Author's Note: The first story arc is comprised of chapters 1-3 (The Brightest Smile - Confusing Feelings - Thank You). These side stories currently have 31 chapters and 10 different story arcs, all wholesome, innocent, pure thoughts, and child crushes. Characters were based on the anime depictions, with mental ages possibly around 10-12 (in the fictional series they are advanced thinkers despite being 5-7-- far from how it is in real life). I will be posting the others here too from another platform. Hope you'd keep reading the rest!

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"Ugh. I'm doomed, Becky!" The pink-haired girl whined early that morning.

"Anya?! Don't tell me you just slept last night?" replied Becky.

Anya nodded.

"But I told you to scatter your things over your bed so you can't sleep," Becky said.

"Anya did but I just slept over the books and the clutter."

Becky sighed in disbelief. 'How could she even sleep over bumpy and pinchy stuff?' If it were her, she would lose sleep over even a single pearl under her firm, thick mattresses.

Becky's eyes were taken by the huge clock on the wall.

"Well, you still have three hours before the exam! I'm sorry, I can't help you this time, Anya. Mr. Henderson wants to speak to me. But I will be back as soon as I can to help you. So just do your best while I'm away, okay?" she told her.

"Okay, Becky. Don't worry. See you," Anya replied.

Becky waved at her and hurriedly left. Now, Anya is alone in the room, still worrying about how she should cram everything with the little time she's left. 'Becky could have helped me understand these... But she can't be here.'

She sat on their desk.

At that instant, terrible things that might happen if she gets a series of F scores crossed her mind:

'Anya, you can't do the job so I need to find a new child for Operation Strix,' her father, Loid Forger, said in her thoughts.

'I'm bringing you back to the orphanage. Goodbye, Anya...'

"No!!!" Anya screamed tearfully. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed. She drowned in her thoughts that she did not notice the door open.

A boy came inside. He froze upon seeing Anya in a crying state.

The boy is Damian Desmond, a rich and popular kid who has always 'hated' Anya after she punched him in the face on their first day of school. Anya has apologized to him but he can't forgive her for trampling on his pride.

'Punching the great Damian Desmond is a crime in these school halls.'

Yet, there is something about her he just couldn't hate. Anya is a genuine, sincere, and sweet person... he found out that very moment she apologized. And now he has this weird feeling in his chest whenever he saw her.

Of course, he couldn't bear to see her crying like this. Wondering what happened, Damian approached Anya's desk.

"Oi, Shrimp."

Anya recognized the voice and immediately halted her sobs. She talked without raising her face.

"Anya is not feeling well today. If Sy-on boy likes to make fun of me, please stay away for now and just do so with your friends."

"I'm not making fun of you," Damian responded. "But you are crying when I came and it's bothersome to study with someone sobbing."

'Ugh.' She was just letting her sadness out, but Damian had to be the one to hear her.

She spoke to Damian.

"Anya... is sorry for bothering you. I am just sad that I failed to study last night and I might not pass the exam. I wanted to ask Becky to help me but she has a meeting. The notes are so difficult..."

Anya stood and picked her things up. "Anya is scared of getting expelled. I am not as smart as you and Becky." She snapped her bag and began to lift it.

"Anya will leave the room now so no one gets bothered."

Anya hurried to the door with a drying trail of tears down her cheek. Damian saw this and pitied her.

"O-Oi!" Damian chased Anya and blocked her way. They now stand face to face with each other — Damian bowing slightly to meet her emerald gaze that took his breath away.

"What now, Sy-on boy? Don't want me to study even a little bit? Want me to get expelled that badly?" Anya spoke.

Damian saw the pair of tearful eyes and felt a heaviness in his chest.

"T-That's not it!" he protested.

A class without Anya? He couldn't even imagine. This girl has made him look forward to going to his classes everyday and forget his sadness over his family.

He clutched his fist.

'Why... do I feel like I should do something now? I don't want her crying. But tears suit her! She should've cried the moment she punched me. No... I can't take it, this is not how she is normally.'

He sighed. 'I must do something... I want to.' He resolved to himself.

Damian took his hands into his pockets.

"I-I will let you pass, but I will come with you. You said Becky can't help you right now? Maybe I can..." Damian offered, his heart slightly thumping.

'Crap! What am I saying? I can't be seen with her! Ugh. No. Screw that! I want to help her.' Conflict is brewing inside him, but Damian managed to keep his composure.

Anya was shocked by what Damian just said. 'He's offering to help me? Why would he even bother?' Anya tried to read his mind but she can't make sense of his jumbled thoughts.

Yet, the offer was but what she needed the most at that moment. Damian has excellent grades and he will surely be able to help her, even if he keeps throwing her insults while studying.

"Sy-on boy, are you sure you want to help Anya?" She said tearfully.

Damian saw two puppy eyes and sighed.

"Listen. I would not have offered if I don't want to. I guess I can't stand to see you crying helplessly. Let me teach you. I will make sure you don't fail," Damian told her.

"Ah..." Damian saw relief dawn on Anya's face, as well as the return of her sweet and innocent gaze. He doesn't understand why but he also felt relieved.

He finally moved on from second-guessing his decision to help Anya. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the place where he knew she can concentrate well.

"Come with me. I know a good place to study."

However, to his surprise, Anya stiffened her body to stop them from moving. Damian's hand slid off her arm.

Damian turned to face her wondering about her actions. But instead, he saw the brightest smile he has ever seen in his life.

"Thank you, Sy-on boy!" Anya said with a smile as blinding as the sun.

Damian's eyes widened. He has never seen her smile happily at him before. He felt his blood rush to his face, but he doesn't feel angry at all. He felt quite happy— maybe the happiest he's been in school so far.

His cheeks felt warm.

Realizing that he was blushing, he slightly turned his head to hide his redness.

"Let's go now so you can study more."

He took his hands into his pockets and led her to the garden.

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