"Attention, everyone!" Principal Vikhus was standing on a podium with a microphone in his hand. Sound boxes stood around him, aimed towards the students who were sitting in front of the stage. Aljon was sitting next to Kert.

"Today marks a fresh day for all of you. Are you excited?" The principal questioned. He was probably expecting an enthusiastic response.

Some students cheered, most remained silent and sighed.

"Woooh! Now, just as with every fresh start, we have some new faces among us. Would the new students please get up?"

Some students who were sitting in the back got up. Aljon remembered that some foreign exchange students would be coming to their school this year. He couldn't remember from what country, though. As he looked at the new students, principal Vikhus told them what classes they were in via the microphone. The new students moved to their assigned classes somewhat nervously. Two students joined Aljon's class, apparently one of them was a foreign exchange student.

"I will now tell you all what classrooms you will start the year in." The principal folded out a piece of paper and told each class to head to a certain classroom. Aljon's class had to leave last.

The class headed to their assigned room. Most of his classmates hadn't changed during the summer break, at least not that he could notice. Mega, Ancient and Lava were walking in a group, as always. South was shyly walking ahead, not noticing that Auri kept throwing glances at him. He couldn't see Kelvin anywhere, he was probably sick already. Tucka, Justas and Tja were furiously discussing something. Crash and Dragon were walking around as if they owned the hallway, while making offensive remarks towards Eim. Dark and Fat were walking together, having a seemingly light conversation. Aljon looked behind him and saw Eddie walk a few meters behind the rest of the group. Kert was telling Aljon about something he read online. The new kids walked next to each other silently.

The class entered the classroom and sat down. The groups sat down in exactly the same groups as the past year. The two new students sat next to each other. Mr. Fredboat soon entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"Good morning, fellas! Are you all excited for this school year?"

Auri, who was sitting in the front of the classroom, replied: "Yes, sir! I'm glad to be in school again!" This led to some chuckling from the cool kids' side of the room. "Of course, I bet you've been waiting for this moment all summer, huh, Mukinas?" Lava shouted. "Missed your lil' Southy?" Auri blushed upon hearing that as more people started to laugh. South either didn't understand Auri had a crush on him, or he acted like he didn't know. Aljon couldn't exactly tell.

"Come on, guys." Said Mr. Fredboat. "We have some new students to introduce. Let's see." The teacher took up the list of names, looking for changes on it. "U-Unforce? Did I pronounce that correctly?" he said, as he looked at the student, who nodded. "Ah, alright. Could you please get up and tell us something about yourself?"

Unforce cleared his throat and got up. "Guten Tag. I am Unforce, an exchange student from Germany." Aljon remarked how the student's accent wasn't even that bad. Unforce looked around the room before continuing: "I, uhh, like listening to music, I guess..." He turned his head to the teacher. "What kind of music, Unforce?" Mr. Fredboat asked curiously. "As your music teacher, I'm sure you'd let me know?"

"Oh, naturlich, Sir. It's, uhh, kind of hard to explain, do you mind if I let you hear something?"

"Go ahead." Unforce nodded and took his phone. He opened a music app and pressed play. Immediately, a very loud noise filled the room. Everyone was startled by the sound. Aljon recognized the music; it was a Prussian marching piece. Unforce must've clicked the earrape version. "Oh no! I-I am so sorry, guys," he said as he stopped the music and closed the app. His face grew extremely red as he sat down again. Everyone was laughing, but Mr. Fredboat calmed the class down after he finished laughing himself.

"That's quite the first impression you've made for yourself, Unforce!" The teacher remarked. "Don't worry about it too much, it's fine. Now, for the next student, Pablos?"

"Yes, sir." The other student, Pablos, got up. "My name is Pablos. I've been transferred to this school after we moved here. I, uhh, don't really have any hobbies."

"You sure that's all?" Mr. Fredboat asked.

"Yes, sir." Pablos answered.

"Alright then." Mr. Fredboat said. "The school system has to start up, so there's nothing more we can do in this lesson other than hand out this year's books. Please come to the front if I call your name and take your books with you."

After everyone had received and checked their books, the students could go home again. Kert and Aljon, of course, took the same route home.

"What do you think of the new students?" Aljon asked Kert.

"They're fine, I guess. Nice people. The German one is pretty funny, too."

"I agree. Well, good bye!" Aljon said as he took a left to go home.

"Good bye!" Kert replied and waved.

Aljon wondered what the next year would have in store for him.