Qu Yi wakes up in an unfamiliar bed. She hastily looks around in a panic. She is in a white room. Posters about the human body are hung on the walls, showing diagrams, with a label for each part. She notices a curtain hung up next to her. It looks like a nurse’s office.

  “Thank Yu Ji, you’re okay, Kid.” I let out. I’m standing by the entrance with my arms folded.

  Qu Yi begins to sit up as she looks to me confused. “Lei Bo?”

  “Who cares about me. What happened to you?” I walk over to the bed she is laying on and pull up a chair. “The Orange Larper ran up to me, said you were in trouble. I headed to that archery range as quick as my legs could carry me. You were passed out, head on Wen Chou’s lap, with both your roommates trying to wake you up.”

  Qu Yi tries to think back. “I don’t, know what came over me…”

  “Hua Tao heard what happened from your friends. She said it seems like you had a panic attack.”

  “Hua… Tao?”

  I sigh. “They’re the school nurse. Look, that’s not important, Kid. Are. You. Feeling. Okay?”

  Qu Yi tries to think back to the incident. “I don’t understand, I was calm… I was just shooting the bow like I normally do. I even have friends now. How could I have another panic attack?”

  “You’re asking the wrong guy, Kid.” I pause. “Another? You’re used to these?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t say, ‘used to…’” she folds her arms with slight annoyance. “But I thought if I had friends, this sort of thing would stop.” She looks surprised. “Oh my gosh. My friends, Wen Chou and Yan Liang don’t think I’m a freak now, right? Oh gosh, I might have just ruined everything we were doing-”

  “What? Kid, they’re the ones most worried about you right now. You shouldn’t be worrying about what they think at this time.”

  She looks around frantically, ignoring the words I tell her. “Wait, where are they? They’re probably hiding because I just embarrassed myself in front of them-“

  “KID!” I shout as I stand up, cutting her off before I let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “They would be here waiting by your bed if I didn’t tell them to go and grab a few things. I had hoped to talk to you alone first.” I sigh and take a seat. “Look kid, are you actually doing okay with this whole-” I signal to her body with my hands. “Girl thing? Is that why you fainted?”

  She sits up, looking at herself. She is still in her exercise uniform. “Actually…” She thinks to it, “When I was shooting, I didn’t really notice…” She thinks, “I even managed to put on a sports bra by myself.”

  I raise a confused and concerned eyebrow at her. “Congrats? Anyway, Kid.” I sigh again. “I’m asking you this for your own health and safety. Do-” I stop for a moment. “Do you think you would like to return to your old life? I’m sure Yu Ji can concoct some magic that will make you think this was all a dream-”

  “NO!” She shouts, surprising me. “That would just make things so much worse!” She pushes on the sides of her head with the bottom of her palms. “I don’t care if I’m a girl! Sure, it’s weird and embarrassing, but the people I’ve met here… There’s no way! I don’t want to just leave without them!” She points to me. “You said so yourself! I have to earn points or something to take people with me, right?”

  I let out another sigh. Okay, this may be my fault. When I first met Qu Yi, I did push on the guilt about everyone disappearing and whatnot. That was just an attempt to get her to accept her situation and maybe try something, but if it’s going to be this stressful for the Kid, I can’t put her through that. “Look, Kid, I’m sure in a week or so you’ll have enough to leave with both Wen Chou and Yan Liang. Then you can go to your life with two friends.”

  She shakes her head. “That’s not good enough anymore.” Her mind flashes to all the other nice people she’s met here, Yan Gang, Yuan Shao, Lu Kuang, Lu Xiang, Cao Hong, Zhang He, Gao Lan. She even thinks about people who still have potential to be her friend, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce, everyone she’s met here, even people she’s only seen in the hall. “I’m going to take everyone with me.”

  “Kid,” I shake my head. “You don’t even know how many students are in this school. You’re going to have to stay here for who knows how long? The next four years?”

  She folds her arms stubbornly. “I don’t care, and you know what? I’m going to take you with me also!”

  I blink a few times, taken aback. “Kid.” I rub my eyes with my fingers. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you? What if this keeps up? You keep having these, ‘panic attacks?’ You’ll continue to suffer to bring figments of a fictional plane to your world!?”

  She folds her arms. “I’m not budging. There’s no need to panic if I’m going to save everyone.”

  I look at Qu Yi for a moment. Is this really the same kid throwing a fit on the bus yesterday? “Well, Kid, guess I should show you how to check your points in case you change your mind.” I pull out her phone and hand it to her. “Thanks to your mom sending you this, it’s going to be real easy to take care of all of that stuff.” I point to an app that’s a black square that says “To Reality” underneath it. “According to the handbook I received from Yu Ji,” I pull out the box that included instructions from her, “This app will be invisible to other members of this realm. Ignoring yours truly.” I signal to myself. “It will show your balance and how much each thing costs, including, but not limited to, your body, your friends, memories, the truth, and the like.” I close the book, peeking at Qu Yi.

  Qu Yi looks at her balance, “67 points.” She scrolls down and sees the prices. “So, you said I just have to hang out with friends and other people to get more points, right?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Qu Yi!” We both turn to the doorway to see Wen Chou and Yan Liang standing at the door, noticing Qu Yi is awake. The two bolt in and hug Qu Yi, almost knocking her back down in the bed. “Thank goodness you’re all right!” Yan Liang shouts. I hear sniffles coming from Wen Chou.

  “Wen Chou, are you crying?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

  “YOU BET I AM!” She shouts still hugging Qu Yi. “Are you okay Qu Yi?!”

  Qu Yi blushes, getting hugged by the two as she hugs them back. “I-I’m okay. I just had a panic attack…”

  Their hug stops. Wen Chou is still wiping her eyes with her arm as streams go down her face. Yan Liang frowns, looking down at her hands in her lap. “Was this because we pressured you into showing us your archery?”

  Qu Yi shakes her head. “N-No. It wasn’t. I guess I just… remembered some things from my previous schools…” She thinks back to some of the phrases they would say to her. “And when I failed in front of you guys…

  “THAT’S IT! I’M GOING TO BEAT UP ALL YOUR OLD SCHOOLS!” Wen Chou shouts, her fists clenched. “HOW DARE THEY MAKE YOU HURT LIKE THAT!”

  Qu Yi looks up to Wen Chou. “L-Look, I don’t think that would even be possible. Or legal.”

  Yan Liang folds her arms angrily. “Well I for one wouldn’t mind giving them a piece of my mind and then I’d let Wen Chou loose on them!” She turns to Qu Yi. “And what do you mean ‘failed in front of us?’ You were amazing!”

  Qu Yi blushes. “What? B-But I missed the last one?”

  Wen Chou turns around. Most of her tears are wiped off, but her face is still red. “Didn’t you hear us before, Newbie? It’s okay and even normal to make mistakes when someone is watching!”

  Yan Liang nods. “Yeah! You even hit a bullseye on the forty-yard target!” She looks away. “If I wasn’t so scared of you falling again, I’d like to watch you again. You were so calm and collected. You were so cool. It was like you were in your own little world.”

  Qu Yi tries to hide a smile. “W-Well, I don’t think I’m going to fall again, knowing how you guys feel, so, I wouldn’t mind hanging out there more with you two.”

  “Aw, Newbie, you’re embarrassed!” Wen Chou smiles at Qu Yi, trying to hide her smile, as if she isn’t the one who was crying a few seconds earlier.

  “Q-Q-Qu Yi!” Another voice comes from the doorway. We turn to see Yan Gang sniffling at the door. She certainly is an ugly crier. “I-I thought I di-didn’t run fast e-enough to g-get M-Mr. L-Lei. A-And you w-were d-d-dead!” The collar of her jacket is very wet for some reason.

  Qu Yi looks towards her sympathetically. “D-Don’t worry Yan Gang. I’m fine. I just had, well...” she turns away. “Well, I’m fine now. I should be fine for a while.” Her eyes glance to the three. “I’m really sorry for causing you to worry so much.”

  “Kid,” I roll my eyes, “I told you. You have nothing to be sorry for. We’re the ones worried about you. If you’re struggling, it makes us worried, yes, but it’s not that you have something to be sorry for.” I look at each pair of eyes looking at me. “Right?”

  Wen Chou nods. “Yeah! You didn’t choose to faint on us.”

  “I don’t think it’s appropriate to be upset at someone who just fainted,” Yan Liang adds.

  “Y-Yeah, R-Rival-, I mean, Qu Yi. We’re your friends.” Yan Gang wipes the tears and snot streaming down her face with her collar. Well, that solves the mystery of the wet collar.

  Qu Yi blushes, looking down. “A-All right. T-Thank you. S-So, so much.” She begins to tear up. Yan Liang quickly wraps her arms around Qu Yi giving her a hug.

  “We’ll always be here for you, right?” Yan Liang smiles to Wen Chou.

  Wen Chou puts her arm around Qu Yi’s shoulders. “R-Right, Newbie!” She grows a big grin, trying to overcompensate for her crying earlier.

  Yan Gang nods. “A-And I’ll be sure to be the best Rival ever! In order to do that I need to make sure you are in top shape! T-To challenge me of course!” She wipes her eyes, trying to play it off cool.

  “I’ll always be here also.” I nod looking to Qu Yi. “From an appropriate distance. It is my job after all.” I half smile slightly.

  “Oh good, you’re awake. It seems you’re feeling better.” Hua Tao walks in. She is an elderly woman with curled gray hair wearing a white quilted sweater and a long green skirt. She is hunched over slightly, but she has a face that would remind everyone of their grandmother. Well, the nice elderly woman I’ll pretend is your grandmother for the sake of this analogy, she turns to me. “Bo, I assume you know we do need to contact her mother.”

  I nod to her. “I’m on top of it. Don’t worry.” I wave my hand nonchalantly. “Despite how I look, I am actually quite dependable.”

  She gives me a kindly smile. “I know. I’ve been working with you for years now, young Bo.”

  “Yeaaah.” I avert my eyes. A day and a half, but hey who’s counting?

  She walks over to Qu Yi. “It’s so nice to see you have such a strong support network.” She smiles to the three girls looking at Qu Yi. “I know moving to a new school may take some adjustments, but I know you’ll love it here once you get used to it.”

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  Qu Yi averts her eyes, but manages to look at her after she’s done talking. “I… I already do.” She lets out a small smile.

  She gasps, “Oh my. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Mrs. Hua, the nurse.” She bows slightly. “I’m so glad you were with your friends when you happened to pass out. Apparently the one with teal hair kept you from falling on your noggin.”

  Wen Chou scratches the back of her head, blushing slightly, taking it as a compliment.

  “I’ll leave you here to call your mother. I feel like it would be important to tell her what happened while Mr. Lei is in the room, to help her remain calm knowing we have such a dependable staff member to help.” She turns to me smiling.

  I think about my constant napping in my office. Dang it, lady! I deserve those naps. Don’t make me feel bad. Hua Tao turns to leave the room. Once she’s gone, I clap my hands. “All right,” I nod. “I’m going to help with the phone call. Qu Yi can meet with you guys afterwards. It’d be best if one of you heads to her locker to get her uniform.” I pass Qu Yi’s keys to Yan Liang.

  “Awww, Mr. Lei!” The idiot sighs at me. “I want to meet Qu Yi’s mom!”

  Yan Liang nods chiming in. “Yeah! Me too! I want to tell her what an excellent daughter she raised and how much she appreciates her!”

  Yan Gang jumps up, doing a pose. “Y-Yeah! I’d like to see my adversary’s mom and tell her all about our rivalry!”

  I sigh, as I peek my eyes at Qu Yi. She’s looking down, obviously beginning to panic. How will she tell her mom she is a girl for now? How will she react? Thankfully Yu Ji thought ahead for that.

  “All right, I’ll wait to call her mom until you three return. I’m sure she’d want a video call anyway, but you need to at least change out of your exercise uniforms. It’s going to be six in half an hour and you know the school grounds are closed at 6:30.” I turn to Yan Liang. “And if you could bring Qu Yi’s uniform with you, that would be good as well.”

  The three nod. Yan Gang starts sprinting down the hall as both Wen Chou and Yan Liang said their “be right backs” to Qu Yi, then speed-walk out in excitement.

  After they leave the room, Qu Yi’s worry becomes even more visible. “How is my mom going to react? I’m her daughter now!”

  I hold my hands out, pulling out the same slip of paper I read to her earlier. “Don’t worry, kid. Yu Ji had plans for this.” I look down at the paper. “While the phone not only has that app. It also apparently has some sort of filter to reality in the video call. While you’re used to your ‘Quin Ton’ type names for your given name and your ‘Yung’ type names for you family names, that stuff will transfer normally to your mother. So, while say for example, my family name is Lei with my given name Bo. It transfers to…” I take a closer look at the odd name they want me to say. “Bee-ahh-uh Lew Is? In that order, apparently.”

  “Beau Lewis?” Qu Yi repeats, looking at me.

  “Is that how you pronounce that? That’s just my regular given name.” I raise an eyebrow. “Your world is odd. Anyway, my name would be that.” I shrug. “So names will be transferred to your weird world normally.” I go back to reading. “Also, it seems most gendered languages will be swapped, as well as your visual appearance and the appearance of your clothes.” I look back up to her. “So does that solve most of your fears?”

  Qu Yi thinks. “I think so? I-I just hope it works… It would be weird explaining to my mom that she has a daughter.”

  I raise an eyebrow to Qu Yi. “It’ll be fine. If Yu Ji can build all this, I’m sure she can manage a bit of technology change between dimensions.” I hear footsteps running in the hallway, “Sounds like Orange Larper is on her way back.” I turn to Qu Yi, unenthusiastically saying. “Quick, act unsuspicious.”

  “I’m back!” Yan Gang shouts, panting from her voice. “I changed super-fast!” She wears her regular orange blazer school uniform from Gongsun Zan’s class.

  I look to her, thinking of the nasal fluids rubbed into her uniform. “I hope you’re going to wash your exercise uniform before you use it again.”

  “No, it can last another week.” Gross.

  Yan Gang walks in as Qu Yi shifts from laying on the bed, to sitting on the bed with her legs hanging over it. “So, what’s your mom like, Rival? Is she really nice?”

  Qu Yi smiles thinking of her mom’s comforting smile. “Yeah. She really is. She is super supportive, and she’s been raising me by herself for a little while now.”

  Yan Gang gasps. “Wow, she must be impressive! Do you have any siblings?”

  Qu Yi shakes her head. “No, I’m an only child.”

  “Aaaah, you’re so lucky!” Yan Gang sighs before she sits on the bed next to Qu Yi. “Back home I have a bunch of siblings! It’s soooo hectic!” An idea pops in her head, “Hey! Let’s have a rivalry about who has the most siblings!”

  Qu Yi smiles sympathetically to her. “I don’t think I’m going to do that one either.”

  Wen Chou runs through the door. “Yay! I didn’t miss it!” She raises her fists in the air in triumph before jumping on the bed next to Qu Yi.

  I speak up, looking at Wen Chou annoyed. “Hey, be nice with the beds. I’m sure they cost a lot of money, probably.”

  Yan Liang runs in, panting. She holds up a hanger that has Qu Yi’s uniform.

  “Wait, where did you get the hanger?” Qu Yi asks, having a confused expression.

  Yan Liang is panting in between every other word. “I-I didn’t, want to, wrinkle, your uniform, carrying it, so, I ran back, to our dorm first.”

  Qu Yi couldn’t help but smile at the lengths Yan Liang would go to just to help her. “That’s really nice of you.” She smiles, standing up and bowing. “T-Thank you.”

  I nod. “Looks like everyone is here.” The group smiles on the bed as Qu Yi enters a video call with her mom’s contact.

  After roughly ten seconds of dialing, a video shows up of a woman that looks like an older version of Qu Yi. “Yi! I was just about to call you!” She smiles. In her view, Qu Yi is certainly a boy. She also calls him Quin Ton instead of Yi, but if I were to explain all the differences, we’d be here all day, so, I’ll just stick to the most convenient. “How are you enjoying your second day of school?”

  Qu Yi blushes, seeing her mom. A part of her is still worried she is seen as a girl to her, but it seems that she isn’t reacting strangely, and not asking who she is. “H-Hi mom. I’m doing really great, but I just need to let you know, that I did have a panic attack.”

  Her mom gasps on the phone. “Oh Yi! I’m so sorry! Part of me was worried you might have something like that with all the changes! Did the school help you? I hope they did better than your last one.”

  Qu Yi nods. “T-They did. They took me to the nurse’s office after I passed out.”

  Her mom nods. “That’s good. I hope other than that you have been enjoying your new school?”

  Qu Yi blushes and nods. “I-I have. I’ve made lots of good friends already.” She smiles as she sets the phone in a stand on the nearby table, revealing those sitting next to her. “So, um, I guess I’ll introduce you now?” she shyly adds. “So this is Wen Chou and Yan Liang, my roommates.” A quick censorship by Yu Ji changes it to “neighbors.”

  Qu Yi’s mother looks somewhat surprised. “They don’t have you in separate buildings? That’s interesting.”

  I blink a few times, whoops. Guess the censorship didn’t catch that one. Obviously, she means having the genders in different buildings. Thankfully, I come into view just in time to fix this error. Dang it, Yu Ji. “Oh Mrs. Qu. Yeah, don’t worry. Rules are still heavily enforced, but the school has found it more helpful to not divide the groups so much, to… promote… inclusivity.” She seems like a smart woman, smarter than most of the people I’m dealing with. Hopefully that absolute bull answer will buy time for now.

  “Oh, I suppose that makes sense.” She waves on the video call. “Hi Wen Chou and Yan Liang! I hope my daughter has been treating you well. I know she’s a shy one.”

  Wen Chou puts her arm around Qu Yi’s shoulders. “Don’t worry! Me and Newbie get along like peanut and butter! She’s going to be playing baseball with us soon enough!”

  “Oh, she’s going to try out a new sport! I’m glad you’re in a league that allows it!”

  What? Of course, she means co’ed league, but some of this wording is coming out weirder than I expected.

  Yan Liang stands up and bows, “I’m Yan Liang, and Mrs. Qu, I must say your daughter is so adorable! She’s certainly had a great mother growing up and she misses you dearly and she certainly appreciates you!”

  “Awww!” Mrs. Qu smiles as she rubs her cheek. “That’s so good to hear, but my you are a forward one! I hope you’ll be good friends with my daughter before you choose to act on such feelings! Be sure to inform me, Yi, okay?”

  Yan Liang practically has question marks coming out of her head. Qu Yi is also confused, but nods. “O-Of course, mom?”

  I facepalm out of camera view. Apparently “adorable” translates to handsome or something to that effect, so yes, Yan Liang may have just confessed to having a nonexistent crush on Qu Yi.

  “Speaking of adorable, your hairstyle is different, Yi. I didn’t know you’d like it in that style!”

  I’m gathering I imagine to her mom’s view Qu Yi’s hair spiked up instead of being in the ponytail it is currently in? I’m just guessing at this point. Yu Ji has failed me.

  “Um, t-thanks?” Qu Yi is a bit embarrassed by the comment herself.

  Yan Liang shakes off her initial confusion. “Yeah! Your daughter’s hair is very cute! I couldn’t resist styling it a bit!”

  “Oh! Well, that’s really nice of you!” Mrs. Qu responded, “It seems you guys are going faster than I first thought!”

  Again, Yan Liang has even more question marks surrounding her head at the comment. “Going fast?” she mutters to herself.

  Well, can I blame Mrs. Qu at this point? If things didn’t change, a girl just styled her son’s hair for him. I cover my face. Dang it, Yu Ji.

  “And who’s the other nice girl beside you, Yi?” She smiles referring to Yan Gang.

  “A-Ah! I am Yan Gang!” She stands up suddenly and stiffly bows. “I look forward to my rivalry with your daughter, your Missessness!”

  Mrs. Qu smiles to Qu Yi, expecting a response.

  Qu Yi twiddles her fingers. “Y-Yeah she wants to be my rival, but we haven’t decided on what yet.” She chuckles as she tells her mom, causing Yan Gang to stiffen more.

  “Oh, well how about grades? That’s something I’m sure you both could compete for!” She smiles softly to her camera.

  Yan Gang falls to her knees as she puts her hands on the ground. “No. It can’t be that…”

  Qu Yi smiles to her mom. “Yeah, she brought that idea earlier but changed her mind on it.”

  Mrs. Qu smiles sympathetically, already catching on why. At least I know where Qu Yi gets it. “So, about the outfit, that’s not one you packed right?”

  Wen Chou speaks up. “Oh that’s our classroom’s exercise uniform!” “For boys” was added to the end of her sentence. Obviously, the uniform looks slightly different to Mrs. Qu.

  “Oh, do you have your other uniform on hand? I’d love to see it!”

  Yan Liang looks down to herself wearing the uniform, but decides to pull out the uniform on the hanger, causing Qu Yi to blush. “Yeah, here it is!”

  “Yi! That’s so cute! I’m sure you look absolutely darling in it!” The male equivalent of a prim private school uniform is shown?

  “She is!” Wen Chou adds. “She’s fricken cute in it!” Guessing cute means cool? I don’t know how this filter works anymore. I give up.

  Mrs. Qu smiles. “It looks like you’ve already made such great friends. Are you glad you came?”

  Qu Yi perks up. “Yeah, yeah, I really am!” She nods as she lets out the brightest smile I’ve ever seen on her face.

  It seems her mom also took notice as she is holding back tears. “I’m so glad, Yi. I’m so glad you can have the good experience in school you deserve! If you’re ever struggling or need help, please don’t hesitate to call me. Is Mr. Lei still there?”

  I wave my hand from off camera. “Right here, Mrs. Qu. Anything you need?”

  “I’d like to exchange numbers with you, just in case. That way you can call me in an emergency.”

  I walk into view of the camera, pulling out my phone. “Oh, I mean, we have yours in the directory, but I suppose, if it would help you feel more comfortable.” I pull up my contacts, none. I don’t even know my own number, ha. I just press my phone to get the number on the screen and show it to the camera. “All right, I suppose just send a text when you are able, and I will add your name and such.

  She smiles to the camera. “Thank you so much, Mr. Lei. I’m so thankful to your school for accepting Yi.”

  I nod and smile slightly. “Well, I think that we’re all doing better with her here.”

  She nods. “Yi, I love you. I hope you have the greatest time there that you can. It looks like you already are.”

  Qu Yi blushes and smiles to her mom. “I love you, too, Mom. Thank you for letting me come here.”

  The two wave to each other before the phone call ends.

  Wen Chou smiles at the end of the call, “I can see where Qu Yi gets her appearance. She’s the splitting image of her mom!”

  Yan Liang looks to Wen Chou. “It’s spitting image, Chou, and, um, she said some things that I didn’t understand. Maybe it’s just an old person thing!” She smiles with her arms folded. “I can see why you look up to her so much, Qu Yi. She seems super nice!”

  Yan Gang is still on the ground, finally recovering. “Wait! It ended? Nooo! I needed to ask about embarrassing stories about Rival growing up and stuff!”

  Qu Yi blushes scratching her cheek with her right index finger. Frankly I didn’t even know if some of those things could be properly censored and filtered through that filter. Seems Yu Ji really dropped the ball on this one.

  “All right,” I speak up. “I’m glad that is settled. I think the lines at dinner should be shortening soon, so I think you girls should get going.”

  Wen Chou gasps. “It’s buffalo wing night! I have to get going before they run out!” She begins to run off, but then stops and turns around. “You are coming with me!” She bends down next to Qu Yi, who quickly jumps out of the way.

  “I-I really don’t want to be carried again! That was embarrassing last time!” she lets out, being sure to avoid getting picked up by Wen Chou.

  “It’s for your own protection, Qu Yi! We need to get there fast, and I want to make sure you are safe and don’t fall over again!”

  “W-We can just speed walk, right?”

  Yan Liang frowns. “Hey! We need to drop off Qu Yi’s uniform at the room first!” She’s holding up the hanger.

  This distracts Qu Yi enough to turn to Yan Liang, letting Wen Chou see her opportunity. “Interesting idea!” She quickly picks up Qu Yi in a princess style carry again. “You’re in charge of that Yan Liang. I’m getting buffalo wings with Qu Yi!” She runs out of the room, Qu Yi struggling in her hands.

  “P-Put me down Wen Chou! It’s really not fair! You’re a lot bigger than me! I don’t like feeling small!”

  Yan Gang jumps up at that and runs after them. “H-Hey! Rival! You said you didn’t care about height, but now I know the truth! You really do!”

  Yan Liang sighs. “That girl!” She huffs before she runs, trying to catch up with the two.

  I let out a sigh. “Well, it’s a bit late to tell them not to run in the hall, I suppose. Don’t know what’s going to kill me first, Devil Child or that girl.” My pocket vibrates as I pull out my phone, a text message from Mrs. Qu. Well, she’s calling herself “Mrs. Young” in it. I put that as her name in my contacts, since apparently texts don’t follow the same filter video calls do. “Well Mrs. Young, you certainly raised a selfless child.”

  I exit out of the nurse’s office. As I step out, I run into Hua Tao who is just walking back. “Hey, Tao, I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks for your help today.” I wave to her as I pass by. She smiles at me.

  “You’re better with the kids than you give yourself credit for, Bo.” She says after me.

  I turn around, somewhat surprised. “I really think you give me too much credit.” I laugh to myself. “I’m just trying to do what’s best and keep everyone else alive, that’s all.” I turn back around and continue on my way, needing to grab my special water bottle and make sure to refill it for tomorrow.

  As I leave Hua Tao, continues staring in the direction of the hall I’m heading down. She says something I fail to hear. “You really do judge yourself too harshly, Bo. This school couldn’t run without you.”