The first uniform was a black jacket highlighted by white patterns around the edges. The Wonder Phoenix insignia positioned on the chest with two pockets at the bottom with shiny golden buttons. The T-shirt inside was white carrying the same logo and light gray trousers.

The second version carried the same elements but different colors. The jacket was blue with the same white decorations and logo, the T-shirt instead was identical and the trousers were light beige.

“What are you doing?! Stop!” Nova shouted, embarrassed. The husky tried to undress him to try the uniform on.

“I'm helping! Let's go behind that divider. I wanna see how good it looks on you!”

Arthur went behind and pushed him inside.

“Hey Melody, prepare the second version too! Gotta choose the best one.”

“Get your paws off of me! I'll do it by myself! I said stop!”

No matter what he said Nova couldn't shake him off and after a few minutes, he walked outside, showing Melody the final deal.

“Oh yeah. I rock baby!” She clapped, praising herself.

“How did you know my size?” Nova asked, turning around. He noticed how everything fit perfectly without a problem.

“Your Jungle Madness gave everything away,” she explained with a smug grin. “I have a keen eye for guessing sizes. I've been sewing clothes for every kind of shape. I’ve done bigger things. You were easy-peasy.”

“You look alright in the dark version but I think the other one would be best on you,” Arthur commented, moving in circles around him.

“The uniform is extremely comfortable I have to say, Melody. Good job,” Nova replied.

“Thanks to the school's funds I was able to afford high quality materials.” She opened a drawer and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. “Let's get down to business. Nova, I'll get straight to the point. I want you to always wear my three uniforms for a month when you're on school grounds.”

“I don't mind, but my clothes are laying there. Can I start tomorrow?”

“No, I'd like you to start as soon as possible!” She quickly grabbed one of her backpacks, emptied it and handed it over to him. “Here use mine for today and give it back to me tomorrow. Remember that you're not allowed to wander outside school with your uniform on that's why you gotta carry a bag with your daily clothes.”

“That means I gotta change four times every day?!” He yelled.

“Four? What are you saying? You gotta change twice!” She replied, puzzled. “When you get here in the morning and when you leave in the afternoon.”

Arthur started to laugh as he realized what he meant. “He's also counting the morning when you wake up and night for sleeping.”

“Jeez, are you serious?” She crossed her arms. “I heard pandas were lazy but this is too much.”

“What happens if I refuse?” Nova questioned.

“I'll be forced to make another uniform in the old style, unless you wanna pay for the new version.”

“Oh no, no, no! Nova trust me the old uniform is ugly! I have no idea who designed it but even someone like me, who doesn't care about clothes, would never wear it unless forced.” The husky shook his head in disgust. “Take the opportunity. It's free!”

“Right now my family can't really afford to buy me extra things…” He sighed, looking down at the paper. “Okay, I'm in.”

The panda took the pen and signed.

“Amazing!” She screamed, grasping his paws in excitement. “Thank you! Thank you so much for helping me out!”

The meerkat rushed away, jumping inside a chest. She started pulling all kinds of fabrics with the brightest colors. Melody stared at them for a few moments before throwing them away.

“What are you doing now?” Arthur said, peeking inside.

“Hey! Get out! No sneaky hints here! I'm already working! Take Nova, his stuff I packed inside the bag, and leave!” She scolded, pushing him away by pressing against his nose.

“Alright, alright… We're leaving.” The husky rolled his eyes, stuffed his paws inside his trousers’ pockets and headed for the door.

“Melody, I wanted to thank you for what you did. You've been really kind. I'm sorry for letting myself go like that in front of you,” Nova apologized, placing the backpack on his back.

“You know what I think?” She began, turning to him. “Whoever believes such lies will instantly understand their mistake. Now go, you have a lot of things to do and so do I.” The meerkat dove back inside. “Have a good day!”

Nova and Arthur stepped outside into the hallway. He stared at his friend completely lost.

“What do we do now?” The panda glanced down, frightened. “I'd like to not move downstairs, I wanna avoid the students glaring at me.”

“We could walk back into the classroom then.” He checked the time on his phone. “Break is almost over so we could move there and finish the missing introductions.”

“I suppose that's the only thing I can do, can't I?”

Nova inhaled the bitter taste of defeat as he couldn't do anything but wait. The headmistress left to who-knows-where and he couldn't meet with the other students with this lie moving around the school.

“You-You hear that?!” Arthur raised his head towards the ceiling, alarmed.

“Did something happen?” The panda tilted his head, confused. The husky must've had more sensible ears and perceived something that slipped Nova’s attention.

“It was a thud sound. Extremely unusual. Felt like something just suddenly fell onto the floor,” he explained with great precision.

“And your point is?” He shrugged, “Maybe someone on the third floor dropped something.”

“The third floor should be empty right now.”

“Maybe a teacher? Someone like Melody working on its personal room?”

“The teacher's lounge is on the first floor. The workshops on the third floor haven't been assigned yet.”

“What about-"

“Shh, listen.”

Arthur covered his mouth and placed him closer to the wall. Nova started to hear a camera's flash at regular intervals every five seconds.

“What the…”

“I would recognize this sound everywhere.” He narrowed his eyes as he ran on all four towards the third floor.

“Wait for me!” The panda yelled as he chased after him.

Nova couldn't handle stairs and running at the same time. He took a few deep breaths while his heart screamed inside his chest. Arthur didn't wait for him. He quickly climbed to the next floor leaving him behind.

Luckily for the panda, Arthur didn't go that far and after resting a few moments to collect enough strength to push through he found him standing still at the beginning of a crossroad.

“So?” He panted, “What did you find?”

The husky didn't reply. He was frozen in place, staring on the right towards something.

“Oh my god…” Nova covered his paws, shocked as he turned in the direction Arthur was looking. “Somebody help him!”

“R-RYUU!” The husky hurried to him when another camera flash hit them, his panic quickly faded and switched to adrenaline.

On the left there was a small bat laying on the edge of a window holding a camera in his tiny claws. He was still snapping photos everywhere and scribbling stuff on his notebook.

On the left was Ryuu who had disappeared for the entire break hour, with half of his face covered in blood. He didn't look moved at all by the situation but he did touch it to confirm he was actually bleeding. It felt unreal. Nova didn't want to believe it. He knew that this school was crazy but hurting someone else like that? He couldn't accept it. There is no excuse for such behavior.

He didn't trust Ryuu and his facade. He was sure that whoever did that to him it must've hurt like hell.

“Why is Nova here?!” He yelled, spotting him behind Arthur, his eyes hinting at a reaction.

“Who fucking cares?! You need help!” Nova replied worriedly, pulling out a tissue. “Who did this to you?!”

“None of your business,” he coldly replied. “You shouldn't be here with him. Leave.”

“We need to go back to the first floor. Naomi will patch you up before this gets infected.”

He dragged Ryuu away. Nova and the wolf exchanged looks when they walked past each other. “Nova, please stay here while I bring him to her.”

The panda froze completely, utter fear in his eyes. Ryuu saw that and struggled free from his grasp.

“I'll patch myself up here. I have other things to do. I can't waste time!” He hurried inside the class closest to him.

“Ryuu, what the hell…” Arthur muttered as he followed him inside.

The bat flapped his wings and flew after them.

Nova stood there in silence. He had had enough. The words he heard before echoed inside his mind.

‘This place is not what it seems.’

The confusion in his mind grew further when an unknown voice spoke through the speakers.

“The break hour will be extended one hour further. A Jungle Madness of high priority will begin in thirty minutes.”

“Why do I have an ominous feeling about this…?” He whispered, inching towards the classroom.