Chapter 53: Academy Memories

The next day...

"Never thought we'll be back here again." said Van.

"Actually, Emma, Gumchi and I dropped by for a visit. So it's our second time here." said Kappei with the little gum alien sitting on top of his baseball cap.

The scene reveals the gang at the WNA Academy with the majority visiting in for the first time after a year. "Ah...this takes me back at those moments." said May.

"Yeah! I miss the fun times where we get to wreck each other during those battles!" said Lucy as she and May fist bump each other. And then, "See that roof? Van and Kappei were clinging onto it for their lives." She told her.

"Oh don't remind me..." Van groaned. "In fact, you, Emma, Berecca and Jane back then, whooped me and Kappei big time after that."

"What is this now?" Dan asked with all ears open.

"We had a sports day and it was messed up at the last part because those 2 idiots brainlessly try to prove who's better and stronger even going as far as it boss us too much." Emma explained as the gang went inside the building. "And I find it hilarious." Alec thought as Hongfa snuggled close to him and he was flustered.

In the main hall, they recalled the interior design as they went up one level. "Those dorms are kinda small as far as I remember. Thank goodness in high school, our dorms are large." said Billy.

"Dude. The dorms here actually is large in the inside but small on the outside due to the doors being small." said Cluv. "As of now, new students have filled our spots."

"So true. I wonder where they are now?" Dan wondered.

"Probably on a summer break with our former senseis. I mean, remember the beach break that we had?" May brought as they did remember it.

"And Dan was a meanie because he won't let me and May roast the octopus for takoyaki and stuff!" Lucy recalled.

"In fact, the octopus taught him how to swim. He told me about it when we returned from the beach break." said Tyler.

"Huh...now I understand." May exclaimed as they walked around some more.

After that, they went to check the gardens. "Hey Tyler, your dad still comes here often for the farming and stuff, right?" Dan asked.

"Yeah. He would work with Amy on the gardening and from what I've heard, many of the students helped out. Now it's a vegetable garden which grows all the vegetables for the cafeteria lady to use as ingredients for the meal preparations." Tyler explained.

"It's cool that you kept in touch with your dad." said Van.

"You also did the same thing also." He replied as they fist bump each other.

"From the look of it, it's almost harvest time." Dia exclaimed. "Maybe in a couple of days."

"Who knows?" Hongfa replied when she noticed the battle arena. "You're thinking what I'm thinking right?" Dan asked her and she smiled. "Good thing while we're inside, I got my hands on these!" She revealed some ninja gum. Oh yes, it's action time...

At the arena...

"Okay here are the rules. It's a battle royal and it's an all-out fight. Last ninja standing wins and no awakened powers allowed." Dan briefed the group and all are in position. Gumchi on the other hand is outside watching this as, "Ready...and chew!"

Each have a ninja gum as all chewed it. Seconds later, bubbles are blown and, "POP!" Ah, nostalgia.

Kappei and Billy each have a Drill Beast.

Lucy has her Scrap Saber.

Emma has her DJ Scratch.

Van has his Trick Ball.

Dan, Hongfa and Elena each have an IPPON Katana with Dan's black in colour while the girls have red.

Tyler has his Shinobi Spinner.

Keith has his Camu Camu Plate.

Naomi has her Sushi Axe.

May has her Ogre Gauntlets.

Damien has his Ninja Yo-Yo.

Heart and Dia each have a Matsuri Board.

Cluv has his Extreme Motor.

And Alec has the SK8 Hammer. "Looks heavy but I should be able to hold my ground."

"Battle!" Dan declared as he charged and engaged Kappei. Van ran onto the grid walls ninja style and shot his trick ball at Tyler who also shot out his spinner as their weapons hit each other. Keith clashed with Billy using his plate slam and strike him aside. "I'm not finished yet!" Billy got up and clashed with him again.

Jumping in the air, Emma swung her DJ Scratch at Lucy who hit it back with her Scrap Saber. May then jumped at her ready to do some pummeling with her Ogre Gauntlets but Elena zipped it and swat her away while Lucy dashed in and swat her also. Both May and Elena were able to get a grip and stand on their feet again as they battled their opponents. "This is so much fun! I'll wreck 'em all and be the top winner in this one!"

"Then prepare to get KO!" Emma did a backflip and danced a bit while swinging her DJ scratch in the air and, "BAM!" What a power slam she executed. "And it nearly knocked Lucy out." Keith thought as he blocked a yo-yo attack from Damien.

On the grid walls, Heart and Dia skated together and fought together as Cluv used his Extreme Motor to take them down but they jumped out of the way. Alec charged in and swung his hammer but Cluv jumped back and he missed. He then swung a second time but Cluv grabbed the head of the hammer with his hand and pushed it back. Alec stumbled down but got on his feet while picking up his weapon as he and Cluv got ready.

Near them, Damien took action and launched his yo-yo at Tyler who jumped to his right and shot his spinner at him. Their weapons hit each other and are recalled back. Dan and Kappei ran by them while clashing with their gum weapons when Naomi swept it and, "BAM!"

Both took the hit while being knocked back but they shrugged it off and landed on their feet. Naomi then charged at them when Emma launched her DJ Scratch landing a direct hit! She crashed onto Alec as Hongfa is near them clashing with Elena. "Can you get off me before Hongfa sees this and thinks I'm cheating on her?"

"I apologize Alec." She picked up her axe and managed to block a skateboard attack from Heart. Alec then picked up the hammer and also blocked Dia's attack as on a grid wall, Kappei is chasing Billy as he got down and the 2 ninjas clashed with their Drill Beasts. Van then launched his ball and, "BAM! BAM!"

"Right on their heads!" He cheered when, "Wanna drill right into and through his butthole together Billy?"

"This is gonna be painful for him but fun for us!"

"Wait...why are you guys grinning maliciously at me?!" Van then panicked and ran away away screaming as Kappei and Billy gave chase while laughing together. "They should focus more in the fighting instead of running..." Dan thought as Alec jumped up and did a hammer slam but Dan jumped aside as they clashed with each other.

Some time later...

20 minutes had passed and everyone seemed to be tiring out after exhausting their energy in fighting in the battle royal when out of nowhere, "Okay you little tykes! Enough already!"

"Bruce!" Van recognized as he appeared with a grin. "Ha! Ha! Ha! You all grew up fast and still remembered your moves I see!" The next thing it happened, some of the teens pounced on Bruce embracing him as he stumbled down surprised but laughed with the former students as they talked with each other. Even Dan decided to forget about the battle royal and catch up with the sensei.

After that...

"I miss the mealtimes back then." said Keith as the cafeteria lady cooked up a grand feast for everyone. Everyone was amazed at the sight of the food. Yes, the beef stew, the beef curry rice, the hamburger steak set and other steak set meals and many more.

"Say, do you think our other classmates also have their own favourite gum weapons?" Van asked.

"Cruz once stated that he uses a Trick Ball in the form of a football since he plays that sport a lot in Brazil and in the football club in our high school." Emma brought up.

"I know someone in my class who also uses a Trick Ball too but it's in the form of a bowling ball because it's his favourite sport and he's a member of the bowling club in our high school." said Billy.

"Ryotarou uses a Flurry Fury as his gum weapon in the academy days." said Naomi.

"And one of our classmates used a Slash X Kicks gum weapon." Dan recalled as he grabbed his fork and knife. "I ain't gonna wait for the food to go cold. Dig in!"

Everyone then started chowing down with Van, Kappei and Keith eating a large serving of the beef curry rice in which they all polished it all up in seconds. "I never forget their hearty appetites." The cafeteria lady recalled with a smile as, "Care for a second serving?"

"YES PLEASE!" The 3 boys cheered and she gave them a second serving. "And once all of you polished your meals, dessert is next in the menu." She told everyone and they cheered in excitement. During the lunch hour, Emma, Lucy, Naomi and May chat with each other, Van, Kappei and Keith gorged down their second serving, Dan, Billy and Heart slurped their beef stew while Tyler and Alec ate their steak with table manners and Hongfa, Damien, Elena and Dia had a toast with their glasses of soda. Bruce and the Cafeteria Lady smiled at their energy still remembering those days while they were here. Oh yes, Gumchi devoured 10 plates of the lunch and burped in elation.

After lunch, dessert is served as each of the teens have a slice of chocolate cheesecake. Gumchi on the other hand has a whole cake to himself. "Cakee! Cakee!" He then grabbed the whole thing and, "CHOMP!"

"You got to be kidding me! He ate the entire cake in one bite! I bet his stomach is baking the cake inside!" Bruce joked and all stared at him in disbelief. "His jokes never change..." Lucy groaned when, "Open wide Lovely Lucy."

"Aw...my sweet, Vanilla Vannie Boo knows how to make me happy!" She cheered as Van fed her a portion of his cake. She then did the same thing to him. "Damn...so some of the tykes are dating each other!" Bruce thought when, "Bruce, where's Amy and Daisy?" Keith asked.

"The ladies took all the students to the beach for some summer fun. Me, the cafeteria lady and the principal are the only ones." He answered.

"And he's right about it!" All gasped to see the principal as he smiled at their presence. "After a few years I finally got the chance to see you all again! You guys grow up fast!"

Everyone approached the principal as he talked with all of them as they shared to him about their high school lives and stuff. It was fun to catch up with their former teaching staff and principal because after the lunch, the gang left the academy to split up and do their own things.

"We'll see them again. Right Principal?" Bruce asked him and they're on the rooftop.

"Yes we definitely will. I'm glad they doing well in high school now. Here in the academy, it's a piece of cake but in the ninja high school, expect tougher challenges ahead." He replied as they fist bump each other.

That night...

Back at the beach house, all gathered at the living room. "You know, I've been recalling the memories I had at the academy and there is something to learn from." Dan began.

"We're listening." said Tyler.

"A true ninja treasures the memories of the past and the present." Dan stated. "We built and forged many good memories in the academy. Like friendships, bonds and the times we had fun together through training and other activities which also has some crazy shenanigans. Now that all of us are in high school, I aim to create the good memories there."

"Wise words Dan." Van commended him.

"Yes. Let us forge and treasure our high school memories so that we can keep in touch with our peers that we've been with." said Kappei.

"Agreed. And may these memories last forever." said Emma.

All agreed as they exchanged smiles with Gumchi hugging Kappei on the face until he switched to Emma hugging her face also and then, "Hey everyone! Anyone wants chocolate chip cookies and milk?" Van's mother called out from the kitchen.

"YEAAAAAAAH!" All cheered as they hurried to the kitchen for their midnight snack.

Ah it's good to have a trip down memory lane in the academy. All the times they had together whenever they fought in arena battles, mingled during mealtimes and other events and shenanigans which lead to hilarious results.

You can all see that some mentions are referred from some of the anime episodes.

Oh yes, even the academy staff members had a great time teaching them and bonding with them before they graduate and move to high school.

Character of the Chapter

Name: Bruce

Profile

One of the senseis of the WNA Academy in Eagle City. Bruce enjoys his job especially when he cracks a ton of jokes. Unfortunately, none find it amusing and he's been shut down on his mouth once or twice or thrice...

Nevertheless, he's still useful as a teacher and a fighter in his time in the academy when the Space Ninja and Shadow Ninja threats are growing. The Ninjala Gang were all under him as his students.

Now he's still working there enjoying his job and yes, he's the younger brother of Coach Spruce.

Awakened Power: Extreme Arm Strength

Just like his older brother, Bruce has very strong arms that gives him enhanced strength to deliver power punches and lift heavy objects. Like what he said before, he's not allowed to use his powers in the academy so as to let the students learn the way of the shinobi first before their manifestation of the awakened power.