Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter I

Six o' three. I instinctively drew a relieved breath, having the rare time for myself, not being bugged by hundreds of girls and not being annoyed by Sonic's and Shadow's usual arguements. If not for the fact that I'm a part of their family and a part of the group who have saved most of the people's lives in this country a bunch of times, I would've questioned my talent for being able to keep up with them. Heck, I would've guessed I'd go nuts if I would linger in a dining room filled with heated arguement, glares and the almost naeusiating smell of the chilli dogs served most breakfasts in 'our' - me, Sonic, Shadow and Maria - house. I wonder how Maria could literally keep up with their noise, though no questions with Shadow; everyone knows Maria and Shadow are practically like siblings.

Shaking my head and kicking myself out of my thoughts, I twisted the silver knob of my classroom door then walking inside. Inside was silent and empty (exclude me). It was exactly how I wanted it to be, but even with the room as calm as this, I still need to be cautious. I still don't know if it was 'completely' empty of people and I still don't know if there were no pranks displayed or played here at this moment, at this room. Well, if you are asking me why, it's a very, very, very, very, very, very short explanation. Though it's a long story. For example, there was this time when one of my classmates had water splashed down him, then there was this time when the members of the cheer squad running down the hallway of the school, screaming 'RATS!' all over the place. And there was also the time when-

'Gotcha!'

Well, you get my point. This school is really whacked up with pranks. With my lips tugging into a smile, even through the pain of my head colliding with something hard and the rib-crushing weight of someone on top of me, I greeted my pranker.

'Good morning to you too, Marine.'

The weight finally disappeared, my lungs giving out a constricted cough, synchronising with my friend's giggle. I rolled my eyes and stood up slowly, reaching out for the reached out hand of the raccoon lover. She smiled, her ocean eyes glimmering with the spark I've gotten used to knowing.

'Morning, too.'

We swiftly stood up seeing a certain cream haired female entering the room. She looked somewhat flushed and was panting really hard. By the time she claimed her own seat on front of mine and Marine now reading red big thick book on her seat just at the right of mine, I felt myself plunging face first towards the floor with a heavy load tackling me on my back. Good thing I knew a thing or two about flying, floating isn't too hard to control. I could already hear the whines of the energetic boy named Charmy.

'Awwe. No fair Tails.'

His arms unlinked off mine as he forlornly went to his seat behing Marine's. Cream turned around, wincing slightly as her left arm hit with something hard. Ever since the track-and-field event last month, her left arm was bound in a cast. I don't blame her though since she idolized Amy. Amy the Pink Rascal of the Freedom Fighters.

I took my seat casually, settling my bag on top of my chair. Curiously, I gazed at the red thick book for sometime. It was kinda familiar.

'What's that book about Marine?'

She looked up, grinning.

'Warships and the crap. It looks like a different kind of version of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions. Why?'

I shook my head and mouthed an 'oh'. It was known that Solianna country was in the verge of war and World War III might become reality. Marine, being one of the top mechanics and inventors of the monarchial country, is in charge of research and invent of warships and aircrafts (with the help of me). But being the best friend of Blaze made her more prone to danger, so she was sent here to study as a normal schoolgirl. I feel sorry for her, being in a position like that is stressful. And she's just fourteen turning fifteen in about two weeks.

Sigh. What was the time anyway? That was the first thing registered in my mind after a couple of silent minutes. I instinctively looked at my wrist and tried not to bang my head on a wall. I forgot it. Again.

'Hey, Marine?'

She looked up and closed the red book, making Cream and Charmy silence and look at me.

'Yes?'

'Do you mind telling me what the time is?'

She looked at her red Mickey Mouse wristwatch.

'Six Seventeen. Why?'

So it was still early, huh? I shook my head, a sincere smile plastered on my face.

'Nothi-'

'Why don't you tell her that you and Cosmo had a little fight yesterday,Tails?'

I wanted to smack Charmy against the wall. I told him that it would be a secret. I guess I shouldn't have told him.

'So that's why I saw her walking grumpilly on the stairs earlier today,' the voice of Cream said worriedly.

'Yeah.'

'She's still jealous, isn't she?'