As they had been before, Clover and Kanako were the first two to walk in! Well, besides the teacher...

"Ah, if it isn't Kanako. I had heard you were feeling better, but it is wonderful to see you with my own eyes." An even voice spoke from the front desk. "I see you haven't changed much since your accident, good for you." Kanako tilted her head questioningly at the, what looked to be some sort of tortoise monster.

"Oh and, who might your friend here be? I heard we had a transfer student coming in today, would that happen to be them?" Now that Clover took another look at them, he could see this being either a great person to be around, or they'd be absolutely insufferable. They wore a constant smile, and it almost certainly wasn't a fake one. Clover would like to think he was pretty good at spotting stuff like that.

"Uh, yeah, this is Clover! But... Funny story, heh, we both have amnesia?" Kanako rubbed at the back of her head and smiled nervously. She of course knew the real reason that Clover wouldn't know anything about the school, but it wasn't like she was supposed to just go around saying that. Besides, wasn't even a lie! "So... I'm sorry... But who are you?"

"Likewise." Clover nodded and readjusted his hat.

"Oh, of course, of course, where are my manners?" They shook their head slowly and stood up. They... Kind of towered over the both of them. But Clover still felt perfectly safe, the monster had a rather calming presence.

"My name is Alvin Boom. You may simply call me Mr. Alvin." He offered a hand to Clover, and Clover accepted without hesitation. He gave the man a good, firm shake, and nodded.

"Nice to meet you sir." Clover tipped his hat to him as he spoke, and situated it back on his head immediately afterwards. "Though, might I ask, how come you'd rather I call you Mr. Alvin, instead of Mr. Boom?"

"Ah, that's rather simple. That's what you'll be calling my father."

"...Oh, I think I remember you!" Kanako raised a paw in surprise. "You were like, the second best teacher!"

"I'm flattered you think so highly of me." His smile widened just a little further. "Might I ask who you think is the best?"

"Oh! That's... Uh..." Kanako looked over to the side. "Can't remember."

"Ahah, don't worry little one. Now, why don't you two take a seat?" Alvin beckoned them to the desks as other kids started to walk inside. It was definitely slow going here at this school. It was odd to Clover, he distinctly recalled school being much more of a... Time sensitive thing. He almost certainly didn't have this much time to get to class back up on the surface... And the school was smaller...

Well, it wasn't like he was complaining. "Clover, over here!" Kanako had gone ahead and picked a desk, right up in front of the class... Something about that felt like a bad idea to Clover, but he trusted his friend. Besides, part of the reason he'd been okay with going was to keep her company like she'd asked him to. Wouldn't be much of a point to it if he just sat in the back away from her...

Though, he couldn't help but frown a little... Really...? Out of the twenty seats, five rows four desks each, she had to pick the center of the front row? With a small sigh, he sat himself down and leaned back. The chairs were padded, at least.

Other children slowly filtered into the room. Clover actually recognized a few of them from back when he'd been with MK's group, but obviously, besides Kanako, there was nobody that he personally knew in the room once it had filled up all the way. To his side appeared to be some sort of bear monster, and behind him... Some... Thing? It was like... A big eye on legs? And it had arms-and it was no longer an eye?

It... Did SOMETHING that he had no idea how to describe, and now its face resembled a mouth and eyes. Clover decided to not question that one too much and turned away from the monster before they noticed him staring. Way over to the right was a bird monster like Clover himself, they kind of resembled his mom, but they were way smaller.

"Class starts in three minutes, please wrap up any conversations while I take attendance." Alvin cleared his throat after that announcement and continued to smile.

He was good at smiling.

...

"I hope everybody had a good vacation?" Alvin asked nobody in particular, though he still got a general consensus of "yes" via murmurs.

"Wonderful, I'm pleased to hear as such. Now, before I begin today's lesson, Clover?" Alvin turned his attention to the bird, who, for the record, had been paying minimal attention.

"Yes, Mr. Alvin?"

"Would you please stand up and introduce yourself?"

Clover paled.

He glanced over towards Kanako, but she only gave him a thumbs up and a grin. No help there... No help anywhere... Clover sighed and stood up, then strode over to the teachers side.

"Ello everybody, m'names Clover."

Alvin eyed him curiously after he'd said his name, but didn't press them about it.

"Do you have anything you'd like to say to the class, Clover?"

"Mmm... Nah, nothin much."

Two hands went up in the crowd. One from that aforementioned bird, and the other from some kind of purple lizard in the back corner.

Alvin paused for a moment, he seemed a little surprised but he didn't hesitate for long. "Yes, Susie?"

"Hey, new kid." The lizard in the back spoke somewhat gruffly.

Clover lightly tilted his head in Susie's direction.

"What's with the stupid get up?"

Two monsters in class snickered slightly, that eye, thingamajing, and some sort of dog monster? Clover however, was not nearly as enthused. Kanako was of a similar opinion, because she turned in her seat and gave the offender a real good glare. Good for her anyways, her face was a little bit too fuzzy to be all that intimidating.

"It ain't stupid." Clover's gaze drifted over to the lizard with a hint of malice. Susie glared at him when he made eye contact, but he didn't even flinch and instead returned it right back. "And it's cause I'm a cowboy, you ho-"

"I believe that's enough you two." Alvin wisely stepped in before anything escalated. "Susie, there was no need for such a comment."

She broke eye contact and shrugged. Alvin sighed and shook his head. "Berdly, what did you want to ask?"

"Well..." Clover cringed, this sounded like the kind of person that got shoved in lockers back where he came from. "I was going to ask the same thing that Susie did... Just with a bit more... Tact." He readjusted his glasses. Clover felt bad for this bird. They were surely relentlessly bullied if his knowledge of schools was accurate.

Alvin hesitated for a moment, but waved Clover off. "...You may sit down Clover."

The mood in the room had sort of taken a dive... And the teacher recognized that, so before starting class they asked one more question.

"Would anybody like to share what they did over the break?" He innocently commented as he walked over to his own desk. Clover could barely hold in his own scoff. Did he seriously expect that to-

Kanako's paw shot up.

...Really?

While Alvin's smile had not dropped besides when he had broken up the impending argument, it had become noticeably more forced immediately after that had occurred. Kanako's enthusiasm however, brought it right back to its former peak.

"Yes, Kanako?"

"Yes!" She did a fist pump, which got more than her fair share of odd looks, but she didn't let that bother her. It was kind of admirable. Just another reason they got along so well Clover supposed. "Alright, so I got really sick a bit before break, which is why i wasn't here for the last few days. I got better though, obviously."

"Glad to hear it." Alvin nodded.

Kanako smiled back and gave him a thumbs up. "Though, I did kind of get amnesia... But that's when I met Clover! By the way, meet Clover everybody." Kanako gestured to the rest of the class, then pointed at Clover.

At being introduced for the second time, Clover just raised an eyebrow at Kanako and waved.

"It was kind of funny, we both got amnesia almost back to back. His mom was bringing him over to visit and we really hit it off! I couldn't contact any of my friends because we hadn't made any plans, and I uh... Didn't remember their names... So I was kind of just hanging out with them for most of the break! We had a lot of fun, it was awesome! You know how sometimes something is so cool that you wish you could forget it to experience it again, right?" She asked the crowd, who was now listening attentively to Clover's surprise. Even more surprisingly, some of them nodded in agreement.

"It was like that, except that I actually got to do it but for the entire Underground and with a close friend. I honestly expected it to be way worse than it ended up being, you know?"

Was Kanako just friends with the entire class or something? Clover couldn't get a read on the situation.

"Neat."

"Good to hear it."

"Does she ever stop prattling on?"

Clover heard that whisper behind him, and despite his better judgement, he couldn't help but glare.

"Well... That's about it. I could talk about what we did but... Eh, that's not really necessary is it?" Kanako smiled a little nervously.

Despite his glaring, Clover caught a good look at about half of the class. Apparently, her drawing a boundary was the most surprising thing that she'd said thus far. Clover was pretty sure that was the general consensus anyways. He'd like to think he was pretty good at reading faces.

"Thank you Kanako, does anybody else have anything else to say?"

Nada.

"Perfect, then lets get started shall we? Welcome back to Literature and Arts everybody."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

...Literature and Arts?

That sounded like a class Clover could work with.

...

So, apparently this stuff was of a lower reading level than Clover had expected from a class named literature and arts... Maybe they were just easing into it because it was the first day back...? He certainly hoped so. But, hey! It was reading! At the very least he got to do what he liked.

"Is this supposed to be challenging material?" Clover had scooted his desk a little bit closer to Kanako's. That had been fine, because the class had been split into groups of three.

"Probably, why?" Kanako flipped through a page. "I mean... I think so? Hey Berdly, is this supposed to be challenging?"

"Hmph, it is certainly meant to be challenging! Though, for one as smart as I, it is only a paltry challenge. I bet I'll be done within the hour!"

Clover blinked a few times. "Within the hour?"

"Yes, be amazed with my-"

"Ya do realize I'm already done, right?"

It had been about forty minutes so far.

"Wh-preposterous! What do you mean you're already done!?"

"...I mean I'm done? What else would I mean man?" Clover held up the book, which by the way was called Jinxed. It was pretty basic, a tale about a human wandering through a forest, and various hijinks ensued throughout it. About a hundred pages long, maybe a hundred words per page?

"I... Impressive, Clover! It seems as if I have a new adversary in this class! And here I was thinking that I would be unrivaled throughout the next few months!"

"...It's just a book." Clover closed it with a thump. "Why were we even reading this?"

"Oh, I guess nobody explained the class to you huh...?" Kanako smiled a little nervously. "My bad! I prepped myself on the classes before heading back into school, but I guess you didn't do the same. I'll give you a quick run down."

"No need, Kanako! I know you love to talk, but I can explain to our friend Clover here!"

Kanako stared at him incredulously, first off, what the heck was that supposed to mean??? Secondly, "what are you talking about?"

Berdly cleared his throat and completely ignored the question. "For you see, Clover! We simply read for the sake of it! Reading makes people smarter, it preps the brain! So, Mr. Alvin frequently has us read as much of a story as we can within one day, and then we discuss it in the next!"

"...Uhuh, discuss what though?"

"The book, of course! Please, do try to be a bit smarter my new rival!"

Clover felt a headache coming on, this time it wasn't even from thinking too hard.

"Can you... Not???"

He was starting to regret picking Berdly for their third member. Clover felt bad that whoever they were with would probably bully him, but apparently he hadn't quite taken into account that there was a reason that he'd get bullied.

"Hey! Can we just get back to reading?" Kanako booped both of the birds beaks.

"Ah, true, my slightly dimmer acquaintance! I must strive to improve my own lexile to match Clover's!"

Wait... What am I supposed to do?

...

All in all, a bit better than Clover had been expecting. Some kids were... Annoying. But, the teacher was nice, it was a subject he was apparently too good for his own good at, and the kids who were more upsetting than annoying hadn't been persistent like he thought they would've been. Why did he think they would've been dedicated assholes...? Meh, he wasn't really sure.

Regardless of any superstition, they walked in opposite directions when they left the classroom to go to their next period so... Didn't really matter!

"Alright, so, next class should be just up ahead, I think?" Kanako whirled around the corner with Clover following shortly after her.

"Kanako, is that you!?" A slightly higher pitched voice called out from down the hall way.

"Yeah, it is me! Uhh, who are you?"

"Wh-you-don't you recognize me?"

"Uh, no, amnesia... Sorry."

"A-amnesia!? Kanako, are you alright?"

"Oh, definitely! Seriously though who are you?"

"It's me, Noelle!"

She'd stopped shouting at this point, after having weaved through a few other monsters to get to the duo.

"Noelle... Noelle... Oh, wait!" Kanako closed her eyes and started snapping. Clover, for his part, let her think. "Uhh... Noelle... Noeeellllleeeee, Noelle Holiday?"

"So you do remember me!"

"I think so!" Kanako smiled and nodded. "But uhh, we need to get to class!"

"You're right, we-wait, wait, we? Who's this with you?" Noelle tilted her head and smiled.

"Oh, this is Clover! Noelle, meet Clover, Clover, meet Noelle! I'm sure you two will get along great!"

"...M'kay, uh, nice to meet'cha?" Clover held out a hand as he appraised the girl before him. They were a little shorter than himself, and they were some sort of deer monster... Though, they looked a bit too confident for their own good, Clover felt a bit of a pit in his stomach. People like this were never really good news in school...

"Nice to meet you too!" Noelle smiled and shook it vigorously. "Any friend of Kanako's is a friend of mine, so that makes a lot of people my friend, heh... So, where are you from Clover?"

"I'd love to answer you, but uh, like Kanako said, class, now. Bell rings soon."

"Oh yeah, sorry about that!" Noelle turned and half ran towards a door. Kanako immediately followed afterwards and beckoned for Clover to come with her. Which he did.

...

The bell rang about thirty seconds after they'd gotten inside. Unfortunately, whereas before it was Kanako who had forced Clover to the front, it was now the entire class. Only six seats were left available. One in the fourth row, one in the third, one in the third, and then three in the first. Very convenient for the three monster group that stood without seats.

Begrudgingly, Clover gave up his seat next to Kanako and allowed Noelle to sit inbetween the two of them. If Kanako cared, she hadn't bothered to express it though. She was content enough with the seatings it would seem.

"It's been forever since we talked!" Noelle got right to chatting, even with the twenty or so seconds they had before class started.

"Feels like it!"

"Oh, right, you said you had amnesia, right?"

"Me and her both." Clover added on from the side.

"Right, you didn't answer the question! Clover, where are you from?" She spun in her seat, ten seconds till class started...

"I'm from Snowdin, new transfer student... How about you?"

Clover deliberately paused for a few moments. After she answered this question, time would be up.

"Oh, so am I! Haven't seen you around before, weird!"

Clover smiled just a little when the bell rang like a second after she finished. He wasn't really sure why he wanted her to stop talking... Actually, he frowned. Why did he want her to stop talking? Weird. Clover turned his attention to the teacher.

"Wah hah, welcome back everybody! Sure hope you all had a good break!"

Speaking of the teacher, they were another turtle monster of some sort. A monster much, much older than the previous one. Clover figured that meant that this monster was the father that Mr. Alvin had been referring to.

"Welcome back to history class! First though, we've got a new student to introduce! Clover Cardinal, come on up here!"

Clover paused, Cardinal? Were they referring to him?

Clover blinked a few times, and pointed towards himself while tilting his head.

"Yes, you! Come on, we don't have all day, heh!"

He promptly stood up, and took his place at the front of class.

"Well then? Go on, introduce yerself!"

Clover felt a bit put out. But he did as instructed. "Ello, m'names Clover. M'a new student. It's a pleasure to meet y'all." He tipped his hat for a bit of dramatic flare, and promptly rehatted himself. Immediately after doing so, he turned in the teacher's direction with a look that was just south of pleading.

"Alright, ya can sit down now kid." They smiled widely and positioned themselves center stage at the front of the class. "Now, who wants to help pass out yer textbooks?"

Clover didn't even need to look in Kanako's direction to know that she raised her paw first.

He took his seat again and breathed in. Composed himself and leveled his expression. Breathe out. It wasn't like him to be getting upset over little things like that. Had his own self control really bottomed out after just a few weeks of leniency? Actually... Maybe he should try to distance himself a bit from his old habits? Noelle hadn't really seemed to have any bad intentions, but for some reason he felt like avoiding her like the plague? What WAS it with school and himself? Why did he just assume the worst of anything?

"Here you go!" Kanako laid one of a dozen or so books on Clover's desk. He smiled and thanked her and... And... Hold on, didn't he already have one of these? Not on hand, but, back home?

It was a copy of one of the guide books that he'd gotten for his birthday, "a comprehensive history" of the time between the human's falls. To be specific, the time between the first fallen and the second. He'd... Already read this one. He was on the third installment by now... Well, it would only be an hour. He could follow along with the class for whatever it was.

"Now! For any of you kiddos with memory like this old farts, my name's Gerson Boom! You urchins can call me Mr. Boom!"

Clover blinked twice, then he sat up... Gerson... Like, Gerson, The Hammer of Justice?

Aside from the possible mental blocks Clover was floundering his way through, this class just got way more interesting.