Episode 1: New School, New Friendships?

Chapter 1

Miho sleeps peacefully in her bed, quietly mumbling, "how do you make chocolate cake taste so good?". Suddenly a beeping from her nearby alarm clock starts, though at first she just barely starts to stir. The beeping goes faster and louder, and before long Miho jolts awake, tumbles over the slide of her bed with her blanket and hits the clock to silence its sound. Not long after, she hurriedly gets up, folds her blanket on top of her pillow and straightens out her bed sheet. Just as she is about to undress she seemingly stops herself, takes a look around her room, and slightly chuckles at herself, "I guess old habits really do die hard."

She then hears a familiar ringing coming from her nightstand, heading over and picking up her phone, she quickly looks at the caller id and smiles. Answering the phone she says, "Good morning mom."

Her mother at the other end of the line responds happily, "Hi Miho and good morning to you too. I'm sorry if my call woke you up dear."

"Don't worry mom, I already woke up a few minutes ago thanks to my alarm." Miho responds.

She then hears a cheer and her mother saying to someone else, "See Michael, I told you she'd already be awake, you owe my 50 credits, now pay up."

An audible groan could be heard along with a male voice responding, "oh come on."

"Thanks for helping me win 50 credits from your dad dear," her mother thanks cheekily.

"Did you and dad seriously make a bet about whether or not I was awake already?" Miho asks, cringing.

"Yep," her mother answers, "old habits die hard I suppose."

Miho laughs, "I said the exact same thing just before you called. "The two of them share a laugh over their apparent synchronization.

"Well," her mom starts to change the subject. "How are you doing, are you ready for your first day of school?"

"I've been doing okay, and of course I'm excited for my first day," Miho answers excitedly. "But," she trails off, "I'm also nervous being this is a new school and all."

"I understand," her mother says supportively. "But you're going to a great first day and I'm sure you'll fit in well at school. Remember what I told you earlier, just be yourself and people will like you, besides you already have some friends from MLS right?"

Miho nodded, "yeah."

"Hold on a sec," her mother said, "your father wants to talk to you for a bit."

"Hi there Miho," came the voice of her father.

"Hi dad," Miho responds.

"So first of all, what heck man, making me lose 50 credits to your mom? I thought you and I were a team here," her father teased, faining betrayal.

"Sorry dad, I didn't know about this bet you had," Miho responded, chuckling.

"It's okay," her dad said, "I'll get her back later."

"Oh, well we'll see about that now won't we?" she could hear her mom say sneeringly.

"Well anyway have fun at school Miho," her dad wished her, "I love you."

"I love you too dad," Miho returned.

"Well dear," she heard her mother's voice again. "Me and your dad gotta go now, have fun at school okay, I love you."

"I love you too mom, bye," Miho said before hanging up.