06:25 AM – Somewhere in the Capital
Mr. Theodore Brooks woke up the same way he did every weekday:
To his third alarm.
With coffee already brewing.
And with his wife whispering: "Don't forget to bring that sarcasm of yours back in one piece."
He grunted in reply.
Still half-asleep, he brushed his teeth with one hand and replied to a staff message with the other:
"Yes, I'll print the trip vote forms.
No, I will not babysit Class 2-D's glue gun fight again."
His six-year-old daughter padded into the kitchen holding a stuffed bear.
"Are you going to your chaos school again?"
He patted her head. "Yes, princess. The kingdom of chaos needs its grumpy wizard."
07:45 AM – Faculty Room, St. Ivy High
The first coffee sip was holy.
He nodded to the physics teacher across from him.
She nodded back—both too tired to speak yet.
The vice-principal walked by holding three folders.
Brooks groaned. "I don't want it."
"You haven't seen it yet."
"I don't need to."
"You're taking Class 1-A on the school trip."
Brooks took another sip of coffee.
"…I'm going to need a raise."
08:10 AM – Classroom Door
The second he stepped into 1-A, he could feel it.
Chaos energy.
His class had… spirit.
And that spirit was currently embodied by a crown-wearing boy trying to stop two girls from arguing over a vote poster.
Brooks raised an eyebrow.
Jay looked up.
"Morning, Mr. Brooks."
He nodded.
Walked to the desk.
Sat.
"Is this poster on fire?"
"No."
"Is anyone bleeding?"
"Not yet."
"Then we'll discuss it after roll call."
08:25 AM – Roll Call
"Monroe?"
"Here!"
"Sinclair?"
"Present. Also, I object to the glitter ban."
"Objection overruled."
"Sofia Hart?"
"Royalty has arrived~"
Brooks sighed. "Not today, Sofia."
"Every day is my day."
"Great. It's going to be one of those mornings."
10:15 AM – Break Room
He nursed his second cup of coffee while watching security footage from the courtyard on the staff monitor.
Tyler was doing soccer tricks for a small group of underclassmen.
Noah was trying to sell "personalized sandcastles" as a fundraising idea.
Jay was standing calmly between two club reps arguing about cross-participation rules.
Brooks leaned back.
"…Poor kid."
The librarian appeared beside him.
"Talking to yourself again?"
"Only way I get intelligent conversation before noon."
12:10 PM – Lunch Duty
He sat near the courtyard fountain, pretending to mark papers.
Really, he was watching his class.
Emma lectured a group of students on budget planning.
Sofia was flirting with a visitor from Class 3-B.
Luna was sketching… something suspiciously close to Brooks' profile.
Tyler had stolen Noah's fries.
Jay sat in the middle of them all, smiling like he had no idea how ridiculous his own life was.
Brooks smirked.
"He's either gonna be a diplomat or a disaster."
3:20 PM – Staff Lounge
Another meeting.
Another round of "Where should we take the kids for the school trip?"
The math teacher wanted a forest temple.
The art teacher suggested a lakeside retreat.
Someone said "hot springs" and was immediately met with half the room groaning.
Brooks just raised his hand.
"Wherever we go, make sure there's coffee."
5:00 PM – Dismissal
He watched his students file out in groups, chattering and laughing and bumping into each other like pinballs.
Amaya quietly waved goodbye.
Emma nodded respectfully.
Sofia winked.
Tyler ran back in to grab his bag, knocked over a chair, and ran back out.
Jay, as always, left last—holding the door open for Luna and Noah, who were arguing over manga genres.
Brooks stared after him for a moment.
Then turned back to his now-empty classroom.
Peace.
For now.
6:45 PM – Home Again
His daughter was drawing with crayons.
"Did the chaos kids behave today?" she asked without looking up.
Brooks chuckled. "Define behave."
His wife handed him a mug of tea.
He gave her the soft smile that only came out after 5 PM.
They sat on the couch; his briefcase tossed to the side like a retired soldier's helmet.
The TV played something forgettable.
He watched anyway.
Sometimes, silence was a gift.
10:15 PM – Last Thought Before Bed
His phone buzzed.
It was a message from the vice-principal.
"Student council wants to meet re: Class 1-A's trip proposals. They're submitting… seven."
Brooks turned off the screen.
Laid back.
Stared at the ceiling.
"…Please let me retire before they elect Jay as student body president."