Chapter Summaries

Richie secretly alerted the Westalis Intelligence Agency to Twilight’s gathering at Heartstone Castle, then warned his father in time for the family to escape. Later, Richie and Anya began at Eden Academy, where Twilight hoped Richie could help the mission while Richie resolved to support Anya instead.

• Richie grabbed a telegraph and sent the Westalis Central Intelligence Agency a message inviting them to Twilight’s victory party at Heartstone Castle.
• Richie warned Twilight that the local government was coming, and Twilight left the castle with his family and Franky.
• Viko’s agents arrived after Twilight had escaped and were battered by the traps left around the castle.
• Richie and Anya attended Eden Academy’s opening ceremony as new students, while Twilight considered how they could become Imperial Scholars.
• Richie worried that he might have changed the plot and resolved to help Anya remain the protagonist and linchpin of the mission.

Eden Academy announced the students’ class assignments, placing Anya and Richie with Damian Desmond and several children from influential families. As the students prepared to follow their homeroom teacher, Twilight’s friendship plan was already going awry.

• Twilight’s thoughts revealed that he had arranged for Anya and Richie to share a class with Damian Desmond as part of Operation Friendship.
• Anya joined Damian’s class, heard him mistake her staring for a crush, and turned away from him.
• Richie joined the class and tried to suppress his laughter as he watched Anya and Damian.
• Becky Blackbell introduced herself to Anya, but Anya told her to scram, frustrating Twilight.
• Henry was named the class’s homeroom teacher and singled out Anya and Richie as students he planned to discipline.

Henry led the students on a tour of the school and warned them about punishment for poor performance. Damian mocked Anya's family and she responded with a sinister smile, but Richie stepped between them when Damian continued insulting her.

• Henry showed the children the dining hall and explained the Imperial Scholar system and the punishments for underperforming students.
• Damian bragged about his family's status and asked Anya what her parents did, then called her a country bumpkin.
• After Corn Head and Chestnut Head insulted and shoved Anya, she remembered her mother's advice and answered Damian with a sinister smile.
• Becky admired Anya's composure, and Anya smiled at her before turning another smile on Damian.
• Damian furiously insulted Anya again, so Richie rushed between them and said he would not forgive Damian.

Richie defended Anya after Damian insulted her, and Damian later threatened to bully her. When Damian taunted Anya again, Richie punched him and told her he would handle the fighting.

• Richie told Damian that everyone at Eden Academy deserved a fair chance and that he would look down on Damian if he was not as good as Anya.
• Damian lost his temper and shouted insults at Anya and Richie until Henry warned the children to behave.
• As the class toured the school, Damian threw a paper ball at Anya and threatened to bully her, while Becky tried to intervene.
• Damian continued taunting Anya, but Richie punched him and told Anya to leave the punching to her big brother.

Richie punched Damian after Damian bullied Anya, then claimed he had acted to protect his little sister. Anya and Richie won Becky and Henry’s approval, while Sian Evan watched Richie closely as the school bell rang.

• Richie sent Damian flying into a trash can, and Chestnut Head and Corn Head accused him and Anya of attacking Damian.
• Becky told Henry that Damian’s group had bullied Anya, while Anya and Richie defended themselves.
• Richie said he had hit Damian to protect Anya, and Anya explained that Damian had stepped on Becky’s foot.
• Becky hugged Anya, and Henry admired both Forger children for standing up for their friends and family.
• Sian Evan watched Richie from a distance as Henry considered whether to punish him, and the school bell rang.

Richie received a Tonitrus Bolt for punching Damian on the Forgers’ first day at Eden Academy, while Twilight worried that the incident had ruined his plans. The next morning, Twilight tried to rally himself over breakfast, but Anya revealed that Richie still had not gotten up.

• Henry explained that Richie had punched Damian, then gave Richie one Tonitrus Bolt because Anya had not struck anyone and both children had acted for someone else’s sake.
• At the opening ceremony’s group photo, Damian stood alone without his parents while Anya and Richie posed with their happy family.
• Twilight reviewed his plans to reach Donovan Desmond through Eden Academy, lamented the children’s poor start with Damian, then renewed his resolve to continue Operation Strix.
• Twilight made breakfast and called the family to the table, but Anya said Richie had not gotten up.

On the first day of school, Twilight struggled to wake and prepare the sleepy Richie while Anya worried about her mistake at school. He sent both children off on the bus after reminding them to apologize to Damian, and Twilight and Yor watched anxiously as they left.

• Twilight repeatedly tried to wake Richie, then carried him to the bathroom and washed and dressed him.
• At breakfast, Anya apologized for messing up at school, and Twilight reassured her and told Richie not to hit people anymore.
• Twilight planned to help the children have a smooth school life, while Richie admired his father's foresight and hurriedly ate.
• Twilight reminded Anya and Richie to apologize to Damian, but Richie pretended not to hear because he did not want Damian to fall in love with him.
• Anya said goodbye, Richie finally waved to Twilight and Yor, and the school bus carried the children away.

Richie wandered away from Anya at Eden Academy and accidentally bumped into a taller boy, who demanded that Richie become his lackey as compensation. Richie was left bewildered by the boy’s demand.

• Twilight watched Anya and Richie’s school bus leave and thought that peace between the two countries depended on them.
• Anya arrived at school with Richie, encouraged herself to do her best, and greeted Becky, who offered to have her family’s car pick them up.
• Richie slipped away from Anya and Becky, still sleepy, and took another route toward the classroom.
• Richie accidentally bumped into a taller boy and apologized, offering to accompany him to the infirmary.
• The boy asked Richie to become his little lackey, leaving Richie confused.

Richie refused Sian Evan’s demand that he become his lackey, then hurried to class and found Anya distressed by her classmates’ gossip. As Richie tried to comfort her, the intimidating boy he had bumped into earlier stopped him.

• Sian Evan threatened to make Richie’s life miserable unless Richie became his lackey, but Richie defied him and walked away.
• Sian Evan became furious and resolved to find a way to make Richie his lackey.
• Richie reached classroom 1028 late and sat alone while classmates gossiped about Anya and her brother.
• Richie read Anya’s thoughts and realized she felt overwhelmed by the voices around her.
• Richie started to get up and sit beside Anya, but the sturdy boy he had bumped into pressed down on his shoulder and stopped him.

Richie tried to leave after checking that Becky had comforted Anya, but Sian Evan grabbed his wrist and demanded that he become his little lackey. Sian threatened to bully Anya until Richie reluctantly agreed.

• Sian Evan grabbed Richie's wrist to stop him from leaving the classroom.
• Richie saw that Becky had comforted Anya and no longer felt pressed to reach her.
• Sian asked whether Anya was Richie's little sister and threatened to bully her if Richie refused to become his lackey.
• Richie shouted a warning about Anya, drawing the class's attention.
• As the teacher entered, Sian kept invoking Anya, and Richie finally agreed to be his lackey.

In class, Richie enjoyed hearing Damian’s thoughts about Anya while the two children tried not to show their interest in each other. During a math lesson, Richie found the material easy and noticed that the blond boy beside him was keeping up too.

• Richie let go of Sian Evan’s wrist after grabbing it, and Sian Evan secretly enjoyed getting close to and teasing him.
• Richie heard Damian thinking about Anya, and Damian and Anya quickly looked away after meeting eyes.
• Anya saw Richie smile and wave, while Damian noticed their exchange and grew angrier.
• The teacher introduced the Pythagorean theorem, and Anya fell asleep during the explanation.
• Richie recognized the theorem from his studies and found the lesson easy, then noticed the blond boy beside him was also following along.

Richie resolved to help Anya earn a star by studying, but after class Sian Evan made him carry his books by threatening to involve Anya. Richie sent Anya ahead to apologize to Damian, then followed Sian into the hallway, where they saw someone familiar cleaning.

• Richie realized he would need to help Anya earn a star by studying and marveled at how well the six-year-old boy beside him followed the lesson.
• The math teacher criticized Anya for sleeping in class and left the room.
• Becky woke Anya, who said she needed to apologize to Second Son, and told her Damian had already left.
• Sian Evan ordered Richie to pack and carry his textbooks, then invoked Anya to make Richie comply.
• Richie urged Anya to go apologize to Damian, and she hurried out with Becky.
• Richie followed Sian into the hallway, where they saw a familiar person cleaning.

Twilight tried to persuade Anya to apologize to Richie by projecting a message during science class and altering their Chinese textbooks. Anya decided to apologize again, but the chapter ended with her confused by the changed text.

• Becky hugged Anya and promised to protect her, prompting Anya to say she would not apologize.
• Twilight overheard them and intensified his efforts to convince Anya to apologize.
• During science class, Twilight projected a message urging Anya to apologize, and Anya took it as a sign from a god and decided to apologize.
• Richie spotted Twilight on the rooftop but pretended not to notice him.
• During Chinese class, Anya found that Twilight had rewritten her and Richie's textbooks with reminders to apologize, and she could not make sense of the text.

Richie laughed at the altered textbook and the school grounds, while Sian grew frustrated that he could not understand or get closer to him. As Richie bumped into Sian on the way to lunch, Sian demanded an explanation.

• Richie opened his language textbook and laughed at the changes his father had made to its text and illustrations.
• Sian asked Richie what was so funny, but Richie ignored him, leaving Sian irritated.
• Anya misread the passage and decided she needed to apologize to Damian, the second son.
• On the way to the dining hall, Anya noticed foliage trimmed into a huge “SORRY,” and Richie laughed at the sight.
• Sian stopped walking, and Richie, distracted by the foliage and Anya's thoughts, bumped into him.
• Sian looked down at Richie and demanded, “Explain!”

Richie struggled to answer Sian’s question about why he had been laughing, and Sian walked away in anger. At lunch, Richie anticipated Anya’s apology, but the omurice served to him also had “SORRY” written on it.

• Sian demanded to know why Richie had been laughing, but Richie could not answer honestly or invent a convincing lie.
• Sian accused Richie of making up lies and walked away, while Richie resolved to get back at him someday.
• Richie headed to the cafeteria, where he spotted Anya ahead and found Sian standing behind him.
• Anya and Becky sat together, while Richie and Sian sat together after choosing their lunch dishes.
• Richie noticed that his omurice had “SORRY” written on it and felt ominous about what was coming.

Richie watched Papa Twilight arrange for Becky and Sian to leave the cafeteria so Anya could apologize, expecting to see her apologize to Damian. Anya instead enlisted Richie to come apologize with her, leaving him realizing he had been pulled into the drama himself.

• Becky tried to stop Anya from apologizing, while Richie prepared sunflower seeds and watched Damian across the cafeteria.
• Papa Twilight left the cafeteria, and Richie noticed him blending into the background before he departed.
• Papa Twilight announced that Becky and Sian had to report to the Building A Student Hall, and both left the cafeteria.
• Anya walked over to Richie and told him Papa Twilight had ordered them to apologize together.
• Richie agreed before realizing Anya had drawn him into the apology he had meant to watch.

Anya dragged Richie to Damian’s table to apologize, but Damian’s flustered reaction and the boys’ insults made it difficult for her to speak. The chapter ended with Anya struggling to apologize while Corn Head and Chestnut Head continued mocking her in their thoughts.

• Anya pulled Richie from the bench and dragged him to Damian’s lunch table so she could apologize.
• Corn Head and Chestnut Head confronted Anya, but Damian told them to be quiet and stepped toward her.
• Richie sensed Damian’s racing heart and realized Damian was flustered around Anya.
• Anya tried to apologize, but Corn Head and Chestnut Head called her names in their thoughts, making her look close to tears.

Anya tearfully apologized to Damian, and her sincerity made him fall for her despite his stubborn denials. Twilight Dad praised Anya and Richie for apologizing, while Damian insisted that his flushed face came from anger.

• Anya cried as she apologized to Damian and said she had wanted to be friends with him.
• Damian's heart fluttered at Anya's tears, and he fell head over heels for her while Richie watched protectively.
• Twilight Dad arrived at the cafeteria and praised Richie and Anya for finding the courage to apologize.
• Corn Head pointed out that Damian was red to his ears, and Damian shouted that he was angry.
• Damian tried to convince himself that his heart was not fluttering, while Richie privately mocked his stubbornness.

Damian fled after loudly denying that he liked Anya, leaving Twilight devastated over his failed apology plan while Richie comforted his sister. Later, Twilight forced Anya and Richie through tutoring after their first day of school.

• Damian blushed, shouted that he would never admit to liking Anya, and ran out of the cafeteria while his lackeys chased after him.
• Richie shielded Anya from Damian’s lackeys, and Twilight dropped his tray and collapsed in despair over the failed apology plan.
• Damian ran through the corridor as his lackeys asked why he was fleeing, and he angrily told them to leave him alone.
• Anya worried that school was scary, so Richie hugged her and promised to protect her.
• Becky and Si Ang waited hungry in the student hall after being called there for no apparent reason.
• Twilight made Anya and Richie study fractions that evening, while Yor suggested a break and Richie struggled to stay awake.

Twilight tried to tutor Anya and Richie to improve their grades and help them become Imperial Scholars, but his explanations overwhelmed Anya and drove her to retreat to her room. Yor persuaded Twilight to ease up and focus on helping the children enjoy school while keeping their grades adequate.

• Twilight threatened to withhold Anya's cartoon and Richie's sleep unless they finished their homework, then tried to teach Anya while she read his thoughts for the answers.
• Anya's attempt to get help from Yor also failed when Yor's thoughts confused her, and Anya fell from her stool.
• After hearing Twilight privately wonder why she could not understand, Anya ran to her room crying and locked the door.
• Yor urged Twilight not to force the children, and he reluctantly agreed that they should enjoy school while maintaining decent grades.
• Richie finished his questions and rested at the table as Anya crouched in the darkness behind her bedroom door.