"We're home!" came Leo's voice at exactly 4:07, causing a grin to break out onto Mikey's face. Currently, he was sitting across from Master Splinter. They have been having a serious conversation (shocking, considering that this is Mikey we're talking about) and the conversation went on for hours.

Leo and Donnie entered the kitchen to see Splinter standing over a sitting Michelangelo, and the happiness in his eyes were very noticeable. He's always excited when their school lets out, but this time... he looks even more happy than he normally does; he's practically jumping up and down in excited anxiousness... as much of an oxymoron as that was.

"Hi, bros!" Mikey greeted, waving at them.

"Welcome home, my sons," Splinter said, bowing his head. "How was school?"

"School was school," Leo said with a slight shrug.

"Yeah," Donnie muttered.

Normally he would have gone on and on about all of the new and amazing things that he'd learn, but today, he showed no giddiness over his love for learning. Come to think of it, he hasn't in a full week. "Mikey, why are you in a better mood than usual?" Donnie asked his little brother, realizing that he was becoming too suspicious, so he decided to change the topic.

"You aren't gonna believe this, bros!" Mikey stood up on his seat, only to get scolded by their father, so he quickly jumped down. His smile was as wide as ever. "Splinter's letting me put my ninja skills to use and letting me go to the surface with you, dudes!"

"You're right, I don't believe that," Leo said blandly. "What's the real reason?"

Mikey glanced over at Splinter, who sighed. "My sons, I have came to the decision that Michelangelo is ready to go up to the surface," Splinter said.

"...Really? You think Mikey is ready?" Donnie questioned with furrowed eyebrows.

"I feel like you're implying something," Mikey said.

"You felt right."

"Donatello," Splinter said sternly, "your younger brother is indeed ready. He will go on patrol with you once Miwa's and Raphael's grounding has came to an end."

"What? Why I can't I go now?" Mikey practically whined. "They're meanies anyways, I'm fine with just going with Leo and Donnie!"

"Or you can just not go at all," Splinter challenged.

"...I can wait," Mikey decided.

"I thought so."

When Raph and Miwa had come home from their detention, a little after 5 pm, Leo and Donnie informed their brother and sister of what Splinter had told them. Leo and Donnie weren't nice with their explanation, mentioning over and over, how both of them thought this was a stupid idea and that Mikey was way too incompetent.

Raph started laughing, at first thinking it was a joke, and Miwa had let out an amused smirk, thinking that it would be interesting with their younger brother with them, especially since he's a turtle and the rest of them are humans.

When Raph realized that Leo and Donnie were not joking, he scowled. "Really?" he questioned, crossing his arms. He thought that Mikey would get in the way, and it'll be such a pain to have to watch over Mikey, as they fight bad guys.

Miwa elbowed Raph. "Won't you boys be a little nicer?" she asked, scoffing lightly. "Mikey has never left the safety of the sewers. Just imagine how bored he always is. Don't you guys think he needs some fresh air, finally?"

Leo, Donnie and Raph all exchanged looks, as Miwa continued.

"Plus, it's not like we face anything huge," she said. "We mainly just goof off and skateboard and eat pizza, because the bad guys are literally so lame. Having Mikey on the team won't hurt us any. Not having Mikey with us, though, will just hurt the little guy... Er, turtle?"

"I guess you have a point," Donnie said, giving in.

Leo nodded. "Yeah, let's just see how Mikey does out there, before we start completely hating on this idea."

Raph merely huffed. "At least I'll have a punching bag," he practically growled. "An annoying one, though," he added.

"Raph!" all three of his human siblings yelled at him, causing Raph to merely just roll his eyes at them.

Mikey frowned, having had heard every word that was said, from his bedroom. His brothers and sister weren't exactly quiet in the conversation that was going on between them.

At least Miwa was being nice about it, Mikey thought to himself, sighing lightly. But it was crystal clear that Mikey's older brothers didn't want him to start going on patrol with them. Did they hate him or something?

Mikey buried his head into his legs, feeling as if he could cry. Since he was in his bedroom, he didn't have to wear the same joyous smile he always had, because he absolutely hated the way that his brothers were speaking about him -- as if he was just a burden to them. Maybe Mikey's older sister secretly thought so as well, and was just being too nice to say so, or to imply it.

When Mikey thought that, he blinked, overcome with confusion. Normally, nice wouldn't have been the word that Mikey or anyone else would have used to describe the fifteen year old girl, with her vulgar language, sarcasm, her insults, and her sometimes manipulative qualities. The only one that was even meaner than Miwa happened to have been, was Raphael, and it was no contest on deciding who the ultimate meanest Hamato sibling was.

Mikey sighed, hugging himself tightly. Maybe his brothers would warm up to the idea, but somehow, he doubted that, and he wished that his siblings were more excited about their younger brother tagging along with them on patrol. But it seemed like they were dreading it, and Mikey hated that, so freaking much.

Not only did Mikey want to experience life above the sewers, like Leo, Raph, Miwa and Donnie, he was also looking forward to more sibling bonding.

And yet... He was the only one who felt that way.