Chapter 2: Timeskip

**Age 735**

Two years have passed since Beru came to Earth. He's been living joyfully with his pseudo mother, Jessica, who treats him as if he were her own son. During these two years, Jessica has gradually opened up to Beru, feeling that her life has transformed for the better since his arrival.

Today, Jessica is taking Beru around the city to enroll him in what he views as a daunting place—school. School is where children form friendships and learn, but since Beru has spent most of his life with Jessica, he feels quite shy in the presence of other kids his age, which is completely understandable.

"Mom, where are we going? I don't like it here; it's so noisy, and there are so many people around," Beru said timidly, nervously glancing at the bustling crowd.

"Well, we're going to school, a place where you can meet friends your age, Beru," Jessica replied. It struck him as odd how she knew his name; he had repeated it so often as a baby that she naturally decided on the name Beru.

They arrived at a school called West Star University. Upon entering the principal's office, the principal welcomed them inside.

"Hello, Miss Jessica, right? And this must be your son, Beru. How old are you, Beru?" The principal asked with a warm smile, looking down at the shy little boy who hesitantly held up three fingers.

"I... I'm three years old!" Beru exclaimed loudly, making the principal chuckle, which caused Beru to shyly cover his face in embarrassment.

"You're quite the clever little guy, aren't you, Beru? Here's a piece of candy for you. So, you're here to enroll Beru in kindergarten, correct? You'll just need to fill out this admission form, and you're all set. Don't worry about the fees; kindergarten is free," the principal explained. Jessica expressed her gratitude and completed the enrollment paperwork for Beru.

Meanwhile, Beru's curiosity got the better of him as he explored the surroundings. He picked up a random book with the title "Human Biology," which covered various topics about human behavior, origins, and anatomy.

As Beru immersed himself in the book, he quickly absorbed the information, completely unaware that Jessica and the principal were watching him with bewilderment. They were surprised at his interest in a book that seemed too advanced for someone his age, but they were even more taken aback when Beru effortlessly memorized the content. The principal felt a jolt of surprise, and Jessica could hardly believe what she was witnessing.

"How did you manage that? Did you really memorize this whole book after just one read, Beru?" Jessica asked, gripping his wrist a little too tight, causing Beru to look anxious.

"Y-Yeah? Did I do something wrong, Mom? Am I in trouble?" Beru responded, his eyes beginning to widen.

"No, honey! You didn't do anything wrong. I'm just really amazed by how smart you are. You're a genius, Beru! I'm so proud of you," Jessica said, enveloping him in a warm hug, though not too tight.

"Really? Am I really that great, Mom?" Beru asked, his innocent eyes sparkling.

"Yes, my sweet boy, you absolutely are. You're such a genius, and I'm so proud of you," Jessica said, excitement bubbling in her voice.

"It seems your son, Beru, is quite gifted," the principal remarked enthusiastically. "I think we should consider placing him in first grade. It would be unwise to put him in fifth grade or higher due to the age difference, as he might face bullying from older kids." The principal was thrilled at the prospect of meeting such a young genius, and thankfully, he understood children's behavior well enough to avoid any potential issues.

"Well... if that's what Beru wants. Do you want to be in first grade, Beru? Just know that the kids will be older than you, and they might not be kind since you're still little. If you'd prefer, we can cancel that and look into homeschooling instead," Jessica told Beru, glancing between him and the principal. Noticing his mother's concern and the principal's eager expectations, Beru chose to follow Jessica's suggestion. The principal let out a resigned sigh, but ultimately saw it as a positive outcome; he had witnessed a genius and Beru would be safe at home, learning through homeschooling.

"Looks like little Beru has chosen to be homeschooled. I can recommend some colleagues who would be willing to help. Here are their contact numbers; feel free to reach out to them. It was lovely meeting you, little genius," the principal said. As they made their way out of the school, Jessica thanked him earnestly.

"A genius… I wonder how he would stack up against Dr. Brief, the inventor behind capsule technology—the kind of innovation that transformed life on Earth. I can't even begin to imagine their genius-level intellects; I'm simply not smart enough for that," the principal mused while sipping his now lukewarm tea.

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In Jessica's home, Beru sat in front of the television, enjoying cartoons and giggling with delight. Meanwhile, Jessica was busy in the kitchen, preparing their meal and occasionally posing for Beru.

"Are you happy to know just how brilliant you are, my sweet little angel?" Jessica said with a warm smile. Beru paused to look at her thoughtfully.

"Well, not really. I'm not a fan of studying, but since you like it, I'll do what you ask," he replied, returning a smile to Jessica.

"Aww, you really are my precious baby. Come here and give Mommy a hug," Jessica said. Beru jumped into her arms, embracing her joyfully.

Then, without warning, Jessica coughed up blood, and her face grew pale. Beru, alarmed and anxious, asked urgently, "Mom!? Are you okay? Please tell me you're alright!"

"I'm fine, Beru. *Cough* It seems I won't have much time left with you, my son. Please call this number, and they'll come to help your mom," she said weakly, gently touching his cheeks.

After receiving the number, Beru quickly dialed it, tears and sweat on his face. When someone answered, he hurriedly explained Jessica's condition. The person assured him that an ambulance would be dispatched right away. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived just in time. As the medics prepared to assist Jessica, Beru insisted on going with her, and they allowed him to join.

At the hospital, Beru cried with worry for Jessica, who had been his mother for two years, a bond strong enough to create deep familial love at his age. A doctor approached and asked if there were any family members present; Beru raised his hand, catching the doctor by surprise at how young he was. Despite his age, there was a determination and hope in Beru's eyes that led the doctor to treat him seriously.

"What's your name, kid?" the doctor gently asked as Beru fought back tears.

"My *sniff* name is Beru. Will my mother be okay?" he wanted to know.

"I understand. Brace yourself, little one. Your mother, Jessica... has stage two ovarian cancer, and it's progressing toward stage three. We have a treatment option, but we can't guarantee she'll survive the surgery. Since she's your only guardian, we need to know if you want us to proceed. You can take up to 20 years to pay for it. Just remember, there are no guarantees," the doctor explained plainly, without sugarcoating the seriousness of the situation.

"Will my mother really die if the operation doesn't go well?" Beru asked, holding back tears once more.

"Yes, but there's a chance she could survive if you agree to the surgery," the doctor replied.

"Then... do it! I want you to ensure my mother survives this, or else… or else!" Beru declared, his eyes shining with determination before the light in them faded almost immediately.

"We will do our utmost to ensure your mom survives, kid. That's what we're here for," the doctor assured him before heading into the operating room, leaving Beru alone with his worry for Jessica.

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**Age 736**

A year had gone by since the procedure, and while it was a success, they found themselves in debt to the hospital. Fortunately, the doctor kindly allowed them 20 years to settle the payments, and with the Red Ribbon Army supporting Jessica, they were able to cover her surgery costs. This left Beru feeling a strong sense of gratitude towards the Red Ribbon Army. Now at 4 years old, he was living with the Red Ribbon Army to study. Naturally, Jessica was by his side, as he didn't want to be apart from her. He had completed 8th grade and was now in 9th grade, progressing quickly; if he chose to dedicate himself fully to his studies, he could already be in college. But occasionally, he felt tired of studying and could be quite stubborn about it.

"Beru, are you playing games again? You should head outside to play with the other kids. Or do you have a crush that's making you shy?" Jessica teased him good-naturedly as she spotted him immersed in his video games.

"Mom! Stop teasing me! I'm too old for those kinds of tricks," Beru replied with a pout, trying to refocus on his game.

"Oh really? Is that the attitude you want to give me? How dare you! I'll have to punish you with my tickle monster hands! Get ready, Beru!" Jessica exclaimed, waving her hand playfully.

Beru's eyes widened in horror as he attempted to escape, but fate had other ideas, and he couldn't dodge Jessica's relentless tickling. They laughed as they tumbled around, both breathless from their play.

After a moment, Jessica gazed at Beru affectionately and said, "You know, my son… I'm so grateful you're in my life. If it weren't for you, I don't know what my future would have looked like—I might not be here at all because of my cancer. Thanks to you, I'm alive. I truly thank God for giving me such a brilliant, stubborn child. Oh, and I almost forgot! Dinner is ready. Let's eat!"

"No, Mom, I'm the one who's thankful. Thank you for being my mom," Beru replied, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. Jessica smiled and returned the embrace.