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Sunny is in school, because that’s what fifteen year olds do. She has been far ahead in class, moving up a grade and could do one more but didn’t feel like working that hard. Her teachers think highly of her and think she is a genius, they aren’t too upset with her slack off because she clearly doesn’t need to put in so much time.
So it would surprise you that Sunny is in her apartment, panicking like crazy. She got a test paper, one that is supposed to test her performance and ability to learn. Except, it doesn’t do that at all, it is just a completely separate test she has to do to make the education system think she's smart, because teachers praising her and getting very high test scores was for some reason not enough.
I’m doomed! Sunny got ten days to complete the test, and she’s only half way done with the test, because she refused to make lots of mistakes. But mistakes and incomplete answers mean the same thing, she’ll have to repeat a grade, two grades in fact. “I can’t even go up a grade at all! I will be stuck!”
Sunny looks at the paper, she can’t understand it. She can understand actual information and learning just fine, but this slop is neither, it’s gibberish that she didn’t train for, because she expected everything to be actual education.
She moves away from the table again, looking at the time, seeing it’s late evening. “No nono ono ono no! I can’t accept this, i refuse to!” If she refuses to accept defeat, she must find a way to win. Maybe i need help. Sunny looks at her contacts, thinking of who could help her the most.
Let’s see, there’s Marie and Calle, their no longer in school. So is Marina and Pearl. Inka quit, asking for help would really upset them. She looks at one of her final contacts. Portus… he is in school like me, and probably also has the same stupid test paper…
Sunny makes up her mind, she calls Portus. After a minute, he answers her call. “Sunny! It is you calling today. What could be needing me for? If you needing help of course.” Hearing his voice calms her down a bit.
After a moment, Sunny responds. “I do in fact need help. You see, i got a test paper that i need to complete, but i have been struggling a lot. Could i come over to your place so that you could help me?”
Portus is silent for a moment, before answering a bit nervous. “Yes! I would gladly helping you, Sunny!” Thank cod! She breathes a sigh in relief. “Thanks man, i’ll not forget this.”
Sunny leaves her apartment with the test paper with her. After an hour-long travel, she’s in front of a mansion. Portus lives with Pearl and Marina, who are celebrities. Ringing the doorbell, she waits for someone to answer, which after a few minutes is Marina. “Who-oh Sunny. What are you doing here so late?”
Looking at the tall Octoling women, Sunny glances away. “I’m here for Portus, he’s going to help me with something.” Marina nods with a smile. “Come inside then, i’ll make sure to not get in your way.” Sunny goes inside and takes off her shoes, before running to Portus' room, and going inside unannounced. “I’m here!”
Portus yelps, his tentacles curling up. “Oh squid, you scaring me Sunny.” Sunny shakes her head, closing the door behind her, then walking towards him. “Sorry about that, but how-” She cuts herself, staring at his table in disbelief. “Is that… an incomplete test paper.”
Hearing her not even be actually questioning, makes him embarrassed. “Well, i also struggling with the test paper, only half way, not wanting to making mistakes.” You got to be squiding me! “Looks like we're on the same boat.”
Sunny takes a spare seat and sits next to Portus, comparing their test papers and seeing their on the same thing state. For three whole hours, the Inkling girl and Octoling boy try creaking the paper, seeing that it’s encoded in some weird alien language. However, they fail, they can’t do it. Even if two sharp minds put together, this filth of papers just is too much for the Inkling girl and Octoling boy.
Marina walks into the room, a bit annoyed. “Sunny, Portus, it’s nighttime, you two should be asleep.” Her annoyance turns to worry as they look at her, tearing up. Marina runs up to them. “Oh my cod, that’s wrong? What happened?”
Portus answers her questions first. “We having test papers.” He sobs before continuing. “But we can not solving it. We going to repeating grade, even when we smart.” Sunny groans, gritting her beak. “It’s so stupid! I am excelling in class, and moved up a grade! But this stupid paper is going to ruin us!”
Marina looks at the test papers Portus and Sunny got, examining them. “My cod!” Sunny and Portus stop tearing up, looking at her and talking at the same time. “What?”
Marina shakes her head, picking up the papers. “These could be classified as torture machines. No wonder you two are struggling so much, you two studied for actual education, not this.” She shakes her head yet again. “You know what? I’ll do these papers for you two, please wait here for a moment.”
Sunny and Portus watch her leave, no idea when she will come back. They look around his room or at each other, not feeling like talking. After half an hour, Marina comes back. “Even for me these were tricky…” She hands each paper to each owner. “They are done, both of you will pass. Just pretend that you both did them on your own, which should be done by not saying bragging that you did it on your own”
Staring at the test paper in her hands, all done, no longer able to destroy her, Sunny could never express how thankful she is to Marina right now. “Oh another thing.” They look at Marina. “You can use the guest room for tonight, Sunny. We’ll have a nice, relaxing morning together.” Sunny nods and gets up, feeling really tired right now.