Just then a truck sped past, its tires hit the large puddle of dirty water on the road with a loud splash, sending a wave of grimy liquid flying through the air. In an instant, the freshly cleaned entrance of CherryWood Academy was drenched, the once-sparkling nameplate now streaked with mud and filth.

For a moment, no one moved.

Aoto stared at the mess, blinking slowly, his mind trying to process what had just happened. The others—Akia and the Giant Class students—stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they looked at the now filthy entrance they had worked so hard to clean.

Aoto's eye twitched as he slowly turned back toward the puddle, then back at the entrance, and finally let out a heavy sigh. "...you've got to be shitting me..." he muttered, wiping a hand down his face.

Akia stood there, her usual bubbly energy completely deflated as she stared at the mess. "...I think I might cry..." she whispered, clutching her bucket as if it could somehow save her from the overwhelming frustration.

One of the Giant Class guys scratched the back of his head, his towering form suddenly looking deflated. "All that hard work... gone in one splash."

The Giant Class girl looked up at the sky, as if seeking divine intervention. "We were so close to finishing..."

For a few more seconds, the group stood there in stunned silence, each of them processing the cruel twist of fate that had ruined their perfectly clean entrance. The dirty water dripped from the nameplate and trickled down the steps, mocking their efforts.

Finally, Aoto threw his hands up in resignation. "Alright, screw it," he said with a tired laugh. "Guess we're doing it again."

Akia's shoulders slumped, but she forced a weak smile. "I'll get more soap."

The Giant Class students sighed but nodded in agreement, picking up their cleaning supplies again. "Let's make it shine even more this time," the Giant Class guy said with a resigned chuckle.

And so, with the same determination that had gotten them through the first round, the group got back to work, scrubbing and wiping down the entrance once more. As frustrating as it was, they couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. Sometimes, things didn't go according to plan, but at least they were in it together.

Aoto grinned as he dipped his sponge into the soapy water again. "I think this is the universe's way of telling us we're not done yet."

Akia giggled, though there was still a hint of exhaustion in her voice. "I guess so. But hey, at least we're getting extra practice!"

The Giant Class girl nodded, wiping down the windows again. "Yeah... this will make the next time we clean even faster."

Despite the unexpected setback, there was a sense of camaraderie among the group as they worked. The absurdity of the situation seemed to bring them closer, and as they scrubbed away the dirt for the second time, Aoto couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction.

No matter how many times they had to clean the entrance, they'd get it done. After all, what was a little dirty water compared to everything else they'd already been through?

Aoto, Akia, and the Giant Class students stood there in stunned silence, watching as the Softy Class girl in the lab coat poured her green, bubbling concoction onto the nameplate. At first, the reaction seemed promising—the rust and dirt miraculously started to dissolve, leaving the surface cleaner than before. For a moment, everyone looked impressed, even Aoto, despite his initial skepticism.

"Well now," Aoto said, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "It's actually working."

Akia, still peeking out from behind Aoto, looked equally amazed. "I take everything back about what I think about you guys. That was amazing!"

The Softy Class girl—proudly holding the now-empty test tube—beamed with confidence. "Thank you! My anti-rust formula is designed to strip away any impurities and leave surfaces spotless!"

But just as everyone was beginning to relax and marvel at the invention, Aoto noticed something off.

"Uh... guys?" he began, his voice tinged with concern. "It's melting off the dirt..."

Everyone's smiles slowly started to fade.

"...And it's now melting off the paint."

Eyes widened in shock as they watched the nameplate bubble even more aggressively. The vibrant paint on the letters began to peel away, curling up and disappearing like it was being burned by acid.

The group's collective expressions turned from impressed to horrified as they realized what was happening.

Aoto pointed in disbelief. "And now it's melting off the metal!"

Before anyone could react, the large, once-pristine nameplate gave one final groan before a huge chunk of it clattered to the ground with a loud CLANG!. The once proud, elegant sign was now a mess of warped, partially melted metal and missing chunks, destroyed beyond repair.

There was a long, painful silence as everyone stared at the smoking, ruined nameplate lying in pieces on the ground.

The Softy Class girl, who had been standing confidently just moments before, now stared at the disaster with wide eyes and a pale face. Her lips trembled as she processed the destruction, her proud stance wilting like a dying flower.

"...The risk I took was calculated," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She stared down at the test tube in her hand before adding, "...But maaaaaan, am I bad at math."

Aoto buried his face in his hands, letting out a groan. "You think?!"

Akia, who had been hiding behind Aoto, slowly stepped out, her face a mixture of shock and disbelief. "I... I can't believe what I just saw."

The Giant Class girl, who had been so eager to watch the experiment, just blinked in stunned silence. "Well, that escalated quickly."

The entire group stood there, staring at the remains of the nameplate, their earlier excitement now replaced by the grim realization that they were going to have a lot more cleaning—and possibly repair work—to do.

Aoto sighed heavily, looking at the Softy Class girl. "Next time, maybe run a few more tests before pouring weird chemicals on important things."

The Softy Class girl nodded sheepishly, still holding the empty test tube like it was the culprit. "Yeah... that might've been a good idea."

As the group prepared to deal with the aftermath of the destroyed nameplate, Aoto couldn't help but feel like this was just another day at CherryWood Academy—full of unexpected chaos, weird science experiments, and a whole lot of cleanup.

Maybe next time, Aoto thought wryly, we'll just stick to soap and water.

Aoto and Akia stood before the double doors leading to the walk bridge, the two of them pausing briefly as Akia explained where it led. The idea of there being a middle school attached to the high school campus intrigued Aoto. It made sense, of course—it was an academy—but somehow, he hadn't expected it to be so closely connected.

"These doors and the bridge across lead to the middle school section of the campus," Akia explained with her usual energetic tone.

Aoto blinked, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, so there's a middle school right next to this high school?"

Akia nodded. "Yeah. It is an academy after all. They keep all the grades fairly close, but the middle school has its own building and teachers."

Aoto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Makes sense. Let's check it out."

With that, the two pushed open the double doors and stepped onto the bridge. The air was crisp, and the sound of their footsteps echoed softly as they walked across the stone pathway suspended above the school grounds. Below, Aoto could see students milling about, chatting, playing games, or just enjoying the break between classes.

As they crossed, Aoto took in the view. The walk bridge was framed by tall trees on either side, their leaves rustling in the light breeze. The distant sounds of laughter and the occasional echo of a bell made the whole scene feel peaceful, yet alive with energy.

After a few minutes of walking, they reached another building, this one looking very similar to the high school but smaller in scale. Above the entrance, a neat sign read "Middle School" in bold letters, written in Como, Japanese, and English.

Aoto stopped for a moment, looking up at the sign. "So this is it, huh?" he said, glancing at Akia.

Akia nodded, folding her arms and smiling. "Yup. This is where the younger students study. They keep them separated from the high schoolers, but it's pretty easy to get from one part of the campus to the other."

Aoto stepped forward, curiosity growing. "Wonder what the middle schoolers are like..."

Just as he said that, the doors to the middle school opened, and a group of students—clearly younger than Aoto and Akia—came pouring out, laughing and talking animatedly. Some of them gave Aoto curious glances, as if they had never seen him before.

Aoto and Akia stood to the side as the students passed by, and Aoto couldn't help but notice how the energy of the middle school section seemed... lighter. The students were carefree, joking around with each other, clearly still full of the kind of excitement that came with being younger.

Akia nudged Aoto, grinning. "Feels different, huh? The middle schoolers are always so full of energy."

Aoto nodded. "Yeah. They seem a lot more... carefree than the high schoolers."

As they watched the students stream out, a group of three younger Softy Class girls spotted Akia and ran up to her, their faces lighting up with excitement.

"Akia-senpai!" one of the girls called, her voice full of admiration. "What are you doing here? Are you going to visit us today?"

Akia chuckled, kneeling down slightly to be more on their level. "Hey! I'm just showing Aoto around the middle school section. How are you girls doing?"

The three girls practically beamed with excitement, their voices overlapping as they tried to tell Akia everything at once. It was clear they looked up to her like some sort of big sister figure.

Aoto stood back, watching the interaction with a small smile. It was strange, but kind of nice, seeing how well Akia connected with the younger students. She was good with them, in a way that was both caring and effortless.

After a few minutes of chatting, Akia stood back up, waving goodbye to the younger girls as they scampered off, laughing and giggling as they disappeared down the hall.

Aoto raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You're popular with the middle schoolers, huh?"

Akia shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "I guess so. I helped out with some of their clubs last year, so they always come running when they see me."

Aoto chuckled. "Looks like you've got quite the fanbase."

Akia playfully nudged him. "Hey, you'll be popular too soon enough. Especially after all the stuff you've been involved in lately."

Aoto sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, but I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not..."

Akia laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't worry, Aoto. I'm sure the middle schoolers will love you too. You've got that 'cool older guy' vibe going on."

Aoto rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but smile. Maybe he did have a bit of that cool older guy vibe. At least, he hoped so.

The two continued their walk around the middle school section, exploring the different classrooms and open areas. The vibe was lighter, more playful, and Aoto found himself enjoying the change of pace. The academy was definitely big, but it felt like a close-knit community in a lot of ways.

As they walked, Aoto couldn't help but feel that this was another part of the unique experience he was having at CherryWood Academy. Every day brought something new—new people, new places, new adventures. And through it all, he was growing, not just as a student, but as someone learning to navigate an entirely different world.

Maybe this academy wasn't just about studying. Maybe it was about finding where he truly belonged, among all the chaos and the fun.

And he was starting to believe that he was well on his way.

Aoto continues to walk through the hallways, admiring the school's interior. As he continues to explore the school, he bumps into someone, making them drop their books.

"Ow! Hey, watch it, buddy!"

"Sorry. I didn't see you there."

Aoto looks at the girl he bumped into. She had glasses, a hair bun, bowl cut hair, and medium breasts.

"Hmph. You should watch where you're going, dumbass." She scoffs as she picks up her books.

Aoto helps her and says, "Sorry." He noticed she was an Average Class and has thick small eyebrows.

The girl glared at him and noticed that he's a high schooler, "You're a high schooler? What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Uh...exploring the school."

"Ugh. Boys are so fucking annoying." She said.

"Hey, we're all not *that* bad."

"Yeah, right." She rolls her eyes, "Well, thanks for the help."

"No problem."

The two stood in silence for a few seconds.

"So...what's your name?" Aoto asked, trying to break the silence.

"Huh?" She was taken aback by the question.

"I'm Aoto."

"Oh...uh, I'm Eri." She said, not looking at him.

"Eri, huh? That's a cute name."

"Whatever."

Aoto and Eri stood there, neither one saying anything.

"So... what do you do for fun?" Aoto said but Eri hits him hard with a book. "Not in that context!"

"Hmph, well as you can see I like reading books."

"Really? What kind of books do you read?"

"Romance. Adventure. Drama. Fantasy." She said, still not looking at him.

"That's cool. I'm not really a big fan of romance books." He ducks from another hit, "Okay, now that was unnecessary!"

"Hmph."

The two continue to stand in awkward silence.

"So...is there anything you want to do?" Aoto asked.

"Not really." She said, shrugging.

"Oh by the way. I'm from..." Aoto cautiously stepped back. "I'm a human from Earth." He revealed then ducked from a book that was thrown at him and hit Akia. "Hey what the fuck!? I was honest!"

"Ugh! You're so annoying!"

"Come on, can't we talk normally?"

"Hmph, fine."

Aoto winced, rubbing the spot on his arm where Eri had hit him with her book. The two of them stood in awkward silence again, the tension between them palpable. Akia, who had just been hit by the book thrown by Eri, approached rubbing her forehead, looking between the two with confusion and mild annoyance.

"What the hell was that for?!" Akia snapped, glaring at Eri.

"Sorry!" Eri muttered, clearly flustered, though she refused to make eye contact with either Aoto or Akia. "It just... slipped."

Aoto let out a heavy sigh. "Okay, okay. Let's just take a step back here." He straightened up, holding his hands out in a placating gesture. "Look, I didn't mean to annoy you, Eri. I just thought we could, you know, talk like normal people."

Eri crossed her arms and huffed, her thick eyebrows furrowing as she looked off to the side. "You're weird. And annoying," she grumbled, though the bite in her tone was starting to soften.

"I get that a lot," Aoto replied with a slight smirk. "But you don't seem like the type to just go throwing books at anyone unless you're actually a little curious."

Eri blinked, surprised by the observation. She finally glanced up at Aoto, her expression still irritated, but there was a flicker of interest in her eyes. "Curious? About what?"

Aoto shrugged. "I don't know. Why else would you stick around and throw books at me instead of just walking away?"

Eri opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She seemed to be struggling to find a retort, her lips pressed into a tight line.

Akia, still rubbing the spot where the book had hit her, sighed heavily and decided to jump in, hoping to diffuse the situation. "Okay, how about we all just relax? We're just exploring the school, Eri, that's all. No need to throw anything."

Eri sighed, finally letting her guard down just a little. "Fine. I guess I overreacted," she admitted, though she didn't sound completely apologetic.

Aoto gave her a half-smile, rubbing his arm again. "Hey, no worries. I'm used to getting hit at this point," he joked. "I'm like a magnet for this stuff."

Eri rolled her eyes but let out a small, reluctant chuckle. "You're such a dork," she muttered.

"Better than being boring," Aoto shot back playfully.

The tension between them seemed to ease as Eri's posture relaxed. Though still a little guarded, she wasn't throwing books or insults anymore. Akia, sensing the shift, decided to keep things moving.

"So, Eri," Akia asked, folding her arms. "What do you think of the middle school section here?"

Eri shrugged, her expression bored. "It's fine, I guess. There's nothing exciting here. Just classes and more classes." She looked up at Aoto, then back at Akia. "I don't get why high schoolers would come here, though."

"Just curious about the layout," Aoto replied. "I didn't even know there was a middle school section until Akia told me."

Eri nodded slowly, her gaze flicking between them. "Well, now you know," she said, her tone less hostile now.

After another brief pause, Aoto decided to make another attempt at conversation. "So, you mentioned reading romance and adventure books. Any recommendations? I've been looking for something new to check out."

Eri raised an eyebrow at him, her arms still crossed. "You? Reading romance? I don't buy it."

Aoto chuckled. "Not romance, but adventure. Fantasy, maybe. I like action-packed stuff."

Eri narrowed her eyes but seemed to be considering it. "There's this series I've been reading. It's got a mix of both adventure and romance. The Crystal Conquest. You'd probably like the action parts. But I doubt you'd get through the romance without complaining."

Aoto grinned. "Hey, I'll give it a shot. I've survived worse."

Eri scoffed but didn't seem to mind his response. "Fine. Try not to whine about the kissing scenes, though."

Akia, feeling the conversation lighten up, smiled. "You know, Aoto, maybe this'll be good for you. Expand your reading horizons a little."

Aoto groaned playfully, rolling his eyes. "I'm doomed, aren't I?"

Eri gave him a small smirk, finally relaxing a little more. "Yeah, probably."

The three of them stood there for a moment, the earlier tension now almost completely gone. Aoto could tell that while Eri still had her walls up, she wasn't as hostile as before. Maybe it was the shared interest in books—or maybe it was just that Aoto had managed to wear her down with his persistence. Either way, he felt like he was making progress.

As they started walking down the hallway again, Aoto glanced at Eri. "You know, I think we got off on the wrong foot. We should hang out more. Maybe you can help me not be such an annoying dumbass."

Eri rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile on her face now. "Good luck with that."

Akia laughed, nudging Aoto. "Looks like you've got your work cut out for you."

Aoto grinned. "Wouldn't be the first time."