The grand clean-up was scheduled for Friday, aligning with the st period of the afternoon, designated for a series of activities.
Among all the csses, "Free Activities" was undoubtedly the most popur, even more so than Physical Education. The reason was simple: it offered significantly more freedom. Students could choose to remain in the cssroom to pass the time or head outside to the pyground, basketball courts, or participate in any sport of their choice.
For the daring students who engaged in secret romances, Free Activities provided a rare opportunity for a "double date."
In contrast, Physical Education required everyone to complete warm-up exercises or run a few ps before being allowed to enjoy free activities. This routine consumed valuable time, leaving students feeling they hadn’t gotten the most out of the period.
Moreover, during PE, sneaking back to the cssroom was strictly prohibited, and everyone had to regroup at the end of the session for dismissal.
However, the downside of Free Activities was that all grades had it scheduled on the same day. As a result, the basketball courts were in high demand and often had to be cimed through confrontations, leading to disputes.
Given the strict discipline policies at the high school, fighting carried severe consequences, including inevitable punishments. Physical altercations were not an option; the only way to resolve such conflicts was through competition on the basketball court.
A more harmonious approach involved splitting into multiple teams for half-court games, where each team rotated out after three baskets. Those wishing to remain on the court longer had to "cling to the thighs" of skilled pyers—essentially, forming alliances with the best pyers for stronger team synergy.
In practice, few students were shameless enough to openly "cling to thighs." At this stage, pride was paramount, and the highest compliment among boys was simply, "You're awesome."
Thus, students generally stuck with their cssmates when forming teams, rarely seeking alliances with those from other csses.
However, Marcus El Postacio, a "noble boy" from Css 1-3 with a privileged background and a school bully demeanor, pyed basketball exceptionally well. Despite his fshy dribbling and occasional misfires when shooting, his form was undeniably stylish.
Because of this, many basketball enthusiasts from other csses were eager to team up with him. As long as he shared the ball more and avoided reckless shots, their three- or four-person squad could easily dominate the half-court games, forming a "nomadic group" during Free Activities.
With Marcus on their side, they never cked a basketball court. In fact, the most coveted court—featuring a prime location and a netted hoop—was almost always occupied by him and his friends. Only the best pyers in school dared challenge them there. This court was dubbed the "NBA" of the campus, while other courts were simply dismissed as "Nah."
During Free Activities, this basketball court was a hub of activity, consistently drawing a crowd of spectators. Most of the onlookers were boys; the cliché of girls flocking to watch basketball games was rare at Thessaloniki First High School. Such scenes only occurred during school basketball tournaments, where girls acted as cheerleaders for their css teams.
Girls, on the other hand, had their own preferred activities during Free Activities, such as badminton, table tennis, or even childhood games like shuttlecock kicking and jump rope.
Academically inclined girls often used Free Activities as a self-study session. Some even returned to their dormitories, especially since it was the final css of the day. Unlike PE, there was no need to regroup for dismissal, allowing them to head straight to the cafeteria for dinner. Others took advantage of this time to shower, avoiding the crowds in the public bathhouses and saving more time for studying ter.
In essence, students utilized Free Activities in various creative ways, making it the most cherished part of the school schedule.
Technically, Free Activities was intended for student clubs to hold meetings. However, Thessaloniki First High School did not prioritize club activities as much as other prominent high schools did in the country. While students could establish their own clubs, especially in their first year, the school generally remained indifferent.
For example, Santos El Zanthos from Css 1-1 was passionate about forming a rock band, which could be considered a club activity. He had been attempting to recruit his friend Dionysius, hoping that Dionysius's popurity would boost the band's chances of success.
Unfortunately, Dionysius showed little interest, leaving Santos's dream in limbo. Santos reasoned that he might have to wait until college to realize his vision, given the intense academic pressure at Thessaloniki First High School. As the top-performing high school in a major province, academics took precedence over extracurricur pursuits, rendering club activities a perceived waste of time.
...
It was now Friday afternoon, and the third period had just ended.
In Css 1-3, students who had been dozing off during the history lesson were suddenly wide awake and energized.
Their history teacher, Ms. Cassiopeia La Casso, was infamous for her monotonous lectures. She strictly adhered to the textbook, never deviating with digressions or engaging anecdotes. She had a habit of writing on the bckboard while teaching, requiring attentive students to simultaneously listen and take notes.
Despite her experience and reputation as an excellent teacher, Ms. Cassiopeia had an uncanny ability to end her lecture precisely when the bell rang. She never extended her css by a minute, promptly leaving with her materials.
This punctuality earned her respect from students, although many found her lectures so dull that they believed self-studying the textbook might be more engaging.
Xanthia, however, paid close attention in history css, particurly because the historical developments in this parallel world were so peculiar. She feared that if she accidentally referenced the history of her original world in an exam, it would be humiliating.
For instance, in this world, the Roman Empire had survived but transitioned into a constitutional empire, and the United States was not the global hegemon.
The specifics of this alternate history were too sensitive to discuss openly. Bringing them up risked accusations of historical revisionism and potential trouble with the authorities.
As the next period was Free Activities, the cssroom atmosphere visibly lightened. Some students seemed to have forgotten that this particur Free Activities session had been reassigned.
Sunny, an avid soccer fan, was already rushing out with his beloved "soccer baby," eager to head to the field.
While the soccer field wasn't as coveted as the basketball courts during Free Activities, arriving early meant more pytime. With enough participants, they could form two teams for a proper match instead of a chaotic kickabout.
Sunny loved organizing informal matches into structured games. It allowed him to showcase his impressive kicking skills, and even if he occasionally missed a shot, it didn’t matter. His reputation as a "speedster" was already established.
Sadly, fewer girls watched soccer compared to basketball, a fact that often disappointed Sunny. His extraordinary footwork went unappreciated by female admirers.
Indeed, the only one who truly understood him was his "soccer baby." Yet, there was that one time when his "soccer baby" was defiled by "Pee King" Jimmy—a grievous incident that haunted him.
Speaking of "Pee King" Jimmy, his notorious nickname had nearly faded from memory, overshadowed by the new titleholder, "Laughing Fart King" Hera La Andronikos.
Hera had skyrocketed to fame with a single speech under the national fg on Monday. Since then, her reputation had only grown, fueled by endless gossip and rumors.
Unlike Jimmy, who became more subdued after earning his nickname, Hera appeared to embrace her newfound notoriety. Recently, she had stumbled upon an intriguing rumor.
