After the excitement of the last event, the days that followed felt slow and a bit boring. Classes dragged on, and even lunch breaks seemed longer than usual. But one afternoon, as everyone was packing up to leave, a sudden knock at the door caught everyone's attention.
The class teacher walked in, holding a paper."A notice from the principal," she announced. She cleared her throat dramatically, making the students sit straight."Students are informed that the Annual Function will be held next month. Those who wish to participate in events such as plays, dances, singing, and more, should form groups and submit their names by the end of the week."
The room exploded with noise.
"Finally something fun!" All shouted.
"Let's do a dance!" someone from the back yelled.
Kiddy's group huddled together near their desks.
"I say we do a play," Sam said eagerly, slamming his hands on the table.
"A dance performance would be so much better," Lily countered, crossing her arms.
Sam rolled his eyes. "Dance? Really? Do you want us to embarrass ourselves?"
Lily glared back. "And you think your acting is any better, Mr. Overdramatic?"
The tension started to rise. Sam's face turned a little red, and Lily wasn't backing down either.
Before it could turn into a full-blown fight, Kiddy quickly raised his hands.
"How about... we do both?" he suggested with a smile. "We have a big group anyway!"
Sam and Lily stared at each other, then huffed and nodded.
"Fine," Lily said, flipping her hair.
"Whatever," Sam muttered, looking away.
They quickly formed two teams.
Sam's team had Harry, Kiddy, and Felia — they would work on the play.
Lily's team had Ammy and Mando — they would prepare the dance performance.
But then Lily frowned.
"We're one person short," she said. "I need another member to balance it out!"
Since all their classmates had already formed groups, the full gang decided to scout other classes to find someone willing to join Lily's team.
Kiddy and Sam volunteered to go first.
They peeked into a neighboring classroom. Students were chatting and packing up. Sam pointed at a girl sitting quietly at her desk.
Without thinking, he marched up to her and said loudly, "Hey! Wanna join a dance team?"
The girl jumped, startled. Her reflexes kicked in, and she almost slapped Sam across the face. Sam flinched, holding his hands up."Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" he yelped.
Kiddy quickly stepped in, laughing awkwardly."We're forming teams for the Annual Function," he explained. "Would you like to join?"
The girl looked at them suspiciously at first, but then smiled slightly "Alright, I'll join."
Excited, they brought her back to their classroom."Yo! we found someone." Kiddy announced proudly.
The moment Mando saw her, he froze like a statue. His bag slipped from his shoulder and landed on the floor with a soft thud.
Ammy, noticing his reaction, leaned toward Kiddy and whispered, "Don't you know she's Mando's crush?"
Kiddy's eyes widened. He looked at poor Mando, still frozen in place, and felt a wave of guilt wash over him.
"Oops," Kiddy muttered. He quickly apologized to Mando with a sheepish grin.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group burst into laughter. Rose stood there confused, having no idea what was so funny, but she was welcomed warmly nonetheless.
After the teams were finalized and everyone said their goodbyes, the group slowly scattered, heading toward their homes. Kiddy and Ammy ended up walking together, chatting as they strolled down the quiet street.
The afternoon sun was warm on their backs, and their laughter echoed lightly in the air.
"So..." Ammy began, kicking a small pebble along the path, "this whole play and dance thing... Do you even know what Sam's planning for the play?"
Kiddy scratched the back of his head.
"Not exactly. He just said something about it being funny and a bit 'royal'... whatever that means."He shrugged. "Knowing Sam, it's probably going to be all over the place."
Ammy laughed. "Yeah, sounds about right. I bet he'll somehow turn it into a comedy even if it's supposed to be serious."
Kiddy chuckled. "Wouldn't surprise me if we end up wearing ridiculous costumes too."
Ammy grinned."As for Lily... she was muttering something about making the dance look 'grand' and 'eye-catching.' But she didn't really explain much either."
Kiddy looked skeptical."Eye-catching, huh? That could mean anything with Lily. Last time she said that, Sam ended up covered in glitter for a week."
Ammy laughed so hard she had to stop for a second."I remember that! He was sparkling a lot under the sun!"
Kiddy smirked."Poor guy. Guess we'll just have to show up tomorrow and find out what madness they've cooked up."
Ammy nodded, swinging her bag over her shoulder."Yep. No backing out now."
They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments, the breeze tugging lightly at their clothes.
Soon, Kiddy's house came into view — the familiar white fence and neat little garden.
"Well, this is me," Kiddy said, stopping by his gate.
Ammy smiled and gave a small wave.
"See you tomorrow. Let's survive whatever chaos Sam and Lily are planning."
Kiddy grinned."We'll need all the luck we can get."
They shared a small laugh before Ammy turned and headed down the street, and Kiddy watched her go with a small smile before heading inside.
The next day at school, Kiddy's group gathered near the class teacher's desk, submitting their names for participation in the Annual Function. With that, their after-school training officially began.
Both Sam's and Lily's groups wasted no time — each day after classes, they stayed back to rehearse, determined to give it their best.
On the first day of practice, Sam called his team together in a corner of the classroom. He stood dramatically on a chair, clearing his throat loudly.
"Alright, team! I have decided... we're going to perform a play based on the Disney movie — Cinderella!"
Everyone on Sam's team — Kiddy, Harry, and Felia — just stared at him in shock.
"Cinderella?" Kiddy repeated, blinking.
"Uhh, Sam, we're just four people. That's not enough for a full Cinderella play..."
Sam grinned widely, as if expecting that reaction.
"Don't worry! I've already thought about that. Eric and his friends agreed to help us out!"
At that news, everyone's faces lit up. Even Felia, who usually stayed quiet, looked a bit surprised but excited.
"But..." Sam added, raising a finger dramatically,
"They want something in return. They want our help with their event too."
Kiddy shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips.
"No problem. It's a fair trade. We accept their deal."
Sam nodded proudly like he'd signed an international treaty.
He and Eric shook hands like serious businessmen, forming a silly "contract" by writing their names on a scrap of paper and dramatically stamping it with their thumbs.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Lily's group was hard at work.
Lily had somehow, overnight, created an entire dance choreography — and it left Ammy and Mando completely stunned.
Ammy, wide-eyed, whispered to Mando,
"I've never seen her this serious about anything that isn't scolding Sam."
Mando nodded silently, trying to keep up with Lily's energetic explanations.
Even Rose, who was still new to the group, watched with admiration."She's... actually amazing," Rose mumbled, impressed.
One by one, Lily patiently explained each step: where to move, when to twirl, and even small hand movements they had to match perfectly.
The next day, after classes, Kiddy and Felia were called aside by Sam.He looked way too excited about something.
"I have an announcement!" Sam grinned. "You two are playing the main roles in the play! Kiddy, you're the Prince. Felia, you're Cinderella!"
Kiddy and Felia froze, blinking at each other.Slowly, both of them blushed — Felia quickly looked away, fiddling with her sleeve nervously.
Trying to hide her embarrassment, Felia turned to Sam."Umm... c-can't someone else play Cinderella?" she asked, almost pleading.
Sam shrugged, looking casual.
"You're the only girl in our team, Felia. It has to be you."
Realizing she had no way out, Felia reluctantly nodded, cheeks still faintly pink.
Kiddy scratched his head awkwardly, giving her a small, reassuring smile.
Meanwhile, Lily's team was deep into their dance practice.Rose was surprisingly good with her footwork — quick and precise — but she struggled with her upper body movements, often forgetting to keep her hands graceful.
Ammy, on the other hand, was naturally good at dancing. She picked up the steps easily, only needing a little adjustment on her timing.
Mando, however, was off to a rough start.
He stumbled over his feet more times than Lily could count, looking completely lost most of the time.
Watching her team, Lily sighed heavily, thinking to herself,"This is going to be tough."
After some more hours of training, everyone finally went home, exhausted but excited.
Later that evening, Sam and Lily decided to meet up at a nearby café.Over cups of coffee and sandwiches, Sam awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"Hey... sorry about the argument we had at the start," he said quietly.
Lily smiled a little. "It's okay. I was stubborn too."
The two of them laughed, the tension completely gone. They spent the rest of the time teasing each other, talking about random things, and laughing about the chaos of their teams.
When they left the café, they came out holding hands, walking side by side.
Sam dropped Lily off at her house first, waving goodbye, before heading home himself with a smile on his face.
Kiddy and Felia were given their scripts by one of Eric's friends.Kiddy smiled and thanked him for the help before handing Felia her copy.
From then on, Kiddy and Felia began practicing their lines every day, even sneaking in some practice during lunch.
Sometimes, they'd be seen reading scripts with sandwiches in one hand and the paper in the other.
Harry, noticing them getting closer, couldn't resist teasing."You two were meant to play these roles," he said with a big grin, nudging Kiddy with his elbow.
Felia turned red instantly, and Kiddy looked flustered.Before things could get more awkward, Ammy scolded Harry sharply, "Stop bothering them! Let them practice in peace."
Kiddy looked at Ammy and gave her a small, relieved smile as if saying "thank you."Ammy simply smiled back and returned to her lunch.
Meanwhile, Lily's team was making steady progress — well, mostly.Rose had finally gotten her footwork and upper body movements to match up, and Ammy was perfect at switching between moves smoothly.The only concern was Mando.
No matter how hard he tried, Mando just couldn't catch the rhythm properly.
Watching him struggle, Lily's face slowly turned tense and worried."Will we even be able to give a good performance?" she thought.
Noticing Lily's sad expression, Mando clenched his fists.After practice ended and everyone was packing up, he stood up and said, "I'd like to stay and practice a little more."
Lily shook her head. "You've done enough for today, Mando. You need rest too."
But Mando insisted, determination flashing in his eyes."I don't want to be a burden on the team," he said.
Seeing his stubbornness, Lily sighed, giving a small smile."Fine... but just one more hour. After that, go home, okay?"
Mando nodded gratefully, and everyone else left.
Alone in the empty classroom, Mando practiced over and over, but no matter what he tried, he still wasn't getting it right.
Frustrated and tired, he was about to give up when suddenly a voice called out to him.
"Still practicing?"
It was Rose, who had come back because she forgot her phone.
Seeing Mando still there struggling, she tilted her head and asked, "Why are you pushing yourself so hard?"
Mando wiped his forehead and replied quietly, "Because I want to help my friends... I don't want to let them down."
Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Rose smiled softly.
"Your moves are too stiff," she said. "You need to loosen up a bit."
Without waiting, she guided him through some basic stretching exercises to help relax his body.After a while, Mando tried the dance moves again — and to his surprise, they felt a lot smoother.
"You're getting it!" Rose cheered lightly.
Mando beamed, finally feeling a bit of hope."Thanks, Rose," he said sincerely.
"Don't mention it," she said casually. "Let's practice together tomorrow too."
Those simple words hit Mando like a missile.His face turned bright red like a tomato, and before Rose could notice properly, he sprinted toward his bag, pretending to pack up quickly.
Rose blinked in confusion. "What's wrong with him?" she mumbled.
"I'm coming! Just packing my stuff!" Mando shouted, still trying to hide his face.
After a few minutes, they walked home together, chatting lightly under the evening sky.
As the days of practice passed, Kiddy and Felia's performance grew better and better.
They were saying their lines without a single stutter, and their voices carried clearly across the room.
Sam praised them after their rehearsal.
"You two are doing great! Honestly, I think you're pretty much ready for the play."
Kiddy and Felia smiled and thanked him.
Sam added, "If you want, you can go home early today."
They exchanged a glance, thinking it over for a second, and then agreed.
But before leaving, they decided to check on Lily's team.
Walking over, they spotted Rose patiently helping Mando with his movements, while Lily and Ammy practiced switching moves together.Curious, Kiddy walked up to Lily and asked, "Are those two getting closer?"
Lily shrugged, wiping sweat from her forehead. "I don't know... but at least they're talking like friends now."
"Nice," Kiddy nodded approvingly.
Before he could say anything more, Ammy's voice chimed in from behind them, teasing, "So... slacking off from practice as usual, huh?"
Kiddy jumped slightly, caught off guard, and turned to see Ammy smirking.
She added, "Including Felia this time too... you've got some nerves."
Kiddy crossed his arms and shot back, "Yeah? Well, I can slack off all I want because I finished my practice. Got a problem with that, Miss Ammy?"
Ammy pretended to be surprised. "Whoa! You finally decided to put in some work? Congrats, Kiddy."
Kiddy narrowed his eyes at her sarcastic tone."Yeah, yeah. Bye, and good luck with your practice," he said, walking away dramatically.
Ammy giggled behind him, satisfied that she had won the little battle.Felia followed Kiddy, hiding her own smile.
After leaving the school, Kiddy's stomach rumbled loudly.He looked at Felia and said, "I'm starving. Wanna grab something to eat?"
Felia hesitated for a second but then nodded. "Sure."
They found a small food cart nearby, bought some snacks, and then walked to a quiet park to sit down.
The park was peaceful, bathed in soft orange hues from the setting sun.
They sat on a bench, munching on their food, and chatting casually.
"You know," Kiddy said, looking at the sky, "at first, I thought working on this play would be super boring."
Felia smiled gently. "And now?"
He glanced at her and smiled. "Now... it's actually fun. Especially because I get to practice with you."
Felia's cheeks turned a faint pink, but she looked down at her snack to hide it.
"You're really good at acting," she said softly. "You make it easier for me too."
Kiddy chuckled. "Nah... you're the one carrying me. I just follow your lead most of the time."
Felia looked up, a little surprised at how honestly he said it.There was a lightness in Kiddy's tone, but his words felt warm and real.
"Still," Kiddy added, "I'm glad... I'm glad I got paired with you."
Felia smiled, holding her snack a little tighter, feeling a strange flutter in her chest.
They sat there for a few minutes longer, just enjoying the food, the sunset, and each other's company without saying much.It wasn't awkward — it was comfortable, like they didn't need words to enjoy the moment.
As the sky darkened, they decided it was time to head home.Kiddy walked Felia to the station, carrying both their empty food wrappers to toss in a nearby bin.
At the station entrance, he turned to her and gave a big, bright smile.
"See you tomorrow! Get home safe!"
Felia smiled back, her heart skipping a beat as she stepped into the train.
As she leaned against the train window, she touched her chest lightly, thinking, "What... just happened to me?"
Meanwhile, Kiddy, who had started sprinting towards his house, was grinning like an idiot."Was that... like a date?!" he thought, his heart pounding in excitement.
After a few weeks of intense training, both teams were finally ready.
The Annual Function was just two days away, and excitement buzzed in the air.
They gathered at school one last time for a full rehearsal.
Sam's team went first. As they performed their play, Lily's team sat and watched attentively.Once the performance ended, Lily and her team gave a warm round of applause.
Lily then stepped up and said, "Now it's our turn. Sam, I want your honest opinion."
Sam nodded. "Sure, let's see what you've got."
Lily's team took the stage.The music started, and the entire group danced with grace and energy.Sam sat there, wide-eyed, completely mesmerized by Lily's movements.She danced with such elegance that he forgot to even blink.
Meanwhile, Kiddy and Harry applauded enthusiastically from the side.Kiddy leaned toward Ammy and teased, "Hey, your expressions were way too dramatic — you trying to win an Oscar or what?"
Ammy gave him a playful glare and muttered, "Just cheer quietly."
Harry, on the other hand, was stunned. "Wait... was that Mando?! He didn't mess up once!"
After the performance, while everyone was celebrating, Kiddy and Sam noticed something.
Mando and Rose were walking off together, laughing and chatting.Kiddy and Sam exchanged glances — no words were needed.They silently followed behind, staying out of sight.
Peeking from behind a wall, they saw Rose showing Mando a few dance steps, correcting his posture, guiding him gently.
They weren't on a date — she was just helping him improve.
Kiddy sighed and turned to Sam."We got our hopes up too high."
Sam nodded, equally disappointed."Yeah... way too high."
With a little laugh, they gave up their spying and returned to join the group.
That evening, everyone gathered for one last group discussion about their upcoming performance.Most of them were nervous, sweating just thinking about it.But Kiddy, as always, was calm — relaxed in his own weird, confident way.
As the final practice ended, they all began walking home together.
Kiddy was chatting with Ammy, laughing about something, when Felia suddenly called out, "Kiddy, wait!"
He turned around. "Yeah? What's up?"
Felia, fidgeting with her bag strap, said softly, "I think… we should rehearse one more time."
Kiddy noticed her nervous tone and immediately smiled. "Sure. But where should we practice?"
Felia hesitated, then said, "My place. If that's okay…"
Kiddy's eyes widened slightly, a blush creeping up his face.
Behind him, Sam and Harry exchanged evil grins and poked him in the back.
"Look at you, lover boy," Sam whispered, grinning.
Felia quickly added, "If you don't want to come, then just forget it!"
Kiddy shook his head, flustered. "No, no! I'll come for sure."
He turned to Ammy and said, "Sorry, Ammy. You okay heading home alone today?"
Ammy looked at him blankly for a moment.
Then she gave a small smile and said, "Do as you please. I don't have a problem."
Kiddy blinked, unsure whether she was upset or not, but chose not to push it.
He waved goodbye to the group and followed Felia, while the others smirked and teased behind their backs.
As they reached her house Kiddy stood awkwardly at Felia's front door as she unlocked it.
"You can come in," she said, opening it wider. "Just take your shoes off."
"Y-Yeah, of course," Kiddy replied, stepping inside. Her home was neat and cozy, with a slight lavender scent in the air. It suited her calm but sharp personality perfectly.
She led him to the living room, where she placed the script and cleared space to rehearse.
"You are fast at these works," Kiddy said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I do a lot of this so...," she replied, avoiding eye contact.
They started rehearsing — at first, it was all serious. Felia corrected his tone when he rushed lines, and Kiddy helped her with stage cues. But slowly, as they repeated the scene where the prince finds Cinderella and kneels, things became... awkward.
Kiddy kneeled in front of her for the tenth time and said, "I finally found you, my princess."
There was silence. Felia was supposed to reply — but she just stared at him.
"Uhh… Felia?"
Felia snapped out of it, cheeks burning. "I-I forgot the line!"
They both laughed.
"Guess we're both getting too into this," Kiddy chuckled, scratching his head.
Felia sat down on the couch, hiding her flustered face behind the script. "I'm not used to this kind of role…"
Kiddy joined her, his tone soft. "You're doing great though. Honestly, I was nervous at first, but practicing with you made it easier."
Felia glanced at him, her voice low. "I'm glad we got paired together."
Kiddy looked at her for a second, then smiled. "Me too."
For a moment, the two just sat there in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was warm — peaceful. Felia then stood up suddenly.
"I'll get us something to drink!"
She returned with two glasses of cold juice, placing one beside Kiddy. As they sipped and talked about random things — favorite movies, teachers they disliked, and childhood dreams — time flew by.
Suddenly, Felia looked at the clock. "It's almost 8… You should head home."
"Oh, shoot. Yeah, you're right," Kiddy stood up quickly.
She walked him to the door. As he put on his shoes, she hesitated for a second, then softly said, "Kiddy… thanks for coming and let's do our best in the annual function"
He looked at her, gave his signature big smile, and said, "Yeah let's do our best."
Felia watched him walk away, then closed the door slowly, placing a hand on her chest. Her heart was racing.
Outside, Kiddy started sprinting again, thinking, "What even was that?"
And so, as the evening sky dimmed and the lights of the city flickered on one by one, Kiddy and Felia wrapped up their final rehearsal—hearts a little fuller, minds a little lighter, and the excitement of the Annual Function just around the corner, waiting to unfold a new chapter in their story.