On the first day of the exam, Kiddy arrived early, as usual, and settled into his seat. The classroom gradually filled up with students, and soon enough, Kiddy spotted Sam entering the room. Without missing a beat, Kiddy swiftly approached and punched him on the arm.
"That's for the pic you sent yesterday," Kiddy said, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Sam laughed, shaking his head. "Come on, you two looked cute!"
Before Kiddy could retort, the rest of the group arrived, and they all exchanged nervous but supportive smiles. It was time for the first exam—English. Everyone settled in, and soon, the exam papers were distributed.
Few hours passed, most of the students done with their papers.
As Kiddy was almost done with his paper, feeling confident with his answers, he happened to glance across the room and noticed Felia scratching her head, clearly looking frustrated. She seemed to be stuck on something. Kiddy couldn't help but wonder, Does she not know the answer?
He was still lost in thought, trying to figure out why she looked so confused, when the teacher's voice interrupted his train of thought. "There are 10 minutes left to complete your exam!" the teacher reminded them, jolting Kiddy back to reality.
Kiddy quickly refocused, double-checking his answers.
The next exam was math, Kiddy's favorite subject. He breezed through it, finishing well before the others. With 10 minutes still left on the clock, he began glancing around, feeling a bit bored. A few minutes later, he noticed Ammy putting down her pen after finishing her work. But instead of reviewing her answers, she casually started decorating her answer sheet with little doodles.
Kiddy gave her a confused look, raising an eyebrow as if to say, Why are you wasting time like that? Ammy noticed his gaze and shot him a sharp glare, as if to ask, What are you staring at? Her piercing look gave Kiddy the chills, making him quickly look away.
Shifting his attention, Kiddy spotted Sam and Lily quietly cheating. Trying to hold back a laugh, Kiddy caught Sam's eye and, grinning mischievously, raised his hand. Sam's face immediately turned pale, and he froze like a statue, thinking Kiddy was about to call them out.
Instead, Kiddy casually asked the teacher, "Can I go to the washroom?"
Sam let out a huge sigh of relief, though he shot Kiddy an annoyed look. Kiddy, on his way to the bathroom, giggled quietly to himself, thoroughly amused by the reaction.
After the exam ended, the group gathered outside, joking about the test and how they'd survived yet another day of exams. With the stress fading, they left school together, eager to relax before the next round.
The next morning, as usual, Kiddy arrived at school early, settling into his seat. To his surprise, Ammy showed up not long after. He flashed her a smile, clearly impressed.
"Wow, Ammy. Early for once, huh? You finally grew up," Kiddy teased.
Ammy's face scrunched up in irritation, and without a word, she gave him a quick punch on the arm. "That's for being annoying," she said.
Kiddy winced, rubbing his arm. "Ow! That actually hurt."
"You shouldn't have said that, then," she shot back, rolling her eyes.
They both sat down, pulling out their science notes. With a few minutes to kill, they began reviewing together, bouncing off each other's knowledge.
As the classroom started to fill up, Harry and Mando entered next, greeting them both with a wave.
"Morning, guys," Kiddy called out.
"Hey, Kiddy, Ammy," Harry greeted back, while Mando flashed a smile, still looking a bit sleepy.
Before long, Sam walked in, grinning mischievously. "Good morning, lovebirds!" he said loudly, causing a few heads to turn.
Both Kiddy and Ammy shot him a synchronized annoyed glare that practically screamed What the hell you think you're doing? Sam immediately raised his hands in surrender, bowing dramatically. "My sincere apologize!"
They all shared a laugh, and just as the atmosphere began to settle, the teacher entered and the science exam began.
Kiddy, being in his element, breezed through the paper, finishing with time to spare. Once the exam ended and everyone was packing up, Kiddy noticed Lily walking with her head in her hands, clearly frustrated. He walked over to her.
"Hey, Lily. You doing okay?" Kiddy asked gently.
"Not really. I don't think I did that well…" she admitted, sounding discouraged.
Kiddy smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I can help you with your studies. I've noticed a few small things you can work on, and you'll be fine. We've got time before the next exam."
Lily perked up a little. "Really? Thanks, Kiddy. I could use all the help I can get, especially since Sam does not know how to teach."
Kiddy chuckled, glancing at Sam, who was deep in conversation with Felia about her study routine. "Yeah, I don't think Sam's cut out to be a tutor," Kiddy teased.
Meanwhile, Ammy walked beside Kiddy, overhearing the conversation. She gave him a playful smirk. "You, of all people, teaching others... Oh, the irony."
Kiddy laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Hey, I'm not that bad, am I?"
"You? Nah, you're fine," Ammy replied with a wink, still amused at the thought of Kiddy as a tutor.
The group said their goodbyes, the weight of the science exam lifting from their shoulders.
The morning of the social exam, Kiddy arrived at school with none of his usual energy. He slumped over his desk, lying face down as if all life had been drained from him. One by one, his friends trickled in, noticing his defeated state and giving him sympathetic looks.
Ammy was the first to speak. "Don't worry, Kiddy. You aced the last exam, you'll do great on this one too," she said, trying to lift his spirits.
Sam, however, couldn't resist poking fun. "Hey, Kiddy, isn't this your favorite subject?" he teased, grinning. Kiddy shot him a dark look, pouting in annoyance.
Harry chuckled and gave Kiddy a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Come on, man. You'll at least pass," he said, though his tone was more playful than serious.
Just then, Mando burst into the room with an unusually big smile, clearly excited. "Don't worry, Kiddy, I can teach you!" he offered confidently, shocking everyone. Mando, who usually only aimed to pass, suddenly sounded like a teacher. Kiddy, still sprawled on his desk, looked even more dead inside.
Lily arrived next, patting Kiddy gently on the head. "You've got this. Don't stress too much," she said kindly.
Kiddy groaned, but managed a small "Thanks" before dragging himself out of the classroom to the washroom, hoping the fresh air would somehow give him a miracle boost. As he neared the classroom door, he noticed Felia standing by the entrance with a book in hand, clearly preparing herself for the exam.
Kiddy mustered a small smile. "Best of luck," he said, trying to sound encouraging despite his own dread.
Felia looked up and smiled back, her expression soft. "Don't worry, Kiddy. You'll be just fine," she replied.
Somehow, those simple words, along with his friends' support, sparked a tiny bit of hope in him. Kiddy straightened up slightly and told himself that moping wouldn't help. With a deep breath, he forced a more positive attitude and returned to his seat, determined to at least give the exam his best shot.
When the exam finally began, Kiddy repeated to himself, You're going to ace this. You've got this. doing his best to stay focused despite his lingering dislike for the subject.
The exam finally ended. As the group gathered outside, Kiddy was practically dragging his feet, looking more dead than alive. Ammy had taken it upon herself to pull Kiddy along by his arm as they left school. He barely had the energy to walk, his head hanging low.
"Come on, you can pass that exam. Cheer up!" Ammy encouraged him, though she couldn't hide her amusement at how defeated he looked.
With teary eyes, Kiddy glanced at her. "Really?"
Everyone else chimed in, nodding. "Yeah, you've done it before, you'll do it again!" Sam added with a grin.
Hearing their encouragement, Kiddy felt a small flicker of hope. He wasn't entirely convinced, but the support from his friends made him feel a little better.
With that, the group walked home together, laughing and teasing each other, their bond stronger than ever after surviving yet another exam day.
The final exam was Computer Science, and Ammy was undoubtedly the expert. As soon as she entered the classroom, she was swarmed by classmates seeking last-minute help. Ammy patiently went through each doubt, explaining topics and guiding them, her confidence in the subject shining through.
After the crowd cleared, Ammy noticed Kiddy sitting by himself, looking gloomy. Concerned, she walked over and asked, "What's wrong? You're just as good at this subject as I am."
Kiddy sighed dramatically. "I didn't have breakfast, so I'm starving. I can't think straight. If I don't eat something soon, I might just pass out," he said, exaggerating his misery.
Ammy rolled her eyes but smiled. "Stop being so dramatic," she said, reaching into her bag and handing him a pack of gummies. "Here, have these."
Kiddy's face lit up. "Thanks! I owe you one," he said, eagerly opening the pack.
Ammy waved it off. "No need, moron," she replied in a playful voice, turning to head back to her seat. But before she could, she noticed Sam rushing over to Kiddy, eyeing the gummies. As she turned back to warn Kiddy, she was stunned to see the pack already empty.
"Is your mouth a black hole or something!!?" she asked, wide-eyed.
Kiddy just grinned. "I'm like this when I'm hungry," he said, looking pleased with himself.
The final exam went smoothly, and soon, it was over. The group, relieved and excited, gathered at the garden near their school, a spot that had become a favorite hangout for them. They talked about how they felt the exams went, cracking jokes and enjoying the start of their well-deserved break.
As they chatted, Kiddy turned to Felia and casually mentioned, "This is where Sam announced that he and Lily were dating." Felia looked over at Sam and Lily, who were laughing together, clearly enjoying each other's company, while Ammy, Harry, and Mando relaxed under the shade of a tree.
Without thinking, Kiddy sighed laying on the grass and said aloud, "Oh man, I wish I could come here with my girlfriend one day."
The entire group burst into laughter, making Kiddy realize he'd said it a little too loud. Embarrassed, his face turned bright red as everyone teased him. Despite the teasing, he couldn't help but smile, appreciating the warmth and lightheartedness of the moment.
As the laughter died down, Kiddy looked around at his friends. Even amidst the embarrassment, he felt happy and content, silently wishing that their bond would always remain this strong.