Alright, I asked and you guys answered- we're fast forwarding to sixth grade. Also, I apologize for my repeated absences/hiatuses, and thank any patient subscribers *bows 90 degrees

When you finish this chappy, remember comments are much appreciated!

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Sungmin fidgeted in her seat, occassionally and unnecessarily re-organizing her pink school supplies. It was the first day of middle school (I don't know how schooling works in Korea, so I'm using the U.S. schooling system), who wouldn't be nervous? She was self-conscious about everything; was her ponytail still tight and neat? Was the pink ribbon still in a perfect bow? Were her socks too long? Was her sweater too big? Was this, was that..

Suddenly, a familiar rhythm of footsteps pattered on the floor, and she looked up in relief. "Oh, there you are, Kyu."

"Yes, yes, here I am. Did you wait for long? I bet you are so very glad to see me." That signature smirk.

Sungmin scowled. "Yeah, you sure make my life so much brighter. I mean, you are the nicest person ever. Really."

"Don't I know it. I can't imagine your life without me in it."

"Pfft, whatever you say. Anyways, are you nervous? We have Mrs. Jung, the strictest teacher in the whole school."

"Nah. She's the Maths teacher, she'll love me. You, on the other hand.."

"Don't remind me, I barely scraped by last year. At least my Literature grades aren't atrocious though!"

"I really don't understand how you can like reading! It's so boringgg, why read when you can be using the computer?"

 "Because I actually want my eyesight and braincells to last.."

"Shut up."

"Shut down."

A sigh, and a roll of eyes. "Really?"

"No, not really. You're just imagining it."

Then, wild high-pitched giggles sounded throughout the hallway, getting closer to the room, accompanied by the sound of two pairs of running feet. Everyone in the classroom turned aroundtowards the source of the noise, but Sungmin and Kyuhyun already knew who it was.

"Aww, Hae, please give me my shoe back!"

More giggles. "If I wanted to give it to you, I would've given it to you a few blocks back!"

"Pleaseee! Or else I won't come look at your new fish later!"

"You know you want to come over- you were the one who asked in the first place, pabo! Fine, catch!"

*Thunk

"HAE! OWW!"

Those giggles again. "I warned you!"

The sound of stumbling, then a thud.

"Lee Hyukjae! YOU ARE SO DEAD!"

Lee Hyukjae, or now better known as Eunhyuk, sprinted gleefully through the door and into the room, a livid Lee Donghae hot on his heels. Their peers had already continued their conversational chatter, accustomed to the usual cacophany created daily by none other than the monkey and fish. Except for the new students, who of course stared wide-eyed and open mouthed. Eunhyuk dove into a seat right behind Sungmin, and Donghae into the one behind Kyuhyun right after. Eunhyuk narrowly dodged a flying punch, but a following thunk on the head hit its mark. Eunhyuk groaned and rubbed his head, Donghae smirking in satisfaction, and Sungmin and Kyuhyun just laughed. Eunhyuk and Donghae joined in.

"You two are crazy as ever." Kyuhyun snorted.

"WELL, excuse us Mr. Serious-"

"That's Mr. Sane to you."

"Whatever. I really wonder how Min gets you to laugh sometimes. Really, even your parents and sister are so happy and fun, but I suppose you're the *ahem* weird one.." Donghae says, and Eunhyuk nods in agreement.

"If anyone's weird here, it's obviously Yesung.."

Sungmin smiles. She knows her brother isn't exactly ordinary, but with her family and friends, who is?

"So, where are our Chinese Chingus?" The four of them smiled fondly.

"I suppose they're in Mr. Chou's homeroom."

Just then, a familiar click-clack of heels on linoleum floor sounded outside the classroom door, getting closer and closer. Students wandering around or sitting on desks scrambled about, sliding quickly into desks to avoid being caught "fraternizing." Then the door opened, and it was so quiet the sound of a pin dropping would've been like the dropping of a nuclear bomb. The teacher calmly set her books and bag on her desk, then glanced up and stared down the class with a sharp gaze.

"Good morning, class. My name is Mrs. Jung."

"Good morning, Mrs. Jung." For reasons unknown, Donghae couldn't help but giggle, but the teacher chose to ignore it. Eunhyuk jabbed her in the ribs, and she glared, but it effectivly shut her up.

"Welcome back to school, everyone- your first year of middle school. Please treat me well. I hope you all work and study hard this year."

"Yes, Ma'am."

The door abruptly swung open, and Seohyun scrambled in, school bag askew and skirt wrinkled, but she still looked like a child/teenage model. "Sorry, sorry, I overslept! I promise it won't happen again!" She bowed 90 degrees and quickly shuffled over to an empty seat by Sungmin, her head down and face burning. Sungmin waved and flashed her a smile of reassurance, which Seohyun gladly returned.

"Ms. Joohyun, I hope you keep your promise. See to it you will be punctual as said." Seohyun nodded frantically.

"Good. Today your schedule will be.."

Sungmin looked longlingly out the window. It hadn't even been an hour and she already missed the summer.

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At lunch, they all sat together at a table- Kyuhyun, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Henry, and Zhou Mi. Seohyun and her friends sat at an adjacent table. Hyoyeon glanced over and flashed a smile and a wave, which they all returned (Eunhyuk did so with a blush). Sunny and Sungmin exchanged a few words of greeting, as they were in seperate homerooms and hadn't the chance to talk yet, and rejoined their respective tables.

"So, how was classes so far, everyone?" Henry asked through a mouthful of sandwich, his ever-adorable cheeks ballooning out.

"Yeah, how is being in Mrs. Jung's homeroom?" Zhou Mi added as she playfully stole one of Henry's chips. Henry mock-glared, but he let her get away with it, a smile hinting at the corners of his mouth.

"Not bad. She's not really scary right now, but I'm pretty sure later in the year she crack down on us, like-" *SMACK*, Kyuhyun says, slamming his fist down on the tabletop. Sungmin inwardly kept in a laugh at his dorkiness. Zhou Mi didn't bother to keep it in- she let out an infectious, feminie laugh, and smiled fondly at him. Kyuhyun couldn't help but blush slightly in embarassment.

"It really isn't so terrible, but can you believe we already have homework? On the first day of school!" Eunhyuk groans.

"Yeah, I think she's already starting to develop favorites though," Sungmin smiles as she nudges Kyuhyun. "I guess some of us aren't good enough to be favorites.." Kyuhyun trails off, pretending to look anywhere except for Sungmin. She flicked his forehead.

"Hey!" he whined.

"Teacher's pet."

They all laughed, familiar laughs they all came to know and cherish from childhood.

Perhaps school wasn't so bad after all.