4 Chapter 4: First Day of School

Two years after I adopted my new form of training, I still found myself unable to make much progress in terms of moving during my time reversals. Being four years old, I was able to reverse time so many times in one go, I started to lose count, but it was definitely around the five-hundred mark.

Every single day, I'd reverse time as many times as my body could handle while straining to try and move during my time reversal. I started trying different strategies as well, one of which was getting a running start before the time reversal. I assumed that since my body would be moving backward on its own, perhaps I could train my muscles to move during reversed times.

This strategy seemed to work in terms of getting a feel for my body during time reversals, but I still couldn't move. Rather than feeling as if I were frozen or paralyzed, it felt as if I were being held down by a force. I could move a finger or two, but that was about it.

I started to just assume that my body was just too weak to achieve such a feat, but I didn't want to give up. Though I was making little progress in terms of moving my whole body, I could still feel myself getting stronger mentally.

Speaking of which, due to being such an advanced four-year-old, my parents decided to put me in kindergarten early, which was the only choice we really had. If I could have it my way, I'd start at first or second grade, but it simply wasn't allowed at that school.

And so, on the first day, Bryan drove me to school, or at least, he went with me as our designated driver drove us both to my school. He sat next to me in the back seat, talking to me about what to expect.

"Ky, my son, you are taking your first steps toward manhood today... Though you are merely a kindergartener today, before you know it, you'll be wearing a cap and gown," he said with a slight smile. "You're growing up fast, little man."

"Not fast enough..." I whispered, sitting with my elbow against the car door. I didn't want to go to school as it would only disrupt my training. Besides, I didn't need elementary school-level teaching anyway.

"What's wrong, Ky? You don't want to go to school?" he asked me.

"Not really..." I answered.

Bryan laughed, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Why not? You have to go to school, Ky. If you don't you'll be some bum who sits on his butt and does nothing all day."

'Ouch.' I thought to myself, thinking about how that literally was me at one point.

"But I'm too smart for kindergarten... I already know my ABCs, I can read, I can write, I can count to a million if I wanted to. I'll be surrounded by idiots..." Just the thought of being surrounded by a bunch of kids picking at their boogers made me uncomfortable.

"Not everyone is as advanced as you, Ky. You know, your mother and I were actually worried about you. We thought you were going to have some sort of developmental issues considering you never cried as a baby." Bryan told me, having a reminiscent look on his face.

"Yeah, I remember. There was just nothing to cry about. You guys spoiled me rotten." I guess since I had the brain of a man, I didn't feel the need to cry over anything. Usually, I would babble and point to things when there was an issue and they caught on fast.

"I guess that's true... My point is, you shouldn't look down on others." As Bryan was telling me this, I was actually surprised. We never really had a real conversation like this before since he was always busy with work and stuff. Not to say that he was neglectful, we did many father-son activities like playing catch or video games when he was free, but he never really talked to me about anything serious. "How would you feel if others made fun of you or saw you as lesser, Ky?"

Immediately, I saw visions of my past. I was bullied relentlessly for my looks, my voice, my body... It was the whole reason I dropped out of high school. It wasn't because I was stupid or anything, I just couldn't take it anymore. It's one of my biggest regrets.

"I would feel bad... I wouldn't want to go to school anymore." I answered.

"Exactly. So you need to be nice to your peers, even help them if you can. I know it's hard being the smartest person in the room, but that also makes you someone others can look up to. It's a good trait to have."

"I guess you're right. I just wish I could skip forward in time." I told him, knowing my powers only allowed me to do the opposite as of now.

"I know, Ky. I get it, trust me. But one day you're going to look back and miss these days, trust me." Once again, Bryan knew exactly what he was talking about. I did miss those days back when I lived my old life. I missed being an innocent little kid. I wished to start over.

I guess I got my wish in the end.

"Looks like we're here," Bryan said as our driver pulled up to the side of a curb. My father and I then looked outside of the window to see an absolute palace of a building. The school looked like a black and brown castle, having separate buildings for each grade level. There was one from Pre-K to kindergarten, one from first to fifth grade, one from sixth to eighth, and one for the high schoolers.

Every kid was wearing a black button-up coat, as was I, and the boys wore black slacks while the girls wore brown skirts.

"Woah... This isn't what I was expecting at all..." I told Bryan.

"It's a beautiful school, right? Every graduate has been accepted by a college. Very prestigious." the driver then wrapped around the car and opened the door for Bryan and me. We both stepped out, only for many people to give us looks as if we were celebrity gods.

"Father, why are they staring?" I asked him, holding onto his hand instinctively.

"Well... you have my looks, son." His smile beamed as he said this to me. I didn't realize it until just then that I guess I did have a cuter face than most brats my age. "If you're anything like me, the girls will be all over you from day one." Bryan teased, having yet another reminiscent look on his face. "Not your mother though... I had to practically beg her to let me take her out."

"I'm not interested in girls..." I told him, referring to the fact that these were literal babies. I'm good.

"Oh... Your mother and I love you all the same." Hearing him say this caused me to instantly correct my statement.

"I just meant I don't like girls here! I like... I like older girls. Like Emily's age." I don't know why I told him this, I'll be honest. Maybe it's because Bryan was more like a cool older brother than a father to me. 'I guess it's good that he'd accept me though... Maybe he'd accept me if I was a mutant too.' I thought.

"I was the same way at one point in my life. I was in love with my best friend's mother at your age... Good times." Bryan paused with a smile on his face for a few seconds before we approached a building with a large K on it. "Looks like we're here. You ready?" he asked me.

"I guess..." I muttered, already wanting to go home.

Without any more waiting, Bryan opened the door and my shoulders immediately dropped upon seeing the horror in front of me.

Nose pickers.

Droolers.

Messy eaters.

Nose-picking droolers eating boogers...

It was hell.

"See you in a couple hours!" Bryan told me, pushing me inside and closing the door behind me, trapping me in no man's land to fend for myself...