Ren Takashi woke up to the soft rays of sunlight spilling through the curtains, gently nudging him from his sleep. 

He rubbed his eyes, a groggy sigh escaping his lips as he pushed himself up on one arm. 

As his vision cleared, he glanced around his room, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. 

"Good Morning everyone, my name is Ren Takashi"

"A normal boy who lives with his grandmother"

His gaze shifted to the side, where he saw a familiar sight.

Yumi, his grandmother, sleeps soundly beside him. 

Her blonde hair was splayed out across the pillow, her face soft in peaceful slumber. 

The usual warmth of her presence made his chest tighten, though he would never admit that out loud. 

She had a way of making everything seem less... heavy. 

And yet, at that moment, he realized that her arm was wrapped around his, her small frame curled up against him. 

Her grip was surprisingly strong for someone so delicate, her head resting against his shoulder as if she were seeking comfort. 

Ren froze for a moment. 

"Why does this feel so normal?"

He quietly tried to wriggle his arm free, but it was no use. 

Yumi clung to him like she'd been there all night as if her embrace was the only thing that could hold her together. 

Ren's heart thudded uncomfortably in his chest, and he quickly glanced away, his cheeks flushed. 

"I am actually facing a huge problem" 

He tried again, his voice quieter now as he shifted awkwardly in the bed, still trapped by her hold. 

"My grandmother... can be too clingy"

He lightly poked her arm, his face a mix of frustration and helplessness. 

"Granny, time to wake up. You're squishing me"

She stirred slightly, a sleepy hum escaping her lips as she nuzzled closer, tightening her grip. 

"Mmm... five more minutes," she murmured, her voice a soft, drowsy giggle.

Ren sighed, glancing at the clock. 

There was no time for this. 

He needed to get ready for school. 

He gently pried her arm off his and stood up, running a hand through his messy black hair. 

As he did, he caught his reflection in the mirror. 

His red eyes looked tired, bags under them from restless nights spent thinking about everything and nothing. 

He didn't want to deal with the complexities of his life just yet.

He looked back at Yumi, still sleeping soundly. 

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips despite his grumbling thoughts. 

She was so... cute. 

Maybe too cute to be a real person. 

Still, the whole "grandmother" thing always confused him. 

But Ren quickly shook off the thought, heading for his closet to grab his school uniform. 

Today was just another day. 

He couldn't let it be complicated. 

He paused, glancing back at Yumi once more before heading to get his backpack. 

"Granny..."

He muttered under his breath, the word feeling strange in his mouth despite the years of living with her. 

He had no idea what to make of their unusual relationship. 

How could he? 

But he couldn't deny that he felt at ease with her, despite the oddities, despite the history, despite everything. 

Yumi had been there when he had nothing. 

She had taken him in, given him a place to belong when his parents…

Scratch that.

His so-called parents had abandoned him.

"I owe her a lot for that"

Ren muttered as he ran a hand through his hair, trying to push the past from his mind. 

His life was complicated. 

The only thing he knew for sure was that Yumi, no matter how strange, was all he had left. 

And for some reason, that still made him feel a little... okay.

But only a little. 

For now, though, he'd have to survive the awkwardness of being a seventeen-year-old with an impossibly cute "grandmother"

With a sigh, Ren grabbed his backpack and left his room, closing the door behind him. 

It was time for school.

He grabbed his backpack and left his room, shaking off the lingering awkwardness from the morning. 

As he walked downstairs, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out to see a message from Yumi.

"Don't forget to take your lunch today! It's on the kitchen counter, sweetie"

Ren sighed again, half-smiling to himself. 

"I'll buy lunch at the academy," he chuckled as he texted back, shaking his head.

But just as he was about to step out of the house, he heard the familiar sound of the front door opening. 

He looked up, slightly surprised to see Yumi standing in front of him, her blonde hair messy from sleep, rubbing her eyes.

"Ren! I didn't want you to leave without this," she said, holding out a small lunchbox.

Ren blinked in confusion. 

"Wait... How did you—?"

Yumi smiled sleepily, her eyes still half-closed. 

"You're not the only one who gets up early," she teased, handing it to him. 

"You didn't think I'd let you go to school hungry, did you?"

Ren couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. 

"I told you I'd buy something," he muttered, taking the lunch reluctantly.

"Eat well, okay?" 

Yumi smiled softly, brushing a lock of hair behind his ear. 

"Good luck on your test today"

He took the lunch, his cheeks a little flushed from her attention, but he nodded. 

"Thanks, Granny"

He turned and walked away, but as he glanced back toward his bedroom window, he froze for a moment. 

It was wide open.

Ren blinked, a thought popping into his mind. 

'Did she jump out of my window?'

The idea seemed absurd, but there was something about Yumi's mysterious ways that made it feel... almost plausible. 

He shook his head, trying to push the thought away.

"Whatever," he muttered, stepping out into the street and heading to school, though he couldn't quite shake the image of his grandmother sneaking out of his window in the back of his mind.

He chuckled as he saw her wobble back inside their home.

"Seriously, she's too cute"

Ren made his way down the street, the cool morning air brushing against his face as he tried to shake off the odd thoughts from his mind. 

The whole situation with Yumi this morning still had him feeling a bit off, but he couldn't waste time dwelling on it now. 

As he approached the bus stop, he spotted Alice standing there, tapping her foot impatiently as she checked her phone.

"Hey, Alice!" 

Ren called out, waving as he closed the distance between them.

Alice glanced up and flashed him a bright smile, her pink hair falling in soft waves around her face. 

"Ren! Finally! I thought you were gonna make me miss the bus"

"Sorry, sorry," he grumbled, adjusting the lunchbox in his hand. 

"I had... complications"

Alice raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. 

"Complications? What, did Yumi try to drag you back to bed again?"

Ren's face turned a shade redder as he mumbled, "Something like that…"

"Oh, I see," Alice teased, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement. 

"Sounds like you've got a lot of 'complications' in your life, Takashi"

Ren let out a frustrated sigh. 

"You have no idea"

Alice noticed the lunchbox in his hand and raised an eyebrow. 

"What's that? Did Yumi pack you lunch?"

Ren groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. 

"Yeah... she insisted"

Alice laughed. 

"I bet you tried to refuse, but she's got a way of getting her way, doesn't she?"

Ren just nodded, a small smile creeping onto his lips despite himself. 

"Yeah. She's persistent"

"Cute," Alice said, her tone a little softer now. 

"I wish I had someone who looked out for me like that. You're lucky"

Ren glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. 

He opened his mouth to respond but was cut off as the bus arrived with a loud hiss of its brakes.

"Well, you're in luck now," Ren said with a smirk as they both boarded the bus.

The ride to school was filled with the usual chatter, but this time, Ren found himself talking more with Alice. 

She asked about his plans for the weekend, and they swapped a few funny stories from their childhoods. 

Ren found himself enjoying the conversation, even if his mind kept wandering back to the morning's strange moments with Yumi.

"So, big test today, huh?" Alice asked, tapping the side of her head as she leaned back in her seat. 

"You ready?"

Ren rubbed the back of his neck. 

"Ready? Not really. But I'll get through it. I always do"

Alice chuckled. 

"You say that every time. But hey, you're not bad at these tests, so I'm sure you'll be fine"

Ren shot her a sideways glance, his lips twitching in a small smile. 

"You always say that like you're not worried about it yourself"

"Worried? Nah," Alice replied with a grin. 

"I'm practically a genius, remember?"

Ren snorted. 

"Right, right. A genius who spends more time watching anime than studying"

"Hey, anime is educational!" Alice said, holding up a finger in mock seriousness. 

"You can learn a lot about life, and… uh, well, not math. But still"

Ren laughed. 

"You're something else"

The conversation drifted between light teasing and casual talk as the bus made its way to school. 

Alice seemed to have a way of keeping things easy, always bringing a smile to Ren's face even when his thoughts drifted toward more complicated matters.

As the bus slowed and pulled into the school parking lot, both stood up.

Ren grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder.

"Hey, don't forget to study tonight," Alice said as she stood beside him. 

"Test's tomorrow too, right?"

"Yeah, I'll manage," Ren replied with a small shrug, though he wasn't entirely confident.

Alice shot him a quick wink. 

"You better. Or else I might just have to come over and tutor you"

Ren laughed. 

"I'll be fine, thanks"

They both stepped off the bus and walked toward the school gates.

Ren couldn't help but glance up at Stardust Academy. 

It was, without a doubt, an impressive sight. 

The school stood tall with its modern glass buildings, blending sleek steel and clean lines with subtle traditional elements. 

The main building seemed to gleam in the morning sunlight, its large windows reflecting the day's bright start.

Alice looked up, eyes wide with admiration. 

"This place is so cool," she said with a grin. 

"It's like something out of a movie. Look at those huge columns!"

Ren shrugged, his hands tucked into his pockets. 

"Yeah, I guess. It's... big. I still don't get why it needs to be this big, though"

Alice laughed and bumped her shoulder into his. 

"Come on, you've got to admit it's impressive. It's like our own little city. There's literally everything here"

Ren looked around at the massive courtyard, students scattered around, chatting in groups or heading to class. 

The fountain at the center of the square sparkled, and the pathways seemed to go on forever. 

The campus stretched out across the horizon, and Ren couldn't deny that it looked pretty spectacular.

"It's a lot to take in, I'll give you that," Ren said, keeping his tone casual. 

"But... honestly, it's just a school. We've been here for what, two years now? I'm used to it"

Alice shot him a teasing look. 

"Oh, come on. You can't act like you don't appreciate all the stuff they've got"

"The gym, the library, the planetarium... it's like they built this place to make sure we never get bored"

Ren raised an eyebrow. 

"Yeah, but sometimes I feel like they built it just to make the rest of the world jealous" 

He waved his hand around, gesturing at the sprawling campus. 

"I mean, do we really need a pool in a school?"

"Uh, yes?" Alice grinned. 

"Have you seen the pool? It's amazing!"

Ren sighed but couldn't help the faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

"Sure, it's nice... I just don't get the point of trying to make everything so extravagant"

Alice rolled her eyes. 

"You're impossible. One day, you'll realize how awesome it is"

Ren just shook his head, though part of him did find it hard to ignore the sheer grandeur of it all. 

He wasn't one for being impressed easily, but even he had to admit that Stardust Academy was a place where everything seemed possible.

"Well," Ren said with a small smirk, "I do think that the cafeteria is worth getting excited about"

"Have you tried the cinnamon rolls?"

Alice brightened instantly. 

"Okay, I'll give you that. Those are definitely worth the hype"

Ren chuckled. 

It might have been a little too much, but at least there was one thing at Stardust Academy that didn't feel overwhelming. 

10 Minutes Later

The bell rang, signaling the start of homeroom, and Ren followed Alice into the classroom, taking their usual seats near the back. 

The room was bustling with chatter as students settled in, some looking at their phones, others talking about the latest episode of whatever show they were watching. 

Ren was more focused on mentally preparing himself for the day ahead, though to be honest, there wasn't much to prepare for. 

It was just school, after all.

Alice was already engaged in conversation with a few of her friends, but as Ren sat down, he couldn't help but glance around. 

The classroom was spacious, with large windows letting in the morning light. 

The desks were organized in neat rows, though it looked like some of the other students had already started to personalize their spots with little trinkets or photos taped to the walls.

Just as he was about to sigh, the door to the classroom swung open, and in walked none other than the headmaster.

The room fell silent instantly.

Ren glanced up, frowning slightly. 

The headmaster, Mr. Mizuno, wasn't a figure most students saw every day. 

He usually popped in at important events or gave speeches on special occasions, but today was a little different. 

His presence felt... off.

"Good morning, students," Mr. Mizuno began, his voice serious, but with a hint of hesitation. 

"I regret to inform you that due to unforeseen health problems, your previous homeroom teacher, Professor Fukuda, has had to step down"

A quiet murmur rippled through the classroom as students exchanged confused looks.

Ren raised an eyebrow. 

"What happened to him? Did he—"

"Did he get sick or something?" Alice whispered, leaning over to Ren with an exaggerated whisper.

Before he could respond, the headmaster continued, cutting through their hushed conversation. 

"It's a difficult situation, but we wish Professor Fukuda all the best. However, we've arranged for a new teacher to step in and take over"

At this, the students sat up straighter, curiosity piqued. 

The tension in the air was palpable as everyone awaited the big reveal.

"Now," Mr. Mizuno said with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes, "I'd like to introduce someone very special. Please welcome your new homeroom teacher"

The door opened once more, and all eyes turned toward it. 

A young woman walked in, looking effortlessly confident in her tailored suit. 

She had a sleek haircut, and her sharp eyes scanned the room before landing on the class. 

Her presence instantly commanded attention, and everyone collectively held their breath.

The room was dead quiet for a long moment before Alice whispered under her breath, "Whoa, she's... uh, different"

Ren couldn't help but glance over at Alice, who was wide-eyed and clearly impressed. 

The new teacher looked, well, way younger than anyone had expected. 

She was definitely not what he had imagined when thinking of a typical professor. 

Ren was half-expecting someone older, maybe a bit more formal. 

But this woman looked like someone who could have been a student herself.

The new teacher smiled and waved cheerfully. 

"Hello everyone! I'm Professor Yumi Takashi"

Ren's eyes widened.

Wait a second...

Yumi? 

Takashi?

His heart skipped a beat, and for a split second, everything went fuzzy. 

He blinked rapidly, trying to process what just happened. 

There was no way...

She's not...

No.

It couldn't be her.

Surely not.

"Professor?" one of the other students asked in confusion, his voice a mix of surprise and intrigue.

"Yup! I'm your new homeroom teacher!" 

Yumi said brightly, giving a smile that would have melted anyone's heart.

And just like that, Ren's world tilted.

Alice shot Ren a glance, her eyes full of disbelief. 

"Wait— she's your grandmother?"

Ren could feel his face heating up as he quickly glanced away, his hand rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. 

"Shh, not so loud," he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Okay, okay. I mean... she does look like she could be a model, but still... this is insane," Alice muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, Yumi was standing at the front of the class, still smiling like everything was perfectly normal. 

She placed a stack of papers on the desk, her hands expertly arranging them with a grace that could make anyone's jaw drop. 

Her confidence was almost unnerving.

Ren, however, couldn't stop staring. 

Something was off. 

It wasn't just that she was now his teacher, it was how she looked. 

Yumi's usually messy, long hair was always a tangled mess, something she never really paid attention to. 

Ren had grown used to it, after all, it was part of her charm. 

But today? 

Her hair was perfectly styled, combed neatly into a soft, smooth wave. 

Her usual careless, disheveled appearance had transformed into something sleek and polished. 

Ren's mind reeled. 

"She... actually combed her hair?"

As if she could sense his thoughts, Yumi flashed a grin. 

"I know, I know. You're all shocked, right?" she said, her voice filled with amusement. 

"I can clean up a little when needed"

The class started, still in awe of their new professor. 

Alice leaned over to Ren, her voice full of teasing humor. 

"Are you sure she's your grandma? She's... way too perfect for that title"

Ren groaned and buried his face in his hands, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. 

"I'm dying of embarrassment here"

Meanwhile, Yumi continued to chat with the class, as if it was just another normal day. 

"I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of you," she said cheerfully. 

"Let's make this year great! Now, who wants to start with a fun icebreaker?"

The students, still in shock but slowly warming to the idea of having someone like Yumi as their teacher, nodded and murmured in agreement.

But for Ren, it was a different story.

He wasn't sure how he was going to survive the next year of school... with his grandmother teaching him.

"Good luck, Ren," Alice whispered, trying not to laugh at his reaction.

Ren simply groaned.

He was in for a wild ride.

2 Hours Later

The bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom, and students began packing up their things, chatting excitedly about the new teacher. 

The room was full of energy, but Ren wasn't as enthusiastic. 

He sat quietly for a moment, still trying to process everything.

His grandmother was the new teacher. 

And he didn't know how to feel about it. 

There was a mix of embarrassment and curiosity, and it was all tangled up in his thoughts. 

Alice was already up and heading toward the door. 

"You coming or what, Ren?" she called back over her shoulder, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Ren snapped out of his thoughts and gave her a half-hearted wave. 

"Yeah, in a minute. I just need to talk to... her"

Alice raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his tone, but didn't press him. 

"Alright, but don't take forever. I'm not waiting around"

Ren barely heard her as he stood up and made his way to the front of the room, where Yumi was gathering her papers. 

She looked up with a smile as soon as she noticed him approaching. 

"Yes, Ren? Is there something you need?"

Ren hesitated for a moment, feeling a little awkward. 

"Uh, yeah. Just a quick question"

Yumi raised an eyebrow, amused, "You've got me curious now. What's up?"

Ren scratched the back of his head, not sure how to phrase it. 

"Well, uh, Granny... I mean, Professor Takashi—" 

He hesitated again but then blurted it out anyway. 

"Why are you here? I mean, why become a professor?"

Yumi's smile softened, and she set her papers down. 

"I've always enjoyed helping people learn, Ren. It just feels right, you know?"

Ren blinked, not entirely convinced. 

"But this is Stardust Academy... It's huge. You could've done something, well, smaller"

"You've never exactly been the 'teaching type' in my eyes"

Yumi's eyes twinkled with amusement, but she didn't get defensive. 

"I know it might seem unexpected, but teaching here is a good fit. I want to challenge myself and maybe challenge a few of you in the process," she said with a wink.

Ren squinted at her. 

"Challenge us?" he muttered, clearly skeptical.

Yumi smiled and put her hands on her hips. 

"Okay, okay. I get it. It's strange seeing me in this role. But just so you know, in the classroom, I'm Professor Takashi"

Ren crossed his arms and shot her a look. 

"Yeah, right. Not happening"

Yumi raised an eyebrow in mock disbelief. 

"Excuse me?"

Ren grinned, his usual playful side coming through. 

"You're always gonna be Granny to me, no matter what"

Yumi's cheeks flushed slightly, but she pouted cutely, her lips forming a little "o" as she puffed them out in mock offense. 

"Ren, I told you, in class I'm Professor Takashi!" she said, crossing her arms as she pouted even harder.

Ren chuckled. 

"Sorry, Granny. Can't do it. You'll always be Granny to me"

Yumi stared at him, still pouting, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.

"You're impossible," she muttered under her breath.

Ren just grinned, happy to have gotten a rise out of her. 

"Nope. Granny's just too cute to be 'Professor Takashi'"

Yumi sighed dramatically but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. 

"Fine. But I'll remember this, Ren. Just you wait"

Ren winked, feeling a little lighter now. 

"I'm sure you will, Granny"

She gave him a playful shove as he turned to leave. 

"Go ahead, get to your next class. I'll see you later"

Ren nodded, still smiling, as he walked toward the door. 

But before he left, he looked back at Yumi one last time, his curiosity piqued again. 

"Hey, you've got everything so... put together today. What's up with that?"

Yumi shrugged nonchalantly, but the faintest blush crept onto her cheeks. 

"A teacher's gotta look the part, right?" she said with a wink.

Ren grinned, shaking his head. 

"Guess so, Granny"

As he left, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation.

The strange mix of family and school life collided. 

Still, it was nice to know that no matter how weird things got, Yumi would always be there for him in her own, oddly comforting way.

He exited the classroom and headed down the hall to his next class, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

Out in the hallway, Alice was already waiting for him, tapping her foot impatiently. 

"Took you long enough," she teased.

Ren shrugged nonchalantly. 

"Had to talk to my grandmother, well Professor Takashi, apparently," he said, using air quotes around the title, which made Alice laugh.

"Oh, right! How could I forget?" Alice smirked. 

"The newly appointed Professor Takashi"

"Honestly, I still can't believe it. Your grandmother teaches here, of all places?"

Ren just shrugged again. 

"I'll get used to it, I guess. But calling her Professor Takashi? Yeah, that's gonna take a while"

Alice shook her head, clearly amused. 

"Well, if you're not calling her Professor, I guess I can't either. That's just weird"

Ren snorted. 

"Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts"

As they walked to their next class together, the normal chaos of school life slowly pulled Ren away from his thoughts about his grandmother's new role. 

But a small part of him couldn't help but wonder how much more weird things were going to get from here on out.

"Bring it on, school!"