The Return

The sobering result of the parley from two weeks prior had resulted in a drastic upward curve in both the Inner City's crime rate and Arthur's revenge– but alas, the month of his suspension had come to end in a flash. In those two weeks, Arthur had finished the renovation of his large apartment, although the windows must be kept off for the drying paint.

Arthur awoke with birds chirping. He opened his eyes to view the clean and freshly painted roof of his apartment. "I need to go to school today, fuck."

Despite his grumbling, Arthur exited the soft, king-size bed and fixed the sheets. He descended down the second floor of his brick-loft apartment, appreciating the simple color palette that was neutral for the eyes, as it was primarily dark colors with ample light.

Dressed in his uniform and his hair still wet, Arthur turned on the stove and slowly began to assemble a cheesy meat sandwich, whose ingredients were sourced from the local supermarket and bakery. His bag has already been packed as he did not touch the item since the beginning of his suspension.

With the sandwich packed in a little paper bag, He exited the apartment through the private flight of stairs and securely locked it. In his hand was a longboard that he had put together expertly in between his training sessions

"Ah! Good morning, lad!" An acquaintance greeted him.

Arthur turned around to greet the chatty mailman. "Good morning! Any good mail today?"

Craig the mailman just shrugged. "Nah, just the usual– still want a copy?"

"I paid for a subscription, why not?" Arthur jokes, earning a laugh from the man.

"Have a good day, son– ooh! I didn't know you were from St. Clovers!--I should probably let you go your own way, I heard they don't like tardiness."

Arthur watched the happy-go-lucky mailman board his vehicle and drive away with a wave. "I befriended the locals with gifts when I officially moved in. They're all pretty nice, but they're somewhat exhausting."

Jogging down the smooth asphalt road with a fresh cup of a large coffee, Arthru dropped the skateboard and boarded it immediately after. Arthur cruised through the roads, oftentimes out-racing a few commercial vehicles; all the while chomping down on the grilled beef and sandwich and drinking coffee.

"This is life!" Arthur thought, smiling as the wind brushed against his face and dried his air. He had vowed to experience everything about life in his reincarnation, and inventing leisures and learning them was the first step.

Arthur weaved through the still traffic with many of the drivers confused and bewildered at the sight of him. "Oh dear, the traffic is pretty bad today, I wonder what happened."

The space in between cars started to grow smaller, forcing Arthur to continue on foot. Walking on the sidewalk, Arthur threw his empty paper bag and cardboard coffee cup into the trash; and just as he looked forward, he saw a familiar car, the car bearing the Simmons Crest.

Ellis frowned at the morning paper, as it was lacking anything interesting, so she folded it begrudgingly and set it aside. Francis, sensing her disapproval of the daily content, decided to initiate small talk with the young miss.

"Was there nothing interesting in the morning paper?" he asked.

"Yes, there was nothing interesting in the morning paper." Ellis sighed, sitting straight, "Somehow, I feel like it has been quite the mundane month."
"Is it perhaps because of Arthur's absence?" Francis smirked, his eyes looking outside through the side mirror.
"I'm not sure, but it certainly has been uneventful without his presence."

Frances turned around to face Ellis. "Well, you can speak with him if you wish, we are stagnant in this traffic after all."

"It is true that his suspension is over, effective today, but speaking to him right now is impossible." Ellis raised an eyebrow, head tilting slightly to further illustrate her confusion.

Francis reached out to her door with his long arm and slowly rolled down the window. "Contrarily, it is indeed possible."

Ellis bit her lower lip, her head slowly looking to her side, to see Arthur walking beside the car on the sidewalk. As a prideful individual, her pride had been bruised significantly because of Francis's antics and Arthur's impeccable timing.

[ Ellis Favorability has increased 1.30%/ 100.00 ]

Arthur smirked slightly at an angry Ellis. "Would you look at that, my favorability has increased since I was gone– she must've been thinking about me. I'm so touched."

Ellis frowned slightly. "And what are you smirking about?" she asked, clearly not pleased.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Arthur shrugged, walking over to the edge of the sidewalk, as close as possible to her open window. "How's arithmetic? Did you miss me?"

Ellis's nose scrunched up slightly. "Like I would ever! Hmph!" she said, crossing her arms.

"Haha– So you did! I'm so touched!" Arthur said, "Well, how was school? Did something happen while I was gone?"

Ellis shook her head, "Nothing interesting has happened– except that vixen always currying favor with his highness!" She grumbled.

Arthru nodded, setting down his skateboard and boarding it. He slowly started to push as traffic slowly began to resume. "How about you, Francis? How was the maid?"

The butler smiled at the curious boy, "I have been well! The injured maid is steadily recovering from her injury! How have you been, young man?"

Arthur smiled at the older man, "I'm doing well actually! I won big at the casino! I have my own place now!"

The butler nodded, his attention still on the road. "I see, good for you, but gamble responsibly! Gambling addiction is a difficult habit to break."

"I'll keep that in mind! See you at school Ellis!"

"Safe travels, Arthur."

With the skateboard's mobility and Arthur's skills, he arrived at the academy in record time, just a few minutes ahead of Ellis and Francis.

Arthur looked up at the academy's heavily polished, gold, and ivory gates and sighed. "Back to school again, sigh." He said, turning around to see Ellis and Francis driving into the parking lot. "I'm not going to lie, I miss our everyday walks."

Leaning on the gate's pillar, Arthur held his bag in one hand, and the skateboard under his shoulder with his foot leaning on the gate. Ellis stepped out of her car and saw him wave.

"Good morning, Ellis. How was the traffic?" He joked, walking at her pace.

"Horrible, there was a deadly collision between drunk drivers." She answered, almost unbothered or unfazed by the news.

"Damn, sounds terrible– are they okay?"

"No, both drivers were already dead."

Arthur's eyes widened slightly at her indifference, completely impressed by her steeled heart. "How are you feeling? That's not something one should see in the morning."

She sighed deeply, before shaking her head. "I'm a little shaken up," Ellis said, with Arthur noticing her shaky hands, "It was…gruesome."

Arthur nodded understandingly, patting her head in an attempt at comfort. "Don't stress about it."

"...remove your hand," Ellis quipped, "It's unprofessional."

"You're just embarrassed," Arthur smirked, "tell you what– I'll treat you to some ice cream after school."

Ellis tilted her head slightly in confusion, "Ice…cream? What is that?"

Arthur jogged forward ahead of her before looking at her with a smirk, with his hands over his head. "You'll see!"

Arthur entered the academy lobby and breathed in the air, the air filled with scented candles, flowers, and students. "Yeah, it's good to be back."

"Uhm— are you perhaps, Arthur Haile?" A gentle, soft voice nervously asked.

Arthur turned to the feminine voice and saw a petite girl, she had glasses and brown hair. "Yes, I am, and who might you be?"

"I am one of the student journalists of the [ St. Clover's Journalist Club ]!" She said excitedly, "My name is Lindsey! and I want to interview you!"

Arthur blinked for a second, racking his twenty years of in-game knowledge, tricks, hacks, and information stash of important and unimportant things. "Ah! The Journalist Club! If memory serves right, it was made during the start of the game."

"Uhm– are you okay?" Lindsey asked Arthur who blinked at her for a second.

"Ah, sorry, I was contemplating if I left my stove on," Arthur chuckled, "I just bought my house, I can't have it burn down now, can I?"

"fufu– That's true," Lindsey agreed, "Is it alright if I ask you a few questions?"

"Ask away."

Ellis entered the Lobby and saw Lindsey talking to Arthur. "It seems that the Journalist Club is acting fast as always. I wonder what kind of questions they are asking Arthur…"

"Thank you so much for answering all my questions, I must be taking up your time— Oh! Club President!" Lindsey cheered, waving happily at Ellis.

"She has the attention span and attitude of a puppy. It's quite cute–" Arthur turned to her and Ellis. "--Madame President!? Since when?"

Lindsey approached her club leader with glimmering eyes. "Good morning President! it's great to see you today!"

"It's wonderful to see you too, how did your interview with Arthur go?" Ellis smiled softly at Lindsey, patting her head and tucking in the stray strands of hair behind her ears.

"It went well! He was very open and cooperative."

"That's good, now off you go! Class is going to start soon."

Arthur watched Lindsey bow respectfully before running off to who-knows-where, her brown hair fluttering behind her. "You're the head of a club? Since when?"

Ellis and Arthur walked in the direction of their classroom. "About a month ago, just a few days after your suspension. I started a book reading club, where we read books and write essays– reports or summaries– about the books that we have read."

"So it's basically a gathering of bookworms, gotcha." Arthur nodded. "You do journalism in a book-reading club?"
"It somehow transformed into that two weeks ago," Ellis explained, "When we gathered around, oftentimes we were discussing the events that happen within the first years."

"So those discussions gave rise to the [ Journalism Club ], that's impressive– really impressive."

"Yes, It is," Ellis said, reinforcing Arthur's remark, her face almost dripping with nonchalant smugness.

"She likes praise, got it."Arthur scoffed silently to himself, "Do you perhaps have the paper copies of previous issues? I would really like to read them."
If Ellis could visually radiate the pride she had in her club, she would've shone like the sun. "We do. We keep them in a secure storage space protected by lock and key."

"Mind if I stop by at the end of class?"

"Yes, and don't forget the ice cream you promised me, whatever that is."

Arthur sat comfortably in his seat, even with a hundred pairs of eyes boring into his skull, all whispering amongst themselves about his return. Mr. and Mrs. Smith welcomed him back with open arms, glad to have him back; Victoria was not too pleased by his return, having been forced into submitting the promised amount of money for the month; The training instructor, both glad and nervous for his return; and the principal extremely joyful about her most-prized associate parading around his support for her. All was well, except for one odd thing, David and George had not been seen by Arthur all day, even in their dorm and during lunchtime.

"I wonder, what's up?" Arthur thought about his two friends, as he was following after Ellis through the halls, climbing up long flights of stairs into a room with a great view of the Academy's First Gates. Ellis leads him into a busy, bustling room filled with her journalist, and bookworm club mates.

"Club President!"

"Welcome back!"

"Madame President!"

"Who did you bring— it's Arthur!"
"That Arthur!? Miss, please get behind me.