COOKIE HIGH SCHOOL

The first bell hadn't even rung yet, and Cookie High was already loud.

Students poured through the front entrance in clusters, laughing, arguing, comparing schedules, and rushing toward their lockers. The halls were filled with the slam of locker doors, squeaking shoes, distant conversations, and the occasional teacher calling after a student who was running indoors.

Above the entrance hung the school's old crest, accompanied by a plaque commemorating Cookie High's founding in 1933.

Near the lockers, a crowd had already formed around the latest piece of school gossip.

"I heard someone got suspended last week."

"No, they didn't. My friend said it was only detention."

"That's not what CookieTea posted."

"CookieTea literally lies half the time."

Across the hallway, the Student Council was already struggling to put up posters for an upcoming school event.

"Hold that corner!"

"I'm holding it!"

"You're holding it upside down."

"...Oh."

A few students laughed as they walked past.

Further down the hall, the Three Bullies were gathered together, already attracting attention before the school day had even started. Dark Cacao leaned against the lockers with his arms crossed, Burning Spice looked like he was already searching for something entertaining to do, and Shadow Milk seemed far too amused by the chaos around him.

"Five minutes until the bell," Dark Cacao muttered.

Burning Spice grinned. "Plenty of time."

Shadow Milk glanced toward the clock.

"That's exactly what someone says before getting detention."

Nearby, Hollyberry, Golden Cheese, Eternal Sugar, and Pristine Princess stood together, talking among themselves while several other students passed by and greeted them.

The cafeteria doors opened.

A teacher hurried through the hallway carrying a stack of papers.

"Everyone get to class! The bell is about to ring!"

Nobody listened.

Then the school bell finally rang.

DING! DING! DING!

The hallway instantly became a moving river of students.

Some rushed toward classrooms.

Others stopped at lockers.

A freshman dropped an entire stack of books.

Someone shouted from the other end of the hall.

A teacher sighed.

And somewhere near the office, Principal Ivory Crest's voice came over the intercom.

"Good morning, Cookie High. Please remember that running in the hallways is against school policy."

A pause.

"And whoever is currently running through the east hallway... I can see you."

The running immediately stopped.

Cookie High's school day had officially begun.

MYOS.