Chapter Text
Sunday, August 31st,
The Phantom's Academy grounds
"Name, Power class and grade."
Mingyu frowned "Ma'am, you've been teaching me for the past 3 years."
The teacher just stared at him for a second, before repeating herself. He sighed, rubbing his face. After the trip he had to go through to even get here, he really didn't have the strength to argue "Cho Mingyu, Air Elemental, 3rd grade."
It took her at least 5 minutes to find him on her list, writing something down and motioning with her head for him to move on. He rolled his eyes, grabbing his bags and moving towards Miss Bada to get his keys.
"Hyung!"
He turned around, almost getting mauled over by another boy. His friend lifted him up as he hugged him before pulling away. Mingyu laughed, patting the younger's back "Hey, Woorimie…"
"Taein. Taein, we're here, wake up." Phillip shook his friend gently. But he just groaned, burying his face into the jacket.
Phillip sighed, exchanging a look with Kang-hyun at the driver's seat. He rolled his eyes, honking. Taein jumped, hitting his head on the roof "What was that for?" he whined, rubbing his head.
"And good morning to you too." Kang-hyun smirked, getting out of the car. Taein looked at Phillip with a pout, but he just shrugged, getting out as well.
"Who allowed you to drive again?" Hyunsoo asked, looking vaguely sick, eyes wide "How did you get your licence?"
"Don't be dramatic, hyung, it wasn't so bad." Taejin grinned, getting out of the car.
"Wasn't that bad? You drive like a crazy person!" Hyunsoo followed him, stumbling slightly "You hit every bump on the road and we almost ended in a ditch." he turned to face Taejin over the top of the car "Twice!"
His friend rolled his eyes "But we didn't!"
Hyunsoo stared at him like he was crazy, his face reddening. Taejin looked him up and down, before standing on his tiptoes to see more behind him.
"Hyung, you're growing cactuses."
He turned around to find at least 20 tiny cactuses all over the ground. With a groan he put his head in his hands as Taejin laughed.
"I really don't know about this."
Doohoon smiled a little, putting a hand on Hyungho's shoulder "I promise it'll be okay. My friends are cool, they'll like you."
"Yeah, maybe until I set their stuff on fire." Hyungho looked down at his hands, fisting them in his shirt.
"Oh, no, you don't have to be worried about that."
Hyungho turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. Doohoon stopped "Okay, let me say it differently. You don't have to worry about them getting mad. Last year, Woorim caused an earthquake during training and they had to close the gym for two months to fix everything."
They fell silent. And then, Hyungho nodded "Yeah, okay, I think I'll be fine."
Doohoon patted his shoulder and they started to walk towards the school. It probably wouldn't take as much time if someone didn't have to talk to Doohoon every other step. Another person ran up to them, him and Doohoon hugging immediately.
"Hey, Jootaek." Doohoon laughed, pulling away "Where are the others?"
His friend shrugged "I was about to ask if you haven't seen them." he looked around "God, Taein is a giant, how can I not see him?"
Doohoon looked around "Maybe they're inside already? You should check that."
"Yeah, maybe." he groaned "Okay, see you later." he stopped "I got something from my mom like last year, you coming?"
"I wouldn't miss that."
With a smile, Jootaek ran off again. Hyungho looked at his friend, arms crossed "Are you done saying hi to the entire planet now?"
Doohoon rolled his eyes, moving forward again "Come on, it's not my fault, I just know a lot of people!"
"Trust me, I noticed."
Byeo-ri and Hoon-jeong snuck to the very back of the auditorium, sitting next to Hyun-soo and Taejin.
"Where have you two been?" Taejin whispered.
"My car broke down and the bus was late." Hoonjeong answered, sighing heavily and running a hand through his hair "I don't think I ever ran that fast."
A hush fell over the room as the principal, Son Hyesoo, walked on the stage.
"Welcome to another year at the Phantom's Academy. As always, let me remind you of some very important rules…"
As he talked, Phillip and Taein kept exchanging glances, Kang-hyun barely concealing his giggles. Taein laid across the other two's laps to whisper to Jootaek "Hyung, don't you think these are a bit… targeted? At us, specifically?"
His friend waved him off "Don't be silly. Of course not."
"Creating skating rinks in the gym is prohibited-"
Jootaek stopped and Kang-hyun almost burst out laughing "Yeah, okay, that… That does seem a bit targeted."
"As is using your powers to mess with the school's electricity-"
Taein looked up at Jootaek "You were saying?"
"Hey, not all of those were my ideas."
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe one or two were Taein's." Phillip said.
Taein turned to look at him in offence "Hey!"
Everyone turned to look at them. Taein cleared his throat, sitting back in his chair. Kang-hyun finally couldn't take it anymore, laughing.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry." he said, covering his mouth. The moment people weren't staring at them anymore, Taein turned to his friends, whispering "Just for the record, I hate you."
"No you don't." "You love us." "It would be boring without us."