  “School isn’t just about grades.” She repeats louder, confidence building. “It’s true. Maybe two days ago I would have taken you up on your offer Cao Cao.” She walks forward to Cao Cao by herself, her two roommates watching her. “But both yesterday and today, I’ve met peers, who actually care about me for the first time in years. They don’t care what I could ‘offer’ to their classroom. They care about meeting me. They care about me as a person. They don’t care if I am going to be good or bad for the class, even when I do lack something. Instead of throwing me aside, they want to teach me.” She thinks to Wen Chou talking about baseball and Yuan Shao talking about helping her be more ‘noble.’ “Not to improve their class, but because they care about me.” She looks down to Cao Cao, who stands a few inches shorter than herself. “While I want to be friends with you, I don’t want you to belittle or insult my friends.”

  Cao Cao looks at Qu Yi sternly. “I understand.” She nods. “However, I won’t give up on wanting you in my class yet.”

  Qu Yi sighs, “As long as you don’t insult or start fights with my classmates, then I’m fine with that.” She turns to Cao Hong, who looks away, worried about getting a similar talking to. Qu Yi’s confidence drains out of her again, “U-Um, this may be an awkward time, but yesterday you said you wanted to be friends, right?”

  Cao Hong perks up. “Y-Yes!”

  Qu Yi holds up her new phone. “Well, I have a new phone if you want to exchange numbers and text some time?”

  Cao Hong’s eyes sparkle as her cowlick moves back and forth in excitement. “Yes!” She quickly pulls out her phone and the two put each other’s numbers in their contacts.

  Both Wen Chou and Yan Liang smile, watching the two awkward bundles exchange numbers. After waving goodbyes, the groups split again. Yuan Shao’s, class leaving the school.

  Wen Chou puts her arm around Qu Yi. “Wow Newbie! I didn’t know you had that in you!”

  Yan Liang smiles as she also gets close to Qu Yi. “Yeah! I can’t believe it. You broke your shy exterior to stand up for us.” She begins to sniffle as she wipes her eye. “It means a lot.”

  “Yeah…” Qu Yi suddenly falls on the grass next to the concrete path. “Ah, that was so stressful. I think I need an hour or so to relax. Maybe get some water?”

  Wen Chou stretches her arms. “Don’t worry Newbie! I gotchu!” She bends down to Qu Yi’s surprise.

  “Eh?”

  In a moment she picks her up in a princess carry again. “We’ll find that water fountain yet!” She begins to run on the sidewalk toward the direction of the cafeteria.

  Qu Yi is blushing. “H-Hey! This isn’t necessary! I-I can walk just fine! P-Please stop! People are going to stare!”

  Yan Liang giggles as she runs to keep up. The Lu sisters chuckle to themselves as they run along with the group. “Wait for us!” Lu Kuang shouts.

  “Yeah! Us!” Lu Xiang adds.

  Cao Cao sighs. she sees how blissful her sister is as she’s dancing around with her phone in her hands. “Tell you what, Hong, I’ll catch up with you.”

  Cao Hong stops mid dance. “Oh, are you sure Cao?”

  Cao Cao nods, rubbing her temples. “Yeah, I forgot I have to meet up with Dun.”

  “If you’re sure, sis.” Cao Hong walks down the path of the cafeteria, no one noticing her presence as usual.

  Cao Cao pulls out her phone, quickly typing in something. After a few moments her phone vibrates. A few moments after that Xiahou Dun stops by, wearing the same uniform, being a head taller than Cao Cao with her long black hair covering her right eye.

  “Sorry for the wait, President.” She gasps, out of breath. “I came as soon as I got your message.”

  “So, about the first appearance of our new ‘friend?”

  “From what I was able to learn, a student matching her description came in casual dress around 1:30 PM yesterday, seen with Mr. Lei. She had a run in with some yellow scarves that made a scene.”

  “So 1:30 PM?” Cao Cao repeats as she begins thinking to herself. “Whenever we’ve had new students, when did they show up?”

  “Seven to eight in the morning.” Xiahou Dun scratches her head thinking, “with that whole entrance ceremony they would normally do for the newcomers.”

  “Yes, this is the first time Falofhan ever accepted a student mid-semester.” Cao Cao responds bluntly. “Suddenly, this girl shows up, just her by herself at a random time. There is something extremely suspicious about her."

  “Anything you want me to do?”

  “Well, our lead with her gets us nowhere. She came in with Mr. Lei. See what you can overhear from him.”

  “Overhear?” She shudders. “He’s always keeping Yuan Shu in check.”

  “I didn’t say your task was an easy one, Dun. Just be sure to take migraine medicine with you.”

  Xiahou Dun sighs. “Will do, President. Pray for me.” She heads off to go spy on me.