Chapter 3 - 3.Auditorium Assembly

On his morning break, Albert floats to the cafeteria to meet up with James and Kana so they can go together to the assembly. On his way, James saw several trucks parked next to the auditorium backdoor. To confuse him, even more, he did not saw even one faculty employee along the way to the cafeteria.

'Where the hell is all the teacher usually I can spot a group or two grabbing a late breakfast.'

Albert looks at the clock and sees that it was 9.52. To his left the is James eating his second portion of food peacefully as usual and in front of him is Kana one of their childhood friends who is half Japanese fiddling with her comlink. After James finishes his food, they get out of the cafeteria straight to the auditorium.

"This is weird," Kana said while looking at her comlink.

"What's weird? This assembly? I think this is about the storm or some weird stuff on the news. I see some trucks and my guess is they are here to do some reparation and prepare for the storm. I heard it's going to be big"

"Nope. My sister just sent me a message and she said she wish me luck and I'll need it and when I ask her what for she said I'll understand it tomorrow."

"Since when you're sister into riddle kinda stuff? She's the most straightforward person that I ever met" James said while holding his chin remembering that painful memory

"She's coming back tomorrow right? Maybe she'll surprise you with something."

"Oh yeah, she's coming back tomorrow almost forgot. It's still doesn't make sense though. Why would I need some luck?"

"Well, I guess we can find out tomorrow," Albert said while yawning

They all have been friends since they're 5 years old and since Kana's big sister Anna is the oldest one she's the one who takes care of youngers most of the time. And by taking care It means to beat them up when they do something stupid. Anna is 4 years older than all of them, so when they are in senior year of middle school she's going to some college outside the town. And now that they're in a sophomore year of high school and it's been 2 years since they hang out together. Anna still comes home every now and then but it's only for 3 or 4 days and she barely has time to catch up with her family. Kana's dad said that she's busy cause she's working while studying in college.

In front of the auditorium, a bunch of students queuing to touch into the scanning device for attendance. Suddenly Albert see a familiar shadow coming from behind him and jump into Kana's back

"Yooooooo!!! What are you guys doing here?"Alice said while getting off of Kana's back

"That's should be my questions. The principal announces all high school students to attend an assembly in the auditorium. What is a senior year on Middle School like you doing here?" Albert said ready to get into a big brother mode that scolds the mischievous little devil

"Well the vice principal and some of our teacher lead all the senior on Middle School to the auditorium already and I just came out of the toilet over there cause I think this thing is going to take a long time to finish. Soooooo, at what time is Anna going to arrive tomorrow? and how long is she going to stay this time? Did she bring some gift for me?"

Kana is closest to Alice among us all, she dots on her and she never makes troubles. It's not like she doesn't make trouble it more like she never caught making trouble in front of her. Since she was little the mischievous little devil always knows who she can mess with and who she has to suck up to. Even though Kana never makes trouble that would get her scolded, she always ended up getting drag into Albert and James's mess and get scolded together.

"Now that I think about it. She hasn't said how long is she going to stay this time. I think she'll land tomorrow at 2 pm. Do you want to come to the airport, Alice?"

"Nope, we have to welcome my smelly old man tomorrow. He'll come at 10 am in the morning but I'll bet you any money that he'll be late and I doubt that we will finish before 2 pm."

"Well even if we finish early I doubt mom will let you go play on the day that dad coming home"

They chatted along the queue until they arrive in front of the scanning device. Albert's mind was wandering elsewhere because He's sure it's just some random gibberish. In his mind, He was wondering about many weird things that happening today. It's just doesn't make sense for him.

'First, the weird message Anna sent and then there is the truck in the parking lot and last a joined assembly with all senior on middle school. I mean if it's near the end of the year than it would make sense to do a joined assembly with senior on middle school for preparation to greet them after graduation but right now we just started the school year and it's not even 1 month yet. And if the purpose of this assembly is to greet the senior on middle school after graduation then what are the senior high school student doing here? And as if it's not weird enough to do this kind of thing in August they even add up several trucks in the parking lot.'

When they get in the auditorium Alice split up with the three of them as she has to go to the front row with the rest of the middle school student. Albert sits on the very end side of the auditorium as him and his chair are a package so he has to sit either in the front or on the very end so it doesn't look weird. It takes 5-10 minute until the auditorium are full of students some even doesn't have a chair to sit on so they end up sitting on the stair or sitting in the space between the stages and the chair.