The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Lin Xiao's room. He stirred from his sleep, blinking groggily as he adjusted to the light.
The events of the previous day came rushing back to him, and he quickly sat up, looking around for Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie.
He found them, but not in the way he expected. Xiao Bai was hovering mid-air, performing lazy loops and flips, clearly enjoying his new ability to fly.
Lil' Blackie, on the other hand, was perched atop Lin Xiao's desk, pawing at a clock with great fascination.
Every few seconds, the clock's hands would spin rapidly before settling back to their original positions, courtesy of Lil' Blackie's time control powers.
"Good morning, guys," Lin Xiao mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Mornin :)"
Xiao Bai responded with a cheerful meow, performing an aerial somersault as if to show off.
Lin Xiao chuckled, "Alright, Xiao Bai, you've had enough air time. Come down here."
Xiao Bai obeyed, floating down gracefully. As he landed, however, he teleported unexpectedly, reappearing on Lin Xiao's head.
Lin Xiao yelped in surprise, feeling the sudden weight and the soft fur against his hair.
"Lil' Blackie, you too," Lin Xiao called out, trying to shake Xiao Bai off gently.
Lil' Blackie, still engrossed with the clock, finally turned her attention to Lin Xiao. She let out a soft meow and, with a swift jump, landed on Lin Xiao's shoulder.
The combined weight of both cats caused Lin Xiao who still had only 5.5 strength to lose his balance, and he stumbled back onto his bed with a thud.
"Oof! You two are a handful," he laughed, trying to sit up again while managing the two energetic kittens.
Just then, the door to his room swung open, and Lin Meiying poked her head in, her expression a mix of curiosity and annoyance. "What's with all the noise?" she asked, eyeing her brother who was now covered in cats.
"Morning exercise," Lin Xiao grinned sheepishly, trying to stand up without dislodging his furry companions.
Lin Meiying rolled her eyes, "Right. Anyway, breakfast is ready. Mom says if you're late, you can make your own lunch."
Lin Xiao nodded, finally managing to get Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie off him. "Got it, be down in a minute."
As Lin Meiying closed the door, Lin Xiao looked at his two pets, who were now sitting innocently on his bed. "I guess my life is a little extraordinary now," he said, scratching behind their ears.
Xiao Bai purred loudly, leaning into his touch, while Lil' Blackie playfully nipped at his fingers before rolling onto her back, exposing her belly.
Lin Xiao smiled, feeling a sense of excitement and purpose he hadn't felt before. He quickly got dressed, throwing on his school uniform and grabbing his backpack.
Before heading downstairs, he made sure the cats had enough food and water for the day.
"You two behave while I'm at school, okay?" he said, giving them one last pat.
Xiao Bai meowed softly, and Lil' Blackie blinked lazily at him, seemingly understanding his words.
Lin Xiao chuckled and headed downstairs, where the aroma of breakfast greeted him. His mother had prepared a hearty meal, and Lin Xiao sat down, joining his family at the table.
The breakfast conversation was light, with Mother Lin reminding them about the new school's rules.
Lin Meiying seemed to have cooled down from her earlier outburst, although she still shot the occasional glare at Lin Xiao.
As they finished eating, Lin Xiao felt a mixture of nerves and excitement about his first day at the new school. With a quick goodbye, he grabbed his backpack and headed out the door.
Lin Xiao wanted to run to school to complete the daily mission, but he decided against it.
He didn't want to show up on the first day of school all sweaty and disheveled.
Instead, he opted for a brisk walk, hoping to make a good impression on his new classmates and teachers.
The morning air was crisp and refreshing, and Lin Xiao enjoyed the walk, using the time to mentally prepare himself for the day ahead.
Despite the pleasant weather, his thoughts were heavy. Lin Xiao had always been introverted, with only three close friends throughout his life.
Leaving them behind was tough, and now he faced the daunting prospect of starting over in a new school where everyone was a stranger.
The idea of having to approach people and make new friends made his stomach churn.
He wished he could just blend into the background and go unnoticed, but he knew that wasn't an option.
Especially now, with his system's daily missions, one of which included public speaking. Lin Xiao was sweating bullets just thinking about it.
As he approached the school, he felt a mix of anxiety and determination. The building loomed large and imposing, a stark contrast to his old school.
He took a deep breath and stepped inside, joining the throng of students bustling through the hallways.
Upon entering, Lin Xiao found himself in a bustling hallway filled with students.
He took a deep breath, adjusted his backpack, and made his way to the main office to get his schedule.
The secretary, a kind-looking woman with glasses, handed him his class list and a map of the school.
"Welcome to Cloverdale High, Lin Xiao. If you need any help finding your way around, don't hesitate to ask me or your homeroom teacher," she said with a warm smile.
"Thank you," Lin Xiao replied, feeling a bit more at ease.
Navigating the crowded hallways, Lin Xiao couldn't help but think about the daily missions. The thought of having to stand up and speak in front of people made his palms sweat.
He spotted a bulletin board with various announcements and clubs. Perhaps joining a club could help him with his public speaking mission, he mused.
Finding his homeroom, Lin Xiao slipped inside and took a seat near the back, trying to remain inconspicuous.
He noticed that many students were already in their seats, chatting animatedly. A few glanced his way, probably wondering who the new kid was.
The homeroom teacher, Mr. Chen, soon entered, calling the class to order.
Mr. Chen looked up from his desk and addressed the class with a warm smile. "Alright, class, we have a new student joining us today. Lin Xiao, would you please come to the front and introduce yourself?"
Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He had hoped to stay under the radar, at least for the first day.
However, he knew this moment was unavoidable. Taking a deep breath, he stood up from his seat at the back of the classroom and made his way to the front, feeling the eyes of his classmates following him.
As he reached the front of the room and turned to face the class, Lin Xiao's eyes scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces.
One face, in particular, caught his attention. It was a girl sitting near the middle of the room, her eyes meeting his with a spark of recognition.
It was the girl from the pet shop. Despite her wearing a mask at the time, something about her eyes and the way she carried herself was unmistakable.
For a brief moment, his nerves were overshadowed by curiosity and surprise. What were the chances?
He quickly gathered his thoughts and continued with his introduction, "Hi, everyone," he began, his voice shaky at first but gradually growing steadier. "My name is Lin Xiao. I just moved here, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of you."
He paused for a moment, glancing at the girl again. She was watching him intently, her expression unreadable.
"I, uh, I like reading and playing video games," he continued, "And I hope we can all be friends. Thanks."
The silence stretched for a moment before Mr. Chen clapped his hands together. "Thank you, Lin Xiao. Welcome to our class. Let's all make him feel at home."
The class murmured their greetings, and a few students even smiled at him.
Lin Xiao felt a wave of relief wash over him as he returned to his seat. As he walked back, he couldn't help but glance at the girl again.
However, she didn't even glance back at him; she seemed lost in her own world, completely oblivious to his presence.
This unexpected indifference stung a little. He had been so sure she had recognized him, but now he wasn't so certain.