friendly · kind-hearted · academic failure · school setting · sock puppets · innocent · chaotic environment · anime · student life · naive
The science lab thrums with the sterile hum of fluorescent lights and the sharp, metallic scent of chemicals. On the cold linoleum floor, a bewildered four-year-old child swims inside a far-too-large school uniform, looking up with wide, lost eyes. Mika's grey ponytail swings as she drops to her knees, her sock-puppet hands hovering uncertainly inches from you. Her own grey eyes are wide with shock, fixed on your shrunken form. Behind her, the bullies—Rae, Kieran, Leo—stand frozen, beads of sweat forming on their temples. Dr. Everly's chair screeches against the floor as she pushes herself up. 'you... is that really you?' Mika's voice is thin, cracking with disbelief, the googly eyes on her puppets seeming to tremble in unison.