Chapter 23 – Back to Real Life (Unfortunately)
Morning hit like a slap.
Not a gentle one either.
The "wake up, your life is still chaos" type.
JJ was already in full-speed mode—half uniform on, hair still not cooperating, one shoe missing, and Snorlax somehow packed like it was a national emergency.
Percy stood at the door like a commentator.
"BABY SISTAH IS IN FINAL FORM AGAIN."
Aries grabbed her bag mid-air before she dropped it. "Slow down. You're going to break something."
JJ, without stopping: "We're already late."
"We're NOT late," Percy said dramatically, "we are—"
"EARLY CHAOTIC," JJ finished.
Keifer leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching the entire disaster unfold like it was his daily routine.
Because it was.
"Ready?" he asked.
JJ pointed at him while tying her shoelace at lightning speed. "Don't rush me."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
Aries stepped between them instantly. "No flirting before breakfast."
Keifer: "I didn't flirt."
Percy: "HE BREATHED NEAR HER THAT'S BASICALLY FLIRTING."
JJ shoved Percy lightly. "Shut up."
---
Breakfast War (Mandatory Edition)
After reaching school,
Despite everything—
they still didn't skip breakfast.
Because JJ believed skipping breakfast was a crime against the universe.
So there she was—
eating while walking towards the Section E building.
Percy: "THIS IS ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR."
JJ: "This is efficiency."
Aries sighed. "You're going to choke."
Keifer casually walked beside her. "She's done worse."
JJ pointed her spoon at him. "Don't start."
He smirked slightly. "You started yesterday."
JJ immediately coughed. "THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT."
Percy gasped. "IT WAS BARACUDDA."
Aries: "I'm leaving this planet."
---
School Chaos Returns
Section E greeted JJ like she never left.
Which meant—
noise.
Cin: "SHE SURVIVED HOME LIFE."
Felix: "Respect."
Rory: "She looks more dangerous after sleeping."
Denzel: "That's concerning."
Calix: "That's attractive."
JJ sat down calmly. "I heard that."
Calix: "I regret nothing."
Keifer sat beside her.
As usual.
And just watched her eat like she wasn't about to cause another incident within 24 hours.
---
Lunch Break Invasion
It started peacefully.
That should've been the warning.
JJ was eating in Section E building with Keifer and the usual chaos table.
Then—
noise outside.
Too much noise.
Percy's voice first: "BABY SISTAHHHH!"
Aries: "STOP RUNNING."
Ella: "You're going to get us kicked out."
Freya: "Why is he like this."
Kiko: "I think he was born like that."
Mica: "He scares me."
Grace: "Same."
And then—
ALL of Section A entered Section E building like a full invasion.
Percy leading.
Aries dragging him.
Ella walking calmly like she wasn't associated with chaos.
Freya looking mildly offended by existence.
Kiko and others just following like it was normal.
Silence.
Then Cin:
"…why is Section A here."
Percy spread his arms. "UNION OF CHAOS."
Felix: "We're going to die."
Rory: "This is crossover episode energy."
Keifer didn't even look surprised.
Just sighed.
JJ waved. "You're loud."
Percy: "THANK YOU BABY SISTAH."
Aries immediately: "Don't call her that in public."
Percy: "WHY NOT."
Aries: "Because I said so."
Freya sat down opposite JJ. "This is your school life?"
JJ nodded. "Unfortunately."
Freya: "I see why you're tired."
---
The Lecture – The Real Battle
After lunch—
classes resumed.
And somehow—
everything became quiet again.
Too quiet.
JJ sat near window.
Book open.
Half listening.
Half asleep.
Head slightly tilted.
Hair falling a bit over her face.
And Keifer?
Kept looking at her.
Not even trying to hide it anymore.
Just watching.
Like it was automatic.
Cin noticed first. Whispered, "He's staring again."
Felix: "At this point it's a habit."
Rory: "No, it's addiction."
---
JJ vs Sleep vs Reality
JJ blinked slowly.
Fought sleep.
Lost.
Fought again.
Lost again.
Her head tilted slightly more.
But she didn't fully sleep.
Just… existed in that half-dream state.
Still listening.
Still present.
Barely.
Keifer leaned slightly back in his chair.
Watching her like she was the only thing in the room that made sense.
Quietly, almost to himself:
"…how are you this calm while half asleep?"
JJ mumbled without looking up:
"I heard that."
Keifer smirked faintly. "Of course you did."
JJ turned a page.
Wrong page.
Paused.
"…I don't care."
Keifer: "You're adorable."
JJ immediately looked up. "I will throw this book at you."
He leaned back further. "Try."
She didn't.
Because she was too tired.
Which honestly made it worse for him to stop himself from staring.
---
Ending – Normal, but Not Really
The bell rang.
JJ finally sat up properly, stretching slightly.
And walked towards parking lot with whole chaos squad of Section E.
Then, the chaos squad two came there too, which basically meant no peace to ears.
Percy immediately: "SHE SURVIVED ANOTHER DAY OF EDUCATION."
Aries: "Barely."
Freya: "This school is insane."
Kiko: "She is insane."
JJ pointed at him. "Say it again."
Kiko: "Respectfully insane."
JJ: "Better."
Keifer stood beside her. "Ready?"
JJ nodded.
Then paused slightly.
Looked around.
At all of them.
Chaos.
Noise.
Friends.
Enemies.
People who were slowly becoming neither.
And quietly said:
"…yeah."
Percy grinned. "BABY SISTAH IS SOFT NOW."
JJ immediately: "No I'm not."
Aries sighed. "You are."
Freya smirked slightly. "She is."
Keifer didn't say anything.
Just opened his car door for her as she slipped inside it.
And for once—
the chaos felt… normal.
Not peaceful.
Not calm.
Just—
home in its own weird way.