A Leading Wave of Change

We exit the building of the publishing company for Alice's comic.
Our meeting went swimmingly well. Almost too well. Maybe we’re that good as a team. Her editor definitely played up the bit.
    “That was perfect! John!”
    “Hell yeah!”
A high five was exchanged as we walked off. Alice was skipping instead of walking, something which I’ve never seen before. It was a pleasant change to see.
    “You may have won on this round of ideas, but when that rewrite comes around, I'll be the one with the great ideas.”
    “We’ll see about that. I’m pretty confident in my chances, as seen by my track record so far. I think your editor likes me too much.”
    “Oh shut it already.”
She lightly punched my arm, clearly jealous of my position.

Despite it being a weekday, we did not have any classes to attend because of a new ceremony we’ll have to present. That’ll only happen in the evening after all the classes are finished, so we have the time to relax.
The noon sun continues to shine up in the cloudless blue sky, all the while a symphony of soft wind accompanies our travels.

Our next destination is a recently opened shopping mall that opened nearby. Since Alice is going to be living with me, as a trial for her Father’s approval, she has to source her own items. She no longer has an assistant that can aid her daily necessities anymore. Well, I can pinch in here and there. That’s how relationships of trust work. Not like I’d know, since this is my first one.

A mysterious hooded man, dressed in a black hoodie and trousers appears out of nowhere. The stops before us and takes off his hood to reveal who he is.
    “Oh. George. Hi.”
Me and Alice say these words at the same time.
    “John.”
    “Yes?”
He puts his hand on my shoulder.
    “These hoodies are amazing! I never knew that such comfortable clothing existed!”
    “Heh. Of course the elites would be unfamiliar with the comforts of the commoner!”
I even did a pose as I said this.
George posed back.
    “True indeed! If only us clueless elites took our heads down from the clouds, maybe then we’d enjoy the proverbial scent of the flowers below!”
    “Guys. We’re in public.”
    “Okay? And?”
The two of us responded with dismissal to Alice’s fun-ruining nagging. She chose to play the straight man in this situation.
    “George!”
    “John!”
    “How are we going to educate this poor woman on our creative expression?!”
    “I do not know myself. But! We’ll find an answer, together!”
    “That’s right! The power of-”
    “Aaaaaand that’s enough!”
Alice split the two of us and our performance apart.
   “And the crowd rebels! What a shocker!”
George strikes one last pose before returning to normal.
    "We should get going. WE don't have much longer till that new ceremony starts, no?"
    "Yeah. You're right. Come on John!"
Alice encourages me to follow along, which i willingly do.
I don't think I would have done something like this a few months ago. Hell, I don't think the thought alone would have even occurred to me.
And rightfully so. Back then I was set on a goal, an unachievable one. A goal that I thought would bring me that recognition I desperately needed.

I can now confidently admit that I thought wrong. 

After the shopping was over, we dropped off our items and departed for the university campus.
On the way there, you could see branded flags promoting some new kind of program within the university. Something that we are a part of.

When you enter the university grounds, you're immediately assaulted with more of the same flags and banners. They really went all out with the decorations for this seemingly small event.
    "They really went above and beyond for this small ceremony."
Alice repeats what I just thought out loud.
    "You know, they might have a habit of doing that, now that I think about it."
    "Ah! You're remembering that first year ceremony, aren't you?"
    "Yes George. What else could I be referring too?"
    "How should I know? I don't live inside your brain."
    "That's enough guys, we have a stage to attend to. Come on."
It's like Alice has been herding us all this time. Well, I don't mind.

We find ourselves at the backstage. Various tutors stand around, waiting for their turn to speak to the crowd gathered in the hall.
You could hear the principal addressing the audience.

    "Thank you, one and all, for coming to this very special and very new event. I would like to start with some few words of gratitude from myself. Firstly-"
    "Oh. It's you three. Hey."
Amelia decided to interrupt our overhearing of the principals speech.
    "Hi Amelia. Are you ready to play your part once more?"
    "These events are usually a hassle, but for this one specifically, I am pumped. Well, I did help bring it about, so of course I would be excited. What about yous? Are you ready to become the face of something new?"
    "Of course. We've never been less ready in our lives."
    "I like the enthusiasm George. Let's hope you can keep it up on stage. Ah. It sounds like the principal is finally wrapping up."
She's right.
    "With my humble words out of the way, I would now like to introduce you to the three star students that helped inspire this change in curriculum. Now then. Please welcome this humble trio."

A round of applause began to ring out from just beyond the curtain. There sat a crowd most likely composed of my peers at this university. I remember on the first day they met me, similar applause could be heard, until they heard about my status.
This makes me worry if I'll receive the same reaction.

Any remaining worries that I had were melted away by Alice grabbing my left hand in hers. George picked up on this moment and decided to grab my right, which caused Alice to shoot him a short state of dismantlement. He simply laughed it off, as did I.
That's right. Whatever happens now, I have Alice and George to aid me. There's no need to hold anything back now.

Right.

It's showtime!