A/N: Random one shot :)! Because I felt like it :)! Enjoy the read!
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko! Only my imagination :)!
Ulrich Stern wished he excelled in his studies as much as he did in martial arts. He was currently on his way to the principal's office. This was his last year in middle school and things weren't looking good. Simply passing the last exams wasn't enough to advance to high school. Mathematics, English and French all needed an average of at least 60%. Otherwise, it was either summer school or repeating the grade.
Seeing how several teachers were always against Ulrich rather than in favour of helping him, he guessed he would have to repeat a year. If he failed to improve his results.
Aelita had overheard teacher talking about earning extra credit worth 5% on a subject you would otherwise have failed. Of course, many of the students would be interested in the jobs. It could even be a once in a lifetime opportunity, since this was just an experiment.
Ulrich had faith that if he studied really hard, he would be able to pass all of the subjects. English and French weren't really problematic. Mathematics was the large obstacle in Ulrich's school career. Although he had improved throughout the years, the hurdle still seemed too high. This year he had been fluctuating around the required average. If he flunked his final exam, the extra credits were more than welcome.
He had arrived at the office and was now standing in front of the secretary. "Can I go in?" He asked. "Mr. Delmas has been expecting you," she answered while she gestured for him to enter the principal's office.
"Hello Ulrich, please sit," Mr. Delmas greeted him. Ulrich did so and waited for the man to continue. "I have heard you wish to take part in the newly created program." Ulrich nodded. "Yes, I believe it is the safest option for me. I have to back myself up," he replied. "Well, it's good that you showed initiative to try something new. There are however many students who have applied for the program. We have had to narrow the large group down. You are one of the few who was selected, which can be considered lucky," Mr. Delmas told him.
This gave Ulrich hope. "That's great!" Mr. Delmas got out a few papers. "It is indeed. But you are expected to perform well with your assignments. If you fail, you will not receive the extra credit. I also want to emphasize this is not an easy way to earn a passing grade. Ulrich, I advise you to study harder than before. You might not have as much time to study because of the tasks given to you." Ulrich suddenly sat up straighter when he heard the warning.
"Here are the necessary forms. Fill them in and leave them with the secretary. I'm going to speak to the teacher who will be your supervisor for the coming two months," Mr. Delmas said.
"Yes, sir," Ulrich responded as he received the papers and walked outside. He closed the door and seated himself on the bench located on the opposite of the office. He started to read through the first form. "Assisting primary school students with their homework on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. To catch up with the classes you miss, the teachers have offered to hold extra classes. These will be held in the evening hours and in the weekends. Please choose one of the two options to be able to stay on par with all of your subjects."
He rose an eyebrow at the text on the sheet of paper. "They expect me to teach others when I'm doing this because I pretty much suck at studying?" Nevertheless, Ulrich filled in the entire form without doubt.
"I just know the others will laugh at me once they hear what I'm supposed to be doing," he said to himself as he shook his head. Ulrich handed his form to the secretary and went to find his friends in the cafeteria.
"So, how did it go?" Aelita asked him. Jeremie and Odd looked at him expectantly as well. Yumi was confused. "What did I miss?" She asked as she too stared at Ulrich, waiting for an answer.
"Mr. Delmas said I was amongst the chosen ones to partake in the new experiment," he revealed. Then he turned to Yumi. "It's to earn myself some extra points in case I don't make it at the end of the year..," Ulrich informed her. "What will you be doing?" Jeremie questioned.
"Helping primary school students in ninth grade with their homework…," he told them with a lowered voice, then continued explaining the rest.
Odd was the first to laugh out loud. "I have to say, it doesn't seem like something you would be good at," Yumi teased him. Ulrich shrugged. "I have to try. I don't want to be two years behind you," he said. Aelita giggled. "Well, good luck then. If you need help with studying for classes you have missed, just let us know. We'll help you," she said. "Thanks," he grinned.
"On the positive side, they're not in their last grade for primary school. So, it shouldn't be that hard," Jeremie pointed out. Ulrich hoped he was right.
It turned out that the study material was the last thing Ulrich had to worry about. "Everyone, this is Ulrich Stern. He will be assisting me for a short while. You can ask him questions about your homework and about the lessons we've had in class. Let's all get along with him," his supervisor, a ninth grade teacher, began. "Can you please introduce yourself?"
Ulrich looked over the group of ninth graders. There seemed to be an equal amount of boys and girls, all staring right at him. "Uh, yeah. I'm Ulrich. Believe it or not, studying is not my forte," he heard some snickering and giggling and scratched his head, "I'll do my best to help you out, so please go easy on me." He laughed a little.
"Do you like soccer?" A boy sitting in the centre of the classroom randomly asked.
"Yeah, I do. I'm actually a pretty good soccer player. I wouldn't have any trouble helping you out with that," he told him.
"What's your best subject?" Someone else asked him.
"Physical Education," he immediately responded. The entire class laughed.
"Teacher, are you sure we will be alright?" A girl wearing glasses jokingly directed her question to the teacher, who had been standing behind his desk. The teacher had a nervous aura around him.
"Don't worry, I said I'll try," Ulrich joined in the fun. The girl grinned at him.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" A girl decided to be bold and ask the question a few others had wanted to know the answer to as well.
"I don't," he replied.
"But you do like someone?" Ulrich wondered for a moment why they were so curious.
"Who knows? If you all score at least 70% on your next test, I'll answer more questions," he suggested.
"DEAL!" The class answered in unison. The teacher considered the introduction over and clapped to get the attention of the students.
"Well then, let's get started on today's study session," the teacher announced as he began to write on the blackboard.
As the days passed, Ulrich found himself in a routine. Studying was still bothersome, because it took him a long time to understand many parts. But he felt that the time spent with the younger kids made up for it. Almost none of them needed extra help and the questions concerning all subjects were easy to deal with.
Today was the day the kids had gotten back their tests. Unfortunately for Ulrich, it meant another interrogation. Nobody had scored below 70%.
"You promised," the girl who asked him the last question during his introduction stepped forward. All of them had gotten up when the teacher had left the room for a meeting. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Let's go outside. School's out anyway," Ulrich gave in.
On the schoolyard Ulrich seated himself under a tree and the kids followed, surrounding him. He still wondered why on Earth everyone was this interested in someone they hadn't known long enough to truly befriend.
"Ask away," he casually said. "But I have to go soon, since I have to prepare for my classes. And I have to get food," he warned them.
"Do you like someone?" The same girl persistently asked him.
"Yeah," they were all ears, "I like many people," he answered purposely.
The students groaned.
"Okay, okay, yes I do like someone. In fact, I like her a lot," Ulrich admitted.
"Who is the lucky one?" The soccer boy wanted to know.
"A girl from a grade above mine," he revealed.
They had mixed reactions. The girls thought it a pity that the lucky lady already existed, whereas the boys admired him for 'aiming' higher.
"Does she know?" The girl from before spoke up again.
"I have never told her, but we're very close. So I think she does," Ulrich thought about how aware Yumi and he himself were about their feelings for each other. If one would look at it as an outsider, it was certainly considered strange not to be in a relationship.
"Should we help you confess?" They all asked.
"What?!" Ulrich exclaimed, startled by the eagerness encircling him. "It's okay. Actually, just don't," he tried to prevent the beginning of a crisis.
"Good, here's the plan," the studious girl with the glasses, who seemed to be the class representative, came forward. Ulrich sat there, mouth agape, while he was completely ignored. "Guys, girls, you can stop. It's not going to happen. We're good friends, nothing more. We can't be more," he got them to listen with that last bit of information.
It was the first time he had confided this to someone younger than him. Let alone, a whole class. "Please, keep it a secret," he wished. Ulrich somehow felt sad that these kids had to see his struggle.
"Okay," they all answered him.
"Thanks, now go home. I'll see you in two days," he said. It wasn't long before he was left alone. Ulrich went to sit on the other side of the tree, where he wouldn't be visible. There was a lot of time before he had to go to his classes. He closed his eyes as he started to think about Yumi. Ulrich hadn't been able to meet up with her as often the years before. Yumi was in her first year of high school and he was busier than usual. It made it difficult for them to see each other.
Ulrich thought about taking advantage of the evening classes, in order to make trips to Yumi's house so they could talk a little before he had to head back. However, the perfect opportunity hadn't arisen yet.
"Are they giving you trouble?"
He opened his eyes and saw Yumi standing there. She offered him a hand to pull him up. He took it, but pulled her down instead, without letting go. It surprised her, but she quickly adjusted so she could sit beside him. Yumi stilled when she felt his head hit her shoulder. "Just give me ten minutes. Those kids ask too many questions," he said. She remained quiet. "Thanks," he said. Ulrich gently held her hand as he fell asleep. The days had tired him out more than he expected. Yumi closed her eyes as well. Finally, after a long time, they were enjoying a peaceful moment together.
Meanwhile the kids from the class had witnessed the scene under the tree. They didn't dare to approach them, feeling it was wrong to do so. They seemed to give them their privacy as well. "I guess that's what his friend was talking about," the girl with the glasses said. The others agreed. "Let's just do our best to help them out. They look like a great couple," another girl said. "Well, we'll only help because Ulrich's a cool guy," one of the boys spoke up. "We cannot disobey Odd after all. He did cover for us when we broke a window while we were playing on private grounds during break some time ago," someone revealed.
They all recalled the moment the energetic boy had entered their classroom when – coincidentally – their teacher had gone to the restroom.
"Hey kids! Remember me? Your saviour! I have a favour to ask. My best buddy, Ulrich Stern, will be assisting your teacher in this class very soon. You're asking what that has to do with you. Well, you see, Ulrich is hopelessly in love with a girl named Yumi Ishiyama and she likes him back! Don't tell anybody I said that though. The two of them are so close that nobody can get between them. Nobody, but their own stupid decisions. Seeing how they struggle with trying not to cross the line pains their friends. Ulrich is a great guy and Yumi is an awesome girl and they deserve to be happy! Since I am your saviour and you owe me, you will be helping me – and my friends – helping them! More details later, I think your teacher is coming. I will be back!" He had told them the story and disappeared so quickly that the teacher hadn't noticed him.
Luckily for Odd, the kids had remained loyal to him. Now that they had met Ulrich and seen Yumi as well, they were more willing to make it happen.
The class representative put forward her hand. "Let's bring Ulrich and Yumi happiness," she announced. The others all stacked their hands on top of hers as they repeated after her. "Happiness for Ulrich and Yumi!"
Somewhere behind the group Odd watched the group of kids unite. He was satisfied the operation was successfully underway. He smiled, turned around and walked towards the cafeteria to share the news with Jeremie and Aelita. "To the happiness of our friends."
A/N: So, the normal French education system has five levels in primary school. And they count from 'eleventh' grade (grade one) down. So ninth graders in this story means the third year in primary school. The kids would be aged 8 to 9. Let's be honest, they are very sweet lol. I hope you liked the story!