It was another class in the particularly noisy classroom, at Jefferson middle School. It was partly because the unlucky boy was there, partly because it was the last class, but also because the exam's result just showed up. Everyone was holding a paper of their result, chattering.

But this time was quite different. Unlike after most exams, the ginger girl's face immediately darkened after receiving it.

'HOW MANY MISTAKES DID I MAKE?'

Her teal pupils shook and trembled. It felt like a giant metal was crushing her brain. Her mind was too paralyzed to care about especially noisy classroom, or the one who was coming from her back.

"Hey Melissa-"

"Don't you dare to see!" Out of angry and steamy mind, her arm acted first then her mouth. Hiding the paper, she hit the approaching pervert with her elbow lightly. Or maybe not so lightly - she couldn't think of controlling it.

A short gasp of pain was heard. It took few more seconds for her emotionally overloaded brain to identify who the speaker was. Then another wave of panic attacked, but this time a different one.

She quickly looked behind, to see her best friend holding his nose out of pain.

"Oh- gosh, I'm sorry Zack."

"That's okay... this test hit you hard, I guess."

"I've never got anything other than A in my life..." She sounded like a rich man complaining about taxes. Nevertheless, Zack just put a hand on her slightly shaking shoulder.

"That's okay, I barely got C. See?" He spoke with soothing voice. Melissa never thought his voice could be so comforting. Maybe because he was in band. Her mind was mixed, like a bowl of soft cream was poured into raging fire. "It's not that bad."

Soon, she awkwardly chuckled. The mixed feeling soon turned to sparky warmth. She let Zack go, and looked for something to distract herself.

"Thanks, Zack... Uh... Where's Milo? Milo?"

"I'm right here!"

Milo Murphy was on the other side of desk, looking at them. Was he watching them the whole time? She didn't know and didn't care.

"You didn't burn your exam, did ya?"

"Close enough. Only burnt half," He said cheerfully. Even with all bad accidents around him, Milo always sounded like playful little boy. It always made Zack and Melissa feel better.

"Got it alright? There were lots of trick questions."

Milo just remained silent for a moment, hid his paper and shouted. "Who cares about that! I didn't fail, that's it. Now who wants to get ice cream?

"Milo you got too much sweet tooth."

"Gotta need lots of instant energy when danger's always around."

Zack just chuckled. Even with his luck, Milo always sounded like playful little kid. He swayed his thoughts about the exam, and followed him along with Melissa.

"I'm on it!"

The class was over, but there was someone remaining in their seat, alone. The black haired boy just slammed his head on the desk, and wrapped it with his one plant arm.


They went for the third bowl of ice cream. After the previous two got rampaged by raccoons and birds. However Milo was infinitely determinant on getting ice creams.

Melissa was particularly playful today. She put an ice cream mustache on Zack. He wiped out, giggling. Then she proceeded to tip Zack's nose with white snowflake, while just chuckling aimlessly.

This was so un-Melissa-ly. However, Milo and Zack understood. She just had different ways of dealing with stress, and this was rather peaceful way.

Eventually, they wiped out the full bowl. It felt like the stress of the test was melting away. Melissa put a hand over Zack's shoulder, eyes still not focused. Zack just grabbed her hand for a while.

"It's just a test, right?"

"Right."

They leaned their head on each other's. Melissa breathed deeply. Milo just watched two of them, not saying a word. He had strong urge to take a picture, but decided not to.

Some time passed. Milo remembered something and got up from his seat.

"Oh, see ya later! I gotta grab some comic book at the store!"


Milo wandered through the biggest bookstore in the mall, careful not to drop any bookshelves. He had pocket money, but he wasn't sure about what to buy. He visited Dr. Zone comics, but his sister had them all, and he usually just lent them. So pass. Next he found himself in self-improvement book corner. He never understood why everyone knows every life is different but is very sure there's only one way to improve it.

Next, he found himself in study books. The strange math symbols he occasionally saw on the chalkboard in Dr. Zone were everywhere. 'Ew.' He was not much of a study type. But he had to admit they look cool. People around there spoke like futurastic alien communicating, and weeping..?

Milo looked at the corner, and saw the familiar head. One wooden arm, gray shirts, glasses he could not see now. Bradley was looking at the floor, silently weeping, in the corner where few people visits.

"Bradley?"

"...Milo?" He quickly wiped his tears, trying to act normal.

"What are you doing in here?" Asked Milo.

"None of your business."

"I saw you crying. I, I mean, can I help?"

"No you can't. Just leave me alone."

"You know, if you want somewhere that private, why don't you go to your house?"

Then silence went on for a while. Bradley sighed deeply.

"I can't. My parents are gonna kill me."

Milo sat by him. The unlucky boy tried to understand by using all his previous knowledge. It was a bit stereotypical, but knowing how Melissa did too, he thought he could make a guess.

"I guess you got bad grade... but you know this test was tricky. I mean even Melissa got B."

"I got B-."

"Oh."

"And that's not just it. It was all because of my dumb mistakes! Maybe I just suck, I'm just that kind..."

Then he punched his head with his own fist. Milo was shocked, and quickly spoke back.

"Bradley, few mistakes does not make you bad. They're just lucks. Like my luck!"

The unlucky boy said with genuinity. He couldn't understand why someone so smart like bradley would consider themselves so bad. He scooted a little closer to his friend, wrapping his left arm on the shoulder.

"So your brain just got a little unlucky, and dunno, little dingy in this exam. Like me! But everyone knows you're one of the best students."

"Tell that to my parents."

"Oh, okay. Then let's go-"

"I was being sarcastic!"

Bradley shouted and cut his words. It was quite loud that he worried people would hear him. But between these two there was sharp silence. Even Milo felt too cold to take a word out for a moment.

Milo saw Bradley's face. He wasn't always smiling, and this time he was doubly not. He looked like something was going to actually kill him.

Milo slowly spoke again.

"W-What, won't they believe you this was just mistake? It's just luck?"

Bradley replied.

"They don't believe in luck."

"Really? Even with me and my dad literally on your neighborhood?"

"Your luck breaks things. They never affect your grade. And they always somehow end up good."

"Pfft, it's because you only remember that kind of happenings. I got D on this exam! Also Melissa lost her bet countless times and shared my lunch, she just don't say it."

"Ugh, Melissa..." Bradley sighed once again. Milo remembered that Bradley was really fond of her. Well, used to. Now they just sometimes chat for homeworks. He tried to recall the moments with her, but they all flew like a paper. Feelings were gone, and his mind was empty.

"But she's just one of a kind. I wanted to get close to her, but she's like a hill that could never be reached."

"Yeah. I'm afraid to tell you, but-"

"Melissa likes Zack?"

"...Yeah. How did you know?"

"They're always together when you're not there. Aren't you jealous too?"

"Well, I have Amanda. And Melissa's still my friend."

"Yeah whatever. I'm getting over it." said Bradley. "Why would someone would ever want me anyways."

Bradley joked lightly, waving his one plant hand. But Milo's face suddenly froze.

"Uh, Milo?"

"Don't ever think yourself like that."

"I was just-"

"Don't. My father always said so." His voice was very firm and serious, unlike his usual voice.

Another awkward silence went through, so awkward that it felt like the whole bookstore was silent, too. They felt almost dizzy, until Milo realized a bookshelf was about to fall down so he prevented it.

Bradley just sat still, as his mind was overworking and heating. But the proccess made him even more anxious, making him squeeze his own head. Milo couldn't see this continue. He knew, so he had to tell him. Finally, Murphy cleared his throat, and spoke.

"You gotta just accept who you are. You're great by yourself. Whether you're special or cursed, does not matter. And we always make mistakes, because that's what we are!"

Bradley just stared at him.

"But what if I mess up like this again?"

"Oh Bradley, did you ever see me worry about that? If I can fix things, you obviously can! You're the best student!"

A short silence continued.

Before Bradley finally broke. Without words, he pulled Milo into his chest. Bradley never realized how warm Milo was. Milo never realized how odd his plant arm was. The two just exchanged feelings.

The hug was awkward, but long. Milo's 'best' word lingered in his mind. It was first time someone called him best since he could remember.

"Feel better now?" said Milo, finally releasing him.

"Yeah... Still not sure how to tell my parents, though."

"Like I said, I can go with you to prove-"

"No thank you. I... want to settle it myself for the first time." said Bradley, his voice a lot calmer. It looked like his brain finally started to function logically again.

"Oh... then what do you need? You can use a few painkiller just in case."

Bradley chuckled. "No, I don't really need it. I'm god of words. I can just talk with them."

"Huh, then good luck!" Milo packed his backpack again and got up.

Bradley just smiled. When everything could be depressing, everything could be happy. Nothing was certain, not even himself. And the live evidence was always right next to him, whether he wanted or not.